Lent is coming, but just not yet
January wore me--us--thin. So soon after my father-in-law passed away, we returned to China. We had wanted to extend a bit longer, but for immigration issues we had to be back in Beijing by the 20th. On our flight over, both kids spiked fevers with other symptoms. On one hand, it was nice to have a 13 hour flight that Myles and Brigid largely slept through for a change. However, this was not the blessing it appeared. The day after our arrival, we were in the pediatrician's office. I held my breath as the doctor ruled out more serious sicknesses that were consistent with some of her symptoms, like meningitis. Brigid had developed pneumonia (never before had that word been like a relief), but, fortunately, Myles hadn't yet. That first week then was a blur of jet lag, fevers, and antibiotic regimens. By the following Sunday, the kids felt well enough to go ice skating, but then three days later I was down for the count with an achy fever for a blur of a few days.
reminded last week. In a few weeks we will be full again, of familiar faces and new, as the seminarians and 外地人 (wàidìrén, meaning not local people) return to that corner of Beijing.
I noticed early in our Mass that our celebrant was a familiar priest, not the one assigned as our parish priest nor the seminary rector, but someone we've seen many times over our five years at this church. From the greeting through the Liturgy of the Word, I noticed he seemed to be even more energetic than usual. I wondered if his Spring Festival break had somehow refreshed him.
When it came time for the homily, he continued to come across as someone who had just been recharged. His Chinese is very easy for me to understand, too, as he does not seem to have a heavy accent (we have a few priests that do). He started out discussing the morning's Gospel with some of the necessary elements of Spring Festival. "Salt of the earth" he compared to the important family meals that are consumed during this holiday. The ubiquitous fireworks that really get your attention he said was like the "light of the world."
He continued in this vein, exploring further the concept of 你们是地上的盐 (Nǐmen shì dìshàng de yán, You are the salt of the earth) and 你们是世界的光 (Nǐmen shì shìjiè de guāng, You are the light of the world). I was following along okay, nudging Myles occasionally to show that he, too, could understand. Then the priest really got our attention. He started repeating some of his statements, as a form of underscore, in English. I was initially self-conscious, but then I relaxed. He wanted us, the Americans, not to feel singled-out, but to understand the Gospel, too.
Other parts of his homily, in Chinese and English, dealt with how strong Jesus' declarations were, and how the Chinese translation reflected reflected this. "You" was in the plural, not the singular.Very important was the verb 是 (shì), meaning "are," and not a different Chinese verb that meant "are like." He said "you" (which may have been this character 犹 but I am not sure). In Chinese and then English he wanted to be clear that Jesus meant that we are salt and we are light, not that we are like these things.
There was more, in Chinese with some English as well. I really enjoyed how he used some of the unique aspects of Mandarin to illustrate his points. He pointed out that since we were in a new year, and wishing each other, "新年好" (Xīnnián hǎo), we really should think about a different xīn, 心, meaning heart. In the new year, he said, we needed to take this Gospel today and approach the world with new hearts.
Slowly, I started to feel less desperate for Lent. This priest was making a point of connecting with everyone there that morning, including us. I felt more like someone who wanted to be salt and light than I had in several weeks. Lent will come, no doubt, soon enough. For now we can focus on Ordinary Time, striving to attain new hearts in this new year.
For reference, here is the Gospel for this past Sunday in Chinese. Matthew 5:13-16.
那时候，耶稣对门徒说： “你们是地上的盐，盐若失了味，可用什么使它再咸呢？它再毫无用途，只好抛在外边，任人践踏罢了。 “你们是世界的光；建在山上的城，是不能隐藏的。人点灯，并不是放在斗底下，而是放在灯台上，照耀屋中所有的人。 “照样，你们的光，也当在人前照耀，好使他们看见你们的善行，光荣你们在天之父。”
As January turned into February, and the Chinese calendar changed from Snake to Horse, my own thoughts started to move toward the Liturgical calendar. I often associate our return to China in winter with Lent, and this year I felt really ready to get on with Lent. I wanted to throw myself (and take a few others in this home) into 40 days of hard penance. It seemed to me that was what I needed to shake the blues from January. We could transform all of what we went through in January and emerge in Easter renewed. I was ready. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean, and all that.
Then last week I saw one of Amy's pre-Lenten blog posts, reminding us about some of the great resources and devotionals that she has been involved with, one way or another. The title of her post, "Lent begins a month from today..." did not impart on me the urgency that was intended. It instead caused me a little distress; Lent wasn't for another month? What was I supposed to do for a whole month, waiting?
More after the jump
Sunday morning we were at Mass at the seminary. The Spring Festival vacation was still on for many. In addition to the noticeable absence of the seminarians that during the school semesters fill the front pews, the church was also missing many of our families. Ours is a parish of migrant workers, I wasThen last week I saw one of Amy's pre-Lenten blog posts, reminding us about some of the great resources and devotionals that she has been involved with, one way or another. The title of her post, "Lent begins a month from today..." did not impart on me the urgency that was intended. It instead caused me a little distress; Lent wasn't for another month? What was I supposed to do for a whole month, waiting?
More after the jump
reminded last week. In a few weeks we will be full again, of familiar faces and new, as the seminarians and 外地人 (wàidìrén, meaning not local people) return to that corner of Beijing.
I noticed early in our Mass that our celebrant was a familiar priest, not the one assigned as our parish priest nor the seminary rector, but someone we've seen many times over our five years at this church. From the greeting through the Liturgy of the Word, I noticed he seemed to be even more energetic than usual. I wondered if his Spring Festival break had somehow refreshed him.
When it came time for the homily, he continued to come across as someone who had just been recharged. His Chinese is very easy for me to understand, too, as he does not seem to have a heavy accent (we have a few priests that do). He started out discussing the morning's Gospel with some of the necessary elements of Spring Festival. "Salt of the earth" he compared to the important family meals that are consumed during this holiday. The ubiquitous fireworks that really get your attention he said was like the "light of the world."
He continued in this vein, exploring further the concept of 你们是地上的盐 (Nǐmen shì dìshàng de yán, You are the salt of the earth) and 你们是世界的光 (Nǐmen shì shìjiè de guāng, You are the light of the world). I was following along okay, nudging Myles occasionally to show that he, too, could understand. Then the priest really got our attention. He started repeating some of his statements, as a form of underscore, in English. I was initially self-conscious, but then I relaxed. He wanted us, the Americans, not to feel singled-out, but to understand the Gospel, too.
Other parts of his homily, in Chinese and English, dealt with how strong Jesus' declarations were, and how the Chinese translation reflected reflected this. "You" was in the plural, not the singular.Very important was the verb 是 (shì), meaning "are," and not a different Chinese verb that meant "are like." He said "you" (which may have been this character 犹 but I am not sure). In Chinese and then English he wanted to be clear that Jesus meant that we are salt and we are light, not that we are like these things.
There was more, in Chinese with some English as well. I really enjoyed how he used some of the unique aspects of Mandarin to illustrate his points. He pointed out that since we were in a new year, and wishing each other, "新年好" (Xīnnián hǎo), we really should think about a different xīn, 心, meaning heart. In the new year, he said, we needed to take this Gospel today and approach the world with new hearts.
Slowly, I started to feel less desperate for Lent. This priest was making a point of connecting with everyone there that morning, including us. I felt more like someone who wanted to be salt and light than I had in several weeks. Lent will come, no doubt, soon enough. For now we can focus on Ordinary Time, striving to attain new hearts in this new year.
For reference, here is the Gospel for this past Sunday in Chinese. Matthew 5:13-16.
那时候，耶稣对门徒说： “你们是地上的盐，盐若失了味，可用什么使它再咸呢？它再毫无用途，只好抛在外边，任人践踏罢了。 “你们是世界的光；建在山上的城，是不能隐藏的。人点灯，并不是放在斗底下，而是放在灯台上，照耀屋中所有的人。 “照样，你们的光，也当在人前照耀，好使他们看见你们的善行，光荣你们在天之父。”
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