Holy Week Vs Disney World!

Tomorrow,I am going to Orlando. The primary purpose is to meet up with my wife's sister and her family from New York, who are visiting the theme parks and have family time. But we will also visit Universal Studios which is going to be a 'lot of fun.'

But as a Catholic and especially as a former priest, having fun at the beginning of the Holy Week, is unthinkable, almost sinful! I grew up in a traditional Catholic family in India. We observed the season of Lent with great austerity and penance. We attended church three days a week. We fasted twice during Lent. No meat was eaten the enitre period of six weeks. Fish was not eaten on Saturdays. But Saturday was market day and fish was purchased and my mom would cook it, but won't serve it. It was a great penance to see fish curry in the kithen, but forbidden to eat. Lent was harsh and no fun was allowed.

As a priest, Holy Week was the busiest time of the year. I heard confessions for endless hours, did adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Holy Thursday, fasted the entire day on Good Friday and spent most of the time in church.

But at the beginning of this Holy Week, I am going to Disney World for fun! How do I deal with the cognitive dissonance of Holy Week and Fun? First of all, I don't belive that the God I experience has anything against clean fun. But more importantly, contrary to popular belief, going to Disney World is NOT fun for me. I hate the long lines, I hate the over prized hot dogs in the theme parks, and I hate the rides. In fact, going to Disney World is 'penance' for me and therefore, this is the best thing I could do to observe Holy Week. And I am not kidding!

But the other side is that I want to be with my family during these days. I think it is holy to be with your spouse and children who really enjoy the theme parks and watch them being happy. I have come to realize that my life is not all about ME. In that sense, what better way to start Holy Week when Jesus gave himself up for others by giving a little of myself?

A Historic Day

I am so happy today, the day, the historic health care reform bill was signed into law. About half of the population of this country is very happy about it and the other half is very upset about it. Two opposite reactions to the same reality. The Democratic party leader calls the bill the "best thing to happen to the country in a century" while the Republican leader calls it "armaggedon." Why?

One of the main argument against the bill was that it is too expensive? The same people who call the health care bill "too expensive" did not say a word against it when we spent a trillion dollars on a war of choice! No one complains when we spent 685 billion dollars a year for the military budget alone. So, it is not about the money. It is about priorities.

It is embarrasing for a nation that prides itself to be the most civilized, not to provide affordable health insurance to nearly fifty million of its citizens. For a nation that some describes itself as a "Christian nation", it is blatantly unchristian to stand in the way of providing health care for the least among us. Every legislator who voted against this bill has excellent health insurance. None of them go to bed at nightg worrired about losing their house if they get seriously ill. The corporations and intrest groups that tried so hard to defeat this bill are the wealthiest in the nation. Those who are worried about an increase in their taxes are also among the richest.

What happened to our compassion for others? Why wouldn't we want to share at least one hundredth of the comfort and security that we already enjoy with those who have nothing. The irony is that the people who listen to the propaganda against the bill are cutting the branch they are sitting on. They are listening to talk show hosts who are millionaires. They have great health insurance plans.

People need to wake up and stop listening to propaganda and think for themselves. Please stop voting against your own interests.