How I Spent The Holy Week (Part II)

Check the first part of this article here.

April 2, 2021 (Good Friday)

I felt much better compared to yesterday. Dysmenorrhea has left me temporarily but my body still feels heavy.

I was supposed to go with my mother to attend the Station of the Cross but the schedule was too early for me and my body still resists activities on that day.

I can hear the people singing while doing the Station of the Cross since our house is 3 minutes walk away from the chapel.

I remembered that we were encouraged to watch the Station of the Cross via Facebook Live and so I watched through my phone.

Noon is scheduled for the 7 Last Words. This is what I'm always looking forward to every Holy Week. I like to watch people how they share their testimonies in their lives through a reflection of Jesus Christ's 7 Last Words.

We had our lunch. We just ate fish because as our grandparents say, that the family has followed anyway, Good Friday is intended for fasting. Actually, the entire Holy Week should be practiced for fasting but as generation changes, people have changed its practices as well.

I watched the television and listen attentively to the sharers.

4 pm when I remembered that the San Isidro Labrador Church is also doing a Livestream via Facebook Live.

That's when I started to pause everything that I'm doing and watched them attentively. I get also excited because some of them are people I'm acquainted with because they also serve the chapel as choir members.

Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.

The first sharer was the elder sister of the priest who just recently got killed by a bullet on his chest.

Fr. Rene was a priest who was killed by two unknown people riding a motorcycle when he was on his way back to the Seminary House. He was riding in his car but on the crime scene, his head was covered with a cloth and his hands were tied. His body was found lying on the ground along the road in a diversion road.

Fr. Rene was wrongly accused and illegally arrested in his room (Surigao del Sur) because of rape. The story was, Fr. Rene was fixing his clothes as he's about to go home to Bukidnon on that day because his service to the Parish was already over after 5 years. A woman came into his room and helped fix everything. 3 minutes after, 2 policemen came in and illegally arrested him. He was detained for three days and got out of jail. The family believed that the people who accused him of rape were the same people who killed him eventually. Everything was a setup but since they failed, they followed the priest in Bukidnon and killed him.

His sister asked God how can the family forgive the people who killed their son/brother. They wanted to file a case to justify his death but they had no lead. As his sister said, "God, how can we forgive? My brother has done everything good to everyone. We are your good followers, we serve you truthfully. Why did you allow this to happen?".

But then, she found a note on the priest's laptop. Everything needed like passwords and important credentials. There was a statement written on the bottom that made the entire family to console their urge of taking revenge. It said " I love you all if I can't go home alive. Please do not take revenge and forgive them."

Truly, I say to You, you will be with me in paradise.

John is a college student who shared his reflection on the 2nd word. When he was in his high school years, he has done almost everything that a stubborn student would do.

He doesn't go to school regularly. He lies to his parents about school projects but just spends the money on computer games in internet cafes. He has his vices. Smoking and drinking, cutting classes with his friends. Peer pressure.

He was already in his 4th year. He presented his school card to his mother with passing marks (75). John expected to get scolded for the grades he presented. His parents didn't have any idea what their son has been performing but as soon as his mother received and looked at John's school card, she smiled and said, "That's okay, son. At least you passed all your subjects."

At that very moment, John felt a heavy feeling in his heart. He was filled with conscience and shame from all the wrongdoings he has done to his parents, and for disregarding their sacrifices.

He didn't feel happy because he graduated from High School, instead, he felt happy because he made his parents proud.

From then on, John has changed. He studies hard, get good grades, and surely he is with God in paradise.

The 3rd word and 4th words will be published next to this.

Thanks for reading!

Keep safe everyone ❤