Monday, April 2, 2007

KLCC Palm Sunday Mass in SFX

You guys read my entry about Palm Sunday previously so, this is my experience for Palm Sunday mass.

Before mass started, there was a Praise and Worship session led by Natalie and Alvin Lee from CSS MMU Cyberjaya. We had a blast although there was a song where no one knew plus, the musicians were somewhat lauder than you two. Don't get mad! I am just stating my thoughts here :D

After that, the mass started with the blessing of the palm fronds by Fr Chris and a singing procession around St. Francis Xavier's church compound. In short we are re-enacting the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem by Jesus Christ.



~Beginning of Mass with the blessing of the Palm Fronds~



~Palm Fronds lifted up to be blessed and to welcome Jesus into "Jerusalem"~



~Re-enaction of the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem~



~Jerry and his Palm Frond~

Here is a video of the entry into the "Jerusalem"



~Ongoing issue in Malaysia~

The ongoing issue as in how the syariah court is slowly and steadily making a move into the lives of non Muslim people. Not only that, it is also about the people who are converting into Islam left right and center without informing their spouse. Fine fine, religion is an individual's choice. I know that TOO well but converting your kids without the mother's knowledge?? That is plain selfish!!

This is the group picture of 5L2F. Not every member was present but enough to squeeze into the allocated cars. Oh... and 3 monkeys came with us also. Those monkeys are Eugene, Alvin and Angello. *dodges tins and cans from them...... Hahah... Not only that, a long lost friend suddenly pops up. What a day...



~5L2F group picture with 3 monkeys at the back~



~Long lost friend from ICG 2005, Andrew from UPM~



~Group picture again in Ming Tien, PJ for dinner~

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Happy Palm Sunday

Happy Palm Sunday to all my readers. Today is the day according to the Gospel as the day Lord Jesus Christ rode in Triumph into Jerusalem on a colt.

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION;
BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEYS COLT.” 16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him. 17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him. 18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”

- Source: Biblebrowser.com -



Why does He ride on a colt and we wave palm fronds to welcome Him??

According to Wikipedia, palm fronds are considered as a symbol of triumph and of victory, in Jewish tradition, and is treated in other parts of the bible as such (e.g. Leviticus 23:40 and Revelation 7:9). Because of this, the scene of the crowd greeting Jesus by waving palms and carpeting his path with them has given the Christian festival its name. It also shows the freedom wanted by the Jews, and their desperation to have political freedom.

The Babylonian Talmud preserves a question asked by the Persian king Shevor: Why doesn't your Messiah come riding on a horse? If he lacks one, I'll be glad to provide him with one of my best! (Sanhedrin 98a). Indeed, why should the Messiah come on a donkey? It is because of the symbolism of the donkey, which in some Eastern traditions seems to be seen as an animal of peace as opposed of a horse which is seen as an animal of war. This message of peace was always fundamental with Jesus, therefore the symbolism of riding on a colt, the young of a donkey.



So, today let us wave our palm fronds and welcome Him amongst us as He brings the message of peace again. I wish to request that those of you who are reading this blog, to pray for World Peace always. Not only for the World but for your own country that things will peaceful everywhere. I don't mean only those who are Christians but I mean pray in your own way, in the way your religion teaches. Pray for everyone in the world.



~PEACE BE WITH YOU~