The Purple Haze

Happy Easter!

If I remember my Religion classes back in high school right, Easter or Pasko ng Pagkabuhay, is the most important Catholic date of all – even more important than Christmas. The Catholic congregation celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after He was put to death on the Cross to save man from sin; a mark of the fulfillment of God’s plan, much to the chagrin of demons down under (and those evil entities walking on earth disguised as people). So if this is one of the most important dates of all, how come Christmas celebrations always seems way more pompous and jovial? Ah-hah! This is where we can see how commercialism and capitalism has expressly or subconsciously twisted how we celebrate religious observances. I would have to research more on this, and is better left for another entry. Hanggang sa isip ko nalang muna ibang comments ko dito.

My family and I attended Sunday Eucharist a while ago at our local parish, as we regularly have been doing so probably since 1985. It never occurred to me until today’s particular mass that people, during Ama Namin, never really liked holding his neighbor’s hand like they were supposed to. While the Priest and laymen served as models during that particular rite, people at the aisles never even bothered stepping a few inches to the side to reach out to another hand. For non-Catholic readers, the Ama Namin (Our Father) is supposed to be sung while the whole church was holding hands, signifying unity in purpose and prayer, a spectra of communion or being one. It seems that some has lost their sense of community and just wants to get the rite over and done with. Another reason might be that they may be thinking that community should be thrown out to the bin, since his or her prayer is wildly different from the others anyway. Or, it could also be that some don’t like holding another stranger’s hand for fear of bacterial infections or social stereotyping.

Could the same be true in churches where the rich go to, like in Sanctuario de San Antonio?

They say the church (like school) is a microcosm of how the Philippine political system is. I dream of a time when we could all lose our inhibitions and focus on uniting to reach a common goal. I yearn for that moment when no one would ever think twice to hold a neighbor’s hand; to help others when they’re in need.

And don’t even bother telling me that it’s your constitutional right to do or not to do something as long as it’s not illegal (like holding hands during mass). That’s another twisted way of applying the law, and if you think that way and you’re Catholic, you are no different than ERAP trying to tell everyone that he’s innocent of PLUNDER.

I hope that change starts in our church or in our own little communities. Try nyo lang, next Sunday, wag mo nang isipin kung pasmado yung katabi mo, o nahihiya ka hawakan kamay ng katabi mo kasi maganda sya/gwapo sya/pangit sya. Hawakan mo dahil kapwa Pilipino sya, at dahil kailangan nyong magkaisa lalo na sa panahon ngayon.