Primacy of Grace

One of my most memorable experiences is celebrating the Holy Eucharist at the Empty Tomb in Jerusalem. The chance came when I was invited by a priest-friend during his birthday for this occasion. We were at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher at 5 o’clock in the morning way ahead of the buzzling crowd of pilgrims who would make uninterrupted visits during the day. This church stands on the site where Golgotha and the burial place of Jesus could be found. In fact, it has been an important pilgrimage destination since the 4^th century. Stepping inside the holiest Christian site in the world, it filled me with delight. Wow! I said to myself. I am at the very heart of the Christian faith where everything started.

There was something lacking in that experience, however. I was then a deacon, not yet a priest. I was just among the “guests” who had the privilege to stand on such a holy ground. As I touched the marble slab covering the place where the body of Christ was laid and from which he rose from the dead, I remembered closing my eyes making my firm profession: “Lord, I believe that you are alive.” The Resurrection is the proof of Jesus’ power over death. Until now, more than fifteen years have passed, I still long to go back to the Empty Tomb to savor the scent of the resurrection event. Our faith in the Resurrection of Jesus is something we have in common with the early Christians.

The Holy Week culminates with the focus of the Empty Tomb. The Gospel Readings narrate the experience of the women disciples of Jesus especially Mary Magdalene. She witnessed what had happened to Jesus on Good Friday. She saw him in agony. Tortured. Crucified. His death finally broke her heart. Other disciples hastily buried him and his tomb was sealed with a heavy boulder. Roman soldiers were even stationed to guard it for fear his disciples would steal his body during the night. Yet early morning on the third day of his burial, she found the tomb empty! No trace of his body could be found except the linen that once covered it. Then she came out with a bold proclaim to the others: “I have seen the Lord!”

Every year, we are invited to return to the Empty Tomb. Its greatest lesson is this: from our ashes, we can also rise! There is always a new beginning. For this reason, we should never give up. We will find in it the greatest reason to keep believing. Because of the resurrection husbands are empowered to honor their promises and wives are inspired to hold on to their love. Despite the rough roads in married life, they still decide to wear their wedding rings and not throw it away and say: enough! Because of the resurrection, religious life acquires its mysticism. Even priesthood still acquires a special glow in the darkness of an atheistic culture. Because of the risen Jesus, we have the greatest reason to be faithful.

The Empty Tomb leads us back to our faith. It challenges us to fix our gaze on the Resurrection of Jesus. It invites us to rekindle our faith in Him. It may happen that the candle of our faith has been extinguished by the strong winds of doubt. We hold a candle without a flame. If our life were a car, we find ourselves stranded along the highway for lack of gasoline. There is no more oil in our engine. We cannot move on.

But through the resurrection of Jesus we have a chance of rebirth. We can once again procure an abundant supply of faith, hope and love that will energize our life. It motivates us to tame our passions; look beyond mere appearances and allow us to soar above our fears. It can keep our hearts burning with love for God and allow us to dispense forgiveness despite our experiences of resentment and betrayals. It has the power to transform our little hearts with a brand new desire to embrace humanity with unlimited love.

It is consoling to think that God can do wonders despite human fragility. His power is not limited by our doubt nor His wisdom confined to our foolishness. God’s glory can break through our hardheadedness to remind us that everything is grace. The Empty Tomb of Jesus is the icon of the primacy of grace. The sight of it is to return to the basic truth that human redemption is God’s initiative.  His grace is never wanting for anyone, anywhere and anytime. Isn’t that amazing?

This thought gives me courage. When I am tempted to despair that the world is falling apart, I look at the empty tomb. The man, they thought, they have killed and buried is not there. He is risen!           

 (This article also appeared in the Faith Section of Cebu Daily News, April 7, 2013)

Through the Cross

Habemus Papam! Only after two days of voting, white smoke flowed from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican signaling the successful conclusion of a papal conclave. The 115 cardinals after five balloting have elected Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, the Buenos Aires-born son of a railway worker. This 76-year old Jesuit now becomes the 266^th infallible leader of the 1.2 billion Roman Catholics worldwide taking the name Pope Francis. The Successor of Peter is a sign that despite “rough seas,” Christ did not leave the boat. The Church is guided by the Holy Spirit.

 When he stepped forward on the balcony in front of St. Peter’s Square, a huge roar greeted him. The excited crowd chanted “Long live the Pope!” His first appearance dazed everyone including himself. "You know the work of the conclave is to give a bishop to Rome," he said, and then laughing: "It seems as if my brother cardinals went to find him from the end of the earth. But here we are. Thank you for the welcome."

          His election came as a big surprise. It was the first time many heard of him. But the news of a Latin American Pope was greeted with wild enthusiasm especially in his native Argentina.  Among the crowd, Rafael Duno, a 22-year-old student from Venezuela said: "I hope it'll be a good change for the church, a chance for another reality.” Raffaele Esposita, an Italian bricklayer looks hopeful with this outcome: "Now we hope for a good pope and a strong pope – most of all strong. It doesn't matter where he's from – Italian, white, Asian, whatever. What matters is that there is renewal." The world’s Catholics look up to the Pope for inspiration, guidance and leadership. Even the choice of his name is a harbinger. He wants to steer the Church towards simplicity, prayer and closeness to the people. He knew that to become Pope he needs much faith because he will also suffer much to carry the burden of the world.

Pope Benedict XVI made a shocking decision to step down from the papacy because of his frail health. He announced his intention in Latin during the meeting of cardinals citing that he did not have the “strength of mind and body” to continue leading the Church. The news stunned the Christian world. He is the only Pope to quit for health reasons which makes his decision unusual. This prompted people to speculate that there may be a more sinister reason for the move. And by coincidence, lightning struck the basilica of St. Peter’s Dome on the same day the pope announced his resignation.

          Yet the difficult decision was made after repeatedly examining his conscience. “I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only by words and deeds but no less with prayer and suffering.” Thus he recognized his incapacity to adequately fulfill his job. He himself has previously stated that Popes who are unable to do their job because of ill health should step down. According to his brother, Georg Ratzinger, he has been considering stepping down for some time because he has been having difficulty walking and his age was weighing him down.

          Before becoming Pope in 2005, he said he had prayed not to get the post and was hoping for a peaceful old age. This former theology professor is a shy man after all who just wanted to fade in the limelight. His act of resignation is a lesson of humility and selflessness. A lot of people admire his decision of stepping down as “brave” and “courageous.” With the emergence a new spiritual shepherd of the Church, the Emeritus Pope will retire in a monastery and lose all his emblems of authority. Though old and ailing, he will still support the Church whom he loves with prayers, silent witness and personal sufferings. 

          In writing to the Corinthians, St. Paul speaks of how he is afflicted in every way, perplexed, persecuted, struck down, always carrying in his body the death of Jesus (cf. 2 Cor 4:8-10). In a mysterious way, all believers when we suffer, we participate in the saving act of redemption. This is not because Christ did not do all he needed to do, but rather He allows us to participate in the salvation of the world. Suffering then, is not meaningless but redemptive. The act of self-oblation of Jesus on the cross to the Father for others is the way to redemption. Through it, the Church also becomes a sign of Christ’s salvation. Cardinal Henri de Lubac wrote that “If the world lost the Church, it would lose the Redemption too, for she alone communicates God’s grace to us.” But to be an effective instrument of grace it must return to its source – the cross of Christ! 

(This article also appears in Cebu Daily News, March 17, 2013)