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From our household’s troubled cooking pots to the intensifying climate crisis and economic uncertainties to the violence, wars, and chaos in Palestine, Myanmar, Ukraine, Sudan, and Congo, and in our communities in the Philippines and the World we find ourselves in extraordinary times. What’s happening in Gaza is unimaginable and the sad state of the people who are in massive exodus and displaced due to internal wars, external interference over nations, climate disasters, and hunger. Individuals faced various challenges to survive above the earth, making them completely detached from their communities and losing their sense of community. We are faced with trials in various forms that heightened divisions and self-preservation. Easter is a reminder of our morality, of hope, and our conviction as members of a bigger society. Easter brings hope in many forms. The life of Christ after resurrection is the manifestation of sacrifice and salvation. It is a reminder that in our darkest days, light is there and in times of divisions and devastations it is our unity – the hope to overcome and rise again. We may be overwhelmed by pains, discouragements, and failures; Easter and the life of Jesus Christ are an inspiration to redemption and pursue our dreams. Resurrection was a mystery. But what is important is the meaning of the Resurrection of Jesus and what had been accomplished. If Jesus can rise above death, then the world can overcome poverty, hunger, wars, and oppression. If Christ can unify the poor slaves, peasants, sinners, women, etc, believers and the poor can come together and free the world from spiritual deaths, oppression, divisions, and prejudices. FILIPINO KATOLIKO Church recognizes each faithful’s role in bringing stability, justice, peace, and compassion in the world and rebuilding and strengthening the relationships and faiths of the global community. We reiterate our prayers and appeal to end the sufferings of our Brothers and Sisters in the devastated Gaza and the Holy Land; enough access to humanitarian aid and services; and for internationally democratic facilitated negotiations to end the hostilities beyond the recent conflicts, the same prayers and appeals for the countries at war today. We may come from different practices, and doctrines of faiths but as believers of Christ, we pray that this binds us all in solidarity to answer the call of the time – renewed selves; strengthened commitment and response to save and restore nature; compassion with our neighbors, the weak and the poor; faithful solidarity between and among nations; and collective efforts to build justpeace world among us. God has Risen! Hosanna is in the highest! God Bless Us All. Filipino Katoliko |