A Holy Week Reflection
This Holy Week Reflection will give us a little glimpse of what Jesus Christ sacrificed for us. May the message in this Holy Week Reflection have a space in our hearts as we commemorate His sufferings.
Palm Sunday
This is the day when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The people welcomed Him and spread Palm branches at His feet. Palm branches symbolize victory and triumph at that time. Yet, those palm branches have another meaning if we dig deeper. Those people who welcomed Him are also the same people who will lead to His crucifixion. Who are those people? Those people symbolize us. We always pray to God yet we never understood how it is to live in holiness. We pray but we always commit sins. This Holy Week, we have to cleanse our hearts so that we can understand the true meaning of His life and death. This Holy Week reflection may include us to give more alms, to do penance and fasting as well.
Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday
These days mark the days when Jesus cursed the fig tree. He also cleansed the temple, and responded to questioning of his authority. The anointing of Jesus at Bethany is also observed by many Catholics during these days. The cleansing of the temple means the cleaning of our body and soul. We have to get rid of any stain of sins. The anointing means preparing ourselves to offer every part of us to Him. The reason we live now is because Jesus died on the cross to save us from grave hell. He is the reason why we live. We have to find deep inside of us the reason why we live and it is because of Him.
Spy Wednesday
This is the day when Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. Jesus already knew from the very start that one of His disciples will betray Him. It was Judas. We are like Judas in real life. We betray Jesus by committing sins and forgetting the commandments. We sin again and again yet Jesus forgives us again and again as well. In this life, we have to repent. Why do we need to do bad things when we can live in harmony? We need not to abandon our faith by committing these crimes we are guilty of. We may be like Judas but we can atone for the sins we committed by giving, praying and fasting.
Maundy Thursday
We commemorate the day on which Jesus Christ shared the Last Supper with his 12 apostles. Before his crucifixion Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. This is to show the importance of serving others in every way we can. To serve others means to serve God above all. He can be in each and every one of us. This Holy Week reflection will somehow do the task to make us all reminisce who we are. Jesus did not hesitate to wash the feet of the disciples so are we.
Good Friday
We commemorate the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins. Jesus suffered enough. He was in agony and pain and the people who made it happen only watched Him as He is dying. How can we repay Him for such a heavy sacrifice? It isn’t enough that we only have to do charity and penance during Holy Week but instead we have to do it every day. As long as we have something to offer our fellowmen then do it. The weight of the cross that He carried to Mt. Calvary is too much for Him. Jesus loves us very much that He did not hesitate to die on that cross. Now, if you see the cross it is a reminder of the heaviness of our sins that Jesus have to carry for us. He died for us. He saved us all.
Black Saturday
We are now mourning for the loss of the mighty savior. People nowadays are too pre-occupied with temporary things and pleasure. We have to mourn for His loss. If not because of our sins, He will never die on that cross. We should be thankful to Jesus for giving us the chance to live our lives even if it is temporary. So, to give Him thanks, we must make our life here on earth worthwhile. Stations of the Cross and prayers are more powerful than anything. Let us pause for a while and recite some prayers while we wait for His joyful return to us.
Easter Sunday
Rejoice for the Lord is risen! His death on the cross is not the end of everything. He promised us that He will resurrect after three days. We commemorate His resurrection and we will have to rejoice for He came back to us. This is a manifestation that after we die, we will have a chance of eternal life if we follow the path He lay before us. Jesus never forsakes us. He was here and He is still here now and forever. His reign will never end and His Kingdom will stand in all eternity. – Clea | Helpline PH
