Tenebrae Service

Lenten Retreat & Tenebrae Service
April 8, 2009
Sambahay Retreat House, East Fairview Quezon City

MORNING REFLECTIONS:
Seven prayer stations were set up according to the seven last words of Christ(with cloths, lit candles, symbols, icons, and images related to the passage). With some guidance we were allowed time for personal reflection til lunch.

IT IS FINISHED.
Why do I try so hard?
No need to perform.
No need to flee.
No reason for doubt.
No room for despair.
No need to rush so much.
Or prove so much.
It is finished,
By God's love
On the cross.
Period.
Just be.

AFTERNOON MOVIE:
Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ".
Three scenes that resonated with me, as per this viewing:
a) Christ standing up again after the first round of whipping. I wish he feigned passing out or something. It was too much. But, he was like a sheep brought to the slaughter. And endured every single agony and pain.
b) Mary's heartache as a mother.
c) Christ's face in the resurrection (last frame). After hours of gory bloody details of torture scenes to the crucifixion, the contrast of the clean face vividly captures our new hope. Christ was victorious. We are, too.

EVENING TENEBRAE [latin: shadows] SERVICE.
I came out of this community refelection in silence and darkness. Carried in my heart a glimpse of the sacrifice Christ had to go through, for me.