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Seed and Flower - 15th Ordinary Sunday

(Story about a spiritual teacher and his disciple who asks a puzzling question—“Is what makes the tree move either tree or wind?” The teacher answers, “It is neither the tree nor the wind. It is your heart!” Let anyone with ears listen!)

Suppose you meet God who is willing to fulfill your three wishes whatever you ask for. What would you like to ask?
Paul is the one who was asked three wished by God. Without hesitation, Paul asked God to make him a superstar so that he would become very popular and every body would love him. God did so, but soon he found that being famous was extremely hard: people called him all the time day and night, asked for his autograph waiting outside his home whole night, paparazzi followed him every where, many people became stokers. So Paul reluctantly asked God the second wish, asking all the people bothered him to be taken away. God did so. He found he had only one wish left. He thought day and night what he wanted to ask, but he couldn’t make one wish because he didn’t want to lose other things like being successful, athletic, famous, rich and so on. Totally exhausted, he finally asked God, “My God, tell me what I need to ask for my wishes?” God answered, “If I were you, I would ask wisdom to know the truth, courage to follow the truth and love to live the truth.” “But I already lost my three wishes,” he said. God responded, “Don’t worry. I already planted wisdom, courage and love within you. The only thing you need to know is that all good things are given as seeds planted in you, so you strive to nourish and develop the seeds in you to bear much fruit.”

Today, we heard many seeds in the gospel.
In ancient time, Israelites sowed seed very differently. They just threw the seed in the air and the wind blew it anywhere. That’s why some seed fell on the path, other seed on rocky ground, other among thorns, others on rich soil. What happened to them? The bird ate it up, the other were withered or choked, but some seed on the rich soil produced fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.

Think about any seed. What do you expect to come out of the seed? Flowers! How do you know that? Can you see flowers in the seed? No, but we know the seeds grow to become flowers. How come? It is natural as well as supernatural because no human beings can make little flowers even though they can make computers and satellites. Only God can make the seed grow, become flowers and bear fruit. Think about any seed. Can you see flowers in the seed? Yes, we know that all life belongs to God who makes things grow, become flowers and bear fruits.

Likewise, I think all of us are seed planted on the earth by God. No one is without God’s purpose just like nothing is accidental. God has a special plan for each of us. In other words, we all are going to be flowers. What kind of flowers do you want to be?

Karen was thirteen, her father declared bankruptcy. That was the year they all made their Christmas presents. She remembers waiting for Christmas with more than the usual anticipation because she had secretly knit a sweater for her father. On the Christmas morning, there was a box not likely to contain something homemade. She looked at it with suspicion. Her father smiled, “it’s for you.” Inside were a pair of twenty-four-karat gold earrings. They were exquisite. “Aren’t you going to try them on?” So she took them into the bathroom, closed the door, and put them on her ears. Cautiously she looked into the mirror. The earrings looked weird. Tearing them from her ears, she rushed back into the living room and flung them on the floor. “How could you do this?” she resented, “Why are you making fun of me? Take them back. They look stupid. I’m too ugly to wear them. How could you waste all this money?” Then she burst into tears. Waiting for her tears dried out, her father said, “I know they don’t look right now. But I bought them because someday they will suit you perfectly.” After years passed by, she is truly grateful to have survived her adolescence. At some of its lowest moments, she would get out the box and look at the earrings. Her father had spent a hundred dollars he didn’t have because he believed in the person she was becoming. It was something to hold on to.

Human being is more a verb than a noun. Each of us is unfinished, a work in progress. We are seeds that would become beautiful flowers someday. If life is process the process to grow, all judgments are provisional. We can’t judge something until it is finished. No one has won or lost until the race is over. When I was working at the social welfare facility called New Directions that helps the adolescents who are addicted to drug and alcohol, I kept talking to myself, “These boys were addicted and yet they would be someone whom I admire someday.” I just don’t know God’s plan for them and what kind of flower they would be. Simply trusting process of life has a great power.

Now let the seed, that is God’s gift in us, grow and not to be taken, withered, and choked by Satan. Think about whatever God’s gifts in you. What kind of flower would you want to be? How do you want to praise God’s name with your beauty? If you know you are not finished yet, you would be more patient on others and yourself, trusting God’s special plan for all of us. You will become a beautiful flower someday, and will bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold. Now in silence, look at God’s gifts in you, thanking for them and letting it grow.

Rest for Your Summer Vacation (14th Ordinary Sunday)

Where are you going to spend your summer vacation? Around the Fourth of July, we often hear the question about our plans for summer vacation. It is a general leave of absence from a regular occupation, so it is a special time in which we want to find recreation, relax and opportunities to bond friends and family. In order to do that, we have to make some decisions: Where are we going to go? When do we take off? How much money do we plan to spend? What kind of activities are we going to do? Once our plans come along with these questions, we are ready to go. Go away for fun and relax.

However, the reality is sometimes different because people need more time after the vacation—the real time for rest! Many are usually occupied with plans and activities that cause people to become exhausted in the hustle and bustle of doing something, eventually hoping for some time for quietness and peace. In other words, we often stay in the surface of vacation by being away and enjoying the ability to afford to do something not found in the routine of life. But in the deeper level of vacation, we are eager to be refreshed so that we can come back to the normal life with renewed spirit. For this spiritual rest, Jesus says today, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus promises us rest. But this does not mean some time off, less work and more sleep. Rather, this invitation goes out to all who are weary, who can no longer find pleasure in life, whose backs are bent with the burdens of each day. This is an invitation to all of suffering humanity, especially those whose suffering has caused them to lose heart. And this spiritual rest happens when our true nature is realized because our hearts are restless until they rest in God as St. Augustine said. Thus Jesus introduces us to the God who will restore to us the goodness of creation and this inner realization of rest happens when we live in harmony with ourselves, our neighbor, our nature and God.

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” The way to this spiritual rest is to yoke ourselves to Jesus. This means we must undertake Jesus’ disciplines and learn from him. To me, this is the loving invitation that has shaped my vocation to the priesthood. The scripture passage I chose for the priestly ordination is not just for the ceremony but for the life of service to the end of my life. My heart was restless when I was trying to find “my way” in college. When I began my business career in China, the restless heart intensified, and weariness afflicted the mind with a labor and a burden. I couldn’t sleep much and couldn’t eat well. The lasting fatigue lingered within me. Ideas and distractions captured the mind and they whipped it night and day and finally blew me away to the miserable situation. All I wanted was rest.

Many Catholics say that they come to the church to look for peace of soul. This is the fundamental desire in us to rest in God, finding ourselves in the right place so that we feel secured and loved by the one who is not changeable. My Lord and my God has done this for me. So I carry this scripture passage with the smiling Jesus. (Showing my holy card for the priestly ordination) I have finally found rest in God. No, the more accurate way to say is that God has found me, making me trust that everything will be all right because this spiritual rest in God is allowing ourselves to be carried by life without strain or effort on our part. D.H. Lawrence pictures the spiritual rest as “a cat asleep on a chair/ at peace, in peace…Sleeping on the hearth of the living world/ yawning at home before the fire of life/ feeling the presence of the living God/ like a great reassurance/ a deep calm in the heart…”

The spiritual rest is trusting in the life that has been given as a gift, realizing that “All that matters is to be at one with the living God and to be a creature in the house of the God of life.” I hope you understand your vacation is already begun in this sense and, wherever you go for the vacation, celebrate your life in God, accepting Jesus’ invitation for the rest and learning the lesson of the cat.

Interdependence DAy

First of all, it is honor to preside the Eucharistic celebration for this special occasion called Independence Day. At the same time, I feel little burdened to be in the position to preach the gospel in light of American national holiday because there would be a certain gap between my knowledge of American history and your life built on it. Nevertheless, I see there would be a converged point where God has revealed the value of Independence and beyond.

Since I came to the United States, I have found something very different about the country which I would be never able to discover unless I came here. To many outsiders, the most affluent country could be not an ideal place to live because of its materialism, secularism and individualism. Celebrities in Hollywood that many people outside believe that they represent the country has given a wrong impression such as hedonism. No wonder why many outside the country often see the country in the negative point of view because of the bad influence of the media. If we believe in the statement that no country is an island, it is not a problem for a country but for all.

However, it is not all true. I have met so many great people in America who are compassionate to other’s happiness and who are filled with zeal to build the faith-based country. These great people are not just satisfied with being Americans; rather, they strive to be world citizens. They have not just fought for independence; they live in accordance with interdependence—the new reality that has defined who we are, especially Catholics that literally means universal believers. 

When Pope Benedict 16^th visited the country and addressed the United Nations General Assembly, he emphasized the duty to protect, the responsibility to uphold human rights even if it means overriding national sovereignty, promoting solidarity with most vulnerable regions of the world. In listening to the address, I realized that I could testify the universal believers who have already lived the duty to protect in the United States and live among us now. 

Dorothy Day founded the Catholic Worker that has dedicated themselves more than seventy-five years in New York City in serving the homeless with a soup and bread every day and advocating human rights in accordance with the social justice of Jesus Christ. They are truly Catholics who know their dependence on God as well as their interdependence on others while many celebrate their independence in self-satisfaction. And I have been also witnessing so many generous hearts that have helped the vulnerable of the other countries in case of Tsunami, the hurricane and the earthquake through Catholic Relief Services. I believe this is the power and the spirit of the United States. As the pope said, this is a land of great faith. So, on Independence Day, I invite you to celebrate something bigger and beyond to which we Catholics are called. Our independence will shine forth if we know our interdependence with one another and take a poignant role to lead others as the land of great faith. God bless America!

Who Do You Say I AM? (Sts. Peter & Paul Homily)

Let’s imagine that the disciples are traveling with Jesus. Suddenly Jesus turns around and asks them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” First they mumble and try to say something that they have heard. “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Jesus doesn’t comment on these opinions at all, probably knowing what they are to say, rather, he intently looks at them and asks, “Who do you say that I am?”

Now I ask you in the name of Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” (Interacting with people, listening to their answers and asking ‘why do you say that?’)

 

“Who do you say that I am?” This is not only the ultimate question that we Christians must answer but also the challenging question that we Christians must find an answer on our own. In order to ratify this statement, let me invite St. Peter to our pulpit.

 

(St. Peter speaks) Good evening/morning, everyone. I am Peter the apostle for whom with St. Paul you celebrate the solemn feast today. I am truly honored to be remembered as the leader of the apostles and the rock upon which my Lord built the church. But today I would like to bring up something you never find in the gospel unless you understand my whole life with my Lord.

 

When my Lord asked, “Who do you say that I am?” unlikely many believe, I was not the one who gave the famous answer—“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” because the author of the gospel of Matthew wanted to describe me as the leader of the apostles, so he chose me to speak the poignant profession on Jesus. It didn’t actually matter whether I said it or not for you can find what I was thinking in the following passage of the gospel. Right after the profession, Jesus revealed the first prediction of the Passion to the apostles. And I took him aside and said to him “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” Oh, how foolish I was, not trusting his words and putting my own agenda for the Lord! Now I become truly grateful to remember the Lord’s rebuke, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” And he continued on saying, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” It really took for a long time to understand these words. As you know, I ran away, leaving my Lord to the Romans who killed him, while betraying him tree times. I, once called Satan by the Lord, confess before you, this is truer about me. Although saved from the crucifixion, my life was not the same anymore. I was dead as well.

 

However, the resurrection came to me. When the Lord was raised from the dead, he didn’t forget me. One morning my Lord showed up on the seashore, saying to me, “Come, have breakfast.” My Lord took the bread and gave it to me, and in like manner the fish. It was the same peaceful regular breakfast we had all the time. We walked along the seashore after the breakfast. I had nothing to say, thinking about my betrayal. Thankfully, my Lord opened his mouth first, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” It was another challenging question I had to answer like “Who do you say that I am?” because it could be my last chance to express how much I loved my Lord. “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” But my Lord asked the same question again and again. My heart became numb. I instinctively knew I didn’t hit the nail and my Lord actually knew myself better than me. But what else could I say? “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

 

My dear friends, can you see why I started talking of Jesus’ question—“Who do you say that I am?” and my last encounter with him? My faith journey was nothing but to know the difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus himself and to move from informative knowledge to transformative knowledge. I probably knew Jesus was special as a miracle worker, possibly the Son of God like many said. But that didn’t affect me at all because it was all about information with many ideas until I suffered with my own weakness and was transformed by confessing with humility, “You know everything, Lord, that I love you.” It was my personal encounter with the Lord nothing like what I heard. And the more important thing is that it was not ended in words. It entailed my action to prove as my Lord asked, “Follow me.” As my colleague St. Paul rightly put it, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” It is all about life-long commitment in personal relationship with the Lord.

 

“Who do you say that I am?” You need to find your own answer for this question. And it will take a lot of courage on your part in trying to answer. You may mumble first and convey others’ answers. It is OK. However, only your own words can keep you steadfast in difficult times and lead you to the deeper encounter with the Lord. Thanking for his kind invitation for me, I hope Fr. H.Paul has found his own answer for this. Let us praise the name of the Lord for he is good always.

 

(After the final prayer) Peter’s faith journey was nothing but his personal discovery of who Jesus was to him. In this sense, we are all called to find our own answer for “Who do you say that I am?” To me, Jesus is my best friend because I truly believe that the core of priesthood is being a friend of Jesus Christ as Pope Benedict said and there is nothing more beautiful than to know him and to speak to others of our friendship with him. That’s why I need to pray to know him deeper and deeper and to encounter who the Father is through him.

Message from Madagascar!

Received the money and THANKS!

Dear Rev. H Paul 

We have received the money you had sent and we were able to buy  about two tons of rice!!

The school will be closing in the month of July and then two months holiday and will restart on September also will be reopening the center in Tsiazotafo in our home the center stopped for a year so we will have about more than 1000 children next term and as the world (food) crisis is affecting us we just trust and pray that God who created will provide and take care of the poor. It is the greed of some which make the poor suffer so God hears the cry of the poor too.

We THANK you and your companions who are struggling to get some money for the poor children. God will reward you 1000 times and more . We are continually praying for you.

Love and greetings to all.

Br. Emmanuel

Today I have received e-mail from Br. Emmanuel who is in charge of the orphanage in Madagascar. He said he has received the money and bought two tons of rice for the children! How wonderful it is! In fact, we have raised $837 in the name of the Living Man IV and wired it through Center for Pastoral Leadership in the diocese of Cleveland.

I wish to express my big thanks for all participants in the name of Living Man IV for this great occasion. We believe that we have been enriched as well by sharing our time, talent and treasure with the poor. 

May God continually cherish the zeal and compassion of Living Man!

Faithfully in Christ

Living Man Fr. H.Paul

Cancer - 12th Sunday Homily

“Cancer”, when we hear this word, entails many thoughts embedded in us—chemo, radiation, surgery, uncertainty, desperate fighting, despair, maybe hope, and sudden death. When we hear this word unexpectedly, while asking what kind of cancer and how bad it is, we usually find ourselves feeling powerless before the news. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do and how you have lived, cancer just comes and seems to take lives away from us. Although we make best efforts to prevent or avoid it, many of us are still vulnerable because we have experienced it either directly or indirectly anyway. We are afraid of cancer, even something cancerous!

Two weeks before my ordination last year, I got a call from my friend, a Benedictine sister, saying that my friend Sr. Paul was diagnosed with stomach cancer which was very malignant between the third or fourth stage. After hanging up the phone, I recalled my first encounter with Sr. Paul. When I was first year at the seminary in Korea, our archbishop invited all novitiates in the archdiocese and first and second year seminarians to dinner to encourage our vocations to the religious life and the priesthood. The novitiates and seminarians were mingled at the dinner table. I sat with a Benedictine sister. After the dinner, we talked to each other and were surprised to find out that we were classmates at the same parish. From then we became a companion, supporting and praying for each other. She took her final vow in 2005 and started working as a campus minister while I was studying in Cleveland. Anyway, the surgery was scheduled a week before my ordination. And when I prostrated on the sanctuary during the litany of saints, I prayed three wishes to God. One of them was asking God to heal my dear friend Sr. Paul from cancer which I believed unfair for such a young sister.

The first person, besides my parents, I met during my visit to Korea after the ordination was Sr. Paul in the hospital. She was in recuperation after the surgery and six straight chemos were on the way. Over a month, I often visited her and we talked about our vocation in God’s providence and sometimes death. No body knew how the treatment ended up. She seemed to be OK with chemo. In the midst of that, I planned a picnic with her and finally got the permission from the superior general. At that time, I thought about the Korean poem that says life is a picnic; we come and enjoy it for a while and then go back our eternal home, believing it could be our last chance to go on a picnic together. I had to come back to the United States when she was ready for her last chemo.

Jesus said today, “Do not be afraid” three times in the gospel, assuring us that God even knows all the hairs of our head. It deeply touches me because God knows how many hairs of those who in chemo and radiation are lost and would cry for their loss.

After one year from Sr. Paul’s surgery and treatment, she sent an e-mail to me, sharing her feeling and insight in life with cancer. The letter begins.

“I have lived a year given to me like a bonus. It seems nothing happened. Rather, I have enjoyed reading the books I wanted to read, praying without distraction, walking in nature, being loved by many and being happy in the knowledge of God’s presence. I sometimes feel sorry because I am the only comfortable one in the convent; nevertheless, the sisters thank me for I walk with smile. I don’t know why I become like this…but I am grateful anyway…

Cancer has enriched my life with beauty. Many become a part of my journey with prayer and love and I feel God’s unknown presence…I don’t know why cancer came to me. But I do know everything coming from God is a gift that reveals the heart of God who carefully chooses gift for his lover. I know God’s gift is always beneficial and good to me. If someone says the cancer came because of my sin, I am grateful to have a time to repent. If someone says it expiates sins on behalf of others, I am grateful to be a part of Christ’s redemptive suffering. If someone says it is for the glory of God, I am truly grateful for being chosen to be God’s instrument. So I am grateful all the time…

Someone asked me not long ago if I was afraid of dying. I said, ‘I don’t know exactly. But I wouldn’t be afraid’…I know everyone dies. It is a just matter of time. I think death would be fearful when we try to run away from it…But once I received it, I am not afraid anymore… Actually I have many dreams to come true: many works to do, many people to love and to be with. But I have seen one of my dreams come true these days. Some say to me that they see hope through me—the hope that Jesus has given to the despair. This is my happiness…I believe God has taught me through St. Paul’s words. ‘I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me’ (Phil. 4:11-13). It is really true to me. No one takes away my happiness because God is my happiness in me and the Lord is suffering with me.”

 

Also being grateful, I have been humbled to be a friend to the simple and holy sister. And now I have courage to say that cancer could be a part of our life and even welcomed as a gift from God who always gives us the best for us. As Job said, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall go back again. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord! We accept good things from God; and should we not accept evil?” (Job 1:21, 2:10) Once we accept death, there is nothing to be afraid of and, since Jesus Christ who freely accepted death and was raised from it is our Lord, what do we need to be afraid?

Mercy is the sea in which we swim (10th Ordinary Sunday Homily)

The Calling of St. Matthew by Caravaggio

(Sigh, sitting on the steps of the altar) You know, people called me Matthew the betrayer. Honestly I didn’t care about other’s opinion at all because I knew ultimately money can talk and success will prevail over any humane things. So I had worked hard to be approved by the Romans, squeezing my people to collect more taxes. It was not easy quite often to endure the people’s cold staring, despise, and sometimes swearing. They just didn’t get why I worked for the Romans. Think about what if I gave up my profession! The Romans will find another who could be much worse than me. At least I have a good heart, not taking anything unnecessary and really harmful from the people. I had been very shrewd as well as efficient in placing myself between the Romans and my people. That’s why I had reached to the highest position in the customs post, supervising other-Matthew-the-betrayers-to-be, so to speak. 

However, something was not right. After all those years of hard working and difficult choices, although I got money and fame being successful, but my heart couldn’t rest. It was just unexplainable because I got everything I needed to be happy since I didn’t care about other’s ideas. Instead, confusion and sadness overwhelmed me. Confused because I wondered why I spent all my youth and energy to be like this and sad because young workers looked up to me as if I were their hero. I felt uneasy. It might be true, someone said, “I am condemned.”

I am religious as well like the pious Pharisees although they think I am unclean, impure and sinful. I was raised a pious Jew who learned the laws and regulations and followed them with all my heart. I didn’t know where I got lost. Maybe one of the reasons for that would be I didn’t love my neighbors as myself. However, the unwavering trust in God remained in me and it probably led me to the unexpected encounter on one sunny day. Like the other days, I was uneasy and disappointed by watching the young tax collectors who tried to do their best to be successful, threatening and intimidating poor people to get more money in the name of the emperor. Looking outside, I found myself wishing to sit down under the warm sun which I did. Going out of my customs post and letting myself be exposed to the unknown would be grace, I am sure because “The gates of hell are locked from the inside” and I was the one who could open myself to be found…literally to be found! I probably waited for something, something that could fulfill my uneasy heart. But what was coming to me was much greater than that. It was not something but someone…no, the one named Jesus. When I saw someone coming to me, I immediately knew who he was although I couldn’t see his face because of the bright sunshine behind him. If you have seen the painting called “The calling of St. Matthew” painted by Caravaggio, you will understand what I am saying. Jesus brought the true light to the dark space of the sitting tax-collectors. His hand gesture pointing toward me was like the hand as God awakens Adam in Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam. I knew I couldn’t resist this powerful calling even though my finger pointed to my colleague as if I were not found. I realized I stood on holy ground like our great ancestor Moses’ encounter with God. 

(Standing up) It changed everything. I should say it transformed myself to trust in God’s mercy more than ever. God is not vengeful at all. His kindness and generosity toward sinners are overwhelming. It was such a powerful experience to see that my colleagues who had been called sinners like me gathered around the table and ate with Jesus, the Son of God. How could I possibly find more trustful evidence that God doesn’t desert the sinners besides this table fellowship? God desired the undesirable people, putting himself in the same table. If the church is made up of the righteous and sinners, I have found the house of the Church in my house, of which Jesus is the center and participate in its table fellowship with sinners. I am sure that’s why you are here in the table of fellowship as well. What a surprise of God’s amazing grace!

I, once Matthew the betrayer, now clearly see. When my heart condemned me, my actions and thoughts were unacceptable. In my negative evaluation of myself, I had been confused who I was with what I had done. It is the best thing I have found in my life that God is greater than our hearts and I am not defined by my actions and consequences; rather, the mercy of God reminds me that I am not an irredeemable sinner but a temporarily lost son. I can rest at last and be renewed in the steadfast love of God, a mercy that softens my fierce and narrow condemnations. It focuses more on my fortitude, the choices I have made, and the paths I have taken than on my sinfulness, evil actions and their consequences. Someone said, “Man in his weakness and shortsightedness believes he must make choices in this life. He trembles at the risk he takes. We do know fear. But no. Our choice is of no importance. There comes a time when our eyes are opened. And we come to realize that mercy is infinite. We need only await it with confidence and receive it with gratitude. Mercy imposes no conditions. And, lo! Everything we have chosen has been granted to us. And everything we rejected has also been granted. Yes, we get back even what we rejected. For mercy and truth have met together. Righteousness and bliss shall kiss one another.” 

Thank you for listening to my long story. I hope it touches your heart and transforms it like mine. Don’t forget that we are like fish and God’s mercy is the sea in which we swim.

The two questions you need to answer when you die

Today I buried the man named Casmer Swiencki who died on May 31 at the age of 93. For his funeral I wrote this homily because his life has revealed the truth that we need to hear and answer someday for ourselves. So I want to share the story with you.

Many say that life is a journey; an adventurous journey as Helen Keller said, life is either an adventurous journey or it’s nothing. For Casey, he had traveled with such an adventurous spirit, exploring to find how to live his life to the fullest at every moment. I am sure that he has given us a valuable lesson to see what life is meant to be.

Whether we admit or not, we are all sojourners on earth, temporary and limited in space and time. We have been sent by someone to experience life on purpose. It could be God’s dream for us or our mission on earth. But how often do we act as if we live on earth forever? For those who strive to find eternal life in mortal reality, Casey seems to be dead because they don’t have any hope after this life. However, we believe that the souls of the just are in the hands of God and no torment shall touch them. After the joy and suffering, the soul of Casey is in the hands of God, finding a home at last. He is in peace because life journey is supposed to end at some point. By knowing that, the people of God are able to be adventurous and humorous like Casey. He knew that our life on earth is limited and is not meant to be weary; rather, it should be joyful. For someone who truly knows death somehow can enjoy life because life goes along with death all the time. Only plastic flowers never die. All the living enjoys a moment of being alive, singing, dancing, and praising their creator. Casey loves all the living including birds. I have never seen any birds look tired or weary because it is full of life. Casey knew this, so he loved it so much.

The adventurous spirit never fades. It flourishes by itself, so Casey had built many things out of passion. If someone loves, his love shines forth so that others recognize he is fully alive. His many crafts are an evidence of it. And the truly adventurous soul never fails to laugh. First of all, he is able to laugh at himself. He doesn’t take himself seriously like he doesn’t take life and death seriously because he knows it is all up to God. Once you let things go, how free of your soul! Casey had enjoyed the freedom of soul that let things be as it is, so he enjoyed joking around, bringing smile and happiness to others. Here it reminds me of the movie “The Bucket List” that the two terminally ill friends travel to Egypt to see the magnificent pyramids. They talk about the ancient Egyptians who believed that when they come to the gates of paradise in the afterlife, they will be asked two questions, the answers to which will determine whether or not they are admitted. The first is, “Have you found joy in your life?” And the second question turns out to be similar: “Have you brought joy to others in your life?” I think if Casey heard these questions, he would smile. His life itself was a joy to others, we truly believe.

However, after all, this is still hard for us to let our beloved go which means our need to say goodbye to Casey in human language. We won’t see him again and there won’t be the same laugh and gathering anymore. Nevertheless, we believe that, in God’s love, Casey finds much more joy than ever, waiting for us to join him. And our final consolation is not anything about his achievement but his sincere heart in men and faith in God. He prayed the Lord’s Prayer day after day so that it can be his prayer forever. His firm belief in God will lead him to God. We now come to know that life is a journey and it is not all about us but about God who generously shares His life with us through love and takes it back in an appointed time. We are grateful for this wonderful life; we are thankful for gifts of joy and love in Casey’s life and death; we are joyful for laughter and fun even sorrow we have had with Casey, God’s beloved son. Now we let him go, praying for him to be at peace in God. And we also pray for the remained, especially Rose after seventy-years long marriage. May God’s peace and happiness be with him forever. Amen.

The Choice (9th Ordinary Sunday Homily)

“Everything is a choice.” This is a quote from Matthew Kelly. “This is life’s greatest truth and its hardest lesson. It is a great truth because it reminds us of our power. Not power over others, but the often untapped power to be ourselves and to live the life we have imagined. It is a hard lesson, because it causes us to realize that we have chosen the life we are living right now. It is perhaps frightening for us to think that we have chosen to live our life exactly as it is today. Frightening because we may not like what we find when we look at our lives today. But it is also liberating, because we can now begin to choose what we will find when we look at our life in the tomorrows that lie unlived before us…We choose, and in doing so, we design our lives.”

One day, a great Zen Master asked his disciples, “How can we walk on the carpet all the time to protect our feet? Do we need to carpet the whole of the earth?” One of the wise disciples answered, “Master, it is easier to protect our feet with slippers than to carpet the whole world.” “Yes, my son. If you want peace, seek to change yourself, not other people.”

We have a power to choose what we like, especially over ourselves. Everything is a choice. For instance, some choose to come to the church out of habit; they were raised Catholics who go to the church every Sunday. Some choose out of fear; they learned there would be punishment if they don’t go to the church. Some choose out of necessity—for their child’s education, for their well being and spirituality. Some choose out of love. The choices vary and I don’t think I can weigh or judge whether it is right or wrong. What I want to do is, since you are here, that I guide you to see the most important choice you could make here and now.

To be or not to be, that is the question; to do or not to do, that is the matter. There is no middle—either do it or not, there is no try—either do it or not. Moses told the people, “I set before you here, this day, a blessing and a curse.” In other words, I open the door for you, but it is up to you to enter it. It is our choice to obey the commandments of the Lord, not just like observing the law but being passionate about it with our whole heart. Once we choose to follow the way of the blessing, we don’t want to fool around. There is a certain procedure to do and to be what we call ‘building a house on rock instead of on sand’.

The wise man in the gospel knows, in order to succeed, he needs something special which could be called “the secret.” Here I want to see the secret of the world through the current bestselling book The Seceret. It says there isn’t a single thing that you cannot do with this knowledge. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are. The Secret can give you whatever you want. Namely, the power to get absolutely anything which is called the law of attraction is simple because the law of attraction will always respond to your thoughts, so your thoughts become things. You shape your own life and destiny through the power of your mind.

However, I don’t think it is something new or it works by itself. The book is not realistic at all to me because no one wants to suffer by thinking, but there is always suffering around us. And the book ends up saying, “The earth turns on its orbit for you. The oceans ebb and flow for you. The birds sing for you. The sun rises and it sets for you…Take a look around. None of it can exist, without you…You are the master of the Universe…You are the perfection of life. And now you know The Secret…You are God in physical body.” People maybe crazy about this.

Let’s listen to the gospel. “Everyone who listens to theses words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” Unlikely the bestseller, the gospel simply teaches us the importance of the congruence of words and deeds. Does it make more sense to you if you think of your life because there is no such a thing without this simple truth: we choose to do the right thing and strive for it. But in the end God is the one who fulfills it. As St. Paul says, “Neither the planter nor the waterer matters. Only God who makes things grow.” And the consoling belief is that our God is loving and for us, so He has given us the free will to choose who we are and what we like. For Catholics, we realize that we are not the center of the world; rather, we are children of God who wants us to become the-best-version-of-ourselves. In God we are confident, following the Word of life and striving to live it out. Therefore, our secret would be the St. Paul’s saying: we know that God makes everything work together for the good of those who have been called to choose to listen to the word and act on it. If God is for us, who can be against us? Who will separate us from the love of Christ? This is our secret; this is our choice here and now to listen to the words of Jesus and act on them. Therefore, we are proud of saying that, knowing God is with us and for us. Are you ready to take the blessing?

The great love story: Team Hoyt

2008 Cleveland Marathon Report!

I have finished the race.

I have fought the good fight.

I have kept the faith. (2 Tim. 4:7) 

As St. Paul said, I have finished the race; I have fought the good fight and I have kept the faith during the 31st Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

Although the weather was not that great because of heavy raining and chills, the runners' spirit was great. Standing and waiting before the start line, I realized all I needed was faith, faith in God who has been running with me. When the race began, I was in good spirit, making the sign of the cross, and ready to go because I have trained for this for a long time. Almost a half way through the race, it was still raining. However, about 17 miles, the sun came out, seemed to say, "Hey dude, this is a typical Cleveland weather. Don't you know?"

I remembered I hit the dreaded wall last year around 20 miles, so I had prepared myself for that by keeping the pace, drinking enough water with energy gels, and reminding myself that I could do it. Finally, I got to the point of 20 miles and pushed myself forward. I knew my condition was very good different from last year because I adapted the advice of Dr. Ed-the music director at St. Mary Seminary and has run with me last three years-on the need of training with interval, hill, and tempo runs. Thanks, Dr. Ed!

Increasing the speed, I started reciting Hail Mary which helped me focus on the race, not getting weary. Running with full speed through the downtown was really exciting. I listened to my deep and rhythmical breathing, feeling no one was around and no time was there. I pushed harder, trying not to leave any regret behind. When the finish line appeared, it was the almost end of the three-hours long prayer. It was consoling as much as fulfilling. I not only finished the race but also fought the good fight! My time was 3:14:03.

I made it at last! It took me three years to be qualified to be able to run the Boston Marathon. Now I am dreaming of running the 113rd Boston Marathon in April, 2009.

Our four 8th graders and other youth members finished their 10K as well. They were happy about their opportunity to run the race, helping out the orphans in Africa. We all are grateful for God's grace in which we share the spirit of Living Man.

I deeply appreciate your prayer, support and friendship.

The Glory of God is the Living Man.

Living Man Fr. H.Paul