Cardinal Sin, a father and a man without fear

We welcome Fr. Ejay as the new priest administrator of our school. It is a tradition in our school and parish to hold Mass at the Crypt of Manila Cathedral in honor of the late Cardinal Sin on June 21 and August 31. It is a blessing that his death anniversary falls on a Sunday, allowing many to gather here today.

We are blessed today in our school because we celebrate many occasions that are deeply connected with each other. We remember Jaime Cardinal Sin on his death anniversary. At the same time, we give thanks to the Lord for giving us fathers here on earth, so we greet all fathers a Happy Father’s Day—especially the fathers who sent their children to our school.

Today is Sunday, and Jesus is telling us not to be afraid. The late Cardinal Sin is considered the father of the Archdiocese and a man of no fear.

As we celebrate this Mass, I am reminiscent of my high school days in the seminary. Back then, we studied many things about phobias—the specific fears that people face. We learned about claustrophobia, the fear of closed spaces; acrophobia, the fear of heights; and arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. 

We tried to memorize them all because, during our time, those fears felt very real. Noong nasa seminaryo pa kami, takot kami sa dilim at kung ano-ano pa. We were afraid of ghosts and all kinds of things. Our phobias paralyzed us and stopped us from doing what we ought to do. Because of fear, we were hampered from moving forward.

But today, in the present times, our fears have evolved. They come in the form of anxieties, the pressures of life, and overwhelming difficulties. These are common things that we hear about right now, especially from young people. People say we shouldn’t push young people too hard because it is so easy for them to get anxious and afraid. 

Working in a school environment, these are the things that preoccupy us. The pressure is real, and it breaks our hearts to count how many cases of severe depression or self-harm we encounter. 

These are the results of what this world is teaching us: to be afraid of many things. But if you look at our readings today, there is a consoling message that we can hold on to—not just the youth, but most especially all of us in these modern times. Jesus Christ is telling us: “Do not be afraid. Have the courage to pursue your life here on earth.”

Jesus said this thousands of years ago because He realized that humanity faces many fears. He addressed this to His disciples because He knew very well that they would face heavy trials. Our readings today teach us a profound truth: following Jesus does not mean we will never face problems.

In fact, Jesus assures us that when we follow Him, there will be many challenges ahead. Sa madaling salita, may problema pa rin kahit sumusunod tayo sa Kanya. But if we are doing the will of God, fear is nothing. Christ assures us that He will always be with us as long as we are doing what is right. He tells us, “Huwag kayong matakot mag-face sa kanila, because I will always be here with you. I will guide you, and I will protect you.”

We see this assurance in our First Reading, which reflects the personal experience of the prophet Jeremiah. As a well-known prophet, Jeremiah encountered massive opposition. He tells us today that in doing God’s will, you will face difficulties. One of the most painful things he faced was that his own friends were plotting against him because they could not accept his teachings. 

Sinasabotahe siya ng mga kasama niya, even planning to kill or torture him. But Jeremiah prays to God, laying down his heavy burdens, and in the end, he is consoled. He realizes, “Whenever I am doing God’s will, I should never be afraid.” We, too, must hold on to God’s protection and providence when we speak the truth.

In the Second Reading, Saint Paul tells us that even though sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam, we should not lose heart. Through the death of Jesus, we are saved. Mayroon tayong kasalanan, ngunit dahil sa pag-ibig ng Diyos, tayo ay pinatawad. Through the obedience of Christ, the gates of heaven are opened to us once again.

Finally, our Gospel offers the ultimate consolation for our modern anxieties and stress—whether at work, in our activities, or in our families. Christ gives us three reasons why we should never be afraid:

First, nothing is hidden that will not be revealed. Alam ng Diyos ang lahat. God knows the truth. Even if people hate us or reject us, as long as we do the will of God, we should not fear because God sees our hearts. There are no secrets before the Lord.

Second, you are precious to God. Jesus asks us to look at the sparrows. If God takes care of the smallest birds, gaano pa kaya kayo na mahal ng Diyos? You are worth more than many sparrows. God knows your needs, and He will take care of you. Alam ng Diyos, at mas alam ng Diyos ang nakabubuti sa atin.

Third, God holds eternity. Jesus tells us not to fear those who can only kill the body but cannot touch the soul. Rather, we should have a holy fear of God, who holds both body and soul. As long as we stand for the truth, God will be the one to reward us at the end of our lives.

Inspired by these readings, I can only think of the life of Jaime Cardinal Sin. During his time, he was considered a courageous prophet. He was a man of no fear. He would always speak about justice and truth, even in front of a dictator. He would always stand for what is right and true, even in front of famous and influential leaders. 

He led the country through two People Power Revolutions. The people around him were the ones feeling the pressure, but not the Cardinal. I believe he did this only because he was a man of prayer. The late Cardinal would always put his trust in the Lord, believing that God would always protect him. Some even say that if Cardinal Sin were alive today, many of the issues regarding corruption and flood control would have been stopped by now.

Secondly, Jaime Cardinal Sin is considered to be a father by many priests in the Archdiocese of Manila. He practiced his fatherly care by prioritizing the needs of his priests and his sheep. However, as a father, he was known to use his two hands in dealing with us.

With his right hand, like a traditional father, he would discipline you if you did something wrong. Kapag may nagawang mali ang mga pari o seminarista, talagang “napapalo” o napapagalitan. He could get very mad when correcting mistakes.

But with his left hand, he would embrace you. He would pull you close, show you his fatherly care, and assure you that you were taken care of. He taught a lesson, but he always showed love. Sabi nga, umiyak ka lang, the Cardinal would take you back again as if nothing happened.

This is exactly how our Heavenly Father is to us. When we commit sins, He teaches us a lesson to guide us back, but His arms are always open to forgive us. As long as we seek His forgiveness, His fatherly love will always protect us.

May we live our lives without fear, confident in the love of our Father. Amen.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by the author are her own and do not in any way reflect those of Paraluman News.