Just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too might live in newness of life. – Romans 6:4

         I was cleaning my room at the beginning of 2016 when I unearthed an old wallet from my drawer. Although dust had clung to it, the red leather was intact. Inside, I found expired cards, old notes and US$10. “Enough to buy a pair of jeans,” I thought. When I checked the mint, they were series 2003, and I saw the pair of jeans slip from my fingers. I may no longer be able to exchange it to pesos.

         I realized that had I not kept it in that wallet and allowed the wallet to be buried in the messy drawer, I would have probably enjoyed what that bill could buy.

         In the same way, God gave us talents to use to better the world and planted dreams in our hearts to fulfill. However, some of us choose to bury them where they are eventually forgotten and covered by cobwebs.

         Friends, let us give life to our dead talents and old dreams. God has created us to reach our full potential, not with a spirit of cowardice or being small. Osy Erica (osy.erica@gmail.com)

Father, use me until I have nothing left to give. When I grow complacent, remind of the greatness within me that comes from You. Amen.

2nd Reading: Genesis 22:1-18 or 22:1-2, 9, 10-13, 15-18

Salvation history relates how powerfully God has been at work in the lives of His people for thousands of years and His patience is never-ending. As we reflect on today’s reading, let us imagine how individuals in the Old Testament responded to the proclamation of the Gospel. Let us also examine our own response and the state of our relationship with God, our Creator, redeemer and friend.

16 The word of the Lord came to me, saying: 17 Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it by their conduct and deeds. 18 Therefore I poured out my fury upon them because of the blood that they poured out on the ground, and because they defiled it with idols. 19 I scattered them among the nations, dispersing them over foreign lands; according to their conduct and deeds I judged them. 20 But when they came among the nations wherever they came, they served to profane my holy name, because it was said of them: “These are the people of the Lord, yet they had to leave their land.” 21 So I have relented because of my holy name which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they came. 22 Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: Not for your sakes do I act, house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you came. 23 I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations, in whose midst you have profaned it. Thus the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you. 24 For I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the foreign lands, and bring you back to your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. 27 I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees. 28 You shall live in the land I gave your fathers; you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

In the early Church, all baptisms are done only during the Easter vigil celebration. Today, there are more occasions for baptizing children and adults. When we are baptized as infants, we affirm our faith in God through our parents and godparents. This faith becomes the foundation of all of the other sacraments that we receive as baptized Catholics.

3 Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. 5 For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. 7 For a dead person has been absolved from sin. 8 If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. 10 As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. 11 Consequently, you too must think of  yourselves as being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.

R: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. 2 Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” (R) 16 The right hand of the Lord has struck with power; the right hand of the Lord is exalted. 17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. (R) 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. (R)

Jesus commissions us to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We should not take this responsibility lightly. Someone has shared the Gospel with us and made it possible for us to follow Christ. God will use each of us to do the same service to at least one other person, if not many.

1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. 3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. 4 The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. 5 Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised just as he 50said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” 8 Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

think: If you were one of the women who met Jesus after the resurrection, how would you react?

Read the Bible in one year Leviticus 10-12

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

SITTING STILL OR RUNNING AWAY?

Today, there is utter silence. Holy Saturday, from the point of view of the usually clockwork-busy and regular rhythm of the Church’s liturgy, is markedly silent.

       I would like to borrow an image from the title of a book, When God Turned Off the Lights. The lights have been figuratively turned off yesterday. We recalled how the Lord, in complete obedience to the Father’s will, allowed Himself to be led to an ignominious death, like a meek lamb being led to the slaughter.

       Although what Scripture tells us is that Jesus has laid down His life of His own free will, on account of a purpose and a motive so noble, so heroic and so salvific, we join the disciples gathered in the Upper Room today, sitting still, reflecting and pondering on all that happened, sorrowing as all human beings do, and dealing with the reality that stared them in the face. The Lord has figuratively turned off all the lights, and no one, who merits being called human, can ever deny that they are bewildered by the darkness.

       I remember being bewildered by the darkness. I was no more than three or four years old. I was all alone in a dark room on a dark night. I had a nightmare that paralyzed me temporarily. I heard loud noises from outside, but was all alone in the dark with no one beside me and no one to comfort me.

       The disciples, too, may have been bewildered by the darkness. Two of them, in fact, were already on their way home to Emmaus, unable to understand it all. When you are in the dark, with no one beside you, you feel more than just bewildered. You feel helpless.

       This is the reason why I find the Easter Vigil blessing of new fire meaningful personally. Once bewildered, I feel confounded and confirmed in the faith. For those who sit still and know how to wait in hope, the light soon comes to pierce the darkness of sin forever. The last chapter of God’s version of history is victory.

       The Lord is risen, alleluia! Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

----------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

What was the darkest moment of your life? Who helped you through it?

Lord Jesus, light of the world, come and shine on us. Lead us from the darkness of sin into the brightness of Your glory. Amen.