Spending the Holy Week

By now some of us have planned on how to spend the Holy Week. For some, planning happened very much in advance that they want to maximize the long break from work or school. Others perhaps would consider the same set of activities to do and places to visit just like the past years.

Magazines and promotional ads have where-to and what-to-do tips and suggestions. And perhaps for others this means unwinding activities very much different from the boring routine and away from the usual workplace and school work. What and where else? Beaches and some adventure places would be the best to go. And for those who do not have enough savings would rather frequent the malls to be away from the sweltering heat.

But there are others who rather thread of spending the long break in a spiritual way. Visiting churches and places of worship is a major consideration every year. And no other way of spending it with the objective of still having bonding with family members, relatives, and friends.   

It is considered as a very sacred time of the year, for we will commemorate and remember the last week of Jesus' life on earth. In a family, when we know that a beloved member is about to leave us, we make sure that at least that last days with us would be a memorable one. We make sure that we are together, regarding every single moment very special. 

As Christians, It is the time when we show honor and respect for Christ's sacrifice for our sake. His time on earth has saved the succeeding generations of humanity. By paying the price for our sins on the Cross, He gained for us our eternal salvation, and heaven was opened once more.

It is a season of penitence. This, I believe, can truly be achieved when one has a heart that acknowledges failures. And that through the ultimate suffering and sacrifice of our Savior, offering His self, and we are forgiven and redeemed. It is in the risen Lord that we believe that He will rise again from the living and the dead for He is truly our God.

Such spiritual significance can be translated into long established practices that have been handed down from generation to generation. The Senakulo, Pasyon, and Sugat have revolved and presented in a variety of forms in various locations of the country. One execution in a certain locality may differ from the other depending on how one generation has portrayed, changed, and passed on the practices through the years.

But one thing that I have noticed for the past years, only a few have religiously followed such tradition and only a few families have managed to nurture the young generation. Though the church is in the forefront of setting the religious tone for others to follow but the individual families must, first and foremost, take an active role to reach to an important realization that such practice must be observed at least on this season.

The world has so much to offer - so tempting and temporary. It is my earnest hope that this year's Holy Week would be time to clear our schedules of unnecessary activities. Our minds and hearts should be fixed on Jesus and what He did for us. Let us bear the Cross so that we may be worthy heirs of His kingdom.

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