Ika 25 ng Pebrero 2009: Ashes to Ashes

Today is Ash Wednesday. The reminder came from a traffic policeman with a cross on his forehead directing traffic early in the morning as I made my way to the office. This day marks the beginning of the Lenten season. It's a day of obligation for Catholics. We should hear mass, practice abstinence and fasting. As a child, I used to think that the imposition of ash on our forehead by the priest is the crucial aspect of celebrating the day. I take great pride in having that ashy cross on my forehead ignorant of what it symbolizes, even thinking I looked cute with it.

From Thought to Live By........

The Church receives this expressive rite of the imposition of ashes from an ancient Jewish tradition. For the Jews pouring ashes on the head was a sign of public sorrow and repentance. Therefore, this rite is not a private affair. It is a community act. It means that we are now showing publicly our firm commitment to perform acts of penance and refrain from committing sin during this day and throughout the forty days of the Lenten Season. It is a terrible shame if we come today to church in order to receive ashes and yet we do not take advantage of the special opportunity the Church gives us during Lent to really prepare ourselves for Easter.

Ash Wednesday is also a joyful celebration of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and this is mixed with the sadness of our recognition that we are not worthy to have Jesus enter into our souls. But God gives us today another chance to return to Him, to return to the beauty and innocence of our baptism. Upon receiving the ashes the priest and other ministers say: “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.” With these words Jesus gives us the guide to reach the goal of this season which is repentance, conversion and faithfulness to His words. We hear the word ‘conversion’a lot and conversion is another way of saying, ‘turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel.’ It really means to reverse our course, to change and to transform ourselves truly and sincerely. It really means to turn our eyes towards God and follow Him with courage and determination.

I know better now. Yet, I cannot say that I lived sinless for the forty days before Lent. Come to think of it, why should we strive to not sin just for forty days? Should we not strive constantly not to sin? The answer is a simple yes. But that yes is a hard commitment. The first few times, it might be easy. It's the follow through that could prove difficult. We know better...... yet we still hurt our loved ones, our friends, others, and ourselves. Why is it a struggle for men to remain constant in our commitment to God? This is never an easy question to answer.......

If only we could commit, then we could accept in peace our salvation today and always......... Today, that commitment for me is put to the test once more. Emerging from a meeting with my new boss early this morning, I had to commit to let go of the past...... let bygones be bygone........

From ash you came to ash you shall return........

PS: Dahil Ash Wednesady ngayon, pipilitin kong maging hindi masayadong antipatika sa post na ito kahit gigil na gigil ako.

Kagabi, nagMRT ako papunta Ayala terminal kung saan sumasakay ako ng shuttle pauwi. Ilan araw ko ng ginagawa ito dahil madalang yun jeepney na papunta dun galing opisina ko at parang magaan at mabilis na magMRT papunta sa terminal. Lagi sa bandang unahan ako sumasakay na para sa mga babae, matatanda, me kapansanan, at buntis.

Dito sa pagsakay sa MRT makikita ang disiplina ng Pinoy. Me mga estasyon na me bantay na gwardiya sa pagitan ng karwahe na pangbabae at panlalaki. Bakit? Dahil me mga nagpapalusot. Meron din na walang gwardiya. Eto yun magandang pagkakataon para makita yun mga marunong sumunod sa batas kahit walang nagsasaway.

Me mga lalaking ayaw siguro masiksik kaya gusto pang magpanggap ng pilay, baliw, o nag-uulyanin........ grabe ang kakapal. Minsan me mga magsyota (uso pa ba paggamit nito?), siya eh di magdyowa na ayaw maghiwalay. Dapat si girlash ang sasakay sa panlalake kung yun ang gusto nila. Pero hindi, tong si girlash aakayin si boylet at dadalhin sa mga kababaihan at magpapatay mali silang dalawa. Ano kaya bading? So feeling girlash din ang style nila.

Kagabi, ganyan na naman..... magkasamang girl at boy pero di masyadong nagpapansinan..... nakasunod lang na parang naengkanto si boylet ke girlash..... walang paki, ni hindi nga nagpapanggap na pilay, bingi, bulag, o kahit bading na lang. Medyo umiiwas lang na mapansin..... eh hirap di mapansin at kakaiba si boylet. Dumaan sa tabi ko.... tinignan ko. Sarap parinigan pero nagpigil na lang ako, gabi na para mastress pa. Napansin ko lang medyo manipis na ang buhok sa tuktok. Cge na nga, senior citizen si boylet....... Konting lagas na lang ng buhok, pwede na yun nagpapachemo ka........

Pasensiya na at di napigilang ang pangako. Talagang sadyang mapagparunggit po ako. Patawad, tao lang po .......

PSS: Pano pala for gay couples? girlash n boylet na girl at boylet n girlash na boy. San sila dapat sumakay na walang lalabaging karapatang-pantao? Ano ba susundin? yun biological o yun psychological o emotional o hormonal na kasarian? Hay komplikado.......