Today, we attended the third seminar of the year. The topic is Patrology. This course is offered once every two years. It is conducted by Fr. Victor Aguilar, MCCJ from Macau.
Patrology is the study of the writings of the Church Fathers, spanning from the second to the eighth century. They wrote mainly in Greek and later in Latin, to defend Christianity and orthodoxy. Now, we understand more what Tradition means.
Christianity is not and cannot simply be based on the Bible. Christians struggle with problems and difficulties arising from their interaction with the cultural milieu. They could be persecutions from hostile peoples and states. They could be philosophical challenges from the learned. They could be heretical views within the Christian community. Consequently, Christians come up with a more mature understanding of their faith and hand it down through the generations. This is Tradition. Christ is the source of Christianity. Then, the New Testament is first collections of the reflections of the Apostles. Tradition is a further collection of reflections of Christian faith.
We finished today's session with a mass.
After Transfiguration, Jesus headed Jerusalem. They went past a Samaritan village.
but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:53).
Jews and Samaritans were not in good terms. The Samaritans did not extend their hospitality because the company of Jesus was heading Jerusalem.
And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?" (Luke 9:54)
James and John were known to be hot-tempered. Obviously they were offended by the Samaritans. They had seen the glory of Jesus in Transfiguration. Their hearts were bewildered. Instead of asking Jesus to bid fire come down to consume the Samaritans, they wanted to take justice in their own hands.
When we follow Jesus, meeting difficulties is inevitable. Yet, it is all too human to evade them instead of confronting them. We take short-cuts without thinking carefully the consequences. Jesus would never concur.
Then, we read of three different cases of following Jesus.
A man wanted to follow Jesus wherever he went. Jesus told him to rethink whether he was prepared to lead a poor life.
And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." (Luke 9:58)
Jesus' life is a life of self-renunciation. It is a life dedicated to following God's will. It is a life of total surrender to God. Are we ready to follow?
Next, Jesus called a man to follow him. However, this man was caught unprepared. He wanted to finish off his unfinished business, to settle his family obligations first. He had a differnt priority.
But he (Jesus) said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:60)
Luke does not tell us what became of this man. He was a skilful author. Luke leaves the end open for all of us to complete the ending. We are the man. Jesus tells us to set our priority right. Proclaiming the Kingdom of God should be the top priority for Christians. Have we re-adjusted our priorities to answer God's call?
The last man volunteered to follow Jesus after he had settled his family relationships. He had set his priorities. He had decided to cut off his family ties. But Jesus had a different thought.
Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)
Jesus told the man that there was no need to cut off our family ties. When we follow God, we don't need to look back and worry. God will take care of our worries and the rest.
Dear Lord, have You called me? To what life-station have You intended me? Help me set my priorities right and I trust You will take care of the rest of my life. Amen.
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