Descending Love—Unconditional Love

Descending Love—What is it? The columnist in the Peace Column of the Catholic Peace Weekly gives us his answer.

“Where did you go for Chuseok?” “Go? where am I to go?” “Then, has someone come to visit?” “Who is coming? I am always alone like this.” “That's why we came.” "Yes, thank you."

When the columnist first visited the elderly man after the holiday, he wondered whether his words in confirming the elder's loneliness were proper. He smiled but his heart sank at the plight of an elderly man living his remaining years alone with no one around.

The slope they had to climb even for the visitors was not without effort. The elderly live in single rooms along the road. In summer, typhoons and heavy rain come, but whatever the weather the hunger of the elderly remains. They go up and down the slope in the rain carrying a backpack with side dishes, but their whole body is wet as if they had just taken a shower. Still, the mind is able to overcome the body. "It must have been hard coming up the hill on this rainy day, thank you.” Hearing these words, the breath becomes easier and the legs feel stronger.

There are people who are not alone because they have a family. But life doesn't seem to be made any better. A grandmother who takes care of her son in a single room after her daughter-in-law and grandson leave, her son has severe diabetes; a grandmother who raises a disabled grandson left behind by her daughter; a grandmother who takes care of a son with intellectual disabilities who is overweight, and yet proud of her child living in a room full of cockroaches. His heart aches and pains just from looking over the list of those he meets. Such people are common in neighborhoods where many needy adults live.
 
"Anybody home? he has brought something to eat.” Whether it's because he's deaf and can't hear, or because his knees and back make it hard to stand up, there's no answer even after knocking for some time. Every time that happens, his heart breaks. After some time he hears some movement within and an elderly person crawls to open the door. The dark room is full of moisture, so much so that it's a luxury to let light and air enter. Even though it stinks, he boasts. “My son is a doctor."

He wonders if even this should be called descending love, but the love of parents for children is like that. In this section of the district, those who are able to take care of their bodily needs he believes are free and happy persons. There are those in this situation who cling to their life with great tenacity. He is anxious seeing the effort it will take over 80 living alone, but life without children is even more difficult. The life of a mother who is satisfied with being able to put even a spoonful of rice into her child's mouth continues.

When I hear the stories of young people complaining that they cannot communicate with their parents, it is truly a pity for the parents of our generation who cannot change and have to live in the past. So, I ask young people— “No matter how unpleasant the conversation may be, always start with the thought: “I know that my parents love me.” It would be nice if you could acknowledge your parents’ love and have a conversation with them.” Of course, I understand how hard it is to have a conversation with parents who talk nonsense in this day and age, but I have no choice but to say this seeing a lot of desperate Descending Love.

Life is given by God. We receive that life into our bodies through our parents. In the same way, God's love is endless love. Even if God gives so much love, sinful people don't know that. They blame God for not listening to their prayers, as if making a conditional bargain. The good is to my credit, and bad because God did not give it to me. Every time he confesses, he confesses the same things and commits them again. He readily falls into temptation even though he knows it is clearly a sin. Even though the sins we commit are many and the reason for the cross, we still don't know what we're doing wrong. And yet this Descending Love of God is the greatest of all loves.
 

The Church's Concern for the World

Even if the world is harsh and difficult, the church should be able to hold the hands of the people of the world and share in their difficulties.
 
In the Catholic Times Weekly Light of the World column, the priest columnist begins with the words of some of his colleagues.
 
Father 1:There are no youths or young adults in our church.
 
Father 2: Yes, that is true in our parish also. The house prices in Seoul are too expensive, and many young people move to the outskirts.

Father 3: The children's situation is more serious. It is rare for students to move from elementary school to another middle and high school because of the difficult entrance exams. Middle and high school students have difficulty making friends and consequently do not come to the young people's Mass.
 
Father 4: The role of adults is important. To provide a fundamental alternative, a shift in awareness and pastoral efforts to welcome them are needed.
 
Father 5: There are many young people from single-person households living alone. These are those who have a difficult life and have a hard time coming to the church. It is also necessary to extend pastoral care to visit them.
 
Father 6: Even though they can't come to church, many yearn for spirituality, fellowship, and relationships.
 
Father 7: We must be friends with them.
 
The streets of Myeong-dong in Seoul are very lively at the end of the year. Many enjoy the time with family and friends at the cathedral preparing for Christmas, the sound of carols and laughter, and gatherings with loved ones. Although the end of the year is regrettable, its warmth gives us comfort and courage toward the new day.
 
However, contrary to appearances, society does not seem to be very healthy. The reasons for this are extreme competition, the difficulty of making a livelihood, growing bitterness of individual self-reliance, and forced isolation and alienation. This eventually results in a loss of social networks and trust, and a high suicide rate (13,195 per year in 2020, 36.15 per day). But is the community of faith really safe?
 
Nature of crisis: There may be many differences, but the rapid decline in youth and young believers in their 20s and 30s in any church is a serious pastoral issue.
 
There are external factors such as the aging population, decreasing population, and harsh livelihood, but internal factors such as neglect of religious education and unfaithfulness to faith coexist in contrast to excellent material growth. However, this is not a problem confined to a particular generation. It is also not just a matter of simple headcount increase or decrease. Because it raises concerns about the identity of the faith community.
 
Is the joy, vitality, and spiritual power of the gospel weakening in the church, which should be the salt and light of the world? Even though the world is harsh and difficult, can the church hold the hands of the people of the world and be with them in their difficulties? Could this be the nature of the crisis?
 
The mystery of the incarnation of the Lord who came to be a friend: Do you have a dear and grateful friend? Thanks to such a friend, I am strengthened even when it's hard. The Lord, who is love, also regards us as friends (John 15:15). All the difficulties in the world today stem from the failure of not trying to be friends with others. Being a friend who shares love and hope, away from the temptation of material goods and comfort, is the Christian life that testifies to the mystery of the incarnation and the power of faith that heals the world.
 
 "Man is open to everyone in the world. It is because a man understands himself only when he can say ‘I’ to you. In such a case, the human person moves out of himself, out of the self-centered attitude of caring only for his own life, and enters into a relationship of dialogue and communion with others" (Summary Social Doctrine, 130).
 

The New Golden Calf

 

In the diagnosis of the Times column of the Catholic Times a member of the Carbon Neutrality Commission gives the readers an update of what is happening in this area of life.

The 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. About 40,000 people attended the general assembly, including heads of state and delegations from 80 countries, including US President Biden, French President Macron, and German Chancellor Schultz. A number of people from Korea also attended. 

 

One thing that stands out at this year's conference is that the word "Justice" appeared a lot. In particular, it was the first time he saw a demonstration demanding "responsibility and compensation" from developed countries take place within the boundaries of the conference hall. Now, 'climate change' is evolving from 'climate crisis' to 'climate justice'.

 

In order to fundamentally reduce meteorological disasters, it is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Although 30 years have passed since the adoption of the Climate Change Convention, mankind has still not succeeded in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Global greenhouse gas emissions, which were 38 billion tons in 1990, increased more than 1.5 times to 59 billion tons as of 2019. Korea's greenhouse gas emissions increased more, increasing 2.4 times from 300 million tons in 1990 to 700 million tons in 2019. As a result, the world is suffering from the worst heatwave and longest wildfire situation. Korea also suffered great damage from unprecedented heavy rain in Seoul in early August, and in Pakistan, more than 1,700 people died as a result of a major flood and 1/3 of the country was submerged in water.

 

 In the aftermath of the global meteorological disaster, 'Loss & Damage' was adopted as an official agenda for the first time at this climate change conference. The question is who will pay how much. Developing countries strongly demand immediate and effective countermeasures, saying that they can't stand it any longer, but developed countries, while acknowledging their responsibility for climate change, are afraid that they will be overwhelmed with a huge burden. It is fortunate that the Conference of the Parties concluded two days ahead of its closing and agreed to establish a Loss and Damage Fund to support the most vulnerable countries.

 

The Sinai Peninsula, where the Climate Change Conference was held, is where Moses arrived 3 months after he led the liberated Israelites  from Egypt, and is where the Lord Himself appeared before the Israelites at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19).  While receiving God's commandments on the mountain, the Israelites made an idol, the 'Golden Calf', worshiped it, held sacrifices, and ate, drank, danced, and played in front of it. Moses took the  golden calf, had the idol melted down, pulverized, and mixed with water and gave it to the Israelites to drink (Exodus 32).

As Pope Francis pointed out, what jeopardizes our "common home" is a selfish economic model that pursues the vain fantasy of infinite economic growth (「Our Mother Earth」 2020), that is the modern version of the 'golden calf'. In order to protect the public good, 'climate', Pope Francis emphasized joint agreement and solidarity in action based on the principles and norms of international law. Developed countries, which have contributed to climate change by emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases in the process of economic growth, must step forward.

 

Modern civilized life that only pursues convenience and wastes resources and energy is another 'golden calf' we have  to deal with. Breaking this golden calf requires fundamental changes in our lifestyles, production and consumption, as the Pope emphasized. To do this, we have to bear the burden of inconvenience and moderation and sometimes cost, but it is realistically difficult for ordinary people to bear it. This is why believers who pursue the 'common good' must step forward. Our church and believers must take the lead in protecting Earth, our sister and beautiful mother.

 

Human Rights Sunday

 

A former journalist, now retired, in the Eyes of the Believer column of the Catholic Times, gives us some thoughts for Human Rights Sunday, the second Sunday of Advent.

Case 1. "I hope that the National Assembly, politicians, and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance will give a clear answer to the desperate cry of people with disabilities who are crawling on the subways and colliding with citizens."
 
This is the voice that the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities used in their demonstrations: 'subway protest on the way to work that has been going on for 11 months. On three subway lines, citizens were late for work because of the protests. The writer couldn't escape these thoughts. "We also sympathize with the plight of the marginalized, but isn’t the reason for the existence of the government and politicians to mediate social conflicts?" Many people must have thought this while enduring great inconvenience.
 
Case 2. "It is very unfortunate that 158 ​​young people lost their lives in the Itaewon disaster. I recently watched a video of a certain priest. At a rally to commemorate them, he was content to insist on identifying the cause of the disaster, preventing a recurrence, and punishing those responsible. He sympathized greatly as he said: ‘There is no neutrality in front of human suffering. But at the end of the speech, when the priest said the president should step down it was too much. The president is elected by the people, whether we like it or not. Isn’t it the principle of democracy to wait until the end of the term of office?" A classmate studying together at the seminary expressed passion mixed with concern.
 
On the occasion of the Second Sunday of Advent, the Catholic Church celebrates Human Rights Sunday and Social Doctrine Week. "What is social doctrine and why is it necessary? Isn’t it enough to be faithful only to God’s Word and religious life in the church?" Surprisingly, many believers feel unfamiliar with the term social doctrine and even say that it has nothing to do with them.
 
The social doctrine is the official teaching of the Church about society and the world: human work, economic life, political community, and environmental protection. In addition, it also deals with human rights, which are the basic rights necessary for human dignity. To put it simply, the first thing the catechumens learn is 'what we believe, and the second is 'what we do.
 
The basis of social doctrine comes from the words of Jesus: "Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."(Matthew 25:45). Jesus also demands attention and love for his neighbor who suffered in the Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke (10: 29-37). It is asking us to turn our eyes to society and the world, and not to stay within ourselves and the church. Also, it is to improve non-evangelical and inhumane situations such as moral corruption and violence in our daily lives and to reveal God's love.
 
Korean society and politics are divided into confrontation, conflict, and camp logic, and there is no good day. Would it be enough if we dismissed it as nothing new? In the meantime how should churches, priests, and believers live out and act on social doctrine? "Love represents the greatest social commandment. Love requires the practice of justice, and only love makes it possible for us to practice justice."
 
Pope Francis appeals to the world today for peace, justice, and universal brotherhood. "In the name of the poor, the miserable, the marginalized, and the needy, we declare: God has commanded us to help them. This is the duty of everyone, especially those who have wealth and property” (All Brothers, 285).
 
Instead of being believers who only put words first, let’s each become practitioners of the word of knowledge and conduct.

It's Not My Fault

 

 

In  the Catholic Peace Weekly's 'Uncomfortable Words' column the writer gives the reader some thoughts that may not be welcomed by many. The issues that we face do not always have ready made solutions and dialog is required to see the whole picture.

If you think about it, the "It's my fault" movement initiated by Korean Catholics 30 years ago remains in our memory. These words, taken from the "prayer of confession" at the beginning of  Mass, gained great sympathy as a movement to restore public trust in the context of ideological, regional, and labor-management conflicts that erupted with democratization in the 1990s. 

Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan took the lead in the campaign by attaching a blue  "It's my fault" sticker in the rear window of his car, and 400,000 stickers were quickly used up. However, the limits of this program were also clear. It's difficult to eliminate the root cause of social conflict, distrust, inequality, discrimination, and temporary expedients, without discernment, claiming that it was all my fault. In the end, 'It’s my fault' is a memory that lasted like many other slogans we have seen on back windows of cars.

On the night of the Sewol ferry disaster eight years ago, he cried often remembering the tragedy.Probably everyone did. Remembering the  bright  future those  children had and responding with everything was my fault, no matter how hard one beats the chest, does little to value those young lives. It seemed to be the fault of one man and woman who let the world go on like this and lived happily ever after, and more than anything, he lamented our helplessness. It was his fault, but the fault was because he did nothing. It was because the children did not fight against the captain's order to stay still and his own failure to fight against the irresponsible use of money.

 

The October 29 Itaewon disaster was another incident that called for our repentance and reflection. He sympathized with the words, "Now is the time of mourning and remembrance," and said many prayers for the victims of the tragedy.

 

It is said that when an unexpected death strikes, people's reactions lead to sadness, denial, and anger. As soon as the initial bitterness subsided, questions like: "Why did it have to happen?" and anger for no reason followed. While he is a member of the  older generation, he beat his chest, saying, "It’s my fault," seeing those who should have blamed themselves did so only after a week had passed he could see the reason for the anger in society. It was difficult to find a reason for him to feel responsible, seeing that the words: "Do not use disaster as a tool for political strife" came out first at a time when the person in charge should have had severe self-reproach. When he heard the words, about "dividing public opinion" and "social conflict" along with "our own responsibility," in a sermon at Mass, he didn't feel the difference from those who talked about "political strife." The people who were most satisfied after hearing these words were probably the president and his wife who attended the Mass. The truth is, we won't have to feel responsible. 

 

Ordinary people cannot be responsible for everything in the world, and we have entrusted our power to the government to take this responsibility instead. However, when power always emphasizes national security or people's safety, when the benefits that can be obtained are futile, it quickly changes direction and uses its own malfunctions as energy for operation. They are trying to gather support once again by driving those who want truth and justice into the forces of political strife and division. 

 

He doesn't want to  deny the church's teaching on what is meant by— 'It's my fault'. But truth and justice are as stern teachings of Christ as the spirit of peace. He also said: the truth sets us free. True peace will be possible only on the basis of truth and justice. He is concerned that Catholicism has become a  religion looking for easy solutions, fearing conflict and division turning without discernment towards the conservative position. Along with the words: "My peace I give you, and  truth will make you free", Jesus did say—"I have come to bring division."

 

 

Meditation on Death

 

As November ends, in the Catholic Times' Eyes of the Believers column, a parish priest gives his thoughts on a visit to a cemetery for priests and martyrs of the diocese. 

In memory of those who have died, November is a time to visit the cemeteries to pray for the dead to grow in faith, it is easy to become lazy amid the COVID-19 situation. They walked through a colorfully colored forest to the cemetery. When the wind blew, the dry leaves clinging to the branches fall one by one in front of their feet. 

One day when he was in elementary school, he was overwhelmed with sadness as he thought about how he would live if his parents suddenly passed away and he was alone. Maybe that's why he always felt anxious, thinking that his parent would get old. They both have died. Yes, we all die someday "It is appointed the men die once" (Heb 9:27) Birth has an order, but death has no order.

"My child shed tears over the dead and intone the lament to show your deep grief...Do not abandon your heart to grief, drive it away, and bear your own end in mind. Do not forget, there is no going back; you cannot help the dead, and you will harm yourself. Remember that his fate will also be yours; for him, it was yesterday for you today. With the departed dead, let memory fade; rally your courage, once the soul has left. (Sirach 38: 16a 20-23)

Finally, they arrived at the graveyard. He prayed to the Lord for the eternal rest of the many senior priests who passed away at the end of their lives and the junior priests who were not able to bloom properly dying at a young age and being embraced by God. What is death to a believer? Is it the end of life? Or is it a new beginning?

The ancient Greeks considered death as the end of life without any more hope. So they took the concept of 'the city of the dead and called the cemetery where the dead were buried a necropolis. Christians, on the other hand, regarded death as a state of temporary sleep to be awakened soon at the call of the risen Lord. Thus, the cemetery where the dead believers were buried was called a crematorium, taking the concept of a "bedroom, resting place." 

In the New Testament, we can see that death is understood as a state of sleep. "Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and died. The tombs were opened and the bodies of many saints who were sleeping were revived. (Matthew 27,52) "Jesus said "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. I will go and wake him up. Then the disciples said to Jesus, "Lord if he has fallen asleep, he will wake up soon."(John 11:9a.11-12) "Lord, do not hold this sin against them," he cried. When Stephen had said this, he fell asleep." (Acts 7:60) 

Man, a creature made of clay, is called by God through death to himself, the source of life. "Death is the end of man's earthly pilgrimage, of the time of grace and mercy which God offers him to work out his earthly life in keeping with the divine plan, and to decide his ultimate destiny. When "the single course of our earthly life" is completed, we shall not return to other earthly lives: "It is appointed for men to die once." There is no "reincarnation" after death."(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1013). 

Shouldn't we think and act as if we will die today to prepare well for death, which is the end of our one-time earthly life? "In him, the hope of blessed resurrection has dawned, that those

saddened by the certainty of dying might

be consoled by the promise of immortality to come.

"Indeed for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.” (Funeral Mass Roman Missal)

Climate Change Responsibility

The recent Catholic Times featured an article on a diocesan Theological Research Center and its academic presentation on the theme of "Church Response to Climate Change" "It's difficult to solve the climate problem without God". 

The discussion wanted to find the role of the church in the climate crisis. A retired bishop gave the keynote talk and said: "The Bible teaches that the owner of the garden is God, and humans are only tenants."  At the same time, he said that although the church's greatest concern has been human beings, humans have been able to survive in the support of other creatures, so "the church's awareness and prospects must expand and rise to the salvation of all creatures, not just humans." 

Another professor agreed with the bishop and emphasized that all that we humans have was received (1 Cor 4:7).  "It's necessary to know what we have received, to know, understand, and be grateful for all."  We are blessed to know that we are like a grain of earth. In particular, the professor said understanding  ecology is understanding oneself, and we have to choose whether to destroy or protect ourselves.

Another professor "If God is the premise, it becomes easier to establish a relationship between humans and nature." In his presentation on Understanding Climate Change: Science, Ethics, and Christian Faith, he mentions that St. Francis saw nature as being with autonomy  and that humans were one of the species of life. He advised that accepting this will open the way to overcome the climate crisis. At the same time, the professor added, "Without a father, we cannot become brothers and sisters with nature, and only when we presuppose God the Creator, can we become Brother to the Wolf and Sister to the Bird, as St. Francis said." 

A director of a Ecological Spirituality Institute  gave a presentation on 'Laudato Si' and Thomas Berry’s ecological thought. The priest introduced Pope Francis and the ecological theologian Thomas Berry as two giants who embody the life of Saint Francis in a modern context. In particular, he emphasized that Pope Francis emphasized ecological repentance and Thomas Barry sacrifice, saying, 'Laudato Si' and Thomas Barry’s ecological thought are the most important teachings for us living in an era of ecological crisis.

A religious sister who participated in the presentation, made practical suggestions for the Korean church to respond to the climate crisis more effectively. She raised the need for a committee dedicated to pastoral care for ecology and environment in each parish, and that the implementation goal should be consistently emphasized in the bishop's messages to the diocese at least during the 'Laudato Si' 7-Year Journey': [Respond to the Cry of the Earth—to the Cry of the Poor— Support Ecological Economies—Adopt Sustainable Lifestyles—Develop Ecological Education—Foster Ecological Spiritualistic—Encourage Community Resilience and Empowerment] Along with this, she suggested strengthening ecological environment education for priests and seminarians, spreading the ecological apostolate group 'Heaven, Earth, Water, Friend', and expanding the ecological and environmental apostolate of religious congregations.   

The priest  director of a Theological Research Center at a Catholic University, also emphasized that "We need to take the responsibility as the creature being the main cause for the climate crisis  and work towards the solution.

At the same time, he said: "We need challenges and courage in the face of change." "The church, which serves the world, seriously needs to  contemplate the climate problem facing all creatures based on our confession of faith in God, who created and wants us to live fully as his loving creatures. It is time to do this and take concrete action.