I am very inch. Humility is a virtue I am in want. Today, I don't want to write about the tragedy in the Philippines. Many people have spoken more than enough and today, many people organize many prayer services and processions. Our senses (including common sense) have been bombarded non-stop by feeds after feeds from the mass media. Enough is enough.
The opening ceremony for a new school year for my studies in the Holy Spirit Seminary College of Theology & Philosophy was held today. I took part in sharing together with Teresa Ng, as Year 2 students, our study experiences with the Year One newcomers. There were a couple of familiar faces.
Among them, the LaSalle boys are doing well. Fr. Lui Chi Man, Dominic, swore in today as a professor teaching moral theology. Paul, who has already obtained a PhD in psychology, came to study the Licentiate in Theology course. He said he loved teaching and saw that a lot of professors in the College were ageing. He wanted to study theology and in the future teach in the College. His aunt, Teresa Ng, my classmate told me that Paul would get married next year.
Betty Wong studied the Biblical Diploma course with me six years ago. She came, one year behind me, to further enhance her biblical understanding.
Tam Chun Ho, a friend of teenage days from Choi Hung, also came to study. His wife had attended this opening ceremony and she told me that she had already finished this course some years ago. How sweet it is that husband and wife take turns to study!
I feel good about this college of Theology & Philosophy because many elite and fervour Catholics come here to enhance their knowledge of the Catholic faith.
Many professors co-celebrated the opening mass in the afternoon. Fr. Lam Chung Wai, Simon, the Provincial of the Salesians Don Bosco, was the concelebrant with Bishop John Tong. Fr. Lam spoke in the homily on the theme of the gospel reading --- humility. He distinguished three levels of humility. It was the first time for me to hear the homily of Fr. Simon Lam. Unfortunately, I was already tired and not able to fully pick up his homily. What a pity! I have to dig up from the Internet what "three levels of humility" are. From a 1910 article in the Catholic Encyclopedia, one may discover that St. Benedict spoke about 12 degrees of humility and St. Anselm seven! These saints do NOT impress me with humility, at far as the intellectual dimension is concerned.
Humility is no longer a value, not to mention virtue, in modern society which is marked by its competitiveness. People need to outshine his colleagues in order to survive and to get promoted. This is understandable. But challenging and criticizing the government, the authority are fashionable. For example, 8 Hongkongers were gunned down in a hijack incident in Manila. The Philippine president and police have drawn a lot of criticisms as a result of this botched rescue operation. Tens of thousands of Hongkongers took to the street today to show their dissatisfaction of the incompetence of the Philippine government in the name of justice, one of the four cardinal virtues!
Nothing can happen without God's consent. For the sake of argument, let us assume that this tragedy is God's will. The 8 Hongkongers and the hijacker were all victims of an incompetent government disabled by corruption. Then, shall we not submit to God's will? This submission is the first level of humility.
Two cases of dismissal of domestic helpers caused by this tragedy have been confirmed. Some people have forgotten how much these domestic helpers have contributed to the economy of Hong Kong. They have released a lot of housewives to join the workforce of Hong Kong, enhancing her economy. The ability to recognize the virtues and talents others possess is the second level of humility.
Perhaps due to Interpol agreements, the Hong Kong Government has sent five police and forensic officers to collect evidence from the tourist coach, the crime scene of this hijack incident in the Philippines. I am rather pessimistic with the outcomes. If the Hong Kong people are willing to accept the limit of the talents and authority of our officers, we have attained the third level of humility.
In his homily, Fr. Simon Lam told us a story of a crippled child buying a crippled dog in a pet shop. It was a touching story, teaching us the true meaning of humility. However, humility does not seem to occupy any place in the Manila tragedy. Hong Kong people are demanding justice instead. How does humility go hand in hand with the demand of justice? This is really a challenging question to meditate on.
Dear Lord, my sins and my sickness are before my eyes continuously. They teach me to be humble. My Lord, I submit my life to Your will. Amen.
Sunday 29 August 2010
Sunday 22 August 2010
Retreat for Married Couples
Erminia and I stayed away from our routines to attend a retreat for married couples. Both of us are badly in need of a retreat to align our spirits to God. This is a most welcomed opportunity. It is organized by the Permanent Deaconate. Permanent deacons are supposed to be more experienced in married life and thus more natural and suitable to handle the spiritual formation for married couples. Indeed, the spiritual directors are Fr. Benedict Lam who sits in the Diocesan Commission for the Permanent Diaconate, and the freshly ordained Deacon Bosco Wong. Mrs Cecilia Ng, wife of Deacon Edwin Ng, also ran one of the programmes in the retreat. More than 15 couples coming from different parishes attended this retreat. Most of them knew of this retreat from Kung Kao Pao, the Chinese weekly magazine.
To begin with, we introduced ourselves, with a particular emphasis on our mood at that moment. Most were expectant, happy, sweet and confident. Some, like us, were exhausted because we did not know the location of the Diocesan Retreat House in Chung Hum Kok well enough and had strayed for nearly an hour to find the building which was dedicated by the late Bishop Bianchi in 1965.
In fact, Erminia and I were exhausted for one more reason. My father was hospitalized for pneumonia. It was too heavy a burden for my brother to take care of both my father and my mother. I will not be able to do much once school begins. Therefore, Erminia and I decided to visit my father daily. Our visits do not lighten any of my brother's burdens. They are only gestures to support him emotionally. Erminia and my mother have a different chemistry. My brother and I cannot help clashing with mum over the issue of alcoholism. But Erminia is able to inject more positive elements in between.
We were told to focus on our mood for a reason. This was the first step of the "Examination of Consciousness", an Ignatian Spiritual Exercise, which Fr. Benedict Lam is very fond of teaching us. He explained to us the steps and gave us Biblical passages for individual reflection. After individual reflection, each couple came together to share with their spouse. He had established with us the basic routine of married couples spirituality. Many people can pray and meditate fruitfully as an individual. Many people can share within a group of Basic Christian Community. However, sharing something spiritual with somebody so intimately related is a totally new experience and needs practice. In our sharing, I was still cerebral. But at least, I know more that I am weak in articulating my moods and emotions.
His second talk after dinner threw a new perspective on the rosy picture we used to entertain about the Holy Family. In fact, most of the narratives about the Holy Family we found in the two Synoptic Gospels are not at all fairy tales. There are quite a lot of darker realities. Life in each family is difficult in its unique way. No two families confront the same difficulties. It is how each family, guided by God, overcomes its difficulties that we should learn. Joseph and Mary stood together to rear up Jesus. The burden of providing a good spiritual milieu for the children is laid on the parents. Husbands and wives have to build up a solid spiritual bond to provide for the spiritual formation of their children. In our sharing of the darker side of our family life, I expressed my worries about my second son, Wulstan. It seemed to me that he had not yet recovered from the trauma of pyramid selling in his year 2. At the moment, he has not secured for himself a "proper" employment. Erminia had a different view. She takes note of the artistic temperament of this son and reassures me that Wulstan has his own targets. Rather, she is more worried about the study and prayer habits of Symphorian, our youngest son.
The next morning, couples prayed together before they started their morning walk together outside the Retreat House for an hour. Erminia and I could explore more around the region and had a good sharing on the present situation of our family. After breakfast, Mrs. Cecilia Ng instructed us to meditate on the story of the Cana banquet. We were following the procedures of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercise, but putting ourselves into one of the roles in the story. There was one extra step. At the end of sharing between the couples, they should pray for each other. In our sharing, I know that I always play safe and allow God little room for any surprises.
The reporting back at the plenary session was candid, colourful and enthusiastic. There were laughters and tears as well. Mrs. Ng had to cut the sharing short. Then Deacon Wong gave us a talk on the relationship between the sacrament of Matrimony with the six other sacraments. For sacraments which we receive only once, viz. Baptism, Confirmation, Matrimony and Holy Order, they are life-long sacraments in the sense that we live the sacrament with our whole life. The sacraments unfold their effectiveness throughout our whole life. In his talk, I am much interested in the idea of Anointment as a healing sacrament. Deacon Wong explained that a lot of happy and unhappy events took place within our married life. These events would purify us and illuminate us. As an assignment, each one of us wrote down an incident, how it purified/illuminated our life and then composed a prayer for our spouse, to be read to each other the evening after retreat.
I have an extra benefit. His talk inspires me to make up my mind to write a thesis to explore the healing role more. Domestic violence is rampant and family is where it hurts most. What role can the sacrament of Anointment play in married life? It would be an interesting topic.
Our last assignment after lunch was to write a letter to our spouse. We would send them to Deacon Ng who would keep it for one month before sending them out the intended recipients. The organizers of the retreat plan to keep the momentum of married couples spirituality even after the retreat.
The retreat came to a close with the celebration of the Sunday Mass. Fr. Benedict Lam gave a shattering but relevant reading of the gospel to all the couples.
Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'
But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!' (Luke 13:26-27)
Imagine spending several decades with your spouse. But in the end, when you meet again somewhere before entering heaven, your spouse says, "I do not know you." even though you say, "We ate and drank together in our previous life." How miserable! Our lives must not only be physically, emotionally linked. We must grow and be sanctified together in our spirits.
Dear Lord, I pray for Erminia and my children. May they enjoy a happy and spiritually fruitful life. Amen.
To begin with, we introduced ourselves, with a particular emphasis on our mood at that moment. Most were expectant, happy, sweet and confident. Some, like us, were exhausted because we did not know the location of the Diocesan Retreat House in Chung Hum Kok well enough and had strayed for nearly an hour to find the building which was dedicated by the late Bishop Bianchi in 1965.
In fact, Erminia and I were exhausted for one more reason. My father was hospitalized for pneumonia. It was too heavy a burden for my brother to take care of both my father and my mother. I will not be able to do much once school begins. Therefore, Erminia and I decided to visit my father daily. Our visits do not lighten any of my brother's burdens. They are only gestures to support him emotionally. Erminia and my mother have a different chemistry. My brother and I cannot help clashing with mum over the issue of alcoholism. But Erminia is able to inject more positive elements in between.
We were told to focus on our mood for a reason. This was the first step of the "Examination of Consciousness", an Ignatian Spiritual Exercise, which Fr. Benedict Lam is very fond of teaching us. He explained to us the steps and gave us Biblical passages for individual reflection. After individual reflection, each couple came together to share with their spouse. He had established with us the basic routine of married couples spirituality. Many people can pray and meditate fruitfully as an individual. Many people can share within a group of Basic Christian Community. However, sharing something spiritual with somebody so intimately related is a totally new experience and needs practice. In our sharing, I was still cerebral. But at least, I know more that I am weak in articulating my moods and emotions.
His second talk after dinner threw a new perspective on the rosy picture we used to entertain about the Holy Family. In fact, most of the narratives about the Holy Family we found in the two Synoptic Gospels are not at all fairy tales. There are quite a lot of darker realities. Life in each family is difficult in its unique way. No two families confront the same difficulties. It is how each family, guided by God, overcomes its difficulties that we should learn. Joseph and Mary stood together to rear up Jesus. The burden of providing a good spiritual milieu for the children is laid on the parents. Husbands and wives have to build up a solid spiritual bond to provide for the spiritual formation of their children. In our sharing of the darker side of our family life, I expressed my worries about my second son, Wulstan. It seemed to me that he had not yet recovered from the trauma of pyramid selling in his year 2. At the moment, he has not secured for himself a "proper" employment. Erminia had a different view. She takes note of the artistic temperament of this son and reassures me that Wulstan has his own targets. Rather, she is more worried about the study and prayer habits of Symphorian, our youngest son.
The next morning, couples prayed together before they started their morning walk together outside the Retreat House for an hour. Erminia and I could explore more around the region and had a good sharing on the present situation of our family. After breakfast, Mrs. Cecilia Ng instructed us to meditate on the story of the Cana banquet. We were following the procedures of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercise, but putting ourselves into one of the roles in the story. There was one extra step. At the end of sharing between the couples, they should pray for each other. In our sharing, I know that I always play safe and allow God little room for any surprises.
The reporting back at the plenary session was candid, colourful and enthusiastic. There were laughters and tears as well. Mrs. Ng had to cut the sharing short. Then Deacon Wong gave us a talk on the relationship between the sacrament of Matrimony with the six other sacraments. For sacraments which we receive only once, viz. Baptism, Confirmation, Matrimony and Holy Order, they are life-long sacraments in the sense that we live the sacrament with our whole life. The sacraments unfold their effectiveness throughout our whole life. In his talk, I am much interested in the idea of Anointment as a healing sacrament. Deacon Wong explained that a lot of happy and unhappy events took place within our married life. These events would purify us and illuminate us. As an assignment, each one of us wrote down an incident, how it purified/illuminated our life and then composed a prayer for our spouse, to be read to each other the evening after retreat.
I have an extra benefit. His talk inspires me to make up my mind to write a thesis to explore the healing role more. Domestic violence is rampant and family is where it hurts most. What role can the sacrament of Anointment play in married life? It would be an interesting topic.
Our last assignment after lunch was to write a letter to our spouse. We would send them to Deacon Ng who would keep it for one month before sending them out the intended recipients. The organizers of the retreat plan to keep the momentum of married couples spirituality even after the retreat.
The retreat came to a close with the celebration of the Sunday Mass. Fr. Benedict Lam gave a shattering but relevant reading of the gospel to all the couples.
Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'
But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!' (Luke 13:26-27)
Imagine spending several decades with your spouse. But in the end, when you meet again somewhere before entering heaven, your spouse says, "I do not know you." even though you say, "We ate and drank together in our previous life." How miserable! Our lives must not only be physically, emotionally linked. We must grow and be sanctified together in our spirits.
Dear Lord, I pray for Erminia and my children. May they enjoy a happy and spiritually fruitful life. Amen.
Sunday 15 August 2010
Feast of the Assumption of the BVM 2010
On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII exercised his infallibility authority to issue a Bull, MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS, to declare the Assumption of the BVM a dogma for the Catholic Church. I have always argued that the Ascension of Jesus is necessary to preserve our religious freedom. Had Jesus remained on earth after his Resurrection, humanity would have been deprived the freedom to believe in him. Men would have no choice but to accept Jesus as their Saviour because he would be 2010 years old by now! The case of the BVM is different. Why was it necessary to remove her body from this world?
Death and the subsequent bodily decay is a natural law. Of course, there have been attempts of mummification or embalmment etc. on the corpses of Pharaohs and national leaders so as to preserve their bodies for the next life or people's veneration from the future generations. But throughout the Church history, there are many cases of "incorruptible" saints whose bodies remain intact centuries after their deaths. These incorruptible saints defy the law of nature and, in a way, give praises and glory to God. Why did God not make the BVM incorruptible, like those incorruptible saints? Unlike a living and walking Jesus, the incorruptible corpse of the BVM would not rob us of the freedom to believe in Jesus. This greatest relic would demonstrate the authenticity and historicity of Christianity. So, why did God remove her body from this world?
According to Munificentissimus Deus, the Assumption of the body of the BVM into Heaven immediate after her death is one of the two unique privileges God gave to the BVM. The first one is her Immaculate Conception. God preserves the BVM from the taint of sins by removing her Original Sin from the moment of her conception on the merits of the redemptive work of Jesus. Mary was the first to be saved by her son. The Assumption is closely linked with the Immaculate Conception (MD 4). The BVM is declared full of grace, i.e. without sins, by Angel Gabriel (Luke 1:28). Consequently,
Now God has willed that the Blessed Virgin Mary should be exempted from this general rule. She, by an entirely unique privilege, completely overcame sin by her Immaculate Conception, and as a result she was not subject to the law of remaining in the corruption of the grave, and she did not have to wait until the end of time for the redemption of her body. (MD 5).
"This general rule" refers to the natural bodily corruption after death, even for the just. The ash and dust will join the glorious souls on the last day (MD 4).
OK. God wills that the BVM should be exempted from the bodily decay after death. Still, it is not necessary to remove her body from this world. God could preserve her corpse most beautifully and perfectly and leave us the greatest relics to glorify Him. But of course, making the corpse of the BVM incorruptible is not a unique enough privilege to demonstrate her special status in the salvation history.
I hope I am not proposing a heresy. I am just fancying what the Catholic faith would have become, had the BVM become incorruptible and remained on earth.
In his homily, Fr. Milanese gave us a new perspective to understand the meaning of the Magnificat. He told us a story about 2 tourists who came to a big city. One tourist came from a tidy little town. He looked at and was impressed by the good facilities of this big city. The other tourist came from an untidy and mismanaged little town. He found faults with whatever came into his sight. Fr. Milanese asked why these two tourists arrived at so different an impression of the same city. It is a matter of attitude. With a positive attitude, we see good things even in a broken mirror. With a negative attitude, we curse even the comfort we are sitting on.
In Magnificat, the BVM teaches us to see lowliness, humility and poverty in a positive light. God chooses to stand by the lowly, the humble and the poor. We too should opt for the poor.
Dear Lord, Your generosity towards the BVM assures us of our salvation. May we follow her footsteps to serve You and bring Your gospel to the world. Amen.
Death and the subsequent bodily decay is a natural law. Of course, there have been attempts of mummification or embalmment etc. on the corpses of Pharaohs and national leaders so as to preserve their bodies for the next life or people's veneration from the future generations. But throughout the Church history, there are many cases of "incorruptible" saints whose bodies remain intact centuries after their deaths. These incorruptible saints defy the law of nature and, in a way, give praises and glory to God. Why did God not make the BVM incorruptible, like those incorruptible saints? Unlike a living and walking Jesus, the incorruptible corpse of the BVM would not rob us of the freedom to believe in Jesus. This greatest relic would demonstrate the authenticity and historicity of Christianity. So, why did God remove her body from this world?
According to Munificentissimus Deus, the Assumption of the body of the BVM into Heaven immediate after her death is one of the two unique privileges God gave to the BVM. The first one is her Immaculate Conception. God preserves the BVM from the taint of sins by removing her Original Sin from the moment of her conception on the merits of the redemptive work of Jesus. Mary was the first to be saved by her son. The Assumption is closely linked with the Immaculate Conception (MD 4). The BVM is declared full of grace, i.e. without sins, by Angel Gabriel (Luke 1:28). Consequently,
Now God has willed that the Blessed Virgin Mary should be exempted from this general rule. She, by an entirely unique privilege, completely overcame sin by her Immaculate Conception, and as a result she was not subject to the law of remaining in the corruption of the grave, and she did not have to wait until the end of time for the redemption of her body. (MD 5).
"This general rule" refers to the natural bodily corruption after death, even for the just. The ash and dust will join the glorious souls on the last day (MD 4).
OK. God wills that the BVM should be exempted from the bodily decay after death. Still, it is not necessary to remove her body from this world. God could preserve her corpse most beautifully and perfectly and leave us the greatest relics to glorify Him. But of course, making the corpse of the BVM incorruptible is not a unique enough privilege to demonstrate her special status in the salvation history.
I hope I am not proposing a heresy. I am just fancying what the Catholic faith would have become, had the BVM become incorruptible and remained on earth.
In his homily, Fr. Milanese gave us a new perspective to understand the meaning of the Magnificat. He told us a story about 2 tourists who came to a big city. One tourist came from a tidy little town. He looked at and was impressed by the good facilities of this big city. The other tourist came from an untidy and mismanaged little town. He found faults with whatever came into his sight. Fr. Milanese asked why these two tourists arrived at so different an impression of the same city. It is a matter of attitude. With a positive attitude, we see good things even in a broken mirror. With a negative attitude, we curse even the comfort we are sitting on.
In Magnificat, the BVM teaches us to see lowliness, humility and poverty in a positive light. God chooses to stand by the lowly, the humble and the poor. We too should opt for the poor.
Dear Lord, Your generosity towards the BVM assures us of our salvation. May we follow her footsteps to serve You and bring Your gospel to the world. Amen.
Sunday 8 August 2010
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
Man is not omniscient. Given a particular situation, nobody has the advantage of holding perfect knowledge of the situation at his finger tips. In ancient times, people went through all sorts of rituals to seek oracles, consult Urim and Thummim or offer sacrifices to bribe the gods etc. to reduce uncertainty. Modern people are able to collect more information and make use of powerful computers to calculate all sorts of forecasts and probabilities to help them make decisions. At the end of the day, we can only hope for the best and must prepare for the worst.
In particular, nobody knows when he will die.
But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.
You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour (Luke 12:39-40)
Therefore, Jesus advises us to be alert, to be ready at all time. To be alert is alright. But at all time?
Well, it is too tiring to be so.
Being ordained for sixty years, Fr. Lejeune always says in his homilies how he wishes Jesus come to take him home. Physically, his body is getting fragile. His legs are aching. But his spirit is still very alert. In his homily today, he expressed his high hope to be served by the master!
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them (Luke 12:37).
How many servants would dream of their master serving them? What a reversal of roles, a reversal of fate! This promise truly goes beyond the wildest imagination. This promise is too good to be true. Yet, this is a promise from Jesus, a promise from God. Do we have the faith to put our hope in this promise? The author of Hebrews devotes the whole chapter 11 to describe what biblical characters could do with faith. Through faith, they gained God's approval.
For by it the men of old received divine approval (Hebrews 11:2).
Fr. Lejeune did not forget the HKCEE candidates whose results were released last Wednesday. Some ten thousands of them are able to secure a form six place to continue their studies for university entrance examination. Many more have been running desperately here and there to get a vacancy. The same frenzy has been repeating itself year after year.
Why do they do this? Do they have nothing better to do? Yes and No.
Yes, they have nothing better to do. They have no choice but to fight for a place in form six and subsequently in the university. Otherwise, they are less saleable in the job market.
No, these young people are still willing to invest their youth and vigour into a future which nobody can be certain about. Who can predict what this society will be like in five years' time? Actuarial analysis was hot but who could predict the 'financial tsunami' that wiped out millions of jobs and zillions of dollars? People in Hong Kong still keep their faith in a brighter tomorrow. It is a faith in a barely visible sun ray on the horizon. But there is no guarantee the sun will shine.
Luckily, this frenzy is going to be the last one. With the introduction of NSS, senior secondary students will sit for just one university entrance exam. The competition is still keen but they don't need to run around the city, knocking at the door of one school after next like refugees tossed into the raging oceans. At the end of the day, faith will be rewarded.
Dear Lord, will Fr. Lejeune be able to see me consecrated? Your will be done. Amen.
In particular, nobody knows when he will die.
But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.
You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour (Luke 12:39-40)
Therefore, Jesus advises us to be alert, to be ready at all time. To be alert is alright. But at all time?
Well, it is too tiring to be so.
Being ordained for sixty years, Fr. Lejeune always says in his homilies how he wishes Jesus come to take him home. Physically, his body is getting fragile. His legs are aching. But his spirit is still very alert. In his homily today, he expressed his high hope to be served by the master!
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them (Luke 12:37).
How many servants would dream of their master serving them? What a reversal of roles, a reversal of fate! This promise truly goes beyond the wildest imagination. This promise is too good to be true. Yet, this is a promise from Jesus, a promise from God. Do we have the faith to put our hope in this promise? The author of Hebrews devotes the whole chapter 11 to describe what biblical characters could do with faith. Through faith, they gained God's approval.
For by it the men of old received divine approval (Hebrews 11:2).
Fr. Lejeune did not forget the HKCEE candidates whose results were released last Wednesday. Some ten thousands of them are able to secure a form six place to continue their studies for university entrance examination. Many more have been running desperately here and there to get a vacancy. The same frenzy has been repeating itself year after year.
Why do they do this? Do they have nothing better to do? Yes and No.
Yes, they have nothing better to do. They have no choice but to fight for a place in form six and subsequently in the university. Otherwise, they are less saleable in the job market.
No, these young people are still willing to invest their youth and vigour into a future which nobody can be certain about. Who can predict what this society will be like in five years' time? Actuarial analysis was hot but who could predict the 'financial tsunami' that wiped out millions of jobs and zillions of dollars? People in Hong Kong still keep their faith in a brighter tomorrow. It is a faith in a barely visible sun ray on the horizon. But there is no guarantee the sun will shine.
Luckily, this frenzy is going to be the last one. With the introduction of NSS, senior secondary students will sit for just one university entrance exam. The competition is still keen but they don't need to run around the city, knocking at the door of one school after next like refugees tossed into the raging oceans. At the end of the day, faith will be rewarded.
Dear Lord, will Fr. Lejeune be able to see me consecrated? Your will be done. Amen.
Sunday 1 August 2010
Seek God's will
What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9).
This verse is not found in the Sunday readings today. Rather it echoes what is deeply felt by us. God is elusive and reticent. That is why most of us are caught unprepared for the good things He has prepared for us. During the Entrance Antiphon, tears gushed from Mary's eyes when we sang Psalm 113. Wulstan chose the hymns.
From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised! (Psalm 113:3)
Life is full of contradictions. This is amply illustrated by the first reading taken from Ecclesiastes.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
Fr. Milanese pointed out to us that this book belonged to the Wisdom Literature of the Hebrew Scripture. It was one of the five scrolls to be read during different Jewish festivals. And this one was read during the Feast of Tabernacles. The author laments that Death is the Great Equalizer. No matter you are a king or a beggar, a philosopher or an animal, death will come to take them all. You did not bring a penny with you into this world. Neither will you be able to take a penny with you when you leave.
a man who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by a man who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil (Ecclesiastes 2:21).
The philosophy of Ecclesiastes is actually not as pessimistic as it appears. Fr. Milanese encouraged the congregation to read the whole book in order to appreciate its wisdom. While death will equalize all, we can live and enjoy our life to the full. Seize the moment and God will take care of the rest. Christians have the advantage of leading a new life in Christ. Our toils will not be in vain.
In the gospel reading today, a man asked Jesus to bid his brother to divide the inheritance. Usually, we interpret the motive of the man as one of greed. However, I have another interpretation. I am sympathetic with the man who probably thought that his brother was wasting the inheritance. The man had talent in managing the estate but was deprived of the opportunity. He asked Jesus to intervene. I am the man. I feel that my talents have not been fully utilized.
But what did Jesus answer?
But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?"
And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:14-15)
Beware of all covetousness!
Jesus does not make himself a judge over us. Alex, you are truly talented. Opportunities are abound. Don't ask the Lord to give me opportunities. Rather, seize the moment, seize the opportunities yourself. My life does not consist in the abundance of my achievements. Instead, my life consists in serving the Lord, in doing God's will. Seek God's will. He has prepared for me good things I even dare to dream of.
My Lord, I thank You for taking care of Mary. I offer up my praises with her. You have opened the path You have set in front of her. Strengthen my steps so that I may march on mine. Amen.
This verse is not found in the Sunday readings today. Rather it echoes what is deeply felt by us. God is elusive and reticent. That is why most of us are caught unprepared for the good things He has prepared for us. During the Entrance Antiphon, tears gushed from Mary's eyes when we sang Psalm 113. Wulstan chose the hymns.
From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised! (Psalm 113:3)
Life is full of contradictions. This is amply illustrated by the first reading taken from Ecclesiastes.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
Fr. Milanese pointed out to us that this book belonged to the Wisdom Literature of the Hebrew Scripture. It was one of the five scrolls to be read during different Jewish festivals. And this one was read during the Feast of Tabernacles. The author laments that Death is the Great Equalizer. No matter you are a king or a beggar, a philosopher or an animal, death will come to take them all. You did not bring a penny with you into this world. Neither will you be able to take a penny with you when you leave.
a man who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by a man who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil (Ecclesiastes 2:21).
The philosophy of Ecclesiastes is actually not as pessimistic as it appears. Fr. Milanese encouraged the congregation to read the whole book in order to appreciate its wisdom. While death will equalize all, we can live and enjoy our life to the full. Seize the moment and God will take care of the rest. Christians have the advantage of leading a new life in Christ. Our toils will not be in vain.
In the gospel reading today, a man asked Jesus to bid his brother to divide the inheritance. Usually, we interpret the motive of the man as one of greed. However, I have another interpretation. I am sympathetic with the man who probably thought that his brother was wasting the inheritance. The man had talent in managing the estate but was deprived of the opportunity. He asked Jesus to intervene. I am the man. I feel that my talents have not been fully utilized.
But what did Jesus answer?
But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?"
And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:14-15)
Beware of all covetousness!
Jesus does not make himself a judge over us. Alex, you are truly talented. Opportunities are abound. Don't ask the Lord to give me opportunities. Rather, seize the moment, seize the opportunities yourself. My life does not consist in the abundance of my achievements. Instead, my life consists in serving the Lord, in doing God's will. Seek God's will. He has prepared for me good things I even dare to dream of.
My Lord, I thank You for taking care of Mary. I offer up my praises with her. You have opened the path You have set in front of her. Strengthen my steps so that I may march on mine. Amen.
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