HOLY Week has just concluded. It is the climax of the Lenten season, one of the most significant Filipino cultural events.
Every year, Filipinos observe Holy Week in many different ways. Many Filipinos attend church, read the "Pasyon," the Filipino narrative of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, or watch films about the Savior's life on Earth or stories of faith and devotion.
Others flagellate themselves for "penitensya," or stage the "senakulo," reenacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Some devout Catholic Filipinos religiously fast during this period and pray at each of the 14 Stations of the Cross, not to mention do the popular Visita Iglesia.
However, several others take the opportunity for a brief vacation to unwind from stress, whether at the beach or elsewhere. These people take time for family bonding in the cities or provinces. However, no matter how Filipinos commemorate this well-known story, it raises the question: Is this religious "season" just a tradition or vacation that people mark off their calendars, or is it something much deeper?
Unlike what most people think, the story of the life of Jesus did not start when he was born in Bethlehem, climaxed when he died at Golgotha and ended with his resurrection.
As clearly stated in the book of John, "Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God." (John 1:1-2, TLB)
God has been alive before time even had a name and will live forever. He wished that people could live in harmony and be holy in his presence and obedience to him, but that connection crumbled when people let sin plant its seeds.
Like what the idiom says, "When there's a will, there's a way," people found ways to cleanse themselves of their sins, make themselves holy, and try to bring themselves back to God.
Some methods in the olden days included sacrificing perfect animals and complying with many religious rituals and traditions.
However, God gave mankind the only perfect and irreplaceable sacrifice: Jesus Christ. From his special birth in a manger to his extraordinary life on Earth, his mission was clearer than ever: save the whole world from spiritual debt and death caused by sin.
He completed this mission by willingly laying down his life on that wooden cross that fateful day. Even though Jesus could have snapped all of the guards off with his finger, he took in all the pain and suffering for every person on this Earth because he loved mankind.
However, the story does not end there because he miraculously resurrects from the dead three days later.
No matter how often Filipinos hear this classic story, the message is still clearer than ever, more than 2,000 years later. Because people are so familiar with this story, and Easter has a different picture for different people, there's a tendency for its main message to be forgotten.
For some, it is just a tradition or ritual that "must be done." For others, it is just a holiday with bunnies and eggs.
Even though almost everyone knows that Jesus died on the cross and rose again, they overlook the call to accept Jesus as Savior. He doesn't ask for anything more than a genuine heart, a humble life, a relationship with him, and obedience to him. He doesn't need rituals, traditions, or ceremonies if Filipinos will go back to their old lives as if nothing happened.
No matter how old or young, or a person's status, he calls and waits for each.
The main question is: Are Filipinos ready to answer his call?
Janae Hannah Orante is a Grade 8 homeschooler. The essay was originally her 4th Quarter requirement for her Christian Living subject.
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