WITH BOTH ASH Wednesday and Valentine’s Day falling on the same day this year, an Ash Wednesday mass for the Bedan community was celebrated at the Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat last February 14, presided over by Rev. Fr. Placido Ma. Acta, OSB, who left Bedans with a few notes on the “genuine meaning of love.”
Taking “Ash” Wednesday into context in his homily, Fr. Acta pointed out that there will be a lot of people who will have ashes marked on their foreheads following the mass. Leaning into the popular phrase “cross my heart,” the Benedictine monk then said that crosses will be marked, not in their hearts, but in Bedans’ foreheads, because “it is a symbol of the love of God.”
The University’s Vice President for Finance also compared how most people often “lose sight” of the meaning of love every Valentine’s Day. As such, he noted that “it is not the material things, such as the flowers, roses, chocolates, and gifts that we see from the vendors along the streets of every corner, but love is about sacrifice. Just like Jesus who gave his only begotten son, who made the greatest sacrifice of all.”
Furthermore, Fr. Acta also added another aspect of love that he says we should “appreciate,” which is the beautiful simplicity of receiving an “unconditional type” of love. “There is no such thing as a perfect relationship, even for those who are already married. You will never find a perfect spouse. But you will find someone who will love you unconditionally,” added Fr. Acta, implying that each one should “completely accept” the person that God has given to them.
His third point during the homily sets out to prove that one should “learn” how to love themselves before loving another. “Mahalin din natin ‘yung sarili natin. Mahirap magmahal ng ibang tao kung hindi mo kayang mahalin ang sarili mo. Start with yourself. Then your love tells us to love others,” he said.
To formally conclude his homily, Fr. Acta reminded Bedans that love is all about “reciprocity,” that those who truly know how to love must also know how to give. In a way, it is likened to that of sacrifice—to receive love, while also offering oneself to others, just as how Christ has offered himself on the cross out of love for all of us.
(with Rcee Tenefrancia)