Fr Stephen shared this joke with us today in his homily
"Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered. Getting back together, they discussed the gifts that they were able to give to their elderly mother.
The first said: "I built a big house for our mother."
The second said: "I sent her a Mercedes with a driver."
The third said: "I've got you both beat. You know how Mom enjoys the Bible and you know she can't see very well. I sent her a brown parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twenty monks in a monastery 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $100,000 a year for twenty years but it was worth it. Mom just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it."
Soon thereafter, Mom sent out her letters of thanks.
She wrote to the first son: "Milton, the house you built is too big. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house."
She wrote to the second son: "Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay home all the time, so I never used the Mercedes... and the driver is SO rude."
She wrote to the third son: "Dearest Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to know what your mother likes... The chicken was delicious."
I think it is a joke that will keep me laughing till Mother's day next week. More importantly though, is the underlying message of loving others as He has loved us. To consider if have we have shown our unconditional love to others. As in the joke, the greatest love does not equate the most expensive or most luxurious gifts. It can be just as simple as observing what your mom likes to eat. Simple it may be, yet it takes the commitment to make the effort to observe - and that's all it counts.
Well, here's a quick summary to what has happened in July.
1.) I went down-under to Sydney. Why? Obviously not from my own pocket. Was there for work, to meet up the colleagues there to form better work relationship, I even had the chance to attend a service meeting with the Client. Quite neat learning experience.
2.) In my visit down-under, there was this World Youth Day going on. The Pope was there too~ Too bad I didn't register as a pilgrim hence didn't manage to attend the Mass that he ministered. Oh well, it still somehow seemed to be a calling from above for me to stay near to him. Oh, and I did managed to join one major activity which is the pilgrimage walk that starts from North Sydney, I stopped earlier though at Darling Habour to proceed on to traveling Sydney.
3.) Visited some popular tourist attractions in Sydney. Mostly free ones - the church, Hay Market, darling habour, habour bridge, etc. Think I'll post up some photos. They will say more than I could type.
4.) Met up with some Australian AIESECers. Well, the fun part about this is that I know none of them. It's just so cool to just e-mail some AIESECers on random, meet up and seemed to share endless topics with them. A good experience to remember.
5.) Upon returning from the trip, took MC the following day at work. Got sick during the trip there. Not used to the chilly weather that I experienced there. But when I came back to Singapore, I felt even worst since I was about getting used to the fine weather there.
6.) Well, that somehow ends my experience in the month of Aug. Time to grab some rest. ;-)
What is easter, you may ask,
Well, here's an extract from about.com
On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. It is typically the most well-attended Sunday service of the year for Christian churches.
Christians believe according to Scripture, that Jesus came back to life, or was raised from the dead, three days after his death on the cross. As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion, is commemorated on Good Friday, always the Friday just before Easter. Through his death, burial and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in Him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Maybe for all my dear friends who are not Christ believers, you may just treat it as a day where delicious chocolate easter eggs can be found everywhere. Alternatively, treat it as a day for self-reflection - to think about our past behavior and how how we should act for the better. Either way, it's up to you :P
Ash Wednesday marks the season of lent, a season of repentance. I hope that during this season of lent, I could further develop my self discipline ability. So as to make the best of the life that the Lord has blessed me with. May he bless me with the strength and wisdom to go through the daily trials.
During Mass today, there is this very interesting passage from the gospel which talks about humility. Indeed, this is a reminder that one must live life in humility, to act in accordance to what the lord has ordered and not because we want to do it for "show"
