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Ay lekat!
I'm not really a religious person per se. I'm actually more of an agnostic than anything. People who know me best knows this about me. So, come Lent, one thing I abhor the most are those forwarded messages about how Jesus dies for me - trying to induce a guilt trip or whatever. You can't make me feel guilty about that. I am not Catholic nor am I Jewish.
One thing I have to say about Jesus though, he's a wonderful and charismatic leader. I think he was way beyond his time. He did practiced what he preached - that love is the greatest of all virtues.
***
When I was younger, Lent meant that we had to travel 6 hours in a cramped car, to Lingayen, Pangasinan - the ancestral land. This means, we had to stay over at my weird grand aunt's place. This was the time when I hated being with relatives, save for the select few.
We had the opportunity to go to the beach, drink and have fun, from Holy Wednesday until Maundy Thursday. Good Friday meant torture and all around weirdness for all of us.
Case in point: On Good Friday, we weren't allowed to take a bath. The elders say that the water wasn't blessed yet and could cause blindness, leprosy or (gasp) demonic possession. We weren't allowed to laugh or have fun on Good Friday, because the Lord has died and we should mourn for him. (But he dies every year!)
And what genius named the day that Jesus dies "Good Friday"? That name alone gives birth to so many questions and confusion.
***
Times have changed. When I was a kid, Lent means dead town. Nobody went to work, nobody went anywhere but they stayed home.
Now, I've worked for 2 Lenten seasons, Starbucks is open, McDonald's is open (select locations), call centers have work, people are either in Boracay, Puerto Galera or Baguio.
Lent is just like any other holiday now - another reason to have a vacation.
One thing I have to say about Jesus though, he's a wonderful and charismatic leader. I think he was way beyond his time. He did practiced what he preached - that love is the greatest of all virtues.
***
When I was younger, Lent meant that we had to travel 6 hours in a cramped car, to Lingayen, Pangasinan - the ancestral land. This means, we had to stay over at my weird grand aunt's place. This was the time when I hated being with relatives, save for the select few.
We had the opportunity to go to the beach, drink and have fun, from Holy Wednesday until Maundy Thursday. Good Friday meant torture and all around weirdness for all of us.
Case in point: On Good Friday, we weren't allowed to take a bath. The elders say that the water wasn't blessed yet and could cause blindness, leprosy or (gasp) demonic possession. We weren't allowed to laugh or have fun on Good Friday, because the Lord has died and we should mourn for him. (But he dies every year!)
And what genius named the day that Jesus dies "Good Friday"? That name alone gives birth to so many questions and confusion.
***
Times have changed. When I was a kid, Lent means dead town. Nobody went to work, nobody went anywhere but they stayed home.
Now, I've worked for 2 Lenten seasons, Starbucks is open, McDonald's is open (select locations), call centers have work, people are either in Boracay, Puerto Galera or Baguio.
Lent is just like any other holiday now - another reason to have a vacation.
