Christianity has her personal as well as social faces. Some Christians emphasize their personal relationship with God. Others emphasize social justice and see serving the needy as an inroad to encounter God. Being a Chinese Christian, I see the teachings of Confucius as a treasury of gems glowing with Christian lights. Of course, Confucism is not Christ-centred. How could it be? But I am confident that it is a piece of fertile soil for the enrichment of Christianity. Take the passage from 【大學】 for an illustration. It charts eight stages of personal growth. They are:
格物、致知、誠意、正心、修身、齊家、治國、平天下。
It begins with empirical experience, intellect, mind, heart, personality, family, country and the whole world. Our personal growth does not stop short at the family level but the global level. Remember, it was a time of collectivity. The concept of an individual was unknown. Some would argue that 平天下is the political ideal of Confucius. Yet, it begins with our personal experience and fixes our eyes towards the whole world. What a balanced and grand plan!
Christian spirituality stresses much on the personal union with God in contemplation. The whole object is to melt ourselves in God. No. our Lord Jesus Christ has a much grander vision. He is the Lord of the universe. God's object of redemption is not confined to man, but the whole Creation. Therefore, we should not stop short at our personal union with God, but the universal union of the whole Creation with God. St. Paul said it well in the letter to the Romans.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God;
for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope;
because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now;
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:19-23).
John 17 does not mention the Holy Spirit. In the reading today, John 17:20-26, Jesus stresses a lot not so much about a personal union with the Father, but the collective union of the Christian community with the Father. Jesus prayed
that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,
I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me (John 17:21-23).
Indeed, this social, even universal aspect of spirituality needs to be stressed more if we are genuine Christians. Confucius has offered a practicable signposts to follow the Way. I really feel blessed to be a Chinese Christian.
My Advocate, may we be diligent in following the Way. May our hearts desire more than an intimate personal union with the Blessed Trinity. May we desire what Jesus desires, pray what Jesus prays for. May the whole Creation be restored and transcended. In this month of Our Lady, may the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother, be our Mediatrix and our Perpetual Help. Amen.
Comment from THEGODOFJESUSCHRIST:
"Jesus declared...'salvation is from the Jews. ... the true worshipers will worship THE FATHER.' "
(John 4:23,24)(NIV)-BibleGateway
May 11, 2008.
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