Regaining the Trust of the Faithful

 

In a column of the Catholic Peace Weekly, a priest writes about the way religious' leaders are to recover trust among the citizens. "A person who teaches and guides another, their shadows should not be stepped on." That is a lot of respect.

Recently a famous Buddhist Monk who has written several books, translated in many languages, appeared on a celebrity program revealing his daily life schedule. He was living in downtown Seoul, where the scenery was not a temple. Criticism was quick to come from all directions. "I am not a building owner and pay rent." was his response. He did say he would leave everything and return to his monastery and continue his study of Buddhism and practices. The Buddhist community did not make any official comment on the controversy.

A famous Protestant pastor is being tried on charges of pre-election campaigns and defamation, and blaspheme and heresy with remarks such as: "God don't mess with me or you're dead." At a general meeting, he was not convicted of blasphemy.

Former Cardinal McCarrick of the United States was a respected Catholic clergyman, but amid controversy over sexual crimes, Pope Francis suspended him and deprived him of the priesthood. At the beginning of last year, it was found in a church trial he was consistent in his sex crimes for over 20 years.

Because of the immoral behavior of some of the religious leaders distrust continues to increase among the faithful. A 2017 survey by the Korea Press Promotion Foundation found that among seven occupations, elementary school students do not trust religious people the most. "Greedy dogs that are never satisfied. Shepherds who know nothing. They all go their own way, each after his own interest (Isaiah 56:11).

According to the National Statistical Office's announcement, as of 2015, the total religious population was 21.5 million (43.9%) and the non-religious population was 27.5 million (56.1%). The number of religious people declined by 9.0% from 2005.

A big question is being raised as to whether a religious leader who should be called a teacher can lead believers on the right path once they have lost trust? Saint Augustine even said: "A proud priest is on the same level as the devil."

The Holy See conducted a two-year fact-finding investigation into former Cardinal McCarrick's alleged sex offenses, and as a result, released a 450-page report. Pope Francis said in a general meeting: "We feel ashamed when we realize that our way of life goes against what we say we believe. As a church community, we admit we weren't where we should have been and that we haven't moved on time, realizing the severity of the harm done to countless lives."

In 2018 the head of the Korean Council of Bishops apologized to the public for the sexual offenses of priests. He also revealed the church's position on strict punishment for sexual crimes and prevention education. "The priests are reprimanded for falling into the evils of secular culture and pleasure. With atonement and a contrite heart, we will thoroughly check the facts of reports on sexual offenses of priests, and punish them severely by canon and the legal laws of society." 

Saint Gregory of Nazianzus said: "Before you cleanse others, you must first cleanse yourself, learn to teach, become a light to shine, and draw close to God to draw others close to God."

The Hermit's Cell with Three Windows

 

On the first week of Advent, the 2021 pastoral messages were published by all the dioceses presenting the different intentions for the believers to pursue during the corona pandemic. A pastor in one of the dioceses writes in the Eyes of the Believer column of the Catholic Times of the three windows that need to be opened.

We have Dioceses that want to create communities bearing witness to the joy of the Gospel, dioceses that urge us to live the spirit of the 200th anniversary of the birth of St. Andrew Kim, those that emphasize the prophetic vocation of the church to care for the socially weak. These aspirations are under the church's fundamental call to Mission—missionary parish communities conveying the joy of the Gospel in the home, parish, and the world, priests and laity working together to accomplish this (The Joy of the Gospel #35).

"Pastoral ministry in a missionary style is not obsessed with the disjointed transmission of a multitude of doctrines to be insistently imposed. When we adopt a pastoral goal and a missionary style that would actually reach everyone without exception or exclusion, the message has to concentrate on the essentials, on what is most beautiful, most grand, most appealing, and at the same time most necessary. The message is simplified while losing none of its depth and truth, and thus becomes all the more forceful and convincing." 

The world is experiencing difficulties due to the corona pandemic, the first thing the church should do is to read the signs of this era and respond correctly. Now, the church should not stay within its own borders but go outside to find the lost sheep and the suffering and marginalized people and become a "missionary church". 

There is also an aspect of missionary expansion where numbers are desired but the more fundamental purpose is to share and witness the love of God experienced by the church.

He introduces the readers to Juliana of Norwich an English anchorite born in 1342. She was a mystic whose life we no little, who lived the life of a hermit. It was a very dark time with the Black Plague and the Hundred Years' War between England and France which devastated the lives of the people and a church that in many areas was corrupt and decadent. 

Everything was a total disaster— gloomy and hopeless times. Juliana conveys God's love and mercy for the sufferings of the world through visions, and gives deep comfort to those living in pain by delivering the ultimate message of hope that 'everything will be well'. 

At the age of 30, before becoming a hermit, Juliana was seriously ill and close to death. At that time, she experienced 16 visions. After this experience, she recovered and lived as a hermit. At this time, she left the world and lived in a small room attached to a church, devoting himself to prayer and contemplation. 

Her room had three windows, one for food and living needs, one that faced the church's altar, and the last one for the bustling streets of Norwich, the center of trade and commerce. It was this window that Juliana spoke to those on the streets and prayed for those who came to find comfort during those difficult days. She was a 'secluded religious in the world' who communicated with the world while living a 'lifetime in self-isolation' (quarantined) in a small room.

 

If Juliana used only two windows to communicate with God and closed the window on the street because of the noise, she would have remained a hermit for her personal needs. However, through the third window, she consoled, strengthened, and prayed for those who came. 

When the church closes the window to the world, it is a closed church, a self-centered church. A community that communicates and shares only among themselves becomes a selfish community with selfish believers. The church also needs three windows. Among them, the window to the world. In the Corona era, we look at communicating, and comforting people suffering, with a window to the world, like Juliana of Norwich. Is this not what we need to reflect on during times of disaster as one of the church's basic missions?

The Power of True Love

 

"I love you" these words are heard even on a telephone to the client from the store where a purchase was made. The writer of an article in Bible and Life magazine on the topic of love was flustered for a few moments when he heard these words but did say thank you. 

 

Is not the word love one of the noblest and most used? Present in conversations of those in love, at the beginning of counseling sessions, frequent in poems, songs, and dramas; the whole world is filled with the word. It is the first of all the commands of Jesus but is it realized in our lives? No, it's not. The word is heard often but those loving and those loved are far from being the same. It is often a word that has lost its meaning.

 

However, in this world, there is a love that nobody can deny, and that is the love of parents for their children. Jesus called God his father and the love between them is the love that Jesus taught and generally the love of parents for their children is the expression of this love which is representative of all love.

 

But is the love that parents have for their children always a good example? There is a Korean film directed by Bong Joon-ho that was released in 2009— 'Mother'. Briefly, it is the story of a son who was accused of killing a girl and the mother works alone to save him from what she thought was a false accusation. However when she realized that her son did kill the girl the mother then kills the only witness and allows an innocent young man who was suspected of the crime to go to jail instead of her son. 

 

This love was cruel and violent a love that was directed only to her son a very narrow love. Is this kind of love only seen in the cinema? The writer mentions several similar stories that have been in the news recently showing a similar distorted love for their children.

 

This kind of distorted love is shown in different ways and degrees—love for oneself but harmful to others: fear of low rent homes and facilities for the disabled in one's neighborhood, dislike of those who are not from one's part of the country, and those that speak differently, a deep patriotism that leads to animosity and hostility to the North. This is not all! The weakest of all human beings are fetuses which are threatened with death and religions that consider love as their greatest goal terrorize and are violent to other religions and persons.

 

The problem is not that our love is small but rather narrow. Jesus reminds us: If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them... Instead, love your enemies and do good... (Luke 6:32).

 

Jesus' love extends from oneself to family to all those around us and even to the enemy. Many who hear these words may want to answer: "I have problems loving my family and asked to love my enemies! Is that possible?"

 

He concludes the article with the statement that we are made to love. We are to imitate the God who made us. Unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. The love we have needs to go out to give life to the world (John 12:24 reference)

'Platform Workers' and Human Rights

The second Sunday of Advent is Human Rights Sunday in Korea and the week following is devoted to becoming acquainted with the Social Gospel. An article on platform workers was featured in the present issue of the Catholic Times, along with an editorial. Platform workers are individuals who use an app or a website to connect with customers, to provide a service in return for money.

In particular, it should be noted that amidst the social upheaval driven by the corona-virus infection-19, human rights are being taken away in a new field that has not been seen before. One of them is the case of people engaged in labor through these "digital platforms".

This is a blind spot for human rights in our day. Respecting human beings and promoting human rights are principles the gospel requires of believers. The value of human rights in many fields has increased as our social democracy has been restored and developed. However, we must never forget that there are still people who are suffering from economic logic and are deprived of their human rights.
 
Delivering food, booking accommodation for travel, and using smartphone apps for taxis have become routine. It is an era where you can receive items from the other side of the world with just one finger at home. In the aftermath of the 4th Industrial Revolution and Corona-virus 19, the demand for "platform workers" has risen sharply.
 

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the platform market has increased by 26% annually and is expected to continue to grow in the future. "You can work as much as you want. You can work when you want to work, and you can rest when you want to rest." These are sweet words promoted by the platform industry. And the fact is the number of workers continues to increase due to the low entry barrier.
 
According to an analysis of the Korea Employment Information Service last year, there is a maximum of 540,000 Korean platform workers, which are estimated to be 2% of all workers. The World Bank estimates that there will be 120 million global platform workers this year. This year, more and more people are looking for platform labor in the aftermath of Corona 19.

Consequently, because of the pandemic agencies that would deliver all kinds of goods such as food became popular and workers appeared to do this kind of work since many were not able to continue in their previous occupations and were happy to have a job.

The legal or human rights protection for them is poor compared to the demanding workload. This is because the existing Labor Standards Act cannot protect them, and our society is not making efforts to improve human rights  of those in a society blind spot.
 
One of the workers was quoted as saying that it's not as easy as the industry makes it out to be. A delivery driver from Company A, also known as a 'rider' fell from his motorcycle while delivering two cups of coffee. Wearing a helmet did not lead to serious injury, but he reported the situation to headquarters. The answer that came back was what happened to the coffee. The conversation ended, charging the rider for two spilled coffees. It shows the reality of platform workers with responsibility but no authority.
 
Pope Francis emphasized the importance of human rights in a speech in November, saying, "We must realize that the image of God is engraved in everyone, including the poorest and most despised." Believers must protect human rights and be concerned with the practice of social teaching. Let's not forget that others are suffering in a corner of society, where the corona-virus crisis continues.

Living in the Back Road of Life

From ancient times the road in front of a village was called the main-road, the road between the houses the alley, the road behind the village that received little sun, and when the snow came you would see the piles of snow on the edge of the road was the back road.

A priest scholar in the psychology of the spiritual life expresses his opinion that life is for may similar to these three roads. In the springtime of life, this majestic main way is wide open to the future. However, in middle age after the many trials of life and failures, one begins to walk solitary the alleys. In old age, it's the back road looking back on the life lived.

In the fall of the year, nature gives us the harvest and asks us to prepare for the new year—our old age in the life cycle. A time when we try to put things in order and for Christians prepare for the afterlife. What feelings come to mind when we reflect on the life lived?

We have those walking the unknown alleys of life spotted with its sorrows and difficulties. He wonders how many of those looking back would opt to choose a different path if they had the chance.

A study was made of those facing death in old age and asked if they had a chance to live life over again what would they choose to do. They were a varied group: many successful in wealth, prestige, honors, and those who considered themselves failures. It didn't matter in the answers that were given.

He lists in the order of those with the greatest number of responses. The first was living their life as they thought it should have been lived. Second, a desire to live in harmony with everybody. Thirdly wanting to share. In the first place was not living to please others but happiness required they live the life they wanted—obvious but often forgotten.
 

Also with those, we are in a loving relationship often it is a love/hate relationship. Looking back many are sorry for the scars inflicted when in many cases it was not of great importance. Because of the conflict separation often follows.

When death approaches it is said we are the most truthful and genuine. If we could live every moment of life as if it was our last moment our relationships would be much more tender.

Our need to share comes to the fore. We came into the world without anything and we will leave without anything. Words that come from the wisdom of the world, and yet easy to forget. Often the material closes our eyes to sharing and loving relationships, losing the meaning of life.

Listening to the words of those who have left this life what are the values of those of us who are still living? We need to ask ourselves and give an answer.

Fight Poverty Not The Poor

Poverty is painful. Difficult even for people with strong mental powers. Many are broken in spirit dealing with poverty. Few people want such poverty. So they try to break out of poverty with all their might. So begins the column by a humanist scholar in the Catholic Peace Weekly.

Our parents were poor consequently the relative deprivation may have been less than now, but it was unbearable for even the children suffered from that poverty.  The new generation worked without a break. They didn't pay attention to what they ate and what they wore, they wanted to end poverty. They pushed their children in their schooling for they knew it was necessary to get out of poverty. And thanks to that, Koreans now live in abundance.

No one will deliberately choose this kind of poverty. Many hope to get rich. But reality doesn't make that dream come true easily. Despair in the face of social contradictions makes escape from the fetters of poverty, despite the efforts expended, almost impossible.

Will many young people give up, saying: "I am a loser in this life." Many people who are not lazy have fallen into the 'swamps' of poverty because of structural contradictions and limitations. Society needs to decrease the numbers of these by providing better and more opportunities.

However, reality goes in the opposite direction. Rather than creating jobs, they take away the jobs of those who cling desperately to what they have. Rather than giving opportunities to the poor, a society that does not reproach those who live with greed at the expense of the poor and take from their already thin wallets is a very sick society.

A proper society should fight 'poverty', not the 'poor'. Millions of people wrongly think of themselves as middle class and talking about fighting to get rid of poverty brings a frown to their face as if they are being pushed them into socialism.

In the US presidential election President Trump in a mean and lowly campaign said that if the other party came to power, we would have socialism. There was a fear of leveling all down to poverty. It goes without saying that this is the same thinking in the Republic of Korea.

The Gospel is not simply comforting the poor and weak and encouraging them to work harder to become rich. Even if they are poor and live a difficult life they do not give up their character and values, do not hate one another, but give each other courage, and resolve to work to overcome the social contradictions and conflicts.

It is not a blessing to eat well and live well by myself. This kind of faith is cheap and shallow. But to my shame is the faith that rests only on good luck and material blessings given to me and to turn away from the social structural contradictions that lead to poverty.

Faith is not just an ideological ideal, memorizing Scriptures, going to Mass, and saying empty prayers. We are to practice our faith and the Gospel is the way. We are to fight to defeat poverty.  That is the duty of faith and the calling of the church. We must criticize a society that creates structural poverty. It is Satan who does not fight poverty but fights the poor. It's not what we should be doing.

The Mountain Is Not There Only For Me

 

A lawyer writing in the Catholic Times in the Eyes of the Believer column recalls what he has learned about himself over the years.

Every time he went mountain climbing in late autumn he would see the dust rise from the earth. The leaves looked like they were colored, all dried up and shriveled. Still, because of the pandemic, people were frustrated with the lack of activities and now appeared on mountain trails bothering him. The path up and down the mountain was crowded. He didn't like what he saw.

However, this mountain does not exist for him to enjoy solitude alone. His selfishness was revealed. 

Looking back, he remembered something similar when he went to morning Mass every day a long time ago. He went to church when it was 10 degrees below zero in the dark, and one morning a person was sitting where he always sat. Even at the very moment he gave up his selfishness and begged to love someone else as much as he loved himself, but when he sat down he was upset at the person who had taken his seat. Didn't St. Paul say, "I do the things I don't want to do?"

"He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and on the righteous and unrighteous." Jesus taught this in the Sermon on the Mount that begins with "How happy are the poor of spirit." The wicked, the good, the righteous, the unrighteous, all are children of God. So we are all brothers. 

Huayan school of Chinese Buddhism contains similar teachings. (理), the reason for all things means the God of Christianity. And the objects of all things in this world are all related. It makes us aware of the intricate and fragile interconnections that exist among the phenomena in our world.

Modern science has the same explanation. 13.7 billion years ago, a big bang occurred in 'absolute nothingness', elements were formed, and the elements came together to form stars. And since the Earth was formed around 4.6 billion years ago, one of the first organic cells appeared and evolved over 3.5 billion years ago. 

Those leaves are my brothers, those pitiful street cats that go through the winter mountains in search of food are my brothers, and those people who are in the way are my brothers. At this time, the word 'brother' is not just a metaphor, we are related we actually share blood or even a gene. 

As long as we separate from the oneness of all and live as individuals in this world, we will have difficulty living with other entities. Still, since these individuals are all related, share the same blood, we all come from the same God, we are simply working hard to treat others as brothers while living in this world trying to overcome our feelings. 

It is a very difficult fight to deal with. That's right. It's not like the mountain wants me to enjoy it alone and the seat in the church is there alone for me to become holy. This is a good thought to have on the beginning of a new liturgical year. Happy New Year!