IN THIS time of coronavirus pandemic, the Holy Week offers us an opportunity to reconcile our faith-inspired subdued activities with what is good for human health and the planet – in the spirit of true reconciliation with the God of all Creation, our environment, our neighbors, our families and loved ones, and also ourselves. Enough of the wastefulness and greed blatantly trashing our health and fragile environment.
We can honor the Crucified Christ by deliberately stripping away old habits and attitudes that continue to destroy our health and our social fabric, and resurrect as a more caring and responsible “earthchild.”
Yes, during this time-honored tradition of Semana Santa, we plead for a more austere celebration that will not cause further stress to public health or degradation to our environment. We can have an earth-friendly plus a health- and spiritually-nourishing week. No mass gathering. Wear fasmask and face shield. Washing hands properly.
The faithful can strip down to the basic human needs and voluntarily give up non-essentials, including tobacco, alcohol and junk food — at least for a week – to give our mortal bodies and Mother Nature a breather from destructive, wasteful and dispensable consumption.
In particular, Lent offers an opportunity for us to avoid wasteful activities that fritter away resources and defile nature with trash. Cut back on garbage and pollution as part of our spiritual works of penance, charity and reconciliation. Yes, faith and nature are linked. We are all morally-bound to respect and protect the integrity of God’s creation – including us. Let’s do our part and start living simply and sustainably. Christians are stewards. Let our faith radiates in the way we nourish and protect each other’s health and the environment.
Atime for contemplation and renewal, Holy Week is a fitting time to ponder about God’s creation and the gift of life. It is a time to simplify, strip down and give up what we really do not need. There is beauty in simplicity.
