This Holy Week

I grew up in a place where noise is an ordinary occurrence; barking of dogs, meow of cats; horns of speeding cars; rings of our telephone or my cellphones; sounds of TV programs or music from the radio. Actually, I practically live in a city named Davao which is pulsing and throbbing with life 24/7.

I sleep for 8 hours in the evening and in my waking up moments I busy myself preparing for work. In my work place I deal with students, lessons, colleagues, church activities while do my duties and responsibilities as daughter, sister, auntie, friend, colleague and the like. Those are the things that keep me busy every day.

This Holy Week, I am called to tamp down for that noise for solemnity and quiet reflection. This Holy Week I need to focus my energy or I need to slow down my energy to give my attention to the One who has provided me with all the things that caused those noise.

I have not and never will I forget the meaning of Holy Week that includes the Lent Season. In the past, my solemn disposition would start after the imposition of ashes on my forehead until the Sunday of Resurrection.

But today, due to the change of school calendar of USEP (where I teach), I am still busy up to the month of May. My first time to experience “busy” Holy Week started in 2017. I cannot avoid but join the noise of thesis defense; checking test papers; and computing grades during the holy week because the holy week happens when the semester is nearing its end.

So, this year 2019, I resolve to go back to my way of celebrating the holy week via the “old tradition” which is to reflect, to reflect, and to reflect. Of course, almsgiving is done in between.

No more checking of thesis and test papers during this holy week. No more student consultation; no more reading of thesis; no more planning and preparing for the next lesson. Instead, I will go back to my old way of doing things like reflecting on the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. I will go back to remembering again the many times, He saved me; the many times He performed small and big miracles to show His love for me.

This Holy Week, I will cry as I will internalize the 4th in the seven last words of Jesus as He was hanging on the cross, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

Next year of holy week, I will share my personal experience on this 4th last words. For the meantime, I will just have to experience death with Jesus on the Mt. Calvary and duet with Him when HE will say “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?”