Easter in the Philippines
Only two more days and we once again celebrate the most important Sunday for the entire Catholic church – Easter Sunday. For the predominantly Catholic Philippine population, Holy Week, Easter Sunday in particular, affirms our deeply rooted faith in the redemption of humankind through the passion, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. The ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross is the perfect example of selfless love, faith, hope and complete obedience to the will of God.
Easter Sunday or Linggo ng Pagkabuhay somehow gives forth a new lease of hope and life which flows from the Risen Christ. The feast holds immense significance as it unites families and communities in religious traditions and practices which affirm and strengthen the profound faith of the more than 85 million Filipino Catholics.
The Semana Santa in the Philippines is a beautiful blend of religion and culture. In many parts of the country, several unique ways to take part in Jesus’ unparalleled offering include the traditional Estasyon ng Krus (Stations of the Cross), Pabasa ng Pasyon, Senakulo, and Penitensya, all of which recounts the life, suffering and triumph of Jesus Christ as a way to manifest faith and sincere repentance.
From Palm Sunday which commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry to Jerusalem to His passion and death on Good Friday, to his victorious resurrection on Easter Sunday, Filipinos passionately express their union with the sufferings of Jesus Christ through fasting and abstinence, through deep reflection and prayer, and also through works of charity and mercy.
I recall having read about how Pope Francis reminded Catholics all over the world of the true essence of Holy Week: “During these holy days, let us draw near the Crucified One. Let us place ourselves before him … to take an honest look at ourselves, removing whatever is superfluous.
Let us let Jesus regenerate hope in us… This is needed: to go back to the heart, to the essentials, to a simple life, stripped of many useless things, which are substitutes for hope.
Today, when everything is complex and we risk losing the plot, we need simplicity, to rediscover the value of sobriety, the value of renunciation, to clean up what pollutes the heart and makes us sad,”
Easter Sunday calls upon Catholics to celebrate the victory of Jesus and the victory of mankind over sin and death, with great joy and much hope. Just as Jesus Christ conquered darkness with the light of His divine sacrifice, may our humble offerings this holy week create ripples of inspiration and draw a lighted path which brings us back to God’s loving grace.
Wishing the nation a faith-filled, hope-filled, grace-filled Easter Sunday!