MANILA, Dec. 24, 2012—A ranking Church official has called on the lay faithful to see confession and the repentance of their sins as a way of gift giving to oneself.
CBCP secretary general Msgr. Joselito Asis said there is nothing wrong with giving gifts during Christmas since it is “God himself who taught us by giving us a gift in the person of Christ.”
But Asis said that before the Christmas spirit arrives, “we are being called to repentance and conversion during Advent.”
“Your gift giving will have no value if you haven’t gifted yourself to begin with. And what best gift could we receive than God’s grace through conversion?” he said.
Citing a European tradition of going to confession before Christmas Day, Asis said he would personally encourage people to spend time for confession so that “they would really feel that Christ is born in their hearts.”
He even warned Simbang Gabi goers that their perfect attendance will also mean nothing if they don’t heed the Advent’s message of conversion.
“Despite how many times you attend the Simbang Gabi, it will be meaningless if you don’t get to convert from your old sinful ways,” he added. (KB/CBCPNews)
