We are back in Singapore for a short visit to surprise Angie's mum on her birthday in a few days time. It has been quite a week sorting things out at home that this was a welcome break. At the same time, we were able to drop by the LISS retreat which was in progress...
It was amazing being involved in the outpouring session, witnessing the mighty Hand of God moving within the participants and all in the service team. It brought back memories of my involvement in past seminars and once again affirmed me of God's abiding presence in the community and in our midst. After the session, we were treated with testimonies from participants and service team people alike and it re-affirmed God's greatness and generosity. Mass followed and the homily of Father Tom Curran provided a reality check for everyone that we will still have our daily cross to bear. It may be at work, at home or wherever God has placed us. Even Jesus, in all His divinity, had His cross to bear when He began His ministry, being rejected by the people of Samaria when He and the disciples were looking for a place to rest there.
This was a gentle reminder to me that in spite of all the good things that God has done and is doing, we will still be faced with our cross to carry. It struck me even more deeply when Father mentioned that parents have the cross of caring for their babies, waking in the middle of the night to feed them. I looked at myself and pondered if I would have the capacity to carry this particular cross when the time comes. It just seemed too heavy a cross for me... But I'm consoled by the fact that God will always provide the strength we need when we need it.
Help me carry my daily cross O Lord, though I might not feel that I am up to it.
Today is a momentuous day for us. We will be officially shifting to our new place. I was quite excited and was up even before my alarm rang...
We had a nice quaint breakfast at Hungry Jacks (aka Burger King :) nearby and off to mass we went. Another enlightening time at mass for me and renewed strength to face the week ahead. Father shared about 2 main points to reflect upon from the Gospel passage, which opened my eyes and my heart once again.
Firstly, Who is Jesus to us? The disciples were post this question by Jesus: "Who do you say I am?". Jesus is asking this same question to us. This question will ultimately return to us as who we see ourselves. It is not what we do but rather who we are as a person. Something to ponder on this coming week...
Secondly, Are we willing to carry our crosses and follow Christ? Father shared a story, which some of you might have heard before. There was this guy who asked God for a lighter cross as the one he had was too overbearing for him. God directed him to a room full of crosses and instructed him to choose one which pleases him. He finally found one which he felt was right for him and happily went to God with it. He was asked to look at the back of the cross and on it was his name inscribed on it. He had chosen the very cross which he was carrying all these years.
God knows us and will not give us a cross which we cannot carry. We all have our crosses to carry but Christ has assured us that He will help us carry our cross. He has died for us and there is nothing He cannot do for us. It then dawned upon me that I have been too focused on my own burdens and feeling crushed by the cross I am carrying. But everyone has their crosses to carry and we are not the only ones with crosses to carry. Suddenly, the many problems I face at work seem so small compared to bigger problems others may face. The best part is that Christ will help us bear our crosses for He has promised us that His yoke is easy and His burden light.
Do not be discouraged by the burdens you might be facing in life now, for Christ is always there with a helping hand. Thank you Lord for this comforting assurance.
What an awesome time at mass today. There was a group of physically and intellectually challenged people in the congregation today and there I was so inspired by their strength and tenacity.
It was a healing time for me as the words of the song Power of your Love was sang at communion. I felt that God was renewing my whole being and teaching me to communicate love to those around me, especially those close to my heart. Father shared that in the gospel today, the sinner came uninvited to the house of the pharisee who had Jesus over for a meal. She cleaned His feet with water, kissed His feet and poured expensive perfume on His feet. She communicated love through her actions. Unlike the pharisee who did not offer Jesus a drink when He came, no water to wash his hands and feet, and face, and certainly no oilment to refresh and cure the aches from His journey. Apparently, in the middle east, when a guest visits, it is a custom to offer a drink for your guest, as a sign of acceptance. It is also customary to provide water for your guest to clean up after the journey to your place as well as oilment to soothe any aches and cover any stench from the journey. "Interesting..."
I reflected on my week and I felt that I have been too focused on tasks I had to do and failed to communicate with people, especially with my dearie Angie. It's more the unspoken language rather than the words, something which I had a taste of myself in Ikea just yesterday. I was enquiring about stuff at the customer service counter and the lady behind the counter was actually replying me with her eyes glued to the computer screen apparently working on something and at the same time attending to me. I think I now know how it feels when I sometimes reply Angie without looking at her while I am working on something...
Teach me Lord the importance of human relationship and the need to communicate love through unspoken language instead of the common language of words.
Today is Corpus Christi and we went to mass as usual. It wasn't until we got to church did we realise that it was the feast of Corpus Christi.
As I pondered about the meaning of this feast to our present situation, God had the uncanny way of replying through Father's sermon. A somewhat gentle reminder I must say...
Father started with the history of how we came to celebrate this feast, which was meant to be celebrated on Maundy Thursday when Jesus instituted the Eucharist. However, due to the overshadowing of the passion and ressurection of Christ, it was decided by the church to celebrate it 60 days after Easter instead.
The real meat came when Father shared the three components of Corpus Christi. The first being the celebration of Christ's physical presence in our world some 2000 years ago. The second being the celebration of Christ's spiritual presence in the church community in our world today. The last and probably the most striking to me is the celebration of Christ's real presence in the Eucharist. This last component, as mentioned by Father is very often neglected but really is essential to our faith. Something that cannot be explained by science and reasoning. He said this that reminded me of how God is beyond our understanding, "Faith begins when reasoning ends." Such simple words but they carry so much meaning.
As I reflected on my year thus far, I begin to see God's gentle reminder to me, that He was and is present among us, especially in the Eucharist. I realised that it has been a long while since I just spent time in front of the Eucharist. I know that He is there in the Eucharist ready to meet us as long as we are willing to come meet Him.
Let us remember Him always as we live each day, be it good or bad, beautiful or horrible, know that God was and is present among us. We odd to acknowledge that in our every waking moment.
Thank you Lord for your gentle reminder.
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