Once again, for Lent

Once again, Kris Aquino says it is the end of her showbiz career. By some kind of sorcery, she swept the country by storm and no, this isn't the first time. The last time she declared the same statement, she said if her brother would win the presidency, it was the end of her celebrity life. PNoy won and we all know nothing happened to her claim.

However, this year's scene may be different, what's in it for her was quite predictable. When she said she was allegedly hurt, her supposedly tears of pain became the new late night soap opera. Her struggle and story hit the headlines.

Once again too, we are on the season of the lent. Similar to Aquino's claim, we hear the same statements people would say over and over again. The world gets crazier as the years pass by, and the concept of the Lenten season is somewhat heading there.

There are those who repent and swear not to do monkey business for the rest of their lives but we know where they are now - doing the same old monkey business.

So what really is Lent? Is it just about the traditional waving of palms on Palm Sunday? Or being faithful and obedient for one week? Or maybe it is about avoiding pork and what-not?

I'm guessing a majority would say that it is now about going to the beach, enjoying your time with family and making this weekend an opportunity to relax from the busy-ness of work.

Over the years the concept of Lent has lost its true meaning. Holy Week has been given different definitions and associations. In fact, the thought of Easter is now being linked with egg-hunting, an event children look forward too. The United States does not even anymore accept the term Easter. Egg hunting Sunday would be more appropriate for them. This skewed thinking has buried the meaning of Lent and has regarded it as an ordinary holiday.

Yet this is not the truth. So once again, I will say this like I did a year ago when this column appeared for the first time - this is Holy Week and not something else.

Lent is the time to contemplate on the life given to you by God. These are days when we remember what Jesus Christ went through in order to save ourselves from sin. It was his choice to be stoned and mocked just so he could share the good news of salvation. He was even the one who carried his own cross even if he was the King of Kings. During the last few moments, he asked God to forgive the people of the world for their wickedness. Not that we are to follow what he went through by hurting ourselves physically, but we are to sacrifice our earthly habits for a few days or so just to keep ourselves focused.

Holy Week is definitely not that the ideal time to wade in the beach, get wild and rowdy while chugging on your favorite liquor. Even the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) urged the same on Sunday, March 24 on the front page of the Philippine Star.

Lent is sacred and must be respected by all denominations of faith. Although spending time with family is good and rare, Holy Week is a time to reflect on the love of God which he sent through his son Jesus Christ.

**Published in The Freeman Newspaper on April 2, 2013