Apr 09., 2023   /   General

Victory of Grace

Tonight, we wish to reflect on this point, that grace proves victorious every step of the way of Jesus’ passion and death as grace proves victorious at the moment of his resurrection. There is only one theme throughout the Paschal mystery, there is no victory after defeat, there is only the victory of grace, the victory  of divine love throughout the narrative. Jesus could have allowed evil to triumph, Jesus could have allowed himself to be defeated by the forces of evil. How so? By retracting his statements when he sensed that the religious authorities were conniving to have him arrested and executed. Jesus could have kept mum. Jesus could have kept silent. Jesus could have stopped rocking the boat, provoking the pharisees, the religious leaders. Jesus could have even opted to go back home to Nazareth and justify abandoning his ministry by saying, “I need to care for my aging mother, Mary, the widow, with me, her only son.” In such a manner, Jesus would have allowed the forces to overcome him and to thwart the salvific plans of God. Instead, Jesus manifests, every step of his passion and death, the triumph of divine love. And this is most evident on the cross, when Jesus in the throes of death rocked by pain, begs the Father to forgive them for they know not what they do. Instead of begging the Father to spare him from further suffering; instead of asking the father to rescue and redeem him, Jesus is still thinking about the welfare of others. Jesus asks his father, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” – most likely referring to the roman soldiers who were simply performing their tasks of crucifying convicted criminals. “Father, forgive them, they do not know who I am. They are simply fulfilling their duties.” “Father forgive them, our religious authorities. They are monotheists, who believe in one God, you, our lone God Creator. It is beyond their comprehension and imagination how I could share in your divinity. They have waged wars against polytheistic nations, against peoples worshipping baals, they have been faithful to you – worshipping you alone. And thus,  they have been blind to my divine identity.  Forgive them, for they do not comprehend your mysterious ways.” “Father, forgive them,” perhaps Jesus referred too to his own friends. Our deepest hurst are often caused by those dearest to us. Yes, we are hurt by strangers, by acquaintances but not as deeply, as family members, as friends, as community members, our deepest hurts are caused by the people dearest to us. And therefore, Jesus’ deepest hurt was caused by his disciples who abandoned him when push came to shove, who deserted him upon his arrest in the garden of Gethsemani. And yet, Jesus, instead of begging the Father to redeem him, Jesus turned his gaze upon all those who participated in his crucifixion. Instead of wallowing in self misery, instead in being self absorbed about his own pain and suffering, Jesus begged the Father to forgive all of them. Here we see the victory of love. The victory of grace that has transcended betrayal, false accusations, unjust conviction and on the cross. Jesus assures the other thief who repents, “Today, you will enter paradise with me.” Jesus again, is thinking about the others, his co-crucified and upon his resurrection. As he is raised from the grave and from the dead, Jesus appears to his disciples and declares, “Peace be with you my friends”.  His last memory of them was not at the Cenacle, the upper room, where they celebrated the passover meal. His last recollection of them was their betrayal of him, their desertion of Jesus, abandonment of their master. That was his last memory of them. And yet, when he appears on them, there is no recrimination, there is no, “How could you? Sa kabila ng aking nagawa para sa inyo.” There was no demand for restitution, for begging for forgiveness, before he offered his hand in friendship. There was only the graciousness of God in Jesus calling them, who had deserted him, “my friends”.

And therefore, every step of the way of the cross – manifested not the triumph of the evil in human hearts but the triumph of divine love and grace. Similarly, grace can triumph in our lives amidst our suffering and pain despite being betrayed, despite being alienated, despite being maligned. We experience the power of love not only when our names are restored, not only when those who betray us ask for our forgiveness, not only when we are vindicated but every step of the way, of our own cross, of our own calvary. Grace proves victorious when despite having been betrayed, I opt to forgive my friends. Grace proves victorious when despite being maligned by others I choose not to speak ill of them. Grace proves victorious when amidst the proliferation of fake news, I still speak the truth, despite the possibility of persecution. Grace proves victorious when amidst a culture of impunity and corruption, we choose to be women and men of integrity. And so, in and through our own suffering and pain, our kalbaryo sa buhay,  grace can prove victorious when we do not give in to the forces of frustration, nepotism, cynicism, skepticism, hopelessness  and despair. When we choose to give despite not being appreciated, being under-appreciated. When we choose to befriend even though our love is rejected, when we choose to speak the truth even though we are maligned and persecuted, then grace proves victorious. The triumph of love manifested in the resurrection of Jesus becomes a present reality and let that be our prayer this evening that Jesus will be raised from the dead.

Let this be our prayer, that God’s love might triumph through us, not through our own efforts, because we are fragile because we are inconsistent, because we are fearful people. It is only through the grace of the risen Christ, that we are able to speak truth despite persecution, that we are able to live lives of integrity amidst corruption, that we are able to forgive despite the hurt of  having been betrayed. It is through the power of the Risen Lord dwelling within us, working laboring within us, loving and giving through us. “Loving Father, we pray, that we might truly become your Easter people proclaiming the victory of divine love, witnessing to the victory of grace in our day to day lives as we allow the spirit of the Risen Lord to dwell within us, so that as Paul declares, ‘It is no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me.’ May Christ love through me, may Christ forgive through me, may Christ promote justice through me and by allowing Christ to do so, then the mystery of the resurrection no longer simply becomes a future after death experience but becomes a present reality as God makes manifest the power and the sovereignty of his love over sin, over death. In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Homily delivered by Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ
Easter Vigil | Cenacle Retreat House
8 April 2023
(this homily was transcribed from the recorded audio with permission from Fr. Manoling)