Baptism?

'Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.' -John 3:5

I was listening to a homily last Sunday. It was about a man who recently passed away. He was sick, he needed blood. Many parishioners donated blood to him. Before his death, he expressed to the priest of his intention to be baptised. He told him about how he is touched by the generosity of Christians.


In my mind, I was telling myself that it was great; that another man had been won for the Kingdom by being born again through the waters of baptism. To my horror, the priest refused him baptism on the grounds that his intention was not right. (do pray for his soul) *sigh*

What then would be the intention to convert, if not for the experience of Christ's love through a concrete manner? Would rhetoric do better? *sigh*. The love that is expressed by a Christian is the most practical manner in winning souls for Christ. It makes no sense refusing baptism to a person touched by Christ!

'This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.' - John 13:35

Baptism is the ordinary manner of which one is given eternal life with God and His saints in heaven. To deprive a person of the grace of baptism for no good reason would be a great error, if not a sin.

'The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.' - CCC 1257

Even non-Christians may administer baptism. This shows how important this sacrament is and how much effort has been placed to ensure that a person would be baptised.

'In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize , by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula.' - CCC 1256

To win souls for Christ- This is the duty of every Christian. Let us all be reminded of this. If others have neglected their duties, let us, with God's grace, take up the tasks ourselves. We must instruct the ignorant, to speak the truth with charity, but the truth nonetheless.

'Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.' - Matt 28:20

If I Could Have Them All...

As a kid, I really enjoyed playing with LEGO, sadly, there were no Star Wars Lego then. Sigh...

A Billion Ways to Die...

I was having a conversation on suffering with my colleague. We ended up talking about gory and bloody scenes of pain and suffering. I ended the conversation by noting that 'there are a billion ways to suffer and die'. The ceiling might drop on my head right now and suffer a terrible coma and die soon after, or I might choke while eating breakfast. I might be paralysed all my life due to a fall. Or whatever. It may happen to any of us. It seems so scary. The world seems so dark. Are we to despair?

Why suffering? Where is God in suffering? It happens, but why. An atheist would perhaps explain it by the fact that we are material beings, we would then be susceptible to pain. If God is infinitely good, and if there is evil, God would not exist. a fair hypothesis.


But for those who believe in God, it may be precisely the fact that God is good that we suffer. Why so? God is omnipotent, thus, all powerful. God is omniscient, thus, all-knowing. God is the greatest good, thus, God is good. Now we may try to fit suffering into the picture.


If God is good, and suffering exists, perhaps suffering is good. I hate syringes, but I know at times, it is for my own good that I receive an injection. If God is all-knowing, he knows what is best for us, It may be probable that He gives us suffering now to have eternal glory in the next life. Most of us call to God only when we are in pain, isn't that true? Perhaps suffering is a wake-up call by God, so that we may cling to Him. God is omnipotent, He would be able to raise us to life even after death and much suffering. So this would also be a fair hypothesis.

Now we see the 2 hypotheses on the meaning of suffering. Which would we choose? Would we choose the atheistic argument? A reasonable man, when he reaches the crossroads would choose the most favourable path. Which would be more favourable if we can't really prove any of them? The atheistic argument is a path to despair; the theist argument is a path of hope. Choose.

The Fight For Holy Water =)

After the Easter Vigil Mass, where holy water was blessed, parishioners of Immaculate Conception rushed to get some of it. I find these photos amusing. I hope you do too. =)

Star Wars Easter Eggs!

Darth Maul, Chewbacca and an Ewok cannot escape the celebration of the Risen Lord. =)

Photo from the Star Wars blog.

The Lord is Risen!

Dear viewers,

The Lord is truly risen from the dead! Amen! Alleluia! May the Prince of Life watch always over us. Wishing all a blessed Easter.

Here are some photos on the Easter A.D. 2009 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing by Pope Benedict XVI. Pictures are from the New Liturgical Movement.





May the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, in whose power and authority we have confidence, intercede on our behalf to the Lord.
Amen.

Through the prayers and merits of the Blessed Mary ever-virgin, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of Blessed John the Baptist, and of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the saints, may Almighty God have mercy on you, and with your sins forgiven, may Jesus Christ lead you into everlasting life.
Amen.

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant you indulgence, absolution, and remission of all your sins, time for a true and fruitful penance, an always repentant heart and amendment of life, the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit, and final perseverance in good works.
Amen.

And may the blessing of Almighty God, + the Father, + the Son, and + the Holy Spirit, descend on you and remain with you always.
Amen.

p.s. Stay tune for some posts on Easter. =)

A Stormtrooper at the G-20 Summit

The influence of the empire spreads far and wide. =)