Thursday, April 05, 2007 Editorials: Need for reflection during Lent
THIS being Holy Week, senatorial candidates of the Genuine Opposition acted solemn last Tuesday and held a "Day of Prayer and Recollection."
But any notion of honest intention by the organizers was quickly dispelled by the media circus, statements of the participants and the homily of the officiating priest.
What should have been a solemn event became a platform for electoral campaign and was milked for its propaganda value.
Team Unity senatorial bets have not scheduled a similar Holy Week propaganda blitz and at least one of them announced they will go home to their respective families.
But that is no assurance that their Lenten rest would be spent in honest reflection and won't be marred by electioneering.
At the local level, the candidates' usual strategy is to sponsor "Siete Palabras" radio shows, or even to become speakers themselves, wailing themselves silly.
Warning
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has warned against candidates disrupting the solemnity of the week by using the Lenten activities as campaign forums.
But that the Comelec has to issue the warning only shows that many candidates could not be relied upon to make the Holy Week truly sacred.
This fault, though, is not limited to candidates but many other Filipinos as well.
Admonition
The “secularization” and “commercialization” of the Holy Week has prompted Philippine bishops to admonish Catholics to be more reflective of their faith.
What must have worried the Catholic Church hierarchy is the practice, especially of the moneyed, to rush out to available beach resorts for a holiday of fun.
But even the act of staying put is no assurance that the week will be spent like what the bishops want: to reflect on the “passion, death and resurrection” of Jesus Christ.
Celebration
Anyway, as Catholics throughout the world celebrate the Paschal mystery, it would be good for the faithful to heed the admonition of the leaders of their faith.
Religion is not only about belief in a God but is also about the teachings that guide the faithful in their day to day endeavors.
In this period of confusion and difficulties, the Filipino faithful reflecting on their grasp and practice of Christian values should be an important aspect of this year’s ritual.
