G.O.D

Sharing 105…. Mark 1:29-39

January 10 2007

“Mother, mother! I am sick call the doctor very quick. Mother, mother will I die? No my darling, do not cry”. This is a popular nursery rhyme that simply describes the fear and troubles of the child who is in need of a healer or doctor perhaps. It is one obvious thing that whenever we have illness we look for relief and healing so that we will be well again. It is only then that we recognized the help of an expert to heal us. Or if we have fears and difficulties we seek persons we find always ready to help. Or a person who will serve us or even a companion to accompany us…Sino kayang nilalalng siya….

The theme of our first reading, presents the Jesus as the Son of God who took on flesh and blood to identify himself to us. He became one of us by teaching how to become a true disciple, teaching us to be merciful and faithful.. While in our gospel reading, Jesus is in a hurry in his public mission,,,, which the Marcan gospel always portrays to Jesus, A man always on the go, a man who does not rest and always in a hurry because of SERVICE. Jesus first person to heals is a woman -the mother in law of Peter , he heals the various sickness of the people, shows compassion to the possessed which is the continuation of the readings yesterday and teaching and preaching throughout the whole city. And after a long busy day Jesus seek solitude, spending time in prayer.

Sa buhay natin paano natin makikita ang katangiang ito ni Hesus. It only takes three-letter , acronym

G. O. D.

The first acronym is, G – for Generosity. Jesus had shown to us this attitude towards his people, being generous to what he had, what he can offer, what he can give, to the sick, the disabled, the possessed; a selfless love and service. Perhaps as religious, this is one attitude we should possess. Sabi nga isang formator, Walang puwang ang isang taong tamad sa religious life. Dahil bawal ang tamad sa ministry, bawal ang tamad manalangin, bawal ang tamad makipag-kapwa tao…Generosity.. in giving service… we are called to serve… huwag tayong madamot, huwag nating ipagkait ang dapat nating ibigay at ibahagi, huwag lang ang ating sariliri ating iniintindi.

The second acronym is, O – for Obedience and Openness. Jesus was presented to us in the readings to be our teacher - healer. As teacher, we should learn from Him; His very words give us the understanding and the truths of life. And as a healer, by His deeds and preaching, we may come across to the grace of healing and wholeness if we respond fully to His will. In giving our service to others is not just fulfilling and obeying what had been told to us. Not just blind obedience, not because your force to do so, a show off, or because you are being observed by an authority. But rather an open mind, free and willing service, able to transcend of what is being required.

The third acronym is, D - for Discipleship. Acknowledge God’s inspiration to makes us true and compassionate disciples.

To be a disciple is to imitate Jesus… In the tradition of Fr. Rey…lagi niyang sinasabi… Sequela Christi,,, the following of Christ. It is also mentioned in our reading that an authentic service is always coupled with prayer… Jesus always looked for a place and time to pray before doing his ministry. That is the invitation to all of us,, that we should not separate service and prayer in our life. Prayer is our spiritual energizer Through these things we can able to follow him and be compassionate disciples in our own ways of extending our care and love to others. Primarily, this is our calling, to be disciples, which is to love and serve God and our fellow human beings.

In this Eucharistic celebration, let us ask God to give us the necessary graces as we are being called to make supreme sacrifice in giving ourselves in service. And unleashed the goodness we have in ourselves so that we can freely share it to others.

It only takes a three-letter word. G- for Generosity, O for Obedience and Openness, and D – for discipleship.

But God gave us free will to choose, the only thing I can say for today is that …. THE CHOICE IS YOURS!!!!!!!

Sharing 104

October 11, 2006

Attention – Getter

· Beside the throne of our Heavenly Father is a bell; praying and the intimate relationship with Him means ringing the bell continuously until God responds.

There are those who pray continuously, repeatedly and the bell rings the same. There are those who pray to God once or twice is enough and no more. Then they are disappointed and angry with God because seemingly nothing happens.

· How do we pray and establish our relationship with God, our Father?

There are two points I want to share and they were stated in the form of questions;

· first, How do I value the “Lord’s Prayer” .

In our gospel reading for today, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray and this prayer was what we commonly know as “the Lord’s Prayer, Ama Namin, Ibpa Mi, Amahan Namo, AmaMi, Ama Niamo, Kitaffe or Pater Noster. Jesus gave the “Our Father as a perfect prayer expressing 7 petitions; (7 is a perfect number) the first 3 petitions (God’s number) refers to God, speaks of our relationship to God as our Father, that His name be glorified, that His kingdom has come near to us through the teaching of Jesus. And His will must be our attitude towards prayer not our personal will, not as if we are forcing God to act.

The last 4 petitions refers to our needs, we ask the Father for bread, our bodily nourishment and our spiritual bread – the Eucharist. We ask God for forgiveness to free us from hatred, to our own self and to others. To deliver us from somebody who is stronger than ourselves to deceive us, who is the evil one.

· Second: How is our relationship to God as our Father?

In the readings we see the intimacy of the relationship between Jesus and his Father. When we spoke about His Father in heaven he did so with tenderness and affection. There is a habit in psychology of blaming parents and fathers in particular for everything that is wrong in one’s life. E, may issue sa Father, takot sa tatay, may authority hang out, walang father figure, galit sa ama, broken family dahil iniwan ni tatay ang nanay, and so on and so forth. It is a sad reality that Fathers are being ridiculed, hated and blamed. Bakit pag mother ang pinag-uusapan we give them praise and high regards; but very seldom for the fathers. Maraming dahilan, kasi ganito, kasi ganyan, kasi, kasi puri sisi. There were writers now who mentioned that “ No one can relate meaningfully to God as Father, because fatherhood connotes negative impression or sometimes only as figure for authority and power. Maari siguro nating itanong sa ating sarili, “Paano ang relasyon ko sa aking Ama? Gaano ko kamahal ang aking tatay? At ating din itanong sa ating sarili kung gaano nating kamahal ang Diyos bilang ating Ama. Katulad din ba ng ating relasyon sa ating ama?

· Prayer is the way we can be of constant communication to God, a way of having an intimate relationship with God. And the model of prayer Jesus thought is the Lord’s Prayer.

· The bell beside the throne of God is the indicator of our prayer and relationship to God. On how we are sincere to our prayers and how intimate our relationship to HIM. Keep on ringing that bell. Let it rings, ring, ring for God.

· Ang panalangin at relasyon na nagsisimula sa katapatan at pagpupunyagi ay laging nagtatapos sa papuri’t pasasalamat.

the Paper Boat, the Paper plane

Weekday Homily with Props

(Sept. 20, 2006 - Reading. Luke 7: 31-35)

This paper boat and paper plane has a significant meaning in my childhood years. I used to play these simple folded papers along with my playmates. We had joy and fun in playing and our hearts were filled with laughter as we watched the paper boat travel in the water and the paper plane fly in the air.

What do children’s game have to do for our gospel reading for today?

The children in Jesus’ parable react with disappointment because they cannot convince anyone to join in their song and dance. They complain that when they play their music no one sings, when they play at funerals, it is the same dead response. The sign of indifference was shown in this passage that the new generation expressed now a days. If you are not “in” you’re “jahe”.; if you are not in the latest fashion, you’re so “baduy”. If you did not conform to their style and taste, you’re “corny”. And when you are avoiding making fun with them, you’re “kj”. How do today’s youth would appreciate to play a “bangka at eroplanong papel”? Perhaps they would rather turn on the TV set and play their favorite video game and interactive game stations. Deal or no deal?

In our spiritual life, sad to say, is somewhat the same thing. We are now living to many pretenses and indifference in life. Our hearts had closed in regards to the things of God and had been focused on the temptations of materialism. We have no more sense of reflection in spiritual things and our own experience of life. No more imagery of this “paper boat” as our own image of our journey, sailing on the different phases of life; or to this “paper plane” as to fly and soar to our dreams and aspirations in order to reach our goals. That I can’t see anymore. Spiritual blindness and indifferences had made us dull to comprehend the love of God and the graces we had received in life. Only having a humble heart that we can find joy in God’s grace. It’s only in loving, as our first reading stated, that we could recognize God and His love for us.

Shall we allow this “paper boat” to be just soaked down because of our differences; or this paper plane to be crumpled by our own jealousy and contempt? NO, we have to tear down these negative attitudes and be replaced by love. We have to sing the tune and dance to the music of love in our life. And the very source of this LOVE is CHRIST. (showing a paper cross came out to the folded paper)

I. Introduction

A. Attention – Getter

This paper boat and paper plane has a significant meaning in my childhood years. I used to play these simple papers folding along with my playmates. We had joy and fun in playing and our hearts were filled with laughter as we watched the paper boat travel in the water and the paper plane fly in the air.

B. Lead – In

What do children’s game have to do for our gospel reading for today?

II. Body

A. Point for Homily: Allowing God’s love to rule our life.

B. Scriptural Text: “We played the music but you did not dance. We sang a dirge but you did not weep”.

C. Supporting Materials

The children in Jesus’ parable react with disappointment because they cannot convince anyone to join in their song and dance. They complain that when they play their music no one sings, when they play at funerals, it is the same dead response. The sign of indifference was shown in this passage that the new generation expressed now a days. If you are not “in” you’re “jahe”.; if you are not in the latest fashion, you’re so “baduy”. If you did not conform to their style and taste, you’re “corny”. And when you are avoiding making fun with them, you’re “kj”. How do today’s youth would appreciate to play a banking papel and eroplanong papel? Perhaps they would rather turn on the TV set and play their favorite video game and interactive game stations.

In our spiritual life, sad to say, is somewhat the same thing. We are now living to many pretenses and indifference in life. Our hearts had closed in regards to the things of God and had been focused on the temptations of materialism. We have no more sense of reflection in spiritual things and our own experience of life. No more imagery of this “paper boat” as our own image of our journey, sailing on the different phases of life; or to this “paper plane” as to fly and soar to our dreams and aspirations in order to reach our goals. That I can’t see anymore. Spiritual blindness and indifferences had made us dull to comprehend the love of God and the graces we had received in life. Only having a humble heart that we can find joy in God’s grace. It’s only in loving, as our first reading stated, that we could recognize God and His love for us.

III. Conclusion

A. Creative Summary and Memorable ending

Shall we allow this “paper boat” to be just soaked down by our differences; or this paper plane to be crumpled by our own jealousy and contempt? NO, we have to tear down these negative attitudes and be replaced by love. We have to sing the tune and dance to the music of love in our life. And the very source of this LOVE is CHRIST. (Showing a paper cross came out on the folded paper)

This is my Body, my Blood!

Feast of Corpus Christi (Yr. C)

Reflection

o The Feast of Corpus Christi focuses on the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. It is a Memorial of the Holy Thursday Last Supper, the institution of the Holy Eucharist. It is a celebration of the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine, which testify to our understanding of Christ in our lives.

o It is a celebration of the generosity of God to us, in offering His Son as food to satisfy our spiritual and material hunger as we journey to life.

o A huge crowd had followed Jesus and were hungry, Jesus fed the thousands; a reminder of the works of generosity to others.

o The multiplication of the loaves is greater miracle of Eucharistic bread in our present celebration of Eucharist today.

Commentaries and Exegesis

• The story of how Jesus feed the multitude, as told by Luke, prefigures the ministry of the apostles in the Christian Community. The actions of Jesus in taking, blessing, breaking and distributing the food would become the Eucharistic actions.

• The gospel narrative of Luke presents the miracle of Jesus multiplying loaves of bread as a foreshadowing of the miracle of the Eucharist. St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians recalls the Last Supper when Jesus broke the bread with his disciples and assured them. “This is my Body which is for you”.

• The breaking of the bread was one of the cornerstones of the early community.

• Bread is the symbol of the outreach of God to his children in welcome, enlightenment, healing and sustaining.

Points for Homily

o The bread turned into the Body of Christ satisfies all human hunger.

o The wine changed into Blood of Christ cleanses all our sins because of the out-pouring of God’s love.

o The both Body and Blood of Christ are available to us whenever the Mass is said.

Homily Outline

I. Introduction

A. Attention – Getter

This is my Body! This is my Blood! Do this in memory of me.(with image projected) These are the very words of Jesus at the evening of Last Supper, which we celebrate during Holy Thursday, the institution of the Holy Eucharist.

B. Relevance

These words are also the same words that we hear week after week as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Apart from these celebrations, once a year the Church liturgy, allotted a day to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, for us to pause and ponder the riches of this Mystery of our Faith.

C. Lead – In

Why Body? Why Blood? How can Jesus give his body and blood for us to eat and drink? Is it really the question of how or why? Let me give you reasons to clarify the questions Why Body and Why Blood?

II. BODY

A. Main Points:

1. The bread turned into the Body of Christ satisfies all human hunger.

a. Scriptural support: “This is my Body, which is for you.”

b. Supporting Materials:

Jesus changed bread into his own body for us to eat. Why? The second reading speaks to us as the memorial of the Last Supper; where Jesus is the “Wonder Bread of the Altar”. When we look this Bread of Life, Jesus wanted us to know that he is with us to satisfy our hungers. There is the hunger for ordinary bread; unless this is satisfied, a person will always be in anguish. There is the hunger for meaning; unless this is satisfied a person will always remain dissatisfied. That is why Jesus in His lifetime, offered to people various bread to satisfy their different hungers. Those thousands of people who followed him, he offered them bread to satisfy their longing, the leper whose body was falling apart, he offered the bread of physical healing, to Mary Magdalene, a public sinner, the bread of forgiveness, the lonely woman in Jacob’s well, the bread of companionship, to Zacchaeus, the bread of conversion and to the thief, the bread of reconciliation with God. It is this Jesus we see and whose flesh we eat in the Eucharist.

c. Transition: Why Blood? What is so significant to it?

B. The wine changed into Blood of Christ cleanses all our sins because of the out-pouring of God’s love.

a. Scriptural Support: This is my Blood! Do this in remembrance of me.

b. Supporting Materials:

Jesus changed wine into His own Blood for us to drink. Why? When we drink this blood; he wanted us to know that our sins are forgiven. When we drink this blood, Jesus wants us all to remember that the history of humanity has been a long story of wars, terrorism and sufferings, of bloodshed and injustices and yet God loved this humanity- aggressive, greed, power – hunger and often feeding on the blood of fellow human beings mostly the innocents, the week and the silent one. And yet God love this human being so much that he shed the blood of His own Son, so that bloodthirsty men could come to their senses.

III. Conclusion

A. Creative Summary

On this day, Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we are being reminded of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Our gospel reading foreshadow that we are the symbol of the five thousand people who followed him, need of something to satisfy our hunger, whom Jesus invited to settle down in this place, to sit down, to stop and consider the great miracle of God in the celebration of the Eucharist. To witness the beauty of Jesus’ actions of blessing, breaking, taking and sharing of His BODY and BLOOD. Until we will say at the end of the celebration, “we all ate to our hearts content.”

B. Memorable ending

Why Body? Why Blood?

Do we need to ask WHY?

Jesus stated it clearly…

This is my Body! This is my Blood!

Do this in memory of me.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

Homily

St Ignatius of Loyola

July 31

Lord Jesus Christ, take all my freedom, my memory, my understanding, and my will. All that I have and cherish you have given me. I surrender it all to be guided by your will. Your grace and your love and wealth are enough for me. Give me these, Lord Jesus, and I ask for nothing more. Amen.

This prayer is the evidence that led me to be satisfied with God. It is a description of the epitome of my spiritual life. It is very hard from the very start yet God allows it to happen slowly and tenderly.

Did you ever dare to offer your entire life and being to God?

I was the youngest of the thirteen children, famous, became a soldier of the royal court, appealing to all men and women because I’m wealthy, brave, courageous and full of valor; I knew that most of you, like the same way. Yet in life everything is not all pleasant, during a battle, a cannon ball struck me wounding one of my legs and breaking the other. The leg healed, but I was left with one leg shorter than the other. For the rest of my life I walked with a limp. It is a bad fate everything falls down to nothing. I am now useless, worthless and futile in the eyes of men. You!!! How would you feel if you suffered the same fate like mine? Someone knocks in my vain heart. I never thought that somebody would give attention to my desperate condition. I don’t know Him before. He is Christ, to whom I just knew through the life of great saints which I read during my hopeless state. There began my conversion. It was not an extra ordinary drama or story yet it compels an inspiration, unusual conversion and transformation. How about you my brothers, I’m asking you now; have you already encounter Christ in your journey at this point of time?

I lived in a solitary life, in great austerity within a cave, I spent my time in prayer, engaged myself to spiritual discernment to where I designed my spiritual exercises. I mastered the art of prayer and reflection where I went within the very core of my being allowing God to work within me. To that case I was now known as the master of spiritual retreats. To all what I do I find God in all things. This is a very noble attitude if modern man would obtain this in life, especially at present, where human mind is so engross with earthly evils like hate, greed, pride and lust.

I fed myself with the knowledge of the things of God. I went to universities to enrich more and enhance my understanding of the mysteries of God. Maybe this is also my invitation to all of you, not just be contented with our present knowledge but to have a continued search and discovery of God in our life. Now a days, it seems that man is deeply absorb by acquiring knowledge for the well being of his life but not for the means of saving his soul. Come to think of that brothers, maybe tomorrow will be too late.

Along with my own journey, I had friends who followed me. We established a group in which life will be focused in preaching Christ to every point of the world. A society that would spread the good news about Jesus and its motto is “"Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam,"--to the greater glory of God.

This was the life I lived. This was the fate I tracked. This is the design that God intended in my life. I surrendered everything and I cherished all that I received.

I thought I’m a loser, a coward, and worthless brat because of my futile condition. A lame, a hobble, totter individual who cannot defend oneself in times of difficulties. But God changed Inigo Lopez de Onez Loyola into St. Ignatius of Loyola- a man of spiritual braveness and valor.

Lord Jesus, I ask for nothing more. Amen

PANALO KA! (Sept. 14, 2006)

Triumph of the Cross

Allen, sss

Efren “Bata” Reyes, world billiard champion won 25 M, the biggest prize in his sports…PANALO! Final resting place for the body of late Ferdinand Marcos found… Sa wakas .PANALO! September 11 terror attack remembers; policy for peaceful negotiations to be implemented .PANALO! Today if you have no problems and your life runs smoothly..

.PANALO KA!

These are some good news that happened in our present time. We can term them as good news because somehow they strengthen our desires to do good, inspire us and lighten our loads and not be burdened by them or to become added crosses in our life.

Good news always reminds us to the graces of God. And of course, problems and undesirable news often are like crosses that make our life heavy laden. Today, as we commemorate the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross-, let us look on to these two factors, the triumph over our own crosses as Jesus triumphs over sin through his self sacrifice on the cross.

The symbol of the Cross is SALVATION. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved. The cross is the symbol of our salvation. It is the wood of the cross upon which Jesus hung, died and our sins were consequently forgiven. Good Friday come to my mind and invite me to recall this instrument of our salvation. The cross is often associated with death, humiliation, burdens, and sinfulness yet there is much more to it.. We easily fall into the trap of seeing the negative rather than to the positive side of what the meaning of the cross in our life of faith. But what is exactly the meaning of Jesus’ cross in our life.

The Meaning of the Cross is VICTORY. : And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the dessert, so as the Son of Man be lifted up” The real meaning of “being lifted up on the cross” is victory over death, the resurrection, where. Jesus exalted by the Father, bestowed on him the name above every other name as the second reading states. The lifting up of Jesus is comparable to Moses’ lifting up of the serpent in the dessert. As instructed by God, Moses made a bronze serpent, put it on a pole, and lifted it up before the people. Everyone who looks at it recovered from the snakebites. In similar way, everyone who looks at Jesus, lifted up in the crucifixion and resurrection, and believes in him will have eternal life. How do we live this victory of Christ in our life?

The cross “is the central emblem of our FAITH”. For God so love the world that he gave His only Son, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. The cross is the emblem and the central symbol of our faith. We believe in the divine mystery of God’s love, which He gave His Son, his begotten, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. We often make the sign of the cross; this reminds us that inside this gesture we utter the Holy Trinity, the God the Father who loves us so much, the Son who was lifted up on the cross and resurrection for our salvation, the Holy Spirit who always sanctify us in our life of faith.

Brothers and Sisters, as we live life day by day, the cross always reminds us with meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice and victory, let us in this eucharistic celebration be strengthened in our faith journey, and confident to bear our own cross because of God’s love for us and experience his victory and glory at the end.

On this feast let us exalt the cross of Christ and not deny our own.

Kung si Kristo PANALO, tayo din PANALO!

Healer of Soul (Sept. 6, 2006)

Healer of Souls

Allen, sss (Luke 4: 38-44)

“Mother, mother! I am sick call the doctor very quick. Mother, mother will I die? No my darling, do not cry”. This is a popular nursery rhyme that simply describes the fear and troubles of a child who is in need of a doctor because he is sick. It is one obvious thing that whenever we have illness we look for relief and healing so that we will be well again. It is only then that we recognized the help of an expert to heal us. Or if we have fears and difficulties we seek persons we find always ready to help.

In the gospel reading for today, illustrates to us the same idea of looking for healing, but it was the mother in- law of Simon who is sick and call on Jesus to heal her. It only means that Jesus’ disciples freely brought their troubles to him because they found him ready and able to deal with any difficulties. Who do you take your troubles to? Did you ask Jesus for help?

No one who will ask Jesus for help will be left disappointed. As it was stated in our gospel for today, The cure of Simon’s mother- in –law and all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. When Simon Peter brought Jesus to his home for the Sabbath meal, his mother-in – law was sick, then, instantly healed by Jesus. The several healings and exorcism of Jesus demonstrated the power and authority of his word. Even demons acknowledged Him as the “Son of God”. If we will look into the imagery of the first reading, St Paul shows that Jesus slowly and gradually sows the seed of love and conversion to all people he encountered by showing compassion to them. He is personally giving us the task to be his co-workers in planting and watering the seeds he had already sown. It is a work that we can give and we can offer as healing presence to the sick, poor and lowly. But how could this be if we did not yet allow the seed that was sown in us to grow because of our spiritual sickness, fears and troubles?

In our life we opt to seek what is pleasing and pleasurable. To this scheme we often fall to many troubles and difficulties. We resort to what is evil, though we know it’s not proper. Then it will come a time that we could no longer bear the burdens and dilemmas we have. To whom do we throw our troubles? Here is this Jesus, who welcomes us with open – arms. He is ever ready to give to those who earnestly seek him out. His generosity and kindness, we cannot measure. His compassion showed the depths of God’s love and concern for all who are truly needy. Do you allow Jesus to be the Lord and Healer in your life?

Brothers and sister, Jesus is inviting us to cast all our burdens and troubles with Him. Approach him with hope and expectant faith. God’s healing power restores us not only to health but also to active service and care for others.

May this Eucharistic celebration be a venue for us to seek the loving help of God and be nourish with his Word and with his Body and Blood. This is to heal and strengthen us to our daily troubles and joyfully love and serve others generously.

Now, do you want to offer your troubles to him with expectant faith that He will help you? Take the stand; I assure you. You will not be disappointed! The choice is yours!

HomilyEaster Vigil

Easter Vigil Homily
The Lord is Risen! Alleluia….Happy Easter!
They say that when your happy clap your hands! Are you happy? When you’re happy shout with joy! Say Alleluia! When your happy leap with joy! Are you happy? Brothers and sisters, tonight is such special day to rejoice and be glad for the Lord is Risen. I remember when was a child my mother always tells me to jump during this moment not only because of joy but also to gain height. It sounds funny but I always do it every time that I am attending Easter vigil Liturgy. And it truly meaningful that this hour we should jump and leap for joy for the new life brought to us by Jesus resurrected. You have heard our readings tonight which we cannot deny are too long and too many. But their significance reflects the value of what we are celebrating. The experience of the Israelites in the past, our experiences at present are our thanksgiving hymns to God who from his great love, he had given us Jesus.

It was a beautiful song that the Israelites offers to God when the they crossed the Red Sea and saw their enemies destroyed by the returning waters; when they saw themselves free from their cruel slavery in Egypt; when they saw the greatness and the power of their God and his faithfulness to his promises - they sang! - the first song recorded in the Scriptures. And it was a beautiful song - a joyful litany of all the great things their mighty God had done for them.

Tonight we entered the darkened church and mixed up the aisles to our places guided only by the light of the Easter Candle, the light of the risen Christ. We reached out and lit our candle and saw the darkness in the church pushed back by the invading brightness. Their mighty Lord had conquered; he had risen from the dead; he had restored all creation in himself. What else could we do but sing! We stood together in the 'holy light' of the Paschal Candle and the great prayer of praise and exultation which has been sung for almost 1500 years, maybe more, was intoned. This hymn, called 'the Exultet', unveils the mighty works accomplished by the resurrection of Christ our Lord.

Who would dare to be sad on this night? This night makes everything new, sets everything free, bandages every wound and wipes away every tear. It raises the dead and destroys the darkness of sin, restoring us to friendship with God. Not a single corner of the cosmos is left untouched because the light of the resurrection illuminates all creation; nothing is left unredeemed, not even a single second of time past, present, or future. Did you hear the singing again of Gloria?
My dear brothers and sisters, we heard the Gloria so lively and vibrant, have you feel the rejoicing spirit that this moment brought? Tonight we celebrate the Light which answers every question, every doubt that we might ever have. In the presence of the Risen Christ there are no longer any questions; Jesus is the answer to them all. Let each one of us, especially if we have anxieties, fears, hopes, dreams, longings, sins, angers, hurts, sufferings, let each one of us say: Tonight Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and so tonight we too have risen. There is no more to fear. Alleluia