Reflection of Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection

Joseph Loied P. Zafra

11- St. Dominic

St. Mary’s College of Baliuag

Introduction

In studying Religious Studies, I have learned the importance of faith in our life. This is
our response to God’s s love, mercy and compassion for everyone. He gave His only
begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind. I realized that
everything is possible if we believe and trust in God.

I learned the characteristics of Christian Faith which are Total and Absolute, Trinitarian,
Loving, Maturing, and Missionary, Informed and Communitarian, and Inculturated. They
may be difficult to understand but if we truly believe we can explain to anyone that there
is always be reason for hope when you feel down. Also, the paradoxical characteristics
of faith made me realized that faith has a deep meaning, it involves a process and it is a
gift. It is a gift but we are required to practice its three essential dimensions and that if
first to believe, then do what you have known, and finally entrusting oneself to God and
worshipping Him. We owe God the highest worship and to be always grateful for the
countless blessings He gives us.

As a student and individual, faith in God will always be my guiding force to face each
day. Knowing that I am truly loved and blessed by God is my assurance of a life worth
living for. I will always seek for His help in my studies and entrust my future in Him.
Reflection

How can God be a “Loving God” when the world is full of suffering and Death?

From the beginning, we have a Loving God who created a perfect place for us, where
there is no pain and suffering. But with the disobedience and sin of Adam, the wonderful
creation was changed. Generation to generations, we commit sins. Romans 8:22
means that “Suffering and death entered into His creation. The whole universe now
suffers from the effects of sin.” God is righteous and just to sentence us the punishment
we deserve. It is in our humanness that our usual response to adversity and tragedy is
to blame God. As we all now see, God did not promise us a life free from sufferings but
what He promised us is that He will be with us during our down moments and
brokenness. He will always carry us through all the way and all the time.

God continues and will always be a Loving God because He is omnipotent and capable
of doing things in a perfect way to sustain and protect His children from remaining in hell
for eternity. He is gracious and a merciful Creator to provide us a way to be free from
our sin through the suffering, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. His only
begotten Son, who did not remain in the grave, gave us the gift of new dawn, new life
and new beginnings because He conquered death. And when we are provided with
new things, we can expect and hope for a happy life. The blessings we receive from
our Loving God each day are far more numerous than the sufferings we experience.
God is bigger than any problem here on earth. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the
manifestation of the unconditional love of our God the Father. In Christ, those who
believe will receive eternal salvation and can look forward to spending eternal life in a
perfect suffering-free place.

How do I partake in the sufferings of Christ?

Partaking in the sufferings of Christ is to carry our crosses in our own life. I need to take
the challenges and adversities that I will face every day of my journey believing that He
will always be on my side. I must always possess my faith no matter what is the
situation. While possessing the faith I must put it into actions what I am required to do
like obeying God’s commandment to love my neighbor, providing help to the needy
even in small ways and being a good son. I should also be an active member of the
Church by going to mass and commune with other people. Worshipping and giving
praises to God must be an everyday activity. Being humble enough to admit my fault is
a sure way to share in Jesus’ suffering. Praying for one another’s goodness and benefit
will allow me also to take part in the great suffering of Christ that gave us the gift of
salvation.

During the Holy Week, I watched the activities of the Parish of Saint Augustine of
Baliuag through their Ang Batingaw online platform. I reflected on the passion, death
and resurrection of Jesus by watching the “Live Way of the Cross”,” Siete Palabras “,
and the famous and longest procession in the Philippines “Prusisyon” showcasing the
different floats depicting the Apostles of Jesus, His Miracles and His Sufferings. I was
deeply touched by the performance of the youth in the Parish in the “Live Way of the
Cross” and realized how great is the love of God for us that He gave up His only
begotten Son to save us from our sins. I also viewed the pictures about the “Salubong”,
which is the annual reenactment of the biblical account of the meeting of the Blessed
Virgin Mary with the risen Christ.

We attended the online Palm Sunday mass of Fr. Jerry Orbos and the Easter Mass at
the Manila Catheral presided by Fr. Reginald Malicdem. Both priests gave an inspiring
and meaningful homilies about the mystery of our faith that Christ has died, Christ is
risen and Christ will come again.

Below are some of the pictures I loved most from the Holy Week celebration of Saint
Augusine Parish Church of Baliuag:
Procession:
Salubong
Sing Me a Song!

Hallelujah to the Lamb by Don Moen

Lord we stand in the midst of a multitude

Of those from every tribe and tongue
We are Your people redeemed by Your blood
Rescued from death by Your love
There are no words
Good enough to thank You
There are no words to express my praise
But I will lift up my voice
And sing from my heart
With all of my strength
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
To the Lamb
Hallelujah hallelujah
By the blood of Christ we stand
Every tongue every tribe
Every people every land
Giving glory giving honor
Giving praise unto the Lamb of God
Lord we stand by grace in Your presence
We cleansed by the blood of the Lamb
We are Your children called by Your name
Humbly we bow and we pray
Release Your power
To work in us and through us
Till we are changed
To be more like You
Then all the nations will see
Your glory revealed
And worship You
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
To the Lamb
Hallelujah hallelujah
By the blood of Christ we stand
Every tongue every tribe
Every people every land
Giving glory giving honor
Giving praise unto the Lamb of God
Every knee shall bow
Every tongue confess
That You are Lord of all
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
To the Lamb
Hallelujah hallelujah
By the blood of Christ we stand
Every tongue every tribe
Every people every land
Giving glory giving honor
Giving praise unto the Lamb
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
To the Lamb
Hallelujah hallelujah
By the blood of Christ we stand
Every tongue every tribe
Every people every land
Giving glory giving honor
Giving praise unto the Lamb of God
Giving praise unto the Lamb of God
Giving praise unto the Lamb of God
Jesus Christ Lamb of God.

This song talks about giving a joyous expression of praise, worship, and gratefulness to
our Lord Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead to rescue His people because of
His tremendous love and grace. It is a powerful song of how people from all over the
world recognize Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. As the Lamb, Christ was
represented as both suffering and triumphant. As the Lamb, He also symbolizes
forgiveness, gentleness, and purity. His glorious resurrection brought new life to
sinners like me. When I tell lies and then realized I commit mistakes and confess it and
ask for forgiveness I know it brings me inner peace because I am cleansed by the blood
of Christ and I am forgiven. It is a great feeling when I am resurrected from the guilt
feeling inside my heart. I take pride and so thankful to be one among God’s children.

The song is a testimony of how the resurrection of Christ became the foundation of our
Christian faith. Our God, because of His love for us gave up His only begotten Son,
Jesus Christ for our redemption and salvation. We have faith to celebrate the joy, hope,
and great love from our God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We bow down,
humble ourselves before His throne and give Him the highest level of honor, praise,
worship, and glory as we sing “Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah to the Lamb of God!”