‘Beyond palm fronds, prepare to bear crosses’

MANILA, Philippines - As Christendom observes Palm Sunday today, the faithful should be prepared to bear the crosses in their lives. 

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Public Affairs Committee executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano said Palm Sunday is also called Passion of Jesus Sunday. 

Palm Sunday signals the start of the Holy Week. This is when Christians remember Jesus Christ being welcomed in Jerusalem by people who spread their cloaks and branches on the road, just days before He was crucified. 

More than buying the traditional palaspas of coconut fronds or palm branches, Secillano said the right way to prepare for Palm Sunday is to prepare their inner selves. 

“What is important here is not the palaspas. What is important here is your interior disposition to journey with Christ as he enters Jerusalem. The significance here is when Christ entered Jerusalem he is prepared to meet his passion, and passion is referred to the carrying of the cross, crucifixion,” Secillano said.

“We also have to be interiorly prepared to meet our own passion. These are the difficulties in our lives, the trials and sufferings, so we cannot resent them and just want joy and happiness in our lives. We need to have that courage and at the same time, the strength to face our own cross,” he said.

Secillano said having the palaspas does not drive away evil spirits or bad luck. “Those are just superstitious beliefs.”

“We do not believe in luck or bad luck. We just do good and avoid doing bad things. Now, whatever happens in our lives, that is part and parcel of life … So it is actually a combination of pain, suffering and of course, joy and blessing. That is how life goes,” he said. 

“Just do good. Just do what you are supposed to do and then let God deal with you. If God blesses you, thanks be to God. If you experience trials and difficulties in life, hold on to God.” 

An environmental group, on the other hand, urged the faithful to “observe low-emission, climate-friendly and trash-free practices for the sake of our Mother Earth.”

EcoWaste Coalition echoed the words of Archbishop Socrates Villegas who recently exhorted Filipinos “to act together to protect the planet from the impacts of climate change.”

“We are one with the Church in calling for ecological conversion amidst the changing and warming climate, and many, we hope, will find the Holy Week an opportune time to make environmental amends,” said Ochie Tolentino, Zero Waste campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition.

“Walk, bike or take public transportation to the churches for the Visita Iglesia (church visits) and use recycled materials for makeshift huts for the reading, chanting or singing of Pabasa (the Passion of Christ). If painting is desired, use lead-safe decorative paints,” the group said.

Tolentino also advised those taking part in the annual Alay Lakad to Antipolo City on Maundy Thursday to be mindful of their garbage.

“Pick up the trash along the route as part of the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) rites in the neighborhood, and adorn floats for the Santo Entierro (Interred Christ) on Good Friday with longer-lasting mercury-free LED lamps and with locally-sourced flowers and plants,” she said.

Tolentino said the faithful can celebrate the Salubong at dawn on Easter Sunday without lighting firecrackers and fireworks.

“For those going on out-of-town vacations, please be reminded to take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time,” she said.

“Please do not throw or abandon your discards on the road, park, beach and churchyard. If there are no bins available, kindly bring your discards home for composting, recycling or proper disposal,” the group added.