DURING my elementary and high school days, “Holy Week” was a time when many visitors would be coming up to Baguio. While other people would be spending time meditating and reliving the agony, passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were busy working extra hard and putting in longer hours due to the business the special holidays would generate. Holy Week and summer was a time to make up for the poor business that the rainy months would bring.
Nowadays, many visitors come up during the Panagbenga weekend of February as well as on long weekends, rather than just during Holy Week. Thus, the visitors are spread out during the non-rainy months of the year.
This Holy Week, as with a few similar Holy Weeks in recent years, I would like to take some time off doing what I should have been doing – celebrating Holy Week on a personal basis with the Lord.
This Holy Wednesday, I was blessed to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession. Hopefully, I can join more holy activities this year.
I have been blessed to receive scripture readings and insights on a daily basis from two good friends.
Let me share what I received today from Fr. Ed, a former UP (University of the Philippines) batchmate who entered the priesthood:
Jesus told the disciples, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him… in your house I shall celebrate the Passover.”
At the passover supper, his Last Supper, Jesus celebrated the first mass transforming bread and wine into his body and blood.
On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the Last Supper and we are that “certain man” to host it.
Jesus in the Eucharist wants to come into us and transform us into Him.
My Dearest Fellow Catholics,
Fr. Ed continues:
“Let us clean up our house for the Lord’s Supper, repent and confess the times we enjoyed His blessings but abandoned Him when His ways were not convenient.
Lord Jesus, clean my heart of double–faced passions, so I may joyfully join You at the table – today, at my last supper, and at the eternal banquet.”
Let us receive Jesus with a clean heart, not just during this Holy Week, but, on a regular basis.
Welcome Jesus, our Lord and Savior who suffered and died for us, in the Holy Eucharist, as often as we can. Let’s not wait till we are not busy. Let Christ be first in our lives. He is King and He is God with us, ever present in the Holy Eucharist and in the Blessed Sacrament.
Visit Him. Talk to Him. Daily.
A grace-filled Holy Week and A Happy Easter Sunday!