--------------I was watching the news on TV and there was this interview. The question was 'In your observance of the Holy Week, what are you planning to give up?' And the replies came as -- not eating my favorite chocolate cake, not do any computer chats, not do this and that etc etc etc. All well and good if that's how they feel about it. So does that mean that after the Holy Week is over, they're back at what they love most doing? That's okay too, nobody's judging.
But do we really understand the significance of all these rituals or tradition of the Holy Week observance? Well, it's all about this one small solitary guy who was so dead set in doing what his father wanted him to do. Even if it meant ending up on the cross. But why? Because he loves his father so much and because he also believed in what his father believed in .... that people were worth saving and were worth dying for.
But were they? And thousands of years after... Are we?
The Holy Week is not just a one or three-day thing. Those are the externalities of it. The external rituals of man. It is good serving a particular purpose... but what is truly essential is what thoughts, feelings, insights, perceptions are contained in there in your heart. Giving up chocolates for a day or two doesn't count if we continue with bad habits or treat our fellowmen with meanness suspicion deceit disrespect or tyranny the rest of our days. Giving up computer time on Good Friday doesn't mean a thing if we don't do our part everyday in our lives to take out the garbage as told, obey traffic rules, observe courtesy in public places, and stop mocking the poor, physically challenged, and the ignorant.
But it will matter if we think, speak, act in a manner consistent to our values and beliefs everyday of our lives.... everyday..... not just when the Holy Week comes to season. And this too is true... that it comes not just as a religious tradition but as a reminder to us all to again reflect reevaluate our lives, and to remember that if God thinks that we are worthy and worth saving....... then we must be. And what greater love can there be than to give up one's life for one's dearest beloved.
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