SUCCUMBING to past failures prevents personal growth and leads to stagnation, which contradicts the message of Christ’s resurrection, Fr. Jesus Miranda Jr., O.P., prior of the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas, said during the Easter Vigil Mass at the Santisimo Rosario Parish Church on Saturday night.
Miranda said people should steer clear of a stagnant form of spirituality, or what Pope Francis referred to as “parking lot” spirituality, which he said was akin to being stuck in the heavy traffic on Epifanio De Los Santos (Edsa) Avenue.
“Bakit Edsa? Kasi hindi ka umaandar. Ayaw na nating gumalaw. Why? Because we have been imprisoned by the failures we had yesterday and in the past…without the impulse of desire that carries us forward,” he said.
“If we are the people of the resurrection, then we don’t stop. We don’t stay in one place. Our spirituality is always something that grows and we are always ready to move on and continue to leave behind things that continue to imprison us and impede our spiritual world,” the former UST secretary general added.
Miranda emphasized the importance of gaining closure in order to move forward.
“Closure can only take place when there is a convincing acceptance of what had happened. ‘Pag naghiwalay kayo ng boyfriend o girlfriend mo, binibigo ka ng mga question. Masakit, ‘di ba? Bakit masakit? Bakit masaklap? Kasi walang closure,” he said.
Miranda ended his homily encouraging Santisimo Rosario parishioners to embrace the essence of Easter and press forward in Christ.
“As believers of Christ who has resurrected, he has impressed us to rise and to raise to light what is dying. May they be our wings, our plans and the broken relationships that have taken place,” he said.
The University’s lights were shut preceding the Mass. Miranda led the preparation and lighting of the paschal candle, a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection.
The “Prusisyon ng Salubong” was held after the Mass at the Carillion Bell Monument in anticipation of Easter.
Easter Vigil, also known as Paschal Vigil, commemorates the resurrection of Christ and marks the end of the Holy Week Triduum and the 40-day Lenten season.
