Each time Holy Week comes to a conclusion and the glorious Easter Sunday or Pasko ng Pagkabuhay ni Kristo arrives, it feels like a new chapter in the year begins. Personally, I tell my family, like “Oh that’s kinda sad that it takes another whole year again before our favorite week comes!” Other traditional people wake up way before dawn to attend the Salubong (literally translated as ‘meeting,’ a procession composed of 2 groups: women follow the carroza or float carrying the holy statue of Our Blessed Mother, while men follow the carroza or float of the holy statue of the Risen Lord, both taking different routes, until they meet in the center of the Church and the black veil of the Virgin is lifted off). Some families have Easter traditions like eating scrumptious food. While a small percentage do Easter egg hunts and bunny stuffs. My family just quietly observes it and goes to Mass.
But more than celebrations or observances, what does Easter, or the Resurrection of Jesus, really mean in your own life?
The Resurrection has opened the doors of Heaven again
When our first parents Adam and Eve committed the original sin against God, the doors of paradise were closed to all who died before the death of Jesus. After His death, and before His Resurrection, He “descended into Hell” or Sheol to take souls who were worthy of Heaven. Since then, all generations since Creation or before Christ, and the rest of the future generations can now go to Heaven if their souls are worthy of it in the eyes of God. With the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the doors of Heaven have been opened again for us, and we must be eternally grateful to Our Lord for redeeming us.
The Resurrection gives meaning to suffering
If God wants us to get to Heaven after we die, why then He allows sufferings to happen to us? Sufferings are among the things that are too hard to understand, if we are to rely only on our own way of thinking. We always question then, why do sufferings happen to good people, or even to the innocent?
Everybody has a trial set by God. No one can escape sufferings. Some people have to endure much heavier sufferings than others do. We know that God tested the angels themselves during the battle in Heaven. Lucifer and the other fallen angels rebelled against God. They chose to turn away from God and be damned. Since all Angels are pure spirits with intelligence far more superior than men, and are not subject to emotions like us, their will is solid and will not change. The remaining Angels in Heaven chose to be obedient, and submitted to God. Human beings, then, are also subjected to this same test of faith and fidelity to God. Such test is what we face in the midst of sufferings.
Keep in mind that Jesus said, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23) By carrying our own crosses in life, each of us is given a chance to solemnly unite himself to the Passion of Jesus, to the sufferings of the Lord. We therefore realize that Christ has given meaning to our pains as He Himself suffered immensely before defeating death. As we bear our sufferings, we know that it is not in vain but rather our humble share in the redemptive suffering of Jesus.
Whenever we feel that our sufferings are overwhelming, know that as a sufferer, these trials help us to rise up to holiness and elevate us closer to Jesus. Sufferings come to us in different forms – sickness, temptations, heartaches, or spiritual evil, that they are puzzling. They are impossible to comprehend. But instead of spending time overthinking the mysterious evil things that happen to us, let us try not to waste any more time, and take up this invitation from the Lord. For the sufferer, this is like a vocation to which he is called. To take and endure sufferings is a true and proper offering of oneself to the will of God. Jesus showed us that His Way of the Cross is the one and only path that His faithful followers can take.
Your sufferings may be physical or practical like illness or economic instability; emotional like relationship hurts or family problems; and spiritual like personal oppression caused by the Devil and evil spirits. In all of these, the Resurrected Christ reminds us that in every moment of pain, He is with us, and we are with Him, partaking in the salvation of the world, even as we are ordinary Catholics.
To offer our sufferings, by saying for example, “I offer you Jesus my sorrow and pain,” becomes reparation for the salvation of souls and conversion of sinners. When you feel frustrated, tired, forsaken or unloved, give it to Jesus. I can personally say that enouncing a heartfelt prayer to God consoles the pain.
When everything is smooth, it’s easy to say that we are of God. But when days are rough, that’s when He wants us to prove our fidelity to Him, and whether we are on His side. We are called to love God amidst sufferings. When life is easy for us or it seems we’re in control, we are tempted to feel proud, to not care, to resist virtues or to give in to vice. But it is only through suffering that true virtue is tried, shown, deepened, and perfected.
For people who claim that they seem to have little sufferings or none at all, they probably need to question themselves why they seem to have none. If you are in God, you surely have sufferings. Even His only begotten Son had to live as a poor person because of His Incarnation and to suffer on the Cross. But for those who choose to belong to the evil side, why would God test where their fidelity lies, when He already knows that they have chosen total submission to the demons? And why would demons give evil people sufferings to make them turn away from God, when those persons are already under them? For the sufferer, have confidence that the glory of God and His Divine Love and Mercy is being revealed to you. It sounds ironic. But that’s how sufferings mean in Christ.
The Resurrection affirms our hope to eternal life
This is the central message of Easter – God planned and intended for mankind to live in His Kingdom and have eternal life with the Most Holy Trinity and the Blessed Virgin Mary. For what meaning does our Catholic faith have without Christ’s Resurrection? For what value does our life here on earth have without the hope of eternal life with God? This is why we renew our vows made in Baptism on Easter. But be reminded that while the doors are opened, we still have to deserve to enter them through God’s help. How? By remaining in state of grace, doing good works, having a prayer life, fasting, and frequent receiving of Sacraments. More than the religious activities and acts of piety, we must carry our own Crosses to share in the suffering of Christ and someday share in His glory.
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
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Thank you po. Your articles should be published, and require all students in schools and colleges to read. The Holy Spirit speaks. God bless.