There are many things we understand, or we think we understand. However, there are far more things that we do not understand. The Gospel reading today told us that the seed sprouted and grew and yet the man (presumably the sower, the farmer) knew not how it happened (Mark 4:27). Well, that might be true for farmers two thousand years ago. Today, the knowledge about the growth of a seed is within reach of a junior secondary student. Can we conclude that the Gospel is outdated and that its teaching is no longer true today? Of course not. The saying is an analogy to describe the Kingdom of God. It tells us that the Kingdom of God develops along its own logic which we do not understand, even today.
There was a time before Einstein published his theory of relativity when physicists believed that they had understood all physical laws. The remaining tasks were to add extra digits behind the decimal points of physical constants. They were proven wrong. There are still mysteries to unearth and our intellectual quest sees no end.
These days, my mind is preoccupied with the topic of transsexualism. I intended to write my annual research paper on the topic. However, the Church upholds the dichotomy of genders: male and female. What was given at birth is not supposed to be tinkered with. Sexual Reassignment Surgeries would not be morally acceptable. No professor is likely to supervise this research paper. However, I still see that there is room for rational discussion. Perhaps I should defer this paper for one more year. In the meantime, I should study more deeply the Theology of Body written by the late Pope John Paul II.
The second reading today still gives me hope to justify the mutilation of the body.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each
one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body (2 Corinthians 5:10).
First of all, this verse reminds me of the eschatological dimension of our body which is part of the teachings of the Theology of Body. St. Paul teaches us that making good use of our body to do God's will is our task on earth. When we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, it is not what we do to our body, but what we do with our body that counts.
Secondly, Christ also teaches us that when there are obstacles that endanger our soul, viz. our eyes, hands and feet, we should be resolute in removing them (Mark 9:43-47)! Transsexuals have made a grave decision to remove their sexual organs in order to lead a psychosomatically more harmonized life. Will this argument stand?
Today is Father Day. This definitely should make me rethink my position on transsexuals who can never father any children. Father Day would be a sad reminder of their sterility. M2F transsexuals cannot bear children and F2M transsexuals are impotent. Of course, their sterility does not prevent them from adopting children, within the jurisdiction of the local laws.
Nowadays, we see more and more couples choosing not to have children. Some of them may be professionals who prefer devoting their energy in their careers. Some are rather too pessimistic about the future and, being responsible, choose not to bring children into this world to suffer. Here in Hong Kong, the 1997 return to China created a lot of confusion in the minds of the people. People were afraid of the political turmoils of Communist sovereignty. They did not want to see their children become Red Guards brainwashed with class struggle ideology. Those who could not migrate overseas were hesitant in giving birth to children. The occupancy rate of maternity wards dropped so much so that mainland pregnant mothers are coming over to take up the beds etc. My point is that sterility does not deny the right of transsexuals to marriage. Will this argument stand?
On a sociological level, the institution of family has been under threat since industrial revolution. Extended family is no longer viable nowadays. But the nuclear family is too fragile to withstand the onslaught of rapid social changes. Divorce rate is high. More and more young people do not contemplate setting up their own families etc.
The society is ever evolving. Family has served the society well. We need to maintain its integrity with supports on the societal level.
Dear Lord, You have never been a father. Still, bless us fathers. Amen.
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