Poor share tables with priests

CEBU, Philippines - “We know that Jesus loves the poor more than anybody else… They are God’s special ones,” said Archbishop Michael Miller of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, Canada, during yesterday’s Table of Hope celebration at the covered court of the Pope John XXIII seminary in Cebu City.

Yesterday, around more than 1,000 poor individuals shared tables with volunteers, foreign delegates and even high-ranking priests in a meal during the celebration.

This activity was intended to make the 51st International Eucharistic Congress more meaningful to the poor and to give them a dignified participation.

“This is the right way to begin a Eucharistic Congress: through feeding and eating with the poor,” said Miller during his homily.

“This is certainly a beautiful event. The best way possible to begin the Eucharistic Congress is by celebrating the great gift of people that the Lord feeds, that he wants us to continue feeding,” said Miller.

Miller said upon reading the New Testament in the Bible, anybody can say that Jesus really loves the poor, and that is what makes them special.

“They are the God’s special ones. They are the ones that Jesus talked to first. They are the ones that He told us that is where we see His face. I don’t think there is any doubt about that,” said Miller.

Dilaab Foundation head Fr. Carmelo Diola expressed his delight in seeing poor families have lunch with priests and bring home goodie bags.

“Lipay kaayo ko. Di mapalit akong kalipay,” said Diola.

However, he also reminded that the celebration was more than just feeding the less fortunate but eating together with them.

He said the Table of Hope Banquet symbolizes the feeding of the multitude by Jesus. It also follows the teachings of Pope Francis to have compassion, to share, to feed, to serve and to love the poor.

Maggie Cogtas, 21, from Barangay Talamban, a youth volunteer of Dilaab Foundation, said she was delighted to see the less fortunate, especially the street children, happy and smiling while having their lunch and receiving their goodie bags.

She said she was moved by the efforts of the Catholic Church to let the poor people feel that there is still hope in God, and that in Him, everyone is equal.

“Happy kaayo ko nga kini’ng mga bataa, or even kining mga kabos nga pamilya naka-experience sad ba og ingon ani,” said Cogtas.

Miller, in his final words during the Eucharist, reminded everyone to keep open not just the eyes, but most importantly the heart to have a Lord who is working on all the ordinary experiences of each and everyone’s life.

“We are beneficiaries of his goodness and his abundance,” said Miller. — /BRP (FREEMAN)