Acts 1:12-14/ 1 Peter 4:13-16/ John 17:1-11
Recently, some Hollywood movie celebrities were in town. Yes, some actors and an actress from the movie “X-men” were here to promote the movie.
Oh, the “X-men” movies are a big hit in the box-office and so are the actors.
And one of the more famous actors of that movie was among those who came here.
He is so famous in his role as Wolverine that when the fans see him, they would call him “Wolverine! Wolverine” instead of Hugh Jackman (his real name).
But those celebrities should have timed their visit a little later.
Because they were just a little too early for one of the great events in Singapore.
If they had come just two weeks later, they would be in time for the Great Singapore Sale!
Yes, those two months of the year where there are great discounts on goods and services.
And Wolverine could have a manicure for his claws at a discount! :D Or even for free since he is such a big star!
Well, when you are a big star in a big movie, there can be many perks, besides the big money.
It is no wonder when they say that size does matter, because the bigger you are, the more attention you will command and the greater influence you will have.
Oh yes, size does matter. So, there is the box office success, a big budget blockbuster, and those famous actors and the Great Singapore Sale.
All these words- “success, big, famous, great” tell us that size does matter.
All these words also tell us of man’s hunger for glory, even if it’s just a passing glory, an earthly glory.
And that hunger has no size to it. It’s a hunger that cannot be satisfied. It is like a bottomless pit.
In the gospel, Jesus also talked about glory and power. He said this (to His heavenly Father):
“Glorify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify You, and through the power over all mankind that You have given Him, let Him give eternal life to all those You have entrusted to Him.”
The whole gospel passage of today is called the “priestly prayer of Jesus”.
It was a prayer that Jesus said at the Last Supper. In that prayer He mentioned about power and glory.
But in that prayer, Jesus also said this: I pray for them; I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me.
In other words, Jesus prayed for His disciples, and those who will come after them, which means you and me. Yes, Jesus prayed for you and me!
And what was it that Jesus prayed for us? He prayed that the power and glory that was given to Him will also be given to us.
He prayed that we will be empowered by God’s love so that we can glorify God even while we are on this earth.
Putting it simply, we have this power to do good and to make this world a beautiful place.
There is this Thai life insurance advertisement that has a powerful and moving message. It’s just a 3-minute clip.
It’s about a simple young man, a sort of Good Samaritan, a sort of unsung hero, who goes about trying to some good.
When water drips on his head, instead of cursing and swearing, he pulls a pot of dying plant over, so that it can be watered back to life.
He feeds a hungry stray dog with some of his lunch; he buys bananas for an elderly neighbour; and he gives some money, though he doesn’t have much, to a poor mother and daughter for the girl’s education.
His actions either go unnoticed or that others think he was rather crazy with those simple good deeds.
But, as the narration in the advertisement goes, that young man was not looking for recognition; he gets nothing in return; he won’t be richer, he won’t be famous. He is still a “nobody”.
Eventually though, the young man’s kind actions change things.
The dying plant is brought back to life and becomes a beautiful plant.
The stray dog follows him home and becomes his pet. The elderly neighbor acknowledges his generosity.
And the most touching scene is when the girl comes back from school and shares with her mother what she had learnt.
The advertisement continues by saying that the simple young man sees happiness and he reaches a deeper understanding of life.
He feels the love, and receives what money can’t buy.
And the final words of the advertisement are these: The world is made more beautiful.
It was a unique and moving advertisement about life insurance.
We may think that it’s a rather mushy advertisement, a “Forrest Gump” kind of fairy tale.
But that 3-minute advertisement had a more powerful message than those big-budget movies with a star-studded cast.
And we must believe in the power of love that will bring about simple deeds of goodness that will make this world more beautiful.
Jesus prayed that this power will be given to us. Jesus had done His part. It is for us now to do our part.