Lenten considerations

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Yesterday, Palm Sunday, we marked the start of Holy Week with the commemoration of the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This was when He was welcomed with rejoicing accented by the waving of palm fronds.

It did not take long, however, when the same crowds that had welcomed One who was to be their Savior, also gathered to denounce Him, and call out for His punishment by crucifixion, a most painful and humiliating way of imposing the death penalty.

Every time the season of Lent comes around, we are reminded of this fickleness of our fellow human beings, who could hail and welcome someone and then also call out for His destruction, without even fully understanding what they are penalizing him for. In the case of Jesus, the mob would even prefer to release a known criminal in His stead.

The incident also brings to mind present-day officials who would give in to the demands of their cohorts even if they know they are wrong for the sake of convenience, or in the hope of getting back favors in return. This was what Pontious Pilate did – knowing what was right and just, but giving in to crowd pressure instead of asserting himself.

And he washed his hands in public, believing it would relieve him of the guilt of having sent an innocent man to His death.

All this we have to contemplate on as we commemorate once again the passion and death of Jesus Christ this Holy Week. Let us remember that hypocrisy and weakness of character should never be traits we must tolerate in those we choose to lead us.

Jesus was born, and died as decreed in the Scriptures, but we who are mortals, and for whom He gave His life should look into ourselves this Holy Week and resolve to live henceforth as creatures worthy of His sacrifice.*