The Living Stone and a Chosen People

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10)

I have come to appreciate Saint Peter a lot more since I started my journey back to the Catholic church. The scripture passage for today's reading is from 1 Peter 2. It seems clear to me that one of the strongest messages I have heard from the Catholic church is the importance of corporate identity. Previously I identified my being a Christian as "having a personal relationship with Jesus".  Although this is still true, the more important aspect of my faith as I have come to know is my identity with the "community of saints" (small letter "s" for saints). Jesus's mission to earth was to build His church, and He started it by authorizing Peter to be the founding CEO (so to speak - see Matthew 16:13-20). Moreover He gave Peter (and the church) a promise of divine protection that "the gates of Hades will not overcome it.". And indeed the church has survived through the ages - through persecution, moral decay both outside and inside the church, and yes, even the reformation! The church continues to stand against the tide of secularism, nominalism and scandals.

So what is Saint Peter teaching me about my faith journey in this new community? Here is a list (starting from chapter 1 of his letter):

• Be holy! So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” "So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God."(1 Peter 1:13-16 and 2:1-3 MSG translation) Wow!!
• Live as foreigners in reverent fear (verse 17). The original Greek word for foreigners is "paroikia" (a sojourning, dwelling in a strange land). Now that's a good perspective! "Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (1 Peter 2:11-12) Don't forget - not only is my life on earth infinitesimally short comparing to eternity, it's beauty is also nothing comparing to what is coming! Keith Green has a beautiful song comparing this life to what is to come - "I Can't Wait to Get to Heaven")
• Love one another deeply, from the heart (verse 22). That's right, for the few more years that are left, learn to love as Jesus love. That's my best witness to this world which is devoid of love. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34,35)
• Live like God's chosen one. "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10) So live life full of mercy with praises hanging off my lips at all time!
• Live as free people but for the Lord's sake submit to human authority (1 Peter 2:11-17).
• Suffer for doing good (verse 18-21). "But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."

So much to learn!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Today's scripture reading is from Ezekiel 8-10 and Hebrews 13. Hebrews 13 contains exhortations to a church under persecution. Despite the difficult environment believers found themselves, the author of Hebrews (apparently unknown) gave them these instructions:

1. Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters (verse 1)
2. Show hospitality to strangers (verse 2)
3. Remember those in prison and those who were mistreated (presumably because of their faith) - to suffer with them (verse 3)
4. Keep marriage sacred and avoid sexual immorality (verse 4)
5. Keep their lives free from the love of money and be content with what they have (verse 5)
6. Remember the church leaders and imitate their faith which was lived through their way of life (verse 7); submit to their authority (verse 17) and pray for them for a clear conscience, for a desire to live honorably, and for release from prison (verses 18,19)
7. Don't be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; e.g. a preoccupation with taking ceremonial food (verse 9) 
8. Through Jesus, offer to God continuously a sacrifice of praise (verse 15) and a sacrifice to do good and to share with others (verse 16)

The promise of divine assistance if we do these things can be found in these verses:

1. God's presence with us - “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (verse 5 taken from Deuteronomy 31:6)
2. God's help - “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (verse 6 taken from Psalm 118:6,7)
3. God's immutability - "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (verse 8 - also Malachi 3:6; 1 Samuel 15:29; see John Piper's sermon on this divine attribute and why it is important in a changing world)

This wonderful knowledge of God's involvement in our lives through times of trouble is in huge contrast to the story of the Israelites described in the Ezekiel chapters. There I find God's special chosen people completely abandoning their faith in God. Ezekiel was told: "“Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.”"(Ezekiel 8:6)

God eventually had to exercise divine judgement on His people and finally abandoned them to their own destruction. This is exactly what Saint Paul was warning us in Romans 1:18-32.

I live in a constantly changing world. With recent passing of laws that promote abortion and euthanasia, I do feel the persecution for my faith. And with moral decay in society I fear that I may be easily drawn into the same moral depravity if I am not careful. "For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." (1 John 2:16). But I have God's divine promise and His grace to help me live according to the above instructions and I shall see Him at the end of my days.
"But he who endures to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13)

Post American Election - Thoughts and Prayers

Today's scripture reading is from Jeremiah 50 and Hebrews 8. Jeremiah 50 is a clear prophetic message predicting what will happen to the great empire of Babylon (Jeremiah 50:1). I couldn't help but to relate this to the fall of many other great empires (Assyria, Roman, Greek, etc); and of course the doom and gloom prediction of what would happen to the United States of America with the election of a very unpopular president. My views on who I would vote for (no, I am not an American - so it's purely theoretical!) have changed quite dramatically since becoming a Catholic. I have gained a much better understanding on what issues are (or should be) central in making a selection - like abortion, euthanasia, and who to bring to the supreme court. I am much less critical towards many brothers and sisters who had chosen to vote for this elected president. I was much less emotionally charged watching the election result coming in and was pretty much at peace knowing that God is sovereign. I look forward to seeing what God would do even with this very faulty man. Now it's the time that God's people need to turn their face towards God:
“In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord,
“the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the Lord their God.
They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it.
They will come and bind themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.” (Jeremiah 50:4-5)

The fall of Babylon (indeed, as was true for other great empires) was the result of pride:
“See, I am against you, you arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
“for your day has come, the time for you to be punished.
The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up;
I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her.” (Jeremiah 50:31-32)

The Lord will redeem His people (who will survive during this horrible time of destruction):
Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name.
He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon. (Jeremiah 50:34)

We have ground to be hopeful. For God has already brought about this redemption through a new covenant (promise) made possible by the blood of Christ (see Jeremiah 31:31-34 which has been quoted verbatim in today's New Testament reading in Hebrews 8:7-13).

I found this Ignatian prayer (modified and made personal) quite suitable for this post-election time. I will try to do this prayer (for America and Canada) daily throughout this week:

(1) Begin with a prayer of gratitude
Consider current realities of US and Canada—for what and for whom am I most grateful?

(2) Ask for God’s guidance
Invite the Spirit of God to illuminate my reflection.

(3) Enlightened by the Spirit, prayerfully review US and Canada at this point in history; pay attention to my emotions and reactions.
• What energizes me or brings me closer to God as I reflect on my country?
• What distracts me or makes me feel farther from God as I reflect on my country?
• What is the current situation of my brothers and sisters, particularly those who are most vulnerable and often marginalized by poverty and injustice?
• What are the ways that my identity and privileges shape my perspective and vision for my country?
• Allow my honest reactions, emotions, and desires to surface.

(4) Conversation with God
• Consider perhaps one or two of the strongest desires or feelings evoked by my prayer about my country and bring this to God.
• Engage God in conversation over these desires or feelings, speaking simply, clearly, directly, and honestly
• What is God’s desire for people who are marginalized by poverty and injustice?
• What areas of my life/my nation’s life do I rejoice in and celebrate fidelity to Gospel values?
• Listen with my heart—how is God present to me through my reactions and desires?








(5) Prayer of renewal and resolution
As I look forward to be governed by the new leaders, how will I promote the common good? Ask God for the assistance I need to enact the greater, more lasting good for all God’s people. Is there a specific attitude I want to cultivate or an action I want to take? Entrust my desires and intentions to God’s grace.

Philemon - how to treat our servants

I am visiting Hong Kong as I do every year to spend time with my siblings. According to Wikipedia, in 2013 there are some 320,000 foreign domestic helpers making up about 3% of Hong Kong's population. They are about equal split between Filipinos and Indonesians with only a small minority from Thailand. They are by law required to live in their employer's residence, to perform practically every household chore and especially childcare. Human-rights groups have been concerned with serious worker abuse and the NGO Justice Center recently ranked Hong Kong 157 out of 161 countries in terms of the government response to modern-day slavery. The newspaper South China Morning Post's reported on Oct 30, 2016 the domestic workers' minimum income was $4,230 Hong Kong dollars (which is about $730 Canadian dollars).

My sister and her partner hired three domestic workers - two to take care of their two homes and one is a chauffeur. They are all from the Philippines. They are very nice and are all Christians - one an evangelical charismatic, one a Catholic, and one belonging to the Iglesia ni Cristo church. I think they are treated very respectfully and from my conversation with at least two of them they feel treated well. Nonetheless, when I observe how hard they work, the long hours and the lack of really much of any personal life all week long except for Sunday (which often gets derailed as the employer suddenly changed plans on Sunday). In many of the masses I attended so far, there were certainly a lot of attendees from the Philippines.

I was reading the Book of Philemon this morning. It's just a short book with only one chapter. It gave me a glimpse of the slavery culture during the the first century. Charles Swindoll has a very nice overview of this book. I'll quote here "Why is Philemon so important?":
"The letter to Philemon reminds us that God’s revelation to humanity is intensely personal. In more formal biblical works such as the Gospels or the epistle to the Romans or even Paul’s letters to churches at Philippi or Colossae, it might be easy to get the impression that God does not care or have time for the trials and tribulations in a single household. Philemon stands as one piece of strong evidence to the contrary, revealing that lofty doctrines such as the love of God, forgiveness in Christ, or the inherent dignity of humanity have real and pertinent impact in everyday life. The book of Philemon illustrates that principles like these can and should profoundly affect the lives of believers."

Swindoll further suggested the personal application of this book:
"Live long enough, and you will understand the difficulty of offering forgiveness when you have been wronged. It does not come easy, yet as believers, we have to recognize that our ability and willingness to offer it are the result of Christ’s saving work on the cross. Because of that fact, forgiveness serves as a determining factor in who we say we are and how we hope to live our lives. When we do not forgive, bitterness takes root in our hearts and chokes the vitality out of us."

In the Lord's prayer asking for forgiveness and forgiving others come right after our request for God's daily provision:
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (Matthew 6:9-13)




John MacArthur wrote gave a sermon on "Slaves for Christ". He said: "Being a slave of Christ may be the best way to define a Christian.".

For our ultimate goal at the end of my life is to hear God say:
"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!"
Apparently the word for "servant" here is the same for "slave".

So I have appreciated the comfort my sister's servants provide me. I remind myself to treat them as sisters in the Lord.