Probably Mum tries to retain her memories. She repeats the same stories without variation: how her husband's younger brother used abusive languages against her (Fxxx your mum etc.) in her husband's absence; how she retorted (Speak again and I'll stretch your dick and tie a knot with it!); how she warded off the groping hand; how the wife of a friend abandoned her two little children; how ... I listen patiently. Sometimes I teased her. Sometimes I tried to look at the incidents from another perspective etc. Of course, she will not change her mind, her self perception and pride.
Mum made progress. This evening, I said my evening prayers in her room at 5 p.m. She did not bother me and let me finish my prayers. At half past five, we chatted, mostly trivial things. At 5:50, she poured a glass of brandy and started eating her meal. My brother and myself have accepted the fact that it is impossible for her not to drink. We only hope that she drinks happily, without any wailing and complaining. When she wanted to drink another glass, I deliberately stood beside her, watching her pour the brandy. She was restrained. She poured only one-fifth of a glass. Indeed, she is capable of controlling her drinking. It is only a matter of will. Throughout dinner, there was no wailing, though a bit complaining. Thank You, Lord.
Today, we continue reading Ezekiel 2-3. There are no more otherworldly visions, but down-to-earth mission statements. Ezekiel was sent to a rebellious and stubborn people. He had to speak, whether or not they would listen to him. God made it clear that the mission of a prophet is to pass on God's message. A prophet should not worry about the end result. It is God's business, not mine.
The people also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them; and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.'
And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that there has been a prophet among them (Ezekiel 2:4-5).
Therefore, don't make any excuse not to teach the Bible. Unfortunately, some Catholic schools give up the teaching of CEE Religious Studies. Instead, they only offer some watered-down version of Religious Education or even Moral Education lessons instead. I insist the teaching of CEE RS, whether the students or parents are interested or not. They should be given a chance to know about God. On Judgment Day, they have no excuse.
Then Ezekiel entertained us with the vision of eating a scroll.
and he spread it before me; and it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe (Ezekiel 2:10).
What taste would you expect from this scroll of mourning and woe? Bitter? Sour?
Then I ate it; and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey (Ezekiel 3:3b).
Strange huh? The Psalmist, Jeremiah and Ezekiel found that the word of God is sweet! For Ezekiel, even words of lamentation, mourning and woe are sweet! We really have a lot to learn from them. Probably, lamentation is a kind of sweetness we mistakenly run away from. We have to learn.
Ezekiel took it his responsibility to speak out. As a prophet, we should never be reticent. If we do not speak and people perish, it is our fault (Ezekiel 3:18, 33:8). If we speak and people do not listen, it is their fault (Ezekiel 3:19, 33:9). Though Cain denies it, he is, after all, Abel's keeper. Matthew extends this teaching further.
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother (Matthew 18:15b).
Of course, prophets should extent this and see all the people as their brothers. We should speak up if people are not doing what is right in God's eyes. If people listen to our warning and repent, we have gained our brothers. Otherwise, they would die in their iniquities. Are you happy to see them die? As sons, we cannot bear to see Mum perish.
My dear Advocate, Mum is making progress. She is still bitter and we know bitterness hurts. Have mercy on her and grant her peace. Amen.
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