Life in Abundance

In the Diagnosis of the Times column of the Catholic Peace Weekly, a scholar of life issues headlines her thoughts with the phrase from the first epistle of John 1:4. We are writing this to you to make our joy complete.

There is a saying: "A habit that begins at the age of  three lasts until eighty." We also call habit our second nature. However, having a habit often has a negative connotation. Maybe it's because once you get into a bad habit, it's hard to break. But what about good habits? Good lifestyle habits such as "Getting up early in the morning" and "Being orderly" help to manage one's life well. However, habits are not necessarily formed only in aspects of daily life. 

This is a story she recently heard through a priest. During the conversation, the priest and a woman he knew well said: "I eliminated my child" in a very casual tone. The priest probably had a moment of embarrassment and regret hearing these words from a person who had lost the sense of guilt as the culture of death permeates society. Before one acts, or says anything, the hesitancy one would ordinarily expect, in this case, was missing.

We live in a society where we have thrown away the necessary time for reflection before we act or speak. When did this become part of the society in which we live? We need to "stop for a moment" and ask whether the action is reasonable. 

 

She is speaking of those who are members of the church. The reflection, the "pause", cannot be cultivated immediately, so she thought about what was needed to bring this about. This is because, like "waking up early", reflection must become a habit of the mind. So, let this habit of the mind become established as our second nature, and while practicing it naturally, not indiscriminately rid ourselves of the pangs of guilt that may arise.

Good habits are not mere mechanical actions. They are to be learned by the body and mind and be naturally absorbed, while at the same time allowing us to experience joy. It speaks of a higher level of joy and fullness. Savoring this fullness is no exception in bioethics. The fullness that comes from choosing life, certainly exists, and it will lead us to a fullness that is perhaps greater than anything else. 

Pope Saint John Paul II, in his encyclical "The Gospel of Life," describes human life as "fullness". Thus, the choice towards life, the choice for life "means an opening to the fullness of life" (#22). This life does not refer only to unborn life but to human life that no one without exception can measure. 

 

"Man is called to a fullness of life that goes far beyond his temporal existence. For the fullness of life is the sharing of the life of God. The sublime of this supernatural vocation reveals the greatness and immeasurable value of human life even in its temporal aspects."

"The unconditional choice for life reaches its full religious and moral meaning when it flows from, is formed by, and nourished by faith in Christ. Nothing helps us so much to face positively the conflict between death and life in which we are engaged as faith in the Son of God who became man and dwelt among men so that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (Gospel of Life #28).

Self-Reliance and the Pandemic in North Korea

 

The 'March of Suffering' refers to the food shortage that occurred in North Korea in the mid and late 1990s. During this time industry was paralyzed due to energy and transportation problems, and many people died of starvation.

The number of deaths is still a controversial issue, with estimates ranging from hundreds of thousands to as many as 2 million or more. News about the starving North Koreans was aired on CBS media in the United States in October 1997 and shocked the world. So begins the column in the Catholic News on the situation in the North by a priest member of the National Reconciliation Committee of the Bishops

The North Korean film 'Our Chairman' (1999) is set in 'The March of Suffering'. In the movie, the main character, the head of a province, a "worker" dedicates himself to the country and its people in crisis. Unlike the main character who tries to save the factory with raw materials from the country with heroic efforts, the vice-chairman tries to trade with the outside world since the raw materials are not properly supplied. He decided that it would be possible to overcome the crisis by exporting granite overseas.

However, the film criticizes the vice-chairman's actions to promote overseas exports as "playing with the tools of the imperialists". Accepting a foreign company's proposal is 'giving up a cow and receiving a pheasant. Claiming it's simply a matter of our dignity as a country, not just a matter of selling and buying. The protagonist, who delivers the film's theme while confronting the vice-chairman, insists, "Capitalism does not come in screaming, but creeps in like a mosquito to the weakened mind." In conclusion, the film emphasizes that in a crisis, only 'self-reliance' is the solution.

Recently, for the first time, North Korea officially made known the crisis caused by the COVID-19. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA): "From the last of April until May 15, the total number of sick people nationwide was 1,213,550. North Korea, which emphasized self-reliance despite the global catastrophe of COVID-19, is facing a crisis difficult to avoid.

For the North Korean authorities to be able to make new choices beyond self-reliance, we and the international community must make sincere efforts to help. We believe that compassion for those who suffer can bring about miraculous change. The 'March of Suffering' that drove many of the weak to death should never be repeated.

Hearing the Screams of the Dolphins

Korea has been proactive in working against climate warming, environmental pollution, and other obstacles to achieve a healthier environment. An article in Bible and Life magazine by a representative of the 'Hotpinkdolphen' movement of Jejudo gives the readers a way of seeing the ocean environment thru the eyes of dolphins.

Since the ocean is filled with life it also screams when in pain. Do our ears hear the scream? Some 20 years ago authorities were telling us that the Jejudo oceans were warming abruptly, eco-systems were destroyed, and seaweed, algae, and marine plants disappearing. The excessive use of fossil fuels has also warmed the oceans. The women sea divers who go in search of abalone, crab, sea vegetables, etc. complain about the once plentiful sea life but no longer the case with the desertification of the oceans.

Humans have always had a close relationship with the oceans. What is necessary to prevent the oceans from dying? First of all, we need to hear the groans and screams that come from the oceans. We need to know where the crisis is to solve the problems.  

'Hotpinkdolphen' has heard the screams of the dolphins. The coastal waters of Jejudo are home to the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins that stay in the coastal waters all year long. Consequently, the activity of humans on the coast will influence the lives of these dolphins.

The study of the dolphins here in the South has been going on for only 15 years. These dolphins have lived side by side with humans for centuries but only recently this endangered species of marine mammals has attracted human attention. What has developed to make their life one facing extinction?

He mentions that aquariums are a problem and tells us the story of 'Jedol'. The capturing of dolphins is illegal in Korea. The movement to free Jedol from captivity from the tank in the Seoul Aquarium was successful and Jedol was returned to the wild.

Many have thought it was impossible to return them back to the wild but Jedol and other dolphins have shown this is not true. They have been placed in sea pens to acclimate them to the ocean and be fed live fish they have to catch. They have successfully returned to the wild and have been doing well for the last 10 years.

However, in recent years dolphins have shown health problems. Some have malignant tumors in the mouth. Some have their tail fins completely cut off from high-speed boats, old fishing gear, and fishing lines hanging all over their body. In the past they played with seaweed and algae now they are dealing with plastics and trash.

The development of the harbors, the building of roads and encroaching on the ocean waters with landfill, expansion of military facilities has made life for the dolphins precarious. Only about 120 are now known to live in the coastal waters of Korea. This is a sign that humans will have problems that arise from this situation.

If we are to pass on to the next generation ocean waters that will be kind to the dolphins we need to take action now. How about designating the remaining habitat in Jejudo as a marine life reserve? The crisis facing the dolphins is also in some way the one we face. We have to love more and unite more across species.

Sensitivity to the Pain of Others

A priest director of a Culture and Theological Research Center in a Catholic Times column discusses hate and solidarity. He begins with the question : What degree can humans become corrupt and evil?

He mentions a film that was made by a research institute in Korea in which the sufferings and hardships of others are used commercially to express their  hateful feelings.That's ugly. News about the protests of the ‘National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities’  appears frequently. Our society tends to pursue the happiness of the many by sacrificing the few as collateral. A society that corners the few in the name of the comfort and utility of the majority is unhealthy. It is scary and sad that today's society is becoming more and more indifferent and cruel to the few and the weak.

What can we do about the pain and sorrow in  the world? What can we do here and now for people living with pain and wounds? He mentions a poet  in his collection of poems, "Higher than the Heart". the poet recorded the sadness of the Sewol ferry disaster in one of his poems: "Because of the burden of sorrow, we  sank/ The world has stumbled because of sadness/  I wanted to call out God's name, but I gave up because I didn't know if it was a common or proper name."

The poet, sensitive to the pain and suffering of others, was still recording the wounds of the world. Looking at the remains of the Jeju 4·3 Incident, he also writes: "In front of those who are trying to kill/ Those who are trying to survive always become a mob."

In a weekly magazine, the writer read an anthropological researcher's reflection on frozen humans. He shows an insight into the mediating meaning of the Catholic Eucharist which Catholics highly value. Moreover, the living heals the pain of individuals and communities by accepting the body of the dead in their own body. The belief that my soul will be healed by receiving the body and blood of Jesus, who sacrificed for mankind, 'in me', becomes a driving force to empathize and intervene in the pain of neighbors and communities beyond personal well-being.

The Church and the faithful live the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not just a religious ceremony celebrated. The Eucharist is both a liturgical sacrament and at the same time a sacrament of life. The Eucharist is not a "reenactment" of the Last Supper, but  of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The body we receive in the Eucharist is not the dead body, but the resurrected body of Christ. We become the body of Christ in the Eucharist. In the body of Christ we are one. The solidarity of the Eucharist is the solidarity of concrete materiality and the eschatologically realized sacramental solidarity. The solidarity of the Eucharist transcends the boundaries of time and space, life and death. 

The Eucharist is the true politics of solidarity. In the body of Christ we are connected. All are brothers, sisters, neighbors, without discrimination of race,  ethnicity, gender, rich or poor, or culture. Believers living the mystery of the Eucharist are naturally in solidarity with all the suffering, pain and wounds of the world.

 If solidarity through memory and  documentation is the work of literature, the solidarity of remembrance and commemoration is the work of religion. If literature mourns sorrow in the way of memory and record, religion comforts sorrow in the way of memory and commemoration. Sometimes the mourning and consolation is the sadness that one has to endure. "It is the sadness that understands that even those who comfort others feel sad” (Alfonso Lingis, ("The Community of Those Who Have Nothing in Common"). 

He who cannot sympathize with the grief of the world and with the pain of others, who is indifferent to the suffering of the world and to the wounds of others, cannot be a true poet or a true Christian. Those who keep  the past and  its meaning in mind are those who do their best to remember, commemorate, pray, and love in the place where they live.

Right Reason

In the Catholic Times, we have a meditation on the cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, courage, and moderation. These natural virtues are habits that we need to cultivate with human effort.

These four virtues are listed in the Catholic Bible in the Book of Wisdom 8:7. "Or if one loves justice, the fruits of her works are virtues; For she teaches moderation and prudence, justice and fortitude, and nothing in life are more useful for men than these."

"The Latins, as represented by Cicero, repeated Plato and Aristotle: Each man should so conduct himself that fortitude appears in labors and dangers: temperance in foregoing pleasures: prudence in the choice between good and evil: justice in giving every person what is his. This is a departure from the idea prominent in Platonic justice and agrees with the Scholastic definition" (Catholic Encyclopedia).

The priest writer presents to the readers the trolley dilemma. The train has a broken brake. If you keep going, you'll kill five workers on the track. But if you change the direction of the track, only one worker dies. Change direction? In another case, you are with a large person on an overpass. Push the man and the train will stop and the five workers will not die. Would you push that man? Most say they wouldn't push because it's murder. But most would agree it is better to change the direction of the track and choose to kill one person. So, are you a righteous person? What matters is not the answer. It consists in 'contemplating' what is justice.

If you have been cultivating these four virtues you are a person seeking perfection. On the other hand, if you were a religious person and indifferent to the virtues it is highly likely you leaned toward a life that was only looking for blessings. Not 'wise' who search only for earthly things; not just who desire only selfish things; lack courage who are ashamed of living as believers in front of others; and without moderation living a life of excess. So, if you don't care about the virtues, even if you have faith, you are like a person who builds a house on sand.
 
What is natural law according to Catholics?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes it in the following way: "The natural law expresses the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and the evil, the truth, and the lie: 'The natural law is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man because it is the human reason'.
 
St.Paul in Romans 3:8 makes clear that "we don't do evil that good may come from it."

Beauty in Diversity

In the Catholic Peace Weekly, a university professor of forestry gives the readers some thoughts on the feelings that come in a forest.

The forest gives us beauty in any season, but the forest at this time of year is wonderful and mysterious, truly enchanting. When spring energy begins, the forest begins to find full vitality as the yellow flowers of the cheery and ginger appear. From this moment on, he experiences the forest with passion and focus.

The one-syllable word forest presents us with many meanings and emotions. Just listening to it is soothing. Whether in the East or the West, if you look for the first feeling or word that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘forest’, there are many positive expressions such as ‘God/Creator’, ‘Hometown’, ‘Mother’, ‘Mother’s womb’, and ‘Pure’. Of course, it is sometimes expressed as ‘darkness’ or ‘fear’.

Why do we yearn for forests so much, have positive feelings about them, and actually find comfort in them? The answer can be found in our human history and the relationship with forests. Our ancestors lived millions of years within forests and thousands of years ago began forming societies after leaving the forests.

Therefore, almost all of our history is a history with forests and the genetic design that relies on forests as our hometown remains the same for us living in the modern age. For this reason, exhausted from rapid industrialization and urban life, we have a warm spot for forests and long for them.

After Easter, the green forest begins to grow darker, and the trees and grasses in the forest show off their beauty with colorful flowers. Azaleas, start to bloom in the south, followed by flowers such as wild cherry, royal azalea, and the wild pear begin blooming one after another. After a while, the acacia tree will bloom and fill the forest with its unique scent.

The singing of the birds couldn't be more exciting than at this time. Spring is the season to find a mate, so the birds of the forest show off their abilities to the fullest with their singing. "Since I am cool and capable, this is a proposal to pair up with me". Some even go to special lengths to entice with their song.

Forests are not just trees and grass. Numerous wild animals, birds, insects, and mushrooms are also proud owners of the forest. Countless microorganisms are invisible to our eyes. They also do their job in the forest to maintain the ecosystem. The word 'eco' in 'ecology' is a Greek word meaning 'family'. Everything in the forest works for each other as members of a family, the ecosystem is what influences each other.

A forest harmonizes by properly utilizing the individual natures of each member, building up the  beauty of the whole. Wisdom we need to learn from the forest. Unlike our society, which compels us to join the mainstream, the forest silently allows all members to be what they are. Although it is still cold, some trees show impatience to bloom before the leaves appear, and some trees do not budge even though they are all in bloom. He dreams of a world where everyone is recognized and valued so that they can show their God-given characteristics and talents.
 

Common Elements of Tunnels and Dialogue

In one of the parish bulletins, the writer shows the readers the similarity of tunnels to dialogue.

Korea is a land of mountains and valleys. When we move from one area to another we are moving over mountains to valleys. Koreans are people who live in the heart of the mountains.

Civil engineering technology is well developed in Korea and is recognized throughout the world. This is shown with the construction of tunnels. Wherever we go in Korea no longer necessary to go over mountains for we have tunnels that have decreased the time for travel and made it comfortable with the removal of obstacles of the past.

He dreams of a time when we will remove the obstacles between people like the tunnels that increased the comfort of travel. What do you see as the technique that will enable us to overcome the obstacles that prevent easy encounters with others? Our writer sees this as dialogue. The ability to express what is inside of us to another and to hear what the other wants to convey without any obstacles or hesitancy.
He believes that dialogue is the first step in solving problems we have among ourselves.

Of course, dialogue is not always accompanied by pleasant emotions, words that are easy to accept, and always positive. We often hear just the opposite. Is this not very natural and to be expected? It is by going thru this give and take, saying what is inside without any obstacles and hesitancy that the possibility of understanding is present.

In dialogue one thing is important and that is to listen. We need to ask ourselves how much time is spent listening to the other. Talking without listening is worse than not talking in the first place.

Pope Francis in his 56th Communication Day Message gives us some important issues to ponder in our capacity to listen.

"In reality, in many dialogues, we do not communicate at all. We are simply waiting for the other person to finish speaking to impose our point of view. In these situations, as philosopher Abraham Kaplan notes,  dialogue is a duologue: a monologue in two voices. In true communication, however, the “I” and the “you” are both “moving out”, reaching out to each other.
 
"Listening is therefore the first indispensable ingredient of dialogue and good communication. Communication does not take place if listening has not taken place..."