Called To Be Holy

 

We are all called to be holy. A universal call to all but sadly at times we Christians forget the purpose of religion. "But as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, 'Be holy because I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:15–16). 

In Leviticus 11:44 we have the invitation to Holiness. "For I the Lord, am your God; and you shall make and keep yourselves holy because I am holy." Christians are called to lead a life of holiness, not only privately but that reaches out and serves the world.

The priest in the Light of the World column of the Catholic Times reminds the readers that Holiness is the original purpose of religion. He asks the readers what do they think is an important theme of the Bible? It is God's mercy and salvation and the response is holiness. 

Holiness is the way of life that God has given us: to love God, our neighbor, observe the teachings of the Lord, live a moral life, and follow our consciences, both personally and communally. Holiness is the attitude of believers and the church community and a way to protect us in the world and change the world for the better.

 

Holiness is the foundation that supports the Catholic theories of a great society, and even in our social doctrine holiness is the beginning and the end. The social doctrine flows from the divine love of God and his wisdom.

 

 "Only love can completely transform the human person. Such a transformation does not mean eliminating the earthly dimension in a disembodied spirituality. Those who think they can live the supernatural virtue of love without taking into account its corresponding natural foundations, which include duties of justice, deceive themselves. Charity is the greatest social commandment. It respects others and their rights. It requires the practice of justice and it alone makes us capable of it" (Social Compendium #583).

 

Holiness, the goal of religion, bears the fruit of human dignity, love of neighbor, reconciliation, and forgiveness in the world. Its fruit can be called the common good. The political community is also directed to the common good. Politics and religion pursue a common purpose from different perspectives. However, many people express their discomfort with politics and religion. Some religions harm many people for their own specific interests, and politics can also pursue its own vested interests, ignoring the common good. 

 

In short, both religion and politics can be pursued for their own benefits, losing their true nature. Politics, which is inseparable from our lives, requires purification and self-reflection, but we also need to reflect on whether religion pursues its own selfish purpose. 

 

 " Politics too must make room for a tender love of others. What is tenderness? It is love that draws near and becomes real. A movement that starts from our heart and reaches the eyes, the ears, and the hands… Tenderness is the path of choice for the strongest, most courageous men and women.  Amid the daily concerns of political life, the smallest, the weakest, the poorest should touch our hearts: indeed, they have a ‘right’ to appeal to our heart and soul. They are our brothers and sisters, and as such we must love and care for them" (#194 Fratelli Tutti).

 

In fact, the political community and the Church are autonomous and independent of each other in their own fields, and both are, even if under different titles, 'devoted to the service of the personal and social vocation of the same human beings' Indeed, it can be affirmed that the distinction between religion and politics and the principle of religious freedom constitutes a specific achievement of Christianity and one of its fundamental historical and cultural contributions (Social Doctrine # 50).

 

Working Towards a New Culture

Is the world heading in a better direction? A director of a Theological Research Center in the Catholic Times begins his article with this question.

We are enjoying material abundance compared to the past, but the deepening economic polarization and the appearance of young people without hope is not a good sign. We don't hear a lot about the climate crisis, but the fact is confirmed with the changes little by little in daily life. Everything is returning to the center of the metropolitan area, and the provinces are growing weaker.

He sees more older people than younger people, signs for Convalescent Hospitals often. An aging population and a marked decline in the birth rate leave him with some dark feelings. People are becoming selfish and the phenomenon of tribalism that seeks the interests of a minority keeps optimistic prospects for the future impossible. The trend of the world to value individual emotions and desires leads to a lack of solidarity and community. Others are merely competitors or objects of dislike.

Everywhere he looks, he sees only a gloomy landscape. The voices on the crisis of democracy are growing louder. Although the change of political power through democratic elections is frequent, the lives of the poor do not improve. We witness the sad truth that the world still revolves around people with power and money. News produced through the media is always sensitive to trends in power and money. The voices of the pain and suffering of the weak are still hidden. Even in the church press, we see only sympathy for high-ranking clergy and articles of people with political, economic, and cultural power. The stories of ordinary citizens and ordinary believers are only occasionally used in stories about helping the weak.

Normalization of education, formation of public discourse, the establishment of alternative culture—

People's consciousness and culture are formed in schools, religions, the media, and popular culture. But today all of these places don't look very healthy. In schools, churches, temples, the media, and public forums where public communication takes place, it seems that community values ​​and culture are not being transmitted properly. Change and maturity of citizens are achieved through education, religion, and the media. Change and renewal of areas where the cultural foundation of society is formed are urgently required.

True education cannot be achieved through one-sided teaching, direction, and discipline. True education is achieved through empathy and acknowledgment, through dialogue. Learning together is education. As long as success and career-oriented education are the goals, change and renewal in the world are far away. There is a need for fundamental reflection and renewal on the purpose of education, as well as the method and attitude of education.

A healthy society is a society in which good public discourse is formed and flows naturally. Some public discourse must be formed that contains true values ​​and spirit beyond rules and norms. Discourses about right values ​​and life must be spoken in public and placed in people's minds. Unseen public discourse can act as a message to guide people. For example, the formation of public discourse about solidarity and caring can bring people closer together and arouse interest in and friendship with others.

We live in a culture. People create a culture and are formed in culture. Healthy values ​​and spirit should not only remain at the level of public discourse but also spread at the cultural level. Social change and renewal depend on the construction of an alternative culture that embraces a new spirit.

The renewal of the education system, the formation of a healthy public discourse, and the establishment of a new alternative culture ensure change and renewal of the community. It is the same with the life of Jesus. Jesus was a true teacher, a prophetic proclaimer of public discourse, and a pioneer in establishing a new way of life and culture.

End Of Social Distancing

After two years and a month, social distancing caused by COVID-19 disappeared. Restrictions on the number of private gatherings and business hours of multi-use facilities such as restaurants, bars, and cafes have finally been lifted. Is our long-awaited daily life back to normal  now? So begins the Diagnosis of the Times Column in the Catholic Peace Weekly.

 

These days with the spring weather, sitting at an outdoor cafe table, sipping a cup of espresso, looking at the passers-by on the street,  at the shops selling various things, and gazing at  the leaves and flowers sprouting from the trees while listening to a  a Louis Armstrong song 'Cheek to cheek'  playing somewhere. The lyrics: When we're out together, dancing cheek to cheek—come to mind.

 

In fact, spending time alone enjoying coffee in a cafe during the day has been possible in the past, and the change brought about by the final lifting of social distancing is likely to be a dinner party at night. Unsurprisingly, I hear stories of an increasing number of business meetings. 

 

In the past  we had many cases of the  classic workplace dinners: first round was some pork and soju, the second round was beer and chicken at a pub and the third round  would end up at a karaoke room. Not only because of  COVID-19,  a lot of criticisms about the workplace dinner culture was a burdened on the employees. There have been a lot of controversies over eating out, and the drinking culture is changing. More and more workplaces prefer lunch or finish at the first round in the evening.

Since we are reflective beings, we need to think carefully about how to readjust our lifestyle and culture after COVID-19 and make it desirable. It is said that the importance of home has increased during the process of COVID-19. Parents had increased telecommuting and increased their time at home. Students participated in classes non-face-to-face at home, and the burden of infant care increased.

During this period, we also saw the dark side of our society,  family disputes,  marital conflicts  and child abuse increased.

 

What we need with the end of social distancing is the culture of the streets. 

restaurants that are filled,  crowded bars, and karaoke rooms are all important to revitalize small business owners who have suffered so far, but it is important that all of these ecosystems are connected to enrich, entertain, and make our lives happier. Vibrant streets and cities are indicators of life. When we go around the neighborhood to enjoy the seasons and feel the beauty, we are renewed. It's still a good world to live in.

 

We are familiar with stores that gave us confidence in what we bought,  trendy cafes and pubs gave us joy in meeting friends.  We see people walking into and coming out of parks, at times looking happy and some looking sad.We feel sympathy for the many we see. These are small  communal experiences  that stimulate us in our daily lives and have been missed.

 

He has been a regular visitor for more than 20 years, at a live bar he hasn't frequented during the past two years. Once he has a  beer listening to the familiar house band, he will know the distancing is over.

 

 

 

The Place of Mercy

 

In the recent Catholic News Weekly, a director of a Theological Research Institute gives the readers something to ponder during the Easter Season.

Ahead of the launch of the new government, which is just over a month away, one of the top priorities is to alleviate the conflicts in our society.
 
The conflict index in Korean society is the third-highest among OECD member countries. In the 2021 Korean Public Conflict Awareness Survey report released earlier this year, 88.7% of the respondents said that the overall level of conflict in our society is serious.
 
We have conflicts between 'progressive and conservative' (83.2%), 'poor and wealthy' (78.5%),  'manager and worker' (77.1%). In addition, the conflict between the young and old' (+3.2%), 'metropolitan area' and 'provinces' (+5.5%), 'man and woman' (+5.8%) was serious and higher than the previous year. In a nutshell, this is the result of 'ideological conflict' the most serious conflict in our society.
 
In addition, 9 out of 10 people pointed out 'the National Assembly' and 'the press' as the groups most responsible for conflicts occurring in our society,  and showed the least efforts to resolve social conflicts.
 
For example, just looking at the recent gender conflict and the demonstrations for the rights of the disabled, the spread of hate speech beyond the level of social debate has been fueled by the media, which should be playing a role in getting the groups to come together.
 
Hateful remarks from some on the far-right say that improving the social system to reduce discrimination against women discriminates against men and that strengthening social welfare to reduce the discomfort of the disabled makes non-disabled people uncomfortable These are not legitimate arguments and the National Assembly and the media have not been responsible in their response.
 
But what role do churches and believers play, when politics cannot peacefully reconcile conflicts and the media cannot form a desirable public opinion for the common good? In this survey, among the groups working to resolve conflicts in our society, only 14.7% thought religious groups had any influence, lower than the government or civic groups.
 
In other surveys, 'religious groups' appeared at the bottom among the groups that should play a central role in social cohesion. The religious community is not seen as playing a major role in reducing conflicts and achieving peace in Korean society, and little is expected from them.
 
Perhaps instead of mediating peace in the world, we should reflect on whether it is because we are fighting with each other within the church community. In the church community of diverse people, there are ideological progressive and conservative, economically rich and some poor. Also, there are young people and old people, there are men and there are women.
 
In the church, we are similar to the busy world where each person is divided and looking out for themselves. Do we respect each other as brothers and sisters without discrimination and prejudice, and happily practice the greeting of 'peace' and 'forgiveness' from the risen Lord?. The writer often hears that one of the reasons that believers have a hard time while working in the church is that they have difficulties in relationships with people and hear a lot of criticism.
 
Imagine what life would have been like to become one in Christ: "where there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female" (Galatians 3:28). This was the early church community formed by the gathering of disciples who experienced the resurrection.
 
Perhaps, by experiencing God's merciful love, the more compassionate they were to others, and the more they tried to build a peaceful relationships by respecting their differences. In this age when conflicts are increasingly spreading to hateful sentiments, she hopes Christians who are to resemble Jesus our merciful God will become workers who sow the seeds of peace.

Fortune Tellers and Religion

In 2017 Korea experienced the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. Candlelight processions were held and concerns were shown about what was thought shamanistic practices. She was impeached by the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court ratified the impeachment by a unanimous vote. We heard similar remarks about one of the candidates during the recent election.

The Kyeongyang magazine had three articles about superstition in society by three priests well acquainted with the subject. Although in the 21st century— an ultra-modern society— we still have fortune-tellers doing very well in their trade.

One priest recalls on entering the military receiving a strange-looking picture in a vinyl bag. It was an amulet he was to carry with him to avert misfortune. His mother had received baptism some 8 years before and was a Legion of Mary member and a village leader. And yet with one hand,  gave him a rosary and with the other a good luck charm.

Recently he asked his mother if she would be doing the same thing today? She answered that her faith at that time was weak and was serving two masters. She had changed. It is a fact that many Christians do go to fortune-tellers.

One article mentions religion in the eyes of many is only a place to receive blessings. This is only natural for we are all looking for a better life.

This mentality is expressed by the words often used: "I am unlucky," "That's my destiny". Words that give us an understanding of the shamanistic background. The future is unsure so not a small number of Koreans at important times of life go to fortune-tellers.

Most Christians after going to a fortune teller do have qualms of conscience. This results from the fight between one's natural feelings and what we consider to be sin.

We need to examine our plan for life. Without this diagnosis, we will not find the correct solution for our feelings of uneasiness. The more one feels uncomfortable the greater the need to find a real solution and not an emotional one.

If one indulges in divination, it will be difficult to adapt to real life and can lead to nihilism. Moreover, Christians must avoid the act of fortune-telling for it harms sound faith before deciding whether the act of fortune-telling is sinful or not.

Second, don't be in a hurry. Some Koreans on important days in life will go to fortune tellers to determine if what is planned is a day when the evil spirits are not wandering about. Also, the Korean cultural need of 'Ppali-Ppali' (hurry-hurry) is operative. In general, Koreans are impatient and cannot hold back their curiosity about their future.

In times like these, he wants to advise the readers to live a slow life. Speed is a sports term, not the language of faith. Thinking and acting slowly and fully is the secret to living wisely.  

Lastly, we must focus on religious education. Proper religious education produces mature faith. To know God and the faith, we must invest generously of our time. God's gift is salvation but we need to cultivate the habit of learning and studying to grow in maturity.

It is impossible to feel God's mercy if we only recognize him as distant from us. We should not forget that we live breathe, and have our being in him. Even if the pain and anxiety of life are overwhelming, by remembering the compassionate and loving God, we will gain peace and courage.
 

Changing the Church and the World

 

In the Catholic Weekly Theological Lecture Hall column, the priest reminds us that it takes efforts on the part of all of us to change the world and the church.

As we get older, we get weaker. We know our characters don't automatically mature with the years. Faith also does not deepen by itself.  As hard as it is to grow old well, it takes a lot of hard work and effort to deepen our faith.
 
The writer has lived a considerable amount of time as a priest. He has Mass almost every day. The grace of the Eucharist is received every day. However, he cannot confidently say that his faith and character have improved and deepened since becoming a priest. It feels like the pure passion and faith of those days are now only a memory.
 
Does the sacramental grace lead us to salvation, but not our personal transformation? From a theological point of view, salvation is not achieved through our own efforts. Moral achievement and personal maturity are separate matters from salvation. Salvation is given as a gift in grace and faith. We believe in the efficacy of the sacraments in terms of salvation and grace. Formal and customary celebrations of the sacraments without devotion and concentration of the heart will not change our character.
 

The level and dignity of a nation go hand in hand with the level and dignity of its citizens. An outstanding political leader, any important political event may affect the appearance and level of maturity of a country, but it has its limits. We realize that true change and improvement of a country will not occur unless the overall capacity of citizens is strengthened.
 
The same is true of the problem of change and renewal of the church. The image of believers is the image of the church. True change and renewal of the church are impossible if believers do not strive for maturity of their faith and spirituality.
 
The change and renewal of a community must go hand in hand with the change and renewal of its members. But how can individual change and renewal be achieved? We know that people don't change easily. The passing of time produces only inertia. What can change us? What is needed at the individual level to change people?
 
However, if you look around, you will find that only those who learn and study with an  open and humble attitude can change and mature a little. Only through this study can we gradually change and mature. Studying is not everything, but the sign of change starts with studying. 

The boundaries between study and reflection are blurred. Studying and reflection are similar in terms of thinking and asking fundamental questions. Self-reflection is very important. The true meaning of reflection does not consist in reflection on others, that is, judging others. Of course, sometimes it is important to discern the right and wrong of others and the structural evils of society. However, it is more appropriate to say that it is critical consciousness and critical thinking rather than a reflection. Realizing your own shortcomings, confessing that you are a sinner, and asking God for help. Recognizing one's own shortcomings enables empathy and solidarity with others. Only introspection can lead you on the path of change and renewal.
 
Daily practice Every place in our daily life is a place of meditation. The place where you stand and where you live is the place of training and meditation. First of all, daily performance is revealed in the way we respond to things that come to us. Some things that come we have no choice. But I can choose how to respond. It is a practice to respond in a way of faith to all that comes to pass. Responding to all things that come to you, whether sad or happy, with the eyes and attitude of faith.
 
Second, daily practice is to put your heart into what you are doing and set your intentions. Even if it's just a repetitive task, if you do it while remembering the purpose of the task, giving it a healthy religious orientation and giving meaning to it, focusing your mind and putting your heart into it, then that is training.
 
Third, daily practice is acting on the stage of life believing that God is the  director and producer and to perform the role assigned to us with all our might.

We will be changed and renewed through the way we respond to what comes to us, the purpose, intention, and sincerity of what we do in our life time.

Only study, reflection, and daily practice will make us mature. Would it be too much of a reduction  to say that the change and renewal of the world and the church depended on the study, reflection, and daily practice? I hope there are effective and ingenious methods for change and renewal. But the truth of life may always be simple. When we change, the church and the world changes.

Holy Week Journey

 Holy Week's journey 2022, began with the Passion and Palm Sunday Liturgy. We heard the passion story as seen through the eyes of St. Luke. We held in our hands the branches that were blessed asking for the grace to respond with fruitful acts of love as we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem for the last time seated on a donkey (Zech. 9:9).

On Holy Monday Mary the sister of Lazarus, and Judas appear on the liturgical stage. Mary's brother Lazarus was raised from the dead; she knew it was the Messiah at whose feet she sat listening to his words and knew him to be God. She anointed the feet of Jesus with very expensive perfume. The love she felt could never be repaid by anything she had to give, but Judas didn't have these feelings and saw only the waste of money and without these feelings, it was truly a great waste. We often see the same event but our thoughts and memories are quite different consequently the responses.

Holy Tuesday we find the twelve with Jesus at the Last Supper. Our Lord tells them he will be betrayed by one of them. He is deeply moved and we have the reaction of those at the table. Judas is feigning ignorance and Peter makes clear he would die for Christ but is told that before the morn he would deny Jesus three times. We are weak individuals, trusting in ourselves without humility is not always wise, we  easily make fools of ourselves. 

Wednesday is often called Spy Wednesday because of the place of Judas in today's Gospel from Matthew. After hearing that one would betray him each asks is it I? As if they did not know their own minds on such a serious issue. As we know Peter the next morning denied knowing Jesus with an oath and Judas betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver. We know from Matt. 27:3-5 that Jesus when condemned to death Judas returned to the high priests and confessed that he did wrong in handing an innocent man over to death. He threw the money into the temple and hanged himself. Remorse is not everything; hope of forgiveness is required. We need to be delivered from Despair.

On Holy Thursday, we have the end of Lent and  the beginning of the Easter Triduum. All the disciples are at the Last Supper where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. John's Gospel is the last one written and since the church was familiar with the other synoptic Gospels he mentions what was not mentioned in the other three Gospels and shows the importance of the 'mandatum' the command to wash each other's feet as Jesus did that evening—to love. The Eucharist is the sign of God's love and our willingness to wash the feet of others is our response. Christians spend some time during the night before the Blessed Sacrament meditating on this meaning.

 

On Good Friday we don't have the Mass but come together to meditate on the passion. The Gospel is always the passion Gospel of St. John. Several incidents make us reflect deeper on what happened. We hear about Simon from Cyrene a place in North Africa. He may have been an ethnic Israelite or a foreigner who accepted the Jewish religion; we just don't know but for some reason, he was forced to help Jesus carry the cross and we even know the names of his two sons which we can surmise is another untold story. He is mentioned in all three Synoptic Gospels but not in today's Gospel. What is even more surprising is the first evangelizer on that day was Pilate who put the nameplate on the cross against the wishes of the Sanhedrin: the acronym INRI Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. And we have two of the more powerful Pharisees with whom Jesus was always in conflict receiving the body and anointing it for burial in the tomb they had prepared for Jesus. Things are often not what they seem. All the twelve except for John had disappeared.

Holy Saturday is the Easter Vigil Mass the high point of the Liturgical Year. Traditionally the time for baptism and renewal of our baptismal promises. We enter a dark church. The celebrant is outside the church prepares the fire from which the Easter Candle will be lit. As he enters the church walking up to the altar three times he sings: "Christ Our Light". From the Paschal Candle the candles held by the Christians are lit and the entire church is blazing with the light from the Easter Candle.

When the Easter candle arrives in the sanctuary, the celebrant or deacon sings the Exsultet, from its first word in Latin, 'Rejoice'. Readings are read, from both the Old and the New Testament, and God’s marvelous plan is unfolded.

If members of the community are prepared for baptism we have the blessing of the water and the baptisms if not the congregation will renew their baptismal vows.

The liturgy concludes with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, in which the newly baptized will partake for the first time. And the congregation thanks God for the gift of grace able to celebrate the liturgy together with the community of faith. We are alleluia people and the liturgy is how the Church leads us to remember that God in Jesus  has given us meaning and joy in life. Happy Easter!