"EASTER: A day of Victory, of Hope and of Joy!"

    GREETINGS in the Risen Lord! Easter, the day that marks the Resurrection of Jesus is the greatest of days. The resurrection of Jesus is a wondrous feast, unique in human history, the fundamental event upon which our Christian faith rests. "If Christ has not been raised, then empty is our preaching; empty too your faith" (1 Cor 15: 13-14).

We are invited to take part in Christ's total VICTORY oven sin and death and believe in life eternal and complete happiness. In the resurrection of Christ, God revealed His immeasurable power over sin, Satan and Death. Those three held humanity captive from the disobedience of our first parents until the first Easter. On the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. By rising , He defended the devil and destroyed the power of death for all time. The victory that we celebrate today - the reason for our rejoicing - is for everyday. Redemption from sin, deliverance from bondage, victory over sinful habits: this is our inheritance. This is the new life make available to all of us.

The foundation of Christian HOPE is God, but more specifically, it is Christ risen from the dead. Christ's rising from the dead has won over the very root of our sorrows: sin. And at the time, He has opened for us possibilities that were unheard of. The death and resurrection of Christ is the foundation of of our faith, the reality on which our hope is built. "Dying, You destroyed our death; rising, You restored our life." This the simple yet profound meaning of today's celebration.

Celebrate this Joy today. Joy is our heritage as redeemed children of God. It is our birthright as a new creation in Christ. The promise of the resurrection is that we can rejoice no matter what we face. Facing difficulties at work or at home, we can be joyful. Amid anxiety or uncertainty about anything at all - yes, we can be joyful. More than big smiles and enthusiastic alleluias, joy manifests itself in the peace, strength and hope which come from experiencing the power of Jesus' resurrection in our lives.

Let us rejoice in a special way this Easter Sunday. Let us look at it as meaningful prelude to an eagerly anticipated event: the coming 20th anniversary of the founding of our beloved Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. Indeed, we can say that our Parish anniversary is an authentic Easter experience. Our Lord Jesus Christ endured great suffering and sorrow, unto death, before entering into the victory and glory of the Resurrection. So, too, have we, as a parish, gone through the experience of Paschal mystery, as it were, bearing our own burden of difficulties, dissensions and doubts through the long years of hard work in the building of our church and community.

Strengthened by a steadfast Christian HOPE, we feel we have achieved, in no small measure, a sense of unity, understanding and vitality, the fruits of God's guidance leading us to His Kingdom We experience joy in our victory, too, because of His presence in our midst: God is here helping us attain our cherished dream of "Our Heart, One Family, and One", ang ating minimithing"Isang Puso, Isang Pamillya at Isang Parokya" sa darating na ika-dalawangpung anibersaryo ng ating Parokya.

A JOYOUS EASTER TO ALL!

Rev. Fr. Rufino P. Yabut

Parish Priest

SHJ-MBS Parish Church