holy week in my country

this sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week in my country. together with all the CHristian countries in the world. as early as friday last week, people have started going to their provinces to observe this season. but many, have long planned this week on going to the beach, Baguio ( a mountainous, cool place 5 hours or so, away from Manila), or just anywhere away from the polluted and smouldering heat of roads of the city. there are no classes or offices from wednesday afternoon to friday. thus make Holy Week, one of the most anticipated seasons, for different reasons. :>

when i was a little kid, my mother used to tell me that i should be very careful, quiet and behave during this week. particularly on friday, when she said, that God has died. we werent allowed to eat pork, play, listen to the radio, watch television, or take a bath. as much as possible, we just keep to ourselves. no noise and unnecesary movements.

i would be so afraid to hurt myself, and get wounds, because, i was told, they would never get healed, because, there was no God.

for a long time, during those times when i was told that he is dead, i kept on asking myself, so, does God go on vacation? I cant belive Him really dead, so, i just thought, He might have gone on a vacation too. but i would be so scared to go out of the house, because there was no God.

years passed before i realized that during Holy Week, God doesnt die, or go on vacation, but what we just do during this entire week is to comemorate or remember that entire week in the life of Jesus (see the Passion of the Christ? the setting for that movie is this week, particularly on Friday, during the time, Jesus was nailed and died on the cross. thus, God, died on a Friday.)

this week is very important to me, and all other Christians, because, particularly today, Friday, at around 3 pm, Jesus surrendered his spirit and died on the cross. and His death on the cross, meant everything to us, our salvation, and eternal life with God. it was on this day, that finally, God forgive all my sins, because of the sacrifice of Jesus, His only and beloved son. (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.John 3:16)In heaven, it was on this day, that the curtain that separates God from mankind, was torn apart.

here in tokyo, there isnt a single reminder that tells me that it is the Holy Week. there is work, and class presentation.

but the commemoration goes on. the significance of this week keeps playing in my mind. the celebration is in the heart. and on SUnday, the week is capped with the easter celebration, promising a renewed life for me and all.

so let me just greet you, as my way of sharing with you my joy for the real reason of this season: Happy Easter!