Liturgical Time And Its Importance

Time is not merely a physical measurement we experience daily but a factor in what we undergo, situations, the people we meet, all melt into this thing we call time. So begins an article in the Kyeongyang magazine on 'Liturgical Time' by a liturgist who is now a parish priest. On Sunday we begin the new liturgical year with the First Sunday of Advent. A new beginning.

In the liturgy, we enter a new time 'zone' going from our earthly limited time into God's dimension of unlimited time. Liturgical time brings us into eternal time and the article precedes to show us why.

As believers, we realize we are here because of the love and grace of God but with finiteness. We are restricted by time and place. That is the situation we are in as human beings. However, Jesus in his life, death, and resurrection calls us to another dimension of life which we have accepted. This new quality of time we entered, with the help of the Holy Spirit, is found in the liturgy.

"The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time, it is the fountain from which all her power flows" (Const. of the Sacred Liturgy #10). Salvation is already here in faith but not complete, and are drawn daily into its fullness by living the liturgical year. During the year we wait for the coming of Jesus, his birth, his life, passion, death, resurrection, the descent of the Holy Spirit, the whole mystery is laid before us, church life is centered around this cycle of events.

Liturgical time is both horizontal in that it sanctifies our daily life and the sacraments are the verticle element that enters our daily lives especially the Eucharist where the past just doesn't disappear nor the future something distinct, but both reconciled in the here and now.

In living the liturgical life, we are one together with Christ, we are no longer limited by the finiteness of time but participate in the eternity of Jesus; the finiteness of time melts into the eternity of God which continually calls us to a new life in God. Looking at it in this way the believer is not just repeating another year but entering into the life of Christ. We are already living in God's kingdom in faith.

Thus, through the liturgy, the finiteness of man participates in God's eternity, gains strength in it, and returns to his finite time to walk in pilgrimage by living through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ. In other words, the finiteness of humanity and eternity of God come together in liturgical time as a hermeneutic cycle, that presents us with meaning— Any time is the right time for God.

"In the age of the Church, between the Passover of Christ already accomplished once for all, and its consummation in the kingdom of God, the liturgy celebrated on fixed days bears the imprint of the newness of the mystery of Christ" (CC #1164).

Whether in the liturgy or in life if we lose the full meaning of time, that God in his love and grace is always coming and we need to be awake and waiting, otherwise will I not be ill-prepared for the encounter?

Good Child Syndrome

Both Catholic weeklies had reviews of the book: Stop being a Good Person, a title that shocks, by the director of the Catholic Spiritual Counseling Office, Fr. Hong Sung-nam.

A person with a 'good child complex' externally all looks nice but on the inside, you are dealing with something petty with little ability to give and take.

The 'good child complex' finds it difficult to accept other people acting differently from those with the complex. They haven't had the freedom of the healthy child, being accepted and loved even when they don't act virtuously. 

Parents who compliment their child for being good unconsciously desire to control the child. The child than suppresses behavior that will upset the parents at the same time preventing the child from developing normally their child-like nature. The results are often a neurosis.

The book shows ways of overcoming these problems. We have those who always want to be nice to others and can't express their opinion and become victims, feel injustice and built-up of anger—criticizing anger, creating a fake peace, as if there was no anger.

People with 'good child complex' make concessions because they want to be liked: the happiness that is determined by others is shallow, one needs to find other ways to be happy. 

Stop being good doesn't mean you don't have to be considerate. It's nice to talk in a way that expresses your intentions but doesn't hurt anybody. The book contains advice on how to live as a believer along with psychological theory.

The core of the Lord's teaching is happiness. Many religious people push believers into making them feel sinful. He wrote the book for those believers who are tainted with morbid teachings and spread this with their words. Churches can spread this kind of teaching and make those that accept their teaching rigid and push them into seeing themselves only as sinners.

Many religious people say: "Live according to God's will" but what is God's will? God wants us to be happy. If your not tithing you get cancer, you will fail in business and this fear of punishment is not helping the person's spiritual growth. Too many are those that feel that God will punish them as their main motivation in doing good and the clergy often make them sicker, healers are not doing their job.

In the book, he introduces healthy guilt, how to relax, how to overcome the virus of despondency and maintain health. He recommends laughing a lot when driving alone practice smiling broadly. When despondency enters respond with a laugh.

Korean society needs a large dose of laughter and the Catholic Church more so. The church at times gives one the impression of being a mortuary. He would like to see the laughing face of Jesus more often.

'Meaning Out'

A  Catholic University professor writes in the Current Diagnosis column of the Peace Weekly on the recent neologism in Korean society on letting it all show: 'Meaning out' (coming out ) the expressing of your tastes and values— an activity that reveals your beliefs through consumption.

In a collectivist society, one is careful when revealings one's ideas to others. For ideas and behaviors that differ from group norms, are often viewed as wrong rather than simply different. We often identify 'difference' with 'wrong' instead of just a different opinion. It is more natural to say "our school" instead of "my school" and "our country" instead of "my country".
 
However, with the advent of individualism, which emphasizes individual independence and responsibility young consumers are changing. They do not hide their own beliefs and opinions that differ from the group norm but reveal it through behaviors in consumption. This is called the 'meaning out-trend' a coming out that often reveals gender identity. 

They wear t-shirts with the slogan they want to share, buy bags, shoes, hats, and tumblers with their slogans, and develop their own personal logos. Some even tattoo letters or drawings on their bodies. In the early days, environmental protection, animal welfare, third world support and vegetarian practice expressed certain beliefs, but are now spreading to expressions on social, political,  controversial and personal beliefs.

Consumption behavior reflects the values and beliefs that consumers value in every society. Today, 'meaning-out trends' are often upgraded to active boycotts or buying campaigns to bring together people with the same opinions and values and to change the thinking and behavior of others through the media. 

The recent box office hit: Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 is a feminist film, mentioned by the writer as an example of a movement to get people to see the movie. Young women bring their boyfriends to see it and get people talking about the place of women in South Korea's male-dominated society. Movements of this type where you select what you want to support by apps and scanning bar codes continue to spread among the young.

The spread of the 'meaning out-trend' is positive in that the social acceptability of the 'differences' of a 'minority' in our society will increase. In addition, much of the personal media that can express the opinions and tastes of individuals, such as blogs now extends to SNS. This trend is especially focused on Millennials and Generation Z, (the newest generation born between 1995 and 2015) who have a strong desire for self-expression and are good at using the media.

Meanwhile, marketing using consumer's beliefs increases. A company that produced smartphone cases and bracelets to donate to comfort women grandmothers, was able to boost sales and increase brand awareness as stories of celebrity purchases spread. However, it was criticized as the situation was intentionally used for marketing purposes, and posed a problem for the CEO because of public criticism.

Consumers need products and services as tools to express their beliefs, and someone has to play the role of producing and selling them. In other words, companies and consumers need each other for each other's purposes. Companies should not forget that respecting consumer's beliefs and meeting their needs is the purpose of their social existence. If they abuse this relationship they will find that the consumers like ghosts will run to social media and make this known to all.

Victimitized By the Way We Think

In her weekly column in the Catholic Peace Weekly, a religious sister looks at the way we make ourself victims and also the way society abets this in the way the media treats the news.

 All of us if we look back will find painful memories. She wonders if there is anyone who has grown up without some hurt in the heart. Just as there are people who suffer from chronic diseases, there are people who suffer from heartache for a lifetime which began in childhood. However, it hurts more so because it is unfair. Why me? Painful, using up energy explaining, complaining and trying to justify oneself. As a result, self-degradation, inferiority, guilt, depression can lead to many complications.

H, the victim, was not loved by his mother as a child. He hated her so much. He often says, "I was scared as a child." Besides, when a conflict arises the cause is found in the childhood scar.

One day he told a fellow employee, "You can't live your life like that. I'm very much like you and speak from experience." His fellow employee returned with a tremendous rant. Perhaps his colleague was his shadow self. It might have been a passing event, but it touched his wounds and they always hurt more.

The wounds can heal depending on whether or not the immune system is healthy. Stress increases the chances of catching a cold. Stress hormones interfere with the normal functioning of the immune system. No matter how much medicine you take, if you can't control the stress, the cold will last.

It may be the same as the pain of the heart. We live with some degree of hurt or damage. Nevertheless, some grow up overcoming the trials of daily life with antibodies of the mind as they maintain their health by fighting bad bacteria that have invaded the body with immune antibodies.

One day H was complaining to the sister. "People say a lot of things. They see and say what they want to, they don't care about what they say. Think about it. Would this happen if someone in a high position did the same thing? It's because it's me." At the moment, his face turned red, struck his chest with his fist and you could see the veins in the neck. Sister felt so sorry for him. The world he lives in was so dark, narrow, lonely and sad.

When trapped in a world made by the wounds of the past, they constantly make themselves victims and sacrificial lambs. Causes of much suffering are the wounds of the past. "Why me?" Even when they laugh and talk, they are anxious about who will do them harm. It is more likely that driving H into misery is considering himself a victim, rather than the hurt that came as a child.

She wanted to say but never did: "Forgive your mother who is no longer in this world. And yourself too…" She would like him to have the hope that one day, buds of new life will look bigger than the scars of the wounds from the past.

In life when one feels that they gave more than they received they should feel great about being such an altruistic person. Often, when we don't act in the manner we think, the way we live will determine what we think and poison much that we do.

Capital Sin Of Anger

Anger is something we are all familiar with and often guilty in both small and big ways. The rector of a Catholic college whose field is psychology focuses our attention on the capital sin of anger and gives us some examples of it in his article in the Kyeongyang magazine.

A young man in his early 30s in meetings gets excited and has the habit of getting angry. He pushes his ideas to an extreme degree and when someone expresses a contrary opinion he gets angry. He is embarrassed but repeats it. He hates himself when it happens, becomes despondent, has problems with those he works, and critically affects his spiritual life.

Reasons for anger are many: self-respect, excessive self-consciousness, excessive confidence in one's opinion, guilt conscious, can all be in the mix making for a vicious circle which ends up with sadness and alienation. The person may be considered as a straight shooter, a leader but at the same time seen by many as one who is not open and feel sorry for the person for the difficulties he brings to life.

Those who frequently get angry and are overcome with passion should examine themselves for pride and self-centeredness. They have to look deeply into this area of their personality.

First looking into the element of pride. When others express their opinion does this upset one?  Is attacking what I consider important seen as an attack on me?  When this happens frequently and the response is excessive we have a problem. This is a question of hypersensitivity. One needs to work on separating oneself from the ideas expressed healthily. Otherwise one can find the ideas in a meeting that are different as an attack and one needs to deal with these internal feelings.

Secondly, the problem may be self-centeredness. From an early age, we hear that a person with a forceful position wins. Some accept this and find themselves not winning the acceptance and respect of others. A healthy person has concern for the views of another which will result in harmony and joy and recommends a short prayer precisely to enable one to do this. This will allow one to practice some of the virtues.

He concludes the article with another example of a man in his 50s who has a habit of talking about others behind their back and they are usually those in authority. This appears in the workplace and in his daily life.

We all have feelings of anger that show we have ideals and desires. When they are attacked a very natural reaction is anger. We are still very much alive but when expressed we need to remember that we'll meet with both small and large negative results.

Anger can be distinguished in two ways. Anger toward a person followed by abusive language or demanding an explanation. The other response is to talk behind the person's back or not to listen, it is passive anger, also called passive-aggressive behavior. It will often find those with similar feelings and bring about division within a community

He reminds us that with such persons we are dealing with a troubled child within and it often shows facially but few understand this. A person who is confronted with such a situation needs to determine what is desired? At times it is crying out for love. If one doesn't find the reason one will take joy away from those with whom one relates. Such a person should spend serious efforts in determining what is truly wanted.

Even If What We Considered Evil Was Handled Gently—

A priest writing in a pastoral bulletin gives us some thoughts on how to deal with what we consider evil.

He has 8 siblings who relate well with each other but recently he did quarrel, used some words that hurt and lost control of the situation. Thankfully all recently has returned to normal.

Because of what he experienced in the family his thoughts became clearer on the need for respect and courtesy in society and the many problems we face. Each person has their own solution. 

We can't say we are always right. Maturity is needed.  I am right and you are wrong and refuse to hear the other's opinion closes the conversation before it starts.

Koreans have a lot of passion and want to do the right thing so when they see injustice there is no compromise and mercy. As a result, overcome with emotion, we hear: "I die and you die" and are faced with a catastrophe.
 
We see this presently with the Japanese and Korean situation. We are far from united on the way to address the situation. This is true of the North-South problem also. We should be able to solve the problems between us but see flags of other countries in demonstrations.
 
Political strife between political parties is not a fight to the death. It is not a battle to annihilate the opponent. The same is true with the South's problems with North Korea. The situation of confrontation is correct, but it is a brother to be reconciled. Of course, a military is necessary. This is to prepare for the worst possible consequences of the opponent's misunderstanding of the situation.
 
It is necessary to take the time and not to react immediately to the criticism of the opponent. When Jesus quickly dismisses a gentile woman's request for help for a daughter and calls her a little dog and tells her it is not right to throw the children's bread to a dog, she makes light of the seeming abuse: "Yes. Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children's leftovers." A woman who knows humor. Jesus is amazed and revises what he previously said. Reprimands, accusations, and attacks do not change a person. For the truth to be heard by another, goodwill needs to be shown.

Nowadays we hear a lot of talk about taking legal action with opponents. Politics is the art of the possible. Instead of doing one's best it may be better to do the second-best thing. The other side also needs to breathe and use strength if we are going to have a healthy relationship.

If you call you opponents: idiots or stupid, Jesus says that you will be dragged to the central court and dropped into hell fire, so the best thing is to compromise quickly on the way to court. Extreme expressions, rude or abusive language, should be avoided. It's frightening to see the comments throw at the other camp. It's so easy to label the opposing faction with 'leftist' 'extreme right', 'bone pain', 'aborigines' and the like. Once you label others, you lose the power to think otherwise. Even with evil one needs to be gentle.
 
We need to learn how the profiler's technique opened the mouth of a serial killer. (A recent case where a prisoner who was in prison confessed to other murders which he had committed). They treated the prisoner warmly. "Did you have a meal?" They met with him nine times, he stared at the female investigator's hand and said, "Can I hold your hand?" The investigator then said, "Let's shake hands after the investigation." From then on, he began to open his mouth.

Jesus also talked to the devil. If we can only have warm conversations, we will be able to walk along with anyone and journey together toward the common good. We confess God as our Father. 'Our Party', 'Our Opposition', 'Our Neighbor Japan' and 'Our North Korean Brothers' all are possible. We need to embrace the heart of the Lord who embraces all in unity.

The Laity Are the People Of God

A missionary priest working in Korea writes in the pastoral bulletin for priests on the concept of function.

He recalls a visit home and seeing the album of his sister-in-law that was published in commemoration of their 50th anniversary of graduation. They were asked to answer for the 50th anniversary yearbook whether they realized the expectations they had 50 years before at graduation.

He spent some time reflecting on the expectation that he had for life. Our expectations are the seasoning of life. When we are young, we dream and think a lot about what we will do in the future. But these days young people are worried. Finding a job is not easy. The playing field in which they will enter is far from level and they know it. They will have a more difficult time than their parents, understandable but sad.

But those who live by faith know that God did not call us to succeed but to do our best and live faithfully. Even if it's not what's desired you find another way and have the courage to challenge yourself. Attitude is important. Living the virtuous life, searching for wisdom, and living the life of a disciple are not the values of society and we get contrary messages of other ways. Society values ​​functionality and encourages and seduces us in the need to succeed.

A few decades ago, there were priests in American society who viewed the priesthood as functional only. This was easy to believe since many priests have many other positions in the Church besides pastoral activity. In English, they are seen as 'hyphenated priests'. Priests work fulltime in many fields, as teachers, administrators, researchers, authors, the arts, etc. Of course, the Church clearly teaches that the life of a priest is not functional but ontological. The right orientation in all things and the desire to do God's will, make all fit easily into the mission of a priest. Protestant pastors, for the most part, see their work as functional but this is not what it should be for priests.

It is easy to see why many laypeople have the same idea on their roll in the church as one of function. The laity also participates in the universal priesthood. The priesthood is a mission given to a baptized person. However, we need teaching to emphasize that this priesthood is not the same as the ministerial priesthood but at the same time not just functional. This mission of the laity is not only participating in Masses, praying, serving, and helping to support the church. They are full-time disciples, not part-time disciples. Religious, clergy, and laypeople are the same in this respect.

The day-to-day daily activities of the laypeople, at home, working, shopping, at play, relating with others, can all be related to their mission as disciples. The laity, like the priests, do everything that comes from their being as disciples and the universal priesthood of the laity.

Of course, this is not making us superior in any way or considering us better than anybody else but an understanding of our calling to mission of all disciples. We are all one in Christ. The priesthood of the priest and the universal priesthood of the laity are both ontological, using a philosophical word. If this became the understanding of the laity would this not make a tremendous difference in the way they saw their calling?

"Hence the laity, dedicated as they are to Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit are marvelously called and prepared so that even richer fruits of the Spirit may be produced in them. For all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit —indeed even the hardships of life if patiently born—all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (Cathechism #901).

"When anyone is joined to Christ, he is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come"(2 Cor 5:17).