Season of Grace

Bishop Crispin Varquez of the Diocese of Borongan expressed the same observation which many before him have already made - that many Catholics seldom experience the fullness of the Paschal mystery because they only attend the Good Friday commemoration and never the Easter Sunday celebration.

The great Pope John Paul II said that we Christians are an an Easter people and alluluia is our song. We are not supposed to live our lives in the spirit of Good Friday but of Easter Sunday. It is true that God the Son redeemed us from sin on this eventful day. However, the greater celebration takes place during Easter Sunday when He rose from the dead and conquered death thereby releasing us from the bondage to sin, death and eternal damnation.

Easter is a season of grace and it is so because of the resurrection of Jesus. St. Paul said that if Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, Christians would be the worst people on earth because we won't have hope of a future life in heaven. If Christ did not rise from the dead, then Good Friday won't have meaning after all we will remain bonded to death.

But Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He manifested His divinity by doing so and made available to everyone who beleives in Him the fullness of grace which we were not capable of having when we were yet sinners. Through His death and resurrection Christ saved us and made us capable of acquiring grace - that divine life which dwells in everyone who believes and accepts Him as Savior.

Easter is truly a season of grace and we ought to take advantage of this season to be closer to God to bring others closer to God. Let us maximize the blessings that God is showering upon us who believe during this time so that we could bring forth fruits that would last in accordance with the Lord's promises.

If we manifest to others the truth that we are an Easter people - a people of grace - and sing through our good - and holy - works the anthem of Christians which is the Alleluia! then we shall make a true difference in the world and possibly bring out miracles in the lives of others!

Happy Easter and God bless us always! Alleluia!