Thousands of couples renew their marriage vows during a Mass to celebrate the “Marriage is Beautiful” event at the SMX Convention Center on Feb. 14, 2016. (Photo: Nirva Delacruz)
PASAY City, Feb. 17, 2016 – Always want the easy way? Hate hard work? According to a prelate, this kind of thinking can only come from the evil one.
“Satan is good at shortcuts… instant wealth,” said Caloocan Bishop Pablo David to thousands of married couples, their children, and other attendees of the “Marriage is Beautiful” event on Feb. 14 at the SMX Convention Center.
According to the prelate, Satan is good at tempting people “not to follow the normal process and to avoid struggle and effort… in life.”
Love of shortcuts
Taking off from the Gospel for the day, David said Jesus’ first temptation, when the devil told him to turn stones into bread, is an example of this love of shortcuts.
To make instant bread out of stones because of hunger is a temptation because normally, making bread is a “long process”, explained the chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Biblical Apostolate.
This temptation teaches “us to avoid hardship and to prefer shortcuts”, explained David.
This same scenario is played out today, he said, when the faithful are tempted to use their position to enrich themselves illegally.
“You’re in the position anyway… [Let’s] grease some palms so their projects will go faster. You can be rich instantly. Instant riches!” said David in Filipino and English mentioning how some people contemplate giving in to the temptation of bribery at work.
Not punishment
According to the former head of the Diocese of San Fernando in Pampanga, personally, he believes God commanding Adam and Eve to work after the fall was not really a punishment.
“For me, it’s not punishment that God required man to work,” said David, explaining it was God’s way of teaching man the value of sacrifice and work.
Some 2, 628 people attended the “Marriage is Beautiful” event, which was organized by Couples for Christ.
After the holy Mass, simultaneous workshops were held on “Leaving a Genuine Legacy”; “How to be the best in-laws”; “Fostering the love of reading”; Kids’ Academy; Workshop for teens, among others. (Nirva’ana Ella Delacruz / CBCP News)
