Faith in Christ is meaningless without His resurrection, Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Princesa Bishop Socrates Mesiona said, stressing the central message of the Easter Vigil during his homily at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral on Black Saturday.
“Walang saysay ang pananampalataya kay Hesus kung hindi Siya muling nabuhay,” Mesiona said, underscoring the resurrection as the foundation of Christian belief.
The bishop emphasized that the Easter Vigil or the “Magdamagang Pagdiriwang ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay” is not merely a sequence of rituals but a single act of worship central to the Church’s liturgical life.
“Hindi ito sunod-sunod lang na programa, kundi iisang gawain ng pagsamba,” he said.
He added that the celebration does not turn away from life’s realities but confronts darkness and sin through the light of Christ’s resurrection.
“Hindi tayo nagdiriwang na parang walang nangyari. Hindi natin ipinipikit ang mga mata sa katotohanan ng kadiliman at kasalanan,” he said.
Mesiona explained that the Vigil—from the readings to the Gospel—reveals a unified message of salvation pointing to Christ.
“Unti-unti nating natatahi ang mga kuwentong tila magkakahiwa-hiwalay hanggang sa makita natin na ang lahat ay tumutukoy kay Hesus, ang Tagapagligtas,” he said.
He also noted that the light of the resurrection is not instantly felt but gradually takes root in the hearts of the faithful.
“Ang liwanag ng muling pagkabuhay ay hindi buglaan, kundi dahan-dahang tumatagos sa puso,” he said.
The bishop urged the faithful to go beyond treating the Easter Vigil as a yearly tradition and instead embrace it as a deeper encounter with Christ.
