A priest writing in a Bulletin for priests recalls his days as an
elementary 5th and 6th grader. He had to walk 40 minutes to get to get to church and on Sundays they had Mass in the morning and Sunday School
was in the afternoon. Because of the distance he would often miss Sunday
School.
Often prizes of clothes from relief goods
would be given to the students who had a a good attendance record. He
never was one of them. Those who lived close to the Church would be the
recipients.The prizes were not enough to overcome the distance he had
to walk.
Two years ago 20 to 30 children from a
city parish were given a free trip to Everland, the largest theme park
in South Korea. All expenses were paid by the parish. The priest
wondered about the results of the trip and the feelings of those that
were not selected to go.
One of the parishes gives
electronic gifts to those who attend Mass faithfully, and he gives
another example of a priest who gives presents to those who answer his
questions correctly during the sermon. There are a differences in
the kind gifts that are given, but the giving of prizes is a common occurrence.
The
interest of children in religious teaching is disappearing. Mass attendance is low and those who are responsible for the parishes are
looking for ways to stop the tide. Some of the priests work with the liturgy, music, sermons, visual aids and the like, while
others make use of material goods to increase the interest.
There
are times where this giving of prizes as an incentive is acceptable,
but educationally and looking at it from a religious vantage point it he does not see it as wise. When one receives a prize one considers that it is
deserved, there is little thanks and little humility. When one takes
care of a younger sibling and is given a prize, we lose the chance
to inculcate the importance of brotherly love. Religious education is
to instil responsibility and maturity.
Our society draws people by material goods and competition. Those who win at
competition and pile up material goods are the ones who are setting the
societal standards. Those who have lost out in competition and have little are
those who go to the the periphery of society.
When the church uses the same methods of society, we are failing to educate wisely. Jesus complained about the way society shunned and alienated people, and the same can be done in our religious teaching programs.
After an event we as church do not meet formally to evaluate what was done. When many thousands of dollars are used for trips and in
prize money, time should be set aside to assess the pros and cons of the event. What did the students learn? Was it
valuable? What was not of value?
Most of the time there are informal evaluations made by those in charge but this is not sufficient, he says. What is necessary is to examine in detail what was done, and to analyze it with the future in mind. This would prevent many future mistakes and allow growth to happen.
In his column on the social teaching of the Church in the Peace Weekly, a seminary professor brings to our attention the poverty in the world and the efforts to eliminate it.
While in Rome he met many people from different nations and especially priests who were in Rome to study from Africa. Many of them had no help from the dioceses, and had to make their spending money by helping out during the summer months. Korean priests were helped by their dioceses. African priest would be given scholarships from the Congregation of the Evangelization of People, but their personal expenses they would have to earn.
On their return to Africa you would see them bringing many household goods and electronic equipment back with them to Africa.They would be going back to a difficult life, and a continent that was often at war and fighting against hunger to stay alive. Sadness was the feeling he had seeing these priests going back to Africa.
We have all seen the vast expanses of Africa and their many resources. They can climb a cocoanut tree for a refreshing drink or gather some bananas but they all have owners. They have the largest amount of gold and diamonds in the world but the wealth is not shared. The way it is shared depends on the politics of the region. We have all seen on TV the leaving of the continent by boat and the numbers who have died.
Pope Francis after becoming pope made his first pastoral visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa a stop over for many illegal emigrants from Africa seeking refuge in Europe. The pope in his sermon criticized the indifference of the international community and wanted to awaken consciences and the love we should have for humanity.The pope wants society and the Church to take an interest in this great suffering of so many.
Lampedusa is only 120 miles from Tunisia and in the first half of 2013 the UN's Refugee Agency reported that 8,400 refugees had arrived on the island.The sinking of boats and the lost of life is all too well known. They are seeking a better life in Europe. Africa was invaded and colonized and suffered at the hands of Europe for centuries. After the second world war many of the nations became independent, but because of the rule of despots and corruption many of the people were not able to free themselves from poverty. If there was a just sharing of the wealth we would not have the tragedies of Lampedusa.
"The fight against poverty finds a strong motivation in the
option or preferential love of the Church for the poor.
In the whole of her social teaching the Church never tires of emphasizing
certain fundamental principles of this teaching, first and foremost, the
universal destination of goods. Constantly reaffirming the
principle of solidarity, the Church's social doctrine demands action to
promote 'the good of all and of each individual, because we are all
really responsible for all '. The principle of solidarity,
even in the fight against poverty, must always be appropriately accompanied by
that of subsidiarity, thanks to which it is possible to foster the spirit
of initiative, the fundamental basis of all social and economic development in
poor countries. The poor should be seen not as a problem, but as
people who can become the principal builders of a new and more human future for everyone.(Compendium of the Social Teaching of the Church #449).
A grandfather who was living alone in a rented room, was notified
that the house was sold, and he had to move.The situation was serious, despondent, he took his own life. Those who were entrusted
with the moving found a note waiting for them; in the envelope was
100 dollars to have a meal with rice and soup. Another envelope had enough money for the funeral expenses, electricity, water and taxes.
In
Feb. of this year we had the suicide of a mother and her two
daughters by carbon dioxide poisoning because of poverty. The
daughters because of sickness were not able to work, and the mother in
her 60s worked in a restaurant to support them, but could not work because of an injury. The incident was reported in the news and caused a
great deal of remorse on the part of many.The government was moved to work on ways to help the indigent, and prevent incidents like what happened
to the grandfather.
Around the same time was the
case of another death of a popular singer that pushed aside news of the
mother and her two daughters. The columnist, writing on this issue, in the Peace Weekly, knows
that death brings sadness, but was again reminded that money and
honor, in many cases, determines how we look upon death. Putting his thoughts together on the grandfather's death the columnist felt distress.
In Buddhism birth and death,
prosperity or failure are all transient; important to see all as
vanity. A Christian, however, sees life as a sign of God's love and to put an
end to life with one's willful act is not acceptable. We are to
respect our bodies for they will be resurrected on the last day.
The
bishops in their recent meeting lamented in the way money and power is
pushing people to their death. We have put money and power on an equal
footing with life. Materialism and money are trampling
the poor under foot, and the bishops have decided to be with them. Up
until now we have had a middle class church, prosperous, on mission, a big
church, that has not chased out the poor, but have not made it easy for
them to find a place to stand or feel comfortable.
Bishops have expressed their sorrow and plan to do something to change the
situation.
The world is beautiful because one can find
love. A world with love is filled with human-like lives: a world that is lived according to the principles found in
creation, and is filled with the immanence of God. When the first
Christians in Korea were persecuted and escaped to the mountains, living together in difficult circumstances, no one died of hunger or
lost hope.
Like the bishops we have to meditate on the
situation we have today in the world, and work to put an end to those
who kill themselves because of alienation and poverty. In November we meditate on death and pray for the dead. A
time to change our attitude, and begin to see
what is important and what is less important in our lives.
'Happiness and healing' is a topic we hear a lot about in our
society. But at the same time society is filled with great suffering.
The death of a loved one fills us all with bodily pain and mental
suffering. A college philosophy professor writes in a column in the
Peace Weekly about losing his parents 3 years ago,within 6 months of each
other. The loss was deep and lasting and before he was able to accept
the loss, a very close friend died. The death was not expected which
made the loss more difficult.
According to
Viktor Frankl in Logotherapy, humans are motivated by
the search for meaning. The columnist shows, according to Frankl, we
find the meaning in three different ways: in what we do, and what we
experience or by the attitude we have toward the unavoidable suffering
in life. There is no way we can prevent our own death or the death of
another, but we can choose our attitude.
Before the
death of his friend, a fellow professor, he visited him with his wife
and even at that time he was considerate of us and told us that
because of his weakness he found it difficult to talk. That was a
indication of the thoughtfulness he had for others. Right to the very end
you would see this concern which increased the sadness of those visiting. After his death one easily saw the high regard he
was held by all those that knew him: the students that came to the
funeral rites with tears in their eyes.
There are
those that death could come as a penalty, but they live well and enjoy
life and then you have those like his friend that had so much talent
and doing so much good, and death comes so suddenly. If
they lived longer they could have done so much good and showed
more love to others. The columnist has read all kinds of philosophy books, and not
once has he come across a good answer to his query.
During
the Mass of the Resurrection in praying for the professor he
did find some consolation. On the 49th day after death one of the students
who received his doctorate with the mentoring of the professor visited
the grave of the professor and offered up his doctoral dissertation. At the sight, the columnist experienced a warm feeling.
With the death of the
ones we love we bury with the one deceased part of ourselves which is
part of the reason for the sadness that overcomes us. However, a part
of the one who has died also remains with us.
An eye doctor, who is also a teacher at a university asks the question: Does a teacher want to fill the head or capture the heart? In an article in the Kyunghyang magazine he tries to give an answer. He admits that when he explains what he plans to do to a patient, he wonders how much they understand. Patients,at times, do not answer truthfully,which leaves him bewildered when he finds out. In his lectures he finds even though the topics are
strange and done with little humor there is much conveyed.
He finds the presentations of Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple, extraordinary. Although he has died, we can still find on the internet his presentations. The doctor wanting to improve his own presentation, borrowed a book from the library on Steve Jobs' way of making presentations. What surprised him was that it took a whole book to explain what Jobs did in a one hour presentation.
He quotes a poet who wrote: "Life is difficult but to write poetry on life is easy which is embarrassing." The book he read on Jobs' presentation changed his way of thinking on the subject but then again we have people telling you how to become rich on the internet, and with the printing of their books become rich, but those who read the books remain poor.
In any event, says the doctor, to see something once is better than a thousand words. He introduces us to Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Speech 2005, and recommends those reading these words go to the internet: found by putting Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement 2005 in the search engine.
A doctor is not a salesman but he feels there has to be a balance between filling the heads of his audience and moving their hearts. He has to give them knowledge that they didn't have and contribute to what they did know, and at the same time move their hearts to follow his instructions: a sign of a good presentation.
When he reflects on the time and effort required in preparing his presentations this leaves him with a big load on his shoulders.
We all have small or big 'presentations' to make everyday. Not only what we say, but how we say it will determine what is accepted. The truth we speak is often not accepted because of the way presented, but also the way a person looks upon the one speaking. Some of the elements are under our control others are not, but we need to keep all of them in mind.
The recent Catholic news and editorials have taken into account the
results of the Autumn General Assembly of the Catholic Bishops. Clearly
and unambiguously the bishops have opted for change, and shown a
strong will for renewal that will begin with the bishops. They will leave behind luxury, stress a
pastoral approach, 'go in search' and work to communicate and collaborate to make a Church for the poor.
One
of the changes, different from the past, was an approach to
problems that came from below, and not from above. The
bishops worked with the results of what the church members wanted to
see changed, and the bishops agreed to be the first to change. They will
approach problems with their actions more than words, in the
manner of Pope Francis. One of the editorials are waiting to see how the bishops will be an example to the
Church.
A survey by the bishops was distributed by
e-mail, and on the bishops' homepage. +During Pope Francis' visit the most memorable scene.
+Words that moved you the most in his talks. +The word that comes to
mind when you think of Pope Francis. +After the visit of the pope the greatest need for change. +What the members
have to change.
The scene that moved many viewers was
the pope's easy interactions with those he met, and the way
he related with parents of the Sewol tragedy.The words
'sympathy' and 'communication' stayed with many. In the
pope's talks his reference to 'remember and have hope' were meaningful. 'A
poor church', and 'before suffering there is no neutrality' were
mentioned. The 'comfortable' life of the religious hurts the Church was
mentioned by many.
The prominent issue,receiving the most interest was becoming a poor church where the poor would feel at home. The community of the faithful wanted to see
changes in the bishops' manner of dialoguing and communication. They pointed out a lack of vision and leadership, authoritarianism
and self righteousness, and wanted a commitment to the Social Gospel.
Clericalism and self
righteousness of the priest was mentioned by both groups as the biggest
issue with the clergy. Also mentioned was a lack of spirituality and a prayer life, a wealthy and
comfortable life style, hobbies that are luxurious, and working only with
the wealthy.
Religious have a need for prayer and spirituality. Narrow mindedness and a one way approach to problems were listed.
Laypeople were seen to lack a prayer life and spirituality. Lack of
participation in the Social Gospel of the Church, factionalism and
problems with getting along with neighbors were listed.
The whole
Church needs to be more conscious of the poor and become a Church of the poor. One of the editorials wrote we have become a middle class Church where the poor do not feel welcomed and all the members need to work in changing the image with the bishops out in front with renewal.
One of our well known poets,
Sister Claudia Lee Hae-in, writes in the Seoul Bulletin of her spiritual love of time. She begins each day with her new gift. 'Time' follows her through the day and urges her to love. Sister was diagnosed with cancer a number of years ago and continues the struggle.
Recently she had some guests who came to the convent that she knew from the time she was in middle school. She had to go to her album to see the faces that had changed so much over the years. When a sick sister comes back to the mother house for rest, she recalls the appearance of the sister many years before in good health, and is overcome with a heavy heart.
When her readers see a picture of her taken from a book during her youth and see her now, they are often taken aback, and express this disappointment; she becomes confused. Not rarely after some thought, either to save face, or driven by necessity, she hears words similar to: " I don't know why, but now I feel that I can be closer to you than ever before." These words enter deeply into her.
All of us are changed by time, and nothing can stop it; we can learn to accept and embrace the change and find peace. She doesn't look into a mirror often, but when she does she sees the wrinkles, the white hair and realizes with force that she is old. In the refectory or the chapel when she looks around and sees the younger members of the community she reflects on the passage of time. Changing her thoughts from discontent and lament, to the future thanksgiving and joy is the wisdom gained from life. Therefore when she is tempted to blurt out: where in the world has the time gone, she pauses, and remembers how thankful she is for the time that she has.
Unexpectedly she says, she is in the afternoon of life, but she is thankful looking forward to the precious time ahead in which she has been given the opportunity to love and is excited by the expected joy. She falls into a swamp because of laziness, and struggles but she is determined to make the effort to prudently use the time that she has been given with all the strength available.
She is walking along the road of life and giving thanks. She will laugh again, forgive, and prays that she can continue to walk the way of a trainee, and continue to love the time that will be given.
Getting older she will be living with the weight of fear, there is nothing that she can say. Sadness, joy, love and hate, she hopes that she can meet it all serenely...With the passage of time the book of wisdom comes to her daily.There is no need to go to the book case, for wisdom comes to her and gives her joy.The longer she lives the more thanks for the time she has been given. This has become her song.
