The tomb was not the last station

Listening to the Spirit

It is only right, with all the powers of our heart and mind, to praise You Father and Your Only-Begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Dear Father, by Your wondrous condescension of Loving-Kindness toward us, Your servants, You gave up Your Son. Dear Jesus You paid the debt of Adam for us to the Eternal Father by Your Blood poured forth in Loving-Kindness. You cleared away the darkness of sin by Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection. You broke the bonds of death and rose from the grave as a Conqueror. You reconciled Heaven and earth. Our life had no hope of Eternal Happiness before You redeemed us. Your Resurrection has washed away our sins, restored our innocence and brought us joy. How inestimable is the tenderness of Your Love!

Saint Gregory’s Easter Prayer

Listening to the Word

Matthew 28:1-10

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 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. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 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.”

Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Reflection

In our Gospel today, Mary Magdala went to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark. She wanted to go to the tomb because she loved Jesus. She desired to see Jesus, who died yesterday. Yesterday, she didn’t give the last respect. She didn’t have time and the law has not allowed her. She couldn’t take care of the body of Jesus properly. So, she went to the tomb and bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. For her, Jesus must be in the tomb. The tomb must be the last station.

On March 16,2022 at 3.30PM, I went to Sitio Militar, Bahay Toro, Project 8, QC. A community where the Xaverian had been taking care. The distance from our Seminary where I live was less than a kilometre. There was a ‘Street Mass’ in Pamayanan 4,5,6, and 7. We called it a street mass because the mass was not in the chapel but in the free space about an eight-by-eight meters. Fortunately, the weather at that time was so good.

Besides older people, the mass was attended by children. My heart was moved by celebrating the mass in a simple place with children, the innocent children. I enjoyed the mass, kind of the full of Spirit. The children joined the mass enthusiastically. Although sometimes made me smile. When I said, “Manalangin tayo (Let us pray), some of them answer, “Yes po.” Of course, it was not a proper answer. I believed Jesus would also be happy to see them. When I saw their faces, I felt sad too. It would be not easy to grow up in this place as children. In society, they are the most vulnerable. I could say they are the last, the least, and the lost. The world is so hard for them. Will this place become a place of failure for them?

In our Gospel today, Saint John wrote that Mary of Magdala saw the stone removed from the tomb. Then she informed this to other disciples. They found that Jesus was not in the tomb. The tomb was not the last station.

When I saw deeply the faces of the children in this place there was hope I could see beyond. It was like Mary Magdalene who saw the stone removed from the tomb. Something extraordinary could happen.

With the love of their parents, with the help of the community, government and the Church, I believe they will be successful. I can see also a lot of examples from this place. Although is not easy, the children and the youth tried to study hard. Some of them got scholarships. Some of them graduated with summa cum laude. A lot of them become young professionals.

I hope all these children will experience Easter. They will be successful. They grow and become strong; fill with wisdom, and the grace of God a is upon them.

Happy Easter po!