Art by Sheridan Joy Delfino/ THE FLAME
AS SOCIAL media exposes people to new ideas and trends, a priest reminded Christians to focus on information that inspires growth rather than those with no lasting purpose.
During the mass for the Soledad de Maynila Grand Marian Procession, Fr. Daniel Voltaire Hui told devotees that the lessons only become worthwhile if it urges them to transform their lives.
“In social media, we learn so many things, we discover many new ideas, we pick up a lot of information, and we encounter countless trends. But not everything carries a lesson. A lesson will only have true meaning if it leads us toward a new life,” the priest said on Sunday, July 12.
Hui related this to the Parable of the Sower, which likened God’s word to seeds that land on different parts of soil. He noted that only the seeds that fall on fertile soil would eventually bear fruit.
“It is difficult to look for fruit and growth when the soil is rocky. Only good and fertile soil can truly grow and eventually bear fruit,” Hui added.
The priest said the same principle applies to acts of devotion, noting that participating in religious celebrations has value only when it produces genuine spiritual growth.
“The procession becomes meaningless if we simply tire ourselves without allowing it to lead us toward growth. We come to realize that everything has meaning and what we do has meaning if it leads us to growth,” Hui said.
The priest reminded the faithful not to measure life’s experiences solely by their sweetness. Unfortunate events like suffering and death can also draw people closer to God and help them grow in faith, according to Hui.
“Some fruits are bitter, but that does not mean they are without nourishment or goodness. They may be bitter, sour or not sweet, but as long as they come from what is good, they bear meaning,” he added.
Hui stressed that Christian life does not look at what one does for others, but also they actively work on their growth.
“In everything we do, whether in our life of faith or in our life in this world, what will ultimately matter is the fruit we bear. But there can only be fruit if something has first been planted,” he said.
The Soledad de Maynila Grand Marian Procession celebrates the 17th founding anniversary of the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Parish every third Sunday of July. It was held at the Kartilya ng Katipunan and was joined by nearly 80 Marian images across the country. F
