Metamorphosis

Ever heard of the word "metamorphosis"? This is the definition given by TheFreeDictionary:

met·a·mor·pho·sis

n. pl. met·a·mor·pho·ses

1. A transformation, as by magic or sorcery.

2. A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function.

3. Biology A change in the form and often habits of an animal during normal development after the embryonic stage. Metamorphosis includes, in insects, the transformation of a maggot into an adult fly and a caterpillar into a butterfly and, in amphibians, the changing of a tadpole into a frog.

4. Pathology A usually degenerative change in the structure of a particular body tissue.

Do you think that as human beings, we also go through metamorphosis? I think we do, in one way or another... Definition-wise, when human beings undergo metamorphosis, we'll be categorized under the second definition, which a marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function... Maybe some of you, my dear readers, often undergo metamorphosis, like a chameleon... But for many, it is tough to change something which has been in them, with them, like FOREVER~

I know it is hard for me to change an attitude that had been with me forever, but I know I gotta try this time... To wake up and emerge from the cocoon as a butterfly in springtime. I was a caterpillar, ugly and full of furry, itching hairs to protect myself. Now, I'm inside the cocoon, a season for change... I can't stay in a cocoon forever, and I can't revert back to the caterpillar stage. I'm IN it for the transformation...

And I hope you out there also are IN for a season of metamorphosis.

A bible verse that I'd like to share with you about metamorphosis is from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans:

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God -- what is good and acceptable and perfect."
~ Romans 12:2 ~

God bless and have a wonderful day at work (for many of you, including me!) or in school!

Sunrise in 2 hours

Yeah, in another 2 hours plus KK will see sunrise again. Will there be rainbow later? Oh shucks! I have a course on Pentaksiran PEKA BIO to attend in KWSP. Dang! Time to turn in.

Alright, I'm having muscle aches all over. Blame it on the silly weather and the boredom this weekend. But I'm happier now, since I had entertained my cravings for JUNKS - ate large KFC mashed potato (plus a dash of mixed herbs) for late dinner and a few OREOs for late night supper. Sugar rush! LOL!

I'm glad my blog is finally transformed after a year of the same template... Please do give opinions on what to improve. Less widgets, faster loading I supposed... Geez... I still miss my Feedjit world map!!! -_-

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!"