The Desk columnist in the Catholic Times recalls a weekend retreat
she made a few years ago. At the end of the retreat master's talk, he
gave them the task of finding 100 reasons to be thankful, and to
write them down during the retreat.
Her first thoughts--no big deal, and took her notebook and began writing, but soon
realized this was not going to be easy.The first 10 came quickly,
the next a little harder but then the going was difficult. Many
others, she kept repeating to herself, but they were not coming to
mind. After the retreat remembering reasons for gratitude became an important part of her meditations.
She
came across a book written by a psychiatrist who says there is
scientific evidence that our feelings of gratitude influence the body
for the good. Our thoughts, feelings and actions are all influencing the
operation of the brain. Daniel G Amen an American psychiatrist is
quoted, and uses his studies in her article.
Thanksgiving and praise she says have a relationship with how the brain
functions. Words of praise trigger the feelings of gratitude and there
is a noticeable greater flow of blood in the brain.
We
as Christians do not need this study, she says, to know the importance
of gratitude. In the passage of St. Paul in First Thessalonians 5:6--"Be
thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your
life in union with Christ Jesus." A virtue that we as Christians are
familiar.
She mentions a parish in which there is a
relay in giving praise to individuals in the community. A name of one of
the parishioners is listed in the Bulletin for something that was done:
"Volunteered for 10 years in our Sunday School Program." "Every time
there is an event she took the initiative and gave us a good example."
These and similar reasons for giving praise and thanks appears and the
community expresses their thanks to the individual during the week.
A
month has passed since the visit of Pope Francis to Korea. He left us
with praise for love and service to others. "There is nothing that
belongs to me in this world," he is quoted as saying. We need to
compromise, show concern for others. The less we have of possessions
in the place in which we live the more leisure and good feelings we
will have to share with other human beings and created life. He is
thankful with tears, for all those that have come into his life. With
just a little thought he realizes that life is just a continual life of
thanks and blessing.
Our life, she concludes, should be one
of thanksgiving and praise. Let us long around us and be open to this manner of life in both our actions and words.
Many find confession difficult, and have a reason to fear the experience. We have all heard many stories of priests not sensitive to the needs of the penitents leaving scars that do not easily heal. In the magazine Catholic Digest a writer tells us his experience as a child in the confessional.
At his first confession the child was given a hard time for not confessing his sins. The confessor raising his voice in a way that his parents, outside the confessional, knew something was amiss, and asked him about it when he left the confessional. From that time on the confessional became a place he would go to be reprimanded.
While in middle school they moved to China because of his father's work. Catholic Churches were distant, and the language were some of the reasons he distanced himself from God. After high school he entered college and going to Sunday Mass was infrequent.
During college there was a Catholic Scripture group that met and during one of the study and training programs he gathered the courage to go to confession. As he was waiting to go into the confessional the thoughts of his first confession came to mind, and like a child overcome with timidity, his whole body stiffened. Hesitating awkwardly, he opened the door and went in. But making matters worse was the cloth that separated the priest from the penitent was missing, and he was face to face with the priest. A candle in the cozy compartment in which the priest sat, cast a shadow which projected the priest's image.
His hair was white and his blue eyes welcomed him with warmth and a smile, he was a foreigner. Without words he was telling him to sit down, say anything you want, nothing to worry about, God will forgive all your sins. Without reason seeing his smiling eyes he began to cry. All that kept him from a closeness to God and his dark past all came out.
After the training period his life changed greatly. He went to Mass and felt a closeness to God. He was thankful for the time at the training and study program. He was not conscious of others but made his own plans for the future and his happiness was such that even his acquaintances noticed the difference.
Some four years later he was working for a department associated with the Vatican. He was given the task to interview a foreign missionary priest and religious sister. They were Franciscans. When he met the priest he looked just like the priest that made him feel so comfortable some 4 years earlier. He passed it off as being a look-alike.
When the article appeared in the magazine he brought a copy to the priest, and while eating they talked about the spiritual life. The writer brought up the Scripture study and training group of young people he attended while in college. During the conversation it was clear that this priest was the one who heard his confession many years before. And he thanked the priest profusely. This experience was a gift, and helped him to experience the love of God again.
September is the month of the martyrs. Korean Catholicism has a great devotion to the martyrs; their spirituality is influenced by the martyrs. In the Catholic Bible & Life magazine a pastor explains what this should mean for the church of Korea. Obedience of the martyrs has become the foundation for the growth of the Church. Efforts continually are made to instil this mind of the martyrs into our Catholics of today: their courage, sacrifice, and love of neighbor.
Spirituality of the martyrs, is not something that is sentimental and of the moment, but a deep appreciation of their life. The priest as a pastor of a parish makes it clear to the catechumens who are preparing for baptism the joy they should have with a martyr as their patron.
At present he says only about 4 percent of the parishioners have a martyr as their patron saint (baptized with the name of a martyr). However, with the newly baptized we see more who are choosing the name of a martyr. When the example of the martyrs enters into our lives we become witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus and open to the seeds of the new evangeliziation. The results are many: we are changed and the Church renewed.
He introduces us to two of the martyrs who were recently beatified on August 16th. One is
Simon, Hwang Il-kwang, a devout follower from the lowest class in the Joseon society. The other was Simeon, Yu Keun-myeong, from a high class noble family. Simon was a butcher by trade and not welcomed in the society of the times and before his death said:“There must be a heaven on earth and another one after death.”He was treated so well by his community of faith that he felt that he was already in heaven. Yu Simeon after being baptized, a hundred years before the law required, freed all his male and female servants and gave all his property to the poor neighbors. Here was an example of breaking down the walls separating the different levels of society, and giving freedom to those that had become his property because of the Gospel message.
In order to follow the example of the martyrs there is a need to know them and the pastor has made this an important part of his teaching method. The dying daily is the way we partake of the paschal mystery in our daily life, and the way we live the Christian life. White martyrdom is living the life of the martyr without the blood, but with their heart and spirit.
Writing in the Bible and Life magazine, from the time he was in
middle school to the present, now in his middle forties, a parishioner
tells us about his volunteer work as a member of the parish liturgical
committee. Usually his turn comes-up about twice a month, but at the New
Year and Autumn Festival he is the one who is the lector at the
liturgy. He lives in Seoul, no need to go to the country to visit
relatives, not married, his concerns are not as many as the other
members of the community.
Some years ago at the Autumn
Festival he was the lector not only at the morning liturgy but at the
evening Mass. After morning Mass he was called by the assistant priest
to the rectory to have breakfast. He was asked if he could be lector at
the evening liturgy. Since he would be alone during the day he had no
problem with attending the evening Mass. During the breakfast they
talked about the single and married state. The priest said: "Whether
married or single we have to live according to God's plan for creation."
With
these words came the realization that we are all responsible to form
the world we live in according to God's plans, and he saw the vocation
to the single and married state in a different light. In one way it was
the same vocation. One of the benefits of the single life is the freedom
to be of service to others.
He was introduced to
volunteer work in an old age home by one his younger friends. Every
other week he would go to wash clothes, clean, and play checkers and
talk with the grandfathers. The question he hears the most from the
grandfathers: "Isn't your wife and children upset with you being away
from the house on Sundays?" When he tells them he is not married they
respond: "Forget about coming here and get married." Volunteer work is
not difficult and has helped his spiritual life a great deal.
The
biggest problem with the single life is the distorted view that many
have of the celibate life. Life is incomplete. Many see it as as a lack
of something, and this is not only a view that is seen outside the
community of faith. On one occasion he was chosen to be mediator in a
problem with those preparing an athletic meet for the church community.
One of the persons who was given the committee some trouble was not
married, and was criticized for his stubbornness: "Isn't that the
reason he has not found someone to marry?" These words were not address
to him but it made him feel very uncomfortable, and he found himself
avoiding situations where he would be bickering with others and became
passive.
Because of his celibacy there are times that
he has felt alienated from the community. In a meeting with the married
members and their talk about family and their problems it is then he
feels like an outsider. Little is there for him to say during the
discussions.
Looking over his life as a single male he
sees it as something positive in living the life of faith. His
membership in societies of the community, his service to others, prayer and meditating, reading spiritual books, all have been helped by his celibacy. Prejudice against the single life and the need to overcome
the temptations in daily life that are present are a problem but he
feels celibacy is a help in some small way in witnessing within the community of faith.
Consequently he
concludes there is a need to have specialized programs introduced into
the community of faith that are concerned with the single Christian. He
has never attended any such programs so doesn't know what they should
entail but it would be sharing of ideas and experiences, praying
together would be a great help in their spiritual growth. It would be a
help in overcoming the bias against the single life and dealing with
the temptations in life and the feeling of alienation that is often
present. He hopes that this new chapter in Church life with these groups
for single Catholics spreading the fragrance that comes with a life
with Jesus will give birth to new life within the Church.
We speak about coming to the crossroads of life. A fork in the road: will it be the left or the right? Will it be a choice for the good or the bad? This fork in the road is present not only for the individual but for families, society, and the nation. In the opinion page of the Catholic Times a columnist brings to our attention this serious decision that many face.
The Sewol tragedy, death of a soldier because of bullying, number one in suicides among the developed countries, one out of eight adults suffering from despondency: these are some of the issues Koreans need to face. One student tells his mother that one of his classmates committed suicide and the mother tells him not to take his attention away from studies. This is the kind of society that we are promoting, he laments. Process, motivation, does not concern us but rather hoping for a jackpot.
The columnist is referring to the stalemate in congress over the special bill regarding an investigation to uncover the truth behind the
ferry sinking of the Sewol.The truth in the eyes of many will be harmful to the country so the maneuvering to limit what will come out from an investigation. The dilemma of choosing the lesser of two evils is a difficult decision and the columnist feels that the Christians should not have a problem with this, but they do.
How does our religious belief, faith life, relate with our present reality? We proclaim who we are by the choices that we make, a phrase with which we are familiar. If we take a rough look at statistics, he reminds us, 10 percent of the population are Catholic and 30 percent are Protestant which makes the country 40 percent Christian. Four out of 10 are Christians and yet the efforts to find the truth about the Sewol tragedy is meeting stiff resistance. A disregard for the dignity of human beings and the responsibility we have to search for the truth is being buried because of political strategy and to preserve one's future.
The columnist wonders if this is not because we have so many with a religion but not religious faith. Or is it rather that we have religious faith but don't believe; is our belief genuine?
A person of faith will trust that when one does what is right, the results whatever they be, will all work out for the good. However, this does take a great deal of faith. Form, is all that seems important, but wonders if this is not just empty babbling. Have we forgotten who we are? What is our mission? Especially, he concludes, those in Congress....
Words take on different meanings in the cultures in which we live. Words also are made to say whatever we choose: expanded or reduced according to our context and philosophy. Paternalism in our age is a big negative. On the opinion page of the secular Chosun Ilbo newspaper the columnist gives us a secular understanding of what a democracy should mean and why the era of heroes has come to an end. He makes some interesting comments about two individual leaders who have made a big impression on the Korean citizens. One is Admiral Yi Sun-Shin and the other was Pope Francis.
After the Sewol tragedy we realized our indifference to safety precautions. Frequent corruption of high ranking officials and seeing the inconsistency in our politics we have fallen into grief, despondency and lethargy preparing us to receive these two individuals with a surprising amount of enthusiasm.
Coincidentally, they both where on the stage at the same time. The movie Myeongnyang opened on July 30th breaking all box office records in our movie history. Pope Francis was in Korea for five days from August 14th. He went out to embrace the sick and those hurting showing us a man of faith going beyond religion and the denominations and inspiring many within society.
Admiral Yi Sun-Shin is one of Korea's great war heroes. He had an undefeated naval record usually against insurmountable odds. His most remarkable victory occurred at the battle of Myeongnyang where he defeated the Japanese. This is the battle that took place in 1597, and portrayed in the movie by that name. He remains one of the great leaders and exemplary human being.
These two leaders says our columnist one sacrificed for his country and the other for God. They showed us what a leader should be and he asks where does this come from? Why don't we have them in our present society?
Democracy, he says, does not permit this kind of leadership, but this is not a reason for sadness but fortunate: if we understand what a democracy is. Admiral Yi was a hero. This heroism is hidden during ordinary times but comes to the fore in extraordinary times to save the country and the people. The task of a democracy is to maintain stability at all times. A democracy wants to maintain the safety, peace, and permit the citizens to devote themselves to their work and allow the families and individuals to strive after happiness.The citizens do not elect officials to be fascinating heroes in difficult times, but to elect officials who will prevent hard times from appearing. When all is managed correctly, he says, we don't need heroes.
Pope Francis came to Korea as a affectionate father. The word pope does include the note of authority, but in the West the word has the meaning of a father. The Church is the family and the pope is the father. The reason the citizens welcomed the pope was the longing the Korea people have for an affectionate father that they found in Pope Francis, and do not find in politics, schools, family and the work place, but found in the presence of the pope.
This is the patriarchal image that comes from the feudal era. Although possessed of absolute authority and power they do not use it for themselves, their pleasure and benefit, but for the happiness and well being of the members of their society.This may be necessary in a family but it is not the quality, he says, that we want in our democratically elected leaders.
In a democracy we do not divide society into high and low. Each person's rights and equality is respected, that is why there is a contract made with the citizens; they elect their president, and representatives for four or five years and if satisfied reelect them or at the next vote opt to change them. They do not elect heroes but people who will take heed of their personal needs. When they make the contract there is no one who is looking to sacrifice their financial benefits.
A democracy and a free economic market is made by the voters and citizens. We need leaders like Yi Sun Shin and Pope Francis when we have war, disasters, tragedies and the good of the citizens is being undermined in extraordinary times. The ordinary daily democratic way of life is dry, but peaceful and secure. Desiring a hero or a person with great qualities to appear who will give us wise answers to our problems is not the way of a democratic society.
Peace Catholic Radio Station had a contest for original hymns and one of the prison inmates entered his compositions, he was not able to be present but was giving special recognition by the judges. The chaplain of the prison wrote about his feelings in an article for the Pastoral Bulletin.
The prisoner was a very zealous Catholic and the leader of the Catholics in the prison. He was taking a correspondence course offered by the school of theology; an exemplary prisoner who was determined to change his life.
In a meeting of pastoral workers for the prisoners he heard about the family of those that our exemplary prisoner had inflicted harm. Family members were not able to rid themselves of the hurt that was experienced. As a chaplain he never forgot the victims of the crimes perpetrated, but hearing what was said about the prisoner did make him feel uncomfortable.
He remembered a film, Secret Sunshine, and the meaning of forgiveness. The heroine of the movie lost her husband in a automobile accident and she moves with grief to the small hometown of her dead husband. She becomes interested in Christianity. Shortly after becoming a Christian, her son was killed by an owner of an academy. After some time, moved by her new found faith, decided to go to the prison to forgive the man who killed her son. With difficulty she told the prisoner that she was there to forgive him for what he had done. However, the prisoner calmly and easily responded that he had already been forgiven by God.The mother, the person the prisoner should be asking for forgiveness, and hearing him say that God had already forgiven him was too much for her. The mother promptly lost any semblance of faith she had, and our writer sees the question of forgiveness in a new light.
This situation is not only seen in movies, but often in daily life. There are many who have suffered, been hurt and to whom much harm has been inflicted in our history and in the present day, and yet we have few who ask for forgiveness.
In the past when our country was taken away from us by the Japanese we have many in those days who have benefited by their relationship with the Japanese and their children have important positions in our society, but few have asked for forgiveness. During the totalitarian rule many were killed but few have expressed any need to be forgiven.
In the recent Sewol tragedy there are many who have caused great harm to the victims and their families but few asking for forgiveness.
Forgiveness is a means of healing. Those who have been hurt need this for healing.Many have been forgiven who have not asked for forgiveness, and those that need to ask for forgiveness don't.Those that ask for forgiveness are those that really are forgiven. Why do we have so few?
