This Week’s Two New Articles

Answer to the travel picture on Home Page: Lamego, Portugal

Note: Do check out the new books available for download (in the weekly newsletter).

During my recent sermon, I took the scripture from 1 Thessalonians, which mentions the Greek city of Thessaloniki. I’d traveled to that city before. Besides visiting a small chapel related to Paul’s missionary work there, I also visited a nearly 20-foot-tall statue by the sea. This statue commemorates Alexander the Great, who established the Greek Empire around 330 BCE. He is depicted riding his famed horse, Bucephalus, which accompanied him for 20 years. Nearby stands a row of spears, representing the invincible phalanx formation in Asia Minor, the Middle East, and Persia. In ancient times, Thessaloniki belonged to the Kingdom of Macedonia, Alexander’s homeland. Ascending the throne at 20, Alexander spent the next 13 years unifying the Greek states and launching eastward campaigns, toppling the Persian Empire to establish his own. However, he died at a young age of 32, and his empire was soon divided among his generals.

During travel, our guides often stop by statues of notable figures to recount how these individuals wielded immense influence in religion, military affairs, culture, or politics. When I was young, I enjoyed imitating the poses of famous statues for pictures. Later, I learned that this practice was disrespectful and hence I’ve stopped doing it.

Erecting a statue is typically intended to commemorate someone for his/her achievements, yet decisions about where and how a statue is made are influenced by politics and culture. In modern times, we’ve seen many statues of once-revered figures toppled, their legacies discredited due to shifting societal values or democratic revolutions. Some even become objects of public disdain and anger.

When I look at statues of renowned individuals, I often think about the countless unnamed people behind their success. Many of them gave up their time, effort, and even their lives, yet history has forgotten them. For example, the soldiers who followed Alexander the Great on his eastern campaigns—some left home only to perish on the battlefield. Others joined the military and were gone for years. After conquering a region, some were assigned as local officials. They settled there and never returned home. Whether they were soldiers or laborers supporting logistics, many never saw their homeland again, leaving their families uncertain about how to face the future.

In my youth, I read countless stories of heroes and famous figures. Inevitably, I dreamed of becoming a celebrity someday. As I grew older, I realized that heroism is relative, defined by an individual’s achievements for a particular nation or group. Often, heroes of invading forces brought devastation to indigenous peoples. Heroes of royal families or aristocrats frequently exacerbated the plight of commoners. When religion and politics intertwined, they exploited each other, bringing power and wealth to the heroes while leaving uneducated laborers to toil in poverty.

After all, evaluating a person should involve considering their character and morality. With this perspective, I’d rather live an ordinary life. As long as I understand the life calling I’ve received from God, seize opportunities to learn, and use my talents to contribute to humanity, I’ll be content. Being a person who loves God and others, upholds moral values, and brings joy to myself and those around me is a great fulfillment.

***************************************************************************************************************

Recently, we visited Portugal and saw many varieties of roosters on display in souvenir shops. Then our tour guide told us a legend, explaining why roosters are considered a lucky symbol in the country.

The symbol of the rooster is woven into the fabric of many cultures, but few stories are as poignant as its appearances in the Gospel books of the Bible and the legends of Portugal. In both narratives, the rooster embodies themes of faith and redemption, inviting us to ponder the deeper meanings embedded in them.

In the Gospels of the New Testament, the rooster’s crow is associated with one of the most emotional moments in the Passion narrative—Peter’s denial of the Lord. Jesus predicted that Peter, one of His most devoted disciples, would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. This prophecy is recounted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, highlighting its significance.

Peter initially vowed he would never deny the Lord. Yet, as the events unfolded, fear overtook him. Confronted by bystanders who recognized him as a follower of Jesus, Peter denied knowing the Lord three times. Then the rooster crowed. Peter remembered the Lord’s prophecy and was struck by the painful truth of his actions. He wept bitterly, a testament to human frailty and the struggles of maintaining faith under duress.

The rooster’s crow marked a moment of self-awareness for Peter, who later became a pillar of the early Church and gave up his life as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Across the seas in Barcelos, Portugal, another legendary tale involving a rooster captivates our imagination. This folktale tells the story of a traveling pilgrim falsely accused of theft in the town of Barcelos. Despite his protestations of innocence, he was sentenced to hang. In a desperate plea for justice, the pilgrim requested an audience with the judge, who was dining with friends.

To prove his innocence, the pilgrim pointed to a cooked rooster on the dining table and proclaimed that it would crow as a sign of his truth. The judge didn’t believe him and dismissed his appeal—until, miraculously, the rooster crowed. Shocked by this divine intervention, the judge realized the man’s innocence and spared his life, preventing a grave miscarriage of justice.

The rooster in this legend symbolizes divine truth and protection for the innocent. It serves as a reminder of the power of faith and the belief that justice, although sometimes delayed, will prevail. The Rooster of Barcelos has since become a cultural icon of Portugal, representing honesty, integrity, and trust.

Though separated by geography and context, the stories of the rooster in the Gospels and the Rooster of Barcelos reveal shared themes underlying human existence. Both accounts present the rooster as a harbinger of important moral truths and personal transformation. Whether waking Peter to his failings or crowing for the pilgrim’s vindication, the rooster stands as a symbol of hope, redemption, and the enduring quest for justice.