Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The Triduum is One!

Holy Week is the climax of the Catholic worship. Preluded and prepared by the Season of Lent and Palm Sunday up to Holy Wednesday, the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil) is the essence, the height, and Mother of all liturgical activities. Ont thing must be stressed regarding the Triduum. It is actually ONE liturgy spread in a span of three days. It is the finale of story of God's love to us in Jesus Christ. The sign of the cross is done at the beginning of Holy Thursday and at the end of the Easter Vigil.

Therefore, we have no reason why we will not be present in the Triduum to experience God's love. We want to be there to receive God's saving grace. We will be there to respond to the love that God had given us. We are fortunate to have a country which respects our faith. During the Triduum, every office and every worker is given a chance to take a vacation. All Catholics are given the time to render homage and worship to God. It is but responsible, moral, and truly Catholic for everyone to give to God what is to God. Bilang utang na loob natin sa lubhang malaking pag-ibig at kagandahang ng Diyos, marapat lamang na ibigay natin ang buo nating atensyon at sarili sa mga araw na iyon.

Sana ay mag-isip isip ang mga magulang na planuhing mabuti ang mga araw na iyon. Marami sa atin ang hindi sinasamantala ang mga banal na araw na iyon. There are those who take advantage of the time to go on vacation to a far away place for an R and R. Others would just spend the time watching tv (kasi may cable tv na!), play cards and gamble, go swimming, play mahjong, etc. and compromise if not disregard attending the celebrations. "Mahaba" daw ang mga rites. Di ba hindi naman kaso ang haba? If something is very important to you, length of time does not matter. When we are with someone we love, we want to stay close forever? Yung pagkainip ay tanda ng kawalan ng interes and therefore, pagmamahal. Di mo ba mahal ang Diyos? Di mo ba mahal sarili mo? Can we not stay with God for an hour, two hours, three hours or four hours? Di ba wala naman tayong dapat pagkaabalahan during those days?

When will we take advantage of the opportunities we are being given? When will we take advantage of God's presence in the Eucharist? When will we realize that these liturgies are salvific and not just a waste of time or "rituals" that had no deeper, significant, or spiritual meaning? Sana ngayon na. Hopefully when not we can not move, speak, or feel anymore. The time to respond is here and now.

See you on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil. No, it is not me who is inviting nor you are going to see. It is the Lord!

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