CHRIST IS RISEN, REJOICE!

Very early this morning, as my whole family was preparing for the Easter Sunday mass and to watch the traditional "Dagit," my eldest granddaughter who is studying in a Catholic school, approached me, saying: Lolo, they say Jesus was resurrected after three days.  Di ba, second day lang ngayon after He died on the cross last Good Friday?  Rather than respond to her directly, I said: Recite the Creed, iha, and she did. Soon after, I told her, Di ba, it says,  'on the third day he arose from dead...' at di naman 'after three days?'  But saying that, I knew she had a point, and I must admire her remarkable common sense.

Indeed, most members of the flock believe that it was after three days that Jesus rose from the dead, even as Luke, Matthew, Mark and John were unanimous in their respective narratives about the Resurrection. They all wrote:  "... early at dawn, on the day after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, along with Mary the Mother of James, and Salome, with spices, perfumes and ointments, went to Jesus' grave to anoint His body, but found the tomb empty..... "   Certainly, we need not make a big deal out of this little confusion. Well, except that when we really reflect on it more deeply, we are likely to ask ourselves: Which really is the true Sabbath Day, Saturday or Sunday?  As we all know, this is one of the many sources of disagreement among members of several religious sects.  

At any rate, I just happen to mention this in passing.  Personally, I don't give it too much concern.  For me, whether or not we treat Saturday or Sunday as our Sabbath Day does not really matter.  What matters more to me personally -- hopefully to every one else -- is that we fulfill our holiday obligation on whichever.

Having said the above, and since today all roads lead to churches, let me post and share hereunder a sonnet I wrote  when I was younger -- Ah, let me venture to say., if only to cap our Lenten woes with a relatively  amusing note.

PICNIC 

One Easter Sunday morn, as was their weekend plan,
A couple, with young Anne, packed up their tinted van
With food and drinks galore and lots of picnic ware,
Then beach-ward drove in haste to beat the summer air. . .
The car had passed the church when suddenly the lass,
On seeing worshipers march off the morning mass,
Remarked with focused glance at people on the way:
Mom, aren't we and Dad going to church today?
Trading embarrassed eyes, the couple felt aback
For, lo, in quick response their lips did truly lack;
The mother fumbled long to satisfy Anne's plea:
Dear, we can also pray and worship by the sea.
To which, as only from a four-year old may come:
But we won't Mom" said Anne, "will we? Oh, come on, Mom!

Happy Easter to one and all!