Filipinos Nail Themselves

People who let themselves get nailed on the cross every year  in the Philippines puzzled me until I understood the reason for doing such eccentric religious practice.Pampanga is a known place where you see these Christian devotees who sacrifice themselves during lenten season.They are nailed and visitors  come from different cities and nations.This is a Good Friday ritual of Roman Catholic believers.You see a parade of people carrying their own cross and hitting themselves while having a long distance walk under the heat of the sun before the nailing session.The people of Pampanga refuse to say that they do this as a form of entertainment. The government takes part in this activity by providing medical assisstance to the devotees.

There's one common reason I know why they involve themselves in this kind of ritual. The devotees believe that doing this kind of penitence will grant their wishes and wants in life. They firmly hopes that God will give them what their heart desires if they follow what Jesus Christ had done on the cross.

From my point of view, there's no point of doing this. God has already conquered the grave and it's now easy for us to be forgiven and achieve salvation. It's the grace and love of God  that makes us feel happy and contented in life.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son and whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life- John 3:16

If we want to have what we want to get in life this bible verse will make it possible to achieve for those who believe in Him.

But seek ye first the kingdon of God and his rightesosness and all these things will be added unto you-Matthew 6:33

Palm Sunday

Four days ago was Palm Sunday for Catholics.It’s the beginning of their observation to Christ’s Passion.Churchgoers brought with them palm twigs and branches.After it was anointed by the priest they can put it anywhere around their houses like altars and doors.It serves as a protection for them.

I spent my weekend in my boyfriend’s house.Though I didn’t go to church with my own family I was able to hear the word of God by joining his family.We’re both Christians but we differ in sect. Religion doesn’t matter to me and entering their church is not a big deal to me.

As I enter the place where people gather and worship God as one spirit I saw this proverb:

 God is listening and he can reverse tragedy.

And here’s the message of the Sunday mass:

God’s children must not only remember and commemorate His death and how it happened.The most important thing to do during Lenten season is to repent.This is a time to ask forgiveness  and renew ourselves.Christ must increase in us and not our own self or will.The event reminds us people who believe in Him about His great love to humankind by sacrificing His own son, Jesus Christ who died on the cross. His death marked the end of human’s bondage to sin.It only needs faith and action in order to be saved.He brought salvation to man and we shouldn’t forget it as Christians, believers and followers of Christ.

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have an everlasting life-John 3:16