Recapturing The First Love

For our reading in February we members of the ‘Bible 123 Reading Group’ were assigned the chapter on ‘Ephesus’ in Pope Francis’ book ‘The Letters to the Seven Churches’. We were to read through the chapter and be guided to ‘Recapture the First Love’. Here ‘the First Love’ refers to the love we had for God in the beginning. The nature of love, unfortunately, like that of wines, tends to either mature or sour. Like the Churches of Ephesus and Laodicea, we are advised to experience conversion and recover our initial fervor.

I found the chapter very thorough in meaning and had read it several times before I managed to grasp the message conveyed. I was most inspired by the reflection on this verse: 'So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.’ (Apoc 3:15 - 17)  

What does it mean to be neither cold nor hot? Is my love for God lukewarm? Have I not been doing God’s work? I felt puzzled. Not until I had reflected on a related Gospel verse did I realize the truth. It is about Judas reproaching Mary of Bethany for anointing Jesus with aromatic nard instead of saving the money for the poor. (John 12:1-8) 

Judas has an ‘idea’ about what must be done but it is this same idea that keeps him aloof from the living Jesus before him. His attitude is what Pope Francis refers to as spiritual bitterness. By contrast, Mary is correctly oriented by her love for Jesus. She is ‘the soul that adores on her knees and prays with her tears’.

Has the focus of my faith somehow been disoriented like Judas’? Over the past years, especially since my retirement, I have dedicated a lot of time and efforts to what I believe to be the service of God. My work as a Sunday school teacher, for example, does expose me to a lot of useful religious teaching materials. Of far greater use is the research work involved in my preparation for the talks associated with ‘the Bible in 80 Weeks Bible Course’. I also benefit greatly from sharing responsibilities with the other members of the Mong Ha Retreat Group. Has all this actually led to my faith enrichment? Is my relationship with God any closer?  

This would have happened, as I now realize, if my attitude had not been disoriented like Judas'. Probably owing to my long experience as a teacher, my chief concern is to get the message across. I delight at the discovery of good teaching materials and vivid illustrations to enhance the effectiveness of my lesson presentations. If my preaching has amounted to any success at all, it is at the great cost of a genuine relationship with Jesus. If I have been doing virtuous work at all, it is but the practice of what our Pope calls the “secondary virtues’.

I now understand how important it is to allow our first love to undergo conversion, which can be achieved only by concentrating on Jesus Christ alone. I will devote more time to medicating on the sufferings of Christ. May this be one of my Lenten reflections in this Holy Year of Mercy.

Who will be the first to throw a stone?

A few friends of mine have expressed concern about the recent social chaos and violence televised in Hong Kong. They are at a loss to know how they can explain to their children about what has actually happened and who are really to blame. They wonder aloud on what values they ought to educate their children from now on.

I understand their worries as it has become increasingly difficult to guide children to tell right from wrong. When approached for advice, however, I will recommend with enthusiasm the adoption of Christian values. By this I mean we can guide our children to learn to see things from Jesus Christ’s perspective and be guided by and attached to his teaching. In fact, what he did and said while he was still on earth could be very useful lessons to apply to life situations today.

Children need to be educated on a loving and caring attitude. Jesus taught his disciples to love one another as he had loved them. If children are brought up in a loving environment, they will learn to care not only for their own needs but for others’ as well. They will also learn to appreciate others’ goodness and to share their joy instead of being envious of their success. There will then be no place for anger, hatred and revenge, which are often the roots of all evils.

Another core Christian value to be infused among children is an understanding and considerate attitude. In Jesus’ teaching there is strong advice against self-righteousness - the belief that one is superior to others in opinions and behavior. People with what is called a ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude tend to look down on, criticize, judge, condemn, or even try to control other people. Being unable to handle stress and interpersonal conflicts, they easily get involved in heated argument, fierce fights, or in worse cases, even violence. Children educated on the importance of broadmindedness and tolerance, on the contrary, are more likely to cooperate well with others. They will grow up to be humble and sympathetic members of society, broad-minded enough to consider a different way of thinking and willing to contribute to social wellbeing and harmony by being accepting and tolerant.

As I was watching the scene of bloodshed and violence on TV, I thought of a Bible verse: "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7)

Ex-students’ Gatherings

Over the past few months, I have attended several ex-students’ gatherings. Those were undoubtedly joyous occasions. It was a great delight to see the positive changes in them. On one such occasion, a young man often caught dozing off in class handed me his business card displaying his job title as director of a prestigious company. When I saw a young mother taking care of her lovely twins, reminding them to be polite, I just could not believe that she was the same girl who used to irritate the teachers with her rough manners and blunt remarks.

Meeting the students who graduated from Sacred Heart decades ago gave me tremendous joy. They were the ‘girls’ I had taught in the initial years of my teaching career. I actually owed them much for my ‘on-the-job training’. If they had not been so accepting and cooperative, my class presentations, however well prepared, would not have met the desired goal on account of my lack of experience. 

My eyes watered when they thanked me repeatedly for helping them develop a solid foundation in their English learning. I thanked them in return for their appreciation for my effort, which, I honestly admit, would have amounted to nothing if they had not themselves been serious in their class participation. And those were the years when lessons were far less interesting without multi-media teaching aids. 

One thing worth mentioning is that my memory is often put to the test as there are always some who greet me with this question: Do you remember who I am?’  Well, I have had a poor memory for names. My long service as a teacher has meant that I have taught numerous students whose names have got confused. But fortunately their faces have not changed beyond recognition. So I hope I will not be challenged with the same question again in later gatherings.

Ex-students’ gatherings have become more frequent in recent years probably because social networking websites have kept friends in better contact even if they are miles apart. And the link thus established will remain. Most of them have, in fact, made a plan for another gathering in the near future.