Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten Season, so after work I hurried to Megamall to attend the 6pm mass at the chapel. When I got there, the chapel was already closed and there was a long line already. The line was already in front of that Vietnamese resto and still many people were falling in line. There was a somewhat brisk movement but when I was already near the entrance of the chapel, the guards stopped letting people. However, there were few people who did not stay to hear the entire mass so I was able to go in. It was already in the middle of the Psalms. The chapel was so crowded that some commented, “Box office ba to? (Is this a box office movie?)” or “Parang MRT lang. (It’s just like the Metro Rail Transit)”. I even heard a girl tell her friend that she was not sure if she could stay in the very crowded room. I think she was claustrophobic. While listening to the readings and the homily, my mind can’t help thinking that if there was an earthquake at that time, stampede would very likely happen.
Anyway, despite the very crowded Eucharistic Celebration, the communion and putting of ashes were fast. There were a lot of ministers there to assist. When I got out people started pouring in for the 7:15 schedule. I could see a long line that started moving. I don’t know how long the line was but when I reached the first escalotor from the atrium of the fifth floor I could not see the its end. During Ash Wednesdays, churches are really packed like during Christmas and New Year. Even though extra church services were held, it was still not enough to comfortably accommodate the church goers. Well, Lent is season for sacrifice and Ash Wednesday is the start of the season, so might as well start sacrificing.
