The Stubbornness of Christ
When I used to visit my late grandfather, he often spoke to me about the homily that was preached at the 50th Wedding Anniversary Mass for my grandparents. The priest preached about stubbornness, and how it was a wonderful thing that they had chosen to be stubborn throughout the course of their lives.
Sounds strange doesn't it? Well, the point that the priest was trying to make is that it was wonderful that throughout their marriage, my grandparents, who we call Boompa and Nana, chose to be stubborn to the ways of the world, which tells us that if we aren't happy in a marriage, or in fact with anything, the best thing to do would be to walk away. Instead, they chose to remain committed to one another, to their faith, and to our family, despite the problems which they encountered. They knew that marriage is a sacrament, a lifelong commitment. They knew that it wouldn't be easy, and they embraced all the challenges of married life and stuck to each other through thick and thin. They chose to love, when the world told them not to. And for that, I must say that I've always been proud of them and inspired by them.
Yesterday, we celebrated Palm Sunday, and Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the animal that we often associate with stubbornness. This was just one line in the homily yesterday, and it was not the crux of the homily, but I find it quite thought provoking that the scriptures foretold Christ's entry into Jerusalem for his passion in this way, especially considering how stubborn Jesus actually was.
Throughout his life, there were many examples of Jesus being stubborn to the ways of the world around him, and many of them can be found in the scriptures presented to us during this Lenten Journey. When he was fasting in the wilderness for forty days, Jesus was stubborn to the temptations of the devil. At the time when Jesus walked the face of the earth, it was common knowledge that Jews do not associate themselves with Samaritans, and yet Jesus chose to be stubborn and reach out to the Samaritan Woman at the well. Jesus was also stubborn towards the Pharisees, especially when he cured the man who had been born blind on a Sabbath. And he was stubborn when his disciples suggested that he should not go to Judea to raise Lazarus from the dead, as the Jewish authorities were wanting to kill him. He was stubborn by riding on a donkey into Jerusalem for the Passover, knowing that after he had raised Lazarus from the dead, the Jewish Authorities had made plans to kill him. And he was stubborn when he decided to endure the Cross, when he could have escaped it! He could even have chosen to prove the Pharisees wrong by coming down from the cross, but he did not.
The stubbornness of Christ was because of one reason: Love. He reached out to the Samaritan Woman to show that God's love was not just for the Jews, but for all. He opened the eyes of the blind man so that he would see the Love of God in the world around him. He went to Judea to raise Lazarus from the dead because of his love for Lazarus, Martha and Mary. And he endured the Cross out of love for you and me.
![2018-03-25] Sunday 11am Mass - St Mary of the Angels Singapore](https://photos.smugmug.com/2018/2018-03-2425-Palm-Sunday/2018-03-25-Palm-Sunday-11am-Mass/i-QGXjHZw/0/2204c304/S/Palm_Sunday_006-S.jpg)
Jesus calls us to follow his example, and to observe his commandment to love, just like how he has loved us. But perhaps, Jesus is calling us to be stubborn in our faith as well, and to do so out of love. Our world has come to a standstill. All of us can't leave our homes except for essential activities. Some of us aren't able to leave our homes at all. Many businesses have been affected by the lack of revenue during this time. And lest we forget, we won't be celebrating Easter in Church this year. Many of us will feel, or have felt like giving up on our faith with all the problems that this pandemic has brought about. And the world will tell us to do so as well, even without COVID-19. But we are called be stubborn to the ways of the world that draw us away from love. We are called to persevere, to remain grounded, and to cling to our faith, especially in this time of pandemic.
As we enter into Holy Week, the holiest time of the year, let us strive to be stubborn, just like Jesus. Let us strive to be stubborn to the ways of this world that draw us away from Faith, Hope and Love. Let us strive to cling to our roots, to our faith, and to our relationships with one another.
Sounds strange doesn't it? Well, the point that the priest was trying to make is that it was wonderful that throughout their marriage, my grandparents, who we call Boompa and Nana, chose to be stubborn to the ways of the world, which tells us that if we aren't happy in a marriage, or in fact with anything, the best thing to do would be to walk away. Instead, they chose to remain committed to one another, to their faith, and to our family, despite the problems which they encountered. They knew that marriage is a sacrament, a lifelong commitment. They knew that it wouldn't be easy, and they embraced all the challenges of married life and stuck to each other through thick and thin. They chose to love, when the world told them not to. And for that, I must say that I've always been proud of them and inspired by them.
Yesterday, we celebrated Palm Sunday, and Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the animal that we often associate with stubbornness. This was just one line in the homily yesterday, and it was not the crux of the homily, but I find it quite thought provoking that the scriptures foretold Christ's entry into Jerusalem for his passion in this way, especially considering how stubborn Jesus actually was.
Throughout his life, there were many examples of Jesus being stubborn to the ways of the world around him, and many of them can be found in the scriptures presented to us during this Lenten Journey. When he was fasting in the wilderness for forty days, Jesus was stubborn to the temptations of the devil. At the time when Jesus walked the face of the earth, it was common knowledge that Jews do not associate themselves with Samaritans, and yet Jesus chose to be stubborn and reach out to the Samaritan Woman at the well. Jesus was also stubborn towards the Pharisees, especially when he cured the man who had been born blind on a Sabbath. And he was stubborn when his disciples suggested that he should not go to Judea to raise Lazarus from the dead, as the Jewish authorities were wanting to kill him. He was stubborn by riding on a donkey into Jerusalem for the Passover, knowing that after he had raised Lazarus from the dead, the Jewish Authorities had made plans to kill him. And he was stubborn when he decided to endure the Cross, when he could have escaped it! He could even have chosen to prove the Pharisees wrong by coming down from the cross, but he did not.
The stubbornness of Christ was because of one reason: Love. He reached out to the Samaritan Woman to show that God's love was not just for the Jews, but for all. He opened the eyes of the blind man so that he would see the Love of God in the world around him. He went to Judea to raise Lazarus from the dead because of his love for Lazarus, Martha and Mary. And he endured the Cross out of love for you and me.
Jesus calls us to follow his example, and to observe his commandment to love, just like how he has loved us. But perhaps, Jesus is calling us to be stubborn in our faith as well, and to do so out of love. Our world has come to a standstill. All of us can't leave our homes except for essential activities. Some of us aren't able to leave our homes at all. Many businesses have been affected by the lack of revenue during this time. And lest we forget, we won't be celebrating Easter in Church this year. Many of us will feel, or have felt like giving up on our faith with all the problems that this pandemic has brought about. And the world will tell us to do so as well, even without COVID-19. But we are called be stubborn to the ways of the world that draw us away from love. We are called to persevere, to remain grounded, and to cling to our faith, especially in this time of pandemic.
As we enter into Holy Week, the holiest time of the year, let us strive to be stubborn, just like Jesus. Let us strive to be stubborn to the ways of this world that draw us away from Faith, Hope and Love. Let us strive to cling to our roots, to our faith, and to our relationships with one another.
Comments
Post a Comment