The Enduring legacy

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This year the fiesta of the patron of the parish was especially grandiose in many ways and got practically everybody involved in one event or another. The middle-aged people enjoyed the concerts of a newly polished brass band, while the youth were delirious over the performance of “The New Bagets” rock band. More pragmatic villagers, who used to spend most of their time in the fields, were finally able to sit for hours on end, sharing experiences and opinions about the latest case of corruption or cockfighting – a “town-sized talk show” inevitably held around several cases of “San Miguel Beer” . . . This made the hours slip away fast and caused even the usually reserved guys to become exceptionally extrovert and articulate. Even the lesbians and the gays of the whole province took advantage of the big turnout of people to advertise themselves with a noisy, carnival-like parade. The affair ended with a rowdy concert punctuated by screams of approval of the pro-gay fans and the booing of the populace, which started throwing rotten tomatoes and eggs at the performers. Then there was the religious celebration proper, of course, with a colorful motorcade that brought the traffic to a standstill; the solemn Mass presided by the bishop; and the drawing of the winning numbers in the “Grand Raffle” organized by the Catholic Women’s League for the repair of the roof of the church. The whole affair ended with the inevitable colorful fireworks display that delighted young and old. The fiesta revelry over, everybody went back to his/her own activity, while the “Kalinisan Brigade” and the “basureros” were tasked to clear the mess left behind by the revelers in almost every corner of the village . . . This is how the majority of our “celebrations” and fiestas end, like islands of momentary enjoyment lost in a sea of ordinary activities that are not affected in the least by the excitement of the fiesta. There is a danger that even our Easter observance may end up the same way, with the only difference that it is much less publicized and participated in by the faithful. This is not what the celebration of Easter is meant to be, for this is the commemoration of the resurrection of Christ – the event that, together with the Incarnation, has left an indelible and decisive mark in the history of humankind. As such, it concerns – it should concern! – each of us and our faith communities because on that event, as much as on Christ’s death on the cross, depends not only our eternal salvation but also our daily life. In fact, remarks St. Paul, if we have been raised with him, we should behave accordingly. (See today’s Second Reading.) Unfortunately, the practical consequences of the Resurrection in every aspect of our existence are a truth that we often underestimate or overlook altogether. This is too bad, for Christ’s rising from death is not just his personal triumph over his enemies and the saving event whose effects will be enjoyed only in the life to come. Rather, the Resurrection is a lasting legacy which has an all-pervading effect in all that we are and do in our earthly life. We are children of the Resurrection already now and our behavior should show it constantly and convincingly in the way we think, relate, and behave toward God, our fellow human beings, and our very selves. credits to: journal.com.ph