Corruption was singled out as a moral failure during a Simbang Gabi celebration at the Vatican, where Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle challenged worshippers to examine whose plans they truly serve.
Speaking at a Mass for Filipinos held at St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, Tagle framed his homily around attentiveness to God’s will, contrasting spiritual commitment with the eagerness shown toward wrongdoing.
“When God has a plan, are we wide awake and diligently following?” Tagle said. “Or maybe when it comes to other plans, we are more diligent in it?”
He pointed to corruption as a stark example, lamenting how quickly people act when faced with opportunities to steal or cheat, especially involving public resources.
“When the opportunity to steal and to cheat knocks, why are so many people wide awake?” Tagle asked.
“When the plan is corruption, they don’t sleep, they want to go along. When it’s God’s plan, everyone is asleep. They are lethargic,” he said.
Tagle urged the faithful to reflect on their priorities, particularly during the Christmas season, emphasizing that spiritual life should not be eclipsed by the pursuit of wealth, influence, or possessions.
“Whose plan are we eager for? That is the question of Christmas. Is Jesus really the one we are accepting? He is God’s plan for us,” Tagle said.
He added that human fulfillment was never meant to be measured by accumulation or status.
“We were not created to be with piles and piles of money. We were not created to be with our followers. We were not created to hoard all kinds of things to buy, only to realize later that we don’t really need them,” he pointed out.
“God’s plan is Emmanuel, God with us, Jesus, God saves,” said Tagle.
