Welcome to our Holy Week reflections. At ngayon, balikan natin ang pangyayari nang magalit si Jesus sa isang puno ng igos. Bakit kaya?

Kinaumagahan, nang si Jesus ay pabalik sa lunsod, siya’y nakaramdam ng gutom. Nakita niya ang isang puno ng igos sa tabi ng daan at nilapitan iyon. Wala siyang nakitang bunga kundi mga dahon lamang. Kaya’t sinabi niya dito, “Hindi ka na mamumunga kailanman!” Agad na natuyo ang puno.

Mateo 21:18–19

May narinig ka na bang nagsabing, “Lunes na lunes, ang init ng ulo!”? Usually, gusto natin na maganda at magaan ang salubong natin sa bagong week. But on Holy Monday of the Passion Week, bakit kaya parang mainit ang ulo ni Jesus?

First, we see the fig tree story (Mark 11:12–14). Punong-puno ng dahon, pero wala namang bunga. Jesus cursed it. Could it be not because kulang ito sa prutas kundi may pagpapanggap na nangyayari? Outwardly, the tree looked healthy but it wasn’t bearing any fruit. Can we apply this to our lives? God doesn’t want us to just look spiritual on the outside. Instead, He wants us to bear fruit in the forms of love, obedience, and faith that shows in action. Ayaw ni Lord ng pakitang-tao pero wala namang laman sa loob.

Then, Jesus entered the temple (Mark 11:15–17). Instead of prayer and worship, the temple was full of people taking advantage of others. They were overcharging pilgrims who went there to worship. Ang temple na dapat na house of prayer ay naging parang palengke. Jesus overturned the tables and drove them out. His passion for true worship reminds us that God looks at the heart of our worship. Our worship must be pure, not mixed with selfish motives or worldly distractions. God must be the only object of our worship.

The fig tree warns us against fake godly appearances, and the temple cleansing warns us against corrupted worship. Both instances teach that God is after authenticity. He wants the faith we profess to show real fruit, and our worship to be wholehearted.

This Holy Monday, let’s ask Jesus to “overturn” whatever tables of distraction or hypocrisy we have in our lives, and let’s commit to walking in faith that is both real, fruitful, and honors God.

Bukas, babalikan natin ang iba pang mga nangyari nung Holy Week 2,000 years ago and let us reflect on what God has to say to us today.