Today is Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday.  Today I renewed my baptismal vow. 

This holy week I was reminded what I believe. - Christ had died, Christ had risen, Christ will come again.

Today I was in a reflective mood.  How come I believe in a God whom I have not seen ??

I just realised that the SNGLE MOST IMPORTANT thing I gained from my 12 years in St. Andrew's School was getting to know God and the wonders of His grace.  Sure, I also learnt to play all kinds of games, made life-long friends, and obtained grades good enough to go to Uni.  But all these are no longer important to me as I grow old.

The Love of God, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, is what goes with me to eternity.
(note:  I learnt this hymn in school long time ago.)

Upon this Rock, I will build My Church...but Peter you have much to learn..

Jesus appointed the first Pope many days before His death on the cross.  In Matt 16:18, Jesus said, in front of all His disciples "...You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church...".

By and by, many days passed.  Jesus mounted on a donkey and entered Jerusalem.  Again many days passed. 

It was now the night before Jesus was cruxified.  Jesus and His disciples were in the Upper Room for the Last Supper.  Here Peter pledged his loyalty to Jesus and claimed "Even though all may fall away from You, I will never fall away."  But Jesus said to him, "I say to you that this very night, before the cock crows, you shall deny Me 3 times." Matt 26:33-35.

We all know what happened after that.  Peter denied 3 times that he knew Jesus.

So even though Peter was appointed to be the first Pope, he still had much to learn.  What did Peter learn?  Learn about his tendency to crumple under persecution, his tendency to feel ashamed of  Jesus, avoid trusting himself, acknowledging his human weaknesses?

The first Pope had much to learn after his appointment.  But, in the end, he did not fail Jesus -- he was cruxified too, but upside down.

What an Inauguration !!

I happened to turn on the TV at 4+ pm this afternoon.  The new Pope's Inauguration was being televised.  It was amazing !  A million people was at St. Peter's Square !  Pope Francis is the 266th successor of St Peter the Apostle, whom Jesus Christ said "Peter, you are the Rock, and upon this Rock I will build my Church."

So many priests, cardinals, bishops, nuns, etc, etc, were there.  In my mind, I asked whether all these faces, people who spent their lives believing that Christ is the Son of God  -- "Are you sure or not?  Are you believing the truth or believing a 2000 year old lie??"

As for me, I believe in Christ.  I also believe that the church of Rome, passed down from St Peter, is the mother church.

See His Glory? Then acknowledge Him.

In my previous entry, I mentioned that I was reading this "JUST BE GOOD" Buddhist book.

Page 36. Question: "In Buddhism, why isn't there a belief in a supreme god that created the universe?"

Answer: "Buddhists tend to be fairly realistic in such matters and do not believe in creation myths such as the universe emerging from a cosmic egg, or created by an old man with a long white beard.  If anything we believe that the universe has always existed.  If it is said that an omnipotent being or 'intelligent designer' did create the universe, then it begs the obvious question of who then created or 'designed' that being?  And if that being has always existed, then isn't it more believeable that the universe has always been in existence instead?"

Personally, I am sad that some people could not acknowledge that the creator God exists.  Ever since I was a small child, when I look at the night sky, I would know in my heart that God exists.  Much later, when I was older and know how to read the Bible, Psalm 19:1 expresses what had always been in my heart  --  The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.

Look carefully.  And you can see God in His handiwork.  When you do, acknowledge God and God will lead you to Christ.

He did that to me, for me.