The Epitaph

2nd Sunday of Easter
John 20:19-31: “Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’
After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.”



An epitaph is text honoring the deceased, most commonly inscribed on a tombstone or plaque. Many are quotes from holy texts like the Bible. An approach of many successful epitaphs is to 'speak' to the reader and warn them about their own mortality.

In the Philippines, the most common epitaphs are R.I.P (Rest in Peace) and S.L.N. (Suma-Langit Nawa). But in Manila North Cemetery, a funny but striking epitaph of an unknown tomb says it all…

Juan dela Cruz
“Ako Ngayon…Bukas Ikaw”

It is a reminder for all of us of our own mortality. When Jesus died on the cross, the disciples, except John, ran away and hid themselves for fear of being arrested and killed for following Jesus. They did not want to die, and so they hid themselves for fear of the Jews. Fear, frustration, and uncertainty of their future overwhelmed the disciples but they stood together. Then one evening, Jesus suddenly stood among them and said, “Peace be with you,” and immediately showed his wounded hands and side.

At first glance, it seems the showing of wounded hands and side contradicts the greeting of peace; but it is actually an offering of consolation, encouragement and hope to the disheartened disciples.

Jesus knew what was within the hearts of the disciples – great fear. As a consoler, Jesus consoled them in two ways: 1) by words, “Peace be with you” and 2) by action, “He showed them his hands and side.” His greeting of peace was intimately connected to his wounds. His wounds speak of peace!

Our gospel for today is an echo of the disciples’ “sinking experience” when they were caught by the storm in the middle of the sea (Read Mark 4:35-40). Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and the waves with two powerful words, “Be Quiet” and “Be Still.” It was a direct command to the sea, but it was also an implicit command to the on-going storm inside the disciples’ hearts to “Be Quiet” (which means ‘peace be with you’) and “Be Still” (have faith …look at my wounds, I did it and I won). To console others will always be by words and action.

The best consoler is the one who had already experienced the difficulty. Encouragement from a cancer survivor or cancer patient is more consoling than of a priest. Words on forgiveness from a father whose son was brutally murdered may moved our hearts to forgive. A scripture professor may impress us with his in-depth knowledge of the Bible but a very profound sharing that comes from the heart may bring us closer to God. The deepest and truest consolation will always come from somebody who had been there already.

When I was in Grade III, I remember when my class had our first polio vaccination. Fear gripped all of us. Imagining that big needle penetrating our skin and flesh gave us goose bumps. But when our first classmate, the first to volunteer, victoriously emerged from the clinic with a big smile; he proudly showed us his right arm with the needle’s mark. He confidently consoled us with his words, “Hindi naman masakit…parang kagat lang ng langgam.” His words were more than enough to make us a little braver to face the needle. I said to myself, “If he did it, I can do it also.”

This is the reason why Jesus showed his hands and side to his disciples. It was not only to tell them that he is alive. But by showing his wounds, Jesus wanted them to see the marks of cruelty, pain, hate, and torture that he has endured. Look! He demanded of them. The risen Christ was wounded, suffered and crucified; and yet he survived. Yes, he died on the cross…but now he is alive! The Father vindicated Jesus by raising him from the dead. Thus, the wounds of Jesus became the signs of hope and strength. The wounds of Jesus are bound intimately to his words of peace. Kung kaya ni Lord, kakayanin ko rin, I will carry my cross and claim my own resurrection.

When I saw my classmate smiling after the injection, I knew I could do it also. It is easier to face any difficulties and challenges with somebody around. The presence of somebody is important. A pain shared is a pain divided. We need companions along the road of uncertainty. We need our family, friends and Christian community in our journey.

Unfortunately, some disciples preferred to be alone when struggling and disappointed. They did not want others to see them vulnerable or weaklings. They did not want to share their own feelings, struggles, and problems for many reasons. Thomas was one of them. There was no doubt that Thomas loved Jesus and he was willing to follow him even in death (John 11:16), but he was a natural pessimist. Like the rest, he was also greatly affected by the death of Jesus. Thomas was an “on and off” community member; but most of the time, he preferred being alone and sulk in his loneliness. And so when Jesus visited the community, he was absent.

We also miss many things when we isolate ourselves from our family, friends and Christian communities. When sadness overcomes us, we isolate ourselves from others. We become quiet in our family meals, avoid social gatherings, and inactive in church activities. We forget that in moments of difficulties, support group matters a lot. Staying with our family, friends, and community is important; for it is there that we are likeliest of all to meet Jesus face to face.

The greeting of Jesus, “Peace be with you,” is a forceful command for the disciples, encouraging them back to life, to hope, to be available to Him and the world again. His greeting of peace and revelation of his wounds call us not to run, not to hide, not to fear anymore, not to do a disappearing act; but to face the world with courage and spread the Good News. The empty tomb becomes the womb of our hope – Jesus defeated death and has risen. Go now! Claim Jesus’ victory over death, you are an empowered Easter child!

After a few more visits from the risen Jesus, the disciples became bold and courageous. Thomas went to India, Peter and Paul to Rome, Mark to Egypt and John to Syria and Asia Minor. They claimed their identity as Easter children – daring, courageous and full of life. What about you? Where do you plan to go?

A good epitaph speaks to us and warns us of our own mortality.
But the epitaph of Jesus in his empty tomb will remind us of our own immortality …

Si Hesus ay Muling Nabuhay!
Kahapon Siya … Bukas Ikaw!





- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ
Ateneo de Zamboanga

Easter People

Easter Sunday
John 20:1-9 : “Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went
inside. He saw and believed.”


Peter and John are twins. Peter is a pessimist and John is an optimist. Peter is a gloomy person and sees all things negatively while John is a very happy and confident person. On the eve of their 10th birthday, their father thought of giving them something that will make Peter happy and John sad. So the father gifted Peter with expensive toys, hoping that the toys will make him happy; but Peter said, “What will I do with these toys? Which one will I play first? Where will I keep them?” And so Peter remained a pessimist. For John, in his father’s desire to break John’s heart, the father scattered horse feces in his room. But when John smelled and saw the horse feces, he jumped out of joy, hugged his father and said, “Thank you father! Thank you father for the horse! I love riding horse!” And John remained a happy person.

Easter people are happy people! They see possibilities, fresh opportunities and joy in everything they do. They have the spirit of the youth, zest for life, and love-empowered faith. Easter people are believers of the risen Christ who promised, “I will be with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)!

But not all Christians are Easter people. Some of us are tomb people - living in sadness, hopelessness, and doubt. They are always hiding in fear and languishing in tears. Jesus is no longer in the tomb. He has risen from the dead but some of us want to stay in the tomb.

Our gospel for today speaks of three classes of Christians: Mary Magdalene (Tearful Christians), Simon-Peter (Fearful Christians), and John (Easter Christian). This Easter Season, let’s return to the tomb and see if we are Mary, Peter, or John.

In our gospel, it was Mary Magdalene, who loved Jesus much, who was first at the tomb. But Mary’s tears and sadness for the death of Jesus blinded her from seeing Jesus. The empty tomb became the source of sadness and hopelessness. The promised resurrection of Jesus never came to her memory. Tears blinded her to see beyond the empty tomb. Some of us are like Mary Magdalene – a sobbing Christian. Our own frustrations, failures, and sadness blind us from seeing beyond. We continually blame ourselves for our mistakes and misgivings and become prisoners of our past. Moving on is not an option.

In the Gospel of John, the name of Peter keeps on changing, depending on his attitude in a given situation. His name before meeting Jesus was “Simon.” It was Jesus who changed his name and called him Cephas or Peter which means “the rock.” When he acted as an unbeliever, he was “Simon.” When he acted as a true disciple with genuine faith, “Peter” was used. He was “Peter” when he said, “I will lay down my life for you.” (13:37) But when he was hesitant, indecisive, and reluctant, he was “Simon Peter”- when he betrayed Jesus (18:25), during the washing of the feet (13:6) and when he struck Malchus’ ear (18:10).

In our gospel for today, the name “Peter” and “Simon Peter” were interchangeably used. While hiding in fear, “Simon Peter” was his name when he received the news from Mary (20:2) and instantly changed to “Peter” when he courageously left his hiding place and run towards the tomb. But he was “Simon Peter” again when he entered the tomb and failed to believe. Sometimes, we are like Peter, committed and ever willing to follow the will of God; but we suddenly become “Simon Peter” – a sinker, doubter and unbeliever, when storms comes and things get tough.

When Mary Magdala announced the wrong news that the body of Jesus was stolen, Peter and John ran to the tomb to confirm the things in their minds. Like Mary Magdala, Peter just wanted to confirm the theft. But John wanted to confirm something deeper – something that is life giving - the promised resurrection of Jesus. John was younger, faster, and more willing on getting to the tomb, perhaps more hopeful and more devoted to Jesus. He first arrived at the tomb but waited for Simon Peter. Love – with its power, youthfulness, humility and faith, always get there first, come to belief first, and always wait for the others. Competition is not in the vocabulary of those who loves. Love knows how to wait and does not mind if somebody is ahead of him or her.

When Peter caught up with John, he ran straight into the tomb without waiting for John. Peter saw the empty tomb and the folded linen. Bewilderment, dismay and unbelief blinded Simon Peter. He failed to believe (20:9). But when John entered the tomb, he saw the folded cloth. Robbers don’t fold things they leave behind; and so John believed! Love is the great interpreter. Love can see something beautiful in the folded cloth in an empty tomb. Love sees hope in anything, even in the tomb. Love can grasp the truth when intellect failed to understand.

Mary saw the empty tomb and assumed the worst – the body was stolen. Simon Peter went into the tomb and saw the cloth …but nothing made sense. John, the beloved heard, ran, waited for Simon Peter, entered the tomb and saw everything … and he immediately believed (20:8).

Love gave John eyes to read the signs and a heart to understand. If you’re like John, then you are an Easter Person!

What about you? What kind of Christian are you?
We can come up with many possibilities and combinations of our personalities, depending on our attitudes with regard to our faith and our relationship with God. Here are some possibilities…

Christian 1 … ½ Mary Magdalene, ½ John
Christian 2 … ½ Peter, ½ Mary Magdalene
Christian 3 … ½ Simon Peter, ½ John
Christian 4 … ¼ Simon, ¼ Simon Peter, ¼ Mary, ¼ John
Christian 5 … _________________ you … fill the blank

But in the end, we hope and pray to become a genuine Easter people like John.

Easter People … 100% John.




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- Fr.Willy M. Samson,SJ
Ateneo de Zamboanga

Crying Heroes

5th Sunday of Lent

John 11:3-45: Jesus said to them “untie him and let him go.


One day, God asked all his angels to gather people’s tears on earth. After a week, the angels returned bringing tears in containers. But the angels were all surprised when the tears they have collected became gold and charcoals. Then Archangel Gabriel asked, “Lord, how come the tears became gold and charcoals?” God smiled and said, “The tears that turned into charcoals are the tears of people who saw other people suffering, they shed tears, but they did nothing.” Then God lovingly looked at the golden tears and said, “These tears are tears of people who saw other people suffering, they shed tears and did something.”

Our gospel for today is about crying people. We find Martha and the Jews crying over the death of Lazarus whom they loved (John 11:32). When Jesus saw them crying, He was disturbed and deeply troubled and “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)

The word “compassion” came from the prefix “com” and the Latin root word “passio” which means “with suffering.” Therefore to be compassionate means “to feel the pain of other people” or “the pain of others becomes one’s pain too.”

But Compassion is often characterized through actions, wherein a person acting with compassion will seek to aid those they feel compassionate for.
Full of compassion to Martha, Mary and friends, Jesus was deeply disturbed, troubled and cried for the death of Lazarus. To be emotionally involved was not enough; he wanted to ease the pain of his friends by doing something. And so he went to the tomb, prayed, and commanded Lazarus to rise and come out. A golden tears!

Many of us are losing hope or have lost hope. Losing hope is dying. We are surrounded by different realities and levels of hopelessness or dying. We have many “Lazaruses” in our midst. Many Filipinos want to go abroad; they think that our country is a hopeless case - a slowly dying Lazarus.

On last Thursday’s newspapers, the National Statistical Coordination Board reported that in 2006, more than 27 million Filipinos were living on just a dollar a day. A family needed P 6,274.00 a month to stay out of poverty.
Hopelessness dawns on us when we read newspaper, surf the Philippine news website or watch TV Patrol. We are continuously bombarded by the ZTE-NBN scandal, decreasing size of pandesal, flood in Bicol region, importing rice in Vietnam, crimes, and other faces of evil. Reality bites! Our hearts bleed. We are affected and blame the government and politicians. But after blaming others, we simply set aside the newspaper, switch off the TV and the internet and return to our daily routine, without asking, “What can I do?”

We are pretty sure that during the time of Jesus, Lazarus was not the only person who died in Israel. But on that day, on that specific time and place, he personally came to the grave of Lazarus and resurrected him.

Almost a quarter of our population is hungry. Do I share my food to ease the hunger of at least one single soul? Many intelligent and deserving youth are out of school. Can I ask some of my friends to chip-in some of their hard-earned peso to sponsor a scholar? Our youth keep on blaming their parents for their broken family. Did they do something to fix it? We blame the MMDA and Bayani Fernando for their inefficient garbage collection and traffic management, but we indiscriminately throw cigarette butts and candy wrappers on the streets, disobey traffic rules, jaywalk and park our car anywhere. Our government should do more for our country, but we should do something for our country also.

The clamor for a different brand of People Power is timely. We need people power of “empowered people” who are not only “deeply disturbed and troubled,” but warm bodies that are committed to do something for our country in their own small, doable, and attainable way. Filipinos are good in “micros.” Why not excel in this area? We Filipinos love “patak-patak” or giving small contributions for something worthwhile. Why not do it also for our country? Let’s give our contribution. Set an example. Contribute something even if you’re the only one contributing. To relieve the hunger of one soul is better than cursing the whole system.

When Lazarus came out of the tomb, his hands and feet were tied with burial bands and his face was wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said, “untie him and let him go” (John 11:45). Jesus did his part. The disciples’ job was to untie Lazarus!

Resurrecting our “Lazaruses” is not enough. To give hope is not the end. Feeding the poor is not enough. Regular dole-outs are not liberating. We need to untie them from their own spiritual, emotional, and intellectual un-freedom. Untie their hands so that they will be able to help others. Untie their feet so that they can be free and move forward. Remove the cloth in their faces to see the light and find their way. Educate and not replicate! This is empowering people by empowered people – a new kind of people power!

In a Gawad Kalinga Village in Bamban, Tarlac, neatly dressed Aeta children gather inside a pre-school classroom, listening attentively as their teacher reads books. Meanwhile, their parents are out in the field and harvesting vegetables. A few years back, they were beggars in Manila streets. Thanks to Gawad Kalinga. Golden tears!

The School of Medicine of Ateneo de Zamboanga was established in 1994 in response to the call to produce doctors attuned to the health needs of Region 9. By 1998, the first batch of graduates was assigned in various remote communities in Western Mindanao. Since then, more than 100 Christian and Muslim students have graduated from this innovative school and have significantly contributed in improving health care, with more than 90% of the graduates decided to stay in Western Mindanao’s remote areas. Another tears-turned gold!

Empowered people are compassionate and loving people – ever sensitive to the needs of others and passionate to respond to the signs of times.

The story of People Power 1 and 2 are already in the annals of Philippine History. But the story of People Power by Empowered People will go to annals of God’s History of Salvation. They are the crying heroes of God.


- Fr. Willy M. Samson,SJ
Ateneo de Zamboanga

Whistle Blower

4th Sunday of Lent
John 9:1-41 : ““Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people to do the same”
- Nelson Mandela

One of the words we usually here nowadays is the word “whistleblower.” A whistle blower is somebody who exposes misconduct or irregularities in the government.

In our country, where graft and corruption is very rampant, it is usually the whistle blower who exposes irregularities in our government. To become a whistle blower, one must have the courage to stand in the senate and court hearings and prepare to be insulted, abused and harassed. History tells us that our past two EDSA revolutions started from an exposé from the whistleblowers. In EDSA I, we remember the brave computer encoders who decided to walk out after being ordered to tamper the number of votes in favor of President Marcos. In EDSA II, we remember Equitable Bank SVP Clarissa Ocampo who named Estrada as Jose Vellarde after Chavit Singson exposed that he had personally given President Estrada the sum of 400 million pesos as payoff from illegal gambling profits. Our present political crisis today is a result of another exposé from another whistleblower, Jun Lozada who decided to expose the irregularities of the ZTE-NBN deal that led to the demand of different sectors of our society today, including the CBCP, for truth, accountability and reform from the Arroyo Government.

In our country that is projected to lose P29.5 billion pesos from our National Budget every year to corruption, many of us feel that we need more whistle blowers to eliminate all the graft and corruptions in our government. In fact, even the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in its latest pastoral letter, recommended the abolition of EO 464 (which bars officials from attending legislative hearings) so that those who might have knowledge of any corruption in branches of government may be free to testify before the appropriate investigating bodies.” A call to all genuine whistle blowers!

But the call to fight for what is right and moral is not just for well known “star-witnesses” or whistle blowers. All of us should be “little whistle blowers” in our own right - in our own families, schools, offices, churches and circles of friends. We should have the courage to correct anybody and be corrected as well for the good of all. This is fraternal correction – to correct in the name of love and not to judge. Big sin starts from small sins. Prevention by correction is still the best cure!

Sad to say, we are hesitant to correct one another for many reasons and justifications: “Nakakahiya kay kumare, ano na lang ang sasabihin nila…Baka magalit siya kung sabihan ko…Huwag mong sabihin na ako ang nagsabi… Hayaan mo na lang… Bahala na ang Diyos sa kanila…Buhay niya iyan, ayokong makialam… Saka na lang…bakit ako? …di ko kayang sabihin dahil ayoko siyang masaktan… mahirap siyang hindian, malaki ang utang na loob ko sa kanya…baka hindi na niya ako pansinin…” We don’t want to rock the boat.

A Philippine National Police study revealed that 85% of the Filipinos prefer to seek divine intervention rather than to file a complaint against somebody or to report a crime they have witnessed. We care for another. We sympathize with the victims, but we are afraid to be involved. And to pacify our conscience for doing nothing, we promise ourselves to pray for the victims. We are afraid to rock the boat and so we keep quiet – an evil’s victory!

We are socially aware to the many irregularities in our society, but we don’t want to be socially engaged. We don’t want to rock the boat. Our “non-involvement attitude” encourages our corrupt politicians and leaders to continue their corruption and immoralities. They are not afraid. They know that nobody will dare to blow the whistle and cry “foul!” And so we fall into the common sin we Filipinos love to commit – the sin of omission. To say nothing in the midst of irregularities and corruption is also a betrayal of truth

Our gospel for today is a story of a biblical whistle blower. Jesus wants us to learn from him. It was ironic that this whistle blower was a former blind man. Without any reservation and fear, even without seeing Jesus who gave him sight, he single-handedly defended Jesus against the Jews and the Pharisees and openly showed to them their blindness to the truth. He said. “You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” (John 9:31-33).

The blind man was the only character in the gospels that fought for Jesus. And yet, he was not even a disciple! In startling contrast, the disciples were not as bold as him. Peter denied Jesus thrice while the rest of the disciples, except John, disappeared during Jesus’ crucifixion. Everybody retreated to their own safe corner. In their fear, they abandoned Jesus. They abandoned the truth!
But we are no better than the disciples. We are afraid to make a stand. We don’t want to correct mistakes because we don’t want to be rejected, humiliated and persecuted for telling the truth. We don’t want to leave our secured lives for truth’s sake.

During the temple inquiry, the blinds man’s parents were summoned to testify. But unfortunately, in their fear of the Pharisees, they disengaged to their son and said, “Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” (John 9:20).
But in spite of being abandoned by his parents, the blind man bravely faced the Pharisees and stood up for the truth. When the Pharisees realized that the blind man was on top of them of them, they resorted to abuse, insult, and ordered him out of their presence. These are the cost of discipleship – for being a genuine whistle blower.

The Pharisees threw the blind man out of the temple; but Jesus found him (John 9:35). Anyone who is marginalized from his fellowmen, family, officemates, and friends for condemning immoralities and corruptions, he brings himself closer to the Truth – that is Jesus. Jesus is always true to anybody who is true to himself.
Our gospel is challenging us to stand up for truth. Do not hesitate to correct one another. We are brothers and sisters keeper. We are responsible for one another.

I admire the courage of whistle blowers, but I have deeper admiration and awe to ordinary daily whistle blowers who are not afraid to correct themselves before correcting the mistakes of others.





- Fr.Wilfredo M. Samson,SJ
Ateneo de Zamboanga