Genesis 10：20－32／Colossians 2：12－24／Luke 11：1－13
There is a local event happening now, but I think it’s coming to an end soon (in fact I think it’s ending today!)
It has been happening for two months already, and it would have caught our attention somehow.
Do you know what I’m talking about? Still thinking?
What if I say it’s connected to shopping?
Ahh … yes … it’s the Great S’pore Sale! Right?
Yes, the Great S’pore Sale, and it’s intended to spur us on to a shopping spree because there are supposed to be great discounts and bargains.
I can’t say much about the Great S’pore Sale because I don’t do much shopping, and I don’t have the time to go around comparing prices.
But I can say that there is something missing in the Great S’pore Sale.
Yes, there is something missing. What is missing is this very interesting activity called bargaining.
So as much as it is called the Great S’pore Sale, and the prices are slashed and discounted, yet that is the final price.
There is no further bargaining. The discounted price is fixed.
That is something that my mother and the women of her generation cannot quite understand, nor will they accept it.
For them, the displayed price, whether discounted or otherwise, is meant to be further reduced.
For them, the displayed price is a challenge for them to see how much more can be reduced, and their usual starting bid is 50% off the displayed price.
So at times, it can be quite difficult for me to go shopping with my mum at those classy departmental stores.
Because she will ask me to go and bargain with the salesgirl!
But if bargaining with the salesgirl at a classy department store can be embarrassing, then are we daring enough to bargain with God?
In the 1st reading, Abraham seemed to have the guts to do it.
The whole town of Sodom was to be destroyed because of their sinfulness.
Abraham pleaded with God not to destroy the just man with the sinner.
So he bargained with God, from finding 50 innocent persons to finding just 10 innocent persons, so that the whole town could be spared.
But in his bargaining with God, Abraham believed that God was merciful and compassionate.
So Abraham dared to persist further and further in his prayer bargain with God.
He did all that in order to try to save the people of that town.
In the gospel, Jesus teaches us to persist in prayer.
He told us to ask and we will receive, to search and we will find, to knock and it will be opened.
But we may need to look at what we are asking for in prayer.
Generally speaking, most of what we are asking for are valid needs.
So there are prayers for recovery from illness, for job stability, for peace in the family, for our children to do well in their exams, and maybe that our cars won’t be stuck in a flood, or whatever.
These are valid needs, and Jesus assures us that God knows what we need and He will provide for us.
In the gospel, Jesus told a parable about a man knocking on his neighbour’s door at midnight to ask for some bread because he had a guest.
Jesus concluded the parable by saying that if the neighbour does not get up and give it to the man for friendship’s sake, then persistence will be enough to make him get up and give the man what he wanted.
Jesus emphasized the need for persistence in prayer.
But there may be another side to this parable.
Now, let’s say, that your bank offers you this fantastic deal.
Each morning, the bank will deposit $86, 400 into your private account for your use.
But these are the following conditions.
Firstly, the money that you do not spend each day will be taken from you.
Secondly, you cannot transfer the money into another account.
Thirdly, only you, and you alone, can spend it.
Fourthly, the bank can end this deal without any notice.
At any time, it can say “Account closed” and you will not get a new account.
Now what would you do with the money in this account?
You would surely buy anything and everything you wanted right? No need Great S’pore Sale, just shop till you drop.
Not only for yourself, but also for the people you love and for your friends too, isn’t it?
Even for the people you don’t know, you will also spend it on them, because you couldn’t possibly spend it all on yourself.
You would try to spend every cent and use it all before the day ends, right?
Sounds like too good to be true, isn’t it?
Well, this is true, because each of us has such a bank account.
Everyday God gives us 86,400 seconds as a gift of life.
It cannot be brought forward. What we have not lived up to for that day is gone. Well, yesterday is forever gone.
Each new day, the account is renewed.
But the account can be terminated at any time, and without any notice.
Well, what are we going to do with our 86,400 seconds?
Certainly, those 86,400 seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars.
Well, God is knocking at our doors and persistently asking us how we are spending our time, and what are we doing with our lives.
We don’t have to ask for more. Whatever we needed, God has already given to us.
86, 400 seconds of life is God’s gift to us everyday.
How we use it, how we live it out, is our gift to God and our gift to others.
Abraham used his gift to plead for the innocent people of the town.
May we use our gift to bring life and love to others.
May our lives bring joy and peace to others.
Let that be our prayer, our persistent prayer.
Click the links under My Blog List to get to Chinese and English weekday homilies.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
14th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 4July 2010
First Reading: Isaiah 66:10-14
Second Reading: Galatians 6:14-18
Gospel: Luke 10:1-12.17-20
Among the species of animals, the one that gives us a sense of intrigue and enigma, and also fear, is the snake.
Actually the snake is an odd creature.
It has no hands or feet or wings, and it moves about by crawling on its belly.
But all this not withstanding, the snake has a reputation for being a deadly creature.
From constriction to venom, and from the time of Adam, the snake is like the scourge of mankind.
Though some snakes are not poisonous, yet there is just too much fear created about them.
A story has it that a preacher wanted to show his congregation that there is nothing to fear about snakes.
So he had a non-poisonous snake in a sack, and he told his congregation that there is nothing to fear about snakes and that they can even crush it with their heels.
So he let the snake out of the sack. Bad move.
Children started to scream and run, followed by the adults.
It was pandemonium, total chaos.
Well, if we priests try to do this kind of antics, we might just get ex-communicated!!
Yet, it is not a joke when Jesus said that He is sending us out like lambs among wolves.
But Jesus assures us that He has given us power to tread under foot snakes and scorpions.
He even tells us that nothing will harm us.
Well to that, a missionary can give testimony as he relates his encounter with danger.
This missionary was serving in a rural area where electricity was generated by a diesel generator.
One stormy night, the generator failed and his house was in total darkness.
He had no torchlight but he remembered that there were candles and matches in the church.
So he felt his way around, got out of the house and using the walls as a guide, made his way to the church, all this in pitch darkness.
Finally, he got to the candles and lighting a candle he made his way back to the house safely.
A few days later, there was another storm, and again the generator failed.
This time around, the missionary was prepared and he had a torch light.
So, with confidence, he made his way to the church to get some candles.
But as he opened the door to step into the church, his steps came to a sudden halt.
Because, as he shined his torch light ahead of him, he saw a snake coiled up in the church, taking shelter from the rain.
He turned back immediately and headed straight for his house, and when he got back, he went down on his knees to thank God.
As he thought about it, just a few days back, he made the same way in pitch darkness and, thank God, there was no snake.
This time around, he was not going to tread on the snake to see if it would bite; that would be crazy.
Putting it any way we want, we can be sure that Jesus was protecting that missionary, when he made his way to the church in pitch darkness.
And Jesus wants to protect us as we make our way in this world that is darkened by fear and danger, where the wolves howl, the snakes bite and the scorpions sting.
Jesus sends us forth into the world to be instruments and channels of His peace in the midst of fear and danger.
But let us also remember that peace is not the absence of fear and danger. There will always be fear and danger.
Peace is the presence of God, in the midst of fear and danger.
At every Mass, Jesus says to us – I leave you peace. My peace I give you.
So Jesus already gave us His peace. That’s what we have. That’s what we are – a people of peace.
Earlier on, I talked about a preacher with a snake.
I’d like to tell you now about a preacher with a $100 note.
So this preacher showed his congregation a $100 note and asked – Who would like to have this $100 note?
Of course, hands went up. Then he said, “OK, but what if I do this?” And he proceeded to crumple up the $100 note.
And then he asked, “So now, who would still like to have this?”
Well, the hands still went up.
And then the preacher said, “Ok, but what if I do this?”
And he dropped the note to the ground and started to grind it on the floor with his shoe.
He then picked it up, the crumpled and dirty note, then he asked, “Who still want this?” Would you want it?
Of course, we would still want it. Because no matter how crumpled and dirty it is, the value has not decreased. It is still a $100 note.
And that is the truth! In God’s eyes we will always have a value; and as God promised, we will always have peace.
It is a peace that the world cannot give; it is also a peace the world cannot take away.
Yet, we have to always ask ourselves: do we give others peace of mind, or do we give others a piece of our mind?
So, do we bring peace wherever we go?
Or do we bring peace whenever we go?
In this Mass, and in every Mass, peace is what Jesus gives to us.
It is this peace that we are to give to others.
May this peace give us the power and the strength ….
so that where there is injury, we bring pardon,
where there is doubt, we bring faith,
where there is despair, we bring hope,
where there is darkness, we bring light.
where there is sadness, we bring joy.
Second Reading: Galatians 6:14-18
Gospel: Luke 10:1-12.17-20
Among the species of animals, the one that gives us a sense of intrigue and enigma, and also fear, is the snake.
Actually the snake is an odd creature.
It has no hands or feet or wings, and it moves about by crawling on its belly.
But all this not withstanding, the snake has a reputation for being a deadly creature.
From constriction to venom, and from the time of Adam, the snake is like the scourge of mankind.
Though some snakes are not poisonous, yet there is just too much fear created about them.
A story has it that a preacher wanted to show his congregation that there is nothing to fear about snakes.
So he had a non-poisonous snake in a sack, and he told his congregation that there is nothing to fear about snakes and that they can even crush it with their heels.
So he let the snake out of the sack. Bad move.
Children started to scream and run, followed by the adults.
It was pandemonium, total chaos.
Well, if we priests try to do this kind of antics, we might just get ex-communicated!!
Yet, it is not a joke when Jesus said that He is sending us out like lambs among wolves.
But Jesus assures us that He has given us power to tread under foot snakes and scorpions.
He even tells us that nothing will harm us.
Well to that, a missionary can give testimony as he relates his encounter with danger.
This missionary was serving in a rural area where electricity was generated by a diesel generator.
One stormy night, the generator failed and his house was in total darkness.
He had no torchlight but he remembered that there were candles and matches in the church.
So he felt his way around, got out of the house and using the walls as a guide, made his way to the church, all this in pitch darkness.
Finally, he got to the candles and lighting a candle he made his way back to the house safely.
A few days later, there was another storm, and again the generator failed.
This time around, the missionary was prepared and he had a torch light.
So, with confidence, he made his way to the church to get some candles.
But as he opened the door to step into the church, his steps came to a sudden halt.
Because, as he shined his torch light ahead of him, he saw a snake coiled up in the church, taking shelter from the rain.
He turned back immediately and headed straight for his house, and when he got back, he went down on his knees to thank God.
As he thought about it, just a few days back, he made the same way in pitch darkness and, thank God, there was no snake.
This time around, he was not going to tread on the snake to see if it would bite; that would be crazy.
Putting it any way we want, we can be sure that Jesus was protecting that missionary, when he made his way to the church in pitch darkness.
And Jesus wants to protect us as we make our way in this world that is darkened by fear and danger, where the wolves howl, the snakes bite and the scorpions sting.
Jesus sends us forth into the world to be instruments and channels of His peace in the midst of fear and danger.
But let us also remember that peace is not the absence of fear and danger. There will always be fear and danger.
Peace is the presence of God, in the midst of fear and danger.
At every Mass, Jesus says to us – I leave you peace. My peace I give you.
So Jesus already gave us His peace. That’s what we have. That’s what we are – a people of peace.
Earlier on, I talked about a preacher with a snake.
I’d like to tell you now about a preacher with a $100 note.
So this preacher showed his congregation a $100 note and asked – Who would like to have this $100 note?
Of course, hands went up. Then he said, “OK, but what if I do this?” And he proceeded to crumple up the $100 note.
And then he asked, “So now, who would still like to have this?”
Well, the hands still went up.
And then the preacher said, “Ok, but what if I do this?”
And he dropped the note to the ground and started to grind it on the floor with his shoe.
He then picked it up, the crumpled and dirty note, then he asked, “Who still want this?” Would you want it?
Of course, we would still want it. Because no matter how crumpled and dirty it is, the value has not decreased. It is still a $100 note.
And that is the truth! In God’s eyes we will always have a value; and as God promised, we will always have peace.
It is a peace that the world cannot give; it is also a peace the world cannot take away.
Yet, we have to always ask ourselves: do we give others peace of mind, or do we give others a piece of our mind?
So, do we bring peace wherever we go?
Or do we bring peace whenever we go?
In this Mass, and in every Mass, peace is what Jesus gives to us.
It is this peace that we are to give to others.
May this peace give us the power and the strength ….
so that where there is injury, we bring pardon,
where there is doubt, we bring faith,
where there is despair, we bring hope,
where there is darkness, we bring light.
where there is sadness, we bring joy.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
11th Ordinary Sunday, Year C, 13th June 2010
2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13
Galatians 2:16, 19-21
Luke 7:36-8:3
I wonder how you would feel if you had to talk to a group of prisoners, and to talk to them about God’s love and forgiveness.
Well, we may not have that kind of experience，or that kind of task given to us.
But we can certainly imagine the apprehension and the anxiety that comes with it.
Another aspect to consider is that what are we going to say and how should we say it.
Keeping in mind that the audience is a group of prisoners and we are going to talk to them about God’s love and forgiveness.
We cannot sound judgmental or condescending, nor can we pretend that there was no wrongdoing at all.
Well, a priest was asked to speak to a group of prisoners about God’s love and forgiveness.
In the days that led up to the talk, he thought about what he needed to say and how to say it.
So finally, the day came and he went to the prison, and he was escorted to the room where the talk was to be held.
As he walked into the room, the prisoners looked at him with silent expressionless eyes.
After the introduction, the priest stood up to speak.
He looked around at the prisoners and then he began to speak.
So how do you think he started? What do you think were his first words?
Well, how would you have started? What would be your first words?
Well, the priest began with these words: The difference between you and me is that … I was not caught.
Strange words to begin with, right?
Yes, strange words to begin with, but strangely, very true.
So from robbery to adultery, from speeding to littering, as long as we were not caught, we can fake innocence.
But still it is a fake innocence. All because we were not caught… yet!
In a way, it is similar to sin, right?
As long as our sins are not exposed, we can fake innocence. Yes, we can fake innocence as long as nobody knows about our sins.
There are three characters in today’s gospel – a sinner, the sinless one, and then there is the one who is faking to be sinless.
The problem was not with the sinner or the sinless one.
The problem was with the fake.
Simon, the Pharisee, thought he was the sinless one, yet he was just faking it.
Yet Jesus did not expose him outright. Instead, he used the parable of the two men who owed a debt to let Simon realize it, to let him catch himself, so as to speak.
Indeed, when we catch ourselves, we will truly and humbly ask for forgiveness.
That was the case in the 1st reading.
What we heard in the 1st reading was just the consequence of the pronouncement that King David made earlier.
The prophet Nathan did not expose David about his sin of adultery and murder.
Rather, he told a story of a rich man who had a flock of sheep and a poor man who had a beloved lamb.
When the rich man had a visitor, he took the lamb from the poor man and had it slaughtered to entertain his guest.
When King David heard the story, his anger flared and he judged the rich man as deserving the sentence of death.
It was only when David made that pronouncement that the prophet Nathan said to him: You are that man!
And David knew he had caught himself and he repented.
But today’s gospel is not about who had sinned and who was faking righteousness.
Rather, it is about the realization for repentance and the need for forgiveness.
I like to share with you a story about the need for realization for repentance and the joy of forgiveness.
A priest noticed that a man went into the church in the middle of the day.
The man’s clothes were rather shabby and dirty. He went to the pew, knelt down, bowed his head, then he rose and walked away.
In the days that followed, that man would come in around the same time and do the same thing.
The priest began to be suspicious of that man, so one day, he decided to stop that man and ask him what he was doing.
The man replied, saying that his factory was down the road.
Lunch was only half an hour and he used the lunchtime as his prayer time for finding strength and power.
But he could only stay for a few moments and so he would say this prayer:
I just came to tell you, Lord, how happy I have been. Since we found each other and you took away my sin. Don’t know much about how to pray, but I think about you everyday. So, Jesus, here I am, checking in today.
The priest feeling foolish and awkward, told the man he was welcomed to come and pray anytime.
When the man left, the priest knelt at the altar and he realized that it had been a long time since he said a heat-felt prayer.
His heart began to melt, and warmed with love, he felt Jesus there and he repeated that man’s prayer:
I just came to tell you, Lord, how happy I have been. Since we found each other and you took away my sin. Don’t know much about how to pray, but I think about you everyday. So, Jesus, here I am, checking in today.
God does not want to catch us in our sins and punish us.
But He will use events, situations, and people to help us catch our own sins, so to speak, and to realize the need for repentance.
The joy of forgiveness is awaiting us. The only thing that can block it is when we continue to fake innocence.
Galatians 2:16, 19-21
Luke 7:36-8:3
I wonder how you would feel if you had to talk to a group of prisoners, and to talk to them about God’s love and forgiveness.
Well, we may not have that kind of experience，or that kind of task given to us.
But we can certainly imagine the apprehension and the anxiety that comes with it.
Another aspect to consider is that what are we going to say and how should we say it.
Keeping in mind that the audience is a group of prisoners and we are going to talk to them about God’s love and forgiveness.
We cannot sound judgmental or condescending, nor can we pretend that there was no wrongdoing at all.
Well, a priest was asked to speak to a group of prisoners about God’s love and forgiveness.
In the days that led up to the talk, he thought about what he needed to say and how to say it.
So finally, the day came and he went to the prison, and he was escorted to the room where the talk was to be held.
As he walked into the room, the prisoners looked at him with silent expressionless eyes.
After the introduction, the priest stood up to speak.
He looked around at the prisoners and then he began to speak.
So how do you think he started? What do you think were his first words?
Well, how would you have started? What would be your first words?
Well, the priest began with these words: The difference between you and me is that … I was not caught.
Strange words to begin with, right?
Yes, strange words to begin with, but strangely, very true.
So from robbery to adultery, from speeding to littering, as long as we were not caught, we can fake innocence.
But still it is a fake innocence. All because we were not caught… yet!
In a way, it is similar to sin, right?
As long as our sins are not exposed, we can fake innocence. Yes, we can fake innocence as long as nobody knows about our sins.
There are three characters in today’s gospel – a sinner, the sinless one, and then there is the one who is faking to be sinless.
The problem was not with the sinner or the sinless one.
The problem was with the fake.
Simon, the Pharisee, thought he was the sinless one, yet he was just faking it.
Yet Jesus did not expose him outright. Instead, he used the parable of the two men who owed a debt to let Simon realize it, to let him catch himself, so as to speak.
Indeed, when we catch ourselves, we will truly and humbly ask for forgiveness.
That was the case in the 1st reading.
What we heard in the 1st reading was just the consequence of the pronouncement that King David made earlier.
The prophet Nathan did not expose David about his sin of adultery and murder.
Rather, he told a story of a rich man who had a flock of sheep and a poor man who had a beloved lamb.
When the rich man had a visitor, he took the lamb from the poor man and had it slaughtered to entertain his guest.
When King David heard the story, his anger flared and he judged the rich man as deserving the sentence of death.
It was only when David made that pronouncement that the prophet Nathan said to him: You are that man!
And David knew he had caught himself and he repented.
But today’s gospel is not about who had sinned and who was faking righteousness.
Rather, it is about the realization for repentance and the need for forgiveness.
I like to share with you a story about the need for realization for repentance and the joy of forgiveness.
A priest noticed that a man went into the church in the middle of the day.
The man’s clothes were rather shabby and dirty. He went to the pew, knelt down, bowed his head, then he rose and walked away.
In the days that followed, that man would come in around the same time and do the same thing.
The priest began to be suspicious of that man, so one day, he decided to stop that man and ask him what he was doing.
The man replied, saying that his factory was down the road.
Lunch was only half an hour and he used the lunchtime as his prayer time for finding strength and power.
But he could only stay for a few moments and so he would say this prayer:
I just came to tell you, Lord, how happy I have been. Since we found each other and you took away my sin. Don’t know much about how to pray, but I think about you everyday. So, Jesus, here I am, checking in today.
The priest feeling foolish and awkward, told the man he was welcomed to come and pray anytime.
When the man left, the priest knelt at the altar and he realized that it had been a long time since he said a heat-felt prayer.
His heart began to melt, and warmed with love, he felt Jesus there and he repeated that man’s prayer:
I just came to tell you, Lord, how happy I have been. Since we found each other and you took away my sin. Don’t know much about how to pray, but I think about you everyday. So, Jesus, here I am, checking in today.
God does not want to catch us in our sins and punish us.
But He will use events, situations, and people to help us catch our own sins, so to speak, and to realize the need for repentance.
The joy of forgiveness is awaiting us. The only thing that can block it is when we continue to fake innocence.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Pentecost Sunday, Year C, 23.05.2010
Acts 2:1-11
Romans 8:8-17
John 14:15-16, 23b-26
Most of the liturgical seasons and feast day celebrations of the Church are easily identifiable from the images and symbols that are used.
For eg, when we see an evergreen wreath with 4 candles, we will know it’s Advent.
When we see a crib and some figurines, we will know it’s Christmas.
When we see a cross and purple cloth, we will know it’s Lent.
When we see the big candle out here, we will know it’s Easter.
But how about Pentecost? What concrete image or symbols would indicate it’s Pentecost?
Could it be the red-coloured vestment? But it also looks like CNY.
So there is the traditional symbol of the dove, and those tongues of fire.
Actually it’s 7 tongues of fire to denote the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Of course we are not going to let go some doves here, because something else other than gifts will drop on us.
And we are also not going to carry lighted candles to denote the tongues of fire, because some of us might be on fire, in the wrong sense.
So it is actually quite difficult to have a concrete image or symbol for the celebration of Pentecost.
So what concrete image for symbol did Jesus use to symbolize the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
Well, He didn’t use an image or symbol.
Rather, He used an action – He breathed on His disciples and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.
Quite plain, right? No drama at all?
We would expect something like Jesus would go to each disciple and lay His hands and say “Receive the Holy Spirit”.
And they will drop and rest in the Spirit, and start speaking in tongues or whatever.
I still can remember the time when I was at a Confirmation camp for teenagers who were preparing for the Sacrament.
The highlight of the camp was the praying over each participant.
I was asked to help out in the praying over and at that time I was still a seminarian.
I was given this group of boys to pray over.
So I prayed over the first boy. I didn’t really call fire from heaven. There was no need to; after all, they are only 14-year old boys.
So I prayed over the first boy, then I prayed over the second boy.
Then I prayed over the third boy. After praying over him, he looked at me and said: Didn’t feel anything.
I was taken aback and felt a bit cheezed, so I retorted: Tsk, it takes a while lah!
He got no reply to that, and I thanked the Holy Spirit for shutting his gab!
So when Jesus first appeared to His disciples after the resurrection and breathed the Holy Spirit on them, I think that the disciples also did not feel anything. Just that they didn't dare say it.
But 50 days later, on Pentecost, something happened and things were never the same again.
Yes, it took a while, but when the Spirit moved the disciples, things got moving.
The Church took shape and started to grow.
But it was not an easy growth, because blood was shed and lives were lost.
But the Holy Spirit kept the Church moving and going.
There is this story of a daughter who complained to her father about how life was so difficult for her, with one difficulty after another, and her prayers were not answered.
Her father, who was a chef, took her to the kitchen.
He filled 3 pots with water and put them to boil.
In one, he put in carrots, in the second, he put in eggs and in the third he put coffee powder.
He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
The daughter wasn’t very amused and was getting impatient with her father.
After 10 minutes, the father turned off the fire and he took out the carrots and the eggs.
Then he ladled the coffee into a mug.
Then he asked his daughter: What do you see?
She replied: Carrots, eggs and coffee.
He asked her to feel the carrots and she did and said they were soft.
He then asked her to break an egg. After peeling off the shell, she observed that it was a hard boiled egg.
Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee and she tasted the rich aroma.
Then she asked her father what it all meant.
The father explained that each of them has faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently.
The carrots were hard and strong, but in the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The eggs had been fragile, but after sitting through boiling water, its inside became hard.
The coffee powder was unique in that after they were in boiling water, they changed the water.
Finally, the father asked his daughter – So what are you? When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or coffee powder?
The point of this story is that do we let the world and all its adversities change us?
Do we get weakened and disillusioned like the carrot; or do we become hard and bitter like the egg?
Or do we change the world when faced with its adversities, like what the coffee powder did to the boiling water.
So the symbols of red-coloured vestments and tongues of fire still give very profound meanings for Pentecost.
Red is the colour of martyrdom. The blood of martyrs gives rise to the Church.
And the tongues of fire purifies the Church, and sanctifies the Church, in the face of adversity.
And the Holy Spirit continues to move in the Church.
Well back to the story of that 14 year old boy who said “Didn’t feel anything”.
Well, after the Confirmation camp, I nicknamed him “Mr. Didn’t Feel Anything” and I thought he was rather arrogant and cocky at that time.
He looked like he was going to end up on the sleazy side of life.
He in turned called me “Bro. Wait a While”.
But that was many years ago. Now he calls me “Fr. Wait a While”.
That “Mr. Didn’t Feel Anything ” has become someone doing something.
He is active in his parish community and he is a catechist teaching Confirmation class!
He has come a long way and I am sure that the Holy Spirit was moving him along the way.
And he did feel something, although it took a while.
Well, it may take a while for us too. We may have to wait a while.
But meanwhile, may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts and kindle in us the fire of God’s love.
Romans 8:8-17
John 14:15-16, 23b-26
Most of the liturgical seasons and feast day celebrations of the Church are easily identifiable from the images and symbols that are used.
For eg, when we see an evergreen wreath with 4 candles, we will know it’s Advent.
When we see a crib and some figurines, we will know it’s Christmas.
When we see a cross and purple cloth, we will know it’s Lent.
When we see the big candle out here, we will know it’s Easter.
But how about Pentecost? What concrete image or symbols would indicate it’s Pentecost?
Could it be the red-coloured vestment? But it also looks like CNY.
So there is the traditional symbol of the dove, and those tongues of fire.
Actually it’s 7 tongues of fire to denote the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Of course we are not going to let go some doves here, because something else other than gifts will drop on us.
And we are also not going to carry lighted candles to denote the tongues of fire, because some of us might be on fire, in the wrong sense.
So it is actually quite difficult to have a concrete image or symbol for the celebration of Pentecost.
So what concrete image for symbol did Jesus use to symbolize the outpouring of the Holy Spirit?
Well, He didn’t use an image or symbol.
Rather, He used an action – He breathed on His disciples and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.
Quite plain, right? No drama at all?
We would expect something like Jesus would go to each disciple and lay His hands and say “Receive the Holy Spirit”.
And they will drop and rest in the Spirit, and start speaking in tongues or whatever.
I still can remember the time when I was at a Confirmation camp for teenagers who were preparing for the Sacrament.
The highlight of the camp was the praying over each participant.
I was asked to help out in the praying over and at that time I was still a seminarian.
I was given this group of boys to pray over.
So I prayed over the first boy. I didn’t really call fire from heaven. There was no need to; after all, they are only 14-year old boys.
So I prayed over the first boy, then I prayed over the second boy.
Then I prayed over the third boy. After praying over him, he looked at me and said: Didn’t feel anything.
I was taken aback and felt a bit cheezed, so I retorted: Tsk, it takes a while lah!
He got no reply to that, and I thanked the Holy Spirit for shutting his gab!
So when Jesus first appeared to His disciples after the resurrection and breathed the Holy Spirit on them, I think that the disciples also did not feel anything. Just that they didn't dare say it.
But 50 days later, on Pentecost, something happened and things were never the same again.
Yes, it took a while, but when the Spirit moved the disciples, things got moving.
The Church took shape and started to grow.
But it was not an easy growth, because blood was shed and lives were lost.
But the Holy Spirit kept the Church moving and going.
There is this story of a daughter who complained to her father about how life was so difficult for her, with one difficulty after another, and her prayers were not answered.
Her father, who was a chef, took her to the kitchen.
He filled 3 pots with water and put them to boil.
In one, he put in carrots, in the second, he put in eggs and in the third he put coffee powder.
He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
The daughter wasn’t very amused and was getting impatient with her father.
After 10 minutes, the father turned off the fire and he took out the carrots and the eggs.
Then he ladled the coffee into a mug.
Then he asked his daughter: What do you see?
She replied: Carrots, eggs and coffee.
He asked her to feel the carrots and she did and said they were soft.
He then asked her to break an egg. After peeling off the shell, she observed that it was a hard boiled egg.
Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee and she tasted the rich aroma.
Then she asked her father what it all meant.
The father explained that each of them has faced the same adversity, boiling water, but each reacted differently.
The carrots were hard and strong, but in the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The eggs had been fragile, but after sitting through boiling water, its inside became hard.
The coffee powder was unique in that after they were in boiling water, they changed the water.
Finally, the father asked his daughter – So what are you? When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or coffee powder?
The point of this story is that do we let the world and all its adversities change us?
Do we get weakened and disillusioned like the carrot; or do we become hard and bitter like the egg?
Or do we change the world when faced with its adversities, like what the coffee powder did to the boiling water.
So the symbols of red-coloured vestments and tongues of fire still give very profound meanings for Pentecost.
Red is the colour of martyrdom. The blood of martyrs gives rise to the Church.
And the tongues of fire purifies the Church, and sanctifies the Church, in the face of adversity.
And the Holy Spirit continues to move in the Church.
Well back to the story of that 14 year old boy who said “Didn’t feel anything”.
Well, after the Confirmation camp, I nicknamed him “Mr. Didn’t Feel Anything” and I thought he was rather arrogant and cocky at that time.
He looked like he was going to end up on the sleazy side of life.
He in turned called me “Bro. Wait a While”.
But that was many years ago. Now he calls me “Fr. Wait a While”.
That “Mr. Didn’t Feel Anything ” has become someone doing something.
He is active in his parish community and he is a catechist teaching Confirmation class!
He has come a long way and I am sure that the Holy Spirit was moving him along the way.
And he did feel something, although it took a while.
Well, it may take a while for us too. We may have to wait a while.
But meanwhile, may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts and kindle in us the fire of God’s love.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C, 02-05-10
Acts 14:21b-27
Revelation 21:1-5a
John 13:31-33a, 34-35
For a start, I would like to ask you a few questions.
These are no trick questions; just general knowledge questions.
Also there is no need to shout out the answers because I know you won’t shout in church.
So here come the questions: Name the three wealthiest people in the world.
Name the last three people who have won the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Name the last three winners of the Oscar awards for best actor.
Name the last three winners of the Miss Universe pageant.
You may wonder, what is the point of asking these questions, when most of us can’t remember any of those names.
But that is the point. Most of us can’t remember much of who made it to the headlines of yesterday.
Well, those who made it to the headlines are certainly no second-class achievers.
They are indeed the best in their fields, the cream of the crop.
But the applause, no matter how loud and how prolonged, will fade.
And the awards will tarnish. And the achievements are slowly forgotten.
Yesterday’s headlines are stale news. They are yesterday’s papers, left in the corner and maybe even used to wrap doggy pooh.
Now here is another quiz. Let us see how we will do for this one.
Name three teachers who taught you in school.
Name three friends who helped you through a difficult time.
Name three persons who have encouraged you and affirmed you.
Name three persons whom you enjoy spending time with.
Now, was that easier? And why was it easier?
Well, from the two sets of questions we can realize one thing.
We realize that the people we remember most in our lives are not necessarily the ones with the most money, or the most credentials, or the most awards, or the ones who make it to the headlines.
Rather, the people we remember are the ones who care about us; they are the people who love us.
So in the final analysis, what really matters is who loved you, and who you loved.
In the gospel we hear of Jesus giving us a new commandment.
It is the commandment of love – just as Jesus have loved us, we are to love one another.
What Jesus gave us is a commandment; it is not a suggestion.
A commandment does not give us an option.
Rather it requires from us a decision.
And if we call ourselves Christians, then we have already made that decision.
To say that we are a Christian, and yet, not fulfill that love commandment, then that is a contradiction.
Yet within us there exists this contradiction of sinfulness and holiness.
Within us there is selfishness, and yet there is also selflessness.
So when we decide to love, that is a profound decision, because it comes out of a struggle from within.
A journalist was watching the late Mother Teresa attending to a man suffering from gangrene.
The sight and smell of the wounds were just too revolting for him and he said to Mother Teresa: I wouldn’t do that for a million dollars!
Mother Teresa replied: Neither would I do it for that amount of money. But for the love of God, I will do it.
Yes, love always demands the best out of us, and love brings out the best in us.
And love will also help us understand others, and love will help us see how they need to be loved.
Maybe let me tell you a pre-Mother’s Day joke, since next Sunday is Mother’s Day.
Four very successful brothers were sharing with each other what they gave to their mother, who lived far away in another city, for Mother’s Day.
The first said: I had a big house built for Mama.
The second said: I had a state-of-the-art theatre built in that house.
The third said: I had a limousine delivered to Mama.
The fourth said: You know how Mama loved reading the Bible, but her eyesight is failing. I came across this parrot which can recite any passage of the Bible.
Mama just had to name the chapter and the verse and the parrot will recite it.
That parrot costs $500 000, but I thought it was worth it and I had it sent to Mummy.
The other brothers were impressed.
After Mother’s Day, the brothers received thank you notes from their mother.
The first – Dear Milton, the house you built was so huge and I live in only one room but I had to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway.
The second – Dear Marvin, I am too old to drive. I stay home and have things delivered to me. I don’t use the limo. Thanks anyway.
The third – Dear Michael, you built for me an expensive theatre which can sit 50 people, but all my friends are dead. My hearing and my eyesight are failing, I won’t be using the theatre. But thanks anyway.
Finally, the last one – Dearest Melvin, you were the only son who had given a little thought to your gift. Thanks for the live chicken. I cooked it and it was delicious. Love you, mummy.
So, to be a person of love, we don’t have to be rich and famous, or great achievers and high-flyers.
We only need to have a heart which decides to love, and keep on loving to the end.
St Terese of Lisieux, the “little flower” has this wise saying for us: I do small things with great love.
Yes, small things like cooking a simple meal for our family members, helping those who call upon us. Spending time with those who need us.
Yes, to fulfill the commandment of love is simple.
We just have to do small things with great love.
And by that love for each other, others will know that we are disciples of Jesus.
And they will also remember how we showed love and that is, by doing small things with great love.
Revelation 21:1-5a
John 13:31-33a, 34-35
For a start, I would like to ask you a few questions.
These are no trick questions; just general knowledge questions.
Also there is no need to shout out the answers because I know you won’t shout in church.
So here come the questions: Name the three wealthiest people in the world.
Name the last three people who have won the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Name the last three winners of the Oscar awards for best actor.
Name the last three winners of the Miss Universe pageant.
You may wonder, what is the point of asking these questions, when most of us can’t remember any of those names.
But that is the point. Most of us can’t remember much of who made it to the headlines of yesterday.
Well, those who made it to the headlines are certainly no second-class achievers.
They are indeed the best in their fields, the cream of the crop.
But the applause, no matter how loud and how prolonged, will fade.
And the awards will tarnish. And the achievements are slowly forgotten.
Yesterday’s headlines are stale news. They are yesterday’s papers, left in the corner and maybe even used to wrap doggy pooh.
Now here is another quiz. Let us see how we will do for this one.
Name three teachers who taught you in school.
Name three friends who helped you through a difficult time.
Name three persons who have encouraged you and affirmed you.
Name three persons whom you enjoy spending time with.
Now, was that easier? And why was it easier?
Well, from the two sets of questions we can realize one thing.
We realize that the people we remember most in our lives are not necessarily the ones with the most money, or the most credentials, or the most awards, or the ones who make it to the headlines.
Rather, the people we remember are the ones who care about us; they are the people who love us.
So in the final analysis, what really matters is who loved you, and who you loved.
In the gospel we hear of Jesus giving us a new commandment.
It is the commandment of love – just as Jesus have loved us, we are to love one another.
What Jesus gave us is a commandment; it is not a suggestion.
A commandment does not give us an option.
Rather it requires from us a decision.
And if we call ourselves Christians, then we have already made that decision.
To say that we are a Christian, and yet, not fulfill that love commandment, then that is a contradiction.
Yet within us there exists this contradiction of sinfulness and holiness.
Within us there is selfishness, and yet there is also selflessness.
So when we decide to love, that is a profound decision, because it comes out of a struggle from within.
A journalist was watching the late Mother Teresa attending to a man suffering from gangrene.
The sight and smell of the wounds were just too revolting for him and he said to Mother Teresa: I wouldn’t do that for a million dollars!
Mother Teresa replied: Neither would I do it for that amount of money. But for the love of God, I will do it.
Yes, love always demands the best out of us, and love brings out the best in us.
And love will also help us understand others, and love will help us see how they need to be loved.
Maybe let me tell you a pre-Mother’s Day joke, since next Sunday is Mother’s Day.
Four very successful brothers were sharing with each other what they gave to their mother, who lived far away in another city, for Mother’s Day.
The first said: I had a big house built for Mama.
The second said: I had a state-of-the-art theatre built in that house.
The third said: I had a limousine delivered to Mama.
The fourth said: You know how Mama loved reading the Bible, but her eyesight is failing. I came across this parrot which can recite any passage of the Bible.
Mama just had to name the chapter and the verse and the parrot will recite it.
That parrot costs $500 000, but I thought it was worth it and I had it sent to Mummy.
The other brothers were impressed.
After Mother’s Day, the brothers received thank you notes from their mother.
The first – Dear Milton, the house you built was so huge and I live in only one room but I had to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway.
The second – Dear Marvin, I am too old to drive. I stay home and have things delivered to me. I don’t use the limo. Thanks anyway.
The third – Dear Michael, you built for me an expensive theatre which can sit 50 people, but all my friends are dead. My hearing and my eyesight are failing, I won’t be using the theatre. But thanks anyway.
Finally, the last one – Dearest Melvin, you were the only son who had given a little thought to your gift. Thanks for the live chicken. I cooked it and it was delicious. Love you, mummy.
So, to be a person of love, we don’t have to be rich and famous, or great achievers and high-flyers.
We only need to have a heart which decides to love, and keep on loving to the end.
St Terese of Lisieux, the “little flower” has this wise saying for us: I do small things with great love.
Yes, small things like cooking a simple meal for our family members, helping those who call upon us. Spending time with those who need us.
Yes, to fulfill the commandment of love is simple.
We just have to do small things with great love.
And by that love for each other, others will know that we are disciples of Jesus.
And they will also remember how we showed love and that is, by doing small things with great love.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
2nd Sunday of Easter / Divine Mercy Sunday, 11.04.10
Acts 5:12-16
Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
John 20:19-31
So we have crossed over from Lent to Easter, and we are already at the 2nd Sunday of Easter.
So Good Friday is over, we have had people being baptized at Easter, we are relieved that the period of fasting and penance and the Way of the Cross is over.
So now should be a time of rejoicing, a time of celebration, a time to take a deep breathe and to take it easy for a while.
So while we are in this rejoicing and celebrative mood, let me share with you an Easter joke, a so-called Easter joke.
A small boy came back home after a long day at school, and he told his mother that he was having a stomachache.
His mother said to him : Oh, that’s because you got nothing in your stomach. You got to put something in there. Go and have your dinner and you will be ok.
The small boy did that and true enough, his stomach was ok.
Now on Easter Sunday, the small boy went with his parents for the Sunday evening Mass.
After Mass, the small boy and his parents happened to meet the priest, and the priest said to them:
Whew! It was a long and busy weekend. I am having a headache now.
When the small boy heard this, he suddenly remembered, and he said to the priest:
Father, that’s because you got nothing in your head. You got to put something in there, ok.
Well, today’s gospel is not about the Sunday after Easter.
Rather it is still dwelling on the evening of Easter Sunday and the disciples were hiding behind locked doors.
There was nothing left in their minds and nothing in their guts, and they were having the greatest heartache of their lives because there was also nothing in their hearts.
For the disciples, it was a dark, a very dark Easter Sunday evening.
It was into this darkness and heartache that the Risen Christ came and offered them peace and joy.
And there was one more thing – Jesus showed them His hands and side, the wounds of His crucifixion, to show that He was also offering them healing.
Well, if I may say it, this particular Easter, is for the Catholic Church, a bit like that Easter evening for the disciples.
The celebration of Easter was dampened and marred by a certain darkness and heartache.
I would like to think that we have read about the reports of the scandals that have surfaced in Europe.
It is a horrible scandal. And to make matters worse, it involved the clergy, it involved priests.
The media is having a field day, whereas we are reeling from the shock waves.
So we know about it, we have read about it, and yet we don’t know what to think or what to say about it.
This has shocked us. The Catholics in Europe are shaken and shattered.
We don’t feel like talking about it, maybe because we don’t know how to talk about it.
Like the disciples on that Easter Sunday evening, we are just hanging on in the darkness and hanging on with a heartache.
Maybe I am just speaking for myself, but I sigh in pain and in shame.
I wonder how many will lose faith in the Church and even leave the Church. How many will even lose faith in God?
I also wonder what’s going to happen to the dignity of the priesthood, and what will people think of priests now?
And what about promotion of vocations?
I don’t dare think about these questions, and I don’t know what the answers will be like.
But today’s gospel gives us a glimmer of hope in the darkness.
Today’s gospel mentions that eight days later, Jesus came back, and He came back just for Thomas, to strengthen his faith.
In this time of distress and darkness, of pain and shame, let us stay united with each other and together let us wait for the Lord.
I wonder if you know about the story of a dog called Hachiko. By the way, Hachi in Japanese means eight.
Hachiko was an extraordinary dog.
Back in 1924 in Japan, its owner Ueno took it as a pet.
Everyday, Hachiko would accompany Ueno to the train station and see him off to work.
At the end of the day, Hachiko would wait at the station to greet Ueno as he comes back from work.
All went on happily until one day, when Ueno suffered a heart attack, and died at his workplace.
He never returned to the train station where Hachiko was waiting.
Yet everyday, Hachiko would wait at the train station for his master’s return.
And each day, he did not see his master among the commuters at the station.
Many of the commuters who frequented the train station had seen Hachiko and Ueno together.
When they heard of what had happened, they brought food for Hachiko to nourish him during his wait.
This went on for nine years, and the story became a national sensation.
Hachiko’s faithfulness to his master impressed the Japanese people, and his legendary faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty.
To date, two movies had been made about this true story of a dog’s loyalty.
Hachiko died on the steps outside the train station where he had waited for his master, on 8 March 1935.
For nine long years, Hachiko waited faithfully for his master, although it was a wait in vain.
In this troubled and distressful time of the Church, let us also understand the meaning of Easter in all this.
Christ died but He rose from the dead. He came back for His disciples. He even came back just for Thomas.
The Risen Christ will come back for us.
Today as we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, let us pray for God’s mercy on the Church and that Jesus will come into our hearts to strengthen us with His love.
Our wait will not be in vain. Like Hachiko, we will be loyal and we will wait in faith.
And blessed are we who do not lose faith, in God, and in the Church.
Revelation 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
John 20:19-31
So we have crossed over from Lent to Easter, and we are already at the 2nd Sunday of Easter.
So Good Friday is over, we have had people being baptized at Easter, we are relieved that the period of fasting and penance and the Way of the Cross is over.
So now should be a time of rejoicing, a time of celebration, a time to take a deep breathe and to take it easy for a while.
So while we are in this rejoicing and celebrative mood, let me share with you an Easter joke, a so-called Easter joke.
A small boy came back home after a long day at school, and he told his mother that he was having a stomachache.
His mother said to him : Oh, that’s because you got nothing in your stomach. You got to put something in there. Go and have your dinner and you will be ok.
The small boy did that and true enough, his stomach was ok.
Now on Easter Sunday, the small boy went with his parents for the Sunday evening Mass.
After Mass, the small boy and his parents happened to meet the priest, and the priest said to them:
Whew! It was a long and busy weekend. I am having a headache now.
When the small boy heard this, he suddenly remembered, and he said to the priest:
Father, that’s because you got nothing in your head. You got to put something in there, ok.
Well, today’s gospel is not about the Sunday after Easter.
Rather it is still dwelling on the evening of Easter Sunday and the disciples were hiding behind locked doors.
There was nothing left in their minds and nothing in their guts, and they were having the greatest heartache of their lives because there was also nothing in their hearts.
For the disciples, it was a dark, a very dark Easter Sunday evening.
It was into this darkness and heartache that the Risen Christ came and offered them peace and joy.
And there was one more thing – Jesus showed them His hands and side, the wounds of His crucifixion, to show that He was also offering them healing.
Well, if I may say it, this particular Easter, is for the Catholic Church, a bit like that Easter evening for the disciples.
The celebration of Easter was dampened and marred by a certain darkness and heartache.
I would like to think that we have read about the reports of the scandals that have surfaced in Europe.
It is a horrible scandal. And to make matters worse, it involved the clergy, it involved priests.
The media is having a field day, whereas we are reeling from the shock waves.
So we know about it, we have read about it, and yet we don’t know what to think or what to say about it.
This has shocked us. The Catholics in Europe are shaken and shattered.
We don’t feel like talking about it, maybe because we don’t know how to talk about it.
Like the disciples on that Easter Sunday evening, we are just hanging on in the darkness and hanging on with a heartache.
Maybe I am just speaking for myself, but I sigh in pain and in shame.
I wonder how many will lose faith in the Church and even leave the Church. How many will even lose faith in God?
I also wonder what’s going to happen to the dignity of the priesthood, and what will people think of priests now?
And what about promotion of vocations?
I don’t dare think about these questions, and I don’t know what the answers will be like.
But today’s gospel gives us a glimmer of hope in the darkness.
Today’s gospel mentions that eight days later, Jesus came back, and He came back just for Thomas, to strengthen his faith.
In this time of distress and darkness, of pain and shame, let us stay united with each other and together let us wait for the Lord.
I wonder if you know about the story of a dog called Hachiko. By the way, Hachi in Japanese means eight.
Hachiko was an extraordinary dog.
Back in 1924 in Japan, its owner Ueno took it as a pet.
Everyday, Hachiko would accompany Ueno to the train station and see him off to work.
At the end of the day, Hachiko would wait at the station to greet Ueno as he comes back from work.
All went on happily until one day, when Ueno suffered a heart attack, and died at his workplace.
He never returned to the train station where Hachiko was waiting.
Yet everyday, Hachiko would wait at the train station for his master’s return.
And each day, he did not see his master among the commuters at the station.
Many of the commuters who frequented the train station had seen Hachiko and Ueno together.
When they heard of what had happened, they brought food for Hachiko to nourish him during his wait.
This went on for nine years, and the story became a national sensation.
Hachiko’s faithfulness to his master impressed the Japanese people, and his legendary faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty.
To date, two movies had been made about this true story of a dog’s loyalty.
Hachiko died on the steps outside the train station where he had waited for his master, on 8 March 1935.
For nine long years, Hachiko waited faithfully for his master, although it was a wait in vain.
In this troubled and distressful time of the Church, let us also understand the meaning of Easter in all this.
Christ died but He rose from the dead. He came back for His disciples. He even came back just for Thomas.
The Risen Christ will come back for us.
Today as we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, let us pray for God’s mercy on the Church and that Jesus will come into our hearts to strengthen us with His love.
Our wait will not be in vain. Like Hachiko, we will be loyal and we will wait in faith.
And blessed are we who do not lose faith, in God, and in the Church.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Palm Sunday, Year C, 28-03-10
At the beginning of the Mass, we participated in the triumphant procession of Jesus into Jerusalem.
We joyfully waved the palm branches to welcome the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
And just as quickly as the weather changes, we witness another procession, this time a procession out of Jerusalem, a procession towards execution.
And this time, the palm branches are as lifeless as dead leaves.
Yet these palm branches which we will bring home are a reminder that whether in celebration or in tribulation, we must be with Jesus, our Lord.
We must stay with Jesus especially in His trials and suffering.
The gospel portrayed Jesus as being tested.
From His sweating of blood to His being betrayed and abandoned by His disciples, to His being interrogated, to His crucifixion, Jesus was tested.
He was tested but He persisted. He was abandoned but He was not broken.
In fact He could even tell the repentant thief: Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.
So as we bring home these palm branches, let us also walk with Jesus in His triumphant procession into Jerusalem, and stay close to Him in the procession towards execution which will unfold before us.
Because we too will be tested. We too will face our agonies, our betrayals, our pains, our loneliness and our sufferings.
Yet we are also reminded that our sufferings in the world are nothing compared to the glory that is waiting for us in eternity.
In the meantime, let us keep in mind these words of Jesus to the repentant thief.
Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.
It is a King’s promise, it’s a Saviour’s promise. It is God’s promise.
We joyfully waved the palm branches to welcome the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
And just as quickly as the weather changes, we witness another procession, this time a procession out of Jerusalem, a procession towards execution.
And this time, the palm branches are as lifeless as dead leaves.
Yet these palm branches which we will bring home are a reminder that whether in celebration or in tribulation, we must be with Jesus, our Lord.
We must stay with Jesus especially in His trials and suffering.
The gospel portrayed Jesus as being tested.
From His sweating of blood to His being betrayed and abandoned by His disciples, to His being interrogated, to His crucifixion, Jesus was tested.
He was tested but He persisted. He was abandoned but He was not broken.
In fact He could even tell the repentant thief: Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.
So as we bring home these palm branches, let us also walk with Jesus in His triumphant procession into Jerusalem, and stay close to Him in the procession towards execution which will unfold before us.
Because we too will be tested. We too will face our agonies, our betrayals, our pains, our loneliness and our sufferings.
Yet we are also reminded that our sufferings in the world are nothing compared to the glory that is waiting for us in eternity.
In the meantime, let us keep in mind these words of Jesus to the repentant thief.
Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.
It is a King’s promise, it’s a Saviour’s promise. It is God’s promise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)