Crossing from culture to faith (or the lack thereof)

The Lunar New Year is a wonderful time of year. Especially in our hectic and tiresome society today, it's a nice time for families to meet up and catch up on each others' lives.

Chinese New Year is also a time when the young generation immerse themselves into the deep Chinese tradition and culture - the giving and receiving of red packets, the exchange of oranges, and the visiting of loved ones are nice traditions to follow on the occasion.

Some things and/or habits and/or traditions, however, cross the line from plain cultural to divination. And especially this Lunar New Year season, where horoscopes and zodiacs are abundant, we have to be extra vigilant.

Our Catechism teaches us: "All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil' the future. Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone" (CCC#2116).

It can't get simpler and straightforward than that. It is not just potentially dangerous to one's faith; it is also simply disrespectful to God, for us who say there is one.

Let's be clear: there is nothing wrong with reading any horoscope per se - reading in it self is not wrong: as long as what one reads does not challenge one's trust in God. If you honestly - and honesty goes a long way here - will not take any of what is written as even the slightest truth, it's all right to read. You're not "consulting" it, in this case.

But if you are the type who entertains thoughts like, "oh gosh, my year's going to be horrible!" or "I'd better stay away from ugly boys because they will cause me bad luck", be forewarned: you're in the danger-zone. Stay away.

We must each take responsibility in our own faith. The truth is, most of us know our own levels of faith. We know very well how much a superstitious statement can affect the way we live. We should act accordingly to ensure that we don't unnecessarily shake our faith. It is not for us to judge one another, but it is sure good to remind one another. At the very least, let's not judge one another for wanting to look at, or not wanting to look at horoscopes and zodiacs.

Happy Lunar New Year to one and all!

Those dreaded acronyms!

Acronyms in the Church are abundant, some having been handed down over the course of time. While it helps us remember some of the Church's Tradition, it could also confuse us. Here's a collection of acronyms and what they mean.

(Note: this is not meant to give historical background, but simply what each acronym stands for.)

IHS
The anglicised rendering of the first three Greek letters in Jesus' name, Iesous Christos.

INRI
Iesus Nazaraenus Rex Iudaeorum (Latin), which translates literally to "Jesus Christ, King of the Jews".

See Mt 27:37, Mk 15:26, Lk 23:38, Jn 19:19

- Updated 30 Jan 2008

Celebrating the conversion of Paul

Today's a big day! The Church celebrates the conversion of Saint Paul. The feast is especially significant this year, since 2008/2009 is the year dedicated to Paul. He's so great that he should always remembered as a good example of Christianhood.

In so many ways, he's my faith hero because so much of what he's experienced, said and written, I relate to so well. So many times in my faith journey when I found it hard to serve with joy because it hurt so much to be kicked around, Paul showed the way to whole-hearted service.

He played a big role in the execution of Stephen, the first martyr (Acts 7:54-8:1), and made good pleasure out of putting Christians in prison (8:3). No one in the right mind would have imagined this young man to be an instrument of God. Well, no one, except God Himself.

Jesus appeared to Paul in a bright light while Paul was still "breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord" (9:1), and asked, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (v. 4, RSV-CE). After being stunned and blinded for three days, Saul received a word from a disciple of the Lord, and boom: he got up, and got baptised (v. 18). From the Christian-hater to Christ-lover, Paul was converted - just like that.

God would eventually show Paul "how much he must suffer for the sake of my name" (v. 16). Eventually, what went around, came around for Paul. The man who once beat up and persecuted Christians, got beaten up and gave up his own life for Christ.

The Lord chose Paul to be His instrument (v. 15) despite his terrible treatment toward the Church. Guess what? We're unlikely to be any worse than Paul; God can use you too.

Paul did not say yes; he simply and "immediately proclaimed Jesus ... the Son of God" (v. 20). Paul's answer to the call was plain, simple and immediate. Is ours? Wait - we don't have to say it.

We just need to act on it now.

Feasts Days and Solemnities: what's the diff?

What’s the difference between a ‘Feast Day’ and a ‘Solemnity’?

A feast day is a day set aside for special honour God, Mother Mary, the Saints or even angels. A solemnity bears a slight difference, in that it is a festival of higher observance. In other words, a Solemnity is a ‘higher’ form of a feast.

Do angels really exist?

Do angels really exist? Or are they symbols of God's love?

They only exist if you believe in the Word of God.

It may be hard to believe in the existence, but numerous accounts of angels from the very beginning (Genesis!) show that they do!

Yet, some may say that the Old Testament is not proof enough. Then what about Jesus? The Lord Himself taught about angels! In the Gospel of Matthew, He said things like, “At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven” (22:30), and “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father” (18:10), and “For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct” (16:27).

The Catechism contains several paragraphs on angels. CCC#332, for example, tells us that “angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the accomplishment of the divine plan”. Another is CCC#336: “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession”.

“Angel” is the Greek word for “Messenger”, yet it seems that they do more then sending messages. Believe it or not, angels actually help take care of us! If Jesus said so, it must be so!

- Updated 31 Jan 2008

References:

• CCC#328: The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as clear as the unanimity of Tradition.
• CCC#329: St. Augustine says: "'Angel' is the name of their office, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is 'spirit'; if you seek the name of their office, it is 'angel': from what they are, 'spirit', from what they do, 'angel.'" With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they "always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven" they are the "mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word" (see Mt 18:10; Ps 103:20).
• CCC#330: As purely spiritual creatures angels have intelligence and will: they are personal and immortal creatures, surpassing in perfection all visible creatures, as the splendor of their glory bears witness (see Lk 20:36; Dan 10:9-12).
• CCC#331: Christ is the center of the angelic world. They are his angels: "When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him" (see Mt 25:31). They belong to him because they were created through and for him: "for in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities - all things were created through him and for him" (see Col 1:16). They belong to him still more because he has made them messengers of his saving plan: "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?"(see Heb 1:14)
• CCC#332: Angels have been present since creation and throughout the history of salvation, announcing this salvation from afar or near and serving the accomplishment of the divine plan: they closed the earthly paradise; protected Lot; saved Hagar and her child; stayed Abraham's hand; communicated the law by their ministry; led the People of God; announced births and callings; and assisted the prophets, just to cite a few examples (see Job 38:7; Gen 3:24; 19; 21:17; 22:11; Acts 7:53; Ex 23:20-23; Judg 13; 6:11-24; Isa 6:6; 1 Kings 19:5). Finally, the angel Gabriel announced the birth of the Precursor and that of Jesus himself (see Lk 1:11,26).
  
• CCC#333: From the Incarnation to the Ascension, the life of the Word incarnate is surrounded by the adoration and service of angels. When God "brings the firstborn into the world, he says: 'Let all God's angels worship him'" (see Heb 1:6). Their song of praise at the birth of Christ has not ceased resounding in the Church's praise: "Glory to God in the highest!" (see Lk 2:14). They protect Jesus in his infancy, serve him in the desert, strengthen him in his agony in the garden, when he could have been saved by them from the hands of his enemies as Israel had been (see Mt 1:20; 2:13,19; 4:11; 26:53; Mk 1:13; Lk 22:43; 2 Macc 10:29-30; 11:8). Again, it is the angels who "evangelize" by proclaiming the Good News of Christ's Incarnation and Resurrection (see Lk 2:8-14; Mk 16:5-7). They will be present at Christ's return, which they will announce, to serve at his judgement (see Acts 1:10-11; Mt 13:41; 24:31; Lk 12:8-9).
  
• CCC#334: In the meantime, the whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels (see Acts 5:18-20; 8:26-29; 10:3-8; 12:6-11; 27:23-25).
• CCC#335: In her liturgy, the Church joins with the angels to adore the thrice-holy God. She invokes their assistance (in the funeral liturgy's In Paradisum deducant te angeli. . .["May the angels lead you into Paradise. . ."]). Moreover, in the "Cherubic Hymn" of the Byzantine Liturgy, she celebrates the memory of certain angels more particularly (St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, and the guardian angels).
• CCC#336: From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession (see Mt 18:10; Lk 16:22; Ps 34:7; 91:10-13; Job 33:23-24; Zech 1:12; Tob 12:12). "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life." Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.