It Is A Holy Week

The roads in Metro Manila are almost empty. There are few people around. The city appears abandoned. It is Holy Week. The most important week for every Catholic every year. It is a week of witnessing and appreciation of what God had done for us. The passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus is celebrated. It is the climax of Catholic worship. Every Catholic is expected to participate and celebrate. But, save for some devotees, many are not really in the city. Many took advantage of the long "vacation" offered by offices and institutions supposed to be to give every Catholic a time to reflect and celebrate his faith. Beaches, rest houses, hotels, vacation places welcome and cater to those who would spend their "vacation" for games, rest, relaxation, dinners, and other activities to while the time. It is really unfortunate that of all the vacations given, the Holy Week was chosen thereby sacrificing that great opportunity to commune with God. Gone were those days when all Catholics would respect and celebrate the Holy event. Secularism seems to have dominated many of the faithful. Worse is that they seem to be not feeling guilty about it. They believe it is OK. Maybe they had seen it from their parents or from others who had given them a different reason for the season. But one only had to see the meaning and importance of this week to realize and appreciate what is at stake. It is easy to see that being Catholic is to be involved and to participate in all the Holy Week celebrations. It is the peak, acme, climax, and ultimate of Christian worship. There is no excuse in being a part of it, much more in not celebrating it.

It was not like that before. Then, people were more sincere in the participation and celebration of the Holy Week activities. The celebrations were more solemn not only in churches, but also in homes and in the streets. Everyone cooperates; the mass media (radio stations, television stations, newspapers), transport groups, stores, restaurants, amusement centers and most businesses except those which must operate twenty-four hours like hospitals, jails, police stations, fire stations etc. Now, it is different. Good if the internal disposition is retained. I hope. I pray. Then, at least, we had not lost the best and the heart of the celebration. In spite of all the distractions, we remain to be contemplatives in action.