Some old memories induced by today's Gospel

Today’s Gospel, Mk 7:31-37,  is a particularly memorable one for me, because that is the one I remembered in one of the Sunday Masses I attended shortly after my baptism in 1950. That Mass was celebrated in that one and only big San-Min Road Catholic Church in Taichung of Taichung Diocese by Father Liu Yu-Sheng, the priest who baptized my Mom.  Father Liu was from the Hunan province with his fairly strong native dialect.  His homily was based on the one line "Ephphatha!"-- that is, "Be opened!" -- (Mk 7:34) which in Chinese says: “開了吧!”.  Father Liu said it slowly which was impressed in me so much that I can still hear it in my mind's ear those three simple words in Hunan-nese dialect.  After over 60 years I am not sure my ear has totally opened for God's teaching yet.  I hope Father Liu will still remembers me and continue pray for me on my ear’s total opening to God.  By the way my Dad was also baptized by a Father Liu, Rev. Liu Teh-tsong in the 1960's in Peitou Catrholic Church.  I was baptized by Father Cheng Wu-Wau a few weeks after my Mom in Taichung. So this sums up some tidbit in my family memory I would like to jot down while my memory is still clear and sharp!  Now here is today's Holy Father's Angelus reflections in English.  Vatican Radio entitled it as "A small word of infinite meaning!" Quite similar to Father Liu Yu-Sheng's preaching 61 years ago when he spoke on " 開了吧!”.

Remembering Stuart

I composed this poem in March on the day of Stuart's funeral, I'll reposted it here.  I still can not believe that Stuart is no longer with us -- that's just something should not happen but happened untimely. 

Remembering Stuart, 劉大哥:

When I first saw you, we were not yet know each other.
That was during the nuptial mass on your wedding day,
I happened to be the altar boy serving the mass.
I still remember my thoughts: “What a lovely couple God has put together!”
I was lucky to also became a member of the Wang family,
and lucky still to then have you as a big brother!
You are always kind, gracious, and

 considerate to everyone.
You are always the pillar of the family we all look up to for guidance.
We’ll never understand why God would snatch you away so untimely. 
We are all terribly missing your kind voice and smiling face.
Not a consolation, but I know we’ll meet again -- --
in the world ever shall be without end.
So Remembering  until we meet again,
Dear Stuart, our older brother Liu, 劉大哥,
God speed on your new journey and rest in peace!

A poem by 胡適

Here's a poem by  胡適 which I first read when I was in the first year of senior high school (~10th grade).  I have always remember it but never could find it.  Somehow with the help of Google search I managed to finally rediscovered it today from here :

往日歸来，才望見竹竿尖，才望見吾村，便心頭亂跳，  

遥知前面，老母望我，含淚相迎。

“來了？好呀？”—— 更無别話，説盡心頭歡喜悲酸無限情，

偷回首，揩乾淚眼，招呼茶飯，款待歸人。

今朝——依舊竹竿尖，依舊溪橋——只少了我的心頭狂跳——

何消説一世的深恩未報！   

何消説十年來的家庭夢想，   

都雲散烟銷！

只今日到家時，更何處能尋她那一聲   

“好呀，來了！”

For obvious reason I feel much more deeply about this poetry, I have to save keep it on this blog for now that I have found it!  This is not, as far as I can surmise, one of the most famous works of 胡適.  I have yet to see any one else mention or comment on this poem -- other than what I remembered reading it in my 10th grade text book in Chinese literature 62 years ago.  But it always hangs around in my mind, or in my heart, especially in those last years of my parents' life.  My Mom never say“好呀，來了！”I don't really recall what was Mom's first greeting except we always had a hearty hug. But my Dad always greets me with a very pleasantly surprised question "Aeeeh How did you get back?" indicating that he was truly surprised and happy to see me.  Re-read this poem again the two lines give me more sentimental feelings now than when I was in 10th grade are:

—— 更無别話，説盡心頭歡喜悲酸無限情，

偷回首，揩乾淚眼，招呼茶飯，款待歸人。

I don't think there's a better expression than "説盡心頭歡喜悲酸無限情".  I guess there's one thing Hu and I have in common is that we both are the only son of our mother.  My Mom tended to express her emotion more directly, but I can always sense and echo that  "歡喜悲酸無限情" in my Mom's heart.  I don't think I'll ever be able to sufficiently put in words of the feeling over the years since Mom passed away.  For now, this Hu's poem can be a substitute for me.  I am really happy and thank the Holy Spirit for helping me finding it on the internet. Deo Gratias!