Crises of Faith and Morality

I just read an article on Zenit about a book published on the theological thoughts of the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

And one key concept mentioned was that "faith in Jesus Christ has different moments". And as I have been reading up on faith recently, I guess it's quite relevant to me at this moment.

"in the first place, faith in Jesus Christ is a gift"

I can relate to that part. Faith isn't something that we can earn, or get through our own efforts. As I have learnt on my own journey. Not sure if I have put my own "conversion" story in this blog yet. Must go and find, if not must put it in.

"in the second place, that gift helps us to stay with Christ"

Quite obvious... or maybe I don't really grasp the full meaning of this statement yet.

"in the third place, it becomes the way of understanding reality"

"Cardinal Ratzinger very much emphasizes knowledge of the faith which helps us to understand God, ourselves and the world; it is different from scientific knowledge." This is something that I am becoming more convinced of. Especially of late. It's only through faith that we can comprehend what God has planned for us. And only through faith, that we can see how these moral values all makes sense. Like taking sex for example(cos we had this discussion recently) given current society, other than our faith, what else is stopping us from having casual sex. Contraceptives, the media, all make it ok. But only when we look at the fruits of it, then we realise that God's way is indeed wise. But we have tried to seperate our faith from our morals. Faith becomes just believing that God exists, and that He is our saviour. But as the next point shows. It is more than that.

"in the fourth place, faith implies a free response"
here is where Cardinal Ratzinger specifies the Christian way of life, the following of Christ; and a way of advancing on that path is the morality he proposes.
The present Benedict XVI bases the following of Christ on what he calls the ethics of faith. For him, Christian morality must be founded on faith in Christ which stems from an encounter with him, not only as a personal experience but also as a reality full of meaning.

And this is the hardest part about our faith in Christ. To respond, freely and fully. To allow Him to transform us. And like we celebrated in yesterday's Corpus Christi liturgy, to become one with the Body that we receive. Hmm...maybe that is the meaning of the second point.

7kg Overweight

We met Fr Ignatius Yeo or Fr Iggy at Bishop Yong's 80th birthday celebration on thurs. And we asked him why he wasn't eating, and he said he just went for medical checkup and found out that he was 7kg overweight. Looking at Fr Iggy who would ever think that he is overweight.

So we were asking how he could be overweight. And he jokingly replied, "yah, because of this invisible cross that I'm carrying"

Anyway, I chanced upon this Flash Animation which someone once sent to me, about the crosses that we carry. Quite nice.

If you can't view it, you can download it at http://www.donghaeng.net/english/duty/duty.swf

Reaching for the Invisible God

I'm just started reading this book called Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip Yancey. Yes, he is a protestant writer, and yes, I bought the book because the cover was attractive. But the most important reason was because I bought this book in the Philippines last year, and I was really wanting to improve my relationship with a God that I can't see.

But I never got down to reading it, until now. I took nearly a year to finally finish Purpose Driven Life. Jialat, how to go and study next year.

Anyway, I suck at doing book reviews. So if you expect an objective or informative review of the book, go search amazon.com or something.

Just to share what I've read and reflected so far, we are all physical beings living in material world. And we want God to communicate with us in ways that appeal to our senses.

"We yearn for visibility, hoping to bring the supernatural down to our level of materiality"(pg 29)

No wonder people are always on the look out for miracles. The image of Mary appearing on a piece of toast, Mother Teresa on a cinnamon bun, Jesus on a fence in brisbane. And people will flock just to SEE a sign.

It just brings to mind the song "Down in Adoration Falling" that we sing, and the line that goes

"Faith for all defects supplying, Where the feeble senses fail."

And indeed the 3rd chapter deals with Faith and Doubt.
I shall just end of with a quote. And continue to read the rest of the book.

"without somehow destroying me in the process,
how could God reveal Himself in a way that would leave no room for doubt?
if there were no room for doubt, there would be no room for me."

Frederick Buechner

Eating Alone & God's Crazy Dog

Not sure if people notice this about me, but something I realised of myself recently. I don't like to eat alone. Especially eating alone outside. If ever I was alone, I would tapow and bring back to office or home to eat.

Maybe because I'm too into the table of fellowship concept, where mealtime is also for fellowship. But anyway, so this evening, I was stuck with the situation, where I didn't have food at home, and didn't have anyone to have dinner with. So the thought came to mind again. Grab something, go home and eat in front of the TV.

But then remembering that I have this wierd behaviour, I asked myself why. Maybe because eating isn't enough of an activity for me to do alone. I have to either have people to talk to, TV to watch, newspaper to read, or in the poly canteen days, girls to look at.

And so I decided to take a book along to read while I ate. It was quite a wierd feeling at first, sitting there by myself, and I started to look around at others. There were many groups of people, but there were 2 guys sitting alone. I even started observing what they did.

But then I told myself to just read my book. And surprisingly it was quite an enjoyable time. Just relaxing, eating, reading, being by myself. So enjoyable, that as I was walking home in my bliss, I forgot that I had actually parked my van at Jalan Nira. And just as I walked past my van, this mad dog in the house started barking crazily. And as I turned back to look at it, I saw my van.

Without the dog, I would have just walked home happily and totally forgotten about my van. Praise God, for using the dog to get my attention.

Psalm 34

Tues Nite Sharing
Last night's passage was from Psalms 34

Vs 1 of the Psalm struck me, "I will bless the LORD at all times", or at least I that was something that was in my mind the whole day, given the realisation on monday.

How hard is it for us to keep God in mind all the time.
In the morning I had a conversation with a muslim friend of mine from poly, and he was telling me that he is not a practicing muslim. And some part of the conversation, the topic of "external religious" & "internal religious" We focus on the external rituals, symbols, efforts because they are the visible signs. But what is most important is what is inside.

So that was how it started my day, looking at what it means being internally religious. Then I read one of the Pope's speeches.

We have to be His(Jesus) true friends, to share His feelings, to want what He wants and not want what He does not want."

Pope Benedict XVI, in his speech to the clergy of Rome"

I read the readings for the day, and it all kept reminding me of the same theme.

"Commit your life to the LORD; trust Him and He will act" (Psa 37:5)

And that was the exact phrase that Fr Ho started his mass with. And that was what I was reflecting on during the whole mass. Commit your life...your whole life...not 1 sunday a week, not 1 hour a day or 1 rosary a day, or even like City Harvest's Pastor Kong said "Not 10% of your salary". Wah piang...how to do man.

And then Fr Ho's sermon brought up the first line of the first reading. "When you aspire to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials." (Sir 2:1) He kept emphasising the word "aspire" and "aspiring" which made me listen up. and I guess that is the message for me. To aspire to serve the Lord, in everything. "To want what He wants, and not want what He does not want". And its not going to be an easy road. For I'm sure the devil has picked me up on his radar.

So please pray for me lots. Thanks.

WWYD & WWJD

WWJD - What would Jesus Do?
That is the question that has been coming up over the weekend. WWJD when confronted with a moral dilemma, WWJD at a PPC meeting, WWJD about dvd piracy and even as I found out last nite in the CAYC toilet, WWJD in the toilet.

So when Gerry posed this scenario to me, and asked What Would You Do? Inside me, was hmm what would Jesus have done?

Gerry : There was this priest standing outside the church, waiting for mass to end. Then he saw these two boys walking out of church with one party scolding the other, kept on scolding the other. He walked up to both the boys and asked what was the matter. The former then told the other boy, "you tell Father, you tell Father what in the world did you do just now?" The second boy kept silence. The priest's curiousity was aroused and he asked what was the matter again. The first boy got real fed-up and told the priest "Just now we went up for communion, this friend of mine isnt catholic and I told him to go up with his arms across his chest and ask for blessings. I told him repeatedly." Then when we walked up, when he saw everyone stretching out his hands, he too followed likewise and do so. Aiyo, Father, my friend not catholic, how can he receive the Body of Christ??" The second boy still kept silent. The priest was pretty amused and before he could react, the second boy stretched out his arms, opened his hands and said "Here, take your God back." so what will you have done in this situation?

Terence : said "no he is your God too"

Gerry : and? what are you doing to do with the host that is still in his hand?

Terence : I would take it from him, and use it to explain to him....not why he cannot receive God. but explain to him a bit about the eucharist. and ask him...if he wants to find out more about this God that loves him

Gerry : i see i see, thank you for your answer :)

Terence : model answer....steady right.
hope can do it if it happens in real life ;-)

And my last statement really made me think. Given this kind of scenarios or questions, we have time to stop and think, what is the "Christianly correct" thing to do. To think WWJD then. But if it were to happen in real life, would I be able to think that on the spot? Or would it depend on my mood that day.

Sadly to say, the "WWJD fad" came and gone. It was a fad, because it was just a fashion statement, all the accessories. It became the In Thing. But like I was reflecting last nite in the ador. Unless I constanly seek to do Christ's work in my life, its going to need a lot of reminders like a WWJD wristband to remind me. I won't be able to say all the right stuff to the young boy who comes with the host in his hand.

And I think the last line from yesterday's Gospel puts it quite simply "This kind can only come out through prayer." (Mk 9:29)

Drop a comment and share What would you do in the situation of the priest.

1 John 5 : 5

"Who can overcome the world?
Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."
(1 John 5 : 5)

Got this quote from the first reading of the feast of St Cyril which is today. And I guess it's a kick start for me to start blogging again.

Yes I know I've stopped blogging for 23 days (hey my favourite number), reasons which I will put in my 15th Mar post which I will back date. So please check back, cos I will put up some thoughts which I have procrastinated from putting up.

Anyway this quote today struck me because of 2 things.
First it talks about "overcoming the world". And last night, I was at a wedding dinner, stuck at a table of old marist school mates, some who I haven't seen since graduation. And so the usual "what you doing now?"... I was between a 'financial planner', a financial analyst, and a auditor. And I guess the discussion on financial planning, investments, policies made me think. I'm currently in this state where I'm very critical of some professions that are around, that revolve around money instead of a product. Thankfully there were 2 teachers in the table which consoled me that some people still have 'real' jobs.

And I guess this leads to the second part, "the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God". I just read an article, I think in Zenit or something, about how people are acknowledging less the presence of God in their lives. Which is so true, and I guess it doesn't help that the society itself is moving off in a way which really shows that the Christ's ways are not the ways of the world.

How to stop being too critical, and moving forward to change the world. I guess Alvin's posting of St. Francis of Assisi's Quote was timely.

“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.”