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Holy Week: Rekindling our Faith and Reconnecting with Family
In the midst of our fast-paced lives, it is essential to pause and reconnect with our faith and our families.
More than a respite from work or all things that make us busy each day, Holy Week is a time for reflection, growth, and renewal. It is a period where we commemorate the suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In this edition of Passing Thoughts, let’s explore the profound blessings of Holy Week and the importance of taking this opportunity to strengthen our bonds with our loved ones and our faith.
The Blessings of Holy Week
During Holy Week, we are called to revisit the story of Jesus Christ and the events leading up to His ultimate sacrifice for humanity. It is a time of introspection and spiritual growth, as we acknowledge our sins and seek forgiveness. The solemnity of Holy Week serves as a reminder that we are not alone in our journey through life; the love of Christ is always with us, offering guidance, comfort, and salvation.
Reconnecting with Family
As we delve deeper into the meaning of Holy Week, we realize that it is also about the power of love and the importance of community. Jesus demonstrated the ultimate expression of love through His sacrifice, and this love should be reflected in our relationships with our families. Holy Week presents a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with our loved ones, share our thoughts, and strengthen our bonds.
In today’s realities, it can be easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Work, social media, and the pursuit of material things can distract us from nurturing our relationships with family. Holy Week reminds us that life is fleeting, and we must cherish the time we have with our loved ones. Take this time to share meals, engage in conversation, and pray together as a family, so we can grow closer to each other and to our faith.
Rekindling Our Faith in Jesus Christ
Beyond spending time with family, Holy Week is an invitation to renew our commitment to our faith. It is a time to reflect on our spiritual journey and reevaluate our relationship with God. This period of reflection offers an opportunity to rediscover the power of prayer, embrace the teachings of the Bible, and develop a deeper connection with Jesus Christ.
As we reflect on Christ’s passion and resurrection, we are reminded of the incredible mercy and grace He offers. This knowledge should inspire us to strive for a more Christ-centered life, living out the virtues of compassion, forgiveness, and selflessness in our daily interactions.
Conclusion
Holy Week is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of love and faith. It is a time to reconnect with our families, strengthen our bonds, and rekindle our faith in Jesus Christ. Let us use this time to grow spiritually, enrich our relationships, and remember the incredible blessings that come with following the path of Christ. As we journey through Holy Week, may we draw closer to our Lord and Savior, and may His love and mercy inspire us to live a more compassionate and faithful life.
My Lenten Reflections
From my photo album "AnyoneCanShootAsAnyCamWillDo"
Most Catholics (save for those who may have other ways of observing spiritual devotion) are taking a respite in the coming Lent as a way to pause and reflect on Christ’s sufferings and His love for us.
This week offers an excellent opportunity for those whose acts of penance are rather manifested annually (only during Lenten season) than those who are taking it as a matter of life’s daily challenges.
As each of us endeavors to renew our faith for the One who’s responsible for everything that we are and all that we have, it is but fitting to offer this week to Him with prayers as a show of gratitude for His unfailing, unconditional, and infinite love.
I wish to share the foregoing prayer by William Barclay (which has been shared a hundred times on various blogs) to everyone who takes time to read this blog, with hopes that each day of your life– is a day of constant reflection and a day full of blessings:
Create For Me A Perfect Day
O God help me to make today a perfect day
at the end of which I will have nothing to regret.
Help me To do my work as well as it can possibly be done;
To treat everyone with perfect courtesy and kindness;
To conquer every temptation and to say no to everything that is wrong.
Help me Not to annoy anyone else and not allow myself to become annoyed;
Not to lose my temper and not to do things which will make others lose theirs;
Not to do anything foolish or thoughtless, cruel or unkind.
Help me To be cheerful and kind;
To be brave and strong;
To be pure and true.
This I ask for Your love’s sake. Amen
o-O-o
I’d like to thank my good friend Amy Cabusao, editor-in-chief of Mindanao Times for her gift “Carillon of Prayers” booklet, and whose meeting I have with days ago originally centered on how best to advocate Mindanao’s priorities, but ended up with me realizing that communicating and advocating this prayer takes utmost precedence, among all other things.
o-O-o
“Nothing compares in this world to the love God has given us. For we may find reasons to love, but God loves us without reasons.”–Anonymous
Passing Thoughts 