FINDING ANSWERS

The cornerstone of our Christian faith is Jesus’ resurrection because without it, there would be no Christianity.
So essential is the physical resurrection that the apostle Paul wrote the Corinthians, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins… [and] we are of all people to be pitied most.”
“Christ is risen! There is no message more beautiful than this, no truth full of hope and delight than this. After all our Lenten penance and preparations, our fasting and sacrifices, we come to the very foundation of our faith,” Manila Archbishop Jose F. Cardinal Advincula said.
In his Easter message, Cardinal Advincula explained: “If the resurrection of Christ is something we truly and personally believe, then it will change the manner we live our lives. There would be more compassionate and forgiving relationships, greater energy, boundless creativity, perseverance in mission, resolute courage to face evil and fight oppression, and confidence in times of trial. There would be more reasons to follow Christ, bear his cross, and share his good news with others.”
The resurrection of our Lord Jesus is incontrovertible proof of eternal life. In the resurrection lies the true significance of Easter, of the promise of eternal life.
But the Holy Bible declares that belief in Jesus is our way to eternal life and for us sinners to be reconciled with God. Christ said it clearly: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).”
The path to eternal life is also clearly stated in John 3:16 in the Holy Bible: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” In such reassuring message of eternal life lies the most awesome and most significant news of all time!
But how can one have eternal life? Jesus himself gave the answer: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39)
Thus, on the two greatest commandments lie the key to salvation. To truly love God and our neighbor as ourselves, we need to utilize our time, talent, and treasure to serve others especially as we perform the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
To truly love is to truly serve. Love without service is nothing. Loving and serving go hand in hand. Otherwise, love is meaningless. And the best way to serve is through the corporal works of mercy – To feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, bury the dead.
And there are also the spiritual works of mercy – To admonish the sinner, instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, comfort the sorrowful, bear wrongs patiently, forgive all injuries, pray for the living and the dead.
Easter is an opportune time to devote efforts and resources toward the unceasing work to bring about God’s Kingdom in this world, just as we aspire whenever we pray to God in the words Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer.
Indeed, obeying the basic teachings of Jesus for those who follow Him to feed the hungry and do other acts of mercy brings us closer to His Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven.”
“Easter will transform each one of us and lead us to conversion,” Cardinal Advincula said. I fully agree with his assertion: “If the resurrection of Christ is something we truly and personally believe, then it will change the manner we live our lives. There would be more compassionate and forgiving relationships, greater energy, boundless creativity, perseverance in mission…”
Being more compassionate with greater energy and boundless creativity would certainly open our eyes and spur us into action to help address many of the same old problems besetting our country: widespread poverty, rampant corruption, extensive injustice, and a host of other ills.
The stats continue to glare, making us aware of how many Filipinos go hungry every day, how many in the countryside just die without seeing a doctor or getting medication, how many malnourished children are suffering from stunting, wasting and other forms of undernutrition.
The transformative power of Easter, as espoused by Cardinal Advincula, ought to inspire us to act and bring happiness to our brethren in dire need of help. Happy Easter to all! ([[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]))