H.O.L.Y. W.E.E.K. ♥

Today marks the beginning of the holiest of all days. During this week, we remember the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. But more than a mere remembrance, the Holy Week is an actual reality. It is our own journey with Christ, with our own crosses, to our sure destination: salvation! In the words of Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD, "The Holy Week speaks of the truth that God has come to save us, has taken on our ways, has spoken our language, has made our human circumstances a tool of saving power."

During our cluster recollection, Fr. Leo Luanzon shared an acronym (which he also got from Fr. Orbos) to help us make this week not just an ordinary week but a truly meaningful and holy week.

Halt! Stop for a while, or at least slow down. Take time to rest and relax.

Off with your worldly pursuits and concerns. Turn off your cellular phone if you have to, so that you can focus on your spiritual life this week. Forget quotas, forget deadlines, and forget performance. Don't let the world and its cares disturb the tranquility of your mind and soul this week. Let the world go by, and let the Lord take care of everything for once. Surprise yourself. Rediscover your inner strengths and simple joys. OFF to the world. ON to your heart. On to your God.

Fr. Leo also added that this week is the perfect time to examine our conscience and ask ourselves, "how much have I loved?" As a guide, we can reflect on these seven capital sins (PEGSLAW):

Pride
Envy
Gluttony
Sloth
Lust
Avarice (Greed)
Wrath (Anger)

Listen. Pray and meditate. Take time to listen to God. Allow the Father to wrap His loving arms around your shoulders once again and just listen. Listen also to your own inner self, not just to your day-to-day wants and needs. Is there something you are missing in your life? Is there something more you need to do in your life?

Yield to God. Let go of your grip on your own life. Be on the lookout for His road signs as you travel on. Listen to His instructions, and you will find your way. Better still, let Him do the navigating and the driving.

Warm up your relationships. This is a time for us to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Reach out to the people you have taken for granted or left out altogether. Time to call a friend. Call, treat, write, smile, and hug. Use anything that will help you repair, restore, and revitalize your relationships.

Erase the burdens of guilt and sin with a good, honest, and humble confession. Heed God's call for repentance. Time also to erase hurts, resentments, anger and ill feelings. Forgive people who hurt you, and ask for forgiveness from people you have hurt, cheated, used, or abused in any way.

Express your love. Whatever you do, especially this week, like praying, fasting, works of penance and deeds of charity, let them all be expressions of your love and gratitude to God. Let them be done not out of fear, or out of obligation.

Kneel down. In humility, kneel down in prayer before God and thank Him for suffering so much. For dying on the cross and for rising again for our salvation. Somebody died for you and me. Let us not allow this week to pass without personally thanking Him. Let this also be a time for all of us to kneel down before one another in humility: parents before their children whom they have neglected, children before their parents whom they have hurt, etc.

Text by Christine Sine

May we all have a blessed, meaningful, Spirit-filled Holy Week! ♥

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