ASIA/PHILIPPINES - The Silsilah Dialogue Movement: Christmas, a way of fraternal love to be announced to the wounded humanity

Saturday, 18 December 2021 evangelization dialogue islam christmas

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Zamboanga (Agenzia Fides) - "Christmas is a time to look at others as part of the same human fraternity" and not as enemies. Today, more than ever, we must see the face of God's love. The pandemic has been and continues to be a great reality and a reminder to humanity. In these critical times certain sectors of society continue to use their power for personal or group benefit. We must ask ourselves, 'What can I do better now?' This is the question that we address above all to Christians in this special time around Christmas". This is what the message spread by the "Silsilah" Movement for Islamic-Christian Dialogue, active in the South of the Philippines and founded by the PIME missionary, Father Sebastiano D'Ambra, states. The Message, sent to Fides, reminds us that "Advent" is a time of preparation for the event of the coming of Jesus, the Emmanuel, the God-with-us.
This reality is a sign of hope in history".
The text highlights: "It is time to recognize the existing differences and not to minimize them, especially between Muslims and Christians, but at the same time to accept that a Muslim is convinced of his faith and a Christian is also convinced of his faith. The effort to destroy the faith of other religions is not dialogical. Today we are called to respect. The mission of Christians is to live and bear witness to the Christian faith. This is the primary mission of evangelization, just as the primary effort of Muslims is to live the mission of the 'dawa' witnessing their faith".
"In the name of religion - continues the document sent to Fides - some often project an erroneous perception of the meaning of the faith that is professed. The approach is emerging in this new era of interreligious dialogue for those who are sincere in their efforts and rediscover the importance of respect for other faiths and religions".
The Silsilah Movement notes: "This is still very far from reality, especially in some areas and with the emergence of new forms of terrorism, in the name of religion. This is now more visible even in the Philippines. Why? There are conflicts of power for business, political ambitions and wrong ways of perceiving religion. This deteriorates relations between groups and religions".
The message spread in view of Christmas hopes that Christians are "authentic and believe that the law of love, brought by Jesus into the world, is an appreciable and warm way of love", to be announced and witnessed to today's wounded humanity. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 18/12/2021)