The Religious Studies courses in the Holy Spirit Seminary College began on Thursday evening. There are twelve meetings in each course. The first course I attended was "Moral Theology" taught by Fr. Robert Ng, S.J. Today, I attended the "Introduction to Theology" course taught by Fr. Simon Wong, S.J. Theology is new to me. The courses are very interesting and thought provoking.
Fr. Wong told us emphatically that his philosophy of education was one of chaperon. He would accompany us, give us the key to open the door of knowledge. Once we were able to get in, we would be able to take whatever we desired. Fr. Wong did not speak fast. At times, he could be humourous.
Fr. Wong made it clear that philosophy was essential in the study of theology. Once, he mentioned that a priest said that theology did not help much in doing pastoral work. He asked us to comment on this statement. There are 22 Year One students. We came from various backgrounds. Unexpectedly, the question elicited very enthusiastic responses from us. Some classmates thought that theology was an academic pursuit. It was not some kind of applied ethics. Therefore, the statement was correct. Some others blamed the priest for failing to apply what he had learned to concrete needs. Yet others suggested the possibility that the priest had not understood theology thoroughly enough such that he was not able to apply theology in his pastoral works. All our discussions centred around the application of theology.
Fr. Wong affirmed the importance of theological reflections. The Lord had commissioned his disciples to preach the good news to all the nations (Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:47), all the world (Mark 16:15), and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). Fr. Wong said that "the end of the earth" was romantic. Yet, in real life, when you reach "the end of the earth", you will find that it is not romantic at all. You will be confronted by various concrete thorny problems: language, customs and culture etc. That is the reason why we need to study theology. We need to conduct a systematic reflection of the problems. We are doing theology.
Fr. Wong made it clear that philosophy was essential in the study of theology. Once, he mentioned that a priest said that theology did not help much in doing pastoral work. He asked us to comment on this statement. There are 22 Year One students. We came from various backgrounds. Unexpectedly, the question elicited very enthusiastic responses from us. Some classmates thought that theology was an academic pursuit. It was not some kind of applied ethics. Therefore, the statement was correct. Some others blamed the priest for failing to apply what he had learned to concrete needs. Yet others suggested the possibility that the priest had not understood theology thoroughly enough such that he was not able to apply theology in his pastoral works. All our discussions centred around the application of theology.
Fr. Wong affirmed the importance of theological reflections. The Lord had commissioned his disciples to preach the good news to all the nations (Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:47), all the world (Mark 16:15), and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). Fr. Wong said that "the end of the earth" was romantic. Yet, in real life, when you reach "the end of the earth", you will find that it is not romantic at all. You will be confronted by various concrete thorny problems: language, customs and culture etc. That is the reason why we need to study theology. We need to conduct a systematic reflection of the problems. We are doing theology.
St. Paul continued his contemplation on incarnation and redemption. Naturally, he made the following statement.
And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him (Colossians 1:21-22)
I found verse 21 difficult to convince Chinese. How do we tell them, convince them that we are all sinners?
If we are not sinners, we do not need redemption/salvation. Jesus and his gospel will have nothing to do with us.
Chinese have their deep culture. They see highly of themselves. They do not see what sins they have committed against God. I wonder how Matteo Ricci was able to convert some government officials. How did Matteo Ricci tell them that they were sinners, doing evil deeds? Here we have a problem. Here is "the end of the earth". It is a concrete thorny problem. We need to think our way out.
And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him (Colossians 1:21-22)
I found verse 21 difficult to convince Chinese. How do we tell them, convince them that we are all sinners?
If we are not sinners, we do not need redemption/salvation. Jesus and his gospel will have nothing to do with us.
Chinese have their deep culture. They see highly of themselves. They do not see what sins they have committed against God. I wonder how Matteo Ricci was able to convert some government officials. How did Matteo Ricci tell them that they were sinners, doing evil deeds? Here we have a problem. Here is "the end of the earth". It is a concrete thorny problem. We need to think our way out.
Dear Lord, I am a novice in theology. I pray that I may finish this 4-year course and serve You better. Amen.
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