YESTERDAY, March 29, was the start of the Holy Week. The whole of the Christendom is in celebration of the Holy Week, and again it is open to everyone to reflect and do some soul searching. And each year I never failed in reminding my readers the meaning and fragility of life. It is a way of understanding who we really are, and what is life all about.
"From dust you came, to dust you return." It is said when you are born, there is only one direction, and that is death. From womb to tomb. But never fear death, it will surely come on God's appointed time. "Una una lang." It clearly declared in a cemetery in Pampanga in its welcoming an inscription which is cast: Ako ngeni, ika bukas. Loosely translated, it means, I died and lying here today, you will be tomorrow.
"The greatest gift God has given to mankind is death." In this time of pandemic when after more than a year of trying to defeat coronavirus, there are still millions all over the world on hospitals and fighting for their lives. Some are in life and death situations, incubated and are in great pain. (NOTE: Because the military generals appointed by Duterte are virtually square pegs on round holes. They are not fit in addressing a health problem). I am trying to imagine people who would be in advance age, bed ridden, immobile and anytime will breathe their last. Why our Lord God allow this to happen? Us, ordinary mortals can't and never will understand the ways of the Lord.
There are so many people who at some point asked God to end her misery and pleaded death. There are so many other true to life situations wherein people begged God for mercy to end their sufferings. In due time. He wanted each one of us to be with Him in his Kingdom. Just like when one of the sheep has gone astray, He has to leave the flock to look for the lost sheep to rejoin the others. And it is my personal belief that God has to clean you before you enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And it seems those who sinned more are the ones that take the longest cleansing process.
"Father why thou hast forsaken me." Even our Lord Jesus Christ uttered this word towards heaven when His human body can no longer endure the pain. What more for ordinary mortals. During this Holy Week I hope each one of us will try to contemplate our own life existence. That it may focus on the fragility of human life, that one day you will breathe your last, and that at the end you can make good accounting of what you have done for others.
I used to say that a lady symbolizes human justice, meaning she cares not if you are rich or poor, good looking or ugly, educated or unlettered, but her ears can still hear and be tempted of a whispered promise. Not in the Divine Justice, "husticia divino." It will be right minus wrong since in my belief God is all just. If you have done thousands of good deeds and committed few infractions and felt really sorry for your sins, God, in the last judgment, may reserve a seat for you in heaven.