A long time ago, someone told me how he had received a ring from his other half. Apparently, she gave him that with the words, "With this i give you my life." Most unfortunately, this relationship is now non-existent which only goes to show how little value these words might have. What immediately sprang to mind, though, when i was told this tale, was how love is such an under valued word. I don't think any of us, at 17 or younger, can even begin to understand what love really is.
Just as this guy was given a ring, so all of us are given a cross. This cross is all our suffering, pains, and all the things in the world that really hurts us. This cross is not a bane, you know. Incredible as it sounds to people like us, this suffering is a gift, this cross is a wonderful treasure. And the person who hands us this cross is none other than Jesus Christ, our Saviour. In the Bible, the Gospel of John (which is a splendid movie, by the way) 15:13 states so clearly, "What greater love can a man have than to lose his life for his friends?" My friends, this man died for us. Not only that, He suffered for us. Go watch the Passion movie and look at those people baying for his death and crucifixion. That was us. And yet, He loved us whose sins condemned him to die.
"If anyone wants to be a disciple of mine, let him take up his cross and follow me." Only when we suffer for those who hate us, and love those who hate us, can we truly understand how to love those who love us too. Like the girl who gave the ring in the earlier example, Jesus Christ says this to us everyday. He hands a cross and he says, 'with this i gave you my life'. And you know what, he's the only person in history who truly meant it. How do we know that? On the cross, having been whipped, nailed and pierced, he said, "Father, forgive them." We are not able even, to forgive those who have insulted or criticised us. Yet He forgave those who KILLED him. That is love. To love without condition. To love without reservation. So the next time you say you love a guy or girl, think twice, think whether you are really willing to suffer for her. Think whether you're ready to clean him up when he no longer has any bowel controls. Think. And chances are, your 'love' will fall short.
Clickhere
mark nicodemus at 9:30 pm
Well, well, well. What a week it has been. Going into the last week of wandering and i'm wondering how everything's gonna fall into place. In many respects though, in has been a fantastic week, which all started out on Friday in my favourite place in Singspore, the chapel at St Francis Xavier praying the rosary for someone. Anyway i was spotted by this guy named Jude who started a chat with me about the priesthood.
Following which i led the singing at the stations of the Cross and Mass and thereafter having to hear criticism on my voice by you-know-who, which i suppose is a good thing, dunno why i've been getting a lot of solo singing practice lately anyhow.
But the talk on God's love by a Alex Loo was quite brilliant, and he was to speak for 2 more days with the famous 'shouting preacher' Fr Vincent Lee the next day. The man, i assure you, is like Jesus when he's speaking, you just have to hear it. For more on his sermons, read this page for a summary soon.
By the way, kudos to cheryl lee and the rest of her gang for an entertaining concert but what i 'd like to see more actually is performing with greater enjoyment, so many of them looked freaked out by the occasion. I know how that feels though, so we should all appreciate their courage in even being up there. Of course, the 'legendary' Cheryl Lee has won a few more fans, like Benny Seetoh who was absolutely gushing over her voice, and Joshua Koh who for the first time in his life, was lost for words.
mark nicodemus at 12:01 pm
You know, in many respects, the people most fraught with irony are very often bloggers. Just that day there was an article in the papers about blogging and how there were very few 'blogbusters'. I mean, what's the point of putting up a page if you wanted to keep your musings secret. Henceforth the term, secret blog, which makes absolutely no sense at all. Especially when you consider the fact that to get to this blogger site you have first to type 'www' which, correct me if i'm wrong, is the acronym for world wide web. See the words world wide. Which makes the very idea of a secret blog logically impossible. So isn't it strange that so many blogs, which i have had no pleasure in visiting, are in the process of relocation because they've scored too many hits?
Anyway, back to the part on irony. Here's what you're very likely to see on many a blog. At the side factfile columns, many folks seem to have a great love for God or else live a life that is currently revolving around God. Yet, most astonishing, the content of information is most often dark and suicidal. If the Samaritans of Singapore were to look around the blogs, boy would they have a lot of work to do. Is it surprising that so many of our people today have such unwelcome thoughts? I don't really know but at the same time, we should give due cresit for all those who try to keep their blogs as chirpy as possible.
The Great Pretender
Oh-oh, yes I’m the great pretender
Pretending that I’m doing well
My need is such I pretend too much
I’m lonely but no one can tell
Oh-oh, yes I’m the great pretender
Adrift in a world of my own
I’ve played the game but to my real shame
You’ve left me to grieve all alone
Too real is this feeling of make-believe
Too real when I feel what my heart can’t conceal
Yes I’m the great pretender
Just laughin’ and gay like a clown
I seem to be what I’m not, you see
I’m wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that you’re still around
Too real is this feeling of make-believe
Too real when I feel what my heart can’t conceal
Yes I’m the great pretender
Just laughin’ and gay like a clown
I seem to be what I’m not, you see
I’m wearing my heart like a crown
Pretending that you’re still around
mark nicodemus at 3:14 pm
You are Sloth!
Lazy huh ?? You're a bit slow in getting going -
and tend not to do anything unless it is
absolutely necessary. You'd rather sit around,
watch TV/Sleep then go out and about with
friends, or take part in a sporting event. On
the positive side, you tend to be quite smart,
as you spend a lot of time watching the News
(!!) or on the computer, Also by conserving
your energy, it's right there waiting for you
when it's vitally important to get going.
Consider possibly moving out of the room once in a
while - and perhaps once a week trade watching
TV for half an hour with a walk - and you'll be
back on track.
However, Congratulations on being the most
intelligent of the 7 deadly sins...
?? Which Of The Seven Deadly Sins Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla
mark nicodemus at 11:17 pm