Good Friday

 

A plate of fried rice cooked by my mother

At first it was said that she, my mother, would move tomorrow.  However, last minute, my brother called and said he would pick my mum up later.  At first, mum defrost the fish and got ready the cauliflower to be cooked for dinner.  The plan was changed.  She went to bathe and got all the things ready to move out.  Earlier on, my sister and brother-in-law came too.  

I woke up in the morning and mum had already prepared breakfast for Ricsson.  She prepared breakfast for me too -- a plate of fried rice with beautiful prawns on top.  I did not take the photo.  Her plate of fried rice, no additional ingredients.  We ate together at the dining table.  I regretted not taking photo.  Later in the afternoon, we ate a plate of glutinous rice together.  Again I never take any photograph.  That was our last meal, shared, and I never kept a copy of it.  Never know that was our last meal.  

Glutinous rice cooked by mum on Wednesday 13 April 2022

Mum never waste food.  She is a thrifty person.  There were some glutinous rice left over on Wednesday.  So for lunch we shared a plate of hot glutinous rice and she ate so little.  Taco joined in.  We ate happily, not knowing that mother is going to move out later.  

I am having headache now, after all the crying.  I saw mum wiping her tears when she left the house just now.  I too felt very sad that this day she is moving out.  I never felt this sad.  I missed her already even though we can still meet each other again at Yew Tee.  Whenever I thought of her, I feel very sad and my head ache.  I am old already, mum even older -- she will be celebrating 79 years old soon.  We were talking about celebrating her birthday this year.  Looking forward to celebrate her birthday.  

I feel so blessed to have mum around.  I am so blessed to have brothers and sister, and my own children.  I was writing about Be Baptized and not long after that, my mood was changed to sadness.   I hope mum can have a long and healthy life.  May God showered her with happiness and long healthy life.  

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Be Baptized

 

Isaac's baptism on 2 August 2009

Today is Good Friday, a day where Jesus died for our sins.  Jesus, the Son of God had come into our world.  No other religion had this before, the coming of God as the Son in flesh.  The laws of Moses had required the killing of the best lambs as sacrifices to 'remove sin'.  They pictured the giving up of an innocent life so that sinners could be forgiven.  Jesus fulfills that.  He is the pure, sinless 'Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world' (John 1:29).  He was sacrificed by being nailed to a 'tree', a wooden cross.  There, all the sins of every person went into His body.  There, He paid the full punishment for all sins, so that we could be set free from sin's guilt and pain.  Isaiah, seven hundred years earlier, foresaw this suffering for the 'iniquities' and 'transgressions' (sins) of mankind.

He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us had turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6)

Peter, who saw Jesus die, reported the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.  

He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed (1 Peter 2:24)

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy... (Titus 3:5)

In baptism one is buried with Christ and also raised with Christs.  Christ's death saves us.  The divine blood, which Jesus poured out at His death, cleanses us.  We meet that saving blood when we are baptized into His death.  

And now what are you waiting for?  Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.  (Acts 22:16)

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16)

Isaac's baptism ceremony: the priest pour water on his forehead and I take a towel to wipe off the water.  

In our baptism ceremony, there is a need to appoint a Godfather.  He need to be present for the baptism ceremony.  I asked my brother to be Isaac's Godfather.  

If you want to be saved, believe in Jesus and be baptized.  

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The Holy Spirit

 

The peaceful dove can be seen in the sky, April 2010 

 Acts 1:1-11 Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven 

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

According to Matthew 5:22, 29-30 and Luke 12:4-5, the suffering in our earthly bodies is small compared to the "fire of hell".  Therefore God's feelings of mercy (compassion) may at times move Him even to use earthly pain to try to keep us from far greater eternal pain.  For this reason God had come to help me.  God does not have to make up special pain just for us.  In this world, which has left God, pain is already with us!  But God can sometimes use that pain to help us.  God sends "Judgments" even before the final judgment.  

The Lord disciplines those He loves... Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness (Hebrews 12:6,10)

Receive the sacrament of confirmation on 3 November 1985

I wondered how I am going to learn from Jesus when I cannot even see him or question him, or hear him speak.  But I heard him, and through him, I encountered God too.  Thanks to the Holy Spirit.  

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Roman Catholic

My ex-student and me standing beside the altar of my mum's house

Raised up in the Catholic family, with the altar as shown above, I was curious about my religion.  I asked my parents and my aunt many questions.  My aunt was the one who told me that my religion is Roman Catholic.  I also learned the word "Saint" from her.  My aunt, Teresia Lee, passed away on 18 October 2016.  I also learned the name of our church from her.  

I am proud to be a Catholic after I know more about my faith, especially after Jesus came to save me -- my conversion.  I declared myself to be a real Christian, a real Catholic.  In the past, I did not dare to admit that I am a Christian.  

In the year 2000, Richard left the family.  I was devastated.  Everything came crashing down. I was so stressed that there was not even enough milk to provide for my then newborn baby, Clara.  My mind was not able to think properly too.  I needed help.  I needed people to talk to, to help me.  I managed to got some help from the neigbourhood church and also the lawyer.  The lawyer was coincidentally a Christian.  He asked me "Have you heard of trials and tribulations?"  Then he invited me to his church.  He acted like a friend, but later on when he discovered that Richard came back home, he charged me a four figure sum for lawyer's fee.  I went to his church, and I was left alone to explore.  I did not feel 'homely'.  It was so uncomfortable there.  They wanted me to join their congregation, but I did not join them.  

I went to the neighbourhood church near my house.  Their church was not ready then.  It was at Causeway Point then.  I was invited to attend their service.  I did not feel 'homely' again.  Their receiving holy communion was so different from the Catholic.  They just passed it around and there was no priest, but Pastor.  Still further on, my neighbour came to know that I was alone.  She also invited me to her church at Yishun.  I did not like the environment too.  Finally, auntie Mary came knocking at the door.  She is a Jehovah Witness.  She shared the bible with me.  She told me that she withdrew herself from the Catholic church and she was baptized as Jehovah Witness.  She invited me to her church in Malaysia.  I went with her and I did not join her also, for the same reason as above.  Then She gave up on me.  She stopped coming to my house.  

I was left alone with Richard, together we raised our children.  I thought of teaching the children the right thing.  I sent them to catechism class. We slowly went back to church at Church of St Anthony of Padua.  It was more a comfortable place there, a more 'homely' feeling, a feeling of coming back to somewhere where you belong.  

It was at the church where I got to see Father Terence and Father Vincent the first time.  Going back to the church, I listened to hymns and songs of the church.  It was so nice and peaceful.  Eventually, things started to change and eventually I encountered Jesus...

The old Church of St Anthony of Padua in the year 2008

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