April 1st, April fools day to the irreligious, Palm Sunday to the Christian faithful.
There they were . . . vendors selling their woven designs made
of slender flexible shoots cut from palm or coconut branches. It is the traditional commemoration of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem—Palm Sunday begins the week-long religious observance of Christianity’s Easter traditions.
Vendors hope to make a killing on this day knowing that churchgoers do buy souvenir fronds to commemorate the NT event; aside from folk belief that these might bring blessing, they’re long-lasting decorations for the home and it’s proof to neighbors that one has fulfilled a “holiday of obligation.”
Along the highway, we spotted a group of men dressed up in purple robes, following a man [presumably the Jesus-character] carrying a lightweight cross like an umbrella tucked under his armpits. They were all walking so fast; the last guy was dragging a rolling luggage. We figured this was not the show, they were on their way to the location, probably running late. [It’s only Monday guys, crucifixion is scheduled on Friday.]
Radio commentators, aside from announcing how bus stations are trying to cope with the deluge of travelers, intersperse these updates with all the strange religious traditions unique to this country. As we natives say, “only in da Pilipins . . . “
And it doesn’t end there. . .
Today, some churches have made minimal-religious-compliance even more convenient for their flock, resorting to “if Mohammed won’t go to the mountain . . .”.
They’ve moved their religious services to the malls and other populated centers such as parks. In one such mall-park in Metro Manila that is frequented by hundreds of strollers, the stations of the Cross have taken on a modern new look! Instead of the usual religious icons, billboards with texts explain what each station represents in the Passion story. Passersby leave river stones in front of the billboard, probably to indicate they’ve done the ritual [. . . guessing. . .]
How far have today’s religious observances deviated from the Biblical origins of the celebration? About as far as how the “New” Testament drifted from what it claims as its scriptural foundation, the “Old” Testament. If the historical Jewish Jesus returned today, could he relate to any of this? WWJD? He’d probably do an encore of what he supposedly did in John 2:13-16 Matt 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48.
What about the original mediator? If Moses were given a glimpse of how gentiles have turned the liberation of God’s chosen people [commemorated by Jews in the Biblical feast of Passover/ Pesach] into a festival named after Astarte, [a pagan fertility goddess] with easter egg hunts, while exhibitionist penitents are re-enacting the crucifixion of a deified Jewish itinerant preacher, WWMD? Most probably, he would ask Adonai YHWH to give a refresher course on the original revelation on Sinai.
Well guess what? That’s what this website is all about!
