Holy Week as we know it

It's Easter weekend, which is hardly mundane around here. Tradition is extremely important in the Philippines and Easter week is a BIG DEAL.

Here are some interesting Holy Week facts about the Philippines (these are generalizations and do not apply to every Filipino!)

- People do not see doctors during this week because they believe God will heal them instead
- Malls and most shopping centers shut down from Thursday on
- On Maundy Thursday thousands upon thousands of mostly youth walk more than 20 miles one way from their homes in greater Manila to the stations of the cross in Antipolo, near the birthing clinic
- Some believe that Jesus dies every Good Friday and is raised every Easter Sunday
- Life grinds to a halt from Friday to Sunday because "God is dead." (This is the BEST time to travel because there in NO traffic!!)
- All over the Philippines, Good Friday finds all forms of penance from crucifixions, flagellantes (self-beating), and even sliding up the side of a mountain on one's belly with hands and feet tied in an effort to earn favor and forgiveness
- Palm fronds blessed on Palm Sunday are prominently displayed in the home all year long as good luck and nearly a year later are burned to use the ashes for Ash Wednesday

One unforgettable story was when we visited the region that holds crucifixions (San Fernando, Pampanga). As a note, the men and sometimes women are tied to the cross with nails driven through the palms and feet, then raised for 3 minutes before they are lowered and the next people get their turn - they do not die. We paid a small fee and got into the press circle at the base of the small knoll where the actual crucifixions take place (hey, we write newsletters so we're journalists too, right?). One forlorn looking man was sitting on the grass waiting for his turn on the cross. When asked why he was getting crucified, he shared that his wife had been very sick 17 years ago. He "made a deal with God," that if He spared his wife, then he would crucify himself for 20 years. He had 3 years left.

This is so sad because God does not make bargains...we cannot earn His favor...we cannot earn forgiveness. It is a gift. And yet it is hard for our finite minds to grasp this.

I am so grateful to serve a Risen Savior who paid it all. He is no longer on that cross like so many crucifixes show. It is an empty cross because it was paid once, for all.

I praise Him because He is Risen. He is risen indeed!!

"He is not here; he has risen , just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."
Matthew 28:6