NAGA CITY - “Pray for inner strength, that we may be able to bear all the trials and tribulations in the City of Man; so that one day, we may also find ourselves in the City of God.” This was the message of Metropolitan Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon during the eucharistic celebration on the Solemnity of All Saints, November 1, at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral St. John the Evangelist Parish.
“Do not lose sight of the heavenly city,” Alarcon continued to exhort. The City of Man is only temporary, he said. “Our end goal is to be with the Lord.”
Remaining in God
In his homily, Alarcon spoke of St. Augustine’s Two Cities: the City of God and the City of Man. The first city, which is founded on selflessness and love of God, is described as a place filled with humility, sacrifice and obedience; while the second city, which is founded on self-love, is said to be a place where pride, ambition and greed abound.
Drawing inspiration from the lives of the saints, Alarcon said that the saints, who led heroic lives, are perfect examples in following Jesus -for they are examples of people who had great inner strength in the course of their lives. He said, “[Saints] were human like us. They too were plagued with difficulties and tragedies during their lifetime; yet, they remained faithful to God despite the difficulties.”
“Inner strength”, according to the Caceres prelate, “comes from God and enables us to persevere through life’s difficulties and tragedies. [It is] solid grounding in God. In spite of our fast-paced, noisy and aggressive world, [inner strength] allows us to give witness to [a life of] holiness through patience and constancy in doing good in the midst of suffering.”
Alarcon gave this message in the aftermath of typhoon Kristine in Camarines Sur, which he said was “devastating” as “the debris, damage, garbage, and mud are still evident”. “Many are concerned where [they] will begin again,” he said.
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