Ang pag-ibig ng Diyos Ama sa Katauhan ni Hesus ay higit kay sa kamatayan; lalo’t higit pa sa ating kasalanan. Higit na mas makapangyarihan ang Pag-ibig ng Diyos kaysa kasamaan at kamatayan. Sa bandang huli, ang Diyos ang nagwagi. Ang Pagkabuhay ni Hesus ang siyang patunay. Nagtagumpay ang Panginoon. Ano ang mensahe at hamon ng Pagkabuhay ni Jesus sa mga unang disipulo at sa atin sa kasalukuyang panahon?

Sa ating mundo na puno ng paghihiganti at kasamaan, under the guise of law, ang Pagkabuhay  ay ay nag-aanyaya sa ating mga Katoliko na maging instrumento ng Kapayapaan at Pagpapatawad sa ating kapwa.  Salungat sa iniisip ng ilan, ang Pagkabuhay ay tawag at paanyaya sa ating lahat na maging agent ng Kapayapaan at Pagpapatawad.   It’s time to spread peace and forgiveness to others. As I used to say, it is not enough to fulfill our Sunday obligation as Catholics.  After all, to be at Mass is not an obligation. The sacrifice of the Holy mass is actually the very source of peace and forgiveness to us.  So, we Catholics are called primarily to be peace makers, to be agents of peace and forgiveness. Yes, it is a bit easier to live peacefully in our individual private life.  I think, one of the most dangerous attitudes of people nowadays, is that of being indifferent Is there such thing as indifferent love? Yes, what matters to the person is the self.   Yung tipo wala lang. Yung ugaling walang pakialam. Ang lakas ng loob mag sabi ng “wala ako kinalaman dyan” o wala akong alam d’yan” o “malay ko ba d’yan” system. Marahil wala nga tayong ginawan ng masama; subalit wala din naman nagagawang mabuti sa iba.  There are Christians who live unchristian. Or they are Christians on Sundays but live like pagans on weekdays.

Let us remember that to be Christians and to be called  blessed means to be “peacemakers” (Mt.5:9 ) Peace is not something to be possessed  privately but an attitude, a behavior to be shared.

Maraming taong takot at  duwag. At karamihan ay nagtatago sa likod ng ng batas o kapangyarihan.  Ginagamit ang batas at kapangyarihan para pagtakpan ang kaduwagan. Si Hesus ang pinakamatapang na tao sa kasaysayan ng sangkatauhan.  Wala siya itinago at lalo’y higit, wala siyang pinagtataguan. Lantaran ang lahat sa kanya. Lantaran siya kung umibig. Sabi nga, ang pag-ibig at ang tunay na umiibig ay hindi natatakot at walang kinatatakutan.  Why be afraid? Perhaps there is no love in you yet. Meaning, God is not yet in us. Perhaps we are alone.

When there is so much fear and cowardice, there also, is the absence of love and those who love.  The disciples where in close-door-room and were afraid and terrified. They were so afraid because Jesus, who is Love, their Lover, was not with them.  He was dead. Only when the resurrected Jesus appeared in their midst, they were reassured of His presence, of his person, of His peace, of His Love.

People are in need of true peace.  True peace can never be achieved through something material.  Material possession cannot provide true peace; pleasure, yes. True peace can only be attained through and with another, with a person.  Moreover, for us Christians, our peace is a Person; Jesus Christ.

Millions of people are enjoying so much pleasure on things.  There are others whose pleasures depend on power, career and gadgets.  Thus, these same people have never achieved inner peace, inner joy. Only in God we can find true and lasting peace.  Our mission is not to solve the world’s problems. Rather, our sole mission is to spread love, peace and forgiveness.

When there is so much fear because of indifferent love, the more urgent we need to spread love through peace and forgiveness.  This is the only way – our Christian Way. Remember, our peace is a Person.  May we become truly agents of Christ, the Prince of true and lasting peace in our wounded family and troubled society.  Amen.

~ Fr. Edgar Ma. Benedi-an, OSM

Source: Neo Jeremiah Voice of the Young Prophet Newsletter – April 28, 2019 issue.