"This is the best time to really begin a new life and leave behind our old selves," said Monsignor Cris Garcia in an interview with The Freeman.
Today, the Church celebrates Holy Tuesday, the second day of the mini triodion, Garcia said. Its Gospel shows how Jesus told disciple Simon Peter that "the cock will not crow before you deny me three times" (John 13:38).
Garcia, the founder of Society of the Angel of Peace in barangay Cansojong, Talisay City, said that what Peter did to Jesus when he denied Him thrice when asked if he was acquainted with Him was very much like what people do today.
Even Judas the Iscariot, one of the disciples who betrayed Jesus, who will be the subject in Wednesday's Gospel, is also present in most people these days, Garcia said.
"We don't live our faith. In a sense we betray our Lord for something so trivial," he said, explaining that most of the Catholics don't even go to Church on Sundays anymore.
And even in this season of reflection on Jesus' sufferings, most people go to the beaches, which according to Garcia, is "not proper."
"In the beach we don't pray, we think of fun things. How can we reflect the sufferings of Christ?" he asked. Although he understands that this is a rare time when families are united, Garcia explained that this is the best time to "mediate" and be renewed because Holy Week is the "stage of our journey toward becoming close to Jesus."
Garcia said that if the people would opt to go out and forget the meaning of Holy Week, or if they return to their old selves after the season, "walay kapuslanan ang tanan."
The Church puts the Lent before its people to prepare them for the Easter graces of baptism and sacramental reconciliation. Thus, Garcia explained that the Lent should be a long retreat that leads the people to the practice of a more perfect Christian life.
The Church, he continued, would like the people to do their sacrifice so they may be able to share Christ's redemption.