Note: This article is not an attempt to deconstruct the meanings of religious practices. Also, I do not represent any religious congregation nor do I belong to any of it. This article is highly-opinionated and based on experiences. Should you find this article offensive or against your viewpoints, you may check out my other articles pertaining to other subjects.
Being raised in a family whose religion is Roman Catholic, I have experienced various religious practices that I have long been so curious about. As the years go by, I have gradually and beautifully discovered the meanings attached to it and yet, the quest for meaning still goes on and on, perhaps until the day I die.
Today is Good Friday.
When I was a kid, I was really curious why we commemorate the death of the Lord and call it a Good Friday. I mean, if I die, I wouldn’t want anyone calling it as something good, right? It’s as if they’re rejoicing that I died. All these years, I have been attending different religious activities. I have even been to activities engaged into by different religions who do not coerce me to be their member, but encourages me to continuously “seek for the truth and seek Jesus.”
Because of this quest, I found a reason why they call it “GOOD.” Someone has died for all of us, to redeem us from sins so we may live. Good is actually an understatement. So, I have already accepted the phrase “Good Friday,” as a symbol of God’s love for humankind and all His creatures.
Growing up in a city where religion and spirituality are of topmost significance, I have witnessed:
The Procession
My grandparents, who were “closed” Catholics and conservatives, would always tag us along during religious processions wherein the participants would walk a 3 to 5-kilometer route praying and reciting the Rosary. Again, my own definition of “closed,” meaning they strictly observe all the religious activities all throughout the year and by “conservative,” I mean that they strictly adhere to the cultural practices they grew up in and carry it out to the next generation.
I never knew the significance of the Procession until such time that I reached High School and I was no longer participating in any of the processions. I did not find any meaning before, but when I figured that the activity is about sacrifice, penance and prayer, I felt like I had to do it again.
Fasting
Fasting is not new to me, or to any of you, reading this article. It is about the sacrifice of not eating meat (to those who do) and for eating one full meal only during Good Friday.
Why is fasting important? As for me, it is not about the food. As they say, by not eating meat, we are not eating too much. Meat are considered as foods that increase our appetites (not so true though with vegetarians and vegans). Practically speaking, I eat more when I turn to fish as my meal.
The depth of fasting isn’t totally about NOT eating because I believe God never wanted anyone to starve himself. God always wants us to learn, but not starve.
So what is the Lord trying to teach us when we fast?
When we give up something, we give in to something else.
When we give up eating, we are giving in to the Lord that we are ONE WITH HIM now and always.
Again, fasting is not about eating or starving one’s self. It is about being one with the sacrifices of the Lord. After all, in one year, for us Catholics, it is only a single day that we totally forget ourselves to give way to the Lord to be in our hearts, minds and should I say… tummies.
Not Working on a Good Friday
This is one of the best practices that I have ever adopted from my Catholic family: keeping the Good Friday as the Holiest Day of the year. It is the time that we observe complete silence in the house. No one is allowed to do heavy work, not even exercising. No one is allowed to watch TV or be merry on this day.
According to my mother, my grandfather would always say, “this is the only time that we have to do this, not because we are forced to do it but because of the fact that we honor God’s presence in our lives and the sacrifices that He did for us. Imagine Jesus being crucified and here you go laughing and doing forms of merriment.”
Again, I have not written this to deconstruct meanings. I am not even sure if I’m near that goal of “seeking for the truth.” In our daily lives, we are given different chances to seek Jesus in many ways. And not for once should we lose sight of His Holy Presence in us.
Let us always remember that Jesus died for us, to redeem us from sins.
And He’s not asking us to die too. In fact, He wants us to live…following Him.
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
-John 14:6
eneeryvi
29 March 2013
1608H-1649H
Inspiration. Cheers. Empowerment 