In the month of November, we remember the faithful departed. Death is a certainty for every mortal. Yet, we believe in eternal life. This belief helps us see beyond death. There is life out there after death. There is a flash of light, however dim, at the end of the tunnel. Life and death are the two faces of the same coin. When we contemplate one, we cannot ignore the other. When we stare death in the face, we see life behind it. When we wonder how good life is, death is lurking at the back. Therefore, we spend the whole month reflecting on life and death issues, remembering our ancestors and friends, praying for the souls in the purgatory etc.
Yesterday, I argued that Paul did not suffer from low self-esteem. The thesis expounded in The True Believer does not explain the case of Paul adequately. He was more like a merchant who had discovered a treasure.
Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8)
He found in Jesus what he had never before experienced. Judaism did not give him such a conversion experience. In order to know this resurrection power, Paul was willing to suffer for Jesus.
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:10-11).
Is the "if possible" an expression of humility, showing that Paul did not want to force the hand of God? Paul firmly believed that without God's intervention, we do not even know how to pray. On the other hand, was Paul's "doubt" on resurrection an evolution of the mind so as to know resurrection gradually?
When the S5 students leave, they like to exchange their memorial handbooks and write a phrase of blessing, encouragement etc. What is in a rose? Will it change if we call it a different name? etc. Trying to make life more manageable, I write the same phrase most of the time, for most of the students.
Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13).
Between the lines and changes was the sunny day. So, don't be burdened by the past. Make this an offense even punishable by school regulations! Our new boss always says / wants to start things anew. I admire her eagerness but I don't think life works like this. We carry old grudges in our memory. We have a history on our back, old wounds on our shoulder. It will be difficult to forgive and forget though we know we should.
My dear Advocate, help us focus on You and forget our old wounds. Cover our sins so that we may start anew. Amen.
Friday, 7 November 2008
The True Believer
In 1951, Eric Hoffer (1902-1983) published a book called The True Believer, applying social psychology to explain mass movements such as early Christianity, Communism, Fascism, Islam and Nazism etc. The book went through 23 editions! Hoffer focused on the role of self-esteem in creating fanatics who become core members in mass movements which almost always promise a better tomorrow. Peter denied Jesus three times and collapsed under the weight of guilt. Adolf Hitler, Mohammed and Stalin began as failures. In generating mass movements, they were able to enhance and compensate their lowly self-esteem. Furthermore, mass movements are interchangeable. Fanatics in one movement may switch side to the opposite camp as long as it provides a better and brighter future. From a secular point of view, Christianity is one of such mass movements which promise a bright future --- the Kingdom of God. Moreover, early Christianity was successful in attracting the poor and the marginal. Hoffer's hypothesis describes Christianity best. However, Hoffer was not a biblical scholar. We cannot expect him to be very accurate in applying his hypothesis to biblical personalities.
Paul switched from prosecuting Christians to becoming a zealous Christian missionary. If we apply Hoffer's hypothesis, Paul must have suffered from a very lowly self-esteem before his conversion. However, the reading of Philippians today shows that Paul was very proud of his earlier life.
Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee,
as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless (Philippians 3:4-6).
From his own witness, (unless Paul was telling lies) we have no reason to think that the self-esteem of Paul was low. He was a Pharisee, most of whom thought that they were better than the rest of the Jews. Therefore, we need other hypotheses to explain this reversal of fortune, from a persecutor to the one being persecuted.
In his own words, Paul had found something more valuable than the totality of his earlier life. And this something must be Jesus for whom Paul was willing to invest all his life.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8)
My dear Advocate, it was Your grace that delivers. On our own, we usually abuse the freedom You have given us and apply our talents in the wrong way. I pray that we may continue steadily to follow Your path. St. Paul, pray for us. Amen.
Paul switched from prosecuting Christians to becoming a zealous Christian missionary. If we apply Hoffer's hypothesis, Paul must have suffered from a very lowly self-esteem before his conversion. However, the reading of Philippians today shows that Paul was very proud of his earlier life.
Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law a Pharisee,
as to zeal a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness under the law blameless (Philippians 3:4-6).
From his own witness, (unless Paul was telling lies) we have no reason to think that the self-esteem of Paul was low. He was a Pharisee, most of whom thought that they were better than the rest of the Jews. Therefore, we need other hypotheses to explain this reversal of fortune, from a persecutor to the one being persecuted.
In his own words, Paul had found something more valuable than the totality of his earlier life. And this something must be Jesus for whom Paul was willing to invest all his life.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8)
My dear Advocate, it was Your grace that delivers. On our own, we usually abuse the freedom You have given us and apply our talents in the wrong way. I pray that we may continue steadily to follow Your path. St. Paul, pray for us. Amen.
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Is the teaching of Paul outdated?
Civilization keeps evolving. New technology comes up nearly everyday. When the means of production changes, it changes our way of life as well. In ancient time, men invented writing to keep track of their daily transactions. Therefore, they inscribed on clay tablets, bones, shells, bamboo sticks etc. Later, they wrote on cattle hides and later on paper. With the invention of moving type printing, books could be mass-produced. The literacy and intelligence of the general public was raised. Once when the mass of people were illiterate, were ignorant, a tyrant would do whatever he wanted. His words were laws. Now, with the spread of literacy, democracy takes over tyranny. Nowadays, there are more types of medium to spread information, especially the electronic ones. It used to be the elders who could decide the allocation of resources. Nowadays, younger people have more say because they are better able to handle the newer types of information processing. There are newer and different ways for people to interact and to transact. The protocol of interactions has changed. The more traditional morality may not be appropriate to apply to newer sequences of encounters.
Whenever I touch upon Paul's advice on husband-wife relations in the epistle to the Ephesians for the HKCEE Religious Studies, I always ask my students whether Paul's teaching is obsolete nowadays. Read this and decide it for yourself.
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior (Ephesians 5:22-23).
In view of the greater autonomy and higher status of women nowadays, Paul's advice can only remain marginal. These days, most couples need to work and sometimes, wives earn more than husbands. Wives devote more time in their careers and contribute to the greater prosperity of this city. In such a situation, how can husbands be the head of their wives?
In our workplaces, can we do what Paul taught?
Do all things without grumbling or questioning,
that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:14-15)
Do all things without grumbling. Fine, no problem, especially in view of the global downturn of the economies of different countries all over the world. You would be lucky if you could keep your job. So, how could you complain? But ...
Do all things without questioning! Are you sure, Paul? Only soldiers follow commands and finish them without asking any question. But we are no soldiers in our daily life, though fighting battle was one of the favourite metaphors Paul used. Modern management talks about team spirit, delegation of authority etc. All these practices require two-way communications. People do not hold dear in their hearts being blameless and innocent. Rather, they talk more about accountability, transparency and willingness to assume responsibilities. It is unimaginable not to ask questions in modern workplaces. If you do not ask questions, nor do you raise objections, people will assume that you consent to the objective and the procedure. In the end when things go wrong, you cannot disclaim liability. You cannot be blameless and innocent. Sorry, Paul. This part of your ethics does not work in this modern setting.
My dear Advocate, Obama won the US presidential election and becomes the first black US president. USA has long since played an influential role in the modern world. She is affecting the lives of most of the people on this planet. I pray for Obama and may You guide him and support him all through his term and the next. Amen.
Whenever I touch upon Paul's advice on husband-wife relations in the epistle to the Ephesians for the HKCEE Religious Studies, I always ask my students whether Paul's teaching is obsolete nowadays. Read this and decide it for yourself.
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior (Ephesians 5:22-23).
In view of the greater autonomy and higher status of women nowadays, Paul's advice can only remain marginal. These days, most couples need to work and sometimes, wives earn more than husbands. Wives devote more time in their careers and contribute to the greater prosperity of this city. In such a situation, how can husbands be the head of their wives?
In our workplaces, can we do what Paul taught?
Do all things without grumbling or questioning,
that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:14-15)
Do all things without grumbling. Fine, no problem, especially in view of the global downturn of the economies of different countries all over the world. You would be lucky if you could keep your job. So, how could you complain? But ...
Do all things without questioning! Are you sure, Paul? Only soldiers follow commands and finish them without asking any question. But we are no soldiers in our daily life, though fighting battle was one of the favourite metaphors Paul used. Modern management talks about team spirit, delegation of authority etc. All these practices require two-way communications. People do not hold dear in their hearts being blameless and innocent. Rather, they talk more about accountability, transparency and willingness to assume responsibilities. It is unimaginable not to ask questions in modern workplaces. If you do not ask questions, nor do you raise objections, people will assume that you consent to the objective and the procedure. In the end when things go wrong, you cannot disclaim liability. You cannot be blameless and innocent. Sorry, Paul. This part of your ethics does not work in this modern setting.
My dear Advocate, Obama won the US presidential election and becomes the first black US president. USA has long since played an influential role in the modern world. She is affecting the lives of most of the people on this planet. I pray for Obama and may You guide him and support him all through his term and the next. Amen.
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
A Song to praise the humility of Jesus
What did Paul think about Jesus? During the Damascus' encounter, Paul confessed that Jesus was Lord. Did he mean God?
And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." (Acts 9:4-5)
Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles. In his writings, Lord refers both to Jesus and to God. In Corinth, Paul had another vision of the Lord who told him to stay.
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent;
for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have many people in this city." (Acts 18:9-10).
So, Paul stayed in Corinth for more than one and a half year. Jesus knew a lot of things and was capable of protecting Paul from any perils. Naturally, Jesus must be the God of Paul. It was unimaginable for a Jew to have any God other than Yahweh. But Christians did. For Christians, Jesus is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Jesus is God. This is totally unacceptable for the Jews whose God is one. Therefore, there established a misunderstanding and being the majority, Jews before the Destruction of the Holy Temple would initiate crime cleaning campaigns, which were in fact, directed against Christians.
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine (Philippians 1:29-30).
Therefore, Christians should always be prepared to suffer for the sake of Jesus; to engage in the same conflict which Jesus and Paul had suffered. Of course, God does not suffer. Here, Jesus was truly a man so as to be able to suffer.
Having thus established that for Paul, Jesus was his God. Then, how shall we understand the Humility Hymn recorded in Philippians 2:5-11? Even if Paul did not compose this hymn himself, at least he approved of the theology expressed in the lyrics.
The problem is between form and nature.
though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped (Philippians 2:6)
His rhetoric sometimes brings us into difficulties. What did Paul mean when he confessed that Jesus was in the form of God ... Was Jesus not God yet? Logically speaking, the sentence does not deny the possibility that Jesus and God are one in nature.
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:11).
It seems that Paul was still unable to elevate the status of Jesus in here. He (or his quotation from somewhere) made a distinction in the use of the word Lord and God (the Father). Nowadays, we are enjoying the fruits the Apostles planted. Generations of Christians have overcome some difficulties of the true identity, the divinity and humanity and nature of Jesus. When we receive the teaching handed down from the Apostles, we are actually standing on their shoulders to bypass a few steps in the development of the theology. Therefore, we shouldn't be too surprised to meet similar incomplete discourses.
My dear Advocate, thank You for giving us St. Paul to guide us on our way. They are wonderful companions on our way home. Bless us Lord and quickly finish us. Amen.
And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." (Acts 9:4-5)
Luke wrote the Acts of the Apostles. In his writings, Lord refers both to Jesus and to God. In Corinth, Paul had another vision of the Lord who told him to stay.
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent;
for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have many people in this city." (Acts 18:9-10).
So, Paul stayed in Corinth for more than one and a half year. Jesus knew a lot of things and was capable of protecting Paul from any perils. Naturally, Jesus must be the God of Paul. It was unimaginable for a Jew to have any God other than Yahweh. But Christians did. For Christians, Jesus is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Jesus is God. This is totally unacceptable for the Jews whose God is one. Therefore, there established a misunderstanding and being the majority, Jews before the Destruction of the Holy Temple would initiate crime cleaning campaigns, which were in fact, directed against Christians.
For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
engaged in the same conflict which you saw and now hear to be mine (Philippians 1:29-30).
Therefore, Christians should always be prepared to suffer for the sake of Jesus; to engage in the same conflict which Jesus and Paul had suffered. Of course, God does not suffer. Here, Jesus was truly a man so as to be able to suffer.
Having thus established that for Paul, Jesus was his God. Then, how shall we understand the Humility Hymn recorded in Philippians 2:5-11? Even if Paul did not compose this hymn himself, at least he approved of the theology expressed in the lyrics.
The problem is between form and nature.
though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped (Philippians 2:6)
His rhetoric sometimes brings us into difficulties. What did Paul mean when he confessed that Jesus was in the form of God ... Was Jesus not God yet? Logically speaking, the sentence does not deny the possibility that Jesus and God are one in nature.
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:11).
It seems that Paul was still unable to elevate the status of Jesus in here. He (or his quotation from somewhere) made a distinction in the use of the word Lord and God (the Father). Nowadays, we are enjoying the fruits the Apostles planted. Generations of Christians have overcome some difficulties of the true identity, the divinity and humanity and nature of Jesus. When we receive the teaching handed down from the Apostles, we are actually standing on their shoulders to bypass a few steps in the development of the theology. Therefore, we shouldn't be too surprised to meet similar incomplete discourses.
My dear Advocate, thank You for giving us St. Paul to guide us on our way. They are wonderful companions on our way home. Bless us Lord and quickly finish us. Amen.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Seeing good in evil
However much I disagree with some of the teachings of St. Paul in some of his epistles, Paul remains a Christianity giant. In fact, some scholars see Paul as the co-founder of Christianity. Without him, Christianity would never have been like what it is nowadays.
Christians must be able to withstand worldly temptations and worries. They should be willing to endure long-term sufferings for the sake of Christ and for the Gospel. If they are able to suffer silently for the sake of saving other souls, they are not simply saintly, but also heroic. However, as a missionary, Paul did not suffer silently. He was very vocal in airing his opinions. We learn about him from the epistles he wrote. Of course, he was vocal because he needed to persuade his readers of various issues they encountered while practising the Christian faith. Yet, what impresses me most, is not his rhetorics but his spirituality. Paul was truly a man of deep faith. This is shown in how he handled difficult situations.
In view of difficulties, people naturally would avoid them. When escape is made impossible, some choose not to resist, resigning themselves to "fate". Paul went beyond the resignation to fate. He tried to see good in evil. For example, people naturally resent imprisonment because they would lose their freedom. Moreover, the treatment they receive would be terrible: the food, the torture and the isolation etc. Yet, for Paul, he saw his imprisonment as an opportunity to preach Christ. In his own words:
I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ;
and most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear (Philippians 1:12-14).
His house arrest allowed him to preach to the Roman Legion.
His imprisonment emboldened the confidence of the other Christians.
Take another example:
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel;
the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice (Philippians 1:15-18).
There were rivals who took advantage of Paul's imprisonment to discredit him. Yet, Paul had such a large heart as to rejoice because Christ was proclaimed! He did not feel threatened. Nor did he feel opposed. As long as Christ was proclaimed, he did not care/worry too much. Paul was truly a missionary.
To live is good and to die bad. This is a very natural reaction for everyone. So, what did Paul say about this?
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).
Paul desired to meet death so that he might be united with Christ.
My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better (Philippians 1:23b).
So, for Paul, whether to live or to die, he was able to find something positive in them. While ordinary people fear death, Paul welcomed it because he would then be united with Christ. For most people, to live is a punishment. Yet, Paul was able to ground his life in Christ and see his life as beneficial as possible to all people.
But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account (Philippians 1:24).
Yet, there was one thing that Paul found it difficult to handle: factionism
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind (Philippians 2:2).
Most Christians are stubborn people. They rarely spend time thinking from other people's perspectives. Division was rampant. It happened in almost all the Churches Paul had established. He could only appeal to them, exhorting them to be united. Paul could not bring himself to see the Christ movement split up. Had he lived in the 16th century, he would have been driven crazy by the split up of the Mystical Body of Christ during Reformation.
My dear readers, can you see any good in this split up of the Church? Paul could not. I can!
My dear Advocate, You are able to work good things out from evil. If we are not able to see the good You perform out from evil, we do not deserve heaven. I pray that You grant us discernment so that we can see Your glory. Amen.
Christians must be able to withstand worldly temptations and worries. They should be willing to endure long-term sufferings for the sake of Christ and for the Gospel. If they are able to suffer silently for the sake of saving other souls, they are not simply saintly, but also heroic. However, as a missionary, Paul did not suffer silently. He was very vocal in airing his opinions. We learn about him from the epistles he wrote. Of course, he was vocal because he needed to persuade his readers of various issues they encountered while practising the Christian faith. Yet, what impresses me most, is not his rhetorics but his spirituality. Paul was truly a man of deep faith. This is shown in how he handled difficult situations.
In view of difficulties, people naturally would avoid them. When escape is made impossible, some choose not to resist, resigning themselves to "fate". Paul went beyond the resignation to fate. He tried to see good in evil. For example, people naturally resent imprisonment because they would lose their freedom. Moreover, the treatment they receive would be terrible: the food, the torture and the isolation etc. Yet, for Paul, he saw his imprisonment as an opportunity to preach Christ. In his own words:
I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
so that it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ;
and most of the brethren have been made confident in the Lord because of my imprisonment, and are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear (Philippians 1:12-14).
His house arrest allowed him to preach to the Roman Legion.
His imprisonment emboldened the confidence of the other Christians.
Take another example:
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel;
the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice (Philippians 1:15-18).
There were rivals who took advantage of Paul's imprisonment to discredit him. Yet, Paul had such a large heart as to rejoice because Christ was proclaimed! He did not feel threatened. Nor did he feel opposed. As long as Christ was proclaimed, he did not care/worry too much. Paul was truly a missionary.
To live is good and to die bad. This is a very natural reaction for everyone. So, what did Paul say about this?
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).
Paul desired to meet death so that he might be united with Christ.
My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better (Philippians 1:23b).
So, for Paul, whether to live or to die, he was able to find something positive in them. While ordinary people fear death, Paul welcomed it because he would then be united with Christ. For most people, to live is a punishment. Yet, Paul was able to ground his life in Christ and see his life as beneficial as possible to all people.
But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account (Philippians 1:24).
Yet, there was one thing that Paul found it difficult to handle: factionism
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind (Philippians 2:2).
Most Christians are stubborn people. They rarely spend time thinking from other people's perspectives. Division was rampant. It happened in almost all the Churches Paul had established. He could only appeal to them, exhorting them to be united. Paul could not bring himself to see the Christ movement split up. Had he lived in the 16th century, he would have been driven crazy by the split up of the Mystical Body of Christ during Reformation.
My dear readers, can you see any good in this split up of the Church? Paul could not. I can!
My dear Advocate, You are able to work good things out from evil. If we are not able to see the good You perform out from evil, we do not deserve heaven. I pray that You grant us discernment so that we can see Your glory. Amen.
Monday, 3 November 2008
All Souls' Day
Chinese and the Catholic Church have quite a lot of things in common. Chinese honour their ancestors, remembering their contribution to our present existence. They celebrate a Hungry Ghost Festival in the seventh lunar month to do spiritual almsgiving to wandering ghosts which do not have any descendants to remember them. That's why they are hungry and it is a charity to feed them during this Hungry Ghost Festival.
The Catholic Church also celebrates a similar feast to help souls which nobody remembers, especially those going through purgation in the purgatory. This is the All Souls' Day. It is good to celebrate All Souls' Day because it is a charity work. It also reminds us of an important article of faith --- the Communion of Saints. Traditionally, the Catholic Church saw herself as a 3-tier church: the Victorious Church, the Pilgrim Church and the Suffering Church. The Victorious Church are saints and angels who are living in heaven, who have received their crowns of glory. The Suffering Church consists of souls which temporarily cannot go to heaven. They need to spend time in the purgatory to weed themselves of their venial sins which prevent them from going to heaven directly. We are the Pilgrim Church on earth. We are embarking on a trek home. We need the prayers and intercessions from the Victorious Church. Similarly, the Suffering Church needs our prayers and intercessions as well. By the time the souls in the purgatory have served their term, they will go to heaven and pray for us in return.
Fr. Patrick Sun shared with us an intimate experience of his about these souls in the Purgatory. When he was still studying in primary school, his mother used to bring him to a Carmel nun in Stanley to pray for him whenever he sat for examinations. When he graduated from the Seminary, the Superiors told him that he had not met the requirements to be a priest. That summer, the seminarians attended a retreat in the Xavier House in Cheung Chau to think over their decisions before ordination.
One night at around 11:30 p.m. after saying all the daily services and vesper, Patrick was sitting alone in the chapel to pray. The chapel was not lit. Suddenly, Patrick sensed the existence of a spirit sitting next to him. Immediately, he was able to recognize that it was the Carmel nun who used to pray for his examination results. This time, it was different. She was a spirit. He could clearly sense her total being, her character, her love of Christ, her strong sense of jealousy. Patrick had never experienced with such clarity her personality before. A spirit is able to reveal itself totally without any obstacle, any hindrance. Patrick strongly felt her support, like what she used to do for him when she was alive. She supported his ordination. After a while, she left and Patrick was relieved.
Now that Fr. Patrick is ordained, he has no doubt about the reality and authenticity of the spiritual realm. More than that, he feels strongly the love of Christ, probably through that encounter with the Carmel nun. Jesus so loved us that he was willing to empty himself, to pour out his blood and his love on the cross. His great love enhances our sense of self-worth. We are valuable in the eyes of Jesus. Then, how can we do things detrimental to our own well-being? How can we sin to tread ourselves on the ground? We should love ourselves, do things for our well-being.
In the Last Supper, Jesus told his apostles he would be leaving them, returning to the Father to prepare rooms for them. They knew the way where he was going (John 14:4). Thomas asked Jesus how they could know the way. Jesus then said the most quoted verse:
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
In Jesus, we are able to know the way. In Jesus, we are able to know the truth and in Jesus, we are able to obtain life, eternal life.
My dear Advocate, the feast of All Souls reminds us that we have an eternal life waiting up there for us. We need to work hard, not just to gain our own salvation but to fight for the salvation of others as well. Amen.
The Catholic Church also celebrates a similar feast to help souls which nobody remembers, especially those going through purgation in the purgatory. This is the All Souls' Day. It is good to celebrate All Souls' Day because it is a charity work. It also reminds us of an important article of faith --- the Communion of Saints. Traditionally, the Catholic Church saw herself as a 3-tier church: the Victorious Church, the Pilgrim Church and the Suffering Church. The Victorious Church are saints and angels who are living in heaven, who have received their crowns of glory. The Suffering Church consists of souls which temporarily cannot go to heaven. They need to spend time in the purgatory to weed themselves of their venial sins which prevent them from going to heaven directly. We are the Pilgrim Church on earth. We are embarking on a trek home. We need the prayers and intercessions from the Victorious Church. Similarly, the Suffering Church needs our prayers and intercessions as well. By the time the souls in the purgatory have served their term, they will go to heaven and pray for us in return.
Fr. Patrick Sun shared with us an intimate experience of his about these souls in the Purgatory. When he was still studying in primary school, his mother used to bring him to a Carmel nun in Stanley to pray for him whenever he sat for examinations. When he graduated from the Seminary, the Superiors told him that he had not met the requirements to be a priest. That summer, the seminarians attended a retreat in the Xavier House in Cheung Chau to think over their decisions before ordination.
One night at around 11:30 p.m. after saying all the daily services and vesper, Patrick was sitting alone in the chapel to pray. The chapel was not lit. Suddenly, Patrick sensed the existence of a spirit sitting next to him. Immediately, he was able to recognize that it was the Carmel nun who used to pray for his examination results. This time, it was different. She was a spirit. He could clearly sense her total being, her character, her love of Christ, her strong sense of jealousy. Patrick had never experienced with such clarity her personality before. A spirit is able to reveal itself totally without any obstacle, any hindrance. Patrick strongly felt her support, like what she used to do for him when she was alive. She supported his ordination. After a while, she left and Patrick was relieved.
Now that Fr. Patrick is ordained, he has no doubt about the reality and authenticity of the spiritual realm. More than that, he feels strongly the love of Christ, probably through that encounter with the Carmel nun. Jesus so loved us that he was willing to empty himself, to pour out his blood and his love on the cross. His great love enhances our sense of self-worth. We are valuable in the eyes of Jesus. Then, how can we do things detrimental to our own well-being? How can we sin to tread ourselves on the ground? We should love ourselves, do things for our well-being.
In the Last Supper, Jesus told his apostles he would be leaving them, returning to the Father to prepare rooms for them. They knew the way where he was going (John 14:4). Thomas asked Jesus how they could know the way. Jesus then said the most quoted verse:
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
In Jesus, we are able to know the way. In Jesus, we are able to know the truth and in Jesus, we are able to obtain life, eternal life.
My dear Advocate, the feast of All Souls reminds us that we have an eternal life waiting up there for us. We need to work hard, not just to gain our own salvation but to fight for the salvation of others as well. Amen.
Saturday, 1 November 2008
The twelve tribes of Israel
On the first of November, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints. However, Hong Kong people are more familiar with Halloween (Hallow Eve, the eve of All Saints Day) instead. That is why the Catholic weekly criticizes the local Catholic schools for celebrating Halloween, instead of the All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Students are eager to enjoy a commercialized, secular, exciting and scary festivity rather than a solemn reflection on the meaning of life after death. Catholic schools in Hong Kong have failed their students miserably.
In the reading today, we come across the twelve tribes of Israel. According to Genesis, Jacob (Israel) had 12 sons. They were:
The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maid: Dan and Naphtali.
The sons of Zilpah, Leah's maid: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddanaram (Genesis 35:23-26).
In Genesis 48, Joseph brought his 2 sons, Manasseh and Ephraim to Jacob to be blessed by him. In Genesis 49, Jacob blessed his 12 sons according to the following order: Reuben, Simeon and Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphatali, Joseph and Benjamin.
Does this list represent the birth order of the 12 sons? According to Genesis 30, the answer is NO! Issachar was born before Zebulun.
The book of Numbers contains a record of a census of the 12 tribes. The house of Levi was not counted because they were dedicated to God. Joseph had two sons. They became two tribes, replacing Joseph. So, according to Numbers, we have the following figures:
the number of the tribe of Reuben was 46500 (Numbers 1:21).
the number of the tribe of Simeon was 59300 (Numbers 1:23).
the number of the tribe of Gad was 45650 (Numbers 1:25).
the number of the tribe of Judah was 74600 (Numbers 1:27).
the number of the tribe of Issachar was 54400 (Numbers 1:29).
the number of the tribe of Zebulun was 57400 (Numbers 1:31).
the number of the tribe of Ephraim was 40500 (Numbers 1:33).
the number of the tribe of Manasseh was 32200 (Numbers 1:35).
the number of the tribe of Benjamin was 35400 (Numbers 1:37).
the number of the tribe of Dan was 62700 (Numbers 1:39).
the number of the tribe of Asher was 41500 (Numbers 1:41).
the number of the tribe of Naphtali was 53400 (Numbers 1:43).
their whole number was six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.
But the Levities were not numbered by their ancestral tribe along with them (Numbers 1:46-47).
For some unknown reasons, Gad went all the way up, mixing along with the sons of Leah.
With all this Old Testament background, we now turn to Revelation. Here, we have a very interesting list of the 12 tribes of Israel.
saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads."
And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel,
twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad,
twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand of the tribe of Manasseh,
twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand of the tribe of Issachar,
twelve thousand of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin (Revelation 7:3-8).
In Revelation, Judah now heads the list. It looks reasonable because in New Testament time, only Jews remained. The 10 northern tribes had vanished from history.
Levi is in and Dan is out. This was unthinkable in Old Testament time. Probably in New Testament time, especially after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the Levites no longer served God in the Temple. Therefore, they were not dedicated exclusively to God.
Joseph is in and Ephraim is out. The first born of Joseph, Manasseh stays in the list. Why do both the father and the son appear in the list? Doesn't the tribe of Joseph include Manasseh? Does this list reveal how the Jews understand themselves in New Testament time?
From these lists, we see that even such a simple concept as the 12 tribes indicates how the Israelites see themselves, or wants to see themselves throughout the ages. For example, before the Babylonian Captivity, after exile, during the Greek Empire and Jesus' time. Therefore, any list only reflects the understanding of the peoples at that time. In short, there is no definitive list of 12 tribes.
My dear Advocate, who will care about the 12 tribes of Israel? Indeed, the 10 tribes in the north were presumably "diluted" during their Exile to Assyria. We pray that after their long suffering on earth, they may be able to stand in solidarity and survive. Amen.
In the reading today, we come across the twelve tribes of Israel. According to Genesis, Jacob (Israel) had 12 sons. They were:
The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.
The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maid: Dan and Naphtali.
The sons of Zilpah, Leah's maid: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddanaram (Genesis 35:23-26).
In Genesis 48, Joseph brought his 2 sons, Manasseh and Ephraim to Jacob to be blessed by him. In Genesis 49, Jacob blessed his 12 sons according to the following order: Reuben, Simeon and Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphatali, Joseph and Benjamin.
Does this list represent the birth order of the 12 sons? According to Genesis 30, the answer is NO! Issachar was born before Zebulun.
The book of Numbers contains a record of a census of the 12 tribes. The house of Levi was not counted because they were dedicated to God. Joseph had two sons. They became two tribes, replacing Joseph. So, according to Numbers, we have the following figures:
the number of the tribe of Reuben was 46500 (Numbers 1:21).
the number of the tribe of Simeon was 59300 (Numbers 1:23).
the number of the tribe of Gad was 45650 (Numbers 1:25).
the number of the tribe of Judah was 74600 (Numbers 1:27).
the number of the tribe of Issachar was 54400 (Numbers 1:29).
the number of the tribe of Zebulun was 57400 (Numbers 1:31).
the number of the tribe of Ephraim was 40500 (Numbers 1:33).
the number of the tribe of Manasseh was 32200 (Numbers 1:35).
the number of the tribe of Benjamin was 35400 (Numbers 1:37).
the number of the tribe of Dan was 62700 (Numbers 1:39).
the number of the tribe of Asher was 41500 (Numbers 1:41).
the number of the tribe of Naphtali was 53400 (Numbers 1:43).
their whole number was six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.
But the Levities were not numbered by their ancestral tribe along with them (Numbers 1:46-47).
For some unknown reasons, Gad went all the way up, mixing along with the sons of Leah.
With all this Old Testament background, we now turn to Revelation. Here, we have a very interesting list of the 12 tribes of Israel.
saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads."
And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel,
twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad,
twelve thousand of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand of the tribe of Manasseh,
twelve thousand of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand of the tribe of Issachar,
twelve thousand of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand sealed out of the tribe of Benjamin (Revelation 7:3-8).
In Revelation, Judah now heads the list. It looks reasonable because in New Testament time, only Jews remained. The 10 northern tribes had vanished from history.
Levi is in and Dan is out. This was unthinkable in Old Testament time. Probably in New Testament time, especially after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the Levites no longer served God in the Temple. Therefore, they were not dedicated exclusively to God.
Joseph is in and Ephraim is out. The first born of Joseph, Manasseh stays in the list. Why do both the father and the son appear in the list? Doesn't the tribe of Joseph include Manasseh? Does this list reveal how the Jews understand themselves in New Testament time?
From these lists, we see that even such a simple concept as the 12 tribes indicates how the Israelites see themselves, or wants to see themselves throughout the ages. For example, before the Babylonian Captivity, after exile, during the Greek Empire and Jesus' time. Therefore, any list only reflects the understanding of the peoples at that time. In short, there is no definitive list of 12 tribes.
My dear Advocate, who will care about the 12 tribes of Israel? Indeed, the 10 tribes in the north were presumably "diluted" during their Exile to Assyria. We pray that after their long suffering on earth, they may be able to stand in solidarity and survive. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)