The Manila Times
HOLY Monday is a day often overlooked during Holy Week. It comes right after Palm Sunday, when Jesus Christ was welcomed in Jerusalem, but what does it signify? The Gospel of Mark 11:11–12 revealed that after spending the evening in Bethany, Jesus and his disciples set out for Jerusalem early Monday. Jesus then encountered a fig tree and cursed it for its fruitlessness. Some interpreted the act as God’s judgment on the lack of genuine faith by believers. After arriving in Jerusalem, he found commerce and corruption in the temple, where there should have been worship and reverence. In a fit of rage, he overturned the tables, condemning the practice. “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers,” he said. For Filipino Catholics, Holy Monday serves as a reminder to examine one’s faith and actions. Fr. Cyrain Cabuenas of Borongan, Eastern Samar, said in his homily that the day calls on the faithful to reflect on how people respond to truth, particularly in the face of adversity. “The Passion of Christ is not only about His suffering; it is also about how people respond to truth. Jesus stood for what was right, yet He was rejected. Those in authority chose to protect themselves instead of doing what was just, and the crowd allowed itself to be influenced, choosing noise over truth. This is what makes Holy Week uncomfortable, because it asks a question we cannot avoid: where do we stand when truth is at risk?” Cabuenas said. He said the message of Holy Week remains relevant in the Philippine context, where issues such as corruption, political conflict, and rising living costs continue to burden many Filipinos. “We see it when power is used for personal gain, when truth is ignored, and when the innocent suffer while justice seems slow or absent,” he said. Cabuenas cautioned the faithful against reducing Holy Week to rituals, such as attending Mass or joining processions, without allowing it to inspire real change. “If nothing changes — if corruption continues, injustice remains, and the poor are still forgotten — then something essential is missing. Holy Week is not meant to be just an annual routine; it is meant to change us,” he said. He asked Filipinos to live out their faith in honesty, integrity and compassion, even in small, everyday choices, stressing that meaningful change begins within individuals. In his Holy Week message to the nation, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to unite for the shared goal of building a country grounded in faith and selfless service to others. The president urged every citizen to “take a moment for a brief pause, rest, and reflection.” “From His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, to the suffering of the Cross at Calvary, and finally to the glory of His Resurrection, we witness a love so powerful that it embraces human suffering and conquers even death,” he said. The immeasurable love of Jesus Christ, he said, reflects a love that embraces human suffering and triumphs over death. “The Passion of Christ reminds us that true greatness is not found in power, but in sacrifice; not in privilege, but in service; and not in comfort, but in the courage to carry the burdens of others,” he said. He called on the faithful to renew their commitment to loving and serving one another, especially in times of hardship, and to remain steadfast in faith despite life’s trials. “For in every act of compassion, every hand extended to those in need, and every sacrifice made for the good of others, we keep alive the spirit of His message,” the president said. Malacañang has declared April 2, Maundy Thursday, and April 3, Good Friday, as regular holidays. Black Saturday, April 4, was declared a special non-working holiday. Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Sunday said Holy Week “is a time for prayer and reflection. This is a time for remembering the great love of God — a love that saved us, gave hope, and continues to guide us back to Him.” “Amid the conflicts and problems we face, may this day serve as an invitation for us to pause, reflect, and repent,” he said. “This is a time to examine our hearts, our shortcomings, and the times when we fell short in loving. In the quiet of prayer, may we find the strength to carry on, the courage to forgive, and the heart ready to love again — especially in times when this is most difficult to do.”
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