Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Peace is the Realization of Justice.
The new liturgical year has begun, and we are now waiting to begin another calendar year. Sadness was evident during a great part of the year, not only the loss of 304 victims in the Sewol tragedy but also many other incidents and a social environment that has left many of the citizens with a heavy heart.
The columnist on the opinion page of the Peace Weekly reminds us of the plight of the irregular- workers (working by contract and without a full time job). This situation is getting worse. The leaders in our society by their words and actions dishearten many in our society. Surprisingly, they blame those who speak out against injustices and corruption as hurting the peace and security of the nation. The press and those enforcing the law are protecting those who blame the ones speaking against the injustices of society. However, he asks, if those speaking out remained silenced would we have a more peaceful society?
Many of the Documents of the Church we hear repeatedly that peace is the realization of justice. Peace is not just the absence of war. Nor is it maintaining a balance between two hostile forces. St. Augustine in the City of God spends time showing how it was the corruption in the Roman Empire that led to its downfall: lack of justice in the society. For Augustine justice was to give every person what was due. When this is not followed the persons should be punished.
God in creation has given us an abundance of resources, plenty for all to eat and live and when this is monopolized by a few we have an injustice. When we merely follow the supply and demand principle and allow the growth of the irregular workers we are increasing the numbers who are being driven to live inhumanly, and what they should have is being taken away. St. Augustine in Book IV of the City of God cries out that a nation without justice is like a band of robbers.
We don't lose hope concerning our own situation says the columnist. We are never going to get the peace we want on this earth. Augustine accepts this as given. We call this among Christians original sin. Once we forget this we will be faced with much anguish and frustration in life, but we continue working to search for the ideal and never give up, but the complete peace will only come in the here after.
For a Christian our strength comes from God. In John 14:27 Jesus says: "Peace is my farewell to you, my peace is my gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace. " He concludes the column my asking us to accept the peace we have received and have the courage of love to make it present wherever we are.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Computers an Extension of our Minds
In our technological advanced society, we are going at a faster rate than our bodies have been programed to function: riding in cars, cleaning the house, washing the clothes, all helped along with machines. Marshall McLuhan said: "we shape our tools and afterward tools shape us." According to McLuhan, machines are the extensions of the human body.
She admits that when she sits down at the keyboard of the computer the thoughts come to her much faster than the way she used the pencil in the past. No need to look for information, knowledge, understanding, or remember it, for it is all in the computer, the computer has become part of our central nervous system.
Scholars have shown that many of our children are intellectually lazy, and there are some who lament the situation. Many students are non-rational, fragmented, and haphazard in their search. All they need do is go to the computer and search, no need to memorize. They read quickly but the time they have to concentrate is little, and they find it difficult to overcome tediousness in their studies.
She quotes a poet who wrote: "I found that when I shut the book I left my head inside." She feels this is all too true for many of us. No time, but I wanted to do something, and started reading a book, and when I closed the book I forgot all that I had read. The same is true with a search, after reading all is forgotten. The computer becomes our brains and making us lazy and stupid.
With a plethora of information we lose our desire to use our brains. We are under the impression we know it all, and can find anything we want with ease; this paralyses the body and mind. When we search for knowledge and make it our own we are alive with the meaning, and with the joy that comes with the process, and we are filled with satisfaction.
She finishes her column by reminded us that instead of trying to impetuously try to keep up with what is going on in the world, might it not be better not to know all, be slow and enjoy the lack of what we think we should have. We need the leisure to enjoy this lack. The multiplicity of the equipment of the digital world will continue to increase, when we try to keep up, precious time will be lost. Amid all the changes, should we not be concerned with what does not change?
Monday, December 15, 2014
Confrontation Over a Christmas Tree
Aegibong is a mountain that faces North Korea.
In the Peace Column of the Peace Weekly we are told the historical
significance of the name. Back in the time of the Sino-Korean War the
governor
of Pyeongyang province, to escape the invasion of the Qing forces took
his mistress and fled. He Hoped to cross the Han River but was captured
by the Chinese forces, and taken to the North, only his mistress was
able to cross the Han River. She continued to look at the Northern sky
waiting for her lover. When she died she wanted to be buried on a peak
which overlooked the North.
In 1966 Park Cheong Hee, the president, visited the mountain, and understood the feelings of the mistress towards her lover were much like the anguish of the families separated by the division of the two Koreas, the peak was named Aegibong.
In 1966 Park Cheong Hee, the president, visited the mountain, and understood the feelings of the mistress towards her lover were much like the anguish of the families separated by the division of the two Koreas, the peak was named Aegibong.
Using
the telescopes on the observation platform of Aegibong one is able
to see many of the villages of the North and the displaced persons now
living in the South can look for their villages they had to leave.
Most
of the citizens know Aegibong as the place they light the Christmas
Tree. The lighting ceremony makes the news but as in the past it is
surrounded with much commentary. Right after the Korean War in 1954 they
began decorating a pine tree with Christmas decorations. In 1971 they
erected a 30 meter tower which was decorated with Christmas lights. The
Protestants prepare the tree for Christmas and have a lighting
ceremony. The ceremony is to celebrate the birth of Jesus and to pray
for the peaceful unification of the country. However, North Korea
considers the setting up of the tree, that can be seen within
North Korean territory, as a subversive act and an incitement to war and
oppose it.
Back in 2004 when the two Koreas were talking to each other at the request of North Korea the South stopped the Christmas lighting ceremonies but they resumed in 2010. The tower that was used in the past for the decorations was considered old and dangerous and was torn down; in its place a 9 meter temporary tower was erected by the Protestant Christian Confederation with the permission of the Ministry of National Defense.
The North Korean Religious Council considers the tree a vile psychological tactic that incites to war and is putting pressure to prevent the ceremonies to proceed. The villagers also who surround the area are very much concerned because of the threat of the North to not stand idly by if they have the lighting ceremony.The villagers say they will use physical force to prevent the lighting of the Christmas tree. They are afraid of the bombing of the area and the danger to the villagers.
The columnist ends up with a question for the rest of us Christians. Christmas is a time of peace and we have a situation that forebodes confrontation. How would Jesus look upon the situation?
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Doers of the Word
During the liturgical year we have many reminders of where our
attention should be directed, and today in Korea we think of the poor in
our society and share what we have with them. The third Sunday of Advent
is Almsgiving Sunday in Korea, and also Gaudete, (Rejoice Sunday) reminding us
we are to live with joy in our hearts.
We have a message from the head of the bishop's welfare committee that reminds us of the many poor in our society. There are about 4 million Koreans who are living in extreme poverty. Families with three members that do not have the minimum that the government has determined a family needs to live.
In the bishop's message he mentions that in a recent survey made, 86 percent of the Koreans find living difficult. The quality of life in Korea is one of highest in Asia, one of the economic strong countries in the developed world, and yet many of the citizens consider life difficult: they work hard and have little time to rest.
There is good reason for this when we remember that Korea is a divided country, and with all the talk of war, nuclear armaments, and occasional belligerency, the ordinary Korean is not without serious worries about the future. The country is surrounded with three giant countries which have not always looked favorably on the South.
The top 20 percent of the citizens are earning 6 times what the lower 20 percent are earning. Neoliberalism is a strong economic philosophy that influences a great deal of society. The philosophy has helped Korea progress very quickly in the ranks of the economically strong countries, but also at a great price. The students are well educated and have shown this in comparison with other countries but here again the competition is unrelenting, and for the losers a cloud that remains with them for life.
Christians, the bishop reminds us, can't separate the love of God from that of our neighbor. We have all heard that even a nation cannot eradicate poverty, it is the work of all of us. We need to participate in improving the way of life for all the citizens, and to help all live in the manner fitting a human being. Joy in life should be a given for all; sharing what we have with those who have less than what they need is to be doers of the word and not only hearers.
We have a message from the head of the bishop's welfare committee that reminds us of the many poor in our society. There are about 4 million Koreans who are living in extreme poverty. Families with three members that do not have the minimum that the government has determined a family needs to live.
In the bishop's message he mentions that in a recent survey made, 86 percent of the Koreans find living difficult. The quality of life in Korea is one of highest in Asia, one of the economic strong countries in the developed world, and yet many of the citizens consider life difficult: they work hard and have little time to rest.
There is good reason for this when we remember that Korea is a divided country, and with all the talk of war, nuclear armaments, and occasional belligerency, the ordinary Korean is not without serious worries about the future. The country is surrounded with three giant countries which have not always looked favorably on the South.
The top 20 percent of the citizens are earning 6 times what the lower 20 percent are earning. Neoliberalism is a strong economic philosophy that influences a great deal of society. The philosophy has helped Korea progress very quickly in the ranks of the economically strong countries, but also at a great price. The students are well educated and have shown this in comparison with other countries but here again the competition is unrelenting, and for the losers a cloud that remains with them for life.
Christians, the bishop reminds us, can't separate the love of God from that of our neighbor. We have all heard that even a nation cannot eradicate poverty, it is the work of all of us. We need to participate in improving the way of life for all the citizens, and to help all live in the manner fitting a human being. Joy in life should be a given for all; sharing what we have with those who have less than what they need is to be doers of the word and not only hearers.
Saturday, December 13, 2014
Social Gospel of the Church
The Desk Column and the editorial in the Catholic Times presents us with thoughts on the 'Social Gospel Awareness Week' which follows Human Rights Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent.
The columnist mentions the respect he has for a friend who graduated from one of the three premier colleges in Korea, SKY: Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University. Not only graduated from one of the best schools but is a member of a well known Protestant Church, and lives in one of the better areas of Seoul. However, he has been labelled a follower of the North (meaning for many with Communist sympathies).
He is not overly concerned with this turn of events and found some encouragement from Pope Francis' words while in Korea concerning the North. He feels that his friends just don't understand him, and still has a bright disposition.
There are many who have a wrong understanding of what the Social Gospel is all about, and think that it should not be our concern. This he says is not understanding what Catholicism is all about, for it has to do with the ten commandments, and living them in our daily lives.
The teaching of the Social Gospel appears in the Catechism of the Catholic Church in part three:Life in Christ. When we refuse to accept this teaching we are abandoning what it means to be Catholic. The popes in their exhortations, encyclicals, pronouncements have made this our formal teaching. We are able to see life in society, politics, economy, labor, peace, the environment, life, human rights, and many other issues with the vision that comes from the Gospels.
The Church is like a boat making its way on a rough ocean. We need a compass to find the way.The Social Gospel is the compass that shows us the way. When we refuse this direction we are only accepting half of what Jesus has given us. Can we call this a mature faith life?
Friday, December 12, 2014
The Gospel of Life
Doctor Lee was a well known gynecologist who is now teaching at Catholic Universities the ethics of life. He received his doctorate in ethics at a university in Rome last year. In 2008, at the age of 64 he decided to go on to study moral theology.
He wanted to find out why God made male and female to be one. Why was the Church opposed to artificial birth control and condoms? He wanted to find out where the roots of this teaching on life came from. This desire as a Catholic to find the reasons for the culture of life teachings, at his age was difficult, but he was adding to the knowledge he had as a doctor, which made it very satisfying.
The doctor was now more interested in the moral issues associated with life than the field of gynecology that he had devoted most of his life. He was now interested in natural child birth, problems with birth control, abortion, stem cells, suicide and the other issues connected with the culture of life. He now wants to share his knowledge with others.
Korean society has little teaching on sex which is a large problem. Schools have given up on sex education which makes it open for all kinds of distorted views. By the coupling of the male and female, we have new life and the meaning of this life: morally, philosophically, is to be taught within the Church. There are certain elements that can't be taught with medical and scientific knowledge.
Doctor Lee has entered late into the movement for life. Even though he is well on in years, he feels it is a call of God, and wants to dedicate the rest of his life to the movement.
In Evangelium Vitae (#5), Pope John Paul II addressed an appeal to all of us: "in the name of God: respect, protect, love and serve life, every human life! Only in this direction will you find justice, development, true freedom, peace and happiness!"
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Getting Younger Each Day
On the spirituality page of the Catholic Times the columnist writes about the heart of a young person. A quality that most of us find very attractive especially as we get old.
The columnist met a follow priest at the cathedral parish who was there to get some Mass wine. They hadn't seen each other for some time so they went to a coffee shop for quiet time. His friend mentioned they started a catechism class in the parish and one of the new catechumens was an unique individual.
What do you mean by unique? asked the columnist. His friend mentioned the man was in his 50s and a person who was successful in life. The reason he gave for wanting to come into the Church was the example of the pope in his visit to Korea. The man followed very closely what the pope was doing on TV, and was greatly impressed with what he saw.
The appearance of the pope was that of a young person, said the man. He wanted to have that same kind of heart and joined our catechism class. Hearing his story the friend was embarrassed in comparison, for he was doing it all without any religious belief.
Although he was the president of a company that was successful he did his own driving, and his clothes were very simple as was his life style. From the profits of the company he was putting some of it back into the society to help the poor, and was personally involved in helping others. The only person that knows about his service to others was his fiance
The columnist was surprised to hear that he was in his fifties and not married. His friend was not able to give him any information on his home life for he hadn't questioned him yet, but his whole manner was one of humility and simplicity, said the friend.
Persons young of heart may not be a quality that is easily recognizable but it has an irresistible power to attract. We are all searching for peace, security, happiness, and in the whirlpool in which we live these qualities of life are not easily possessed. The man in his fifties was attracted to an old man, the pope, who showed the spirit of youth. This was his motive for entering the Church. This is a rare motive but one that should be more common. St. Paul did tells us that the body grows old but there is no reason why the heart (spirit) has to grow old. In Jesus, we will find that the dreams and youthfulness that should be a part of our life even as we near death, can be found in him.
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