What used to be a solemn, somber and sorrowful day for Christians around the world has become a day of celebration– beaches, family reunions, outings and festive gatherings– for most Pinoys here and abroad.
As Holy Wednesday approached, most were bound for distant provinces and even abroad for those that can afford such outings. Priests and churchgoers take part in religious services and rituals/processions. Many Catholic priests lament that most people have lost their time for God and to reflect on his torture, insults, suffering and carrying the heavy cross in Golgotha until his demise on Good Friday.
Even malls and restaurants are opening their doors for commercial activities (thereby negating the practice of fasting and abstinence for Christians), when in decades past people had nowhere else to go but the church or participate in the Pabasa (chanting of the passion and death of Jesus Christ) usually held on street corners, private homes, small chapels and at the sides of the big churches.
HOLY WEEK TRADITIONS
On Maundy Thursday, Catholics attending the Holy Mass for the Last Supper witness the priests washing the feet of his disciples (a random selection of mass attendees) to reminisce Jesus’ act of humility and service.
While it’s a central part of the Roman Catholic Church’s liturgy, many other Christian denominations also observe it in their worship services.
The Visita Iglesia or the visitation of at least seven churches for some (which I personally raised to 14 in years past to symbolize the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross) is usually done on Maundy Thursday (after the mass of the Last Supper), and Good Friday, but some have spread their visits to the different churches for the entirety of the Holy Week.
PASSION OF THE CHRIST
Good Friday is named such because of the belief that Christ’s death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice for man’s sins and their redemption from death.
At noon of Good Friday, Jesus breathed his last, surrendering his spirit to the Father with the words “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,” then he died. Curiously, at 3 p.m. the skies normally turn dark although this is the hottest period in that day.
Before breathing his last, the two criminals who were crucified with him– one at his left, the other at his right had time to ‘communicate’ with him. One mocked him saying “you save and heal others, why can’t you save yourself.” But the other rebuked his peer saying this man had not committed any sin and do not deserve this death but we deserve what happened to us, after which he turned to Jesus to ask forgiveness saying “Lord remember me when you are in paradise,” to which Jesus answered “today, you will be with me in paradise.”
This was followed by loud thunder, lightning and the earth shaking which made those that participated or witnessed his entire ordeal rushing to the safety of their homes.
The curtain of the temple was mysteriously torn in two from top to bottom and there was a great earthquake.
After Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross, He was wrapped in strips of cloth and laid in a tomb. Roman guards were sent to guard the tomb to ensure no one stole the body or spread rumors that He wasn’t dead.
Finally, three days later, Jesus rose from the dead and conquered death.
COMPASSION, HUMILITY
Amid the commercialism and secularism of our times, let us still follow the ways of Jesus from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday by practicing contemplative prayer and worship, by atoning for our sins in confession and receiving the Holy Communion and by keeping these few days in the year as solemn and meditative as possible.
Let us be humble, forgiving and compassionate towards everyone.