Easter Sunday: celebration, new beginnings

EASTER Sunday is the day Jesus Christ was resurrected from death. This day marks a momentous occasion as churches will once again be filled with mellifluous hymns after the silence of Black Saturday.

Traditionally, the occasion starts with the Salubong, which is a dramatic re-enactment of the meeting between Jesus and His mother, the Virgin Mary. This is celebrated at the dawn of Easter Sunday, before the first Mass.

Afterwards, at the Easter Mass, thousands of devotees will flock to the churches wearing white — symbolizing purity and new beginnings.

MAN’S SAVIOR A replica of Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue stands tall in Naic, Cavite, as a fitting symbol of Jesus Christ’s victory over death. Filipino Catholics celebrate Christ’s resurrection this Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, and to mark the end of the Lenten season. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO 

Aside from that, this day is also an opportunity for families to reconnect as they gather for a meal marking the end of fasting and abstinence.

Diocese of Kalookan Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David left a powerful reminder, urging Filipinos to confront the harsh realities of violence in today’s world and allow their faith to awaken compassion and humanity in their hearts.

David lamented the prevalence of violent images and stories — citing the devastating war in Gaza and the lingering wounds of the Philippines’ war on drugs.

He reminded the faithful that behind every disturbing image and every covered body lies a call to conscience.

“Brothers and sisters of our time, who would want to look at images of violence? Who would watch videos of young Palestinians executed amid the rubble in Gaza, or hostages being shot, or victims of extrajudicial killings lying lifeless on our city streets, their faces once bound with packaging tape, their bodies discarded with cardboards bearing cruel labels?”

This is a reminder that despite Jesus’ resurrection, people should not take His goodness for granted but rather be agents of change and continue to do good despite the harshness and devastation that the world faces today.

David also reflected on the dehumanizing effects of such atrocities, warning that repeated exposure risks numbing society’s collective conscience.

“Our humanity dies when our conscience dies,” he said. “But when our compassion and mercy awaken, that is when our salvation begins.”

David implored the faithful not to turn away in indifference but to let their hearts be moved. “Every time we look at the cross, there is an invitation — not just to look and move on, but to close our eyes, let our hearts break, and listen to the cry to awaken our humanity.”

He acknowledged that even amid darkness, countless people continue to choose kindness and courage, helping others and standing up for life and dignity.

These acts, he said, are signs that the story of salvation continues, written by ordinary people who allow love and mercy to flow through them.

“The cross is not just a symbol,” David said. “It is a mirror — one that shows not only the brokenness in the world, but also the beauty of God’s enduring mercy for each one of us.”