Change must begin within us, prelate says

NATIONAL transformation is possible to happen even in a country like ours but change has to happen first within oneself, a senior prelate said.

In his Easter message, former CBCP president and Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo said that by his resurrection Jesus has triumphed over the evil of sin, injustice, violence, war and death.

But this victory of Jesus over the power of evil must first begin in our life before it can spread in the community, in society and country, he explained.

Lagdameo then reminded the faithful that the betterment of the country does not depend on politicians but on the citizens who are “renewed, regenerated and reformed witnesses” of the resurrected Christ.

“Beyond the promises of the many political candidates who want to deliver our country from its many social and political problems, we must not forget that the resurrection of a new Philippines is founded on each of us…” he said.

With a touch of optimism, Lagdameo said Filipinos should look at the past “with all its tragedies, disappointments, regrets and sins” as important components in the work of renewal.

He said just as Holy Thursday and Good Friday served as the backdrop of Easter Sunday for Jesus, so we view the past and all its disappointments in the same manner.

“Easter provides us with new eyes, mind and attitude in dealing with these realities,” Lagdameo said.

The prelate noted that people sometimes get the misleading notion that life’s difficulties and other social ills disappear all at once at the coming of Easter.

“We tend to cultivate the illusory and fantastic idea that in the blink of an eye, tomorrow, after Easter, there will no longer be pain, sickness, social tragedies, injustice and war… instead there will be fraternity, community, peace and disarmament. But it does not happen that way, instantly,” he said.

Instead, Lagdameo said, Easter must be experienced within the framework of life’s realities that include pain, sickness and problems.

“The message of Easter does not take away the world’s suffering,” the prelate said.

“The joy of the Resurrection should not be disconnected from the cross which preceded it, in forgetfulness of the scourging and crucifixion,” he added.

Easter does not cancel the paschal mystery as if these did not happen, instead it helps us believe in the mystery of life and love that comes forth from it, he further said.