MANILA, March 31, 2013—Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Sunday urged the faithful to open up their lives to the Lord and live a renewed life that centers on shunning old and evil ways.
This was the call he made as the laity expressed jubilation on Easter Sunday, celebrating the culmination of Christ’s suffering and death through his resurrection into the Divine life.
In his homily during the Easter Sunday mass held at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, Tagle said that living a renewed life will only be possible if people will let the Lord touch and change their lives according to His will.
“Walang mangyayaring bagong buhay kung hindi ang Diyos ang kikilos. Kapag hindi binigyan ng puwang, kapag hindi hinayaaang Diyos ang kumilos, walang tunay na pagbabagong buhay. ‘Wag tayong matakot. Ibukas ang buhay, ang mundo, at ang lipunan sa Diyos,” he said.
According to him, God is the only one truly capable of renewing anyone’s life since it is He who serves as its original source. Humans, on the other hand, are incapable of changing on their own since they need the intervening power of the Lord.
“Ang Diyos na nagbibigay buhay at nangangalaga sa buhay, siya ring magbibigay ng bagong buhay. Hindi makakapagbigay ng bagong buhay ang walang akda sa buhay,” he said.
He noted the great contrast between the act of man and the act of God, with the former causing Christ’s suffering on earth and the latter bringing Him everlasting life in heaven.
“Napakaganda po ng ginawa ng Diyos–si Jesus ay muling nabuhay, [at ang] buhay niya ay hindi na yung buhay na alam natin—magugutom, matutukso, at mamamatay muli,” Tagle said. “Si Kristong pinatay ng tao, binuhay ng Diyos. Wala nang kapangyarihan ang kamatayan at kasalanan sa kanya dahil ang buhay niya ay buhay na ng Diyos.”
Keep baptismal vows
In line with the renewal of baptismal vows practiced during Easter, Tagle reminded the Catholic laity to remain faithful to their baptismal promises as doing so will propagate Christ’s story throughout humanity.
“Sa pamamagitan ng mga tapat sa binyag—[iyong mga] hindi na nabubuhay para lumaganap pa ang kasalanan, ngunit nabubuhay para lumaganap ang buhay ng Diyos at mabago ang mukha ng lupa—sa atin tutuloy ang kwento ni Jesus,” he said.
Tagle further added that baptized Catholics have already died with the Lord. The moment they received the sacrament of baptism, the sinful lives of Catholics have already perished and they have been born again with a cleansed life, he said.
He urged the lay to live a life centered on Christ—one that need not be long, but is meaningful and purposeful in itself.
“Iyan ang responsibilidad ng binyagan. Ituloy sa mundo [ang kwento ni Jesus] sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita na ang kwento niya ay tunay at ang siyang tutuloy sa ating buhay. Wag nating putulin ang kwento ni Jesus. Ituloy [natin ito] sa pamamagitan ng katapatan sa ipinangako [natin] sa binyag,” Tagle said. (Jennifer M. Orillaza)
