Photo courtesy Wikipedia
CBCP on Natural Calamities: God’s way of purifying His people
Photo courtesy Wikipedia
“We can also see these natural calamities as calls of God. These can be God’s way of purifying us and forging us as people. The God of Dialogue is speaking to us through and in all these. Do we hear him?” said CBCP President Archbishop Romulo G. Valles in a pastoral message in behalf of the CBCP which was posted January 27 at the end of their Plenary.
It can be remembered that Taal Volcano erupted last January 12, forcing residents living in the danger zone to flee and seek refuge. Seminaries and religious houses in Tagaytay have also offered their compounds as temporary evacuation centers.
“This is not the first time the scenic Taal volcano erupts. It will most certainly not be the last. And throughout its fiery and violent history, it has always taken a toll on human lives and on human well-being,” the bishops said in a statement.
The bishops added that calamities should be a reminder on how people treat nature and that they are still living in an imperfect natural world due to the presence of natural disasters.
“God is purifying us how to treat Mother Nature as our common home. Though not all calamities can be caused by human activities, like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, some are proven by science as human-induced, like floods and droughts and typhoons,” the bishops said.
“We should change our ways so as not to contribute to climate change which bring about ravages of nature. These calamities call for conversion. These calamities appeal for deeper compassion,” the bishops added.
The bishops then wrote that God is calling everyone to greater solidarity with one another saying, “the unfortunate events call for greater generosity.”
They also told the faithful to control their wants so that they can respond more to the needs of others.
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