We begin a new calendar year. A time for resolutions and for
Christians the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. A good time to
resolve to live in the manner that Mary showed us by listening to God's
word in our hearts and consciences and living it in our daily lives.
We
are made to be happy and for many of us the hope is not the reality.
And yet that is what we need to expect and desire. God gives us the
graces; we believe we are the temples of the Holy Spirit but
fail to remember the meaning. Despite the many
problems, sickness, the situation in which we find ourselves and the
craziness that is all around, we are called to live with joy, a gift of
the the Holy Spirit.
A Korea priest who spent some
time in Lima, Peru, as a missioner writes in the Catholic Digest about
his experience in living in a poor area of the city. On the day before
the New Year the people are busy making life-like dolls for the New
Year.
This is the summer season and you hear the words from open doors:
'bring more clothes' as they prepare to make dolls out of old clothing.
if you ask what are they dong, they will answer preparing to burn the
old year.
At midnight they shoot off fireworks and burn
the dolls which symbolize all that was negative in the past year: the
bad things, the sins, all that made for unhappiness they burn and hope for a different and joyful new year.
He
reminds himself, now back in Korea, how in the pastoral work he
uses his own yard stick to determine what is right and wrong with often
clumsy results and fails to acknowledge the problems which follow from
this.
He remembers the Peruvians and their dolls and
wants to begin the New Year with the burning of all that was bad: the
wrong judgments, improper emotions and begin a completely new year.
"God
does not tire of being merciful and forgiving us." These words of Pope Francis begin to resonate with him. He concludes the article by hoping
to live like a person who has been forgiven. To meet every person as if
coming for the first time, meeting all as if he has never been hurt,
and see all occasions and persons with hope. Isn't this a way of living with joy in our hearts? Happy New Year!
Recently we hear besides 'Well-Being' the phrase 'Well Dying' but the fear expressed by an article in the Catholic Times is that these phrases may be used actually in opposition to what we hold as Catholics especially the phrase 'Well Dying'. One can easily understand this as a euphemism for assisted suicide.
Words can be made to say whatever the speaker wants them to say. When life becomes cumbersome and the person's quality of life is no longer seen as of value many feel it's common sense to end it. We are not obligated to take extraordinary means to prolong life unless one chooses to do so but life always has value and ordinary means to sustain life are necessary.
Gravely ill patients without hope of recovery will be allowed to die by choice or with the consent of a family member is a law in Korea that will take effect in 2018. This, of course, will easily be used in ways that were not intended and we will have the acceptance of assisted suicide. The well dying law does not legalize assisted suicide but only the rejection of life-sustaining treatments when there is no hope of recovery.
However, sadly, there are many who for one reason or another are living alone and die alone only to have their bodies discovered many days after death. Here we have a failure on the part of society to concern itself on the dignity of life for all its members.
According to Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2015 those who died alone numbered 1,245. This number is gradually increasing. Half of them had no family. Nuclear families and one person families is a reason for this situation and a problem that society needs to face. One person families continue to increase which means the problem will remain.This problem is not the same as the 'well dying' issue except in that we have a devaluation of life and this is shown when we have persons dying alone and the bodies discovered later.
Since society is getting older we will have more people living alone. Not that it is limited to the old but we do have an increase of those living alone and the possibility of dying alone. In one of the centers concerned with the elderly, their studies show that over 1/4 of the old people living alone have no contact with society.
The words 'death alone' and 'death from unconcern' will continue to increase. This was the topic of an article wishing to get the church and society involved in searching out those living alone and find time to share feelings with them. The breakdown of solidarity and rampant individualism in society needs to be addressed by those with faith.
In a survey of high school students, 56 out of 100 said: if they could make a million dollars they would be prepared to do something they shouldn't and spend a year in jail.The HungSaDan Transparency Movement published these results in 2015.
A diocesan priest writes about the survey in a bulletin for priests and says he didn't want to believe what was reported but after studying the issue he determined that the procedure and organization were worthy of credence.
56% of high school students were willing to go to prison for a year for a million dollars, 39% of middle school students and 17% of elementary school. The older the student the more attractive was the money.
In 2013 they asked the same question. At that time 47% of high school students, 33% of middle and 16% of elementary students saw no problem. In 2012 the same questions: high school 44%, middle school 28% and elementary 12%. The older the student and more recent the survey-- the attraction for money increased.
What would be the results if adults were asked the same question? Would the results be better than those shown by the students? Another question was included: regardless of the difficulties of my neighbor I need to take care of myself. 45% of high school,30 % of middle school and 19 % of elementary school agreed.
The director of the survey said the results show we have a distortion of the capitalist system: the coldness of materialism and individualism, the movement towards competition and success all at the expense of honesty.
Can we blame the children for this situation? Children are the mirror of the adult world and this is what they have experienced. Money is needed if we want to be treated as human beings. Without money, we will be treated like dogs and pigs.
With the candle processions in the big cities, we see a clearing of the skies. The crowds want to see a new beginning. Respect for all no matter where they are in society and not to center all our hope on money and power. We have made a world in which young children enter and become infected with our ways of doing things. We need more candles burning for a better world.
Communication is both an art and a skill. Our life is made difficult because of failure to communicate. We don't always have the results we want but without conversation we have estrangement.
Communication means we say what we mean and the hearer understand what we say, with the meaning we give the words, which is not always the case. We have different experiences, our words have different nuances and at times who we are speaks louder than what we say.
Writing in the Catholic Times the chairperson of the Saeurinuri Peace Corp introduces the readers to the importance of dialogue to overcome conflict. She calls it the foundation for change.
Korea has been divided for over 70 years. Both the North and South have lost much because of the division. The difference in ideology and systems has given birth to hostility and misunderstanding and has built a high wall against reconciliation and unity. However, this is not only between the North and South but also among ourselves here in the South. This appears in politics and among the citizens: lack of trust and the chaos within society.
When we have the same ideals there is little difficulty in accepting the other, however, when the point of view is different we often quickly decide it's wrong and from our years of living with this understanding, we are quick to see an enemy. The effort and desire to understand and communicate are missing.
A Korean proverb often heard: "with the right kind of words we can repay a large debt." Meaning that with dialogue we are able to bring about a new relationship. With communication we can cause problems but also solve them.
We need to have an open mind and heart. Conversation is the foundation of relationships. Communication with those we are close and those with whom we are alienated requires conversation. Whether it's a subject we agree on or have a difference of opinion-- talking is required.
However, when we don't have the necessary skills communities suffer. Some don't know how to begin a conversation and maintain the conversation. This is a reality we often see. We know the usefulness of communication. It's a precious treasure that allows us to avoid conflict and maintain peace. Something greatly needed in society.
We are at the beginning of the liturgical year with the season of
advent. On Christmas Day all of history for a Christian, unites in the
crib at Bethlehem.The liturgical year is a visual aid that focuses our
attention on the events of history that have great meaning for us.
In a monthly bulletin for a
mission station the writer draws our attention to the central theme of
the Christmas season which is simply the love of God for us, for me. We
have heard this countless times, sounds trite and meaningless but is it
not that it has never passed from the head to the heart? For one reason
or another we are not receptive of this love for we are busy with many
other interests and preferences. God and his love is forgotten.
Love
that we acknowledge and accept makes us lovable. This in turn requires a response from the loved one. This is
the Christmas message. The whole world seems to be having a nervous
breakdown and Korea with our recent history is a good example of how
upsetting the situation can be.
Material goods and
power for their own sake is a priority; it contaminates so much of our
society. Millions have gone to the streets of the country to show
solidarity and wanting to see a new beginning. Candles held in the hand,
wanting to overcome the darkness-another visual aid. Many citizens are
willing to take time out of their daily lives to show the importance of
this united act of solidarity.
As Christians we
know that Jesus comes to us in disguise. He speaks to our hearts to our
heads to our consciences comes to us in the person of others in the
Scriptures and in the Church but it is not always easy to see, but
the central message of love is loud and clear.
The
message is always the same to love as he did. but we are often deaf.
Often we understand Christmas as a time of gift giving, and sharing, all good, and forget that God's love was to give himself.
To give of what we possess is not that difficult, to give of ourselves is
an entirely different state of affairs. And yet this is central and far from
ambiguous. However, it does require faith. Merry Christmas.
An elementary school teacher writing in the recent Kyeongyang magazine introduces the readers to an American Indian calendar. Indians lived very close to nature and she offers the calendar as a way to experience surroundings instead of just a series of numbers.
January- a month in which we remain deep in thought/ difficult to accept the cold/ a month in which branches break from the weight of the snow/ the sun lacks the strength to melt snow/ where the wind scatters the snow hither and thither.
February-a month to walk alone/ return of the wild geese/ blowing of the wind: harbinger of future flowers/ lack of food makes the bones tingle/ purification of both body and spirit/ frost shines with the light of the sun/ we grow older/ a slow month.
March- a month that energizes the heart/ a month, always the same/ water flows into the reservoirs/ strong winds sweep away the dead branches and we have new buds/ the whispering wind is present/ baby spring is here.
April- the month we feel the joy of life/ sleeping with seeds by the bed/ nature again receives life/ weather becomes warmer/ leaves begins to give their greeting.
May- waiting month/ remembering the dead/ laziness creeps in/ big leaf month.
June- the month that brings change/ weather becomes warmer/ without a word we gaze on the spider webs/ a month of talk.
July-The month we can't just stay in the tent doing nothing/ gaze at the shine of the fruit/ branches begin to break because of fruit.
August- the month in which we forget all/ filled with joy / we see the silver waves of corn before us/ all is ripening/ leaves are beginning to lose their luster.
September- gathering month/ the spirit is high/ grass is dry/ end of the fruit/ leaves begin to fall.
October- wait for me until I come back in a month/ changes are made/ big wind/ poverty begins to appear/ mountains appear on fire.
November- a good time for walks/ not everything is disappearing/ water becomes dark within the leaves/ time of gathering.
December- another month in a new world/ silence/ non-possessing month/ everything begins to freeze/ branches begin to break/ first snow/ the sun leaves its spot in the South to move on its journey to the North.
We have in this survey according to the author both poetry and philosophy.
In a question and answer column for the Catholic Peace Weekly, a reader from overseas asks how to understand what is going on in Korea. Some say the followers of North Korea are instigating the demonstrations and others say it is the aches and pains to become a developed country. Which is it?
Korea is going through a difficult period, answers the columnist. It's a transition period and the social body is aching in its attempt to become a healthy country. You have the movement to move from the past and change the structures that were harmful and those who don't want the change. We are experiencing the aches and pains that are necessary to move from the dark and dampness of the past to a new way of being Korea. No need to worry.
The citizen street demonstrations that you have heard about are not instigated by the leftist followers of the North, or a special political party or extremists. The majority of the demonstrators are quick to prevent any violence that is contemplated and we are seeing a mature citizenry.
We also see growth in what is being said. No special political party's platform, but common sense that is promulgated and resistance to what is not common sense. Many of the parents bring their children to the demonstration for they do not want their children to be victims and want them to live with hope.
There have been many things in society that have been hidden and one big incident is the Sewol Ferry Tragedy. There are many other absurdities that remain hidden. The prayers of the children who lost their lives the columnist wants to believe helped bring the problems to the attention of the citizens.
Citizens for some time, at the hands of clever politicians, have been cajoled. They've used prejudicial feelings present towards different areas of the country, fostered conflict with the North, and ideology to keep the citizens' criticism at bay and keep them quiet. They know that it's not true but are too busy in living to do anything.
The citizens don't want their children to suffer what many of them had to experience: a reason they have turned to the streets to make their wills known.
The citizens have behaved maturely in these demonstrations and common sense was mostly followed. Respect was shown to others giving hope for the future. The citizens are to be praised, he tells his overseas reader, and he concludes the article with no reason to worry about the future.
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