Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Lobaton: Way of the Cross By Jonathan Lobaton Private curves
THE celebration of Holy Week is highly diverse depending on how an individual prefers to spend it based on preconceived convictions or maybe just to escape the pressures of city life.
Some were invited into traditional vacations when they already have forgotten to ponder upon the essence of the celebration. But to them, it would still be the same as when they are in the church or in the house remembering the elements present in a day, many considers to be a moment to actualize one's self.
When we claim our vacations and the time spent at home was just as our usual activities during the holidays, our attentions are called to go back and reminisce what that blessed moment meant to us and to the whole Christian community. The Holy Bible speaks about Christ giving up himself and suffering the consequences of sins just to save humanity. A noble act beyond the reach of human thinking from a simple being willing to give up the comforts of heaven, just to end up dying on the cross.
In its actuality, the suffering from being arrested and be mocked by those who subdue the sentiments of an innocent and prefers to uphold the supplications of the robbers, proclaims victory to humanity in the form of salvation. This, as when Christ died and shed his blood for a promise of life after death.
Many of our people today wanted to emulate this act by also hanging themselves on the cross and showing that they are the modern Christ. Yet after days of being hanged, they will go back to their normal ways and show ignorance of the sacrifice they made when they voluntarily gave themselves up to be nailed on the cross.
It is so complex indeed to analyze the many factors why our people have this type of understanding when it is clear that it is a narrow analogy of the divine act that could have been their own way towards salvation.
Sad to say, it speaks about their being shallow in equalizing religion and tradition in a modern society.
Behavioral sciences may have something to offer to stimulate one's belief, though it will also be a matter that could stir public discussion.
Psychologist Sigmund Freud believes that within our lifespan, we tend to develop psychic energies. These energies are stored within the individual and may be expressed in various forms. They may come as our frustrations, longings, aspirations and other emotional setbacks that build up in one's emotional sphere. But this, according to Freud, is putting an individual into an ordeal where he should balance the need for gratification and control. Some energy, if not controlled, may harm an individual due to pressures.
This is the reason why an outlet-like the celebration of the Holy Week - could serve as a venue for the people to unload themselves from the many strains of daily life. It gives them the relief from the poverty being suffered and the challenges that they could hardly overcome.
It is not my way of disagreeing with the way some folks are celebrating the Holy Week, otherwise without them, we could not have a glimpse of the actual drama written in the Bible. But the divine act had already been consummated. It is just an invitation for us human beings to accept the gift when Christ unconditionally gave himself up to be crucified and perished. We need not draw people's attention by crucifying ourselves and be subjected to modernity's appreciation. Today, let us just embrace the salvation being handed to us through repentance and acceptance of Christ in our hearts. This is giving justice to the real essence of the WAY OF THE CROSS!
