More Blessed Easter

Easter 2004 is markedly different from any of my previous Easters within memory. From the time I was old enough to know, the account of the excruciating events leading to the glorious Easter celebration–the story of the passion and death of Jesus Christ, particularly His last twelve hours on earth to complete His redemptive mission in total obedience to the Father’s will–mainly came from the words coming out of the Bible and other inspiring books; and heard in the pulpits, retreat houses and meditation centers and classrooms, as told and re-told by preachers, religious leaders and teachers. To be sure, they are good enough to keep my faith strong steadfast. But somehow the inert and impersonal words could not create a more telling spiritual impact in this modern materialistic world since apparently, the intensity and realism of that supreme sacrifice born out of unsurpassed love could not be forcefully conveyed even by a prolific pen or an eloquent tongue.

Ironically, the silver screen, an invention of modern technology that has been the source of too much materialism, provided the most adequate medium to create the spiritual impact that the pages of the Holy Books and pious lips of Church leaders could not apparently provide. The "Passion of the Christ" undoubtedly jolted millions all over the world into re-examining and strengthening their spirituality after coming out of the cinemas much more than it could have jolted them to do so after coming out of a church. Never before have I seen such a vivid portrayal of what Christ had undergone after the last supper. The hours of agonizing at Gethsemane after he foresaw His ordeals, the injustice, insults, humiliations and the repeated heavy blows of the whip with iron balls while tied at the flogging post, the severe trek to Calvary carrying a heavy cross along the dusty, rugged streets of Jerusalem battered and bloodied all over, the hanging on the cross at Golgotha with hands and feet pierced by nails, blood oozing on His face coming from the forehead embedded with sharp thorns as He lovingly gaze at His mother below with one eye almost half shut by the beatings, and finally the grieving mother lovingly holding the lifeless body of her son as she sorrowfully stare beyond the screen as if telling all of us, "look what you did to Him". These are images so powerfully and graphically depicted in the film as to be deeply etched in my heart and mind and, I am sure, in the heart and mind of my wife seated beside me who, like me, could not stop sobbing quietly.

I can clearly see the hand of God in the making of this movie. Through the Holy Spirit, He inspired the director, actors and filmmakers to portray the passion of the Christ as it happened in its raw, graphic and violent form to remind us that up to now Christ is reliving it and undergoing similar or more intense torture and violence because His message of love so passionately conveyed on the cross as He asked the Father to "forgive them for they know not what they do", continues to fall on deaf ears. "It is as it was" are the very words reportedly uttered by Pope John Paul II after watching the movie.

So beyond being moved to tears, those recurring and stirring images of the suffering Christ and His grieving Mother have profoundly affected us in other ways. Somehow we now feel a strong deterrent every time we are on the verge of doing anything unjust, uncharitable or may cause others to commit wrongs like concealing or embellishing the truth that hurts, breaking simple traffic rules, getting ahead of a long queue of people and vehicles, buying favors, taking the easy way out, using dirty underhanded tactics, gossiping and talking ill of others or judging them rashly, and all sorts of lamangan, palakasan, palusutan etc.

We now also look at adversities in life rather differently. Our attitude towards set-backs, failures, disappointments, rebuffs, humiliations, unfair developments, disagreeable outcomes, overbearing or inept individuals, unpleasant situations, ailments, afflictions and even tragic events, are gradually changing. We are now trying to accept them with patience, tolerance, understanding, serenity and joy after realizing that, though they are "small crosses" compared to Christ’s sufferings, they are rare opportunities to share in His passion, to participate in His redemptive work. St. Josemaria, the founder of Opus Dei describes them as "pruning the branches" for them to bear fruits (we are the branches, He is the vine), and "chisel blows" to smoothen the rough edges of the soul so we can enter eternal life.

Truly, these changes caused by the Passion of the Christ make for a happier, more Blessed Easter.

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