True Love Endures

Last Saturday evening, the night before the Palm Sunday, we have watched The Passion of the Christ. I have been watching this film every year since it was released in 2004 and I was really amazed knowing the fact that even though I have watched the film for several times and have seen its excerpts from videos presented during recollections for countless times already, still its effect on me doesn't fade away. Most of my companions feel the same, too.It made all of us crying in front of the television set...The story of the arrest, trial, torture and crucifixion of Jesus would always make me cry and reflect. Moreover, it is one way of reminding me of how did I grow as a Catholic Christian- of how my understanding about the sacrificial love of Jesus has become deeper and deeper each year...

The Lenten season has renewed my baptismal commitment. Now, the Holy Week begins and it is a very moving experience to link our real life struggles and triumph with the real story of Jesus death and resurrection. More than the film itself, it is the real story of Jesus becoming fully human yet still remaining fully GOD that will teach us what is humility and forgiveness, trust and love...

Today’s gospel is a story about the testing of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus asked two of them if they could drink from the cup he would drink, and endure the baptism he would receive. In the Passion account, Judas, Peter and finally the rest of the Twelve, fail the test and abandon Jesus.

In our own life, we have also experience being tempted and weakened. Everyone has been tested. It is the test that will make our faith alive because in the end of it all, true love endures all kind of tests. May we recall how impossible it is for us to pass any kind of test without God in our side. May we be willing to help one another in carrying our cross. May the message of Jesus life, death and resurrection remains throughout all the ages...

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love..."
1 John 4:8