He is Risen

Ang bilis! Two days ago was Christmas when we commemorate Jesus’ birth. Yesterday was the feast of St Stephen, the first martyr, who reminded us that we should be willing to suffer and face trials as we work for God. Today, the gospel tells us that Jesus is risen. He has won over sin and death – he saved us.

It is something joyful – Jesus Christ rising from the dead to save us. God loves us so much, that’s why through Jesus, his only son, he saved us from sin and death. Out of that joy, we should love and serve God, and bring others that joy as well. That’s why in the first reading, we are reminded to bring other people to God. We should not keep this to ourselves..

so that you too may have fellowship with us;

for our fellowship is with the Father

and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

We are writing this so that our joy may be complete.

The readings also reminds us that the birth of Jesus is just part of the saving plan of God. Maybe that’s why the gospel was included in the Christmas season readings. Jesus being born is yes, a big step, but that’s not everything. He still had to proclaim the kingdom, suffer, and die before he will be risen up from the dead, before he can save us. It is not easy. Maybe God wants to remind us that tayo din. Being baptized is not enough. We should also do our part, we should also work for him for his plan to be fulfilled. We should constantly be aware of his plans, and constantly abide by it. In the process, we will experience challenges, which we should lift up to God, knowing that He will take care of everything and that he is guiding us. It is okay to want other things from time to time, it is okay to question or even ask for something else… Even Jesus did that – “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me…” But what’s important is at the end of the day, we still obey God’s plan, kahit mahirap, kahit masakit, because we know by faith that God's plan is the best. In the words of Jesus – “yet not my will, but yours be done (Luke 22:42)”