Destroy this temple and in three days, I will build it up again.” (John 2:19)
This is the line of Jesus that was forgotten and neglected during his trying times and during the low moments of the apostles.
People did not understand the line because they were stuck up with the human comprehension devoid of faith and spirituality. The line is referring to his death and resurrection.
Resurrection is a technical term for someone who died and came back to life in a glorified state and manner. Resuscitation is not resurrection. Resuscitation is giving back to life after some seconds or minutes of clinical death due to scientific or faith intervention but the resuscitated life will come to pass through death again.
Resurrection is different. Jesus is resurrected from death and he will not die again. He already died and we proclaimed that death, the only death proclaimed and announced with joy because it is the death that destroyed death as a punishment and result of sin.
Culturally, it is taboo to announce death and rejoice over it. But the death of Jesus was announced and until now being announced and acclaimed because of the salvific purpose and because it is a death that is overcome by His resurrection.
The resurrection of Jesus is not only an epiphany of God’s power but an act of salvific grace and empowered love.
Jesus resurrected to give us life in the here, the now, and in the next life.
Nobody can be resurrected. It is only Jesus who was esurrected. Resurrection is the new and strong foundation of our Christian faith that is continually giving meaning and direction of our life.
Indigenous culture must be immersed in the culture of Jesus. Culture must be baptized in the resurrection of Jesus because nobody from the ancestors and elders of the culture was risen from the dead. It is therefore necessary for our indigenous culture to open its doors and windows to the gospel of Christ and the culture of Jesus especially the highest and strongest law called love.
We listen to St. Paul, 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, [a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin – 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.Romans 6:6-10
In my speaking engagements, I had been emphasizing the role of baptism in the timeline of life.
I asked them, “Do you remember your biological birth?” They will answer in chorus with, “Yes.” “Do you remember your birth into the faith?” Their response,” What is that?” I have the impression that they don’t actually remember their date of baptism which I eventually give as their assignment, to research the day of their birth to faith which is their baptism.
Baptism is a necessary sacrament for everyone. Baptism sets us free from original sin, makes us children of the Father, temple of the Holy Spirit, and incorporates us to the church. It is therefore our moral and spiritual mandate to bring ourselves to baptism and to bring our families and friends too to the saving grace of God called baptism. It is therefore the right of every person, baby, and child to be baptized. Anyone who denies or deprives a child of baptism for whatever reason is a monster of faith.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:13
It is nice to examine ourselves, “Did I become an obstacle for the children to go to Jesus as a bishop, priest, lay leader, church member, mother, father?
Blessed Easter season! Blessed Lang-ay Festival!
Reach me at [email protected].
April 30, 2024
