Rise Up

I have to admit I am a bigger fan of Easter than Christmas. Maybe it is because Christmas is too hectic. There are also too many expectations for the season. Apart from gift-giving, there’s horrible traffic, the parties (those you enjoy and the ones you’re expected to enjoy) and the expectation to be happy. But more than the frenzy of Christmas, I cling to the Easter message of hope. After all, we Christians are an Easter people. Our faith is anchored in hope.

The past Holy Week, I found myself unprepared. I usually schedule taking a few days off for silent retreat with the Cenacle Sisters. This year, my mind was preoccupied with many other things. Before I knew it, it was Holy Week. On Holy Wednesday, my car battery died at about 8pm. A few people helped me push it. The car started and got me home from the mall. But the next day, it was dead. With most businesses closed for the holidays, I accepted my dead battery’s fate. I used the time to stay home and de-clutter my home while listening to inspiring Jesuit music. I did the online retreat by Pins of Light, an enriching Holy Week tradition by Fr Johnny Go, SJ. I also attended services at the Cenacle Retreat House.

I also finally did a task I had long meant to do. I finally used Spotify for the first time. Yes, I know, welcome to 2016! Even my mom was using Spotify long before I did. One song, I heard before Holy Week was Rise Up by Andrea Day. My friend and gym instructor, Paolo Sason used it for our cool down session on Tuesday’s workout. Little did I know, this song would be the theme song and reflection for this year’s Holy Week.

Watch Andrea Day’s video and her explanation on the song, and listen carefully to the lyrics. As Day says, “Rise Up is a song about any type of relationship. It’s really just about I look at everyone as we are all brothers and sisters, and we are all, sort of a body working together. So Rise Up is about saying one piece is not better than the other. And when this part is struggling, I’m gonna help you. I’m going to lift you up. I’ll be there. If you’ll go through the pain, I’ll go through the pain with you. If you’re celebrating, I’ll celebrate with you. It’s sort of just saying, I’ll rise up for you.”

“Rise Up”

You’re broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can’t find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains

And I’ll rise up
I’ll rise like the day
I’ll rise up
I’ll rise unafraid
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
And I’ll rise up
High like the waves
I’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
For you [4x]

When the silence isn’t quiet
And it feels like it’s getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we’ll take the world to it’s feet
And move mountains
Bring it to it’s feet
And move mountains
And I’ll rise up
I’ll rise like the day
I’ll rise up
I’ll rise unafraid
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
For you [4x]

All we need, all we need is hope
And for that we have each other
And for that we have each other
We will rise
We will rise
We’ll rise, oh oh
We’ll rise

I’ll rise up
Rise like the day
I’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
I will rise a thousand times again
And we’ll rise up
High like the waves
We’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
We’ll rise up
And we’ll do it a thousand times again
For you oh oh oh oh oh [3x]

Holy Week is about journeying with Christ, as He journeys with us throughout our lives. We accompany him in his suffering on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. And on Easter Sunday, when Christ is resurrected, we rise up with him. The song reminds me of my relationship with my best friend, Rissa. On her lowest points, I was there for her. She was there when I hit rock bottom. When she was weak, I reminded her she was strong. She did the same for me, and even more. And when we have risen and overcome difficulty, we are there to celebrate with each other. How special is that. I’m sure you have your own relationships like that.

As Day said in her song, “All we need is hope. And for that we have each other. We will rise. We will rise up.”

But this Easter, the lyrics of Rise Up, were also the very words of Christ for me. His very life is about rising up. He promises we’re not alone in this. He’s with us, rising up for us and with us, over and over again.

On Saturday, with one phone call, the car battery was replaced with a service unit. Turning on the ignition, the car instantly worked again. It was resurrected. Sometimes, we really just have to stop and switch off from the life. Then, with our batteries charged, with other people helping us, we have the courage to go on.

Everyday, we are called to rise up. And everyday, we are called to help others people to rise up, too. We’re in this together.

May this message of Easter ring true for you. And may this song bring you comfort and strength as it has for me.

Happy Easter!

Maida

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Maida Pineda. Copyright2016.