Holy Week and our greatest gift

Japanese calendars have red marks for holidays and special events. Japan will go on Golden Week where red marks can be observed within April 29 to May 6. Japan does not have as many holidays like the Philippines and therefore they treasure the Golden Week and look forward to their precious days of rest and recreation from the end of April to early May.

For sure, by now, many Filipinos are now enjoying their time with family and friends back in their hometowns or some other destinations. Students have earlier started their summer vacation. Offices are on a long break for this year's Holy Week. Once again, the lure of the secular will compete with the sacred for many, with the meaning of the Holy Week lost in the midst of fun and frolic especially in beautiful beaches and other settings. Rest days and breaks are like gifts that all enjoy having.

Holy Week reminds us about our greatest gift ever: God's redemptive love through His beloved Son's passion, death, and resurrection! More than any treasure in this world, God's love is immeasurable and eternal- what other gift can be better than this?

Holy Week this year has started in a very special way for me. During a morning prayer session, I reflected on the timing of God's Son's journey on earth. He came as a babe in the still of the night, He was crucified early afternoon, and on the third day, early dawn, He resurrected.

Did God intend to send us messages through the specific timing of His Son's birth, death, and resurrection?

By coming at night, was it God's desire to tell us that no matter how dark and dim our situation may be, He was sending His only Son on earth to be born at night to dispel the night and darkness in our lives, in our hearts, for the Savior's birth heralded love, hope, and redemption for all?

Was it God's intention as well to time His Son's crucifixion in the afternoon, when the sun is high and hot and when we humans feel weary from work and stress and our energy levels down? Was it God's message for us to take heart, like His Son, that despite long mornings and hot, heavy days, despite crosses and burdens during the day, we can look forward beyond the cross, beyond an afternoon of sorrow and pain, to dawn and a new day?

Could it have been God's beautiful intention for us to realize that the timing of His Son's resurrection was early dawn, not during the dark night or the hot afternoon?

Can we imagine and reflect on the beautiful message of God's timing of the resurrection, that dawn replaces the previous night and afternoon, that dawn signals yet another new day of new beginnings, of new energy, of hope and yes of joy and peace?

Holy Week walks us through God's redemptive plan for us, reminding us about God's greatest gift for us : His love through His Son's birth, passion, and resurrection. This year's reflection about possible added messages of love, hope, and love embedded throughout the timing of Jesus' birth, His crucifixion, and His resurrection make the Holy Week even more memorable and precious!

A lunar eclipse to herald this year's Holy Thursday and Good Friday and a comet predicted to grace the heavens after Sunday's resurrection- even the heavens continue to proclaim God's glory and His infinite love and boundless grace and gifts for us all whom He loves so much that He shared His only Son to reunite us all with Him in His time.

Enjoy God's greatest gift of love for you during this year's Holy Week!

And reminder please: the novena to the Divine Mercy starts this Good Friday please. You can go to the Divine Mercy website for your copy of the novena for this year's Divine Mercy commemoration!

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