Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Today, we celebrate the resurrection of our God, Jesus Christ.
Finally, the promise of our God in the Old Testaments, through his prophets; and the words of Jesus Christ were fulfilled. Jesus Christ died on the cross, descended to the dead and on the rose again on the third day. The power of death over man was finally destroyed and those who have faith in Him was given life through his resurrection.
Here's a story originating from the former Soviet Union that is fitting for our celebration of the Feast of the Resurrection:
It was Easter, but since religious persecution was at its height, the churches were closed and anti-religious propaganda was in full swing. A Soviet officer came to a village and ordered the entire population to the go to the village center, where he harangued them about the "scientific" proofs that there is no God.
Finally, an old man spoke out. He was the village priest, who for a long time had been prevented from exercising his ministry among the people. He asked to be allowed to say a few words. The smug Soviet official, confident that the old man can do no harm to the atheist cause, let him go to the front of the people so he can speak.
Upon arriving at the front, the old priest simply said, "My people, Christ is Risen!"
First, there was an uneasy silence. Then, an old woman croaked back: "Indeed, He is Risen!" A few voices followed, "Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!" Before long the entire crowd was singing the great Paschal song of the Eastern Churches: "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!"
The Soviets, alarmed, arrested the old man, and he was never seen again. But he had struck a blow against atheism that won't be forgotten for a long, long time.
---
May this day be the start of our true conversion. May we also rise up and reject our sinful ways so that we will be worthy to stand in His presence when the time of His reign comes to this world. May we also be as brave as that village priest, standing up and proclaiming to the people that Christ is risen and make people be joyous to His great VICTORY against death.
Have a blessed Holy Sunday to all of us!
Finally, the promise of our God in the Old Testaments, through his prophets; and the words of Jesus Christ were fulfilled. Jesus Christ died on the cross, descended to the dead and on the rose again on the third day. The power of death over man was finally destroyed and those who have faith in Him was given life through his resurrection.
Here's a story originating from the former Soviet Union that is fitting for our celebration of the Feast of the Resurrection:
It was Easter, but since religious persecution was at its height, the churches were closed and anti-religious propaganda was in full swing. A Soviet officer came to a village and ordered the entire population to the go to the village center, where he harangued them about the "scientific" proofs that there is no God.
Finally, an old man spoke out. He was the village priest, who for a long time had been prevented from exercising his ministry among the people. He asked to be allowed to say a few words. The smug Soviet official, confident that the old man can do no harm to the atheist cause, let him go to the front of the people so he can speak.
Upon arriving at the front, the old priest simply said, "My people, Christ is Risen!"
First, there was an uneasy silence. Then, an old woman croaked back: "Indeed, He is Risen!" A few voices followed, "Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!" Before long the entire crowd was singing the great Paschal song of the Eastern Churches: "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life!"
The Soviets, alarmed, arrested the old man, and he was never seen again. But he had struck a blow against atheism that won't be forgotten for a long, long time.
---
May this day be the start of our true conversion. May we also rise up and reject our sinful ways so that we will be worthy to stand in His presence when the time of His reign comes to this world. May we also be as brave as that village priest, standing up and proclaiming to the people that Christ is risen and make people be joyous to His great VICTORY against death.
Have a blessed Holy Sunday to all of us!
Happy Easter Sunday to u Ismael! :D
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter to you too Caroline. :-D
ReplyDeleteAmen. indeed he is risen.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter, Ish! He has risen as He said, Alleluia!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the story, too :-)
Thanks for the visit Diamond and Sunnyday. ^_^
ReplyDeleteHi Ish. I wanted to ask -- is it easy to add the feature of "You might also like this" on the blog? Mine doesn't have this and I don't know how to put it. It encourages readers to take more of an interest in other posts kasi. Pa'no mo linagay yun dito? Is it under formatting etc? Baka sakaling magawa ko :-) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSunny
Hello Sunnyday.
ReplyDeleteYou are talking about the LinkWithin widget. It is a thrid party widget na libre. Teka, I will send you PM sa FB to give you instructions.
Hello Sunnyday.
ReplyDeleteYou are talking about the LinkWithin widget. It is a thrid party widget na libre. Teka, I will send you PM sa FB to give you instructions.
Happy Easter to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Ate Anney.
ReplyDeleteOK a bit late here, but better late than never. Happy Easter to you and family! : )
ReplyDeleteInteresting story. I remember the story of a man who said that the bible will be gone in the year ____ (sorry I forgot the date) But in the end, sya wala na but the bible still exists until now. In fact, isang bible publishing company pa ang bumili ng bahay nya. It only shows that no one can ever challenge the existence of God. Thanks for sharing this Ishmael :)
ReplyDelete@Lovelace:
ReplyDeleteYeah! Akala kasi ng mga God-less people ay magwawagi sila. Sorry na lang sila. God lives forever and ever.