Post Easter Thoughts

I actually shared this with my other post of the day "Random Thoughts" but realized the tone was totally different than my other musings and so I thought I needed to separate them. This is such a serious topic that I didn't want to take away anything from my other "life is fun" meanderings.

David's parents went to the Philippines on a mission many years ago. They told me about a tradition that goes on there, during the week of Easter and again, I read about it in the paper recently as well. This is part of the article:

SAN FERNANDO, Philippines - Philippine devotees re-enacted Jesus Christ's suffering Friday by having themselves nailed to crosses in rites frowned upon by church leaders in Asia's largest predominantly Roman Catholic nation.

Fernando Mamangon, 37, was among the first of some 30 men scheduled to go through the Good Friday rites in three villages in northern Pampanga province's San Fernando city. Five other devotees, including a woman, were nailed to crosses in nearby Bulacan province. It was Mamangon's 13th straight year for the rite, which penitents endure to fulfill a vow or pray for a cure for illnesses.

"I started having myself nailed to the cross in 1995 because my eldest son got sick and almost died," Mamangon, clad in a maroon robe with a crown of vines and thorns, said minutes before he was nailed to a wooden cross on a dusty mound in Santa Lucia village.

He said his eldest son was cured of complications from measles, but his 5-year-old son Alex still suffers from a stomach ailment.

On Wednesday, Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto of San Fernando city urged devotees not to turn Holy Week into a "circus."

Aniceto said he has been telling penitents "to take time to thank God for the blessings and never use their devotion for tourism purposes."

The yearly tradition has become a tourist attraction, especially in San Fernando's San Pedro Cutud village, which sometimes draws thousands of local and foreign tourists.

Aside from the crucifixions, scores of men pound their bleeding bare backs with bamboo sticks dangling from ropes in a flagellation rite meant to atone for sins.

Aniceto lamented that a surge of vendors and tourists has injected too much commercialism into Holy Week celebrations. But Mamangon vowed to continue with the practice handed down by his late father, who was nailed to the cross 15 times.

"After being nailed to the cross, I feel so refreshed, like all my sins are washed away," Mamangon said. "I will continue this until my son Alex is cured."

I bet when Christ looks down on situations like this, he just weeps. I realize that news media doesn't always tell the whole story but I think this man needs a religious leader who does more than "frown" on this practice! Christ came to earth to take upon himself our sins, wants us to turn away from them and turn to him so that none of us would have to go through that same misery. There is a beautiful scripture (that I can't find because I am having a brain freeze) that says that Christ has suffered so we won't have to do that "great suffering"....if we will do the little suffering (repent/do good).

It does sound like maybe these misguided people (and there are many more that do this!) are also gaining a lot of publicity. Maybe that is their motive. But if it truly is a "spiritual" quest, I really hope their church leaders step in (not just frown) and teach them correct scripture. That Christ atoned for our sins, because that was his calling, his direction by the Father. That when we ask in faith, God hears and answers our prayers for our children "as it is according to His will", not because we bargain with him. Heavens, there is enough suffering in the world without trying to beat ourselves up even more! Again, I am just so grateful to have an understanding of the plan of salvation. To know of Christ's incredible gift to us. He wants us to meet life's challenges with faith and prayer, not with self-imposed suffering.