The sermon today by Rev Steve Lie, at GKI Wahid Hasyim today, Palm Sunday 2018, 25 March 2018.
It's taken from Mark 15: "Pengadilan, keadilan atau kepentingan?" -- "Court, justice or interest?".
The reverend reminds the congregation that full justice cannot be found in this world, as it has never been. It was culminated in the trial of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ himself. So, don't expect it. But do honest anyway, although you know that you'll be losing in trial and court, because that is how the world is and has been. He also illustrated the Ahok case and 212 rally. He reminds that Barabas' name is also Jesus, and it's a good imitation of Jesus the Christ.
And suddenly I remember my late father. These are resonated his last words to me in 2007, so about 10 years and few months ago before he died. When I was in rage, and told him that I was about to go to court for my industrial relation case, he said "Don't think that if you are right, you'll win. No, it's not the case. Good and righteous people lose their case in courts and trials. So, prepare yourself. Because that is not how the world operates".
Also, suddenly I remember this theme occurs repeatedly in our conversations with friends and family. Also with the books that I read, from CS Lewis to Philip Yancey on this theme: justice. Is God a just God, or not? Is He fair in His decisions? Why good people lose and bad people win?
And see how Jesus responded to that unjust trial?:
1. He answered straightforwardly, no more and no less than the truth.
“Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
And he said no more. Because it was unecessary. It's the truth, and it's undebatable. The reverend says that all people which qualifications are SH or MH know this too well. They know well that a court IS NOT the place to seek for justice.
2. He prayed for them when He's at the cross.
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
He still forgive them anyway. No matter how much they mocked Him and accused Him.
So, it means be honest, and do good, anyway. No matter how, because we know, that we have a better hope, after this life, when we're in better land and be the citizen of the Kingdom of God. The suffering in this world, is necessary, but is temporary. Because when our eyes and our hope are anchored in His Kingdom where His rules fully applied, they're all just different.
Two loss in seven months, born 1977
First loss is on August 9, 2017
Second loss is on March 22, 2018
They died seven months away from each other. They both were born in 1977, one in March and one in September. They both survived by their spouses and one only daughters. They both waited for years before having their first and only child. The first one was married for more than 5 years before having a daughter, the second one was married for about 4 years before having a daughter. The first's daughter named Audy, 5 years old, and the second's Anaia, meaning, Answer from God, 7 months old. And Audrey means, noble and strength.
They both were of my best friends
The first one was my childhood friend, -which means, we're befriended since we were in our early age, like 7 or 9 years old. Our houses are very close, only two houses away, less than 100 meters away. We had so much in common: from the same socio-economic class, and similarly intorverted, a quality which was rarely found in the so-happy-go-round-dancey type of Eastern Indonesia culture like that of my hometown.
The second one was my former co-worker, at the workplace that is our first job after graduated from university. I and my other colleagues interviewed him in 2002, the first time he was entering development job. We have so much in common: graduated from Engineering Faculty, active in Christian students' fellowship unit, and finding development job interesting and intriguing. He went to the same office, and same university.
She was one of the rare friend left in K-town when I return home. He was one of my close cricle of friend that I usually catch up with when I return to J-town. I even have a WA group which members are only four of us: he and his wife, me and C, our mutual friend. I don't know what will happen with that WA group now. Kinda painful.
It's a shock to learn about her death. I cried a lot, I couldn't sleep well for a night or two remembering her, thinking about how empty it's going to be when I'm home and can't meet with her. She died of breast cancer, which was identified a year or so earlier, but she refused to get chemotherapy, and kept saying it's because she's afraid to die. She looked for alternative therapy instead. And she did not survive.
It's a shock to learn about his death, a sudden death, not a protracted one. He was diagnosed gailbladder stone, and developed into leakage in interstine and infection all over the body which could not be saved even after he was evacuated to S-state and being surgery to stop the infection. It was a shock. I went to the hospital right away after my flight from M-town, where he was unconcious for a week, and saw him before he was flown to S-state with ambulance. A week later, they flew him back to J-town, died.
It's quite stressful to learn that they both left "just like that", because they both were younger, and both have NCDs. 40 years and 5 months, and 40 years and 6 months. They both did not see 41.
My head is aching when remembering them. Too much memories in my head, almost unmanageable, from 1980s to 2000s. I have to save and savour them and press them to a space in my brain, and maybe, by time, forget the memories. But for now, I just think, they will still mingling in my mind. They were gone too soon. They we too young.
I know they had their rest from this hustle bustle world. They lay in paradise to wait for the Last Day when we all see Jesus. Only with this hope that I can know well, that it is well with their souls.
And that we shall meet on that beautiful shore...
