The Risen Hope

Alleluia! Jesus is risen! Yes, Christ rise from the death to show that He is God, to show that He is the one that send from the father to redeemed our sins. No tomb in the world could contain the Lord Jesus for long. His death on the cross purchased our redemption and his triumph over the grave on Easter morning defeated death. So, what preserved the Lord Jesus from corruption? He was kept from decay and he rose from the dead by divine power. ''My flesh will dwell in hope. For you will not let your Holy One see corruption. (Psalm 16:9-10)

The mystery of Christ's lying in the tomb on the Sabbath reveals the great Sabbath rest of God after the fulfillment of our salvation which brings PEACE to the whole world (Colossians 1:18-20).  Is your hope in this life only? Or is it well founded in the resurrection of Christ and his promise that those who believe in him will live forever?

From my passed two passage, I was sharing on the topic of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Let rewind ourselves back a bit and see. On Holy Thursday, we celebrated Jesus' gift Himself to us in the Holy Communion. Then comes to Good Friday, is just merely a service in the church, but had no mass. We (Catholics) still receive Holy Communion on Good Friday because it does not break our fast on that day. Holy Saturday, we have neither mass or Holy Communion. During the day, we can't even go to church and visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament does not reside in the sanctuary of the church. The Church deprives us of Jesus' Eucharistic presence on Holy Saturday to help us experience the day Jesus was buried, when Jesus' physical presence was no longer on earth. After experiencing deprivation from the burial of Jesus' Eucharistic presence, we almost scream with joy when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil.

Now, what did the disciples of Jesus discover on the third day of Jesus' death? On Sunday morning the women who had stood with Jesus when he died upon the cross on Good Friday went to the tomb to pay their last tribute to a dead body.  The disciples thought that everything had finished in tragedy. None of the Jesus' follower expecting to see an empty tomb and hear the angel's message that saying 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise. (Luke 24: 5-7). The angel urged them to believe that Jesus had indeed risen just as he had promise.

Are you prepared to meet the Risen Lord? The disciples of Jesus were as unprepared for his resurrection as they were for his death. The empty tomb made them fearful and joyful at the same time. 'Where did they put the body or did he really rise just as he predicted?' Even though Jesus had spoken to them before of his death and rising, they could not believe until they saw the empty tomb and met the risen Lord. Aren't we are the same? We want to see with out own eyes before we believe! The guards brought their testimony to the chief priests and elders who met the news with denial. They were resolved to not believe that Jesus had risen and they bribed the guards in the hope of keeping others from believing it.

What is the basic of our faith in the resurrection? The scriptures tell us that ''Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen' (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to us. Our faith is a free assent to the whole truth which God reveals to us through his word. Faith is certain because it is based on the very word of God who cannot lie. Faith also seeks understanding. That is why God enlightens the 'eyes of our hearts' that we may know what is the hope to which he has called us (Ephesians 1:18)

Through the gift of faith, the Lord reveals himself to those who believe in his word and he fills them with 'new life in his Holy Spirit''. Do you live in the joy and hope of the resurrection? And do you recognize the presence of the Risen Lord in his word, in the 'breaking of the bread', and in his church, the body of Christ?

In Matthew's Gospel, the first commands Jesus gives to the first people who saw Him after His resurrection are: 'Do not be afraid! Go and carry the news' of my resurrection. (Mt.28:10). Now, Jesus speaks to the world through the witnesses He has chosen (Acts 10:41). The risen Lord backs up His witnesses with power and authority (Lk 10:16). When people don't believe us, His witnesses, Jesus gets upset (Mk 16:14).

The duty of a witness is simple. A witness simply testified to what they have 'heard and seen' (Acts 4:20). The only issue for a witness is whether or not they will speak. Organized crime gets a lot of mileage out of silencing witnesses through fear of death, and so do enemies of Jesus. But, Jesus tells us: Do not be afraid!' (Mt 28:10). Jesus has the ultimate 'witness protection' program. He will be our refuge. He has triumphed over death! Fear and death have 'no more power over' Jesus and His witnesses. (Rm 6:9)

Jesus tells us: 'You are to be My witnesses' (Acts 1:8). 'Do not be afraid. Go on speaking and do not be silenced'. (Acts 18:9). 'Go and carry the news' (Mt 28:10) that Jesus is risen from the dead and all who believe in Him have eternal life (Jn 3:16).

Power of Your Love

Today, Friday! This is not an ordinary Friday that use to be throughout the year. Today is a very special day where Christ willingly enter into his passion, and die on the cross for us. The reason of Christ doing this is simple, because He loves us so much that he die for our sins so the way to heaven can be open to all of us.

The word 'LOVE' with four simple alphabet, sound so simple in life. In reality, that will not be easy for people to act upon it. In a relationship, often we hear the couple saying"How much do you love me?'' One of them might answer' My love for you is just like the height of a mountain'. But in the real sense, how many of us, for the sake of our beloved one, willing to die for them?

Now, Jesus willing to do that for us, because of His Love for us. Despite our sinfulness and wickedness, His love for us will never cease. He wants to bring Salvation for us so they we may reunited with Him in His Heavenly kingdom. The cross brings us face to face with Jesus suffering. And his death was agonizing and and humiliating.

Normally a crucified man could last for several days on a cross. Jesus' had already been scourged, beaten with rods, and a crown of thorns pressed into his skull. It is no wonder that he died mid-afternoon. Jesus was crucified for his claim to be king. The Jews had understood that the Messiah would come as king to establish God's reign for them. They wanted a king who would free them from tyranny and foreign domination. Many had high hopes that Jesus would be the Messianic King. Little did they understand what kind of kingship Jesus claimed to have. Jesus came to conquer hearts and souls for an imperishable kingdom, rather than to conquer perishable lands and entitlements.

We can find no greater proof of God's love for us that the willing sacrifice of his son on the cross. Jesus' parting words, "It is finished " express triumph rather than defeat. Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit knowing that the strife was now over and the battle was won. Even on the cross, Jesus knew the joy of victory. What the Father sent him into the world to do has now been accomplished. Christ offered himself and without blemish to God and he put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (See Hebrews 9:24-26)

St.Augustine comments on those who stood at the cross of Jesus: 'As they were looking on, so we too gaze on his wounds as he hangs. We see his blood as he dies. We see the price offered by the redeemer, touch the scars of his resurrection. He bows his head, as if to kiss you. His heart is made bare open, as it were, in love to you. His arms are extended that he may embrace you. His whole body is displayed for your redemption. Ponder how great these things are. Let all this be rightly weighed in your mind: as He was once fixed on the cross in every part of his body for you, so he may now be fixed in every part of your soul.

In the cross of Christ, we see the triumph of Jesus over his enemies, sin, Satan, and death. The cross of Christ is the safe guard of our faith, the assurance of our hope, and the throne of love. It is also the sign of God's mercy and the proof of forgiveness. By his cross, Jesus Christ has pardoned us and set us free from the tyranny of sin. He paid the price for us when he made atonement for our sins.

The way to peace, joy, and righteousness in the kingdom of God and the way to victory over sin and corruption, fear and defeat, despair and death is through the cross of Jesus Christ. Now, do you follow the Lord Jesus in his way of the cross with joy, hope and confidence? 

Humility and Serve

I am touched with my friend's expression where her eyes with tears that is almost flowing out, when she saw the washing of the feet by the priest at the Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) Mass. She can feel the humility in Christ himself, and the love for His people.

As we can see from the picture, Jesus as a son of God humbled himself and washed the feet of his apostle. We can see humility and the love of God for his people. God teaches us to love our neighbours and serve one another. Just in case you might be wondering what does it mean by serving one another. Christ himself teaches us what is Love, therefore we must love our neighbours just as we love Him. We can often pray for your family members, friends or relatives who are in need of it as a sign of love for your neighbours.

As God, He didn't count himself equality as God. He serve His people with love and passion and die on the cross for their sins. As God, He need not have to wash his apostle's feet, perhaps the feet might be smelly or have some diseases on it. But, God teaches us to be humble and serve one another with LOVE. Often, all these have been covered since the day we start to let pride to lead us in our life.

In this modern society, we often control by status and pride that become our mission or motto in our lives, and always forget the teaching of Christ. God command us to serve one another with love and great passion. He said: I give you a new commandment: 'Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another'. (John 13:34)

Sometimes we can see some people might try to achieve something with the expense of others. They do not really care about other people feelings. They just concern about their own achievement without concerning about their surrounding factors.They don't really care what people's feeling. Often in their mind, they might say 'Who cares, is none of my business'.

So, today God call us to love your neighbours, just as His love for us. Let us put down our pride who often destroy the morale of the people in this society, and humbly serve one another with great passion and love.

Pre-Photo's Shooting

The day that where we snap our graduation photo's

We have been together for three years...

Many hurdle and difficulties we have faced throughout these three years ...

This is the day where we snapped our pictures before the actual day of our graduation. 

Pictures speak a thousand word.

Let all the memories that we have gone through stay in our mind forever.

We do not know the day that we will meet again.

We just have to keep in touch with each others !

The best wishes :)

 

Come all you Sinners

Sin, that make us break away from God. Literally, sin damage our relationship with God. Yesterday, Gospel reading (John 8:1-11) tell us about the woman who was caught in adultery. This incident tells us a great deal about Jesus attitude to the sinner. The scribes and Pharisees wanted to entrap Jesus with the religious and civil authorities. That is why they brought a woman caught in adultery before Jesus. Jesus turned the challenge toward his accusers. In effect he said : Go ahead and stone her! But let the man who is without sin be the first to cast a stone. The Lord leaves the matter to their own consciences. When the adulterous woman is left alone with Jesus, he both expresses mercy and he strongly exhorts her to not sin again. The scribes wishes to condemn, Jesus wishes to forgive and to restore the sinner to health. His challenge involved a choice either go back to your former way of sin or death or to reach out to the new way of life and happiness with Him. Jesus gave her pardon and a new start on life. Gods grace enables us to confront our sin of what it is unfaithfulness to God, and to thankful spirit of Gods mercy and forgiveness. Do you know the the joy of repentance and a clean conscience?

Gospel Reading (John 8:1-11)

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple; all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them.

3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst

4 they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.

5 Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?"

6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her."

8 And once more he bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

9 But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

10 Jesus looked up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again."

Tradition holds that the woman was Mary Magdalene. Tradition also holds that Mary Magdalene became a close follower of the Lord and that this was the Mary who was the first to experience the Resurrection. She was also the first, in a long line of sinners, to come before the Lord in guilt and in shame, feeling the weight of sin, knowing that punishment was deserved, yet hoping to receive a share in His compassion. 

Throughout this season of Lent, there are many who will approach the Sacrament of Penance during these remaining days of lent. Some comes to church regularly, lead a good christian lives, but recognize that they are full of little sins, venial sins, that are holding them back. Others might have been away from the Lord for a long time. Full of guilt, full of shame, they seek restoration. They seek redemption. ALL ARE WELCOMED BACK. All receive the compassion of the Lord. All are told, 'Neither do I condemn you, Go now and sin no more'. Imagine now, Christ is calling us. Christ is calling us to go back to His holy church. 

Let us refer back to the gospel reading. The women who was caught in adultery. Let us put ourselves in her situation. She also must have been ashamed. People were laughing at her. They treated her like dirt. Perhaps she herself thought she was dirt. If they didn't kill her, what type of life would she have left. Who would marry her? Who would give her a place to stay? Who would have mercy on her? She might as well die.

The better-than-thous of her society, shouted that she had to die. The Law of Moses demanded it. What would this Jesus say about that? They were certain that they had him. His hands were tied. This, the Kindest Man to ever live, would have to oppose the Law or agree that she should die.

And through the clamour, she looked up, and saw the Lord looking at her. Compassion for her flowed through him. Nobody cared about her before. The man or men who used her sexually, didn't care that she was going to die, The leaders of the people didn't care about her. Her own family probably disowned her. But Jesus CARED! Then there was a silence. He knelt down and began writing on the ground. Silence. The silence must have been overpowering,. Finally he spoke. 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone'. And the sheer dynamism of this voice, the kindness and compassion of his voice, forced her accusers to return to the holes from which they had climbed out.  Certainly these men were going to kill her. Women have been killed for far less. Even in our modern times, women are treated throughout the world as chattel, their lives completely dependent on the will of their fathers, brothers, or husbands. Horrible things continue to happen to women in the name of religion.

Now, look at the way that our Lord's answer upheld justice without forgoing clemency. He was not caught in the snare his enemies had laid for him; it is they themselves who were caught in. He didn't say the women should not be stoned, for then it would look as though he were opposing the law. But he had no intention of saying 'let her be stoned', because he came not to destroy those he found but to seek those who were lost. 

What is this Lord? Are you giving approval to immorality? Not at all! Take note of what follows: 'Go and sin no more'. You see that the Lord indeed pass sentence, but it is sin He condemns, not people. 

One who approved of immorality would have said; 'Neither will I condemn you. Go and live as you please; you can be sure that I will acquit you. However, how much you sin, I will release you from all penalty, and from the tortures of hell and the underworld'. This is what human often think, BUT, Our Lord didn't say that. 

He said: "Neither will I condemn you; you need have no fear of the past, but BEWARE of what you do in the future. Neither will I condemn you: I have blotted out what you have done; now observe what I have commanded, in order to obtain what I have promised". 

We pray today for the conversion of sinners, beginning with ourselves. The time is right for the harvest. This is the time of year, the last weeks of Lent, when many people will be reconsidering their lives, thinking that they can be better, infinitely better than they have been, Pray for the conversion of sinners, starting with ourselves, and extending our prayers to all who are full of guilt, full of shame, afraid to change, and wondering is there any hope of forgiveness for them. 

Jesus died on the cross for us, to bring salvation for us. 

Statues in the Church

Catholics, often, was accused by the claim of worshiping statues in the church! We are the worshiper of statue. People still make this ridiculous claim on it because Catholics have many statues in the churches, and they are violating the commandment of God. The commandment of God: 'You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not not bow down to them or serve them' (Ex 20 : 4-5). ' Alas, this people have sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold. (Ex 32:31). The commandment of God clearly stated in the old testament of the bible. So, now, does Catholics really commit the sin of idolatry since it is clearly mention in the old testament by God saying that you shall not make yourself a graven image?

The answer is NO! Calling Catholics idolaters because they have images of Christ, Mary and the saints in the church is based on the misunderstanding or the ignorance of what the says about the purpose and uses , both good and bad of statues.But, it is right to warn people against the sin of idolatry when they are committing it. There is a Anti-Catholic writer Loraine Boettner, in his book Roman Catholicism, makes a statement which stated that 'God has forbidden the use of images in worship'. Yet if we would search the scriptures (cf. John 5:39), you would find the opposite is true. God forbade the worship of statues, but he did not forbid the religious use of statues. Instead, he actually commanded their use in religious contexts.

People who against the religious statuary, actually they have forgotten about the many passages where the Lord commands the making of statues. For example, In Ex 25: 18-20, 'And you shall make two cherubim of gold  [for example; two gold statues of angels]; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end; of one piece of the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be'.

David gave Solomon the plan 'for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. All this he made clear by the writing of the hand of the Lord concerning it all, all the work to be done according to plan' ( 1 Chr. 28: 18-19). David's plan for the temple, which the biblical author tells us was 'by the writing of the hand of the Lord concerning all,' included statues of angels.

Similarly, Ezekiel 41:17-18 describes that graven (craved) images in the idealized temple he was shown in a vision, for he writes, 'on the walls round about in the inner room and on the nave were craved likenesses of cherubim.'

If you still able to recall, during a plague of serpents sent to punish the Israelite during the exodus, God told Moses to make A STATUE of a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it shall live. So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. (Num 21: 8-9). One have to LOOK at the bronze statue of the serpents to be healed, which shows that statues could be used ritually, not merely as a religious decorations. Catholics use statues, paintings, and other artistic devices to recall the person or thing depicted. Is just like a person looking at his or hers mother pictures, so it helps to recall the example of the saints by looking at the pictures of them in the church. Catholics also use statue as a teaching tools.  In the early church, they were especially useful for the instruction of the illiterate. It also use statues to commemorate certain people and events.

Gods forbids the [worship] of images as gods, but he doesn't ban the making of images. If he had, religious movies, videos, photographs, paintings, and all similar things would be banned. But, as the case of the bronze serpent shows, God does not even forbid the ritual use of religious images. It is when people begin to adore a statue as a god that the Lord becomes angry. Thus, when people did start to worship the bronze serpent as a snake-God (whom they named 'Nehushtan'), the righteous king Hezekiah had it destroyed. (2 Kgs 18:4)

Statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Special thanks to Catholic online resources. 

Pause a moment, Reflect!

This will be my last semester in university. It will never easy for me since I'm going to struggle with so many stuffs that is remaining,  before I can finally pull myself out from the university, and proudly declare myself as a graduate. Now, half of the semester has gone and things are getting worse due to the deadline of my assignments, thesis and mid term are filling up my heavy load of bag.

Throughout this struggling, no doubt that I am feeling stress, sometimes might suffer minor insomnia. This may lead to frustration. But, the good thing that I have experienced is I'm able to examine myself and know my weaknesses in it. We are human, none of us in this world are prefect. I'm pretty sure that each of us will not be prefect, just like God. We have our own weaknesses, at the same time we have good side in us.

Nowadays, people just fail to reflect on their own weaknesses. They just find that something goes wrong, the blame will be shot to others people head instead of having a small reflection to examine their weaknesses. We shouldn't feel ashamed with the weaknesses that we have, but, we should work toward it and change one self to become a better person.

However, this world is blinded with pride. Most of the people might think admit their own weaknesses which mean put themselves in a shameful position between their friends, family or relatives. Pride often make people feel themselves GREAT. Sometimes pride might build up a bad image among your peers.

Reflect or examine ourselves is important  our weaknesses to become a better person. Yes, undeniable this semester will be a very heavy semester for me, I am pretty confident that the grace from God is sufficient for me to go through everything.

Feast of Gathering

Few days ago, all of us will be celebrating the day of 'Chap Goh Meh' that signified the 15th day of the new Chinese calender, that mark the end of Chinese New Year. When I was a child, Chinese New Year is a festive season that create excitement for a child who has just gone in to the elementary school. I often relate this festival with the red packet that contain a small sum of money, which Chinese believe it as a blessing that we receive during this new year.  As a kid, apart from getting the red packets from our parents and relatives, having fun with other children become an important task for us when we get to meet each other. fire crackers will be our toys for that festive season and we will enjoy it and screaming around at the compound of our house.

As we grow older, Chinese New Year is not merely about getting lots of red packet or burning fire crackers around your housing compound. I start to realized this festival as a festival of gathering. Now, family members and relatives will be gather around to chit chat. We might be meeting some long lost relatives as well. Due to the busy life that most of us are facing now, sometimes we can hardly meet our relatives or even talk to them. This also happen among our friends which we are closed to. Chinese new year is a great opportunity for us to meet up and gather around.

Besides meeting, we got a chance to taste different nice food that prepared by our parents. As Malaysian (Me), food is part of our life. We always say: No Food, No gathering!!! Always foods are the main character or host, perhaps some might describe it as a soul for the whole party.

Gathering is a wonderful event that we can meet with people whom we perhaps do not keep in touch with them often.  Besides having a wonderful gathering, I have also enjoyed the food throughout this new year. Oppss...Gaining more weight now. Time for exercise !!!