I've just returned from a very brief but extremely intense retreat.

Within just over 24 hours, we had reflected upon Christ's passion, death, and resurrection. We had also reflected on salvation history - the story of creation and how God once again initiated a series of covenants with man and woman so that they might enter into his gift of salvation.

All these reflections were done that those who were about to be baptised at the Easter Vigil next week would come to a deeper realisation (and internalisation) of their call into the mystical Body of Christ. As for those who were already a part of this community called Catholic, it was a reminder and re-experiencing of their baptismal covenant with God and the community.

The Elect, a name given by the Church to those about to be baptised into the faith, were intensely reminded of what it meant to be followers of Jesus Christ. They were told in this retreat, over and over again, that they had to be willing to carry their crosses to follow Christ, that they have to crucify themselves that they might die with Christ and be raised with Him in baptism.

The Elect were told that in this life, they could and should expect to receive suffering and pain, and be willing to take the higher way of being disempowered, being lesser people, being the losers, being last, and being seen as odd failures in a world that was walking in the opposite direction. Basically, being like Jesus.

I remember how I used to preach this in some Protestant communities when I was a Protestant. Many times, I was told that I had carried the gospel too far and taken scriptures too literally. The gospel was an ancient book and had to be reinterpreted in a modern context, they said.

This was certainly not the gospel I've heard throughout this retreat. In this retreat, once again, I call to mind the baptismal calling of all followers of the Way.

A blessed Holy Week to you, my friends who are carriers of the cross. And more so, to my friends who stand at the door of the Church as the Elect of God, awaiting the glorious day of their spiritual resurrection and baptism into the Body of God's Faithful.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
And blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death.