Not just for the weekend

The story is told that Joseph of Arimathea was asked why he lent his tomb for Jesus to be buried in. His response was: “His disciples told me that they will use it just for the weekend.”

In today’s Gospel (John 20, 19-31), we hear how the Risen Lord appeared to His disciples on the evening of the first day of that Easter weekend, and a week later, appeared again to them. He is risen! Indeed, the tomb was just for the weekend, but the Resurrection is for life, and Easter goes on.

“Peace be with you.” Three times the Risen Lord greeted His disciples with peace in today’s Gospel. This is also our Lord’s greeting to us today who are burdened with so much worries, guilt and anxieties. Now, more than ever, may the message of Easter—peace, hope and joy—be experienced and spread by us all, in our own way. The tomb is just for the weekend, but the mission for the Risen Lord is for our keeping, and for spreading.

Where were you, what were you doing, and what were your thoughts when an earthquake visited us about 5:11 p.m. on April 22? How short and fragile life is! When Mother Nature speaks, we realize how little we are, and when God jolts us, let us really listen, and let us not be proud.

We will hold our midterm elections two weeks from now. This is one area of our lives that needs redemption. The forces of darkness and evil are still operating deep and wide. We are an Easter people. We are children of the light. Let us pray hard, and work together to make Easter a reality in the coming elections.

“Nec laude, nec timore…” Neither with favor nor by fear should we be silenced from proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Let us not allow money, fear, intimidations and cheating to deprive us of our true freedom to elect the best of leaders to serve us.  Let us be courageous and vigilant, and not allow the forces of darkness and evil to put off the light in us.

May is the month of Mama Mary. Let us not forget her who loved Jesus most, and who loves us all. We consecrate our families, our country and our people to Mary, our Mother and model. Let us ask Mama Mary to help us get over the drought and the oppressive heat that are affecting many of our people for the past weeks already.

Inviting you to our “Walk with God to Manaoag” on Saturday, May 4. We start the 13-kilometer walk at the Urdaneta Cathedral at 5 a.m. and end with our 9 a.m. Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Manaoag. Let us offer this thanksgiving and petition walk especially for clean, honest and peaceful elections, and for the victory of good over evil.

Think about this: “Only in God are we truly safe and secure; anything else is false security; whether you are surrounded by mighty walls of stone (or by bodyguards), no one can predict what tomorrow may bring; only in the Lord is our true safety and security.”

Moments with Fr. Jerry Foundation would like to thank the following sponsors of our Lenten TV special, “My Suffering is my Offering,” aired over ABS-CBN last Holy Thursday: Executive Resources Inc., San Miguel Brewery, Gothong Southern, Tiqui Builders, Subicon-Filmixco, Lopez Forex Corp., SM Felicidad Sy Foundation Inc., Kar Asia Inc., Odette Sacaben, Rod and Marlene Silvestre, Sam and Laura Co., Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary pilgrims, 2012 Medjugorje pilgrims. Thank you to Dik and Nita Trofeo for the good production work.

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, remind us that we are an Easter people, and that our commitment to You and our involvement with Your Kingdom are not just for the weekend. Amen.

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