Blog of Fr. Peter Leung

「又有那個大民族，有這樣公正的法令和規律，如同……這一切法律呢？」（申4：8）

為以色列子民來說，在曠野四十年漂泊流浪的生活，是他們考驗和恩寵的時期。天主煉淨了他們的心靈，也向他們彰顯了自己無限的慈愛。

在即將進入那預許的福地之際，梅瑟回顧了以色列子民所經歷的一切。他特別提醒他們曾一起領受的偉大恩賜，即那歸納在十誡之內的天主法律，並邀請他們全體一起把這法律遵行。

當梅瑟向民眾闡述天主的訓示時，他回憶起天主以往如何親近了祂的選民，如何慈愛地照顧他們，如何教導他們這些充滿智慧的法規。這一切使梅瑟深受感動，因此他大聲呼喊說：

又有那個大民族，有這樣公正的法令和規律，如同……這一切法律呢？」（申4：8）

天主把祂的法律銘刻在我們每個人的心中，並在不同的時期，以不同的方式向所有的民族宣講，讓所有的人都因祂所彰顯的愛情而歡欣鼓舞。
可是，要領會天主為全人類所定下的計劃絕非容易。

因此，天主揀選了一個細小的民族──以色列民，向他們更清晰地揭示祂的計劃。

到最後，祂更派遣了自己的聖子耶穌到世上來，向世人圓滿地彰顯天主的容貌，揭示天主是愛，並且把天主的法律濃縮成為一條愛主愛人的誡命。

每個民族及每個人的偉大在於他能夠依從天主的法律，並衷心地說出自己的「我願意」。

這份對天主法律的認同不會把我們困在一個人為的架構中，更不會把我們從現實中抽離。這也不表示我們對命運的安排會抱著聽天由命的態度，或對某些遭遇感到無可奈何，好像說：「這是命中注定，是無可避免的。」

絕不是這樣。這份認同是我們為自己未來設想的最佳保證。透過與天主合作，我們讓天主把祂為每個人和全人類定下的非凡計劃展現出來。
這計劃就是把眾人聚合成為一個唯一的大家庭，使他們在愛內合而為一，並引領眾人分享天主超性的生命。

因此，我們也可以跟梅瑟一樣大聲呼喊說：
「又有那個大民族，有這樣公正的法令和規律，如同……這一切法律呢？」（申4：8）

我們應怎樣實踐本月的生活聖言呢？

讓我們直接進入那些神聖法律的核心，耶穌已把這法律綜合成為一條愛的誡命。

在重温舊約中天主所頒佈給我們的十誡時，我們會發覺，透過真心誠意地愛天主和愛近人，我們就能夠滿全地遵守十誡。

那些愛慕天主的人，難道會讓其他神祇進入他們的心中嗎？

那些愛慕天主的人，難道會不欽崇，或輕慢祂的聖名嗎？

那些愛慕天主的人，難道會不樂意每週至少奉獻一天給他們最摰愛的「那一位」嗎？
那些愛每一位近人的人，難道會不愛他們的父母嗎？

那些愛他人的人，難道會設計搶劫或殺害別人，或為求己益而欺騙他人，或作假見證去誣告他人嗎？

那些心靈已感到富足的人，難道會貪戀別人的財物或配偶嗎？

在過往不同的遊歷中，當我與不同的民族和族群接觸時，就深深體會到這一點。

尤其是非洲喀麥隆方潭地區班華族人的回應，給我留下極其深刻的印象。
當時是二零零零年，班華族人接受了我的邀請，以一個嶄新的方式去實踐愛。

讓我們在一天裡常常問自己：我們的行動是否符合愛的要求呢？假如是的話，那麼我們的生活絕不會是毫無意義的，反而會有助於實現天主為全人類所定下的計劃。

生活聖言 – 普世博愛運動每月出版
盧嘉勒撰寫
(Anna Lollo 及 Placido D’Omina神父提供圖像)

“What great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law…?” (Deut 4:8)

For the people of Israel, the journey of forty years in the desert was a period of trial and of grace. God purified their hearts and showed them his immense love.
When this people was about to enter the promised land, Moses recalled the experience they had lived. In a particular way, he reminded them of the greatest gift they had received together, the law of God, summed up in the Ten Commandments, and he invited them all to put the law into practice.
While he was delivering the instructions of God to them, Moses was deeply struck at the way God had drawn close to his people, had taken care of them, and had taught them rules for living filled with wisdom, and he exclaimed:

“What great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law…?”

God has written his law in the heart of every person and has spoken to all peoples in diverse ways and at different times. All people can rejoice for the love that he has shown to each one of them. But it is not always easy to grasp God’s plan for humanity. This is why God chose a small nation, the people of Israel, to reveal his plan more clearly. Finally, he sent his Son, Jesus, who revealed the face of God in its fullness by showing him as Love and by condensing his law into the single commandment of love for God and for one’s neighbor.
The greatness of a people and of every single person is expressed in giving their assent to the law of God with their own personal “yes.”
This assent to God’s law does not lock us into an artificial superstructure or, even less, into alienation from ourselves; it does not mean resignation on our part to a lot that is more or less good, nor to submit to a certain fate, as if to say: it was ordained to be so, so it must be, it’s inevitable.
No, it is the best thing that we can imagine for ourselves. It means to collaborate in bringing about the remarkable plan that God has for each one of us and for all humanity: to make us all one family, united in love, and to bring us to live his same divine life.
So then we too can exclaim, as Moses did:

“What great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law…?”

How should we live this Word of Life throughout the month?
By going to the heart of the divine law that Jesus synthesized into the single precept of love.
If we review the Ten Commandments given to us by God in the Old Testament, we can see that by truly loving God and neighbor, we can observe them all and to perfection.

Is it not true that those who love God refuse to let any other gods enter their hearts?
Is it not true that those who love God speak his name with reverence and never in vain?
Is it not true that those who love God are happy to dedicate at least one day a week to the One they love the most?
Is it not true that those who love each neighbor cannot but love their own parents? Is it not clear that those who love other people do not set out to rob them, or to kill them, or to take advantage of them for their own gain, or to witness falsely against them?
Is it not true that such people’s hearts are already full and satisfied, and that they certainly do not covet goods or a spouse belonging to someone else?
This is how it is: whoever loves does not commit sin but observes all of God’s commandments.

I experienced this at various times during my travels, while in contact with different peoples and ethnic groups. I remember above all the strong impression that the Bangwa people of Fontem, Cameroon, made on me, when in 2000 they received in a new way the invitation to love.
During the day, every once in a while, let’s ask ourselves if our actions are shaped by love. If this is the case, our life will not be meaningless; it will be a contribution to the fulfillment of God’s plan for humanity.

Chiara Lubich

To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: THE BOSS
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE

I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems.
Please remember that I do not need your help.

If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.

Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.

If you find yourself stuck in traffic; Don’t despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.

Should you have a bad day at work;
Think of the man who has been out of work for years.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.

Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it’s like to love and be loved in return.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn’t live long enough to get
the opportunity.

Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.
Should you find yourself the victim of other people’s bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!

- by Odi

Peace Families and Friends!

Thank you much for all your birthday blessings I thank God for my life and I thank God for all your love and care. The past year was a turning point of my life. I want to share my spiritual reflections with you on this special day. I invite you to journey and experience God’s amazing work in my life…

In mid-Oct last year, just before my 33rd birthday, I bought a book called “The Road Home” by Fr. Vincent Traverns OP. Fr. Vincent wrote stories about life, 365 of them with great wisdom. The stories were short and they spoke to me. I remembered after reading a few of them in the car, I told Terry my hubby that “Wow, what a birthday gift from God!” Fr. Vincent’s reflections help me to ponder two great life lessons: life is all about decisions and life is all about relationships.
***
Nov 2006 was a tough one. Two days before my 3rd child, Kwan-Yuet, was born, one of my best Catholic friends wrote me an email about her full conscious decision on aborting her 3rd child, who was diagnosed with Trisomy 13. I was sad, very sad, I felt like a stab to my heart. My tears ran non-stop while I read the email and whenever I thought about the baby. After I read the email and while we were on our way to the hospital for a fetal monitoring test (Kwan-Yuet was already 7 days overdue), I shared with Terry how weak and unfaithful we human beings were, just like Judas betrayed Jesus and Peter denied Jesus. At the hospital, my test went well, our OB gave us two options: to induce the baby on that day or to wait for a few
more days. I discussed with Terry and he told me that we could wait. However, right after we stepped out from the hospital, Terry was angry. I asked him what happened, he told me that he thought that baby would be induced that day. Huh? But that’s not what he told me 5 minutes ago? He said that he knew I wanted the most natural way, but that was not what he planned. At the very moment, I felt like I was abandoned by him, I was on my own, I felt tremendous loneliness. That night, I cried the entire night. I knew I could only turn to the Lord and rely on Him. So the next day, I went to St. Helen’s in Burnaby where it has 24 hour Eucharistic Adoration. I cried my heart out in front of our Lord. With Fr. Vincent’s book with me,
I flipped a page to seek some comfort. I read a story on St. Catherine of Siena from “The Road Home”. She explained how God’s love was beyond our understanding and feelings… How deep His love was, totally beyond our comprehension… I looked at our Lord and I got His comfort. My tears finally dried. That night, my water-sac broke and as Terry needed to drop the girls off at my in-law’s place first, I was admitted to the hospital alone by myself. Though alone, I was relax and calm and I didn’t feel
loneliness as I knew my Lord was with me. After a few hours of hard work, Kwan-Yuet was born and Terry showed intense joy and gratefulness. Finally, after 48 hours of “separation”, our hearts join together again to celebrate and rejoice for the gift of life! Thanks be to God!
***
Dec 2006 was a tougher one. Physically strained, body was extremely weak,
but what made things worse was the first time I encountered misunderstanding
and miscommunications with my dad-in-law. That happened on the very day of
Kwan-Yuet’s first full month. I was sad, scared and stressed. My friends
comforted me that I was extremely lucky, 6.5 years of marriage before I hit the first challenge of our relationships. The whole Choy’s family was tensed up. I prayed and I turned to Mother Mary for intercession as I sensed how frustrated Terry and his sister were. I read a few little stories from “The Road Home” and I knew I needed to continue to love my dad-in-law with my whole heart regardless, because life was all about relationships. I prayed all the sleepless nights with the Rosary and to Our
Lady of Perpetual Help. 9 days later, 1 day before the baptism of Kwan-Yuet, my dad-in-law initiated to hold a family meeting and shared his thoughts with us. We sought to understand each other and I was amazed by how my dad-in-law stepped out his comfort zone and took the risk to share his inner thoughts. I couldn’t thank the Holy Spirit enough for the inspiration and the understanding. The family meeting was a great gift to Kwan-Yuet’s baptism. What a breakthrough among Choy’s family relationships!
***
Around April, I was reading a book called “Rome Sweet Home” by Dr. Scott Hahn. It was a radical conversion story that deeply touched my heart and prompted me to ask myself if I could follow Jesus Christ without holding back. Scott showed me how he wanted to love our Lord Jesus Christ that he gave up his career as a Presbyterian minister and followed God’s will. As Scott journeyed to the Catholic Church through the Bible, his knowledge in the Bible made me read the Bible seriously again and dwell on it more. Verses by verses, the Bible started to come alive and led me to experience more in Medjugorje.
***
The pilgrimage to Medjugorje in May was the highlight of the year. Traveling long-haul with 3 young kids (4 yrs old Kwan-Nok, 2 yrs old Kwan-Yau and 5.5 months Kwan-Yuet) was not easy at all, though my parents were traveling with us. There were many moments that I wanted to give up going… Problems with booking air tix, kids and I were physically ill… Miraculously, Terry stuck with the decision and arranged the whole pilgrimage. Well, given the fact that he was the one who wasn’t keen to go to Medjugorje at the very first place. The climax and the moment of God’s grace happened on the Cross Mountain. For a normal adult, it took around
2.5 hours to hike up and down the mountain. I got 3 young kids and a mom with bad knee… When my dad told us on the 3rd morning of our pilgrimage that we would follow the pilgrims from Hong Kong (nearly 40 of them) to climb the Cross Mountain, I thought he must be joking. I turned to Terry and asked if we should follow (before the trip, Terry told me that we would not climb the mountains). Terry answered that we would follow them. He told me that if we felt too tired, we could leave the group first and return. I took his word and followed the big group to the Cross Mountain.
I was carrying my 17lbs son with a Baby Bjorn carrier while Terry was holding 22lbs Kwan-Yau. Fortunately, Kwan-Nok was willing to follow a big sister, whom she met the day before, with the leaders of the group. My dad took care of my mom. So, Kwan-Nok was by herself with the group leaders leading the group and we were at the end of the group. We got three angels from the HK group. It was a hot day, the 1st angel held an umbrella over me to block direct sunlight on my son. The 2nd one helped Terry and my dad to carry our backpack. The 3rd one was the big sister who took care of Kwan-Nok.

The Cross Mountain was the 14 Stations of the Cross. After the 2nd station, I already felt tired so I asked Terry and my dad if they were okay. Both replied okay. But I doubted if I physically could handle that. Then two Bible verses echoed in my heart “O man of little faith!” “Don’t be afraid, have faith!” As I continued to sweat and hike up the Cross Mountain, I was short of breathe and I was thinking when could I u-turn and leave. I kept telling myself I would aim at one station at a time. I was afraid that I would pass out and fall off the mountain. With my son on me, I couldn’t
afford a fall, so I tried my best to concentrate on each step. At the 5th station, I asked Terry and my dad again. I knew if either one of them said “not ok”, I would leave with them immediately. However, both replied ok. Then I felt like being betrayed as no one wanted to u-turn and leave at all. I knew in my heart if no one wanted to return by the 7th station, I would not have a chance to leave. So I wrestled with the Lord in my heart and asked all sorts of “Why” questions… “why were we there” “why my kids and Terry needed to suffer so much to make to the Medjugorje pilgrimage”…

Finally we were at the 7th station, I didn’t even bother to ask Terry and my dad anymore, I knew their answer. I finally accepted the fact that “there is no point of return”. As soon as the thought came to my mind that I couldn’t u-turn and leave, I instantaneously felt my footsteps were lighter, Kwan-Yuet was lighter, my whole body was lighter and I felt a lot easier to walk. That’s the moment of grace while the Bible came alive. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-30

I literally felt how Jesus’ yoke was easy, but the requirement was I needed to will to pick up the cross at the first place. I was such a dumb head! Then verses by verses, I finally had an understanding on why Jesus said tirelessly “Pick up the cross and follow me!” My goodness, the cross indeed became lighter once I was willing to carry it! And when I said I wanted to follow Jesus, there was indeed “no point of return” as His love was so great, attractive and compelling that there was nowhere I could turn to.

At the 10th station, the group leaders asked Kwan-Nok to lead the Hail Mary in Cantonese. What? Kwan-Nok? She didn’t know how to recite the Hail Mary in Cantonese, she only knew the English one, she probably picked it up when we prayed the Joyful Mystery when we hiked up the Apparition Hill the day before and when we hiked up the Cross Mountain… I was touched, I had tears in my eyes when I heard her voice. That gave me strength to finish the last few stations when the path was getting steeper and more difficult to climb. Kwan-Yuet started to cry too as he was hungry…

At the end, we were at the foot of the big white cross of the Cross Mountain. I ran to the cross, touched it and tears poured out like a fall! Tremendous peace and comfort from our Lord Jesus Christ!

We spent an hour on the Cross Mountain. While others prayed, I was busy breastfeeding, changing the diaper, feeding my family with the sandwiches we brought… Attending my kids’ needs became my prayer to my Lord!

Thanks be to my whole family and the HK group who didn’t give up and enabled
me to climb the Cross Mountain!

There were many many other great experiences in Medjugorje. Here were a few
other messages that I started to reflect, ponder and live:
“Do not try to convert anyone after you go back home. Words are
superficial. Words are empty. Just stand there. It’s all about the body.
Stand there for Christ.”
“God’s grace is like living water flowing through a hardened heart. Go to confession and obtain God’s grace.”

“Have strong firm faith, pray for strong firm faith.”
“Flower cannot live without water, human heart cannot live without God’s grace. Pray for strong firm faith.”

For my myself, I only want to do God’s will alone, nothing more.

I want to decide for God, make each and every single decision for God. All daily decisions for God.

Life is no longer about how capable I am, but how open I am to receive God’s grace to lead my life.
***
Since we came back from Medjugorje, all priorities in life changed. I lost 20 pounds three months after we came back from Medjugorje. Why? Because I walked up the Cross Mountain at least every few days, if not daily With God’s grace, I now see the crosses in my life and I am willing to pick them up and carry them. I am not running from my crosses anymore. So, instead of waiting for Terry to take care of the house chores, I try to be the first one to wash the dishes, do the laundry, vacuum the house. I listen to the needs of my kids a lot more closely: cook for them, play with them, rest with them, chat with them… Be with them physically, emotionally and
spiritually.

Motherhood comes alive. As a mom, I know not only the daily chores/tasks of a mom, but also the indescribable joys and sorrows of a mom. Dads and Moms suffer a lot for the family. Now when I need to learn patience with God, myself, Terry, my kids and others, I seek examples from our Mother Mary, our Mother Church, our Mother Earth… I also know I want to love my moms back. I try to chat with my mom and mom-in-law more and let them know that I love them I try to love my Mother Earth as well, so we become more environmentally friendly: we change from full-time disposable diapering to part-time clothe diapering, we cut back on junk food and stick with healthy basic food. I try to look into the teachings of our Mother Church, understand them, defend them and live them. I try to do what Mother Mary
asks us to do, the five little stones against Satan: pray the Rosary daily, read the Bible daily, receive the Eucharist at least weekly (if not daily), fast twice a week, and go the confession monthly.

When I just go back to the basics in life, life becomes very simple. I believe life is meant to be simple
***
Three days before my birthday, my parents and their friends helped us to baby-sit our kids. Terry brought me to fine dining. We shared everything about our marriage, our family… His gift to me was his awareness of my effort to cook better food, to listen to our kids better, and to understand his original Choy’s family better. His acknowledgement and affirmation was like a pat on my shoulder We have decided to spend the next 15 years on our own family ministry! Thanks be to God!

On my 34th birthday, the birthday gift that Terry and my in-laws gave me was they took care of the kids for their swimming lesson, so that I could bring my parents out for dinner and share with them how grateful I was for the gift of life and the gift of faith. As we walked out from the restaurant, I was able to kiss them, hug them and hold their hands like a little girl!
Thanks be to God!

Two days after my birthday, I attended the daily Mass to give thanks to our good Lord. But it became another birthday gift from God. He again surprised me… The readings (Romans 6:19-23 / Lk 12:49-53), the homily on Romans 6:22 “But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit that you have leads to sanctification, and its end is eternal life”, and on the hymn “Amazing Grace” and its composer (who used to be a slave trader), the hymns (The Love Song, On Eagle’s Wings, Shine Jesus Shine). He just delighted me. When I sang the Offering Hymn “O Lord, my love is only a shadow of Your Love for me…” My tears started to run. After I received the Eucharist, my tears continued to run as Jesus my Lord entered completely to my body, mind and soul. I couldn’t describe the intimacy…

Now I decide to live my life completely out of love and out of gratitude to God. I decide to obey and do His Will. The commitment and the decision will last until my death: love God loves, will God wills, dream God dreams!

As I take The Road Home, I decide to work on my own home first and focus on small things at home. Yes, I am so “ah ma” or so “c9″ (translation: mother) now. Though life is still very chaotic and driving me crazy with three little dinosaurs and two big ones (yeah, my impatience and my own weaknesses are driving myself crazy) at home, there is still peace and lots of fun!
LIFE IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!

Families and friends, please pray for me. I need God’s wisdom to prioritize each day now, especially as I return to work in November.

Okay, thanks God for finding time for me to finish this piece of sharing.

Families and friends, please take care. You are all in my prayers!

BTW, if you are visiting Vancouver, please give me a shout and I will cook you a good homemade meal! Yeah, you won’t believe it, it’s easier to prepare a meal at home instead of bringing three kids out

With Peace and Gratitude,
Odi

恭讀聖路加福音13:22-30
那時候，耶穌經過城市和鄉村，隨處施教，朝著耶路撒冷走去。有一個人問他說：「主！得救的人果然不多嗎？」耶穌對眾人說：「你們竭力由窄門而入吧！因為將有許多人，我告訴你們：想要進去，而不得進入。及至家主起來把門關上，你們在外面站著，開始敲門說：主！請給我們開門吧！他要回答你們說：我不認識你們是從那來的。那時，你們會說：我們曾在你面前吃過喝過；你也曾在我們的街市上教導過人。他要說：我告訴你：我不認識你們是從那裏來的；你們這些作惡的人，離開我去吧！幾時你們看見亞巴郎、依撒格、雅各伯及眾先知在天主的國裏，你們卻被拋棄在外，那裏要有哀號和切齒。將有從東到西，從北剽南而來的人，在天主的國裏坐席。看吧！有最後的將成為最先的，也有最先的將成為最後的。」
—上主的話。

A Reading from the Gospel of Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

—The Gospel of the Lord.

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