Today, Fr. John Baptist Kwan celebrated the 11 a.m. mass with us. He informed us that Fr. Lejeune had returned to his home town in France and would return in mid-September. We wished him bon voyage. Fr. Kwan also thanked us for making the celebration on June 27 a huge success. It would be an unforgettable piece of memory for each and every one of us. The Year of the Priests had officially started. Fr. Kwan urged us to pray for the well-being of all the clergies in the hierarchy and for more young people generously responding to God's call. Then, he turned to the readings today.
Paul was known to be very demanding. But I am not sure whether we can label him a perfectionist. Before his conversion, he was a Pharisee trained under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). He persecuted the Christians because they worshipped more than one God. After his conversion, he tried to convince his fellow Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. Failing that, Paul turned to the Gentiles and was beheaded as a martyr for the sake of Jesus. He left behind a corpus of epistles dating before the composition of the gospels. It is no exaggeration to call him a co-founder of Christianity. In the second reading today, we learn of the famous phrase "a thorn in the flesh".
And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated (2 Corinthians 12:7).
Many explanations have been offered but none is satisfactory. Some suggested that it was a temptation to disbelief. Others suggested a physical illness, such as poor eyesight or speech disability, that hindered his ministry. Yet others referred to his hot temper, his personality that also hampered his missionary work. Some suggested that it was a rival who opposed him and caused him many troubles. One prolific Episcopal bishop even proposed homosexuality! All in all, none of the theories is conclusive and we have to wait until the end and ask Paul what he meant.
Fr. Kwan preferred looking at it as a perfectionist tendency in Paul. But Paul knew himself well. Therefore, he accepted his imperfection and after begging Jesus to remove it to no avail, he embraced it so as to keep himself humble. So, one thing is sure. Whatever this thorn in the flesh may be, it prevented Paul from being arrogant. Paul was able to draw strength out of this particular weakness. The grace of Christ shines through our weaknesses.
Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me;
but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).
Fr. Kwan invited us to ponder on our own weaknesses. Pray over them so that the power of Christ may strengthen us. We shall overcome.
Then he turned to the story of Jesus returning to Nazareth. Despite his earlier successes in Judea, Jesus did not a welcome as expected because his own countrymen had a preconception of what he was and therefore what he would be.
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him (Mark 6:3).
Immediately, Fr. Kwan brought forth people's reaction to the proposed relocation of Zheng Sheng College in Mui Wo. People in Mui Wo had a prejudice against these young addicts undergoing rehabilitation. It was unfair to them because they were denied the opportunity to reform and transform. One particular graduate managed to obtain enough qualification to enter the university this year in the Advanced Level Examination. This is proof enough of the contribution of this college to reform and transform young addicts.
People in Mui Wo demanded instead the reopening of the secondary school for their children. Two years ago, the school was closed down because parents in Mui Wo preferred sending their children to the Central and Western District on the Island. They thought that their children deserved better choices. Now, in order to block the relocation of the rehabilitation college to their neighbourhood, they reversed their earlier position. It is contradictory and hypocritical. Fr. Kwan reminded that when we criticized the villages in Mui Wo, we should first examine our own conscience to see if we also fall into this hypocritical trap. Do we also harbour a prejudice against them? If Zheng Sheng relocated among us, would we welcome them?
In the end, Fr. Kwan did not touch on the question of the brothers and sisters of Jesus. A lot of scholars have debated on this topic. We should know more about the issue and form our own opinion. But in the end, remember the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Dear Lord, I am worse off then St. Paul. I am not brave enough to confront my own weaknesses. I pray that I may be able to humbly admit them and embrace them so that Your strength may empower me to serve You. Amen.
Showing posts with label acts. mark. Show all posts
Showing posts with label acts. mark. Show all posts
Monday, 6 July 2009
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Feast of St. Mark
Today, the Greek and Latin Churches celebrate the Feast of St. Mark, the Evangelist. In the narrative of Jesus' arrest in his gospel, there is an extra piece of information not found in the other gospels.
And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body; and they seized him,
but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked (Mark 14:51-52).
It is generally accepted that this young man was Mark himself. This is his autograph on his own work. His family occupied an important role in the Jerusalem church. Probably, Jesus ate his Last Supper with his apostles in his house which was one of the house churches in the infant church. When Peter was arrested by Herod, the church prayed for his release in his house (Acts 12:12). Paul and Barnabas brought him along on the first missionary journey. However, Mark returned to Jerusalem when they reached Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13). Because of this, Paul refused to take Mark along in his second missionary journey (Acts 15:36-41). But that did not prevent them from reconciliation with each other in the future. Everybody has his own share of flaws. Yet, everybody deserves a second chance. Such is life.
Later, Mark became the secretary of Peter in his missionary work in Rome (1 Peter 5:13). At the request of Roman Christians, Mark committed to writing the life of Jesus. Scholars agree that it was Mark who started the genre of gospel.
In his first Epistle, Peter exhorts all believers to practise the virtue of humility. God will exalt the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you (1 Peter 5:6).
They were living under constant fear of persecution. Peter used the image of a roaring lion seeking its preys to describe the situation. Martyrdom in Roman arena was all too real. But God will console and support them.
Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.
Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour (1 Peter 5:7-8).
Nowadays, we are living in a relatively peaceful time, free from persecutions. We tend to become complacent. Peter's advice becomes all the more appropriate. Be humble, sober and watchful.
Today, I attended a workshop run by RME Centre. They invited Fr. Peter Choy to give a talk on the Creation story in Genesis. Religion and science often clash on the issue of Creation. Fr. Choy systematically explained how the two world views complement each other. Religion talks about why the world is as we now know, leaving the how to scientists. Genesis talks about the relational aspect of God and His Creation, man and the universe. Science deals with the bolts and nuts of the processes happening in this world. Both approaches are true and do not conflict with each other. For an example, Fr. Choy illustrated the situation with how a son and a doctor described the death of a man. The son would focus on his relationship with and his feelings toward the death of this man whereas the doctor would give factual data such as the time and the causes of his death. Both the son and the doctor will not be wrong or contradict each other in their reports. The differences are only the outcomes of two different approaches toward the same event.
During the Q&A session, Fr. Choy had collected many common queries raised by students from kindergartens to secondary schools. He categorized them under several headings along the themes he expounded in the workshop. I was impressed by kind of questions raised. Kindergarten kids usually ask why God does not create us the same, equally smart. Primary students wonder why some classmates are better and smarter, why some people were born poor and crippled. They begin to ask whether God is fair. Secondary students are more aware and interested in cloning, homosexual marriages etc. They even think that God is cruel in the story of Great Deluge and ask why God had not immediately forgiven Adam and Eve. Did God create Satan? Our kids are lovely.
My God, I thank You for my existence. I am sorry that I have not maintained our relationship properly. Forgive me. Let me live and make my life a meaningful song. Amen.
Appendix:
God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble[ὁ] θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν. (1 Peter 5:5b)
κύριος ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν. (Proverb 3:34).
And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body; and they seized him,
but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked (Mark 14:51-52).
It is generally accepted that this young man was Mark himself. This is his autograph on his own work. His family occupied an important role in the Jerusalem church. Probably, Jesus ate his Last Supper with his apostles in his house which was one of the house churches in the infant church. When Peter was arrested by Herod, the church prayed for his release in his house (Acts 12:12). Paul and Barnabas brought him along on the first missionary journey. However, Mark returned to Jerusalem when they reached Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 13:13). Because of this, Paul refused to take Mark along in his second missionary journey (Acts 15:36-41). But that did not prevent them from reconciliation with each other in the future. Everybody has his own share of flaws. Yet, everybody deserves a second chance. Such is life.
Later, Mark became the secretary of Peter in his missionary work in Rome (1 Peter 5:13). At the request of Roman Christians, Mark committed to writing the life of Jesus. Scholars agree that it was Mark who started the genre of gospel.
In his first Epistle, Peter exhorts all believers to practise the virtue of humility. God will exalt the humble.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you (1 Peter 5:6).
They were living under constant fear of persecution. Peter used the image of a roaring lion seeking its preys to describe the situation. Martyrdom in Roman arena was all too real. But God will console and support them.
Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.
Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour (1 Peter 5:7-8).
Nowadays, we are living in a relatively peaceful time, free from persecutions. We tend to become complacent. Peter's advice becomes all the more appropriate. Be humble, sober and watchful.
Today, I attended a workshop run by RME Centre. They invited Fr. Peter Choy to give a talk on the Creation story in Genesis. Religion and science often clash on the issue of Creation. Fr. Choy systematically explained how the two world views complement each other. Religion talks about why the world is as we now know, leaving the how to scientists. Genesis talks about the relational aspect of God and His Creation, man and the universe. Science deals with the bolts and nuts of the processes happening in this world. Both approaches are true and do not conflict with each other. For an example, Fr. Choy illustrated the situation with how a son and a doctor described the death of a man. The son would focus on his relationship with and his feelings toward the death of this man whereas the doctor would give factual data such as the time and the causes of his death. Both the son and the doctor will not be wrong or contradict each other in their reports. The differences are only the outcomes of two different approaches toward the same event.
During the Q&A session, Fr. Choy had collected many common queries raised by students from kindergartens to secondary schools. He categorized them under several headings along the themes he expounded in the workshop. I was impressed by kind of questions raised. Kindergarten kids usually ask why God does not create us the same, equally smart. Primary students wonder why some classmates are better and smarter, why some people were born poor and crippled. They begin to ask whether God is fair. Secondary students are more aware and interested in cloning, homosexual marriages etc. They even think that God is cruel in the story of Great Deluge and ask why God had not immediately forgiven Adam and Eve. Did God create Satan? Our kids are lovely.
My God, I thank You for my existence. I am sorry that I have not maintained our relationship properly. Forgive me. Let me live and make my life a meaningful song. Amen.
Appendix:
God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble[ὁ] θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν. (1 Peter 5:5b)
κύριος ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται, ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν. (Proverb 3:34).
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