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The 40-day Lenten season is one of the most significant events among Christians worldwide. The last week of the season before Easter Sunday is the celebration of the Holy Week commemorating the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During Holy Week, we celebrate the most important events, such as Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday. These are all celebrations by devout Christians who reflect on the life and death of Jesus.
Holy week is the time of repentance. It does not only mean we are sorry for our sins. It's when we must change our thinking, actions, and visions. It's the best time to reflect on our lives and to change them for the better.
It's good to repent as it gives a feeling of being a renewed person. Someone complete and whole. What I have learned about repentance is the act of humility to acknowledge that I have sinned and to ask for forgiveness.
Being renewed gives us the courage to stand up and face the world with selfless love and compassion for others. We extend our service to those who need it but cannot pay us back. Such an act makes us become 'Christ-like which is the message of the lent.
We may live in today's world full of material aspirations and worldly ambitions. But it is good to ponder on what are the necessary things in life and what is our true life purpose. It's not only material possessions, it is not just daily survival, but it is through following the right path and what God has commanded us to do.
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| St. Peter's Church, Bandra (West), Mumbai |
The season of Lent is not just about repentance, praying, and fasting. It's also the season of sacrifice. Like Jesus, He suffered the consequence of being upright and moral, and in the end, was sentenced to death. We can also sacrifice condemnation for being righteous. We can persevere in humiliation. We can endure persecution. However, in the end, what matters is the sense of righteousness we have chosen that leads to fulfillment in life.
We can compare the struggle of Jesus in today's modern world by becoming more courageous to speak for ourselves. Jesus did righteousness even though he knew his life led Him to persecution. He never got scared of the people in authority. Like us, we can stand up for what we believe is right. We can be ourselves if we live a good life and sacrifice for the common good. We have our battle in life; like Jesus, we carry our cross daily. It is for us to take it or give up. To move forward or surrender. To follow or redirect.
© 2012 Del Cusay