Lenten reflections

For the first day of the Lenten break, I felt it ended trivially with limited programs on television as majority of the stations were on break. This left those at home with only three or limited television stations having programming related to the Holy Week. The fact is people spent time outside, somewhere in places for pleasure and or religious purposes. But for those who just stayed home, it was like an ordeal. And browsing the Facebook and waiting for new feeds would be so mind-numbing.

For a person that prefers to be home and does not even bother to go out to see some neighbors, ending the day at home is just fine. This is so because for the past years, my feet led me to various places, at least some of them were new, and some were just repeat visits.

And what else can we look for when even the masses can be viewed in the Internet. And would not bother to take a bath, can choose the outfit, and in the most comfortable situation.

However, there is really the urge to go out when viewing your friends’ profiles are taken in vacation places or in places you have not been to. And since there was no plan to be in another place, there was even a temptation to just go to the office for work. But generally, this was something remote as the mode was still on break.

Yes it’s true that once one is in another place, it brings with him a new experience that adds to the rich pool of knowledge. But when such experience would just end to the profile picture for others to envy, I would rather stay home and create a different experience with the family members. And let’s accept as we grow old, we often think that it’s the time for the younger ones. Been there and done that, as we say.

And so what becomes a rationalization for this—Christ is everywhere. He sees us wherever we are. He is ubiquitous. Christ is not only in churches but He is in each one of us. It can be in our neighbors, who are happy because we have spent time with them over binignit and saging pinaypay, and yes grilled seafoods. It is in the smiles of the innocent children who are happy that at least this time they see you as they run around the lawn, and you have shared something for them. Simple as it may seem but you have not done this for decades in your neighborhood.  

My pious octogenarian mother has resigned to the idea of joining the procession as the attendance of her contemporaries is declining as well, not because of physical limitation but due to their discouragement as only few young people are joining. And who would expect them to as they were somewhere else. They preferred in beaches or places they have not been to.  On Maundy Thursday, a local daily has released photos of a popular resort destination in southern Cebu. Filled with empty bottles of liquor the following morning, this came, of course, after an intense drinking session, probably until early morning.       

Just like other annual commemorations, the Holy Week has unique and recurrent theme. The passion, death and resurrection would always be the same—nothing more, nothing less. And yes the seven last words would never be six or eight.

And so now tell me, after the break, have you become a spiritually renewed being or a physically reinvigorated person ready to resume for work?

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