Holy Week meaningless unless we make changes

CEBU, Philippines - "Repent and enter into a new way of life with renewed faith in God."

This was how Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma emphasized the true meaning of the observance of Holy Week during his homily yesterday at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

He reiterated the important thing to do is to take part in all activities of the Church. He stressed celebrating Holy Week every year will not have much sense and purpose "if we don't impose a change within for the betterment of ourselves."

In order to change, Palma made a special mention of confession.

"It's a time to repent and believe in the goodness of God. We have to repent and change ourselves. We can do that through confession."

"We are called to repent, to live in the good news and to change ourselves through confession," he stressed.

Palma added the love of God is the reason for change.

"We changed to a happy people, a people of faith and a people who express his faith in many signs of solidarities."

In the observance of the most important week of a year, Palma highlighted the significance of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday.

"The pass-over of our lives is a time to depart from our old selves and embrace the new you," he said.

He added the celebration of Easter Sunday when Christ is risen gives "us new life and new beginning."

"At the end of the Holy Week we enter into a new life of faith and of grace and of service to God our maker," he said.

Passion Sunday

Palm Sunday is the celebration of the Christians of the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem a week before His death and His resurrection.

Palma said Palm Sunday is also called Passion Sunday which marks the beginning of Holy Week.

"It's the week when we enter more deeply into the mysteries of faith that meant or intended to truly make us holy to be able to appreciate the love of God and therefore to open our heart to God and share in God's life in God's holiness," he said.

He, however, said although many people think Holy Week is a time for vacation, he is thankful for the Cebuanos' different way of thinking.

"Thank you Cebu. Thank you because of our greater Christian civilization. We believe that Holy Week is not simply a week for vacation but a week when we enter more deeply into our faith. The best way to celebrate and spend the Holy Week is to participate in the main activities of the church and we started it with Palm Sunday," he said.

Palma said 2012 is more special and meaningful because it has been declared by Pope Benedict XVI as the "Year of Faith."

Outside the church many vendors said they earned well, selling palm fronds shaped into crosses and other designs at P10 to P20 depending on the design. — (FREEMAN)