When My Tres Marias Met Jesus Christ Superstar

I had bonding moments with my tres marias the other night. We watched the film adaptation of the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice on our video player. As expected, the film elicited questions--more innocent yet incisive questions, I believe, and I had a hard time answering all. We failed to see it to the end as the DVD malfunctioned. But I was personally contented as I managed to meet my objectives and subtly explained to them the meaning of the Palm Sunday event as the triumphant entry of a uique king riding on a donkey.

• Ham-an, Tay, it naakig si Judas kay Kuya Jesus? (Why is Judas angry of Jesus?), came the first question by the youngest. 

My childish approximation went like this: See the pouch tied on Judas waist? He's the treasurer and the business manager of the apostles. He carried the money and was the one accepting donations for the group.  Judas was a man of great consequence. He wanted to be relevant. He was mad at them and at Jesus because there's too much heaven in their minds that they tend to forget the plight of the poor (kuno). Judas thought that Jesus was just a man, a mortal like him who is also frail and can be tempted by the sweetness and solicitousness of women like Mary Magdalene.

But for Jesus, Judas and the rest of the apostles were just shallow, thick and slow....

• Ham-an, Tay, it sa donkey eat a si Kuya Jesus nagsakay? Haron hu, may tangke de guerra man. Karon 'ta kunta maw nagsakay. May tangke de guerra eot a kato ay? (How come that Jesus elected to ride on a donkey instead? Look, there are tanks too. He could have ridden on one of them. Why, were tanks already in existence during his time?)

Jesus was not a military or a political adventurist as Judas suspected him to be. True, he was the one the Jews had been waiting for, their Messiah. But his kingdom is not of this world. He's a king for sure but very unlike the kings that are served by their subjects. He's a king that serves.

Perhaps, I was just boring them more than the rock opera that Aurea Vera was already slumped on my side. Peaceful and at rest. Contented perhaps to have seen children carrying palms and singing Hosanna to the Son of David.

It is always a challenge to elucidate something of great value to these little ones. I trust that in their sleep, they will be dreaming about those imagery and stir up their spirits to hunger for more as they grow in age and wisdom.