The Power of Love

Happy and blessed Easter to all of you!!! Today's topic is the Power of Love. What kind of love will I be discussing? What did the Archbishop say during his homily on Easter Vigil? Well, the love I'll be discussing is the scandalous love of Jesus for mankind. The kind of love that brought Him death, and death is not enough, but death on the cross. That's the most shameful way to die during the Roman empire.

Look at this image I found via Google search. The caption is "If you get wet, you'll get sick." I guess the Lord knows this much better than any of us, especially the getting wet, getting sick part. He chose to come down and live as man on earth. He knew of His mission of being on earth, living and preaching and dying. He knows He will suffer this death in order to grant us mercy. Knowing He'll go through all these, He still came. Knowing He'll be executed by dying on the cross, He still stayed at where He was, asking God to take the chalice away from Him. When God did not answer Him, Jesus stayed to face the death. How courageous is our Lord!!!

By His death, we receive life. By His grace, we receive love. Bishop, in his homily, started with a question: "What is the core value of our faith? What do we believe in?" Simple words, we believe in the power of love, and that's what the whole Triduum we had celebrated last week is all about -- Jesus' love that conquers sin and death.

In life, we often stop and ponder the same question: What's my eyes searching for? Where will my journey lead me to? What am I doing on earth? And Bishop's explanation is that people (everybody, including those we read in New Testament) is constantly searching for something. The Samaritan woman? The lame man at the pool? They are looking for something, but nothing can fill up that thirst they have, because that thirst is the thirst for the love of God. In the first reading last night from Genesis, man was created in the image of God, thus man will always thirst for God's love. Nothing can satisfy that thirst until we come to search for God. A quote from St. Augustine speaks of this: "Our hearts are made for you, O God, and they shall never rest until they rest in You." Bishop said that although we're constantly seeking for God, God is also searching for us in order to give us His love. He is also making that journey to seek us to offer us the love. The act of Jesus dying on the cross for mankind shows that God goes all out to give us the love.

One thing that made me pondered after mass was about our baptism. I wasn't baptised on Easter Vigil that time, but when Bishop directed the points specially for those who will be baptised, I felt touched by the hands of God. He mentioned that when we're baptised, the transformation occurs so that we can be changed and be the children of God. He specifically mentioned about the reading from the gospel of St. Mark about the resurrection of Christ. When the women went to the tomb, they did not find Jesus. Instead, they found a young man dressed in white robe sitting on the stone. He told the women to pass the message to the disciples so that they will go to Galilee, where Jesus will be there to wait for them. This event happened on the first day of the week, and Jesus has resurrected on that day. Thus, in our modernised concept, what I would summarise of Bishop's statement is that the beginning of new life for those who believe in Christ is the day after baptism where we're raised from the death with Jesus.

The second point of the Gospel passage was about the young man in white robe. Remember a young man who was following Jesus after He was arrested by the guards? The man who ran away naked when the guards seized him? This was the same young man dressed in white robe at the entrance of the tomb. This young man came back. So, the question is this: WHO IS HE? Bishop's explanation is that this young man is the newly baptised Christians. Before baptised, we run away from Jesus (just like how the young man ran away from Jesus) but now he's back and he believes in Christ. He has a message for all his disciples to meet Jesus in Galillee. The Lord had ever said that He will gather His disciples in Galillee and the mission to spread the good news started there. And so, us, as baptised Christians, we have already encountered Jesus and be transformed. And if we have been transformed, then we must begin to preach and bring this message to others.

We will have the faith if we have experience the love of God. How do we express our faith to God? My first thought when Bishop asked was "trust in God". But when he gave the answer, I begin to realize that I do experience what he said. Bishop said "GRATITUDE" has to be experienced if we want to know if we have that faith. All the love of God, after we experience it, will generate a feeling of thankfulness. And if we, at that point of time, have yet to feel thankful, we must then pray for transformation to change our heart of stone into heart of flesh. He cited the example of St. Paul (Saul of Tarsus) and how he had written about his gratitude to God when he felt like giving up. God said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weaknesses..." (2 Corinthians 12:9) Indeed, it was because of that grace of God towards Paul that we have so many wise epistles and letters written by the intelligent apostle St. Paul.

Am I still making sense after such a long post, my dears? Last point of reflection whenever we renew our baptismal vows as a renewal of our faith is this: Are we at the tomb dressed in white robe? Are we thankful to God or not?

I am glad, I am thankful. Though I'm not perfect and never will be, I'm thankful He is with me.

Happy Easter once again. God bless.

Thy Will Be Done

How many-a-times we prayed "Thy will be done" and then fret over a matter that we've been praying? Me... Countless times!! How many times we complain how we're suffering? Many of us have at least one account to tell about how life made him/her suffer, but have we ever looked into the suffering of Christ before telling our sufferings? I've done many of the above mentioned, except looking deeply into the sufferings He bore for me.

During the Good Friday's homily, Archbishop John Lee was our celebrant and he shared deeply about Christ's suffering for us. All the three readings for Good Friday (Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9; John 18:1 - 19:42) spoke about how Jesus suffered for our sins. A question Bishop posted to us was this: Have you ever look at the face of Jesus? What kind of face that Jesus has in your life?

He mentioned that this face of Jesus during Good Friday is a face full of spittle, full of wounds, full of blood, crowned with thorns. He suffered so much because of our sins. Are we touched by Jesus for the sorrows of our sins? Lenten season is a season of conversion... "Have I come back? Am I touched? Are we opened for conversion? Are we coming back?" This is the day for us all to experience the saving power of God and we have to respond to the grace so that our sins will be wiped away. During veneration of the cross, we have to remember the sinful person we are and that's the cross Jesus bore for us. So if we embrace the cross, we'll be saved.

The highlight for me came at the point where Bishop touched on the issue of suffering and our attitude towards suffering. We should look at the faith that Jesus has during suffering. He did not give up even when He did not receive the answer from God when He cried out to God in the garden of Gethsamane, on the cross. He still responded with "Thy will be done", which is a total submission into the hands of His Father. All of us have sufferings even when we don't want it. We have pain, sicknesses, problems in family, etc. Many of the sufferings come from sins, but some are just there. Even when there's no answer from God, we have to look at what did Jesus do at the garden of Gethsamane and at the cross. If Jesus had waited for an answer from God and did not submit, there wouldn't be salvation in the history. Sometimes, we do whatever we can, but in the end, we have to say "Thy will be done" and that's when salvation comes. Truly, Bishop answered my question about how we should face sufferings in life...

Besides that, we must die because as stated in the bible, "Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." (John 12:24). It reminds me of somebody who ever told me about the parable of "The Seed". However, in this context, what I can understand is that the price of transformation is a total giving up of self to God and then only salvation comes and sweeps us off our feet.

Another part of Bishop's homily which made me pondered at that moment was when he mentioned about St. John's narration of the Passion in the Gospel of John. The phrase used by Bishop that really made me interested to continue listening was, "In St. John's gospel, by that passion of Jesus, He has the whole control over the whole economy of salvation and He showed His Majesty." (or something like that...) The economy of salvation... I hope I didn't get it wrongly, so people, if you were in SHC listening to Bishop's homily, correct me if it's wrong. He mentioned that St. John never narrated anything to see that Jesus isn't under control. St. John never mentioned about Jesus keeping silence, or supportive women... etc. But he mentioned about what Pilate written of Jesus' charge - "JESUS, THE NAZARENE, KING OF THE JEWS". It also showed the control of Jesus over the situation by stating that when Jesus has seen that all is done according the the scriptures, He said to the Father, "Into Your hands I comment my spirit. It is accomplished." Because all is done, thus the salvation through Jesus is completed. Jesus also gave Mary to John as his mother, and John to Mary as her son. It is, in fact, the first sign of community.

So, us, created in the image of God, should look at Jesus and ask Him to show His face to us. Besides that, we have to be grateful to the Lord and ask to be transformed to the way of God through the cross...

This is not all of what Bishop had mentioned during his homily, just bits and parcel of it. Especially parts that struck me hard. As I walked to the cross during veneration, I couldn't help but wonder what kind of man is this who had the strength to carry all the sins of the world. Imagine myself committing a sin, I'd have felt that tonnes of burdens on my shoulder already. How could this man carry the sins of the whole world, my sins in my entire life? But because Jesus is man and God, and His willingness to carry them for us all, He did it. And salvation was completed. The prophecy of old is fulfilled. Amen to the scandalous love of Christ! Amen to the salvation of mankind! Amen to our Lord who submitted and called out "Thy will be done!"

Lost & Found

What really struck me during Archbishop John Lee's homily last night during Holy Thursday mass was Jesus instituted the Eucharist before He died because He can continue to be with us through the Eucharist.

Besides that, here are some other points I managed to jot down last night:

• When we eat His body and drink His blood, we're in Jesus Christ. The church is the body of Christ, thus if we commit sins, we're kicked out of the body.
• Breaking the commandments of God is equivalent to breaking the relationship in the community.
• Yesterday's readings were taken from Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Bishop brought us to an understanding how these two readings are closely related. The reading of Exodus was about how the Lord instructed the Hebrews to prepare for the Passover meal prior to their flee from Egypt, while the reading by St. Paul to the Corinthians was about the institution of the Eucharist by Jesus Christ on Holy Thursday. The lamb in OT (Old Testament) was a symbol of Jesus, the Lamb that was killed in the NT (New Testament). The blood put on the doorpost & lintel in OT was the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross in NT. The people fleeing from Egypt when they were liberated was exactly how we are being set free from sins by Jesus who died on the cross.

• There was a prayer mentioned by Bishop that is to be said during Holy Week. After Google-ing I found that prayer in a Holy Week daily lent prayer website under the general intercession part. Here's how the prayer goes:

Let us pray to Christ our Saviour, who redeemed us by his death and resurrection:
Lord, have mercy on us.

You went up to Jerusalem to suffer and so enter into your glory,
- bring your Church to the Passover feast of heaven.
You were lifted high on the cross and pierced by the soldier's lance,
- heal our wounds.
You made the cross the tree of life,
- give its fruit to those reborn in baptism.
On the cross you forgave the repentant thief,
- forgive our sins.

• Bishop mentioned that by His death on the cross, we receive life. By the celebration of the Eucharist, He transformed the Passover into His own passover, which is the New Covenant.
• Another point worth mentioning which struck me was the reading from Gospel of St. John. The account of the Washing of Feet by Jesus. St. John focused on the washing of feet prior to the institution of the Eucharist. What Bishop mentioned was that the washing of feet is the real meaning of the Eucharist - the service towards one another which Jesus stressed so strongly at the washing of feet. So the consequence of receiving Jesus Christ through the Eucharist is service to others. Without the service, our Eucharist is without meaning at all. Thus, the love for one another is part of the communion. If we do not serve, we miss the meaning of the Eucharist.
• Bishop also mentioned that the Apostles had understood the meaning of the Eucharist wholly when Jesus instituted the Eucharist on the night before His death via their actions as found in the Acts of the Apostles to the early Christians. In chapters 3, 4 and 5 all accounted how the Apostles and the early Christians had lived a lifestyle of sharing and caring. Besides that, they served the people by healing the sick, giving to the poor and the needy. If the early Christians had followed the commandment of Jesus, so must we.

One thing that would relate the images together with Bishop's homily is this: the movie I watched (an old movie from 90's, starred by Kelly Chen & Takeshi Kaneshiro) is about people being lost in the world, seeking and searching for lost hope, while the other is a picture of a guy with a travelling backpack sitting on a bench with Jesus. Through Jesus, hope is found, love is gained. Through Jesus, the lost will be guided back to the right path and be found in communion with God.

One of my students told me that a non-Christian will know that we're Christians by our acts, not our words. The acts and lifestyle of a Christian will clearly proclaim the name of Jesus loud and clear, by portraying the compassion and love of Jesus to His people. So, in the midst of our fast & abstinence, let's reflect upon our lives, whether we have been seeking Jesus and following this path of compassion of Jesus towards the people around us. I know I'm still far behind track, but I also know I'm still on the right track now.

Thank You Jesus for Your love to the cross for us and our sins. Amen.

Just Some Thoughts Here and There on a Warm Afternoon in KK

It's the 5th Sunday of Lent, the Sunday before Palm Sunday next week. Last week of Lenten season before entering the climax before the Resurrection of the Lord on Easter. I'm not a holy moly person, I'm just a sinner, not once, but repetitive sinner. Might have some Pharisee and scribe in me too. And lots of uncertainties and self-pity many times. Just a sinner wanting to be certain, be it in real world or spiritually. In Christ is where I find peace most of the time, but I still search for comfort in human relationships. Am I not renewed at this point because of this? Being a people person (an obvious excuse), I have tendency to be needy. I need Salvation from this God of mine who shepherds people out of valley of darkness. Though I had attended Novena and Sunset Mass yesterday, I attended mass again this morning when I saw that the celebrant was Archbishop John Lee. Just couldn't help it.

My heart was torn by coldness and bitterness since yesterday evening due to unforeseen circumstances and I needed that Spirit of the Living God to mend it.

Ok, the few points I can remember are as below:

1. Let the Lord dig your graves
2. Dying to sins, to self during Lent in order to be resurrected at Easter
   
3. Don't hold on to things.
4. It is ok to tell a dying person "It's ok to die" because that is the moment of meeting God face to face, but the person must be prepared spiritually to meet Him.
   
5. Jesus allows Lazarus time to let go of things that he holds on to and die, then after Jesus went to resurrect him so that God's name be glorified.
6. We need community (in the gospel - the Jews) to unbind and free us (Re: John 11:44).
   

FYI, I'm not good with audio, tend to forget very easily. There were many striking points, but so far I can only recall these. Those who read my blog and happened to be there at mass, feel free to add up the points. I'm learning to be who I am in Christ, and not the speculation of others or trying to do what others think I should do. I'm also learning not to judge those who are concerned over my decisions and place opinions about it then being slightly-off-the-warmth with me because of my decisions. Because I asked, "Why do they want to speculate and discuss on messenger about what choices I made and yet choose not to reach out to me because they find me unreachable?" thus I had judged. Now I have to re-learn to not be affected and become upset with their speculation because it all comes from the core that they care but they don't know how to care.

"Jesus said: I am the resurrection. Anyone who believes in me, even though that person dies, will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."
~ John 11: 25-26 ~

The Gift of Self

Today is Epiphany - the day when the three wisemen from the east paid homage to little Baby Jesus in the manger. As usual, I was busy jotting down the points of homily during mass this morning. I was filled with joy when I knew that the mass was to be celebrated by Archbishop John Lee. I'm always in awe with his homilies, knowing that it is a call to grow deeper with God. Last time I used to dread his homilies... Now I'm always anticipating his homilies... I guess the biggest impact Bishop had made in my life was the sermon he gave somewhere in July. I remember his question was simple, yet so difficult to answer - "What do you bring to offer to Jesus at mass every time you attend mass?" His explanation was exactly how the song "So You Would Come" by Hillsong is... "Come to the Father, though your gift is small, broken hearts, broken lives, He will take them all..." All we need to bring to Jesus everytime we attend mass is ourselves, our desperations, our disappointments, our joys, our happiness, our sorrows... Everything in our lives is what Jesus wants from us... Yeah, from that day onwards, I knew my life changed. Well, at least my perspective towards Mass changed.

Today, the call is to recognize and follow Jesus. The readings for Epiphany are Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 6:1-12. You can click here for the readings... One part of Bishop's homily that struck me most was about the gospel reading of today... Here's a rough idea of the whole part...

... Many times we talk about ourselves attending pilgrimages. How many times did we also tell others about the quarrels, fights, criticisms, etc. right after the pilgrimages? Like us, the wise men from the East who went on a pilgrimage to find the little baby also have problems on their journey, yet they choose and try to see the signs and follow the star. When they entered the city of Jerusalem, the star disappeared. Being at loss, they went to Herod for help. Apparently, King Herod wasn't really the right person for help, because he didn't know much. At the same time, what Herod did when he heard about the birth of the new King of Jerusalem was to refer to the scribes who were the experts in scriptures. Based on the word of prophets, they predicted that the little Babe will be born in Bethlehem. Thus, the wise men followed the Word, left Jerusalem. Once they left the city, they saw the star again, and they were filled with great joy. When they met with the Baby, they fell down and worship Him. Only God will be worshiped in such a way. Besides that, the wise men gave him everything they have - frankincense, gold and myrrh. After paying homage, they went back to their countries using a different road after being warned not to return to Herod in a dream...

As Bishop continued... He disclosed that the lives of the three wise men were changed. In our current times, as he put it, "when we encountered God, our whole life is transformed and we don't go back to the old life again". We're on that journey, through Christmas, the feast of Holy Family, and now Epiphany... We pray that we can recognize Him and offer ourselves to Him.

Bishop's call to us was this: "Do I have anything to offer to Jesus today?"

He concluded that we should let go of our whole life to Jesus so that we can live in Him and Him in us...

I guess what really struck me hard was that our lives (the wise men) will be transformed after encountering Jesus (paying homage to Baby Jesus in the manger) and thus we should never return to our old self (returning to Herod) but to take a new route back to our home (alternative route back to their home country). It is very symbolic to me, the whole gospel reading, after listening to what Bishop said during homily. In fact, there are so much more in the homily which struck me, but this is what I would like to share with others at this moment. My life is no longer mine, but it is Christ who lives in me and I in Him... I think it is a verse written by St. Paul... It is really true to me now~

So, do you have anything to offer to Jesus today?

Thank and praise God, whose hands are in my life. Amen!