A Defiant Hope That Brings Joy

April 5, 2026 – Easter Sunday; Sugat

Acts 10:34a, 37-43Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Colossians 3:1-4 and Luke 11: 27-28

Happy Easter! We celebrate Easter in a way that is both beautiful and deeply moving, the traditional Sugat, the encounter of the Risen Christ with His Mother, Mary. It is a moment where sorrow meets joy, where darkness gives way to light, and where grief is embraced by hope.

And this is very close to our reality. Many of us know what it means to live with unseen burdens. As Filipinos, and especially here in Marawi, we celebrate Easter in a context that is different. There are limits, there are fears, there are moments when expressing our faith is not as easy or as open as in other places.

Moreover, some of us carry personal struggles, uncertainty about the future, pressures in studies, family concerns, and even silent battles within our hearts.

And so, the question of Easter becomes very real for us, “Is hope still possible? Can joy still be found?”

The Sacred Scriptures revealed today answers us clearly, and that is, Yes. And so let us discern God’s invitations for us this morning.

In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter proclaimed that Jesus, who suffered and died, has been raised by God. This is not just a story but a testimony. A truth witnessed by those who encountered Him. The resurrection is God’s declaration that evil, suffering, and death do not have the final word.

In the Letter of Paul to the Colossians, we are reminded: “Seek what is above, where Christ is.” This is not an escape from reality, but an invitation to see life differently by living with a heart anchored in Christ, who is alive.

In the Gospel of Luke, we hear a simple but powerful truth: “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” This means that true blessedness, true joy, is found not just in seeing, but in believing and living the Word.

This brings us to the heart of our celebration, of the encounter between Jesus and Mary.

Mary, the Mater Dolorosa, had every reason to remain in sorrow. She witnessed the suffering and death of her Son. She carried grief that no mother should ever bear. And yet, in the resurrection, she becomes the first to receive the joy of hope fulfilled.

This encounter tells us something powerful that joy does not erase suffering, rather, it transforms it.

This also tells us that the resurrection of Jesus is a defiant hope, a hope that stands even against darkness, a hope that refuses to die even when everything seems lost.

Indeed, we may feel that our situation is difficult. We may feel small in a place where our faith is tested. We may carry doubts, fears, or even disappointments. But Easter tells us: God is more powerful than our fears. God is greater than our failures. God’s love is stronger than death.

And like Mary, we are invited not just to witness this joy but to embrace it.

To be an Easter people means to carry this hope into our daily lives. It means choosing to believe even when it is difficult. It means choosing joy even in uncertainty. It means becoming a presence of hope for others. Because the resurrection is not only something we celebrate, it is something that we live today.

So let me leave you with two simple and concrete invitations:

First, hold on to hope. When you feel discouraged, when you feel like giving up, remind yourself: Christ is risen. Do not allow darkness to define your story.

Second, share the joy of the resurrection. In your words, in your relationships, and in your daily life be someone who brings encouragement, kindness, and hope to others.

Today Mary meets her Son not in sorrow, but in joy. And that same joy is offered to us because Christ is risen and in Him, hope lives, and joy begins again. Hinaut pa.