Holy Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines – Ever heard of tenebrism or its Latin root word, tenebrae?

According to Fr Jose Magadia, SJ, tenebrae means darkness. It becomes relevant during the season of Lent because it mirrors the contrast between darkness and light – the common themes in Christ’s messages to his disciples.

This is highlighted in Caravaggio’s painting which was titled, “The Taking of Christ” and which depicts a seemingly confused Judas Iscariot alongside a pained Christ. He is pained in the face of treachery and deceit. Yet he remains faithful to those he has pledged to love.

“Christ is reminding us that we too often find ourselves plunged in the darkness of the canvasses of our own lives. And Christ is telling us how to live through our own darkness, our own fears, our own depressions, our own limitations, our own mortality, our own feelings of inadequacy and powerlessness, our own doubts and hesitations, and angers,” Magadia writes in reflections for Holy Wednesday.

“Christ is telling us to just go through it, not letting our spirits be devastated to despair by those that might be able to destroy the body but cannot really take the life from our souls,” he says.

On the other hand, Fr Nono Alfonso, executive director of Jesuit Communications Foundation Inc, writes that in trying to understand the meaning and purpose of one’s life, one needs to have faith.

“Our faith may be like shifting sand, as the song goes, but the important question to ask is: do you desire to know more of him?”

A leap of faith into the unknown may not be easy to do yet doing so may bring with it more gains. The Daily Om, which provides inspirational thoughts as well, says, “A successful leap of faith requires your attention, as it is the quiet and often indistinct voice of your inner self that will point you toward your ultimate destination.”

“While you may fear what seems to be the inevitable fall, consider that in all likelihood you will find yourself flying.”

These reflections are accompanied by a music video produced by Jescom featuring Chrise Cortez and Carlo Santos who sing “Shifting Sand” by Caedmon’s Call.

A virtual Stations of the Cross is also available to those who wish to do it at their own pace and their own time. Readings by Paterno Esmaquel II are accompanied by music from the Vespers album series of the JMM/Jescom. Others less inclined may just wish to explore the interiors of 14 Philippine churches taken by Fung Yu or dwell on the stained glass images taken by Hubert Pacheco. These are all part of Rappler’s Holy Week online package.   – Rappler.com