The Manger in our hearts

Christmas Eve Homily (December 24, 2009)

(This is my first Homily as Deacon, written in English but delivered in Mandarin)

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. All our preparation and waiting has finally come to its climax and indeed we should rejoice for Today is born our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord! Even if we receive expensive and precious gifts from our loved ones, nothing can top the greatest gift we are given by God, His only Son.

Look at our nativity house here, maybe it is just a beautiful decoration for us. For some of us we may immediately recognize its theologically sound representation: the Alpha, Omega, the Word made flesh. Outside the church is another nativity house, beautifully made and depicted a more familiar scene we often hear, read or watch: Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and their sheep, and the wise men. Which ever do you prefer both tell us of a real and life changing experience: Mary’s Fiat, Joseph’s silent obedience, the shepherds awakening, the wise men following of the star. Everyone’s experience is unique yet everyone is led to Jesus. The ways of preparation differ in time and degree yet each way is directed to the manger.

We can examine our life’s experience too. We may have had a lot of ups and downs, or maybe at this moment we are so relax and free, but do our experiences lead us to know Jesus?  Do we see ourselves being part of the manger? Do we experience the joy of after having gone through highs and lows we finally see the fruit of our labors? The answer to each of these questions is very important because if we want our rejoicing to be complete and long lasting it must be born out of that experience with Jesus. A child was born in a manger; the Word was made flesh precisely because He willed to dwell among us, Emmanuel – God with us. This is indeed a very Good News because whether our life’s experience is good or bad we are assured that we are not alone in the journey and we have hope of a safe destination.

My friend and I took us a week to make the two nativity houses. It took us hours to plan, even long hours to build them. We spent money for materials, transportation and food all for one clear purpose: we want to build, not just a manger, but a beautiful and meaningful manger for everyone to appreciate. In our own lives we too spent a lot of our time and effort in building our careers and ambitions in life, sometimes to useless endeavors, yet we forget to build our own beautiful and meaningful manger. We easily give up and thought it will never be done or we rushed on building it just for the sake of pride or for the sake of just having one. The building of a beautiful and meaningful manger lies on the clarity of goal. The beauty and appreciation of our experience lies on the manger we built in our heart.

Have a beautiful, joyful and blessed Christmas everyone!

Life is a Mystery

(Matthew 1: 18-25)

What is the difference when one says ‘life is a problem’ and the other one says ‘life is a mystery’? The one who treats life as a problem should simply have to find a solution to it because every problem has a solution. On the other hand, the one who views life as a mystery should simply live life as it is, with its ups and downs because mystery has God as its answers.

In the Gospel today we are presented the story of the birth of Jesus. Who would have thought that it could be this complicated. Why God did not just let the birth of His son be smooth and easy? Why does He need to involve ordinary people like Mary and Joseph who just want to have a simple and happy family life? The Gospel emphasized the complications by telling us of the marital condition of Mary and Joseph. In the Jewish matrimonial tradition, the would-be couple should undergo three stages of preparation: the engagement, which is often made when the couple were only children, then the betrothal which is considered the ratification of the engagement, once it is done it is considered binding. It lasted one year and the couple is already known as man and wife, even without its rights. The betrothal can only be terminated through divorce. The third and final stage is the marriage proper, which usually takes place after the year of betrothal.

c/o catholic.nowealthbutlife.com

Poor Mary and Joseph we may think. They are the most ordinary citizens, who like many of us only want to live each day, one at a time; with simple dreams; who only wish to have a simple yet happy family life. And yet out of their being ordinary God chose them to reveal His plan and chose them to be the vessel by which His plan may be fulfilled.  You see that is the point. God chooses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. You don’t have to become Ms Universe, or a Summa cum laude or the President of a nation or a CEO of a huge company to be special in the eyes of God. In the criteria of God being simple and ordinary is always His pattern of greatness and triumph.

But the story of life does not stop by being simple and ordinary. One must be willing to become instruments of God. Willingness is actually the only thing that matters in the end.  A person who is willing obeys, not by doing something out of blind obedience but with confidence and trust. Joseph being a righteous man wished to divorce Mary in secret, and his being a righteous man gave him that confidence and trust to not only listen but obey the will of God. We must not forget that we are created for greatness, designed for fellowship and friendship with God.

This is the second point. God wants us to be involved in the whole process because He willed to be one among us in everything except to sin. He accepted the fact that our life is not that easy and that men’s life is too complicated to handle. If He is going to be like us and among us, he needs to feel the pressure, the lows and highs, and all the troubles life brings. In that way we could not complain that God does not understand our miseries and pains because He is God. That is correct; He is God yet willed to take our human form so that each time we cry out to him in supplication we will be assured that He feels for us. We are confident to say that each time we come to Him, He hears our prayers and that He only gives what is best for us. Indeed, what a loving God we have in our midst.

This is the last point. In our midst a Savior is born, and His name is Jesus. In Jesus alone we can see what God is like, and what God wishes men to see and accomplish. In Jesus we see the love, the compassion, the mercy, the seeking heart, the purity of God as no man has seen and experienced. “Men did not really know what goodness was, but in Jesus we see true manhood, true goodness, and true obedience to the will of God. Life is quite different when Jesus teaches us how to look at things by opening our eyes to see things as they truly are. Jesus came to tell us the truth about God and the truth about ourselves.”

瑪竇一: 18-25

生命是一個問題和人生是一個奧秘的區別何在？一當一個人把生命看成問題時, 他應該只需要找到一個解決辦法，因為每一個問題都有一個解決方案。在另一方面，當一個人說生命是一個奧秘，他必須要渡過一個鮮活的生命，接受生命中的酸甜苦辣, 因為對一個奧秘, 只有天主才有答案。

在今天的福音，我們聽到了有關耶穌誕生的故事。誰會想到，它也可以這麼複雜。為什麼天主不只是讓祂的兒子出生平整，容易嗎？為什麼天主需要涉及老百姓像瑪麗亞和若瑟, 他們只是想有一個簡單而幸福的家庭生活？

你看這是問題所在。天主要我們參與了整個過程，因為祂願意住我們中間, 也願意跟我們完全一樣，除了犯罪。他接受了人類的生活不那麼容易，而人的生活太複雜處理。如果天主將要和我們一樣, 住我們中間，祂需要感到壓力，人生的低點和高點，生活中所帶來的麻煩。這樣，我們不能以怨抱怨向天主說祂不理解我們的苦難和痛苦，因為祂是神。是沒錯，祂是神, 但祂願意成為人，使我們人類每一次掉眼淚向祂祈求, 我們放心因為祂完全感受我們的情況。每一次我們來到天主面前，我們有信心地說，祂一定會聽到我們的祈禱，而祂只給了我們什麼是最好的。的確, 在我們當中, 我們有一位神對我們有多麼偉大的愛。

在我們當中誕生了一個救世主，祂的名字叫耶穌。在耶穌內，我們可以看到天主，和看到人的本質如何。在耶穌內我們會看到了天主的愛，仁慈，慈悲，純潔。人本身真不知道什麼是良善，但在耶穌內，我們就看到人真正的善，真正服從神的旨意。當耶穌教導我們如何看待事物，打開我們的眼睛看情況，人生則是會有新的意義和價值。

When the ‘King’ became ‘Cheap' (on Fr Jejemon Movie)

picture c/o Pinoy Movie Blog

The Catholic Church is once again challenged if not provoked by the new trends in Filipino pop culture. The recent issue on the movie of the king of comedy became the hot topic not only on showbiz tables but among the community of ‘religious men and women’. Dolphy, known for his comedic role is once again starring on his new film entitled Fr Jejemon. There are two controversial scenes in the movie which shows Dolphy playing a priest and while giving communion to communicants ‘accidentally’ dropped the sacred Host into the cleavage of a lady communicant. Another scene showed the sacred Host getting stuck between the dentures of an elderly woman.

Although this (may) happen in real life, its depiction still offends and disrespects the belief on the sanctity of the sacred Host. The Church officials and some Catholic groups called the attention of the MTRCB and urged the deletion of the controversial scenes. The king of comedy had apologized publicly to all who were offended and strongly denied that he had intention to fight against the Catholic Church.

While Dolphy has the purest intentions, the producers or the people behind its production might have had another motive. If we carefully analyze the reactions and counter reactions we will find some inconsistencies and perhaps a malicious motive to flare up the issue.

1. Any controversial issue creates an imprint to the minds of the people thus the only way to satisfy one’s curiosity is to delve into the issue. This is precisely the oxygen of popular culture. In the case of controversial films (or scenes) people long to see the movie. In such a scenario, creating an issue will definitely give the film producers the win-win advantage.

2. Dolphy professed in the interviews that he is a sagradong Katoliko (devout Catholic). But for that matter is it not for any real devout Catholic (or believer), by common sense and act of good conscience should have carefully considered and known the outcome of the said scenes, and that those scenes will only do harm than good? Yet the scenes were intended to be included. Making people happy through inappropriate means are always offensive and disrespectful.

Now that the damage was done and the issue on hot seats, amassing different reactions and people’s attention, the movie, its lead actor and producers are crossing their fingers that the trick will work. It may be a huge success but it will definitely not be on the list of valuable movies. It may be a flop which will only show that people are smart enough not to be bullied by malicious tricks.

Victorious "Hero"

Solemnity of Christ the King

(Luke 23: 33-45)

(c/o tvcrazy.net)

I grew up with superheroes as icons for justice and victory.  From ‘Super Friends’ to Voltes V, Mask Rider, Transformers, and yes even Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li’s kung fu, and the one in local am radio’s ‘Zimatar’. We are at awe with their mask, capes and weapons and overjoyed with their innate abilities and amazing powers to topple evil and save lives. We grew fascinated with their superpowers and existence that oftentimes we dream of becoming like one of them. But as reality unveils itself, we discover these superheroes only exist in our ideas and dreams. For how can they exist and do nothing to stop war, killing, cursing, oppression, and injustice. We call them superheroes because they save lives and win the fight against evil. If they are not real then eventually our concept of justice and victory will change dramatically. 

But we have in our midst someone who is more than a superhero. Because unlike superheroes He is real; He became flesh and dwelt among us. Unlike superheroes, He saved lives by losing His, and then by His resurrection humanity has the chance to live forever. Unlike superheroes He used the power of the Cross, His Body and Blood to bring evil to its defeat and save us. Unlike superheroes He wore the crown of thorns, nails and wooden cross to show that we can win our battle too. Unlike superheroes the impact of His message of hope, freedom and victory lasts; that evil can be overcome by good; that whistling in the darkness can be a sign of hope; that in the end good still has the last word.

(c/o familyfeastandferia.wordpress.com)

He is Jesus Christ, and He is King.

But His kingdom is not here on earth. It is true that His kingdom can be realized on earth but that is just a taste of the real beauty and splendor of the Kingdom which He established and which awaits those who believe.

For an ordinary man this is foolishness. Just like one of the two criminals crucified with him. He joined the chorus of men jeering at Him and cried for help out of desperation. But for a man of faith, no matter how evil presents itself and turn the world up side down, it will never win the battle. Just like the other criminal who opens his mouth to say the truth and then open his heart to recognize his King, “Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.”

Jesus assures him, that ‘today’ His kingdom belongs to him. This assurance is what makes a real hero victorious. 

No Japanese

I was walking along a street towards my place when I passed by an alley of foot and body massage clinic/spa and there an attractive lady in her 30’s ask me with her thick ‘Japanese accent’, “hwant-a ma-ssage-yi?” There were only two possibilities, she’s Japanese or I am. But neither was. She had mistaken me for a Japanese tourist, since I am in my leather shoes, winter sweatshirt, along with my SLR camera safely hanging round my neck, ready anytime to snap interesting sceneries. The on-going international flora expo nearby may have contributed to her spontaneous approach since a lot of Japanese tourists visit the site lately, along with a five-star hotel nestled along the main road.

So what’s the big deal? Obviously it was completely an honest mistake. I just realized two things though: the way we dress leaves impression of our social status. If we dress formal and elegant, it leads other people to assume we are included in Forbes’ list. If we dress casual, we’re just someone who happens to be passing by. The other thing is one’s nationality defines also one’s social status. Like if you are Japanese, almost everybody think you are rich, but in reality for some they just happened to be Japanese. The same with most Koreans in the Philippines, back home they are just common people like the color purple. The point is we should not allow ourselves to be defined by ‘social stereotyping’ rather let us define ourselves to be dignified, decent and credible individuals. In doing so, we transform to become a moral society.

The next time I pass by that same alley and the same lady approaches me again, I would stop, smile at her and tell her, “No Japanese…Watashi wa Firipin-jin desu! Xiexie!” If this happen, another blog post is on its way to be scribbled and posted.

Accent does not matter, Good communication does!

c/o asianbite.com

A Korean TV actress in one of her appearances in a Korean show, outraged ‘some’ Filipinos when she mimic the latter’s way of speaking English. A lot of Koreans flock to the Philippines to learn English and logic would say that Filipinos are good English speakers and teachers otherwise these Koreans would not spend money for tutorial no matter how inexpensive the tuition may be.

The issue is not on Filipinos’ English proficiency but on the way Filipinos speak English. She made fun of the accent we produce when speaking English. Admittedly we have thick accent and it is so because our tongue is accustomed to our mother language, like Tagalog, when spoken the weight of the word goes with its meaning. But with good training and practice one can be very good with his or her English pronunciation and accent, as would be obvious among many Filipinos living and working in English speaking countries.

I was not offended by this actress’ mimicking for two obvious reasons: most Filipinos undeniably have thick accent, although her version was a little bit exaggerated (or maybe that’s the way she speaks English), and every English speaker has his or her own accent. Accent only matters to people who set standards and look down on other people. But for communication’s sake, one should not copy cat another group’s accent just to feel belong or pretend being like them, because what a good communication needs is to deliver the message, get it right and makes it understandable.

A lot of people who put too much emphasis on accent end up either frustrated (for not achieving one’s purpose) or sounding stupid (for speaking more than a native speaker does). I always tell my Taiwanese students (yes, I teach English) to prioritize pronouncing the words correctly, then accent is just an option. With their tongue not accustomed to Western language, pronouncing a word with a western accent can be dreadful to the ears, just like this Korean actress does.

One piece of advice to my countrymen: speak and learn English the way we used to. But please do not ‘make a mountain out of a molehill’. 

ASK

(c/o beyondbluestockings.wordpress.com)

Asking for something from someone can be expressed differently. Some may use please as a gesture and others may articulate a commanding voice. But just the same if we want to achieve something from someone there must be an effort on our part, no matter how little or great it may be. All we have to do is ask.  The word itself reminds us of Jesus’ words of encouragement to those who are hopeless. All we have to do is ASK: Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find, Knock and the door shall be opened up to you (Mt 7:7). It is an act of faith and a complete surrender to the providence of God.

Dishwashing Service

God really has His own way of teaching us the right way. Simple things or ordinary circumstances can really be a good avenue to feel that God is around, continuously leading us to become like Him. I just had lunch with the sisters, enjoyed the food and our conversation. Ordinarily after the meal, we (priests) will just leave the used utensils on the table and the sisters will later take care of them. However, I was trying to be polite (or maybe trying to prove a point again?) since washing the dishes, of all household chores is the one I excel doing. Meaning no big deal for me, peanuts! Alongside with that is the fact that ‘we (priests) should not be served, but should serve, or at least be always available to serve.’ False humility maybe but that is how I’ve felt I need to do, so I took my utensils with me and washed them myself. A sister saw me and immediately cried out to leave them there, “Father, I will take care of them!” Sisters are always in competition to serve, especially to serve the priests. I guess this is the point I am getting at, ‘please, do not spoil us!’ But to my dismay (in a funny way) the sister’s insistence of taking care of the utensils was not because of the issue of service but she thought I don’t wash the utensils clean enough. Ha! As if I was not born with ‘not a silver spoon in my mouth, but literally ‘dishes’ in my mouth.

 

I ended up washing the utensils twice with warm water, double checked them for any minuscule stain, before placing them in their proper place anyway. I hope that loveable sister will approve my ability to wash dishes and let me do it next time with no hesitation whatsoever.

Breaking the continuity in our life is one thing that is ‘easier said than done’ to adjust ourselves with. We rather do it our own way rather than letting others do it then later cause us nuisances. But if this will always be the case then we are limiting others and ourselves to be of service. We highly respect the idea of ‘privacy’ in our vowed life, but there should be a clear distinction on which areas should be considered private and public. But is it not the true spirit of service is always both private and public? Private in the sense that we do it for God and for God alone, and public because God represents all good things, seen or unseen, and ‘whatever we do to the least of our brethren we do it for Him’. For all we know, by allowing others to serve us, we are also allowing ourselves to be of service to them. Simple truth yet we overlooked or simply forgot.

So I will be waiting again for another lunch with them, and will happily do the same thing right after. Until the issue of real service find its way into our hearts.

By the way, did I mention the food is great? Yes, palatable. But you have to wash your own utensils.

Bad luck, Fate, Lessons from Above?

I got up this morning a little bit lazy. You know the kind of “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” feeling. I got up anyway and attended our Lauds (I will say mass tonight in another parish). I went back to bed right after and slept a little longer. I woke up again, had my breakfast and prepared to go to school.  I tried a different route going to the school today, just to satiate my curiosity on whether I could spend less time or just to prove a point that I have alternative, should I run out of time. I knew it was rush hour and yet I wheeled to that direction. Obviously the result is the opposite. I arrived in school anyway.

I left the school a few minutes ahead of the bell in order to exit smoothly from the campus and in order to avoid the shame of driving my car along side Ferraris and Lexi. I managed my way out, driving very smoothly towards home. Just a few blocks my place I have decided to try another route which for some time entertaining my curious mind. Again, calculating the time I will save and the possibility of having alternatives. The road is a bit narrow, side by side cars occupying the inner lane. Presto, as I approached a crossroad a speeding goods truck suddenly appeared and there I bumped my car. I was okay, shocked but managed to confront the driver of the truck. Of course, no one is admitting the mistake so I dialed for help. It was my second car accident here in Taiwan, the first time some three years ago.

*already repaired*

My car bumped his and whether it was his mistake or not, the sketch will clearly decide in favor of him. My car was greatly damaged, his with a very minute scratch. A policeman came but gave us the option to settle it amicably, meaning I still ended up handing the driver a thousand NT. He just told me to charge what happened to bad luck. Am I infuriated? No. Was it my mistake? Partly. But why did I allow having it settled that way? Again, the sketch will clearly show I bumped his truck. So it was really bad luck for both of us, or just me? But I didn’t look it that way. I went home, shocked but in a very deep reflective mood. In my mind is the question ‘What is God telling me?’ You may be hissing to tell me to leave God out of the picture and just be careful, period! But it is a fact that in driving no matter how careful you are if other drivers are not, then you will still meet an accident. Then should we leave what happened to fate? And our arguments will go on. So I will just settle myself with my first question, What is the message of God to me?

I will tell you tomorrow or as soon as I receive an answer. I am sure God is telling me something. In the meantime, I will rest but keep myself open and waiting for His message. Please say not just a little but a bunch of prayer for me. Thank you. And yes, I will be more careful, hopefully it will not happen again.

O, the bliss of being a Christian!

General Facts on Beatitudes[1]                                                                                      

1.  Beatitudes are not pious hopes of what shall be. The blessedness which belongs to the Christian is not a blessedness which is postponed to some future world of glory; it is a blessedness which exists here and now. It is not something which the Christian will enter; it is something which a Christian has entered. True, it will find its fullness and its consummation in the presence of God, but for all that it is a present reality to be enjoyed here and now. The very form of the beatitudes is the statement of the joyous thrill and radiant gladness of Christian life.
2. The word blessed which is used in each of the beatitudes comes from the Greek word Makarios, which specially describes the gods. In Christianity there is a divine and godlike joy. The beatitudes speak of that joy which seeks us through our pain, that joy which sorrow and loss, and pain and grief, are powerless to touch, that joy which shines through tears, and which nothing in life or death can take away.
3. The world can win its joys, and the world can equally well lose its joys. A change in fortune, a collapse in health, the failure of a plan, the disappointment of an ambition, even a change in the weather, can take away the fickle joy the world can give. But the Christian has the serene and untouchable joy which comes from walking forever in the company and in the presence of Jesus Christ.

真福八端所說的真福，不是什麼「將來的」或是「遙不可及」的許諾，它就在「眼前」，就在「現在」。真福八端是一個幸福的存在，此時此地。它不是一種基督徒在將來會進入的門, 而是基督徒現在已經進入了。 雖然它在天主的存在才能獲得圓滿和完善，但對於所有的，是一個目前的現實，現在和在這裡可以享受的。幸福的真形式在於喜樂的基督徒生活。

(c/o pebblesministry.blogspot.com)

真福八端的這個「福」字，的確「富有非比」尋常的意義，希臘原文叫 “Makarios”，它是指只有神才能夠享受的那種福氣。在基督教形容了一種神聖的喜悅。它是那種內心深處所感受的幸福，它不受任何外來的因素干擾, 是那種連痛苦,悲傷和損失都無能為力去觸摸的歡樂，並沒有在生活或死亡可以奪走的幸福，因為它的根種植在永遠不變的天父身上。

這個世界可以贏得它的樂趣，和世界同樣也可以失去的歡樂。比如說一個改變命運，健康崩潰，失敗的計劃，失望的野心，甚至是天氣的變化，可以帶走變幻無常的世界能給予的喜悅。但基督徒的平靜和不可熄滅的喜悅來自我們與耶穌基督同行, 都會永遠存在。

(c/o wists.com)

中國人所講的有福氣的人──就是有【五福】。1.壽：長命百歲之意。2.富：多財多子之意。3.康寧：身體健康，心靈安寧之意。4.修好德：所好者德之意。5.考終命：善終之意（死也要好好地死）.

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[1] The Gospel of Matthew, Vol. 1 (The Daily Study Bible), William Barclay, The Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh.