Friday, March 29, 2013

Good Friday: Do this in remembrance of me

Other than one other movie which I saw alone, the only other one is this. That was years ago. Wifey didn't want to go.

I have it now in DVD still in its shrink wrap. I wonder why I even bother to buy it other than it was going so cheap. Now I could even download it but nah.

I spent the first hour of my waking enjoying lovely nature and scenery photos from 'Worldwide Collection'. A rare treat on a public holiday. Gave me the opportunity to pick up some examples for my daughter to inspire her for he photography competition. Since when do I do something just only for myself? Ah, before I got married. As I flipped through the many beautiful pics, one line that kept me company in the back of my mind early this morning is, "Do this in remembrance of me". Yes, I was thinking of the Lord's supper. That's how I shall remember Good Friday because that's how the Lord explicitly asked us to.

There is also another way which came by example: offer him a drink on the way to the Cross. Last night I was waiting for wifey at the bus stop. The forty five minutes sailed by quickly when you have a ebook on the S3 to occupy your time. As I put aside my phone, 'G' surprised me coming down from a bus before the one wifey was arriving in. This is the 'G' I had often helped to buy lunch or dinner. That's another way to remember Good Friday. Pope Francis is going to the prison to wash the prisoners feed on Easter day. Will the wardens be doing the same after he has left?

Wash each other feet. My kids they are so grown up and can wash their own feet now but for sometime I have been washing their feet by being their servant. Sometimes I have to flip over as the boss and scold them about this, but most times I am the servant. I am about to go next door to wake one of them up.

Update: 3pm

The pictures of Pope Francis washing others feet are in. Better to suspend memory of the crucifixion and focus on washing each other feet. Some try to reenact the journey to Golgotha, making it so sentimental and conveniently forget that in its original form, that was a cruel and terrible capital punishment. For centuries no Christian wore a cross! After Constantine, they sanitized the cross. Crucifixion was banned. In Singapore it is like celebrating the death penalty by hanging. How would it go down? How absurd. It was a job that needed to be done and by the only one who is able to do so. Today we also carry the cross not by hanging on one but washing others feet.

John chapter 13

 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Upadate: March 30, 10am

That's exactly our nature alright. From the beginning and across all faiths except strenuously forbidden e.g., in Islam, we humans are prone to have the form rather than the substance. All the way from the man in the street to the highest echelons of society and government it is the same.

2 comments:

  1. the maundy thursday mass at Rome jail was really beautiful - among the prisoners who were presented for the solemn washing of the feet ceremony (a display of the true servant-leadership quality)were 2 women - which is first for a papal act and 2 Muslims - which is also a first and really wonderful gesture of reaching out to other people of the abrahamic faith
    Let there be peace among people of good will

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  2. Allow me to make a little correction of the blog entry. The washing of the feet does not take place on Easter Sunday but rather a part of the Maundy Thursday (day before Good Friday) ceremonies in the Catholic Church. It is to re-enact the Last Supper where Jesus displayed what a true leader is - of servitude. Many I am sure do practise this in groups to bring forth to their members of a very important quality of a true leader - one of servant-leadership.
    On a related note, I fully agree that during this period of arriving at Easter, it will be more fruitful to emphasise on the washing of the feet (a display of servant-leadership) than the gory details of the crucifixion. After all, Jesus Himself accepted His Fate as he agonised in the garden of Gethsemane following the last supper. He has in no way passed judgment on his executioners and others who schemed his death - remember on the cross He said "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do"

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