The Ability to Give Thanks Is A Grace

A retired member of the National Assembly writes in the Catholic Peace Weekly on his thoughts on seeing a banner in front of a church with the words: Gratitude is Power. He thought he understood what was said but with time more meanings came to mind

Gratitude is a capability God has given us. Does it mean that those who don't have gratitude are incompetent? Does it mean that if a person has even the slightest ability, he should live with gratitude? He realizes there is no right answer and thinks it might have something to do with God since it was in front of a church.
 
Then he thought, perhaps the refrain for this passage would be "Prayer is a grace." Ultimately, prayer begins with self-reflection and thanksgiving. He started the year with gratitude for the ability to pray.

There is an odd ritual he does every year at this time—'updating the will'. It's not just writing, it's updating. It's been years since he started doing this nonsense. At first, he erased last year's will and wrote a new one, but he started writing each year's will after the previous one, for no other reason except it's interesting looking back on the past.
 
Long ago, when he was living in Japan, an influential media company planned a book titled: The Epitaph On My Tomb Stone. It was asking the readers how did they want to be remembered after they die, and what kind of life did they want to live. It was literally a last will and testament. However, it is also a message of hope for those left behind with regrets as they look back on their own past lives. From this, he thought it would be meaningful to write a testament in this style.
 
This work is inevitably made up of memories and stories related to people or things that have been connected to the writer. However, unlike prayer, there is some room for completion because it can contain a commitment to complete tasks or wishes that were not completed the previous year. As a result, it is more of a New Year's message to oneself than the last testament.
 
What he can't ignore in making new resolutions is learning from people older than him. Habits and actions that we want to emulate, actions we don’t want to emulate, are all lessons in wisdom. His parents and siblings are more likely to resemble each other, so it is necessary to closely observe the words and actions of the elderly and imagine oneself in the future.
 
Repeating the same words over and over, blatant self-pride, gossiping about other people's children, worrying about the country, envying those who have a good life, and swearing at politicians is the routine in our daily lives as we enter the aging society. Is he an exception? Just as we have become accustomed to preventive vaccines thanks to the COVID-19 virus, there are vaccines we need to take as we age. The decision to follow the example of those I want to follow and avoid the words and deeds of those I don't want to follow should be part of my habitual way of life at this time of year, whether the process is prayer or writing a will.

How to Remember 2021?

The Diagnosis of the Times columnist in the Catholic Peace Weekly writes on the thoughts that came to mind on reading an article about a Chinese grandmother.

At the end of this year, Chinese media reported the death of a grandmother. A hot topic worldwide because she was the oldest living person. However, the exact year of birth was not confirmed, so it remained an unofficial record, and the estimate in China was that she was born in 1886, 135 years old. Even if mistaken by a few years she had great longevity. Born at the end of the 19th century, she saw the 100th year of the 20th century and lived about one-fifth into the 21st century. The columnist when reading the article had a lot of questions he would have liked to ask her.

"Grandma, when did you feel it was the best time to live?" Grandma, when was the hardest and most hideous time to live?"

Why don't you ask your grandmother that? There will be people who will do it. Yes. My grandmother was not over 100 years old, but was born in 1902 and died in 1998, so she lived almost a century. In her old age, she liked listening to her eldest grandson's stories the most. She experienced the last years of the Joseon Dynasty, the Japanese colonial era, the Korean War, Park Jung-hee, Chun and Roh, and some of the recent governments.

Why didn't his grandmother tell her eldest grandson about her experiences of joy and suffering? She remembers that the most difficult time was when her cousins, who had attended good schools during the Japanese colonial period, came home after being caught and beaten by patrol officers for allegedly communicating with the independence army and studying unsettling ideologies.
 
The happiest moments were when she had a party in her hometown, and when she was able for a couple of weeks to leave her harsh married life in Pyongyang and attend a Bible school opened by a foreign missionary and study the Bible. It was a time of learning the Korean language with other girls her age. She will never forget the time they spent together.

Whether it is a long-lived Chinese grandmother or his grandmother, the important things in our lives are experiences and memories. Although it is everything in life for a human being, the experience and memory of a group is also history. This history, information, knowledge, lessons, and wisdom needs to past down to future generations.  
 
Let's shift our focus from his grandmother, who shared her experiences with her grandchildren, to ourselves. We have to sort out and organize our life and the experiences contained in them. The key to finding meaning in the successes and failures of actions we took to survive by adapting to changes in the environment, whether we intended it or not, is what we call reflection.
 
He feels this year 2021 has gone by really fast. In fact, looking back at the end of the year, where is the time that doesn't fly like an arrow? Time is always slow at the beginning of any period, and at the end of the period, we are overcome by speed.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began early last year, continues throughout the country. Despite the vaccination rate in advanced countries, including Korea, it exploded again with the new approach of living "With Corona". Concerns are now growing over the infectious power of the Omicron mutation. In this situation, what memories will be left as this year's experience?
 
He remembers the stories that his grandmother told him and the last stanza of the song she sang lingers in his head.

"What is your hope now that you have experienced the difficulties of life. Are the riches and honors received sufficient?"

Hoping for Better Days. Happy New Year!

"Hope again!" Small merchants waiting for the new year with hope. Dreaming of a market crowded with people again. It's less than half the sales compared to before. Even if the rent is lowered the stores are closing one after another. This is the situation that many are facing because of the pandemic and the Catholic Times featured article gives the readers the thoughts and worries of some of the merchants at the start of the New Year.

 

Traditional markets  are one of the hardest hit by COVID-19. Small merchants, who have mainly operated face-to-face sales, sigh deeply. Let's listen to the stories of those who are continuing their days with hope, although it is a difficult time to celebrate the New Year.

"I've never had so few  customers before  the Christmas holidays. Not even half as much as before. I think it's worse than last year." The words Mr. Kim a clothing wholesale business owner entering his store.

He has been operating the store for 19 years since he took over the wholesale  business at the age of 30 from his relations. The time the reporter was in the store was about three hours from 8 p.m. when the store opened. Usually, this  is the time when most customers come to inquire about clothes, but almost all stores, including Kim's store, were quiet.

Kim reduced the number from three stores to one last year due to COVID-19 one of his longest workers quit when Mr.Kim had to adjust the work of the employees to four days a week and inevitably reduce wages. Kim expressed regret, saying: "It was a difficult decision, but it was an inevitable choice to be able to continue.

Although the number of customers has decreased since COVID-19, the number of customers has decreased also because  the operating hours of restaurants and cafes have been limited to 9 p.m. due to social distancing. In particular, as social distancing has been strengthened since December 18, the number of people visiting stores has decreased, increasing concerns among merchants, including Kim.

The Peace Market, which was lively, has become incomparably quiet as foreigners were blocked from entering the country and general business restrictions were imposed. Since COVID-19, about 20% of stores have closed.
 

In particular, a shopping mall with middle-aged women's clothing stores, which focused on face-to-face sales, have lowered rents from 1.2 million won to 400,000 won, but most merchants are considering closing their businesses, despite the lowering of the rent.
 

COVID-19 was the biggest disaster for another merchant who  attracted customers through face-to-face sales. "IMF, the 2008 economic crisis was not this bad."

The pastor and the  parishioners of a quasi parish in one of the markets are doing their best to give hope to the owners of businesses in one of the Seoul markets. Many find hope in their faith. "I can't imagine a life without faith in this situation." During the year-end and New Year holidays, when stores should be crowded, there are only a lot of items piled up in the shopping district.
 

Currently, merchants are leaning on faith more desperately than ever. Merchants continue day by day  looking ahead with hope that the situation will be getting better.
 

The pastor has set aside time for Holy Hour every Friday, and when the Corona 19 subsided he personally visited the market merchants to say hello prayed with them and  showed concern for their health. Merchants said they are getting a lot of strength from the pastor's interest, and they feel that the church is playing a big role.  

 

"Corona 19 is a disaster that has never been seen before for merchants who have been living in the market. In the midst of a difficult life and irregular religious life, we want to help merchants to be comforted in faith and overcome this crisis."

 

In faith, hope shines brighter when shared with our neighbors. One of the merchants who had a hard time recently due to the effects of COVID-19, but he was able to recover quickly and returned to his daily life with the interest and prayers of the parishioners.

One merchant in a  situation where it was difficult to pay the monthly rent but those who met him did  not go away empty-handed. He is giving hope to those who are more in need. "A lot of money doesn't mean I'm happy," he said adding, "When I serve and share with a heart of love, I find the true meaning of life. It's a very difficult time, but if we find hope in the Lord who is always with us and share that hope with our neighbors, someday a bright light will shine brightly on us." Happy New Year!

What Is Christianity?

In one of the recent diocesan bulletins a Catholic  University professor of theology gives the readers a brief definition of the word Christianity. Hearing how other cultures look upon issues are always a way of expanding our vision and understanding.

There are many branches of Christianity, Catholicism is one of many. Koreans call Catholicism: 천주교회(literally translated the Lord of Heaven Church). Often we hear 성당 (Holy Place) or 구교 (Old Teaching). Catholic is defined as : universal, common, open to all. 

The word '천주교' has come down to us from the 16th century. The word for Christianity in Korean is 기독교 (基督敎), there is a wide spread perception that 기독 is Protestantism and Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity are separate religions. This is obviously wrong. We all fit under the word 기독교.

What is Christianity? 

1) From the time of the infant church the best definition: Staying away from idols and through Jesus serve God. "Idols" is an attitude that considers what is not God as God. The extreme belief in one's own capabilities, attachment to money and material things, at times science and technology take the place of God. Staying away from idols was the first step. This is not unconditionally looking down or denying their value but to consider them 'all powerful' is the problem.

2) Through Jesus- the most important content. Jesus is the center of Christianity. Our faith as the name implies is a faith through Christ, in Christ and with Christ making us complete. Christ is the beginning, center and end.

 3) It is serving God- Christianity is knowing God through Jesus. We follow the one God. "Listen Israel: Yahweh our God is the one Yahweh. You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength"(Deut. 6:4). This is valid for all of us as it was for Israel.

Christianity gives answers to the first questions of humanity: life and death, meaning and purpose of life: through Christ, in Christ and with Christ searching for the answers and receiving the eternal life of faith which begins now.

In the first Chapter of John's Gospel we are told that Jesus is the word, (Logos) who is to give us life. Truly this word Logos that humans share with one another is dialogue.  God and humans share fellowship and dialogue and we humans share fellowship among ourselves.Through the word Logos of Christianity we are drawn to an intimate relationship with God. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life by which we are brought to God. This belief is Christianity.

 

How To Face Old Age and Death?

 

The Catholic Times: In the Theology of Reading the World column, the priest director of a Culture and Theology Research Center gives readers some thoughts on life.

 

Another year goes by. "The priest classmate in the next room has been fighting a terrible disease for a long time and without promise. He also feels lonely and is growing older. The coming new year is not very welcoming to either of them. Rather than a time of hope for a fresh start, it comes as a time to endure. He also knows this feeling of heart is not healthy. He tries to reconcile these thoughts with his life of faith, to live by grace, peace, and joy. 

 

The coronavirus has been around for too long. There is still no clear prospect for the end. Many things in our daily life have been limited and changed. Of course, humans are adaptive animals able to live in any environment. But little by little, the internal wounds pile up invisibly. It is difficult to predict how this unconscious repression and wounds will change us and the world. We live in an era of uncertainty. 

 

How does one endure aging and death? He doesn't want to live to tremble and in vain but live life resolutely. Nevertheless, the topic of aging and death makes an appearance. 

 

When good books about old age and death come out, he is interested. Many have always wondered how the sages and scholars of the world endure and reflect on life. Pascal Bruckner, a novelist, and philosopher recounts beautifully and persuasively his insights and wisdom of old age. "It is not life expectancy that science and technology have increased, but old age." "Rather than dreaming of a change in life, I want to be with the good things that already exist for a long time." "You can enrich your consciousness in old age by maintaining a spirit of inquiry and observation." "All we have is the present fleeting moment of eternity. As long as we love, and create, we are immortal." These few sentences were enough. However, there is still a gap between sympathizing and agreeing with the author's thoughts and emotions, and feelings. Empathy and consent provide comfort and strength, but it is entirely up to him to live that way in the reality of daily life. Everyone endures their aging and earthly death in their own way. 

 

Sometimes, the honest despair and cold realization of the meaning of life that atheists show can be refreshing. He re-read John Gray's "Cat Philosophy". He still speaks of the tragic nature of consciousness and the weakness and helplessness of the human mind. He believes that the instinct of human consciousness to seek meaning and happiness is the only thing that leads humans to anxiety and despair. His core assertion is repeated over and over again that "the good life consists in navigating through tragic contingencies, and the spiritual life is not a life in search of meaning, but a life in meaning." "The meaning of life is nothing more than a touch and a scent that comes by chance and disappears before you know what it is." He tells us not to pursue happiness and meaning, but just to live as a selfless selfish person. "Cats are selfish in that they care only about themselves and the things they love. Cats are selfless in that they have no self-image that they strive to preserve and extend. Cats do not live selfishly, they live on their own.” (「Cat Philosophy」) John Gray speaks out about the beauty of living as oneself without greed and selflessly

 

 ■ The Quest for Wisdom – The Wisdom of Faith

 

The worldly sages depend on the wisdom of life to endure the fate of extinction. Wisdom comes from inquiry and learning. Are worldly wisdom and religious wisdom different? "Wisdom is a kindly spirit" (Wisdom 1:6) and "All wisdom comes from the Lord" (Sirach 1:1). In what direction does it take place? In a world where "everything is vanity and a chasing after the wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:14), what would it look like to trust in God, live a life like Jesus, and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit? " Wisdom makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her, and graciously appears to them in the ways, and meets them with all solicitude" (Wisdom 6:16).

 

Wisdom is with us in every path of life. But, how do we who live today find and discover true wisdom? Reorganize your mind about studying the faith and studying the world. Perhaps research and study are one of the stepping-stones that help us to endure aging and fear of death and cross over to eternity?

Peace In Anger

In a recent diocesan bulletin, a director of a research center for the management of anger gives the readers some ideas on the subject.

The parents of a middle school student were having serious problems with their son's behavior. The father scolded and punished the son but it only made matters worse. The mother did a lot of shouting but only to have him shouting louder.

The father decided to send his son to his younger brother, a priest.  He stayed with him for 10 days;  during that time not once did the uncle raise his voice or show disapproval of his actions. The nephew was in high spirits, his room was a mess and filling up with trash. He did whatever he wanted. The uncle watched every move the nephew was making.

On the 10th day when the nephew was preparing to go home the uncle put the sneakers on the nephew and tied the strings bowing his head. The tears of the uncle fell on the strings of the sneaker. The nephew surprised by the tears looked into the eyes of the uncle and the uncle into the eyes of the nephew and said: "I only wish that you would live well." The nephew's strange behavior changed.

No one gets angry for the sake of anger. One gets angry because deep down inside peace is sought. The person wants to live at peace. It's a  choice of emotion to achieve peace. The object is peace and not anger.

The object of the anger of the parents was to live in peace; the object of the uncle's tears was also the peace of the nephew. The parents forgot the object and focused on the means the uncle focused on the object and selected tears. That was the difference.

Anger is a way of achieving our desire. The means can be violent or non-violent. The parents expressed the means with violence, the priest by non-violent means. Usually shown by words, with cold reason or hot anger.

When anger arises if we remind ourselves that we are looking for peace and repeat the word peace it will help deflate the anger. I am reminding myself that it is peace that I want. The object of anger is always peace. Consequently, anger can be a great means to achieve peace. Good anger will give rise to good peace.

Peace in Anger. A person who has put peace within anger is mature. Be a person of peace.

How Do You See Human Rights?

In an article in the Diagnosis of the Times column of the Catholic Peace Weekly a Human Rights Lawyer begins expressing disappointment that in recent years invitations to talks in parishes have decreased greatly. He would use the occasion to gather funds for human rights organizations in the country.

The Catholic Church in response to the demands and concerns of the times, the Catholic Human Rights Commission together with clergy, religious, and laypeople are working to protect the rights of the marginalized and those whose human rights are violated. It is a community that is active.
 
In the midst of a flood of good words, we must always ask ourselves what kind of love are we talking about with our bodies and minds. The lawyer can't forget the verses of a poem that a priest quoted in a talk to the elementary school children.

"You say you love the flowers in the field, and you pick them.
You say you love a flying bird and lock it in a cage.
You say you love the fish in the pond, and you eat them.
I'm afraid when you say you love me.
What does it mean when you say you love me?"

The Bible's words are that we should not oppress strangers because we also were once strangers. We should consider them as part of us, and we should love them like ourselves which is not our reality.
 
Originally, there was no closed society, only a closed mind in a busy and hectic world. There is only vague anxiety, prejudice, turning away in weakness with selfish ideas, and cowardice that comes from being buried in everyday life even though we know something is wrong. What is wrong must be corrected. We should always know how to be sad and angry and express it with our bodies and mind when we see humans being abused.

Prayer for World Peace is a regular part of the prayers offered by believers at Mass. We are asked where is the "world", what is "peace", and whether we sincerely "prayed" with all our heart, mind and tried to live what we prayed. Crimes such as anti-democratic tyranny, the slaughter of minorities, torture, forced migration, and forced labor are committed without hesitation, and some companies are involved, seeking only profits.

There can be no peace in our lives and in the world when we fight for our lives over "bread and fish" so that everyone can eat, and at the same time perform "miracles" of science while many people die of starvation. We must pray for world peace with a humble and fearful heart.   

He recalls the contents of a lecture tape by an American pastor. "There is a refinery of Korean crude oil. Numerous trucks load huge amounts of crude oil and enter the factory, but all trucks that come out are empty trucks. This is because all refined crude oil is used to operate the factory. This is what our church looks like today." We reflect on whether we, our family, our society, and our church are living by forgetting our dreams, lack of sharing, and many precious things under the pretext of being concerned with the finer things of life.

"There is no one poor enough not to give love, and no one rich enough not to need love." What about a small human rights practice before the end of this year? Meaningful donations to human rights organizations such as the Catholic Human Rights Commission of Korea. Showing a warm heart to those working in the field of cold human rights is also good. In the field of human rights, there is always something to do.