Readings and meditation on the Word of God on the Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025

Delivered by Christine Gunawan from the Parish of Saint Joseph Cathedral of Pontianak in the Archdiocese of Pontianak and Yurika Gunawan from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral of Makassar in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. WE EXCLAIM: ALLELUIA There was a boy about four years old, who was a pupilin a kindergarten. The boy and his family members were watching the tablo ofthe Way of the Cross being played in the church during the Good Friday morningservice. What made it really special was that the boy's eldest brother, a17-year-old second grade senior high school student, was playing the role ofJesus Christ in the tablo. The boy began to cry when he saw his brother beingtortured, beaten and stepped on while carrying a wooden cross and being forcedto walk. His sobs grew even louder when the torturers acted mercilesslyremoving all of Jesus’ garments and nailing his body to the black wooden cross.When the cross was erected and Jesus' body hung on it, the boy covered his faceand cried hysterically. He buried himself in his mother's arms, while hisfather constantly rubbed his head to calm him down. As soon as the tablo was finished, the eldest brotherwho played Jesus Christ met up with the family. The boy was picked up and heldby his big brother. His big brother had risen and the whole family wasoverjoyed. The boy's cry and sorrow are concrete examples for all of us whofollow the passion of Jesus Christ, from the upper room of the Last Supper tohis burial in the tomb. This first stage is about suffering and death. The second stage that follows is the fullness of God'swill. That experience of suffering and death has transformed into joy and newlife. The situation and experience that envelops our spiritual life, namely thefruits of this change should be a kind of joy and cheerfulness throughout theuniverse, to exclaim: Alleluia. God grants us this experience of life andsalvation that leads us to eternal life. The experience of Jesus as told by thescriptures, is a reality. God has designed it from the creation of humanbeings, the fall into sin, the exodus of Israelites out of Egypt, theprophecies of the prophets, and the realization of all the promises with thecoming of Jesus of Nazareth. All of these experiences should become a model for thelife journey for each of us and the community of believers. We are also led tofollow the way that Jesus himself has designed for us, namely "from thegarden of Gethsemane to Golgotha" and then coming to the pinnacle of allour spiritual enrichment, which is the resurrection. In other words, we willachieve happiness and glory only through struggle, suffering and death. Thereis no glory without suffering. There is no life without death. This spiritualityof the cross and resurrection needs to be the guideline of all our life’sjourney.Let us pray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord Jesus,thank you for Your suffering and resurrection that teach us about the fullnessof life. Hail Mary full of grace... In the name of the Father ...