This morning, Fr. Patrick celebrated 11 a.m. Mass. He told us that today is also the feast day of St. Ambrose, the patron saint of our choir. He took an unusual step to give a very brief account of the life of St. Ambrose in the homily. Indeed today, Deacon Tsang was responsible for the homily. We were doing the Rite of Acceptance 收錄禮 at 11 a.m. mass.
The life of St. Ambrose was legendary. Therefore, Fr. Patrick selected a few events to highlight the life of this saint. He was not yet baptized when the people of Milan chose him to be their bishop in 374! At first, he did not accept but later, Ambrose acquiesced and received baptism. 8 days later in December 7, 374, he was ordained a priest and later consecrated the bishop of Milan. Therefore, unlike most saints, his feast day celebrates his ordination, not his death. St Ambrose fought against the Arian heresy, sometimes with his political muscles, became the teacher of St. Augustine and was counted one of the most important Church Fathers. He was well versed in both Greek and Latin. In the end of this brief introduction, Fr. Patrick also mentioned the contribution of PIME priests in Hong Kong. He counted this as a legacy of St. Ambrose.
Now, it was Deacon Tsang's turn. His homily time was cut short by Fr. Patrick. So, he went directly into his speech. He pulled out a little banner on which was written 10000000. He told the catechumens that when they made God the centre of their life, this is what they would get. However, when they turned away from God, he turned his banner upside down, they would get 00000001. He used this to illustrate the concept of repentance, a turning back to God, mentioned in the gospel today.
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4).
Of course, he did not mention ten million what but he strongly hinted that it was Hong Kong dollars. By any standard, this sum of money could only be a dream for most people. The value, advantage of turning back to God can only be poorly indicated in monetary terms. Can the love of God be measured by money? Perhaps for catechumen, this illustration is meaningful and I should not be too harsh with the creativity of Deacon Tsang.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night (Psalm 90:4).
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:8-9).
The author of the second epistle of Peter had a certain idea about the end of the world. Probably that was the idea held by his contemporaries as well. The Psalmist tried to convey the idea that God is above and beyond time. A thousand years for Him is insignificant, is but one day. However, the author of 2Peter was making a word-play. He turned the Psalmist around and said that for God, a day is as a thousand years. Since God is the master of space and time, He would manipulate time at His pleasure. So, spending a day like a thousand years is OK for Him, but mind-boggling for us. In Chinese, we have an idiom describing the harshness of life as 度日如年, spending a day like years, not to mention a millennium!
The author of 2Peter also mentioned how the end of the world comes about.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! (2 Peter 3:10-12).
He mentioned "the elements will melt/be dissolved with fire" twice. That was probably the popular belief of the day. It looks like the sun becoming a red giant in her final days when she expands and engulf even the earth. If that be the case, we will not be seeing it in our life time. Our concern should be our repentance. We should repent now. Don't wait until it is too late, until there is no turning back.
My Lord, melt not the elements, but our hearts. Grant us the grace to repent. Amen.
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