Exactly one year ago, I began writing this blog. Thank and praise be to God. He sustains me until this moment, writing one piece of reflection a day. It is very tempting to ask how much progress I have made. If I evaluate, it seems that I am very pride. If I don't, I may not be humble. Perhaps there is no progress to write about at all. Rationality dictates that I should choose the lesser evil. So, I should do an evaluation.
A simple word count shows that I have written around 245,000 words, roughly 670 words per day. Of course, I did not keep track of the number of hours I spent squabbling these random thoughts. It doesn't show how much I have grown in my love of God and of man. Quality counts more than quantity.
How much more have I loved my family members and my students? John wrote.
Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God.
He who does not love does not know God; for God is love (1 John 4:7-8).
My mother loves me. There is no doubt about it. How much have I loved her in return? I call her every day after I return home from school. Last summer, I spent a week with her in Chai Wan, drinking with her, arguing with her but I could not reduce her bitterness and thus her drinking. Perhaps I have not been able to share her bitterness. My Lord, have mercy on her soul.
My children loves me. But Wulstan worries me most. He is intellectually the most challenging but that is only a tiny part of him. His graduation is drawing near yet his future is still very vague. He returns home after I have gone to bed. There is not enough exchanges between my son and me. My Lord, guide him on his way.
I know that many students don't like me because I am an annoying teacher and very likely a lousy one. I can manage to help some of them make some progress. I wish I could share more enjoyable time within and without the classrooms with them. I wish they knew the Bible better and obtained spiritual nourishment. I wish they gained higher proficiency in their English and achieved good HKCEE results. I wish they were more diligent in their studies. My Lord, admit them in Your fold.
Erminia is dedicated to me. She relieves me of my depression but I have not loved her enough. Quite often, I unload my frustrations on her and leave her with the burden to raise Symphorian. I should take up a greater share of her workload and love her more. My Lord, sanctify us so that we may grow in holiness together.
Dear Lord, I have not loved You enough. I have missed many opportunities to love my neighbours. There are many more people I have not mentioned but You know them all. I entrust them all in Your loving grace. Amen.
Tuesday, 6 January 2009
Monday, 5 January 2009
Love in deed and in truth
This afternoon, I attended the Executive Committee meeting of the Diocesan Secondary School Religious Education Committee. The Spiritual Director, Fr. Baptista S.J. was present and as usual, he likes to crack jokes with us. Timothy To of St. Peter's was the chairman and Joan Lam of Newman College the treasurer. These are dedicated people to work with.
In his allocutio, Fr. Baptista always encourages us to love our Church and to opt for the poor. Unlike Protestant churches which see themselves as congregations of saints, the Catholic Church sees herself as a church of sinners in need of God's redemption. Therefore, the Church is imperfect. She needs continuous purification until the Second Coming of our Lord. Still, we should love her despite her blemishes. Therefore, we should be ready to forgive. Then we can stand united to improve the situation of the poor.
In anticipation of more diplomatic rapport between Vatican and mainland China, we will have more contact with the churches in the mainland. The three attitudes mentioned above will help facilitate our dialogue with them.
After his allocutio, committee members shared their thoughts. Joan spoke up. Most of her students receive comprehensive social assistance. Therefore, she always encourages them to study hard in order to escape from poverty in the future. It is better to keep them in school than to let them loose roaming the street or return to their flats of bare walls. Struck by recent events happening around her student, Joan could not hold back her tears when she told us how a 13-year student faced the death of her father who died of cancer. Holding only a two-way permit, the student's mother did not know much about funeral matters in Hong Kong and she could not stay long with her daughter. Joan is a member of the Bereavement Pastoral Association of her parish. Knowing the case, all the members came and collected on the spot at the crematorium about $5000 to help the student out. The farewell rite was conducted cordially. Not only was Joan deeply touched, but also the people from the funeral parlour ...
Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18).
Then, the committee members shared their worries about the difficulties in implementing the NSS Ethics & Religious Studies elective. We lack confidence in recruiting enough students to enrol in this subject, not to mention the difficulty in handling the subject matter.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him (1 John 3:21-22).
Dear Lord, we keep Your commandments to love. We beseech You. Help us implement E&RS in the upcoming NSS. Give us the confidence we lack. Amen.
In his allocutio, Fr. Baptista always encourages us to love our Church and to opt for the poor. Unlike Protestant churches which see themselves as congregations of saints, the Catholic Church sees herself as a church of sinners in need of God's redemption. Therefore, the Church is imperfect. She needs continuous purification until the Second Coming of our Lord. Still, we should love her despite her blemishes. Therefore, we should be ready to forgive. Then we can stand united to improve the situation of the poor.
In anticipation of more diplomatic rapport between Vatican and mainland China, we will have more contact with the churches in the mainland. The three attitudes mentioned above will help facilitate our dialogue with them.
After his allocutio, committee members shared their thoughts. Joan spoke up. Most of her students receive comprehensive social assistance. Therefore, she always encourages them to study hard in order to escape from poverty in the future. It is better to keep them in school than to let them loose roaming the street or return to their flats of bare walls. Struck by recent events happening around her student, Joan could not hold back her tears when she told us how a 13-year student faced the death of her father who died of cancer. Holding only a two-way permit, the student's mother did not know much about funeral matters in Hong Kong and she could not stay long with her daughter. Joan is a member of the Bereavement Pastoral Association of her parish. Knowing the case, all the members came and collected on the spot at the crematorium about $5000 to help the student out. The farewell rite was conducted cordially. Not only was Joan deeply touched, but also the people from the funeral parlour ...
Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18).
Then, the committee members shared their worries about the difficulties in implementing the NSS Ethics & Religious Studies elective. We lack confidence in recruiting enough students to enrol in this subject, not to mention the difficulty in handling the subject matter.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him (1 John 3:21-22).
Dear Lord, we keep Your commandments to love. We beseech You. Help us implement E&RS in the upcoming NSS. Give us the confidence we lack. Amen.
Feast of Epiphany (Year B)
All of us, even non-Christians, are familiar with the story of the 3 kings who make their appearance in Christmas cards, carols and cribs. The story is told in the gospel of Matthew. Actually, Matthew does not say how many kings had visited Jesus. Nor does Matthew inform us of the names of these kings. Neither were they "kings" but, "μάγοι" (Greek); "Magi" (Latin) or "wise men" (English). Folklore and common sense fill up and embellish the missing information.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1, RSV).
cum ergo natus esset Iesus in Bethleem Iudaeae in diebus Herodis regis ecce magi ab oriente venerunt Hierosolymam (Vulgate)
Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδοὺ μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα
Therefore, some Magi visited Jerusalem at the birth of Jesus to look for the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2). We fix the number at three because 3 gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh were mentioned (Matthew 2:11). Therefore, common sense suggests that there were three kings because there were 3 expensive gifts. Since the 8th century, names were given to these kings: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.
Indeed, this beautiful story is itself already a treasure trove of jewels for meditation. For example, the star which the Magi followed is usually interpreted as a "sign of faith", Signum Fidei, which is the motto of the La Salle Brothers. Therefore, a star appears in school badges of all La Sallian schools. We Christians should ourselves be such a star to lead and guide other people to Jesus etc.
The nativity story in Matthew tries to convince his Jewish readers that Jesus was the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. Therefore, Matthew put forth as evidence that Jesus was a descendant of David (e.g. the genealogy), that Jesus was a king (e.g. the Magi and the massacre engineered by Herod) and that God had chosen him (e.g. angels, a star and 5 prophecies). Inevitably, men occupied the bulk of the story of Matthew in sharp contrast to the nativity story of Luke where women occupied a more prominent part. Therefore, it is all the more significant to read the conspicuous role Matthew gave Mary in the verse mentioned above. Matthew forgot to mention Joseph but we cannot draw the conclusion that Joseph was not present.
and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).
Mary was seen with her Son to receive the worship of the Magi, the Gentiles. Therefore, why should Christians hesitate to honour the mother of their Saviour?
Today, Fr. Martin celebrated the 11 o'clock mass with us. His homily focused on interpersonal relationship, between God and men; men and men. God initiates this relationship. To cater for our need, God became flesh to live among us, the righteous as well as the sinful. God gave chances not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles. He arranged a star to attract and guide these oriental astrologists to meet Him. Though Herod was an evil king, God had also given him a chance to meet Jesus. The Magi made it but Herod didn't because he would not allow anybody or anything to threaten his throne. Therefore, Herod engineered a massacre of innocent infants in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16). As for the effect of meeting Jesus, Father Martin drew our attention to the action of the Magi. They departed to their own country by another way.
And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way (Matthew 2:12).
After meeting Jesus, the Magi took another way, a new way. We have met and known Jesus. Have we found a new way of life, a life with a new purpose? If not, we simply return home empty-handed. How pitiful!
My Lord, enlighten us of our purpose of life. We have been roaming around on this planet aimlessly. Show us our purpose of life. Amen.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1, RSV).
cum ergo natus esset Iesus in Bethleem Iudaeae in diebus Herodis regis ecce magi ab oriente venerunt Hierosolymam (Vulgate)
Τοῦ δὲ Ἰησοῦ γεννηθέντος ἐν Βηθλέεμ τῆς Ἰουδαίας ἐν ἡμέραις Ἡρῴδου τοῦ βασιλέως, ἰδοὺ μάγοι ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν παρεγένοντο εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα
Therefore, some Magi visited Jerusalem at the birth of Jesus to look for the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2). We fix the number at three because 3 gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh were mentioned (Matthew 2:11). Therefore, common sense suggests that there were three kings because there were 3 expensive gifts. Since the 8th century, names were given to these kings: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.
Indeed, this beautiful story is itself already a treasure trove of jewels for meditation. For example, the star which the Magi followed is usually interpreted as a "sign of faith", Signum Fidei, which is the motto of the La Salle Brothers. Therefore, a star appears in school badges of all La Sallian schools. We Christians should ourselves be such a star to lead and guide other people to Jesus etc.
The nativity story in Matthew tries to convince his Jewish readers that Jesus was the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament. Therefore, Matthew put forth as evidence that Jesus was a descendant of David (e.g. the genealogy), that Jesus was a king (e.g. the Magi and the massacre engineered by Herod) and that God had chosen him (e.g. angels, a star and 5 prophecies). Inevitably, men occupied the bulk of the story of Matthew in sharp contrast to the nativity story of Luke where women occupied a more prominent part. Therefore, it is all the more significant to read the conspicuous role Matthew gave Mary in the verse mentioned above. Matthew forgot to mention Joseph but we cannot draw the conclusion that Joseph was not present.
and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11).
Mary was seen with her Son to receive the worship of the Magi, the Gentiles. Therefore, why should Christians hesitate to honour the mother of their Saviour?
Today, Fr. Martin celebrated the 11 o'clock mass with us. His homily focused on interpersonal relationship, between God and men; men and men. God initiates this relationship. To cater for our need, God became flesh to live among us, the righteous as well as the sinful. God gave chances not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles. He arranged a star to attract and guide these oriental astrologists to meet Him. Though Herod was an evil king, God had also given him a chance to meet Jesus. The Magi made it but Herod didn't because he would not allow anybody or anything to threaten his throne. Therefore, Herod engineered a massacre of innocent infants in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16). As for the effect of meeting Jesus, Father Martin drew our attention to the action of the Magi. They departed to their own country by another way.
And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way (Matthew 2:12).
After meeting Jesus, the Magi took another way, a new way. We have met and known Jesus. Have we found a new way of life, a life with a new purpose? If not, we simply return home empty-handed. How pitiful!
My Lord, enlighten us of our purpose of life. We have been roaming around on this planet aimlessly. Show us our purpose of life. Amen.
Sunday, 4 January 2009
We shall be like him
Early Christians were lucky because they were able to live and mix with witnesses of the risen Jesus. The impact must have been so tremendous that these witnesses were willing to give up their life for what they had seen, touched and heard. The author of the first epistle of John (for convenience's sake, I will simply call him John because even if he was not John, he was writing in the authority of John) must be one of these witnesses, though we do not know for sure whether he suffered martyrdom.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life (1 John 1:1).
Nowadays, we are far away in time from these witnesses and apostles. Are we less lucky than those early Christians? Not necessarily, because we believe in Jesus and he sends his Holy Spirit to teach us everything we need to know for our salvation.
the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him (1 John 2:27).
John had been writing to the community to fight against a heresy which denied that Jesus is Christ. Now, he moved on to warn the community members from committing sins. If they did, they forfeited God's love, forfeited their identity as children of God (1 John 3:1). In this epistle, John constantly called them "children". There are two possibilities. John was aged and treated the members like his children. The other possibility was that he affirmed their identity as God's children.
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. (1 John 3:1a)
Being God's children, they had to resist the temptation to follow the world and its lust. If they did, they lost the love of God (1 John 2:15-17).
The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1b).
This reminds us of what Jesus said in the Last Supper and the close affinity between the gospel of John and this epistle.
O righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee; and these know that thou hast sent me (John 17:25).
Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).
John must have seen the glory of Jesus. He wanted his children to be like this glorified Jesus. To encourage them to abide in Jesus, to remain pure, to stay away from sins, John shared his vision of this glorified Jesus.
You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him (1 John 3:5-6).
John's constant advice: to abide in Jesus and do not sin. We shall be like him when he appears.
Thank you John. Thank you for your loving advice.
Dear Jesus, keep us always in you from the evil one. Guard us and none of us is lost (John 17:12). Amen.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life (1 John 1:1).
Nowadays, we are far away in time from these witnesses and apostles. Are we less lucky than those early Christians? Not necessarily, because we believe in Jesus and he sends his Holy Spirit to teach us everything we need to know for our salvation.
the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him (1 John 2:27).
John had been writing to the community to fight against a heresy which denied that Jesus is Christ. Now, he moved on to warn the community members from committing sins. If they did, they forfeited God's love, forfeited their identity as children of God (1 John 3:1). In this epistle, John constantly called them "children". There are two possibilities. John was aged and treated the members like his children. The other possibility was that he affirmed their identity as God's children.
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. (1 John 3:1a)
Being God's children, they had to resist the temptation to follow the world and its lust. If they did, they lost the love of God (1 John 2:15-17).
The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him (1 John 3:1b).
This reminds us of what Jesus said in the Last Supper and the close affinity between the gospel of John and this epistle.
O righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee; and these know that thou hast sent me (John 17:25).
Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2).
John must have seen the glory of Jesus. He wanted his children to be like this glorified Jesus. To encourage them to abide in Jesus, to remain pure, to stay away from sins, John shared his vision of this glorified Jesus.
You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him (1 John 3:5-6).
John's constant advice: to abide in Jesus and do not sin. We shall be like him when he appears.
Thank you John. Thank you for your loving advice.
Dear Jesus, keep us always in you from the evil one. Guard us and none of us is lost (John 17:12). Amen.
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Feast of Ss. Basil and Gregory
Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of two friends of the 4th century: St. Basil the Great (330-379) and St. Gregory of Nazianzus (325-389). They were not living in the age of martyrdom because God had conquered Babylon, the Roman Empire. Caesar Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Empire. Persecutions had stopped. Lavish gifts were showered on the Church. The Roman Empire had begun her retreat to the East, making Constantinople another power centre. It was a time of heresies, corruption, political interventions into religious disputes and consequently a great thriving in theology and ecclesiastical restructuring.
Both saints were promising lawyers and would have made a prominent political career. Yet, God had a better use of their oratorical skills. St. Basil became a monk and built several monasteries. After consecration to the bishop of Caesaria, he worked to build up a better clergy. He fought against Arianism. God put St. Gregory into the stormy struggle in Constantinople. Both saints became Doctors of the Church. A study of their lives will benefit us in a better understanding of Church history of their age.
In the community of John, a heresy was brewing. The heresy denied that Jesus is Christ (1 John 2:22). Had Jesus not been Christ, Christianity would have crumbled. John warned.
No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also (1 John 2:23).
According to John, Jesus told Thomas the following truth.
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)
If we deny Jesus, we will not receive his promise.
And this is what he has promised us, eternal life (1 John 2:25).
Therefore, it is a very grave matter. When we deny Jesus, we deny ourselves of eternal life. When we deny Jesus, we will not receive his Holy Spirit which will teach us the truth, which will guarantee eternal life.
but the anointing (the Holy Spirit) which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him (1 John 2:27).
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you (John 14:26).
John advised us to abide in Jesus.
Dear Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68). Amen.
Both saints were promising lawyers and would have made a prominent political career. Yet, God had a better use of their oratorical skills. St. Basil became a monk and built several monasteries. After consecration to the bishop of Caesaria, he worked to build up a better clergy. He fought against Arianism. God put St. Gregory into the stormy struggle in Constantinople. Both saints became Doctors of the Church. A study of their lives will benefit us in a better understanding of Church history of their age.
In the community of John, a heresy was brewing. The heresy denied that Jesus is Christ (1 John 2:22). Had Jesus not been Christ, Christianity would have crumbled. John warned.
No one who denies the Son has the Father. He who confesses the Son has the Father also (1 John 2:23).
According to John, Jesus told Thomas the following truth.
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)
If we deny Jesus, we will not receive his promise.
And this is what he has promised us, eternal life (1 John 2:25).
Therefore, it is a very grave matter. When we deny Jesus, we deny ourselves of eternal life. When we deny Jesus, we will not receive his Holy Spirit which will teach us the truth, which will guarantee eternal life.
but the anointing (the Holy Spirit) which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him (1 John 2:27).
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you (John 14:26).
John advised us to abide in Jesus.
Dear Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68). Amen.
Friday, 2 January 2009
Feast of the Mother of God
We begin a new year with the celebration of the Feast of the Mother of God. First of all, thanks and praises must be given to God because He gives us yet another year a life of sanctification. We should make good use of the coming year to love God and love our neighbours. Secondly, it is an honour and glory of mankind to be so privileged as to give birth to Jesus, our God. This is a great mystery which we may never fully fathom. God chose to become a mere man and to die for us. It is an expression of tremendous overflowing love on God's part. It is not our merit but God's love. God does not mind our base essence. He is willing to share His divinity with us and not with any other creatures. It is our privilege to the envy of angels. Why did God do this to us? Simply because we need redemption. St. Paul wrote.
But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5).
Among women, Mary was blessed. From eternity, God has in mind Mary. Her life has a purpose, to clothe the Word of God in flesh and to raise him up as the Saviour of the world. In order to do that, God grants special privileges to her. First of all, Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin. This is the doctrine of her Immaculate Conception. God has prepared an immaculate environment to clothe His Son in flesh. Is it necessary? Is it possible for Jesus to be born from an ordinary woman stained with sins? Yes, it would be but the consequence would be a Jesus flawed with all tendencies to sin. Then the author of Hebrews cannot write the following.
For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
Jesus in every respect is truly a man. He grew up like man. He ate, drank and slept like man. He had compassion to the weak and furies to the arrogant like man. He was flesh and blood in such a way that Satan could tempt him and Roman soldiers could crucified him to death. Yet, Jesus was without sin so that he could be the perfect Paschal Lamb to expiate all our sins. So, God's wisdom has it that Jesus was nurtured in an immaculate womb.
The humanity and divinity of Jesus cannot be separated. Therefore, Mary was not just the biological mother of the humanity of Jesus. She was the mother of the totality of Jesus, thus the mother of his divinity. To deny Mary her status as the mother of God is to deny the divinity of Jesus. Therefore, defending the Mother of God is defending the divinity of Jesus, our God.
Today, we also celebrate the Day of World Peace. In view of so many conflicts and confrontation worldwide nowadays, peace seems to be such an unreachable goal. Deep in our hearts, we yearn for peace. But we need to put down our pride, reach out to those who are inferior in order to make peace a possibility. But what is inferiority? Isn't it a human construct, a human defense mechanism? Bearing in mind that we are all children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ, we are no better than any other human beings. God has taken the initiative. He took our flesh and became one of us. Mind you, the old lady collecting dishes in the McDonald's may well be Jesus in disguise! Let us follow Jesus' footsteps and give peace a chance.
Dear Mother in heaven, pray for us sinners, now and always beseech God to grant your children enough grace to achieve sanctity. Amen.
But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5).
Among women, Mary was blessed. From eternity, God has in mind Mary. Her life has a purpose, to clothe the Word of God in flesh and to raise him up as the Saviour of the world. In order to do that, God grants special privileges to her. First of all, Mary was conceived without the stain of original sin. This is the doctrine of her Immaculate Conception. God has prepared an immaculate environment to clothe His Son in flesh. Is it necessary? Is it possible for Jesus to be born from an ordinary woman stained with sins? Yes, it would be but the consequence would be a Jesus flawed with all tendencies to sin. Then the author of Hebrews cannot write the following.
For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
Jesus in every respect is truly a man. He grew up like man. He ate, drank and slept like man. He had compassion to the weak and furies to the arrogant like man. He was flesh and blood in such a way that Satan could tempt him and Roman soldiers could crucified him to death. Yet, Jesus was without sin so that he could be the perfect Paschal Lamb to expiate all our sins. So, God's wisdom has it that Jesus was nurtured in an immaculate womb.
The humanity and divinity of Jesus cannot be separated. Therefore, Mary was not just the biological mother of the humanity of Jesus. She was the mother of the totality of Jesus, thus the mother of his divinity. To deny Mary her status as the mother of God is to deny the divinity of Jesus. Therefore, defending the Mother of God is defending the divinity of Jesus, our God.
Today, we also celebrate the Day of World Peace. In view of so many conflicts and confrontation worldwide nowadays, peace seems to be such an unreachable goal. Deep in our hearts, we yearn for peace. But we need to put down our pride, reach out to those who are inferior in order to make peace a possibility. But what is inferiority? Isn't it a human construct, a human defense mechanism? Bearing in mind that we are all children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ, we are no better than any other human beings. God has taken the initiative. He took our flesh and became one of us. Mind you, the old lady collecting dishes in the McDonald's may well be Jesus in disguise! Let us follow Jesus' footsteps and give peace a chance.
Dear Mother in heaven, pray for us sinners, now and always beseech God to grant your children enough grace to achieve sanctity. Amen.
Thursday, 1 January 2009
It is the last hour
About 1900 years ago, the author of the first epistle of John wrote:
Children, it is the last hour; Παιδία, ἐσχάτη ὥρα ἐστίν (1 John 2:18a).
Literally, the Greek reads: Children, end hour (it) is.
This last hour has lasted for more than nineteen hundred years and the end is nowhere in sight! It is even longer than what the Psalm and the second epistle of Peter say:
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4)
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8).
In 1947, atomic scientists set a Doomsday Clock at 11:53 p.m. Mid-night means a nuclear annihilation of the world. Sixty years later in 2007, it was 11:55p.m. Is 1 minute equivalent to 30 years, and does 1 hour mean 1800 years? Pretty close to John's scale. But historically, this Doomsday Clock has been set forward and backward many times, depending on the prospect of nuclear annihilation to mankind. Therefore, this last hour may suddenly end or it may last forever. Now, on the last day of 2008, it is appropriate for us to reflect on this last hour.
2008 has been a year of turmoil. I have no intention to review what happened in the economical, political and social spheres on this planet. All the TV stations have already spoon-fed us with their interpretations of all these things happened around us. We are passive, on the receiving end. There is nothing we can do about these big things. We cannot undo the Sichuan earthquake or the mini-bond crisis. Nor can we, in one stroke, boost up the business morality of those greedy manufacturers who mixed melamine into milk powder. Neither can we stop the Israelite air-raids on Gaza.
If I sound very pessimistic, I am not though this is the general mood shared by most people.
When John wrote about the last hour, He was not pessimistic. Actually, all Christians of all ages, be they ages of persecution or prosperity, long for this last hour. While John was not pessimistic, he was acutely aware of the dangers threatening his community --- the rise of antichrists, with a small "a", not a capital "A". These antichrists are insiders who deny that Jesus is Christ (1 John 2:22). They would disintegrate John's community. Therefore, it is more accurate to describe John's mood as alarmed rather than pessismistic. Similarly, I am alarmed rather than pessimistic. We are rational beings. To make sense of our world, we believe that things don't just happen accidentally. Our existence is no accident (Rick Warren again!). So, I had better look closer home and count what I have done.
What have I done? Not much but this blog. I have nearly covered all the readings of the even-numbered years and I will continue with those of odd-numbered. May God help me fulfill this good will. See you next year.
Dear Lord, I would like to identify the purpose of my life. Shall I pursue perpetual deaconship or pay more attention to Symphorian? Show me the way. Amen.
Children, it is the last hour; Παιδία, ἐσχάτη ὥρα ἐστίν (1 John 2:18a).
Literally, the Greek reads: Children, end hour (it) is.
This last hour has lasted for more than nineteen hundred years and the end is nowhere in sight! It is even longer than what the Psalm and the second epistle of Peter say:
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4)
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8).
In 1947, atomic scientists set a Doomsday Clock at 11:53 p.m. Mid-night means a nuclear annihilation of the world. Sixty years later in 2007, it was 11:55p.m. Is 1 minute equivalent to 30 years, and does 1 hour mean 1800 years? Pretty close to John's scale. But historically, this Doomsday Clock has been set forward and backward many times, depending on the prospect of nuclear annihilation to mankind. Therefore, this last hour may suddenly end or it may last forever. Now, on the last day of 2008, it is appropriate for us to reflect on this last hour.
2008 has been a year of turmoil. I have no intention to review what happened in the economical, political and social spheres on this planet. All the TV stations have already spoon-fed us with their interpretations of all these things happened around us. We are passive, on the receiving end. There is nothing we can do about these big things. We cannot undo the Sichuan earthquake or the mini-bond crisis. Nor can we, in one stroke, boost up the business morality of those greedy manufacturers who mixed melamine into milk powder. Neither can we stop the Israelite air-raids on Gaza.
If I sound very pessimistic, I am not though this is the general mood shared by most people.
When John wrote about the last hour, He was not pessimistic. Actually, all Christians of all ages, be they ages of persecution or prosperity, long for this last hour. While John was not pessimistic, he was acutely aware of the dangers threatening his community --- the rise of antichrists, with a small "a", not a capital "A". These antichrists are insiders who deny that Jesus is Christ (1 John 2:22). They would disintegrate John's community. Therefore, it is more accurate to describe John's mood as alarmed rather than pessismistic. Similarly, I am alarmed rather than pessimistic. We are rational beings. To make sense of our world, we believe that things don't just happen accidentally. Our existence is no accident (Rick Warren again!). So, I had better look closer home and count what I have done.
What have I done? Not much but this blog. I have nearly covered all the readings of the even-numbered years and I will continue with those of odd-numbered. May God help me fulfill this good will. See you next year.
Dear Lord, I would like to identify the purpose of my life. Shall I pursue perpetual deaconship or pay more attention to Symphorian? Show me the way. Amen.
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