The Heartbeat of Easter

   

The Resurrection of the Lord

20 April 2025

 

First Reading: Acts 10:34a, 37-43

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8

Gospel: John 20:1-9

Reflection

By: Therese B. Manio

The Gospel of Easter Sunday tells a story that is both beautiful and mysterious. Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb while it is still dark, only to find the stone rolled away. Peter and the beloved disciple come running, and though they don’t fully understand, they begin to believe. It’s a moment full of uncertainty, questions, and wonder but more than anything, it’s full of hope.

That same hope speaks to us today. Like those first followers of Jesus, we often walk through darkness, moments of grief, confusion, or waiting. Life throws challenges we don’t always understand. But just like the stone was already rolled away, God is already at work in our lives, even before we see it. The empty tomb isn’t just a part of the story—it’s a promise.

At first glance, Jesus dying on the cross might seem like a defeat. But it wasn’t. It was a victory, just not the kind the world expected. Jesus didn’t conquer with force. He overcame sin and death through forgiveness, mercy, and love. His Resurrection proved that love is stronger than hate, and hope is more powerful than fear. It wasn’t just about Jesus coming back to life, it was about all of us being given a chance at new life.

The Resurrection reminds us we are never truly alone. Jesus went through real pain, rejection, and fear. He knows what suffering feels like. But He also shows us that no pain, no failure, and no moment of darkness has the final word. There’s always more to the story. There’s always hope. God allowed Jesus to die and rise again so we could experience this hope for ourselves. He transforms what’s broken, makes new what was lost, and brings life where there seemed to be none. Every cross we carry can lead to a resurrection. That’s the core of our faith and the heartbeat of Easter.

In this Jubilee Year, with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” we are reminded that this journey isn’t just about us receiving hope, it’s about becoming hope for others. The world is full of people searching, grieving, or feeling stuck in the dark. We’re called to be like the beloved disciple who saw the signs and believed. We’re called to be like Mary, who ran to tell others: “I have seen the Lord.” Being an instrument of hope doesn’t always mean doing something huge. It could be listening to someone who’s hurting, offering kindness, or simply being there when someone needs you. In these small, quiet ways, we become living signs of the Resurrection.

As we walk through this Jubilee year together, may we carry the light of Easter in our hearts. Let us move forward with hope, not just for ourselves, but for everyone we meet. Because Christ is risen, and in Him, so is our hope.

Prayer

Risen Lord, thank You for the gift of Your love that conquers death and brings us everlasting hope. Help us to walk as true pilgrims of hope, carrying Your light into the lives of those around us. Give us the courage to believe, even in the darkness, and the grace to be signs of Your resurrection every day. Amen.

Same Old Story

    

The Nativity of the Lord

(Christmas)

25 December 2023

 

First Reading: Is 52:7-10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Second Reading: Heb 1:1-6

Gospel: Jn 1:1-18

 

Reflection

By: Bernard C. Borja

 

It's eleven thirty in the evening, a single mother of two is rushing to get home from her work in Makati City. She works as a staff in a shopping mall, which extended its hours of operation during the holiday season. The heavy traffic, worse than the usual rush hours during ordinary days, won’t even let her sneak a nap on a bus. When she gets home, she still needs to prepare meals to be shared by her children for their Christmas party at school on the next day. With a sigh of relief whenever the bus moves a few meters, she stares at the red lights ahead as she plans in her mind every detail of what she needs to do for the next 12 hours, which includes short naps and taking her children to school, before going to work again.

A young man has been selling Christmas cards and gift wrappers all day in the streets of Divisoria. He prepares to leave as he made his last sale of the day. He rode his bicycle that he used to go around one of the busiest districts in Manila. As he passed in between cars and large vehicles, he can’t help but smile while thinking, “May panghanda na kami ni nanay sa Noche Buena.”

In the other side of the world, a father carries his infant as he walks with other migrants to a nearby shelter to spend the night and maybe ask for some food. When they got to the shelter, it was already full, and they were told that they cannot be accommodated along with the long line of fellow migrants. The displaced migrants set up their own tents using whatever they had – blankets, jackets, large boxes, etc. Talking to his baby, the father kept saying the same words trying to calm his crying daughter, “It’s okay my dear. It’s okay my love.” Tears came down from his eyes when a fellow migrant shared a quarter of the milk that her child was not able to drink.

I wrote this reflection in the quiet of the night, thinking about the shepherds in Bethlehem during the first Christmas. Just like other silent nights when the shepherds do their usual night routine. Maybe keeping watch for those sheep that may go astray, or maybe for wolves that may injure or kill some of the lambs. I imagine their surprise when an angel appeared at a moment when they were looking out expecting for wolves. Their fear was immediately replaced by hope as the angel proclaimed the good news of great joy. As I looked up at the dark sky and listened to the silence, I thought of the mothers who are giving up a big part of their basic needs for their family’s well-being.  I thought of the young men who are eager to do everything they can for a simple but meaningful time for their loved ones. I thought of the people who all their life move day to day without a place to call home, but still share a little hope with those who need it the most.

It’s all the same old story. Like Joseph when he was looking for a temporary shelter for Mary, and when he went out of his hometown and became a migrant. Like the shepherd who watches his flock and hopes for a peaceful night among the sheep. Like the people who had heard the news and glorified God with the shepherds. God dwells among us - the same old story that continues throughout all time. God has always been with us. From the mother who struggles to keep the house together, the smiles on the faces of her children will always remind her of God who continues to give her strength every day; with the young man who continues to look for ways to bring simple joys to his loved ones, God is there to celebrate with him and tell him that all his efforts are worth it; to the father who continues to look for a home for his daughter, God has been carrying him all his life through the people around him.

This is Christmas. We celebrate this season through the same hope and joy that the shepherds heard from the angels. The same old story that continues to renew the story of our life and continues to renew our hearts. This is when we are greatly reminded that the same God, the Word became flesh, will continue to light the world and dwell among us, especially in the midst of all the chaos, fears, and struggles. Today, we also recall how we point to the Lord in all humility during our preparation to make straight his paths. May we continue to humble ourselves and rejoice in having the honor to testify to Jesus who never takes a break to be mindful of us especially on our hopes and dreams for our family. We take part in celebrating the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, especially in the simplest hope and joy, for us to wholly share in his dwelling with us. 

Prayer

Glory to You, dear Lord! For despite all our sinfulness, You chose to be with us and be a fragile infant who continues to be born in our hearts. May we share with one another the fullness of Your grace and truth that we also proclaim along with the angels. With grateful hearts, may we see the shepherds within us and go in haste to help those in need. With Joseph and Mary, we pray for all families who celebrate Christmas differently this year. We also pray for peace and end of war in Ukraine and Gaza, especially those who lost their loved ones and who are still looking for home. These we pray in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

Jesus Cries

  

Fifth Sunday of Lent

26 March 2023

 

First Reading: Ez 37:12-14

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Second Reading: Rom 8:8-11

Gospel: Jn 11:1-45

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

 

When was the last time you cry for the death of a loved one?

In 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, my two uncles, the brothers of my mother, have died, one after another, just two months apart, in June and August. I was so devastated that time to the point that I had to utter a prayer to the Lord begging Him to please stop and that it should be enough for that year. We were so tired emotionally and we couldn't help losing another loved one if ever. If I was so heartbroken that time, how much more my mother?

In today's Gospel, Jesus also wept at the death of his beloved friend, Lazarus. It is one of the three times He became vulnerable and cried as written in the Bible. In the continuation of the Gospel, we also heard Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead so the Jews would believe Him and the One who sent Him.

It is only three times that Jesus was recorded crying in the Bible, but I do believe that every time we sin, Jesus actually cry.

Years ago, I had a very raw conversation with a 6-year old girl while looking at the image of Jesus. She asked who is that, I told her Jesus Christ. She said, "Oh, Jesus Cry". I kept on correcting her it's Jesus Christ, but she also kept repeating Jesus Cry. Then it registered to me that the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ is rhymed with Jesus cries. I also came to realize that maybe Jesus cries when we continue to commit sin and disregard His overwhelming love for us.

Next Sunday, we will formally start the Holiest Week of the Year, we will commemorate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that instead of going on a vacation on these declared regular Holidays, may we also give time going to Churches to participate in the church activities especially in the Easter Triduum, the heart of our faith. May this be a time for reflection and see the importance of Jesus' saving sacrifice for the world. May we realize that His Passion, Death, and Resurrection should always be enough for us to believe in Him.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for this Season of Lent. We pray that we are able to prepare ourselves for the greatest Solemnity, Your Resurrection. Help us to obey Your will and strive hard to avoid sin so as to prevent You from crying. We look forward to the day that we will see Your sweetest smile, face to face, in heaven. Amen.

Time Has Come to Repent

“ The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

First Reading: Genesis 9:8-15

God said to Noah and to his sons with him: "See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you: all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals that were with you and came out of the ark. I will establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth." God added: "This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the covenant I have made between me and you and all living beings, so that the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all mortal beings.

Resp. Psalm: Psalms 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: 1Peter 3:18-22

For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit. In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God  for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

Gospel: Mark 1:12-15

At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Reflection

By Benj Santiago

“After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “”This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.””(Mk 1:15)

Jesus’ public ministry began after John the Baptist had been arrested. The message He had was very clearly stated on verse Mk1:15. What John was preaching about the Savior and Messiah is at hand, is already being fulfilled by Him. But sadly, He was not recognized and people continue to look for the Promised Messiah. Even to this age and time, not everyone knows or they simply refuse to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Even in Israel, where He was born, raised and preached, He is not acknowledged as the Messiah.

Even in our midst, among those who profess to be Christians or Catholics, Jesus is professed as Lord and Savior with the mouth, but is actually denied through actions and deeds. There is so much trickery, deceit, corruption, hatred, greed, malice, sinfulness that wraps up the world. I, myself fall victim to these deadly sins despite the fact that I know Jesus is our Messiah. But I believe in His great mercy and forgiveness. All I have to do every time I sin is to repent and believe that He really loves me and He shall wipe away all my sins. His promise is eternal and all I have to do to indeed be saved is to repent and believe in His gospel.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we praise You and we thank You for giving us Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to be our Messiah, our Savior. And we thank You Lord Jesus for Your unending mercy and forgiveness that all we have to do is repent and believe and we shall be saved! Thank You Lord Jesus. Thank You! Amen.

Action

Bring a friend to church! Invite them to have their confession. Have the sacrament of reconciliation too!