St. Anne’s feast - St. Anne church Bukit Mertajam

I just returned from St. Anne’s Church, Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia. I went there with the hope of taking pictures of all the fifteen stations of the cross. The weather is so gloomy, the photos turned out very unimpressive.

But something struck me. Hmmmm…I wonder if we have overdone on the sorrowful part of Catholicsm? You see, there are fifteen crosses and only one is a happy one, i.e. the resurrection of Christ.

Does that make us Catholics, such hopeless, sad, sombre, painful, suffering, bullied, bloodied, agonising people? I mean, does the total images of Christ final journey give people who do not know Christ that perception that they need to worship Christ out of pity?

I don’t think Jesus would like that, you know?

Because the other day an auntie who was going to leave the world any minute asked me, “Why do they beat Him so much?” (she saw some images from a book) She was not well enough to listen to long sermons. And I cannot explain about salvation and the need to be ‘wash clean of our sins’ to a dying person. So, I immediately told her that Christ is human, and like all humans, He had to suffer to know our pains. Auntie then had a relaxing look, knowing that Christ suffered too. She displayed her faith by putting her hands together and prayed to the crucifix hanging above her door. I left her and told her that Christ is watching over her all the time. Before that, I also told her that Christ is in Heaven waiting for those who believed in Him. May she RIP and may Christ has mercy on her and all the others.

So, Catholics, are we focusing too much on the suffering Christ or are we displaying the hope of the resurrection more?

Oh ya, the St. Anne’s feast is tomorrow, 26th July 2008.  Catch the ‘Thaipusam’ mood at St. Anne’s.  Such colourful display of faiths from devotees to St. Anne.  I bet 50% of those who made a trip there aren’t Christians.  But St. Anne will bring them to know her grandson Jesus, I am sure.