Commemorating LENT

Lent is near. I am still contemplating if I can fast since my work is very heavy and fast. If I skip or eat the wrong food, I may faint or not have the stamina. About the foods I may avoid or eat, I'll ask again my spiritual confessor.

That said, I will never forget prayer every morning and evening(regardless of Lent or not), confess my sins more and more, go to church often, ask God for forgiveness and do what I must do in life.

It's hard that I work on factories but I will try my best to commemorate Lent as well as fasting until Easter. And as a reminder:

Fasting can take up a significant portion of the calendar year. The purpose of fasting is not to suffer, but according to Sacred Tradition to guard against gluttony and impure thoughts, deeds and words. Fasting must always be accompanied by increased prayer and almsgiving (donating to a local charity, or directly to the poor, depending on circumstances). To engage in fasting without them is considered useless or even spiritually harmful. To repent of one's sins and to reach out in love to others is part and parcel of true fasting.

Tajna Večera

Holy Thursday or the Last supper. The night before Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus Christ for 30 silver coins. Well, betrayal is the most henious crime made by every historical figure and they would either get executed or would commit suicide if they realized they did wrong. Judas did the latter and it was too late. 

Away from the betrayal topic, I want to make a reflection out of this day before I work and something that Jesus did for us. I realized things in my life that were in fact, INCOMPLETE. I am not that of a strong guy, evidenced of my softness and lack of will to do things I want, like converting to Orthodox Christianity, changing jobs eventually and the promise of my ex-girlfriend. With all those turbulence, all I can pray to God is to help me live through it all because I am not that of a special guy. I don't even have enough talent to secure a much better job but I just can't lose in life. I have to sacrifice more and more because that is what we have to do, like what Jesus did as an offering to everyone. A salvation of unconditional parameters and what is truly right.

On that very night, Christ made the eucharist, divided the bread and wine, which was delivered equally to the apostles. The meaning is that before he would be nailed to the cross, he would tell everyone this is my body/blood which would be given uo to you or should I say, sacrifice.

How many people these days can sacrifice for what is right or do something for the common good of all? A few, whether guys like me who just makes articles on their respective blogs to awaken the people's minds and hearts or those people who are willing to be punished, just to correct what is wrong in our modern society.

If I would have my own Holy Week Experience

If people would ask me what kind of Holy week i would prefer, my answer is simple. I would want to be in Jerusalim or Beograd for a number of reasons. 

First, when I was growing up I read about the holy places in Jerusalim. It is in he holy land. Not just within Jerusalim but in Bethlehem aka the birthplace of Jesus Christ, the sight of the Nativity. No Holy Week Vacation is complete without going to the Jordan river itself and also the Holy Sepulchre as both the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ happened here.

Second, I would prefer in Manastir Ravanica in Srbija. To people that didn't know Ravanica, it is located in Ćuprija, Pomoravlje province. I would have a holy week there and wants to learn more about my patron saint's life and miracles. 

There are also many choices i prefer but these would be the two places I want before i go to rest forever.

Holy Week Vacation?

In the Philippines, every holy week, I can't help but to always think of the scenario. Why people use the Holy Week for their own personal use? Can't they wait for sometime or earn money to have their own personal vacation? It's absurd and disappointing that people use the name of God to party and do some crap.

Let me tell you my holy week experience when i was young.

When i was like 5 or 6, i stayed always at home, eat veggies and fish with my family, never ever went to Boracay or other tourist hotspots, pray with my family and watch some Christian movies shown in the Television(some of them are dubbed to Filipino).

I felt blessed during those days and i was very protective of myself being a Christian even if I am a sinner. These days, I am sick of people destroying the essence of Filipino Todos los Santos for Liberalism and the cult of partyinf every Holy Week!

Now, I would observe Holy week of the Orthodox Church. But my point is, I would rather stay at home or going to church than to enjoy party and destroy what was instilled in me.