EASTER SUNDAY

Acts 10:34.37-43
Psalm 117
1Corinthians 5:6-8
John 20:1-9

HE HAS RISEN INDEED

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. For we celebrate the foundation of our faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, from the gospel reading, the resurrection of Jesus does not present itself as a scientific fact to be proven. No one saw him coming out of the tomb. But the empty tomb, the appearances of the Risen Lord and the witness of the apostles testify that something extraordinary and beyond human understanding happened.

In effect, in the early morning of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala, Simon Peter and the other disciple realized that the tomb was empty. They saw the linen was lying on the ground. The cloth that covered Jesus’ head was not with the linen but rolled up in a place by itself. This means that Jesus’ body was not furtively taken away. The other disciple saw and believed (Jean 20:1-9).

Thus, in the first reading, Simon Peter bears witness to the resurrection of Christ as a fact of faith. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to them. They saw him, ate and drank with him. And by his mandate they are his witnesses (Acts 10:34.37-43). Other resurrection narratives testify to this. It is therefore true that Jesus rose from the dead. His resurrection was not a fabricated story.

But what is the import of Jesus’ resurrection for us today? St Paul replies that we should get rid of the old yeast of evil and wickedness so as to make ourselves into completely new persons marked by sincerity and truth (1Co 5:6-8). By our way of life, we must bear witness to the Risen Lord and show that we are children of the resurrection. We must share the light of the resurrection that dispels fear, discouragement, corruption, injustice, unforgiveness, falsehood, hypocrisy, wickedness, selfishness, etc. Therefore, let us pray that the resurrection of Jesus may bring us joy, hope, breakthrough and renewal in every sphere of our life. Amen

PASCHAL TRIDUUM, HOLY SATURDAY

THE EASTER VIGIL, THE NIGHT OF ALL NIGHTS

Holy Saturday is the third day of the Sacred Triduum. In the evening, we celebrate the Easter Vigil, “the Passover in honour of the Lord”. The liturgy of the Easter Vigil is made up of four parts, namely, the service of light, the liturgy of the Word, the liturgy of baptism and the liturgy of the Eucharist.

The liturgy of the Word invites us to meditate on the Salvation History, how God has been so close to mankind since creation. The great events that mark this history have been wrought in the night. The first act of creation was the victory of light over darkness: “let there be light” and there was light (Gen. 1:3). It was at night that God saved the Israelites from slavery through the Passover meal, liberating them from the power of Pharaoh. It was at night that he led them dry-shod through the red sea (Ex. 14). It was at night that our Saviour was born in Bethlehem. It was at night that Jesus rose from the dead, breaking the chains of death. It could be said that Easter is essentially a passage: the passage from darkness to light, the passage from death to life, the passage from slavery to freedom.

Therefore, one thing that Holy Saturday teaches us is that no matter how deep and how long the night is, the day will surely come. No matter how long the waiting may be, the fulfillment of God’s promise will surely come. Jesus had to go through the terrible experience of dying and being in the tomb for three days. But now he has risen! This day invites to hope against all hope. There is no hopeless situation. And no situation is permanent. Our God is able to raise us up from the desperate situation we may find ourselves in. He is able to make a way where there is no way.

Let us pray therefore that the rising of our Lord Jesus Christ may dispel every darkness in our life. May the power of the resurrection roll up every stone that is a standing-block on your way to excellence and victory so that we may all give glory and honour to the Crucified and Risen Lord. Amen

PASCHAL TRIDUUM, GOOD FRIDAY

Isaiah 52:13—53:12
Psalm 30
Hebrews 4:14-16.5:7-9
John 18:1—19:42

           THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S PASSION

Today is the second day of the Sacred Triduum. Apart from the ancient devotion of going through the stations of the cross that characterizes the day, today’s liturgy is made up of four parts, namely, the liturgy of the Word which helps us understand the true meaning of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, the solemn general intercessions, the veneration of the cross and the liturgy of the Pre-sanctified or Holy Communion. The focus of today’s liturgy is the cross. In the days of Jesus, the cross was the emblem of shame, curse, punishment, condemnation, torture, suffering and death. The imagery of a cross was something absurd and resentful. It pointed to anger and bitterness, hatred and violence.

But Jesus changed the perspective of the cross. With Jesus the cross has become the emblem of friendship, forgiveness, reconciliation, redemption and glory. It has become the tree of life, the symbol of triumph and not defeat. As the Suffering Servant, Jesus was thought of as someone cursed, punished by God. He was despised, rejected, humiliated, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. Ours were the sufferings he bore, ours the sorrows he carried. His wounds brought us healing and wholeness. And yet, through his Passion and death, he has become the source of salvation for mankind. He is the Eternal High Priest who never ceases to intercede for us.

Today, as we contemplate the love of God manifested in his Son, let us reflect on the culture of death and violence that characterizes our world today. Innocent people are unjustly condemned, jailed or killed. Innocent lives are lost through abortion and war. Out of our selfish ambitions, we “sell” others. We destroy the reputation of others through backbiting and blackmails. We break the hearts of those who love us and trust us; we reject and abandon them at the moments they need us most. And the culture of revenge and unforgiveness has replaced the culture of pardon and tolerance. As such, the mystery of the cross invites us to value life, respect the dignity of the human person. We are also called to associate our own crosses, pains, fears and sufferings with the sorrowful passion of Christ and find in him the source of our consolation, strength and hope. Amen

PASCHAL TRIDUUM, HOLY THURSDAY

Exodus 12:1-8.11-1
Psalm 115
1Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-15

MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

Today's Mass in memory of the Last Super opens the "Pascal Triduum", a three day's journey that commemorates the events that led to our Redemption: the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The focal point of today's liturgy is the Upper Room, where Jesus took the last Super with his disciples. Three events are celebrated:
- the giving of the new commandment of love, expressed in gestures of  humble service,
- the institution of the Eucharist as a symbol of his self giving for us,
- the institution of the priesthood to perpetuate his presence among his people. That which holds these three mysteries together is Jesus' love for us.

The first reading narrates the institution of the Jewish Passover, marked by the immolation of the lamb. The eating of the Passover lamb preceded the exodus event. The second reading explains the Eucharist as instituted by Christ himself during the super that preceded his Passion and death.

At the Last Super, Jesus stood among his disciples as one who serves. He washed his disciples' feet as a concrete example of serving one another. Such humility is an example for us to follow. Moreover, he gave his Body and Blood as a ransom for many. This act of self giving demonstrates Jesus' love for us. Thus, those of us who partake in the Eucharist must also give ourselves in serving others.

Today, let each of us spend some time in adoring the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Amen

PALM SUNDAY, YEAR C

Procession: Luke 19:28-40
Mass: Isaiah 50:4-7;
Philipians 2:6-11;
Luke 22:14—23:56

THE LAST DAYS OF JESUS ON EARTH

Today marks the beginning of the Holy Week. Thus, we are called upon to follow Jesus and live with him the last events of his earthly life. In today’s liturgy, we celebrate first the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem amid the jubilation and chants of Hosanna of the crowd. Jesus enters the holy city, where he will suffer, die, be buried and resurrect for our redemption.

Then, the readings for the Mass narrate the Passion of Jesus: his sufferings, crucifixion and death as the humble Servant of God.  From the hosanna chants of the triumphant entry, we pass to the “crucify him” of the Passion. But the attitude of Jesus remains the same: humble and silent. He bears the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, the abandon of his close friends, the hatred of the Pharisees, chief priests and scribes, the unjust condemnation of Pilate, the scourging and beatings of the soldiers, the curses and insults of the crowd, and the shameful death of the cross in obedience to the Father for our sake.

After listening to these readings, we cannot but ask ourselves some questions. How many times have we not betrayed those who trusted us? How often have we not turned back to humiliate the same people we had appreciated? How many times have we not been accomplices to the atrocities against some people and to the condemnation of the innocents? How many times have we not exchanged justice and  integrity with the fear of losing our friends or our position? How often do we not sacrifice others on the altars of our pride, selfish desires and shameful ambitions?

In any case, whether we are agents or victims of such acts, we must always remember that God will surely save the just and the innocent. He will not put them to shame. Amen

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C

Isaiah 43:16-21
Psalm 125
Philippians 3:8-14
John 8:1-11

 “NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU”

Last Sunday, we meditated on the compassion of God in the parable of the prodigal son. Today, the story of the woman caught in adultery expresses the incredible forgiveness of Christ. He is the face of God’s mercy. In telling the woman “neither do I condemn you; go away and sin no more”, Jesus gives her another chance to begin afresh, to start a new life free from sin. The past is forgotten.
Indeed, God does not keep in memory our past. He wants to make things new and great in our lives. Thus in the first reading he tells the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah: “No need to recall the past, no need to think about what was done before. See, I am doing new deed…”

Similarly, in the second reading, after his encounter with Christ, St Paul considered everything as rubbish because of his knowledge of Christ. Knowing Christ for him is more than anything else. Henceforth, he forgets the past and is straining ahead for what lies ahead of him.

The story of the adulterous woman has a lot to teach us. But I would like to highlight only three lessons. First, we are all sinners. Thus, we should not be quick to accuse, to judge, to condemn, or even wish to do away with the wrongdoer, or expose the nakedness of the sinner. Second, the encounter between the adulterous woman and Jesus is a miniature of the sacrament of penance and reconciliation or confession. God does not condemn us. The confessional is not a tribunal where we wait to be sentenced. We go to be forgiven and freed from the burden of sin that weighs upon us.

Lastly, we should not take the mercy and forgiveness of God as a license to sin. The compassionate attitude of Jesus in this story does not condone sin but focuses on the person. He urges the woman to convert, to change her sinful way of life. May we too accept this invitation to conversion and inner transformation so as to break with our past by living a life of faith in the Lord. Amen.