Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. Darkness still covered the world, and it also covered her heart. She came carrying grief, not hope. Yet that very moment of sorrow became the doorway through which the light of the Resurrection entered human history. Easter begins not with certainty, but with confusion; not with triumph, but with searching.
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April 1, 2026, marks the fourth death anniversary of Fr. Joseph C. Butlig. In this connection, the SCJ priests from the Cagayan de Oro area gathered on this day to celebrate the Holy Mass in his memory, giving thanks to God for the gift of his life and priestly ministry.
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The Passion narrative in today’s Gospel invites us to walk closely with the Lord during His final hours. The Church proclaims this long passage on Palm Sunday because it shows that the One welcomed with palms is the same One who will be rejected, condemned, and crucified. The joy of the entrance into Jerusalem already carries the shadow of the Cross.
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“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”
The Gospel presents the moving story of the raising of Lazarus. It is not only a miracle story; it is a revelation of the heart of Christ and a call to faith. Jesus arrives at Bethany after Lazarus has already been in the tomb four days. Human hope seems finished. Martha speaks honestly: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Her words express both sorrow and faith. She believes, yet she struggles. Many believers know this experience. We pray, we trust, yet we also question.
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The Gospel presents the moving story of a man born blind who receives sight. At first glance, it is a miracle of healing. Yet, in truth, it is a deeper miracle of faith. The man’s eyes are opened, but even more, his heart is opened. Meanwhile, those who claim to see clearly remain blind because they refuse to believe.
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SCJ Philippines Region 