Resurrection a reminder of happiness and hope

CEBU, Philippines - The celebration of the resurrection of Christ is itself a message of happiness and hope amidst trying times.

This was the message of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma in his homily during the Easter Mass at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral early morning yesterday.

“Salamat kaninyong tanan nga anaa karon alang sa kasaulogan sa atong simbahan, mao ang pagkabanhaw ni Kristo.

Magmalipayon kita kay ang Dioys nga atong gituohan nabanhaw. Sa atong pagtigom karon, nasayod kita nga ang pagkabanhaw ni Kristo naghatag nato’g kalipay ug paglaum taliwala sa mga problema sa atong kinabuhi. Adunay kusog gikan ni Kristo,” Palma said.

“Salamat Ginoong Hesukristo. Imong banay, imong simbahan gihatagan gayod og paglaom nga bisan pa man sa among kahuyang, nagtoo kami nga adunay grasya nga magpabilin aron kami nga imong mga instrumento magdala niining maayong Balita sa among kaigsuonan,” he added.

Palma cited two Filipino Saints who have shown unwavering spirit amidst challenges – Saint Pedro Calungsod and San Lorenzo Ruiz. 

San Lorenzo Ruiz was arrested and imprisoned for manifesting Christian Faith in Japan. He was tortured and was forced to renounce his faith only to tell his executioner that he was ready to die for God.

San Pedro Calungsod was also killed while doing missionary work in Guam. Calungsod, together with Blessed Diego San Vitores, was murdered after baptizing an infant and a mother who converted to the Roman Catholic faith.

The ‘Sugat Kabanhawan’ at the Cathedral started with a procession of the images of the Risen Christ and the Blessed Virgin who were met with a ‘flock of angels’ as they entered the church grounds. The crowd then gathered to witness the symbolic rites and sang hymn of praises to celebrate the resurrection.

Also at the Cathedral hours before the Easter celebration, Palma told devotees that Jesus’ resurrection is symbolic of vanquishing the “darkness on earth.”

“Sa simbahan gi-awit ang kahayag ni Kristo.  Si Kristo niabot aron mawala ang kangit-ngit sa sala, ang kangitngit sa kalibutan. Ug mao kitang tanan giawhag nga magsadya. Angay nga maglipay sab kita tungod kay ang Diyos nabanhaw” Palma said in his homily during the Easter Vigil Mass.

He reminded devotees that God the Father loved his people so much that he let his only son suffer on Earth and on the cross.

“Bisan siya Diyos, gitugot niya ang iyang anak nga mag-antos. Bisan siya Diyos iyang gitugot nga patyon si Kristo diha sa krus. Mao kini kadako ang gugma sa Diyos alang natong tanan,” he said.

The first bible reading tackled the creation of Earth, which Palma said should be reminder that that God has entrusted everything to the people.

The second reading was about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, a reminder of how God saved his people from slavery.

“Nagpahinumdom kon ang Diyos nagluwas sa banay nga Israel gikan sa pagkaulipon (from Egyptians). Giluwas ta sa Ginoo sa pagkaulipon sa sala ug diha sa bag-ong kinabuhi sa grasya, maglipay, magsadya kita,” he said.

“Gitawag kita pagkabalaan… called to be saints kay anak ta sa Diyos called to be holy kay anak kita sa Diyos… He called us to be heroes kay kon si Kristo anak sa Diyos  tungod sa iyang gugma andam mo sakripisyo,” Palma said.

Keeping true to old Catholic tradition, the Easter vigil was observed with the blessing of fire and water, baptismal of liturgy, and the Easter proclamation.

One devotee, Alicia Beltran, 59, told The Freeman she has attended the vigil for the past 10 years. “Dugay na gyod ni ug ako ning ipamana sad sa akong mga anak ug apo,” Beltran said.

Sally Sarno, 57, attended the vigil alone and said age is not a hindrance to exercising her faith. “Grabe gani kaayo ang sacrifice sa Ginoo unya ang pagsimba lang, dili nato mahimo?,” she said. – Michael H. Braga, Jean Marvette A. Demecillo and Mechelle P. Florita/JMO