[Week 16] It’s Finished.

Church of St. Paul the Apostle (Manhattan)

On Good Friday, I was on my knees when a train of thought rushed in my head as if they were guided there.

If I was feeling something that is missing in my life that day or feeling hurt or sick on some ways, the thought of Jesus being crucified changed it all. I am a Roman Catholic through and through.

Jesus’ physical pain when He was crucified and the emotional pain when all His friends have betrayed Him was unimaginable.

Mama Mary’s emotional pain when she witnessed everything that her son had to go through was unthinkable.

Everything was done just for us.

Unconditional love.

God knows what we need. God knows what we want even before we ask for it. Jesus has already done what should be done. Then why do we still ask Him for more? I asked myself that on Good Friday.

Why do I keep a black book with people’s list of prayer requests and intentions? Why do we ask? And why did God say, “Ask and you shall receive…” (Matthew 7:7)? Is there really a need to ask when you have the faith that everything will be all right? Should we just say praises each day and give thanks for every single thing (good or bad) that goes our way because we know they all happen for a reason?

That thought about asking never stopped me from praying for my (and other people’s) intentions. But the Holy Week has taught me two things– One, I learned to be more grateful for whatever the day has brought me (joyful or painful, hard or easy, hopeful or disappointing, I know God was there all throughout my day). Two, I learned that I can never give up meat because I discovered (before the Lenten season) how good lamb BBQ tastes.