2016 - a Year of Active Encounters with God’s Mercy

Every passing year is to be thankful for and the year 2016 is particularly thankworthy for a number of reasons.



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On top of the list is my active participation in a variety of activities in celebration of the Holy Year of Mercy, which has just drawn to an end. There were spiritual retreats, Bible reading gatherings, choir singing in concerts, pilgrimages to the local churches, the Opening and Closing of the Holy Door, to name just a few. Even our Sunday school curriculum included acts of charity in association with the theme of the Jubilee Year. In fact, each and every one of the activities was an encounter with the mercy of our Heavenly Father. The most memorable was undoubtedly the pilgrimage to the Holy Land in April. The visits to the places of Jesus’ birth, his baptism, his ministry work and finally his crucifixion have impressed me so greatly that the scenes still remain vivid on my mind, helping me to get more inspired than ever before when doing Bible reading.

In addition, I feel myself more enriched spiritually by attending a few courses. “Bible in 80 Weeks’, which began in June, 2015, drew to its close shortly before the Holy Land pilgrimage. We did not feel the loss for long, though, as another Bible course was soon launched in September, keeping us engaged and motivated for ten weeks in St. Paul’s prison letters. I took great delight not only in the input of the speakers but also in sharing with the group members. I would not have got so much enlightened if I had done only solitary reading.



https://angelachonglaikun.blogspot.com/2016/12/inspirations-from-course-on-catholic.html

But I feel most gratified for having enrolled in the course on “Catholic Social Teaching”. As implied in the name of the textbook used, it was a treasure to be explored, then discovered and finally kept for life. It has brought to light what I used to be ignorant of. I now understand that as a citizen as well as a child of God, I have my commitment to social justice. I also understand better what is meant by “loving God and our neighbours” and ‘building the kingdom of God on earth’. In fact, not only has the course enhanced my sense of belonging to the church, it has made me more emotionally attached to my Christian belief.

https://angelachonglaikun.blogspot.com/2016/09/that-daily-hour.html

Honestly, there have been moments when I doubted God’s presence. I did question God why he had allowed my sister to suffer from a disease terrible beyond words. I even asked why God had created mankind at all. Yes, those had been the moments when my faith was challenged. But it was also during her bitter days, months and years that I witnessed God’s mercy. Initially, she may have blamed God for the miserable state she was in. But over time we saw her gradually pacified with strengthened faith. God had blessed her with patience, courage and perseverance to endure the prolonged ordeal. Though deprived of her speech ability, she prayed with her husband peacefully with her eyes closed every morning. Besides us family members, she would only permit the priests, pastors and nuns to visit her, showing her eagerness to have contact with God through their help. Besides, she also had the fortune of being looked after by kind and caring medical staff. And on the night when she passed away, there was peace on her face, the kind of peace we had not seen for years. We were sad at the loss … we still are. But we do not have the least doubt that she’s now enjoying eternal peace in God’s embrace. From her, I have learned how to be submissive to God’s will with the entire trust in Him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s56n9T4FzM 

My involvement in a documentary film, which was a review of my life as a teacher, was another experience of closeness to God. I am thankful to the producer for including my spiritual life in the documentary. Listening to the interviewed teachers and students sharing about my past, I could not but think of God. Without His support and encouragement throughout all those long years of my teaching career, I could not have overcome the numerous hurdles and challenges all the way along and got my commitments implemented with satisfaction. I still view the documentary every now and then. While relishing the sweet fruits of my efforts, I also remind myself to count my blessings. God has shown caring concern for my passion for language. If it was under God’s guidance that I took up language teaching decades ago, it must have been his arrangement that my freelance work since my retirement is also language-related.

The past year has been an eventful one. Whether it will be remembered more for the happy achievements or the sad losses, one thing is for sure: I will always look back upon it with gratitude for God’s mercy and with determination to seek spiritual enlightenment and enrichment through greater involvement in the service of God.

Inspirations from the Course on Catholic Social Teaching

It was two days before the deadline that I submitted my course enrolment form. I had been hesitant about enrolling in the course on Catholic Social Teaching as I had limited knowledge about the subject. Besides, I thought the implementation of the social mission was only the concern of certain individuals or communities. I was even under the impression that our faith was merely reliant on our personal relationship with God. Social or even world affairs, on the other hand, were far beyond me.



Now, however, I realize that the Catholic Social Doctrine refers to the 11 encyclical letters written by the popes or bishops of different eras in response to the social and political situation of the time, providing new concepts and solutions to existing problems and challenges after careful analysis. Through dialoguing with the world, Social Teaching also provides people of different eras with the values of life in line with their faith as well as social norms coherent with human social behavior. In addition, Social Teaching, based on the evangelical spirit, helps the Christians to reflect on their faith and to make the correct decisions and choices when their conscience happens to conflict with practical issues. Moreover, Social Teaching places emphasis on the Role of the Prophet the Church ought to play, encouraging the Catholics to properly carry out their civic responsibilities, to insist on the truth of Christian faith and bravely put forth their point of view regarding social affairs.



Then what inspirations have I got from the course? What viewpoints do I need to express publicly? I think one of the problems worth reflecting on is that about human rights. For a long time there has been social concern about individual rights. However, the human rights advocated by the church are concerned with the dignity and rights of the individual as well as the overall interests of mass society. As God has entrusted mankind to take care of the world, the use of the earth and its ownership is inseparable.



At present Macau’s society seems affluent. In fact, however, economic development is inclined towards the gaming industry. The government also allows property speculators to maximize their profits by snapping up land unceasingly, resulting in serious social problems: Resources are unevenly distributed; there is a widening gap between the rich and the poor; the rent has soared beyond the means of the average man, low-wage earners are obliged to put up with the poor living conditions in cramped super-tiny slum apartments. The high rent has also caused many shops to wind up their business. Those that manage to survive have to raise the prices of goods, resulting in high living costs and mounting social complaints. “The lack of housing is being experienced universally and is due in large measure to the growing phenomenon of urbanization.35 Even the most highly developed peoples present the sad spectacle of individuals and families literally struggling to survive, without a roof over their heads or with a roof so inadequate as to constitute no roof at all. ( SOLLICITUDO REI SOCIALIS 17) ” God created heaven and earth to enable all mankind to have the opportunity to enjoy all the resources. Land ownership should not be the exclusive right of certain wealth groups. It is definitely social injustice if only a few selfish persons are allowed to grab the resources unceasingly, depriving others of their basic needs. “In using them, therefore, man should regard the external things that he legitimately possesses not only as his own but also as common in the sense that they should be able to benefit not only him but also others. (PASTORAL CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD 9)” Therefore, the government has the responsibility to take every possible measure to put an end to this injustice and ensure that every citizen is entitled to the right of survival.



On the other hand, as a Christian, I also have my responsibility for justice. While taking delight in my possession of a decent shelter, have I turned a blind eye to those who have nowhere to call their home? Have I seen property investment as a means to financial security, thus contributing to the spree of unhealthy speculation unknowingly? In his ‘’SOLLICITUDO REI SOCIALIS” Pope John Paul II said, “ … it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.” This is the spirit of solidarity advocated by the pope. He put special stress on the care of the poor, considering this the primary and special way to put Christian love into practice. Therefore, if we care only to accumulate wealth and show no concern for the poor and underprivileged, we would be like the rich man who had no compassion for Lazarus. (Luke 16: 19-31)



The course has inspired me of the true meaning of Jesus Christ’s request for us to love God and our neighbors. Besides trying to establish a relationship with God, we should also show a genuine concern about the other members of society. And every effort we make to contribute to social justice is the manifestation of our concern for our neighbors. Of course, my knowledge of Catholic Social Teaching is only skin deep. I am willing to pursue further studies in this field and I hope also to arouse the awareness of its importance among the youngsters through my Sunday school teaching.

Let's support the local filmmakers

During the talk following a local film presentation at Weng Lok Theatre yesterday evening, the host asked who among the audience had seen Macau movies only for the first time. I hesitated about raising my hand. I had seen local movies before, but those were commercials targeted mainly at tourists. The ones we had just watched, however, were novelties in terms of the artistic elements involved. Characterized by the local filming sites, they naturally appealed to our sense of nostalgia. But of course, there were other attractions, too, especially the fact that the movie, “Crash”, had won the Best Film Award in the drama category at the South Taiwan Film Festival .

The three short films are of high artistic value. Though each conveys a different message, they all give a clear picture of the ugliness of human nature. ‘The light’, the first of the three, tells about a lady who is eager for marriage while her boyfriend, a compulsive gambler, cares only about paying his debt by winning a prize in Mark Six. There are others also thirsty for money, including even a young boy of less than ten. Towards the end of the story, which could have been a tragic one because of a murder, the few characters are still arguing about their shares of the cash prize. Indeed it is a reflection of human weaknesses.

Greed is also displayed in ‘Crash’, the second film. This time it is greediness for fame and popularity. The chief character, a high school teacher who often fails to grab his students’ attention in class, becomes flattered by more and more facebook  responses to his appeal for compassion for the disappearance of his mother. Another focus of the film is on the ignorance of many facebook users. Some take pleasure in sharing about themselves, whether it is something joyful or saddening. Others jump on the bandwagon without realizing what they are doing. The story has quite a surprising ending: instead of rejoicing at the discovery of his mother in a closet, he leaves her hidden there so that he can maintain the vain glory he has taken delight in.

The story about a tricyclist is another case in point. The pedicab-driver has seen a client draw money from a briefcase to pay him for his service. In his eagerness to deal with his family’s financial problem, he threatens the client with the pointed ends of the chopsticks and grabs the briefcase. But to his great disappointment, the briefcase is later found to be empty. Though the robbery has been due to an urgent need, the pedicab driver suffers from a guilty conscience probably for the rest of his life. The story is thus another moral lesson about failure to resist temptation.

During the post-screening talk, the three young directors shared about their experience of film production. As expected, they had had to overcome tremendous challenges to achieve success. What topped the list was the attempt to gain access to financial aid. There were other hurdles to iron out, of course, but none of them would dampen their enthusiasm for film making. Though they may have sometimes felt left out in the community, they were determined to commit themselves to achieving their aspirations. To them, doing what they were interested in was what had brought them real joy. Besides, they were proud to help draw global attention to Macau through their participation in international film festivals.

Yes, that was my first experience of viewing Macau movies. I believe this will be followed by more in the future. I hope that more and more people will appreciate the joy of movie viewing in the cinema and will give Macau’s filmmakers special support as their efforts are worth our appreciation and encouragement.

Film Review : Fukushima, Mon Amour’ - Directed by Doris Dörrie

The German film ‘Fukushima, Mon Amour’, directed by Doris Dörrie, is a two-hander, a movie for two actors/actresses, with the other actors playing only functional roles. It starts with Marie, a German lady, going with the organization ‘Clowns4’ to cheer up the refugees in the post-tsunami shelter in Fukushima. Still grieved by an aborted wedding, Marie cannot derive satisfaction from entertaining the tsunami survivors.When she is considering whether she should go back to Tokyo, Satom, an old lady among the refugees, asks her to drive her to the heavily radiated forbidden Exclusion Zone. There Satom is determined to stay and rebuild her ruined home. Marie decides to stay with her. The rest of the story tells how the two ladies get along with each other despite the culture gap between them.

The black-and-white images of the traumatic landscape with the presence of countless bags of toxic nuclear waste are sadly reminiscent of the disaster a few years before. However, the movie is not meant to bring the audience to tears. On the contrary, there are parts that display a sense of humour. Satom, who claims to be the region’s last geisha, is keen on influencing Marie with her refined culture. While she considers herself elegant, she calls Marie an elephant because of her height and clumsy gait. The way she sprinkles salt on herself and on Marie to ward off the evil spirits also creates cripples of laughter among the audience. In fact, the two actresses’ realistic performance makes the audience forget that their roles are the only two fictitious characters in the story.

The evil spirits, which seem so real as to be a bit disturbing, are assumedly found in the two ladies’ dreams. Obviously, this is due to their guilty conscience; Satom cannot banish the thought of her own selfishness in desperately seeking survival disregarding her apprentice’s safety while Marie is haunted by memories of her disloyalty to her fiancé just on the eve of their wedding. They remain conscience stricken until each faces up to her own fault. And with a resultant calm state of mind, they finally bid each other good-bye. The message here is that our sadness may have been caused by our own folly rather than a natural disaster and that there is always something we can and should do to overcome the sense of guilt and grief.

Despite its lack of entertainment appeal, the movie is highly credited for its psychological complexity and depth. There is no wonder that it is the winner of an Oscars award.

More than a mere concert

The event held by Mong Ha 930, the parish choir, at Santa Rosa School last Saturday afternoon was more than a mere concert.

It was a sharing of personal experiences. Someone used to see religious activities as an obligation imposed on him with threats about failing grades. Later, with the support of Mong Ha 930, however, he gradually managed to maintain regular Mass attendance. A choir member himself now, he praised the merciful Lord for the fervent Catholic he had been converted into.

Another young man told a heart-rending story about his forlorn love. He felt as though he had fallen into an abyss, where he thought his life would end. But through God’s mercy, he managed to pull himself out of it and is now enjoying a happy, contented life.

A young girl could not hold her tears when she slowly related how she had suffered from a disease that left her disabled to the point of being completely dependent on others. Now, healthy and cheerful, she praised God for her victory over her infirmity.

The story of a young lady was disheartening. A car accident took away her father’s life, leaving her mother seriously injured. Being the eldest daughter, she had to deal with all the problems thus triggered, almost unaided. She managed to forgive her father’s friend, the driver who had carelessly caused the accident. God had first shown her mercy by placing helpful people around her in her plight and she thus learned to be tolerant and forgiving.

It was a prayer meeting. Projected on the screen were Bible verses interchanging with the personal sharing and singing items. Each verse was related to the story told and it conveyed a message that inspired us to reflect more on God’s mercy. The verse about Jesus’ crucifixion, for example, was accompanied by a few lines read aloud to help us ponder the need to be generous and merciful. Moved by the stories and inspired by the Bible verses, we prayed inwardly in sympathy with the unfortunate ones and with gratitude for the chance of experiencing the presence of God there and then.

Of course, it was a concert, a very successful one. The messages would not have been so well delivered, far less inspiring, if not for the singing of what could be considered theme songs. In fact, the songs were so well selected that we wondered whether they had been especially composed for the purpose. The grouping of the singers had also been carefully planned to make the singing most effective and appealing. A song that delivered a message of love, for example, was sung by two married couples holding hands and exchanging loving glances. God’s presence, therefore, is shown not only at sad moments but also at heartwarming ones.

And the instrumental accompaniment was also highly impressive. Special credit was to be given to the pianist, who seemed to be playing non-stop, allowing the background music to persist throughout the entire event.

When the audience were invited to join in the singing of the last two songs, clapping hands rhythmically and waving the mobile phones with the light on, the atmosphere became so cheerful that one would imagine oneself at a show of a high popularity rating.

Father Peter, the parish priest of the Mong Ha Church, in his round-up speech, referred to the event as a prayer gathering, highlighting the fact that the choir’s performance succeeded in enhancing the awareness of God’s mercy, stressing that faith in God does not lie so much in the spiritual knowledge we pursue as in our personal encounters with God. Bishop Stephen Lee also reminded us that we can experience God’s mercy through our acts of kindness and thoughtfulness for one another in our everyday lives.

Yes, the Mong Ha choir members have performed a good show, providing us with great enjoyment and entertainment. Most importantly, they have delivered a very meaningful message to serve as guidance in our pursuit of spiritual enhancement.

Carry On, Carry on!

News of bomb blasts has always been very disturbing. It is a reflection of the impact from social chaos, unrest and insecurity.

And what happened in Manhattan last Saturday actually sent chills down my spine. When my daughter and I were there on our visit to New York last year, we were aware of the government’s grave concern about stringent measures against terrorism. There were warning signs inviting instant reports on unattended bags especially on subway trains and at the stations. And our visit to the Liberty Island one afternoon was cancelled because of a sudden announcement about a bomb threat. There seemed to be more police on duty in Wall Street on Sunday. Everything smacked of a tense atmosphere. I wondered aloud how I would feel if I were a resident there: Apparently, the world has become less safe to live in and people have become less trustworthy. Violence and bloodshed seems to be the order of the day. Should we live in fear? Is life worth living?

To my surprise, however, the locals did not seem the least disturbed. They had obviously learned to live with all this. How did they manage this peaceful composure?

This video clip on BBC news may be an answer to the question.

(http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37403672?ocid=wsnews.chat-apps.in-app-msg.whatsapp.trial.link1_.auin)

When interviewed about their first thoughts after the explosion, the first respondent expressed his fear about a terrorist attack. Sarcastically, a guy’s first worry was about his dog. A small girl, who was all smiles, sounded very excited about having had a rare experience to share about in school. Most of the rest, however, said they would have to continue to live. Confident of support from one another, they would not live in fear. A few even took a picture of the cops, who did not seem to have just dealt with a life and death problem. So there was no panic, no sign of fear, no curse, no complaint.

Such is wisdom of life. It would be too pessimistic to give up plans and put aside the routine activities as if something might happen to ruin everything. It would be unwise of married couples to ope not to have children because of their worry about their future. In fact, such pessimistic behavior might cause the doomsday to approach faster than any terrorist attacks might. In other words, there ought not to be much ado about nothing (庸人自擾).

Of course, things need to be done about safeguarding the well being of the citizens. This is the responsibility of the government. Besides higher efficiency and more advanced equipment of the police force, attention should also be directed to educating people on the significance of mutual understanding and respect. If people learn to respect life itself, they will not resort to violence and bloodshed as a solution to life’s problems. And world peace will be a dream come true.

Behind the 25-minute documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s56n9T4FzM ;

By the time this article appears, the documentary will have been broadcast. If you find the film worthy of your time, you will perhaps also find some interest in this detailed account of my participation in the filming process.

The invitation
When I was in the Holy Land on a pilgrimage in early May, I received a WhatsApp message. It was an invitation from the DESJ to attend an interview at which I was to share about my teaching experience. Amidst the joy of the pilgrimage tour, I put aside the invitation without giving it a second thought. Upon my return to Macau, however, I decided to call back DESJ for politeness’ sake. I explained to the lady in charge of the project that I was not in a position to be interviewed as I had retired and if there was no filming of the actual things happening as in a classroom environment, the interview would either be too boring or lacking in sincerity with most of the scenes simply made up for the purpose. Out of my expectation, though, I was talked into meeting her personally a few days later. And what followed was a couple of months’ cooperation with her and the producer on what turned out to be a remarkable project for me to treasure for life.

The Interview
The interview was divided into sessions and took place in various locations. Talking in front of the camera was, undoubtedly, a brand new experience to me. But surprisingly, I felt no stress at all. Instead, I tended to talk in ready response to the interviewer’s questions without too much prompting on his part. Talking, probably, is as natural as breathing to a teacher. In fact, I may have been so frank as to share a bit too much. Well, no worries, I tell myself; no harm showing my true self! Then what exactly did I talk about? Knowing that the film would be televised, I was keen on delivering a positive message. I shared about my dedication to helping my students appreciate the beauty of the English language and also to instilling among them the core values. Besides, I shared about my retirement life. My two freelance jobs, involving the work of editing and translating respectively, are somehow the continuation of what I had been doing as a language teacher. On the other hand, my participation in church work, which takes up much of my time, can be conducive to spreading the core values concept.

The Filming
The filming process was a novelty to me and it was fun for its own sake. Once it did take place in a classroom. That was a Sunday school class and I was telling the kids a Bible story. It was to show that the main part of my retirement life was devoted to church services. Similar filming occasions included my presentations at different sharing sessions about my Christian faith. Again I did not feel the least stressed. I talked naturally and enthusiastically despite the camera aimed directly at me at times.
A teacher is an actor, so it is said. In this respect, I am afraid I am inadequate. There were times when I felt uneasy. It was when I was filmed walking towards or away from an appointed place. I was over conscientious of my gait. And when guided to gaze at something as if in deep thought, I must have looked either very stiff or sulky. Fortunately, those were very rare moments. Most of the time I was filmed while doing what I was supposed to be engaged in without the awareness of the camera.

The school visits
The filming brought me the joy of several school visits. I first went to Chan Shui Kei Perpetual Help College. It was planned that I sit in a class of English by Mr. Quinton Tang, once a student of mine. He had often commented on my influence on his decision to become an English teacher. The class sit-in was thus meant to deliver the message of the baton being handed over. Sitting among his students, a class participant myself, I felt his earnest attitude toward teaching. Inwardly I whispered a prayer that he would one day also influence more of his students with his passion for English.
I next went back to Sacred Heart Canossian College, my Alma Mater as well as my place of work for a quarter of a century. The entire school campus had undergone tremendous changes. Only two old trees remained where I remember catching dragonflies among knee-high grass in early September. Traces of my presence were found in the School History Room, though. At the sight of the statue of our foundress, I grabbed the opportunity to pose for a picture in front of it. I still felt attached to it as it had seen me walking up and downstairs between classrooms in those school girl days.
The visit to Pui Ching Middle School gave me a totally different feeling. As I had retired only for three years, everything and everyone there was still so familiar to me. It seemed as if I had returned only from a brief vacation. I chanced to cross paths with a few teachers and helpers and we exchanged greetings just the way we had done before my retirement. The sense of belonging was still there and I believe it would linger despite the passage of time.

Interviews of teachers and students
Interviews were arranged with a few of my past students from both schools. They were to share about their impression of me. Following the producer’s instruction, I had invited students of different years of graduation. What they shared about would then form a picture of the different phases of my long teaching career. Their sharing brought back happy memories of the time we had spent together. They also expressed their appreciation for my serious work attitude, my passion for English teaching and my caring concern for students, in fact, a lot of kind compliment, which, at one point or another, almost brought me to tears.
Also included was an interview of a few of my ex-colleagues in Pui Ching. They were my close work partners who had been through good times and bad with me. We had braved immense challenges and solved hectic problems by working in close cooperation with one another. Listening to their sharing about me, I was moved, just as I had always been, by their long-standing support, on which I had counted so much for my attempts at coordinating the team.

The search for pictures and blog articles
The documentary was to be enhanced with pictures taken at various stages of my life. And digging for the right photos was so much fun, especially when I stumbled upon a few humble black-and-whites, which were still in good shape though quite small in size. They were reminiscent of the hilarious moments of my youthful days. And among the photos there were letters and postcards from students and I could not help stopping the search to read one or two of the heartwarming messages.
The producer also requested a number of my blog articles, from which he would pick a few lines and highlight them to enhance the image to be formed of me in the documentary. This was again a happy trip down memory lane. I was grateful for having kept a few hundred blog posts. Everything needed to substantiate a description of me was available from the articles of the related categories.

A few words of thanks
Now that the documentary is made, there are people and institutions to whom I owe my heartfelt thanks for their help and contribution. I thank the DSEJ for their kind invitation. Also on the thank-you list is Saint Francis Xavier’ Church, our Parish Church, where I serve as a Sunday school teacher. The principals of the three schools have been very kind and generous in allowing the filming to take place on the campuses. The interviewed teachers and students are to be thanked for their time and for their kind support. My special thanks goes to Mr. Albert Chu (朱祐人先生), the producer, and Miss Ann Ho (何凱盈小姐), the supervisor. Throughout the process of film making, there had been a lot of communication among us, exchanging ideas, clarifying thoughts and solving problems together. In fact, without their concerted effort, the film would not have achieved its success.
Of course, I have the kind Lord to thank for having enabled me to view my past with gratitude and satisfaction and to look forward to the future with renewed strength and confidence.

That daily hour

It’s 5:45 p.m., time to go for our daily meeting. As usual, I put everything aside and get ready for the hospital visit. Then I realize there won’t be a meeting anymore. In fact, there won’t be a meeting for a long time to come until our Heavenly Father arranges one sometime, somewhere.

It was also her TV hour. The machine had the volume turned up loud. The medical staff nearby, though obviously disturbed, made no complaint, knowing that it was her only entertainment throughout the entire day. While massaging her limbs and enjoying the program with her at the same time, I had to throw occasional glances at her in case she needed help as she could not utter a sound, let alone calling for help. When she was seized with sudden coughs, which happened even in her sleep, I had to help her remove the saliva/phlegm by doing suctioning, a skill I had acquired through long experience, which gave me the satisfaction of medical work, though far from being professional. However, it was the responsibility of the nurses to deal with the phlegm deeper down the throat. It demanded immediate attention and that was the time I dreaded most as there was not always someone at the nurses’ quarters. Most of them had been summoned to various tasks in the wards. But when someone was available, I almost always had my request attended to. I felt so sorry, for example, to have to seek help from a nurse who had just finished a task somewhere and had sat down for a bite of her bread. The nurses there had actually got so much used to my frequent requests for suctioning that I would only have to show myself at the counter and the work was done.

There were few words between us. She ‘talked” by winking her eyes. I recited the alphabet letter by letter. On hearing the letter she wanted, she winked. By combining the chosen letters, I made up the word. And word by word I worked out the sentence. That was how we communicated. Most of the time, she wanted to make known to me her physical conditions, of which she had a strong sense of awareness. When in a good mood, however, she would ask less stressful questions such as those about her grandchildren. Her daughters were there, too, on regular visits. Together we worked on her different limbs. She felt apparently satisfied listening to us talking about everything, occasionally raising a question or contributing an idea. In fact, her intelligence was not the least affected by her handicapped state. We sometimes sought her advice when we had difficulty making a decision.

The fifteen-minute walk back home after the visit found me walking at a leisurely pace, partly due to my fatigue but mainly because of my deep thinking. It was the time when I prayed to God, making self evaluation of my performance and begging for better strength and perseverance. I felt consoled at the thought of her pain relieved with my help. I thanked Jesus for having been with me there, boosting my mood and telling me what to do when things went wrong and also holding me back when I was on the verge of losing my patience. Yes, I sometimes regretted my lack of patience - . I could have been more tolerant of her requests though I found them too demanding at times. I kept telling myself I would do better next time … as if there were always the next time.

No, there will not be the next hospital visit. From now on the hour will always find me lost in the treasured memories of our being together.

Students should be taught to avoid plagiarism

The speech of Melania Trump, wife of Donald Trump, US Republican Presidential Candidate, has been criticized for partly plagiarizing that of Michelle Obama. This has caused a sensation not only in the US but the world over. There is believed to be, however, appreciation for the opportunity to teach students about plagiarism, as discussed in a BBC News article entitled ‘Teachers are thanking Melania Trump’ dated July 19.

I am definitely among these grateful teachers. I agree that this incident can serve as teaching material for a lesson on defining and avoiding plagiarism. It is very important to give students a clear concept about plagiarism as many are ignorant of the seriousness of the offence. They have become over reliant on information downloaded from the internet and have got so used to copying, cutting and pasting that they use others’ ideas and writings as their own, often with no sense of guilt at all. So, teachers ought to educate the students on the need to respect others’ work as their intellectual property, and make it very clear that plagiarism is a form of misconduct, no less serious than theft. It is unfair, even immoral, to use quoted writings without citing the original source. In writing lessons, there should be emphasis on the importance of originality, and plagiarized work should be disqualified and penalized.

Melania Trump’s speech has become a subject of ridicule rendering it necessary for the speechwriter to apologize. But somehow it has done the students a good turn by giving them a timely warning against plagiarism.

My impression of AC

On our first encounter I already found a friend in AC. Though prepared for very formal questions, I gradually found myself chatting cheerfully with him and his partner, quite forgetting that it was meant to be an interview for them to have some initial understanding of me. Later I came to know that the other interviewees felt the same way, too; they were often caught off guard and would start talking much more than they had meant to, all because of his jolly and carefree personality. This, as he later admitted, is an attribute to his success as an interviewer.

By no means is his working attitude carefree, though. Quite on the contrary, he has a very strong sense of responsibility. Despite the weighty equipment he is carrying, he would not mind walking long distances to where his mission takes him. Rain or shine, he is always found waiting at the appointed place however early the interviewee arrives. And he will stay till the end of the event doing video shooting to make sure that every worthy moment is captured though ultimately very few of the shots may appear in the final product.

And needless to say, he is highly professional. You can put your entire trust in him. There is no worry about where to stand, how to walk and what to say. Every location and every angle at which the shooting is done is well calculated. And there are small reminders before and during the filming, which smacks of good planning and careful observation. As mentioned earlier, he can elicit useful information by first putting the interviewee at ease. But that is not all. His questions, seemingly off hand, have obviously been well thought over as the recording will later be presented in such a way that the interviewee would seem to be talking about himself without being prompted.

Either knowingly or unknowingly, he often places himself in the situation of a student in an attempt to seek better access to my inner world. He seems to have endless questions about grammar and writing, thus initiating my sharing about my teaching experience. His obvious interest in my past has also caused me to take a trip down memory lane, savouring enriched memories of my teaching career.

He is a good Christian, too. This is probably one important reason for his friendly attitude and his dedication to his commitments.

Working jointly with him on the project has been a very pleasant experience for me. The filming has now drawn to an end and I look forward to sharing the fruit of his great efforts in September.

Child birth should not serve as a means to an end

There has been a lot of talking about a lady’s recent remark on TV about winning the race at the starting line, highlighting the possibility of enhancing a child’s competitiveness by prearranging his date of conception. According to her, a child whose birthday is calculated to be in the month of January has the edge over all others as admission to kindergarten is usually open only to children born in that month.

Her words, seemingly full of wisdom, are, to me, as damaging to the child’s development as anything that could happen to him. Imagine what a heavy responsibility would be placed on the child’s shoulders even prior to his birth! How unfair it would be for the child to be forced to meet his parents’ expectations before even taking his first breath! Actually, society is to blame for limited kindergarten admissions. Why should a baby pay its cost by being deprived of the freedom of choice of its birthday?

The child is also likely to have everything planned for him throughout his growth. Good parenting involves planning well for the child. But good planning means careful consideration in every way to ensure that the child grows up happily and healthily. It is the child’s well being that parents should direct their attention to. If, on the other hand, the parents care only about attaining their own goal, everything the child does would have to serve a purpose. He might not be allowed to explore and pursue his own interest, lest he should disappoint his parents. How miserable his youth would be! How his character formation would be hindered!

Above all, I find this suggestion an insult to life. It is an act of violation of Natural Law in every sense of the word. Childbirth is the manifestation of the love of the parents and should, therefore, be something as natural as life itself. Some people may argue that birth control also involves the adjustment of the conception date. I admit that this is unnatural to a certain extent, but at least the harm, if any, would not be for the child to bear.

A child’s well being should top his parents’ priority list. Anything that hinders his healthy and joyful growth is to be condemned, far less using him as a means to an end by calculating his conception date.

耶穌的要求過份了嗎？ - 「真福八端」講座後記

聖地朝聖之旅其中一個探訪的地方是真福八端山，那裏怡人的風景仍不時浮現在腦海中，唯一遺憾的是探訪團未有在當地就這八端道理作一些分享，幸好我有機㑹參加了由澳門天主教聖經協會於6月11日在路環竹灣會議中心舉行相關主題的靈修聚會。活動原本以海邊的龍爪角遠足開始，但因天雨路滑的緣故，臨時取消了，取而代之是在室內進行小組分享。 分享的內容和當日靈修主題「真福八端」有關，其中一個問題是：「耶穌基督的要求是否有點兒過份？」大家都很踴躍發言，很多都表示要了解「真福八端」的含意並不容易，要遵從指示去做一個耶穌心目中的完美的人更加困難。當然，大家並沒有期待交談會有甚麼結論，只是為隨後李斌生主教主持的專題講座作一些準備而已。 不謀而合，李主教一開始講話便指出「真福八端」似乎有些矛盾的地方，我們甚至會質疑是否合理（有冇搞錯？）他解釋要真正瞭解「真福八端」帶來的喜樂，我們必定要以天國或超性的角度來看事物，要明白通往天國和永生的門是一道窄門，「真福八端」正是為我們提供指引和方向，讓我們藉著信德、修身和克己，進入窄門。 隨後，他引導我們就八端真福逐一分析思考，嘗試了解耶穌基督要求我們採取甚麼生活態度，看看是否真的是超出我們的能力範圍以外。 第一端：神貧的人是有福的，因為天國是他們的。 「神貧」，顧名思義，是指精神上的貧窮 ，一個精神上貧窮的人會明白一切都來自天主，而自己是一無所有。相反，一個精神上很富有的人通常會很驕傲，完全依賴自己，不信靠天主。 第二端：哀慟的人是有福的，因為他們要受安慰。 人在遭受損失或在失落時會感到哀傷，在這時候，被祝福的是那些能夠把失落昇華成為神聖的哀傷，面向天主，就像伯多祿在三次不認主後，為背棄天主而感到後悔和內疚，這就是神聖的憂傷，是被祝福的。相反，猶達斯在出賣耶穌後，只想到自已悲慘的下場，更以不當的行為（自毀）取代其失落，他所呈現的是俗世的憂傷，當然未能獲得賞報。 第三端：溫良的人是有福的，因為他們要承受土地。 溫良是聖神果實其中的一種，也是耶穌門徒的特質。真正溫良的人有來自內心的謙遜，外在的行為也是溫良的。但這並不是懦弱，而是在面對着全能的天主時，有能力去做值得做的事，因而享有一份這種能力帶出來的平安。 第四端：饑渴慕義的人是有福的，因為他們要得飽飫。 在這裡，「義」是指正確的事，而「成義」就是成聖，去做跟隨天主的愛所定出來的對的事物。這端道理提醒我們遵守天主藉着先知所頒布而由耶穌所啟示和使之滿全的十誡，更要以耶穌為我們渴求的對象，不希求天主以外的東西，這樣，我們的渴求便會得到滿足。 第五端： 憐憫的人是有福的，因為他們要受憐憫。 憐憫就是慈悲，憐憫的對象是弱者，而我們要將心態轉為行動，要切實地去幫助有需要的人。李主教也提醒我們憐憫的行動不應只是選擇性的，而是要持之以恆，使之成為一種生活方式，而憐憫的對象應該是所有人，特別是我們的近人。 第六端：心裡潔淨的人是有福的，因為他們要看見天主。 基督要求我們的純潔是絕對性的，整個人的，要經過有步驟的、艱辛的淨化過程，藉着天主的恩寵，勤辧告解、勤領聖事、提升自律的能力，這樣，我們便會看見天主的真、善、美了。 第七端：缔造和平的人是有福的，因為他們要稱為天主的子女。 和平來自每個人的心，來自天主的愛，我們要實踐愛德，把天主的愛帶給別人，這樣，自己在得享有平安之餘，亦會為人與人之間帶來和平。 第八端：為義而受迫害的人是有福的，因為天國是他們的。 在這裡，「義」是指以天主的愛來評估對的事，因而受迫害、受痛苦。但痛苦不應是行義的目的，行義的人所期望的是天主的光榮能夠藉着他的痛苦彰顯出來，因着信德，他所見到的是藉著承受痛苦所得到的喜樂 - 天國的喜樂，因此，殉道是最高層次的信德。 那麽，何謂有福？總的來說，能夠遵照「真福八端」的指引而生活的人是會獲得賞報的，而賞報就是天國，「土地」是指天上的樂園，而只有在天國的人才可「看見天主」，得到滿足（飽飫）、 受天主「安慰」和「憐憫」，一切都和天國有關。 因此，如果我們能做到以天國的角度去看事物，凡事想念着天上的事，而不記掛着俗世的事，那麼「真福八端」可視作為生活態度的指引，而非難於登天的事，耶穌基督的要求亦並非過份，而且頗為合理了。

A pilgrim, not a tourist

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Before we set off to the Holy Land, Fr. Peter and Sr. Victoria had reminded us that we were going on a pilgrimage, not a pleasure tour; we were to see not only with our eyes but with our hearts; we were to seek the awareness of the Holy one instead of merely having fun and entertainment. Now that I have come back with happy memories of the visit, one question I still ask myself is whether I was there as a pilgrim or as a tourist.

The pilgrimage had almost all the benefits of a pleasure tour with visits to gorgeous scenic spots, delicious local cuisines, safe and cozy coach rides and comfortable hotel accommodation. There were also efficient tour guides taking care of our well-being and providing cultural, historical and contemporary heritage interpretation for us. Besides, we were shown to places where we could shop for souvenirs to our hearts’ content.

However, we were not lost amidst all these attractions. We remained clear-headed enough to realize that there was more we were looking for on a pilgrimage. We remembered our hope to gain a deeper understanding of the One we follow and to trace His whereabouts made known to us in the Scripture. Our itinerary consisted mainly of visits to the churches and other historical sites reminiscent of Jesus’ life on earth. The Bible verses chosen for the daily mass were associated with the major events in His life, in memory of which the church was built. In addition, Bible reading on every historical site we visited also served to remind us of what happened to Jesus there.

But frankly, it was not during these religious activities that I particularly felt the presence of God. They were, to some extent, what I had been doing in Macau, thus too familiar to initiate an intimate connection with Jesus. Rather, there were places, people and situations that gave me the feeling of having an encounter with Him.

On our flight to Tel-Aviv, Israel, we were served what I thought were biscuits. Then the guide told us that it was unleavened bread, served because it happened to be the Passover Week for the Israelites. So, that was unleavened bread, mentioned so often in the Scriptures! And the announcements were partly in Hebrew, a language spoken by the Jews in Jesus’ time, and probably a language Jesus himself  used.

The Lord said to His disciples "Beware of the leaven (false doctrine) of the Pharisees" (Matthew 16:6; Mark 8:15).

The visit to the Judaean Desert was thrilling! We had learned from the guide book that it was ‘an exciting and unique place with fascinating nature reserves, historic sites, monasteries and primeval panoramas’. But the actual visit there was far more captivating. When the landscape gradually came into our sight as the coach drove along, I felt like screaming in wonder. How overjoyed we were when told that we could actually go up the plateau and feel how Jesus felt during His forty days in prayer! Related Bible verses flashed across my mind and I heard myself murmuring, “How did Jesus spend those forty days where we now keep fidgeting the whole time in the scorching heat?’

John the Baptist was “a voice of one calling in the desert...” (Mark 1:3). Jesus was “led by the Spirit into the desert” (Matt. 4:1).

We prayed the Way of the Cross at Via Dolorosa one early morning. On our visit to the Holy Sepulchre we joined the long queue for admission to the Altar of Crucifixion only to be allowed a few brief seconds on the spot where Jesus’ crucifix was believed  to have been erected. Those places were supposed to have called to memory Jesus’ passion and death. But to tell the truth, I felt more touched at two other sites instead.

The Garden of Gethsemane, now beautiful with blooming trees, was where Jesus prayed to his Heavenly Father before his arrest. Imagine his sadness and disappointment at his disciples’ refusal of his most needed support and consideration! Looking at the tree supposed to be the only listener to Jesus’ praying, I felt so sorry for Him.

 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” ( Luke 26:39)

 In the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, which commemorates Peter’s triple denial of his Master, we were shown down a bottle-necked underground cell, assumedly Christ’s Prison, where He might have spent the night before he was crucified. Despite the fact that it was now well lit and clean to welcome visitors, it could be imagined the cold and damp Jesus was left to endure during those long hours, made all the more intolerable by His disciples’ heartlessness. My heart ached at the thought of his agony, which had started even before he was led down the long path with the cross on his shoulders.

And I was touched by Jesus’ generosity in forgiving Peter. In this Holy Year of Mercy, Peter’s repentance and his reconciliation with Christ after the Resurrection was a good reminder of God’s mercy in always giving us the chance to repent for our sins.

"And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice" (Mark 14:30)

Quite on the contrary to the sad thoughts and feelings initiated by these sites, there were happy reminders of Jesus’ life of ministry. The hiking down a hill on the north-west side of the Sea of Galilee will always remain a memory to relish and revel in. We walked down a beaten track, carefully picking our way among strewn pebbles and slippery boulders. For the most part of the journey, I had a friend walking side by side with me, giving me support and confidence. And a voice, each time belonging to a different owner, was heard warning me against potential danger. I felt so well cared for that I whispered a prayer of thanks to God for having placed loving angels by my side.

And the wheat field on the hill slope was a pleasant surprise. We remembered how Jesus was criticized by the Pharisees for allowing his disciples to pick the grains of wheat on Sabbath Day. I bent down and posed for a picture of myself mimicking the act of picking the grains. But to my great regret, I forgot to actually pick a few to show my Sunday school students, though I had intended to.

Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27).

On the boat ride in the Sea of Galilee, we had a wonderful time singing and dancing. For the rest of the journey, we were enjoying the serenity of the sea and the beauty of the shoreline scenery. Was the sea as peaceful at the time when Jesus fell asleep, leaving his disciples on their own? How violent was the storm that caused the disciples to be in great fear until it was pacified by Jesus?

“Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him” (Luke 8:25).

And the scenery up Mount Taboo was breath breaking and beyond words. When Peter proposed building three tabernacles, one for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Prophet Elijah, he must have been captivated by the jaw-dropping views just as we were. It’s natural that we desire a place far away from the turmoil and chaos of the world but that should not be our goal of life. The purpose of Jesus’ transfiguration was to strengthen his disciples’ faith in his divinity but they would still have to face the reality of his imminent agony and death. Inspired by the beauty of Mount Taboo, we should now feel more assured of our commitment to valuing and conserving God’s creation by contributing to world peace and environmental protection.

Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. (Mathew 17:3)

So can I claim to have been in the Holy Land as a pilgrim? Definitely, I was not a mere tourist as I did think of Jesus wherever I went. I felt the joy of being where he had once been, meeting people who were probably his descendants speaking his language. Yes, I was a pilgrim, though not a good one. The schedule was so packed with visits to so many places that we were left hardly any time to settle down in quiet prayer and meditation. Nevertheless, the pilgrimage has brought about change in me spiritually. The Bible verses mean a lot more to me and I pray with greater sincerity as Jesus is now not a distant God but a close friend. If I have the chance to revisit the Holy Land, I will choose fewer destinations so as to leave adequate time for prayer and reflections.

My first experience of column writing

In January last year I was invited to write a column for the weekly newspaper " Observatório de Macau". The writing is based on an English book entitled "The Story of the Mass", for which I would do abridged translation into Chinese. I leapt at the offer. The idea of having a personal column was indeed a dream come true! Besides, I was then having an online course on English-to-Chinese Translation. The column would be a great opportunity for practice, which I needed badly.

Even before I actually started, I had foreseen great difficulty. An idea very easily comprehensible in English may often become awkward and unnatural when translated into Chinese even if the meaning is correctly conveyed. I am quite aware of the cross- language interference in my Chinese translation. This, I am afraid, will lessen its attraction, if any, to the readers.

Another problem is to find the correct Chinese equivalents for some names, mainly names of saints and popes. As I later came to realize, the same name may have been translated differently in different columns. In addition, to translate their texts poses particular difficulty, as a high degree of accuracy is demanded. I have had the fortune, though, to come across the translated versions of some texts and all that was needed was to quote the corresponding paragraphs directly. But such bits of luck are few and far between. I have had to struggle with the grinding translation most of the time.

However, as a result of what I call the 16-month project, I have come to learn a lot about “the Church’s Eucharistic life over 20 centuries”. There are important details including “the sacrifice-meal of Jesus and his apostles, the grand ceremonies in the Rome of Gregory the Great, the bold innovations of Emperor Charlemagne, the reforms of the Councils of Trent and Vatican II, Greek and Latin, heresies and controversies as well as Gregorian Chant and Eucharistic Prayers”. In fact, I have learned such a lot about the “evolution of the Mass and the traditional roots of present-day changes” that I now attend Mass with better devotion and a better understanding of Jesus’ call “Do this in memory of me.” 

I understand that there is still a lot of room for improvement in my work and its readership is scanty. Nevertheless, I see this as a good start that will lead to more encouraging and challenging missions. I thank the publisher for his kind invitation. And of course, I thank the kind Lord for the opportunity to embark on a form of evangelical work so spiritually rewarding.

'Tuesdays with Morrie' by Mitch Albom - a story too good to miss

 

 

The story is about Morrie’s last class with Mitch, his only student, who visited with him every Tuesday in the last months of his life. And the weekly class, taught from experience, was on The Meaning of Life. 

Confined to a wheel chair, Morrie talked with Mitch, giving him advice on various life issues. Before meeting Morrie again after years’ separation, Mitch had had a very busy life, taking labor as his companion, moving everything else aside. The weekly conversations with Morrie, however, gradually convinced him that full days are not necessarily satisfied and that the things people spend so much time on might not seem as important. Morrie also advised him to learn to ‘detach’ - to avoid clinging to something since nothing, not even fear, is permanent. Instead, it is important to join in one big human family in the world, sharing love with one another, as love, according to Morrie, is how we stay alive.

This is not a book that gives the reader feelings of suspense or excitement. What keeps the reader turning the pages are the fatherly conversations through which the old man shares his positive thinking with his student. The reader gradually finds himself attending the class with Mitch, getting enlightened by Morrie’s wisdom and insight. What is perhaps most inspiring is his accepting attitude towards aging and death. In spite of his ebbing health and increasing dependency on others, he would not indulge in self-pity. Instead, he was determined to live with dignity, with courage, with humour and with composure as he thought that dying is not synonymous with uselessness and, on the contrary, it is as natural as life. He believed that as one is prepared for death, one can be more involved in one’s life while living.  

The book is one of the best I have read. While the loving relationship between the old man and the young man is touching beyond words, Morrie’s philosophies about living with death's shadow can encourage the reader to get a positive message out of something, even something as dreadful as death. 

 All in all, ‘Tuesday with Morrie’ is a story too good to miss.