The Desk Columnist of the Catholic Times introduces us to the very popular cable Home Box Office television drama: Game of Thrones which has just finished its 3rd year and began its 10th segment, 4th year series. Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama, adapted from a novel which, he says, in most cases is more elaborate and impressive then most or our ordinary movies.
In one of the last segments of the 3rd year series, there was a massacre of the guests who attended a wedding at which most of the main characters were killed. However, in a recent program the cruel killing in the 3rd year segment was not addressed directly and seen for what it was, but considered a breach of etiquette for killing the invited guests at a wedding.
In war to save oneself, killing one or ten, doing it respectively or frivolously, is considered self-defense. The killing of those at the wedding was an act that demeaned trust, dignity, and honor. One is not able to accept this shameless act of immorality.
Each society, East or West ancient or present has a moral code which they follow: which includes manners and propriety. At times, this includes an Absolute Being and respect for life. In all the different philosophies and religions and in the many varied societies and traditions, he says, we have never seen undisguised disregard for the nobility and dignity of life. The life of an individual was seen as a great value. There were times that slaves were treated like flies, but the columnist says, it was always with the understanding that the person was not a part of the human race.
The columnist presents us now with the Sewol tragedy which occurred on April 16, and the way it was handled. Over 300 drowned or are missing. The students were on a four day field trip to the island of Jeju. The ferry was carrying 476 people mostly high school students. The news has been very negative on the way the rescue was carried out. The captain ordered the students to stay in their bunks and when the order finally came to evacuate it was said the vessel was listing too severely for the passengers to leave. Investigation has shown the ferry may have been overloaded and under the command of an inexperienced officer. Many of the crew have been arrested, a vice principal committed suicide and another crew member attempted suicide and even the prime minster of Korea has offered to take responsibility for the disaster and retire.
The columnist says the way the tragedy occurred and the response showed a lack of basic human etiquette. The parents of these children are angry for the lack of concern for the life of these children whom they would not have exchanged for the whole world. They feel betrayed. There was according to the columnist a lack of sensitivity to the feeling of those who suffered this great tragedy. The captain left the ship before the passengers. Was the inspection of the ship done properly? It remains a question. The rescue efforts were seen to be poorly done. The way the news media reported the tragedy left a lot of questions; the way pictures were taken as a remembrance of the tragedy and the way it was treated on the Internet by some of the netizens leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of many.
The tragedy has been big news in Korea, and the alarm that it has caused will hopefully bring a change to not only the way this tragedy could occur, but help us to see the lack of sensitivity and simple etiquette and manners that we are often oblivious.
The farmers' way of looking at life is different than dwellers of our cities. With this as his subject matter, a priest writing in the Seoul Diocesan Bulletin, reflects on the Sunday Gospel and Doubting Thomas.
He recounts the story of a woman reporter for a TV program that went out with a crew of fishermen for squid. The fishermen worked hard but caught only 10 squids. The reporter was disappointed, after all the work, and her pictures, they were going back to land with a very poor catch. The fishermen made light of what happened with laughter, and tried to console the reporter saying that what happened is not uncommon. At times, they don't make enough to pay for the gas they use. However, tomorrow will be a new day, and we have hopes of a good catch: the fishermen's way of consoling the reporter.
Those who go out to fish or seed their fields are reckless, he says, they are dealing with uncertainty. Farming has advanced greatly with scientific methods, as has fishing with their ability to discover schools of fish, but despite it all, they have to hope in an uncertain future. Hope is always a part of their lives. For a believer, it is not my will but the will of God that is part of their thinking.
Those in the city, as the saying goes, even the stone bridge has to be touched to determine if it is reliable. Without that certainty, they are reluctant to spend their money or time. However, the farmer is different; they have a hope and a trust in the future that their labor in planting the seed will see it sprout and give a yield of 100, and even a thousand fold. Isn't this the heart of a farmer, the kind of heart that a religious person has?
We have the eyes to ascertain the facts with which we are faced in life. We also have the internal eye that allows us to believe in what can't be proved, but we can't help but to believe, this is faith. To such a person the most important issue is not is it a fact or not, but whether to believe or not, to believe is to trust. There are many who mix up what is fact and and what is belief. They want proof for everything. They want to see to believe.
This is a problem that requires deep thought. Necessary is the need to verify our facts to determine if they are sufficient to elicit our approval. When it comes to belief we are required to give our trust to something we don't see, and it can be considered as reckless, and we are asked to become adventurous and courageous.
Thomas asked for a certainty that comes with sight. Jesus answered: "Blest are they who have not seen and have believed"(John 20:29). We need to keep in mind the difference between fact and belief. Like the farmer, it is necessary to keep in focus the will of God more than our own wills; this is having the heart of a farmer.
From Buddhist lore, we have a story that comes to Korea from China. At one of the temples when the monks were at their services a cat was out in front of the main hall with its noisy cries. The chief priest of the Buddhist Temple found it difficult to present his teaching, which prompted the monks to take the cat to the back of the temple and tie it to a post during the services.
In time, the monks and the cat died, but the tradition continued. Even when they could not find their cat, they would go to a neighboring village and borrow a cat for the service. The columnist in the Peace Weekly uses this story to show us how powerful an established practice can be. Once that takes hold it is difficult to discard. Not infrequently convention is followed more so then the truth, and the truth is damaged by convention; it is difficult to notice, and it becomes an idol.
Cardinal Yeom when appointed as cardinal, there was a movement among the lay people to prepare an entourage to accompany the cardinal to Rome. There was nothing strange, for this was a custom from the past and a very admirable custom. However, this time the custom was discontinued, because of Pope Francis. An immemorial custom ceased to exist.
Easy to see the power that a leader has to change the status quo. Destiny makes clear that we can't remain in the past. A good leader is one who leads us into the future.
Forbes magazine of the United States chose Pope Francis as the world leader with the most influence. The columnist says, however, he is not only a good leader but has transcended the factionalism that we have and received love and respect far beyond his own community. In Korea, we say a good medicine is bitter to the lips, and an honest word hurts the ear. The pope is not always pleasing the populace. He speaks the truth, and still receives the respect of many.
The pope is not changing any of the truths of Catholicism but making a break with the customs that have accrued that are far from the truth. He is making the truths of Jesus appear without our additions, fostering renewal and reformation.
The Pope will be coming to Korea to beatify 124 martyrs. The columnist hopes that we will in the presence of the other religions be more humble, and to the whole of society more merciful and just, reconciling and magnanimous. Furthermore, go beyond the boundaries of our community of faith to the poor and the alienated of society. Hopefully, not to take the hands of the powerful and the rich, or be concerned with only the inner workings of the Church. He hopes the clergy will be less authoritarian, and clericalism will diminish, and they will be less worldly. And gradually he hopes the Church will be able to weaken the polarization within the Church of the different ideologies that breed conflict....
This was the aim, 50 years ago at the Second Vatican Council and the meeting 30 years ago of the clergy, religious and the lay people in their pastoral meeting, also the intention of Pope Francis. When this becomes the common intention of all, we will be showing our love for the pope.
The Seoul Diocese started recently a program in which they invite well known teachers to give a talk and at the finish open up the floor to questions. The first presentation was from the vicar general of the diocese. His topic was the 24 questions that a famous industrialist, the founder of Samsung, the wealthiest man in Korea, sent to a priest friend. He was not a believer. He died about a month later from lung cancer without ever hearing the answers. They were answered 24 years later by Father Cha Dong-yeop in his book: Forgotten Questions.
The bishop said that on his bucket list, he had two wishes he would like to accomplish before he dies, and one is to start a school for prayer, and the other is to answer the 24 questions that were left by the industrialist. Below is the list of the 24 questions, freely translated from the written list that he sent the priest. Others have put their hand to answering the questions; not only, Catholics, but other religious groups and even atheists have given answers.
1) How can you prove the existence of God? Why didn't he make his existence clearer?
2) How can you prove that God made everything?
3) Biologists say that humanity is the product of evolution. What does creation of humanity mean? Isn't humanity and all living things the product of evolution?
4) With the continual advancement of science and the conquering of disease and long life, won't the belief in God disappear?
5) If God loves us, why do we have pain, unhappiness and death?
6) Why did God make evil people? Examples: Hitler, Stalin, and permit the horrendous crimes that we see?
7) Jesus is said to have died for our sins, what are our sins? Why did God leave us with these sins?
8) How were the Scriptures made? How can we prove they are the words of God?
9) What is Religion? Why is it necessary?
10) What is the soul?
11) What are the different types of religions and their characteristics?
12) Can we go to heaven if we don't believe in Catholicism? There are unbelievers, atheists and followers of other religions, and among them many good people. Where do they go after death?
13) All religions preach how to live a good life. Why do Catholics say they are the best and all the other religions are heretical?
14) After death we say the soul doesn't die. How can we believe that it goes either to heaven or hell?
15) There are many people with no religion, and they enjoy riches and honors, and evil people who have comfort and ease. What is the lesson that God is teaching us with this reality?
16) In the Scriptures we are told the rich man to get into heaven is like having a camel pass through the eye of a needle. Is being rich, evil?
17) Italy and similar countries are 99 percent Catholic. Why do they have so many social problems and so many crimes? Why are they not a good example of what a Catholic country should be?
18) Religious people are at times fanatics. What is the difference between a fanatical communist and a fanatical religious person?
19) Communists and Catholics are opposites. Why did so many Catholic countries become communist? Example: Poland, East Europe and Nicaragua?
20) In Korea we have churches spread throughout the country, there are many believers, why do we have so much crime and suffering?
21) They say the pope can't make a wrong decision. He is a man, how can that kind of self-righteousness be possible?
22) What are priests and religious sisters? Why don't they marry?
23) There are groups in the Catholic Church who consider that industry is exploiting the workers; they are promoting divisions and harm in society. Do they not see any good in capitalism?
24) Will the world come to an end?
There are many different answers to these questions. Fr. Cha has given us his answers in his book. The vicar general would like to give his answers to the questions. The article mentions that he already has answered six of them. In his retirement, he plans to give these questions a great deal of thought. One of the participants asked: If a person lives a good life, and he doesn't believe in God will he be saved? The bishop answered: eternal life is God's gift; it is not for us to judge whether one person enters or not, the Church is teaching us the way.
When religion does cause a change in the life of a person, there is
joy for often we see little that differentiates us from those without a
religion. Korea because of the suicide rate being so high is doing
everything possible to determine the causes and to find remedies. In the
recent study by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare,
reported on the front page of the Catholic Times, those with a religion
had a lower rate of suicides than those without a religion, and
Catholics were the lowest of all those with a religion.
Besides
the many reasons, we have for suicides; suicides
because of honor and feelings of guilt are often seen in Asia. The recent suicide of the vice
principal of the high school who was rescued from the sinking ferry
that was carrying students from his high school, was found dead two
days later hanging from a tree with a belt. He expressed regret having
survived while so many died. Suicides are motivated by many different
reasons and are often, not like the vice principal, contemplated for
long periods of time.
Korean Ministry of Health and
Welfare in 2013 reported that those who attempted suicide 65.5 percent had no religion. The experts in the field say that the spirituality
of the religious person helps them to overcome the hardships and
hopelessness they encounter in life. The numbers of those who
attempted suicide, 3.5 percent were Catholic; Buddhists were 9.4 percent, and
Protestants were 16 percent.
The article mentions the reasons
the Catholics had a low rate of suicide were the small parish groups,
the work of the Legion of Mary and the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and
the constant teaching on the respect for life that has influenced our
Catholics to avoid suicide as a solution to their problems. Since the
study showed a correlation of the number of suicides with the religious
belief, there are those who think the Church should make efforts to
spread the strong points of their teaching on the respect of life.
The
investigation by the ministry was an attempt to decrease the number of
suicides. This is the first study that was national in scope to study
the mental state of those who killed themselves. Interviews with those
who attempted suicide and their families determined the ways they killed
themselves and the dangers that prepared one for such an extreme
solution to their problems.
One religious sister at the
'One Heart and One Body Movement Suicide Center' in Seoul said: "Each
one of us needs to be filled with the joy of the Gospel, each of us to
be interested in our neighbors, to extend our hand to others, to
approach others and listen to them. This will help decrease the numbers
of suicides and to do this we have to change our vision and our way
of thinking." In order to do this many say that the Church has to become
interested and invest more in this movement.
In the study, 73.9 percent of the respondents said we cannot in any way justify the killing of oneself, but 25.6 percent said once a person decides on suicide, there is nothing that can be done to prevent the suicide. Here it will be necessary to work to change this type of thinking. Efforts also necessary to find those who are in hopeless situations and do what we can to give hope. The campaign, said a priest involved in the welfare work of the diocese, will need a network to identify those living in situations that pose a danger for suicide and encourage people to become involved.
During Lent, we had the three Scrutinies for the catechumens before baptism on Easter. The Gospels used for these rites have deep conversations of Jesus with those who appear in these incidents. In our lives we rarely have conversations with others at this level. For Christians sharing our faith experiences and the meaning we give to life with others is one of the deepest levels of interchange: a way of participating in group spiritual direction.
An article in a pastoral review speaks about this faith sharing: the experience of our relationship with God and the awareness of his presence in our lives. Jesus selected his disciples to be with him and to listen and share with him. He sent the disciples out two by two, and in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10: "Two are better than one; they get a good wage for their labor. If one falls, the other will lift up his companion. Woe to the solitary man!" A maverick is not the way of a Christian, who believes in the natural synergistic effects of relating with others.
Society more and more is becoming individualistic, rather than discuss issues with another it is easier to do it alone, faster, and less of a bother. We are not concerned in looking for opportunities to hear about other possibilities, analyze and purify our motives.
Consequently, to
find others who would be interested in joining a faith sharing group is
not easy. 'Cor ad cor loquitur' is a Latin phrase we hear often: heart
speaks to heart. Most of our conversations are small talk; little time
is expended in serious, meaningful and for a Christian, talk that
deepens our spiritual development and helps to mature us to face the
difficulties that invariable will come.
The
writer mentions a missionary society of priests that had a workshop
some thirty years ago that began this faith sharing among the members of the society. The workshop was conducted by a group of Camaldolese
monks for five days, after which the group committed themselves to meet
once a month with 5-8 in a group for a period of six months.
They
took the example of Jesus with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus,
Luke 24,13 as their example to follow. The topics depended on the group
to select; each member of the group would be responsible for conducting
the meeting. One meeting could discuss the parable that each member
liked the most and to explain why? What does one do when he is faced
with a crisis in life? What phrases from the Scriptures did one find
helpful and why? These would be introduced to prime the pump. One could
also select some article on a spiritual matter to use as a point of
discussion. The topics to be discussed are unlimited.
The meetings did continue for over the 30 years but gradually because of the age of the participants and a decrease in the members, the last group decided to stop last year. The willingness to share the spiritual life with others will be blessed, he says. The writer recommends the practice and although they have discontinued he writes the article hoping that others will read what he writes and seek to form groups.
Spring he thought was here but briskly Summer has entered. The magnolia and forsythia without concern for time, bloom and disappear, which makes many have a serious concern about climate change and global warming. These are the words in a pastoral bulletin that was received recently.
The priest last year began to learn how to farm. He has been busy with preparing the land and planting the seed and with a hopeful heart preparing for the mystery of life. It has been a happy and precious time.
Pesticides, chemical fertilizers, vinyl, fossil fuels are not part of his farming methods.Those who have been accustomed to the customary ways of farming told him he would not succeed, but when they saw his harvest, it made them reflect on their ways. He wants to call this method the 'law of coexistence'.
In the area with weeds, and all kinds of bugs swarming in the earth; grasshoppers, butterflies and dragon flies fluttering around; many were those who told him you were not going to get an ordinary harvest. However, he read all about natural farming and deemed it possible, and the results were a grand success. When he planted the weak seedlings, he thought the bugs would do a job on the seedlings and not allow them to grow, but the results were not so.The cabbage seedlings that were planted after a couple of weeks showed less damage than he expected. There were signs of the presence of insects on the leaves and stem, but it did no harm to a good harvest. One of those who said that he had to use chemical fertilizers seeing the harvest: "Ah it's possible" he blurted out.
If, he says, he got rid of all the weeds in the area hoping for a larger harvest, the nesting place of the insects would have been eradicated, and they would have infested the plants in the garden.When we try to eradicate the bad insects by spraying with pesticide, we are also killing good insects that feed on the bad, and destroy nature's equilibrium, and we are eating our food mixed with pesticides.
Easter is a time to bring in a new value system and go beyond the fixed one to a new hope. With natural farming, the writer could see Easter in a new way.
