Holy Week ahead

Almost all the places of worship in Cebu are gearing up for the influx of churchgoers in the next few days. Last week, I was able to visit seven churches as part of an assignment. I felt like I already did my pledge ahead of doing the "visita iglesia". The visiting of one church then another on a regular day already felt exhausting. Imagine if the actual visiting falls on the days of Holy Week. There would be more people than usual.

They say the essence of Holy Week is to also experience a slice of sacrifice, just like how Jesus Christ did when he was crucified. I was privileged to take an advanced look at the Eukaristiya Garden behind the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Pedro Calungsod. It featured life-sized statues depicting the different events that took place in the life of Christ prior to his resurrection. Every scene portrayed Christ's sacrifice, even when among his disciples. In a casual chat with pastoral director Rev. Fr. Jonathan Rubin, he said the sacrifice is an act of love. Similar to what Calungsod did that earned him his sainthood.

Many of us will have different interpretations of this sacrifice in the days ahead. Others will go the traditional route of following the activities set by the Church. The younger ones will go on vacation, taking advantage of the long days with no work. For those who have been away from their family for so long, this is the perfect time to make core memories with them. Those in the service will have to render their time for official duty, as it is also their responsibility to be alert during these days. In the present time, the definition of worship and paying tribute becomes encompassing.

I do appreciate how we have slowly removed the stigma of the different choices individuals have for their Holy Week. While the Catholic Church has a mandate based on their doctrine, we are entering an era of respect. Some elders might disagree with me on this but we have to think past the traditions. Being a Christian is setting an example of living like Christ. This could be done in any location and scenario just as his love knows no bounds, it is unconditional.

Christ was ridiculed for his choices and actions, but he never gave up. In this modern generation, everyone will always have something to say about us, especially with technology. However, this should not get in the way of our personal ordeals. May we all find the true meaning of Lent wherever we may be this week. It could be a form of reflection in front of the beach or a nudging felt while praying the Stations of the Cross. What's sure is that we are allowing ourselves to take a break from the usual. This is the pause we all deserve after toiling hard for the family.