All my children were baptized when they were infants. Hilary, my eldest son has not gone to Church since he attended secondary school. May God have mercy on him and on me. Wulstan goes regularly and and has taken over the choir I have served. Saturnia prefers shopping around and meeting more people. Symphorian is still young and obeys us. Sometimes, he complains, asking why Hilary doesn't go and he has to go.
Have I deprived them of their religious freedom? Should I allow them to make their own decisions when they grow up? Of course not. Should I allow them to choose their surname when they grow up? Of course not. As responsible parents, we often make the best choices for them before they grow up. I had done my part in his younger days. Nowadays, I cannot force Hilary to go to Church. It is his own responsibility to take care of his relation with God. I am sure God will take good care of Hilary. Of course, I am not asking for the same miracle as Samuel (1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19-20). Not everybody can enjoy the achievements of Samuel. He was the king-maker of Israel for the first two kings were anointed by him. The best of all, his words never failed.
And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19).
But I do not envy Samuel.
Truly, all of us were called by God. Otherwise, none of us would have become Catholics. We must have gone through processes similar to those gone through by Samuel. Somebody in our life must have played the role of Eli and helped us discern the call of God. However, not all of us can directly communicate with God, like Samuel. However, I repeat. I do not envy Samuel.
As a Catholic, how often do we find our prayers fruitless, our spiritual life dries up and our inability to hear from God frustrating? Isn't it our dream to be able to communicate directly with God, like Samuel and Jesus? Isn't it wonderful to be able to know the will of God? The answer is a paradoxical no. Otherwise, we may not be able to bear the burden while waiting for the fulfillment of God's will, here understood as private revelations.
Let's consider the case of Jesus. Though he is truly human, Jesus, in his fully grown human stage, knew perfectly the will of God. That was why after the Last Supper in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was in great agony so much so that he sweated blood because he could visualize how terribly he would suffer to death a few hours later (Luke 22:44). Unlike Mose who successfully persuaded God to change His mind (Exodus 32:11-14), Jesus submitted to the will of God.
Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).
Let's consider the case of Samuel. After God had established contact with Samuel, the first thing God revealed to Samuel was the punishment of the family of Eli who helped him establish contact with God. The next morning, Samuel hesitated to tell Eli about it. But Eli knew very well the evils done by his sons and his fault of not restraining them. Eli was expecting God's punishment and nothing Samuel said surprised him.
My point is this. If we know too much, we may not be able to bear the emotional burden. Imagine this situation. Suppose you are working in the parish office. One day, a lady friend of yours, or simply someone whom you don't personally know, comes to the office to book the Church for her wedding in six months' time. However, God reveals to you that your friend/the lady will become a widow the next morning after her wedding. What would you feel? What would you do? Would you, like Moses, persuade God to change His mind, or persuade the lady to change hers? No wonder, the word burden מַשָּׂא also means prophecies and oracles uttered by God.
Except for a handful of saints to whom God reveals His will directly, most of us live by faith. Without foreknowledge, we rely on faith in Jesus to weather through uncertainties. One of the disadvantages of knowing the will of God directly is that we will become complacent. We tend to fold our hands up and let an event run its natural course. We don't want to rock the boat. We don't want to disturb the holiness of God. Another disadvantage is that few people will take us seriously and we don't want to look like a fool in front of the others.
But are we not baptized into Christ's offices of king, priest and prophet? And as prophets, are we not supposed to proclaim the will of God? Yes we do. But public revelation had already finished at the death of the last Apostle. Everything we need to know about our salvation has been totally revealed and recorded in the Scripture. The only thing we need to do is to discern the will of God from the Scripture and the Sacred Tradition. Throughout the ages, there have been private revelations to saints that add nothing extra to the fidei depositum of the Christian faith. Of course, the will of God is much larger in scope than this deposit of Christian faith and it is in this region that I do not envy Samuel.
Not too deep in me there is a desire to do the will of God and I hope what I have been doing is not too far removed from His design. I will always keep myself aware of this desire and do likewise. And of course, a lot of people have and are helping me all along and I am indebted to them all and knowing well that I will not be grateful enough to acknowledge them one by one. I will keep them all in my prayers. May God bless them all.
Dear Lord, Your will be done whether I am aware of it not. If I find favour in Your sight, let me be a part of Your will. Amen.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Epiphany 2012
Though the Bible is encyclopedic and reveals all that we need to know for our salvation, it is not meant to provide us with ALL the knowable knowledge in the world. It leaves a lot of room for the imagination of artists. Therefore, if we are not cautious enough, we will unknowingly buy some "untruths" from the artists, including painters and lyricists. Christmas is a hotbed of such happy misunderstandings.
The Nativity stories are found in the first two chapters of the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Fed by the pious Christmas carols and Christmas paintings, we usually mix up and harmonize the events from the two different traditions. For example, we have sung The First Noel for many many years. Yet, it was only during the 2011 Mid-night Mass that I discovered that the second stanza is unbiblical! The carol began with the shepherds keeping watch in a cold winter night. Moving into the second stanza, the carol talks about the shepherds seeing a bright star in the east.
They looked up and saw a star
Well, forget about whether Jesus was truly born on December 25 for the moment, the story of shepherds appears only in the gospel of Luke but the Star of Bethlehem only in Matthew. Shepherds never physically appear in Matthew. They are only allured to (Matthew 9:36, 25:32, 26:31). For ages, people assumed that the Star of Bethlehem was an astronomical phenomenon. If the Magi saw it, all other people would be able to see the same star. However, current theories about the Star of Bethlehem have given up the astronomical interpretation. Scholars tend to think of the star as an astrological sign. If such was the case, the Star of Bethlehem would only catch the attention of experts --- astrologists, which suits the description of Magi. These astrologists saw the rise of a very significant royal sign in the eastern heaven and came to Judaea to adore the new born king, so the gospel says.
Matthew does not tell us how many Magi came. He only told us that they offered Jesus three gifts --- gold, frankincense and myrrh and our ancestors jumped to the conclusion that there were three Magi. Wasn't it possible that one team of Magi came together from the East and brought along three meaningful gifts. However, old thinking habits die hard. They even invented three names for these three kings --- Balthasar, Melqon (Melchior) and Gaspar (Caspar) and many others as well. They did not stop there. There are even ethical legends of the fourth Magi, called Artaban. Had Matthew fixed the number of Magi to three, there would not have been room for other authors to create stories with a moral. Sometimes, it is good NOT to be too exact, too perfect.
Since Matthew has left us room for imagination, we might offer reasonable explanations as to why the Magi took the trouble to search for the new born king. Thinking in conspiracy theory, I suggest the Magi were actually spies sent by the king of a highly civilized eastern nation to collect information about this new born king. That the news of a new born king aroused fear in Herod the Great is understandable because his throne was immediately threatened. The news also shook the people in Jerusalem because they feared that Herod would kill their new born babies (Matthew 2:3), just like what he eventually did to the babies in Bethlehem. So, the Nativity story of Matthew is full of royal intrigues. Therefore, I speculate that the mission of the Magi was less than innocence. They were sent to chart the exact location of this new born king, to find out whether he was peace-loving or not, whether his nation was a powerful and resourceful one. The three gifts would perhaps be a decoy to cover their real purpose or to bribe greedy local officials to extract information. (Ask Matthew how the Holy Family made use of the gold and frankincense.) In fact, the Magi did not need to be warned in a dream not to report to Herod (Matthew 2:12). Weren't they supposed to be wise men? What they saw in Jerusalem and heard from the tone of Herod's instruction must have gone down in their sub-consciousness, only to re-emerge in their dreams to tell them to return in another route, perhaps to collect more military information of Judaea and the Roman Empire. Again, Matthew was careful not to include an angel in their "dream" either because the Magi did not know any angelic creatures in their culture or because Matthew did not want to be so repetitive in his writing style. "The angel of the Lord" has been repetitively mentioned in every dream of Joseph except one (Matthew 1:20, 2:13, 19, but not in 2:22)!
Matthew wrote the Nativity story with an agenda. His audience were Jewish Christians and Matthew tried to show them that Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for. For the Jews, the Messiah would be a descendant of David, a king chosen by God. Therefore, in the Nativity story, the major players whom Matthew chose were kings while shepherds were too lowly to be included. Furthermore, one of his many devices was to show that Jesus' birth fulfilled 5 (or 6) Old Testament prophecies. The story of the Magi from the east fulfilled one such prophecy (or two) (Numbers 24:17, Micah 5:2): that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (and that a star would rise to indicate his arrival on earth). Then, we read of the escape to Egypt (Hosea 11:1) and the massacre of the Holy Innocent Infants (Jeremiah 31:15), all aiming at prophecy fulfillment.
Conspiracies or prophecies, we marvel at the grand plan of God. Nothing on earth is too debased to be His instrument. God would make use of astrological signs to reveal Himself to the astrologists. He would turn their spying mission into a pilgrimage. He would turn their decoy (bribe) into meaningful gifts. As for those who reject God, nothing on earth can be miraculous enough to convert them. But God does not give up. He continues to get involved in our history to invite us to partake in His eternal life. In the end, the star remains what it is --- Signum Fidei (a sign of faith). We have our part to play to reach for the star.
Dear Lord, we praise You for Your wisdom and love. May we accept Your kingdom with humility and be SIGNUM FIDEI for our brothers. Amen.
The Nativity stories are found in the first two chapters of the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Fed by the pious Christmas carols and Christmas paintings, we usually mix up and harmonize the events from the two different traditions. For example, we have sung The First Noel for many many years. Yet, it was only during the 2011 Mid-night Mass that I discovered that the second stanza is unbiblical! The carol began with the shepherds keeping watch in a cold winter night. Moving into the second stanza, the carol talks about the shepherds seeing a bright star in the east.
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East beyond them far
Well, forget about whether Jesus was truly born on December 25 for the moment, the story of shepherds appears only in the gospel of Luke but the Star of Bethlehem only in Matthew. Shepherds never physically appear in Matthew. They are only allured to (Matthew 9:36, 25:32, 26:31). For ages, people assumed that the Star of Bethlehem was an astronomical phenomenon. If the Magi saw it, all other people would be able to see the same star. However, current theories about the Star of Bethlehem have given up the astronomical interpretation. Scholars tend to think of the star as an astrological sign. If such was the case, the Star of Bethlehem would only catch the attention of experts --- astrologists, which suits the description of Magi. These astrologists saw the rise of a very significant royal sign in the eastern heaven and came to Judaea to adore the new born king, so the gospel says. Matthew does not tell us how many Magi came. He only told us that they offered Jesus three gifts --- gold, frankincense and myrrh and our ancestors jumped to the conclusion that there were three Magi. Wasn't it possible that one team of Magi came together from the East and brought along three meaningful gifts. However, old thinking habits die hard. They even invented three names for these three kings --- Balthasar, Melqon (Melchior) and Gaspar (Caspar) and many others as well. They did not stop there. There are even ethical legends of the fourth Magi, called Artaban. Had Matthew fixed the number of Magi to three, there would not have been room for other authors to create stories with a moral. Sometimes, it is good NOT to be too exact, too perfect.
Since Matthew has left us room for imagination, we might offer reasonable explanations as to why the Magi took the trouble to search for the new born king. Thinking in conspiracy theory, I suggest the Magi were actually spies sent by the king of a highly civilized eastern nation to collect information about this new born king. That the news of a new born king aroused fear in Herod the Great is understandable because his throne was immediately threatened. The news also shook the people in Jerusalem because they feared that Herod would kill their new born babies (Matthew 2:3), just like what he eventually did to the babies in Bethlehem. So, the Nativity story of Matthew is full of royal intrigues. Therefore, I speculate that the mission of the Magi was less than innocence. They were sent to chart the exact location of this new born king, to find out whether he was peace-loving or not, whether his nation was a powerful and resourceful one. The three gifts would perhaps be a decoy to cover their real purpose or to bribe greedy local officials to extract information. (Ask Matthew how the Holy Family made use of the gold and frankincense.) In fact, the Magi did not need to be warned in a dream not to report to Herod (Matthew 2:12). Weren't they supposed to be wise men? What they saw in Jerusalem and heard from the tone of Herod's instruction must have gone down in their sub-consciousness, only to re-emerge in their dreams to tell them to return in another route, perhaps to collect more military information of Judaea and the Roman Empire. Again, Matthew was careful not to include an angel in their "dream" either because the Magi did not know any angelic creatures in their culture or because Matthew did not want to be so repetitive in his writing style. "The angel of the Lord" has been repetitively mentioned in every dream of Joseph except one (Matthew 1:20, 2:13, 19, but not in 2:22)!
Matthew wrote the Nativity story with an agenda. His audience were Jewish Christians and Matthew tried to show them that Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for. For the Jews, the Messiah would be a descendant of David, a king chosen by God. Therefore, in the Nativity story, the major players whom Matthew chose were kings while shepherds were too lowly to be included. Furthermore, one of his many devices was to show that Jesus' birth fulfilled 5 (or 6) Old Testament prophecies. The story of the Magi from the east fulfilled one such prophecy (or two) (Numbers 24:17, Micah 5:2): that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (and that a star would rise to indicate his arrival on earth). Then, we read of the escape to Egypt (Hosea 11:1) and the massacre of the Holy Innocent Infants (Jeremiah 31:15), all aiming at prophecy fulfillment.
Conspiracies or prophecies, we marvel at the grand plan of God. Nothing on earth is too debased to be His instrument. God would make use of astrological signs to reveal Himself to the astrologists. He would turn their spying mission into a pilgrimage. He would turn their decoy (bribe) into meaningful gifts. As for those who reject God, nothing on earth can be miraculous enough to convert them. But God does not give up. He continues to get involved in our history to invite us to partake in His eternal life. In the end, the star remains what it is --- Signum Fidei (a sign of faith). We have our part to play to reach for the star.
Dear Lord, we praise You for Your wisdom and love. May we accept Your kingdom with humility and be SIGNUM FIDEI for our brothers. Amen.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Mother of God 2012
Among the monotheist religions which believe in only one God, Christianity is the most mind-boggling. Judaism and Islam believe in one God. There is no other god besides Him. The same God in whom Christians believe, however, consists of three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Christians insist that there is only one God, not three.
To be a Jew is easier because for him, Jesus was just a Rabbi. To be a Muslim is easier too because for him, Jesus was only a prophet. However, to be a Christian is more difficult, more intellectually challenging. Christians are Christians because they are followers of Jesus Christ whom they believe is fully human and divine. Christians believe that Jesus is God the Son incarnated. Jesus is both God and human. Christians of the first four centuries struggled hard to come in terms with this article of faith. Orthodox Christians won the day when they confessed that in the person of Jesus, there are two natures: divinity and humanity. The Son of God, with his divinity, took up our lowly human nature; went through all the necessary stages of human development --- in the womb of Mary, born as a Jewish baby boy etc.; preached the Gospel with divine authority; crucified and died on the cross; resurrected from death and returned to Heaven. In short, if anybody doubts either the humanity (Docetians, Apollinarians) or the divinity (Arians) of Jesus, or separates the humanity and divinity of Jesus (Nestorians), he is NOT a Christian.
Sometimes, those heretics challenged the divinity of Jesus indirectly. They attacked Mary instead. For example, they argued that Mary was only a human being, a creature of God. It was impossible for her to give birth to God. Therefore, Mary should not be called the "Mother of God" (See the section "Mary's divine motherhood"). She should only be called the "Mother of Christ". This view was logically attractive. However, accepting this view would deny the unity of the two natures of Jesus. Orthodox Christians could not concede. They convoked the Ephesus Council in 431 A.D. to defend the unity of the divinity and the humanity of Jesus and affirm the title of Mary. She is not only the Mother of Christ. She is the Mother of God.
Why is it important for Christians to defend the unity of the two natures of Jesus?
If the humanity of Jesus were separable from his divinity, we would not be able to partake in the eternal life of God. Our redemption/salvation would only be incomplete.
Okay, don't press me too hard. My theological knowledge is limited. I need to follow the example of the Mother of God, who
kept all these things, pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:19, 51b).
Until today, Mary does not understand. She just follows God's will and cooperates with God to bring us salvation. Her humility fills her with God's grace.
Therefore, let me wish you all
An energetic and prosperous
To be a Jew is easier because for him, Jesus was just a Rabbi. To be a Muslim is easier too because for him, Jesus was only a prophet. However, to be a Christian is more difficult, more intellectually challenging. Christians are Christians because they are followers of Jesus Christ whom they believe is fully human and divine. Christians believe that Jesus is God the Son incarnated. Jesus is both God and human. Christians of the first four centuries struggled hard to come in terms with this article of faith. Orthodox Christians won the day when they confessed that in the person of Jesus, there are two natures: divinity and humanity. The Son of God, with his divinity, took up our lowly human nature; went through all the necessary stages of human development --- in the womb of Mary, born as a Jewish baby boy etc.; preached the Gospel with divine authority; crucified and died on the cross; resurrected from death and returned to Heaven. In short, if anybody doubts either the humanity (Docetians, Apollinarians) or the divinity (Arians) of Jesus, or separates the humanity and divinity of Jesus (Nestorians), he is NOT a Christian.
Sometimes, those heretics challenged the divinity of Jesus indirectly. They attacked Mary instead. For example, they argued that Mary was only a human being, a creature of God. It was impossible for her to give birth to God. Therefore, Mary should not be called the "Mother of God" (See the section "Mary's divine motherhood"). She should only be called the "Mother of Christ". This view was logically attractive. However, accepting this view would deny the unity of the two natures of Jesus. Orthodox Christians could not concede. They convoked the Ephesus Council in 431 A.D. to defend the unity of the divinity and the humanity of Jesus and affirm the title of Mary. She is not only the Mother of Christ. She is the Mother of God.
Why is it important for Christians to defend the unity of the two natures of Jesus?
If the humanity of Jesus were separable from his divinity, we would not be able to partake in the eternal life of God. Our redemption/salvation would only be incomplete.
Okay, don't press me too hard. My theological knowledge is limited. I need to follow the example of the Mother of God, who
kept all these things, pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:19, 51b).
Until today, Mary does not understand. She just follows God's will and cooperates with God to bring us salvation. Her humility fills her with God's grace.
Therefore, let me wish you all
An energetic and prosperous
New Year ahead,
Overflowing with
Abundant grace of God.
Sunday, 25 December 2011
Merry Christmas 2011
THE WISE MEN WERE SEARCHING
FOR THE NEW BORN KING
WE TOO ARE STILL SEARCHING
FOR THE SALVATION PROMISED BY GOD
GOD IS FAITHFUL
HE KEEPS HIS PROMISE
BY PUTTING AWAY HIS MAJESTY
AND TAKING UP OUR HUMANITY
TO LIVE AMONG US AND DIE FOR US
IN THE MEANTIME
LET US PUT AWAY OUR SELFISHNESS
AND TAKE UP HIS GENEROSITY
REMEMBER THE NEEDY
MAKE THEIR LIFE EASIER AND HAPPIER
MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A GRACEFUL YEAR AHEAD
Yours in the Risen Lord
Alex Kwok
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Mary vs. David
The Annunciation story has been read more than a hundred times. So has the Nathan Oracle. Once every three years, we hear them read together on the 4th Advent Sunday. We have heard many a priest deliver his homily on them, but it took a Fr. Milanese to join them together meaningfully.
David was raised from a shepherd boy to the status of a king to shepherd the people of Israel. He had been successful all because God had chosen him. So, when he hinted at building a Temple to honour God, Nathan the prophet diplomatically approved of his wish, explaining that God was with him.
And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you." (2 Samuel 7:3)
What more can we ask of God? If He is with us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).
From this, we see that David was ambitious. Of course, there is no doubt about his passionate love of God. This was fully demonstrated in public eyes when he, as a king, danced half-naked before the Ark to welcome it into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14). However, by building a Temple to house the Ark, David would be able to centralize the worship over all the land. This was politically and economically lucrative. When God was put on his side, who else dared to rise up against him?
But David was wrong. He had miscalculated. God did not need to live in any man-made building. He had never complained about living in a tent only.
I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.
In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" (2 Samuel 7:6-7)
God cared more about the people than a building. He wanted the people more than the Temple. Some 300 years later, God spoke again through Isaiah that we would never be able to build anything to contain and thus control God. He wanted not a building, but a human and contrite heart instead.
Thus says the LORD:"Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool;what is the house which you would build for me,and what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the LORD. But this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:1-2)
Therefore, Stephen was not wrong in reminding the Jewish authority again. Yet, because of this, he was stoned to death. The Jews killed him because Stephen had blasphemed a building! That was why God had no intention to live in a Temple.
Returning to David, God reminded him of his humble beginning and that his successes were all due to God's support. So, David should not spend his energy building God a magnificent Temple. Rather, he should spend his energy shepherding the people of Israel, guiding them towards God. God wants a congregation, not a temple.
Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel;
and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies.' (2 Samuel 7:8-11a)
In similar vein, Fr. Milanese explained that a Church is not built with stones, but with people. Of course, building a beautiful church is good because it uplifts the spirit of the congregation. But the hearts count more than the stones.
Now, let's turn to look at the story of Mary. It is very likely that she was no more than a naive teenage girl, living in Nazareth, the outskirt of the Judea administrative region, a Roman colony. The fate of Mary had already been sealed. She was betrothed to Joseph, of the house of David (Luke 1:27). Fate has finally brought the two into contrast. Mary enjoyed no status nor power. Her place was in the kitchen to raise children for her husband.
But God has an ambitious plan awaiting her. No, not awaiting but unfolding in. The plan has already kicked into motion. Before her conception, God has already prepared her by removing the stains of Original Sin from her. Through the redemptive grace of her son in the future, Mary was immaculately conceived. That explains why when Gabriel hailed her, the archangel described her as κεχαριτωμένη full of grace (Luke 1:28).
Heavens and earth were hushed and listened attentively to the dialogue between Mary and Gabriel. God was inviting Mary to cooperate with Him in the redemption of the whole Creation. All living souls were anxious to hear her consent.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now;
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:22-23).
At last, Mary announced
"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)
Mary is our model. She is destined to be called the Mother of God because of the divinity of her son. That is the theme of the whole Bible. The lowly shall be exalted.
David's story is a bit tragic. He had been lowly and was exalted. But his greatness led to his downfall. Though through Nathan, God declared the eternity of his throne, his kingdom was split and conquered by the Assyrians and Babylonians.
Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son (2 Samuel 7:11b-14a).
David had been a hero until he met Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (2 Samuel 11). The adultery led to murder and the nameless child died seven days after its birth. The next son was Solomon, the future famous wise king who built the Temple but in which he put idols to please his wives. The kingdom was divided after his death.
When we look back, we understand that my son in this Nathan Oracle does not refer to Solomon, but to Jesus, the Son of God, the Redeemer of all mankind. Jesus was born of a lowly woman. He is fully human and fully divine. He had not built an empire, nor had he waged wars against any earthly princes. He even died a shameful death on the cross. Yet, through him, the Kingdom of Heaven is established on earth and nowadays nearly one fifth of mankind call on his name and await his Second Coming at the end of the world.
As Christmas is drawing near, we should meditate on the life of Mary and avoid making the same mistakes as David.
Come O Lord! Your people are anxiously waiting. Amen.
David was raised from a shepherd boy to the status of a king to shepherd the people of Israel. He had been successful all because God had chosen him. So, when he hinted at building a Temple to honour God, Nathan the prophet diplomatically approved of his wish, explaining that God was with him.
And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart; for the LORD is with you." (2 Samuel 7:3)
What more can we ask of God? If He is with us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).
From this, we see that David was ambitious. Of course, there is no doubt about his passionate love of God. This was fully demonstrated in public eyes when he, as a king, danced half-naked before the Ark to welcome it into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14). However, by building a Temple to house the Ark, David would be able to centralize the worship over all the land. This was politically and economically lucrative. When God was put on his side, who else dared to rise up against him?
But David was wrong. He had miscalculated. God did not need to live in any man-made building. He had never complained about living in a tent only.
I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.
In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" (2 Samuel 7:6-7)
God cared more about the people than a building. He wanted the people more than the Temple. Some 300 years later, God spoke again through Isaiah that we would never be able to build anything to contain and thus control God. He wanted not a building, but a human and contrite heart instead.
Thus says the LORD:"Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool;what is the house which you would build for me,and what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the LORD. But this is the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:1-2)
Therefore, Stephen was not wrong in reminding the Jewish authority again. Yet, because of this, he was stoned to death. The Jews killed him because Stephen had blasphemed a building! That was why God had no intention to live in a Temple.
Returning to David, God reminded him of his humble beginning and that his successes were all due to God's support. So, David should not spend his energy building God a magnificent Temple. Rather, he should spend his energy shepherding the people of Israel, guiding them towards God. God wants a congregation, not a temple.
Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel;
and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies.' (2 Samuel 7:8-11a)
In similar vein, Fr. Milanese explained that a Church is not built with stones, but with people. Of course, building a beautiful church is good because it uplifts the spirit of the congregation. But the hearts count more than the stones.
Now, let's turn to look at the story of Mary. It is very likely that she was no more than a naive teenage girl, living in Nazareth, the outskirt of the Judea administrative region, a Roman colony. The fate of Mary had already been sealed. She was betrothed to Joseph, of the house of David (Luke 1:27). Fate has finally brought the two into contrast. Mary enjoyed no status nor power. Her place was in the kitchen to raise children for her husband.
But God has an ambitious plan awaiting her. No, not awaiting but unfolding in. The plan has already kicked into motion. Before her conception, God has already prepared her by removing the stains of Original Sin from her. Through the redemptive grace of her son in the future, Mary was immaculately conceived. That explains why when Gabriel hailed her, the archangel described her as κεχαριτωμένη full of grace (Luke 1:28).
Heavens and earth were hushed and listened attentively to the dialogue between Mary and Gabriel. God was inviting Mary to cooperate with Him in the redemption of the whole Creation. All living souls were anxious to hear her consent.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now;
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:22-23).
At last, Mary announced
"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)
Mary is our model. She is destined to be called the Mother of God because of the divinity of her son. That is the theme of the whole Bible. The lowly shall be exalted.
David's story is a bit tragic. He had been lowly and was exalted. But his greatness led to his downfall. Though through Nathan, God declared the eternity of his throne, his kingdom was split and conquered by the Assyrians and Babylonians.
Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son (2 Samuel 7:11b-14a).
David had been a hero until he met Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (2 Samuel 11). The adultery led to murder and the nameless child died seven days after its birth. The next son was Solomon, the future famous wise king who built the Temple but in which he put idols to please his wives. The kingdom was divided after his death.
When we look back, we understand that my son in this Nathan Oracle does not refer to Solomon, but to Jesus, the Son of God, the Redeemer of all mankind. Jesus was born of a lowly woman. He is fully human and fully divine. He had not built an empire, nor had he waged wars against any earthly princes. He even died a shameful death on the cross. Yet, through him, the Kingdom of Heaven is established on earth and nowadays nearly one fifth of mankind call on his name and await his Second Coming at the end of the world.
As Christmas is drawing near, we should meditate on the life of Mary and avoid making the same mistakes as David.
Come O Lord! Your people are anxiously waiting. Amen.
Monday, 12 December 2011
I need to take the FIRST STEP
Don't trust the date stamp. I can change it to whatever I desire. I am actually three days behind. There were three examination papers and their marking schemes to set. There was a study group on Christology to attend, a deacon ordination celebration and another Diaconate aspirants spiritual formation gathering. However, I know that if I do not take this first step to write down something, I will never be able to write anything. However again, that does not guarantee my finishing it. Now that I have started writing, naturally I will ask how I will finish. Will I tidy up all the details or will I leave this page unfinished?
This Sunday is the GAUDETE Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Advent. "Gaudete", which comes from the first word of the Introit at Mass, means "rejoice". The problem is, as a diabetic, I have to keep my emotion under control. I cannot allow myself to be over-agitated. The experience was terrible. I felt dizzy and nearly passed out one day when I argued with my mum over my moving to Tuen Mun after marriage.. It was my weakness. I always took things seriously and held them dearly to my heart. This was a price I had to pay if I continued to be that dead serious. Now, I am learning to let go and indulge myself a bit in some other distractions. Still, I must be careful. Therefore, I coolly ask myself in what I should rejoice. I cannot offer any quick answer.
It is now Friday, the last School Day for the term. I have been much exhausted rushing through the exam syllabus and finishing oral presentations with the S5 and S6 students. 6T has always been a difficult class and doing Ethics lessons with them is a real challenge. On one hand, I must respect their autonomy. On the other, there is so much about leading an upright life I want to share with them. However, we have communication problems, or put it in another way, we have a huge generation gap. My teaching style is not effective for them. Much of the time, I feel like speaking to stone walls. Of course, there are a handful of responsive students to cheer me up. I have to congratulate myself for being able to follow through these 18 months. After finishing all the oral presentations, I wished them a merry Christmas and a good public exam performance. I started picking up my things and prepared to leave. A student came up and would like to take a photo with me. Then, a few more came up as well. A warm current surged in my heart ...
Thank you students. I do not deserve this. I am just doing my part as a teacher.
This Sunday is the GAUDETE Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Advent. "Gaudete", which comes from the first word of the Introit at Mass, means "rejoice". The problem is, as a diabetic, I have to keep my emotion under control. I cannot allow myself to be over-agitated. The experience was terrible. I felt dizzy and nearly passed out one day when I argued with my mum over my moving to Tuen Mun after marriage.. It was my weakness. I always took things seriously and held them dearly to my heart. This was a price I had to pay if I continued to be that dead serious. Now, I am learning to let go and indulge myself a bit in some other distractions. Still, I must be careful. Therefore, I coolly ask myself in what I should rejoice. I cannot offer any quick answer.
It is now Friday, the last School Day for the term. I have been much exhausted rushing through the exam syllabus and finishing oral presentations with the S5 and S6 students. 6T has always been a difficult class and doing Ethics lessons with them is a real challenge. On one hand, I must respect their autonomy. On the other, there is so much about leading an upright life I want to share with them. However, we have communication problems, or put it in another way, we have a huge generation gap. My teaching style is not effective for them. Much of the time, I feel like speaking to stone walls. Of course, there are a handful of responsive students to cheer me up. I have to congratulate myself for being able to follow through these 18 months. After finishing all the oral presentations, I wished them a merry Christmas and a good public exam performance. I started picking up my things and prepared to leave. A student came up and would like to take a photo with me. Then, a few more came up as well. A warm current surged in my heart ...
Thank you students. I do not deserve this. I am just doing my part as a teacher.
Sunday, 4 December 2011
The Spirituality of Wilderness
In preparing for the oral examination for Christian Anthropology, I read of a commentary on Genesis 2. There are two versions of the Creation of Man in the book of Genesis. According to the Documentary Hypothesis, Genesis 2 came from the Yahwist Document while Genesis 1 the Priestly. In Genesis 1, man was created last and was the zenith of Creation. Man was created in the image of God. He is the representative of God to rule over the whole Creation. Genesis 2 offers a different account. Man was created first from red-earth in a rather undeveloped Eden. God thought that it was no good for man to be alone. Man needed a helper to cultivate the paradise. Therefore, God made other animals and brought them in front of man to name them. None of them were appropriate helpers. So, God put the man to sleep and from his rib, made a woman. Both of them worked together to cultivate and keep the paradise of Eden.
I find this commentary very meaningful. It confers meaning to our existence and our labour --- we cultivate and develop God's creation. We work to build heaven on earth. God so loves the world as to give His only begotten Son to save the world. Meanwhile, we continue to explore and realize the full potential of the world. Eden was no more than the wilderness. It was not a piece of land flowing with milk and honey unless we worked on it. Thus, man was created for the world, not vice versa. When we talk about salvation, we no longer talk about the salvation of man only as though the world is of no significance. Rather, salvation is for the whole creation and man works for the salvation of the whole creation. No wonder in the gospel of Mark, Jesus sent his disciples to preach to the whole creation (Mark 16:15). It was an echo of Genesis 2.
In the gospel reading today, we heard the story of John the Baptist in the wilderness. The Israelites had a romance with God in the wilderness. It began with their ancestor Abraham who was a nomad living in the wilderness. Once they settled in Egypt, one of the four ancient civilizations in the world, they were enslaved by the Egyptians. True, there were meat pots in Egypt. There were food and security, the two most basic levels of human needs. No wonder the rebellious Israelites kept on grumbling to Moses and demanded returning to Egypt. However, no sooner had the Israelites entered the Promised Land which was flowing with honey and mild, they began to worship idols, thus displeasing God. If I were God, I would prefer the romantic time spent in the wilderness to the ungrateful and rebellious encounters in the Promised Land. So, when John the Baptist was calling the Israelites to repent and return to God, he did it in the wilderness. He was making a statement --- turn away from the luxury and comfort in life. Return to God who is found in the wilderness, be it the literal desert or your inner most heart. Nowadays, if we have to choose between wilderness and the Promised Land, we should be wise enough to choose the wilderness to encounter God.
Of course, a land flowing with milk and honey is what most people desire. It is a place of plenty. Nobody needs to worry about filling up the belly. It also promises the generation of new lives. The future is bright in this Promised Land. However, the paradox is that riches will eat up our souls. When life becomes easy, we become lazy and laziness brings poor health --- high cholesterol, high blood sugar and high blood pressure etc. Moreover, an easy life poses no challenge to our mind. Our brain becomes rusty and few people are grateful to the blessings they receive from God who becomes irrelevant in their life.
The wilderness threatens our life. Most of the time, we are alone. Even if there are sights of company, you cannot tell whether they are foes or friends. The environment is hostile and always poses problems for our survival. The temperatures are extreme. We need to fend for ourselves, look for water and food, fight off wild animals and robbers. We cannot afford to lead a convenient life. Life in the wilderness must be kept as simple as possible. Both our body and our mind are being challenged. We cannot afford to be complacent and have to stay alert all the time. Strangely, God seems to be closer in such situations.
Technically speaking, here in Hong Kong, there is no wilderness. So, creating a wilderness in our heart becomes an alternative. When we feel exhausted, that we have used up the last ounce of our strength, that we are going to exhale our last breath, it is high time we surrendered our soul and allowed the Holy Spirit to pray within us.
Dear Lord, I know that You are near. Allow me to be the host to wait on You in my heart. Amen.
I find this commentary very meaningful. It confers meaning to our existence and our labour --- we cultivate and develop God's creation. We work to build heaven on earth. God so loves the world as to give His only begotten Son to save the world. Meanwhile, we continue to explore and realize the full potential of the world. Eden was no more than the wilderness. It was not a piece of land flowing with milk and honey unless we worked on it. Thus, man was created for the world, not vice versa. When we talk about salvation, we no longer talk about the salvation of man only as though the world is of no significance. Rather, salvation is for the whole creation and man works for the salvation of the whole creation. No wonder in the gospel of Mark, Jesus sent his disciples to preach to the whole creation (Mark 16:15). It was an echo of Genesis 2.
In the gospel reading today, we heard the story of John the Baptist in the wilderness. The Israelites had a romance with God in the wilderness. It began with their ancestor Abraham who was a nomad living in the wilderness. Once they settled in Egypt, one of the four ancient civilizations in the world, they were enslaved by the Egyptians. True, there were meat pots in Egypt. There were food and security, the two most basic levels of human needs. No wonder the rebellious Israelites kept on grumbling to Moses and demanded returning to Egypt. However, no sooner had the Israelites entered the Promised Land which was flowing with honey and mild, they began to worship idols, thus displeasing God. If I were God, I would prefer the romantic time spent in the wilderness to the ungrateful and rebellious encounters in the Promised Land. So, when John the Baptist was calling the Israelites to repent and return to God, he did it in the wilderness. He was making a statement --- turn away from the luxury and comfort in life. Return to God who is found in the wilderness, be it the literal desert or your inner most heart. Nowadays, if we have to choose between wilderness and the Promised Land, we should be wise enough to choose the wilderness to encounter God.
Of course, a land flowing with milk and honey is what most people desire. It is a place of plenty. Nobody needs to worry about filling up the belly. It also promises the generation of new lives. The future is bright in this Promised Land. However, the paradox is that riches will eat up our souls. When life becomes easy, we become lazy and laziness brings poor health --- high cholesterol, high blood sugar and high blood pressure etc. Moreover, an easy life poses no challenge to our mind. Our brain becomes rusty and few people are grateful to the blessings they receive from God who becomes irrelevant in their life.
The wilderness threatens our life. Most of the time, we are alone. Even if there are sights of company, you cannot tell whether they are foes or friends. The environment is hostile and always poses problems for our survival. The temperatures are extreme. We need to fend for ourselves, look for water and food, fight off wild animals and robbers. We cannot afford to lead a convenient life. Life in the wilderness must be kept as simple as possible. Both our body and our mind are being challenged. We cannot afford to be complacent and have to stay alert all the time. Strangely, God seems to be closer in such situations.
Technically speaking, here in Hong Kong, there is no wilderness. So, creating a wilderness in our heart becomes an alternative. When we feel exhausted, that we have used up the last ounce of our strength, that we are going to exhale our last breath, it is high time we surrendered our soul and allowed the Holy Spirit to pray within us.
Dear Lord, I know that You are near. Allow me to be the host to wait on You in my heart. Amen.
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