With so much suffering around in the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy, those who were spared from what others are going through utter a sigh of relief and thanksgiving prayer.

How do we say “Thank You, Lord” during these times?

I find it ironic but sometimes I do this myself: compare what I am going through with others.

“Thank you, Lord for you have spared us from suffering whereas other people are going through very rough times.”

“Thank you, Lord for protecting my family from harm. I pray for those who are in danger, may Your loving Hands protect them and keep them from harm. May the rescuers find them and be able to help them.”

Is this how we should pray? How I should pray?

Not only prayers. Even with the small things that we are thankful for we tend to compare ourselves with others.

“Pasalamat ka nakakapasyal ka, yung ibang bata hindi nakakapunta sa mga ganitong lugar”

“Pasalamat tayo sa Diyos at mabuti nga may nakakakain tayo kahit yan lang, yung iba walang silang makain.”

Unfair.

We find comfort and thank God with our situation because others are suffering?

So, how should we thank God then in times like this?

Maybe just plain, “Thank you, Lord.”

All Things Bright and Beautiful by Cecil Frances Alexander.

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, God made their glowing colors, and made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountains, the river running by, the sunset and the morning that brightens up the day.

The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, the ripe fruits in the garden: God made them everyone.

God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well.

photohunt

It was a perfect day to celebrate Easter Sunday. My daughters and I went to join the women’s group procession with Mary who will “meet” her son, the Risen Lord, as what the Catholic faithfuls practice on Easter Sunday.

The mass was solemn. The choir sang wonderful songs. We were all witnesses to the different sky colors changing as time moved on. The full moon and stars still visible in the sky as the sun slowly crept high and completely changed everything.

And what is the significance of this day? Easter Sunday is a day that Christians remember how Jesus resurrected from the dead to fulfill His promise of salvation. That in itself, is the very essence of Christianity.

Good Friday is a day during the Holy Week that Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

Listen to Sandi Patty sing the Via Dolorosa.

In a hymn entitled On The Cross of Calvary, these words were written:

Clouds and darkness veiled the sky
When the Lord was crucified;
It is finished! was His cry
When He bowed His head and died.
With this cry from Calv’ry’s tree
All the world may now go free;
It was for this that Jesus died
On the cross of Calvary.

Today, Christians are celebrating Maundy Thursday. There are four important days during the Holy Week. First is the Palm Sunday which marks Jesus’ triumphant entry in Jerusalem. During this day, Christians commemorate Jesus by blessing of palm leaves which symbolize victory over spiritual danger and death.

Next is the Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday is a complex and profound religious ceremony, especially with the Catholics. It was during this day that Jesus instituted Himself as the Eucharist. Jesus also celebrated the Last Supper with His apostles. Some of these apostles denied, betrayed and deserted Him before the sun rose.

The Catholic Churches celebrate a morning mass blessing the Oil of Chrism which would be used for several of the Church’s sacraments. This is a highly celebrated mass because many priests will attend it in remembrance of Christ’s institution of priesthood during the Last Supper.

At night, there would be a mass which marks the end of Lent and the beginning of Triduum or last three days of Holy Week. Mass is held at night because Passover or Jesus’ Last supper begun at sundown. During this mass, the commemoration of Jesus instituting Himself as the Holy Eucharist is done. It symbolizes His would-be sacrifices and eventually death. At the same time, this mass will also be a symbol of humility and service through the washing of the feet of twelve priests by the bishop which was what Jesus has done. This symbolizes that the priests are there to serve the people. There is also the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, people having a vigil in the church, just as what Jesus’ apostles had done when He was praying at the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, before the arrival of the sentries.

Maundy Thursday is about cleaning, which was probably the origin of spring cleaning, in preparation for Easter. It also symbolizes not just the cleaning of the physical environment but moreso, the cleansing of the soul, the heart and mind so that when the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection comes, we are more than ready to accept Him in our lives.

This is a repost of a post I wrote last April 13, 2006.

My Bunso is sick. She has been passing s+00L that is watery since Saturday afternoon. We are going to bring her to the doctor today, Monday (it is Monday morning, almost 7am, where I am). She eats and takes the meds we give her. She is a little upset but she is still playful. But then, she has to go see a doctor today.

Last night when Ate was already sleeping, Kuya asked Bunso to pray so that “pagalingin ka ni Jesus (Bunso, you have to pray so that Jesus will make you well)”. He further explained that we should pray for Bunso. Then he went out of the bedroom, wearing only his shirt and no underpants because he just came from the bathroom for cleaning before going to bed. When he came back, I asked him what he did outside. This was our exchange:

TJ: “Where did you go?”

Kuya: “Outside.”

TJ: “Where?”

Kuya: “Di ba may Jesus dun sa labas (Isn’t it we have Jesus outside)? I prayed to Jesus.” We have a Sacred Heart statue of Jesus just outside the wall of the library which connects to the bedroom.

TJ: “Really? But you were just wearing your shirt. You don’t have underwear.”

Kuya: “It’s ok. Hinila ko yung shirt para macover ang toytoy ko (I pulled down my shirt to cover my genitals.). And its dark outside. “

Well, we laughed about it. Then he again asked if we could pray again, with Bunso this time. He was the one who led the prayers with his eyes closed. I am glad that they know there are things we can’t do without God’s help. I am glad my children believe in the power of prayers.