AS THE Catholic Church is at the peak of its preparation for the weeklong observance of the Holy Week starting Monday, the Diocese of Bacolod has enjoined the faithful to reflect and pray.
Fr. Joy Jimera, rector of San Sebastian Cathedral, urged the faithful to value the sacredness of the Holy Week, the time when God has given His life for us.
“There's a lot of things that distract people now where the true meaning of the Holy Week can no longer be spent spiritually. People tend to control themselves and their situations. That's the little god dictating on them apparently unmindful of the real God who takes care of everything,” he said.
He said that "even during Holy Week, we still act as the little gods in our lives. We follow our own direction and will without consulting the real God."
There is indeed a clash between worldly choices as against the real values and meaning of Holy Week, he added.
He said that even in the cast of the “Passion of Christ” wherein about 100 people will be part of the reenactment at the public plaza on Good Friday.
"If we will not internalize its spiritual meaning, this will just fall on mere theater or a plain entertainment. I actually target these casts of the ‘Passion of Christ’ wherein the conversion will start from them and I hope that there will be a conversion process in them after the reenactment," he said.
Most of the crowd will rather enjoy the Holy Week, but one can never expect them that deep within them, they will be spiritually converted, he said.
On people going to the beach during the Holy Week, he said they have their free will and choices. “But again, those going elsewhere, ask yourself why you are going to the beach instead of staying home, attend Church masses and activities during Holy Week?”
He said it's insignificant as to where one should go during Holy Week.
"We must be conscious that our life is not only in this world but we still have another journey and that is with Christ. Happiness is one of the indicators of being holy. God would like us all to be happy and make the right choice that is fitting to observe the true meaning of the Holy Week," he said.
Meanwhile, Jimera said there will be a reenactment of the triumphant entry of Jesus to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday which will start at 4 a.m. from the Capitol Park and Lagoon to San Sebastian Cathedral.
There will be a blessing of palms at the public plaza to be led by Bacolod Bishop Patricio Buzon.