Lent- Day 5: Matthew 25-26

Mt 25:21 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you greater responsibilities. Come, share you master's joy'

This verse is quoted from the Parable of the Talents. Father Barron has an awesome interpreting video, which I'm glad I'd watched before I got to this part. Otherwise I would've been extremely confused at the apparent unfairness-- after all, some of us are just not good investors and risk-takers, right? The most critical point of Fr. Barron's is when he clarifies the word "talent". Talent is actually the unit of measurement of weight, and the weightiest possession is divine mercy. Hence, the talents are actually gifts of divine mercy, and the nature of the gift of the divine mercy is to be shared. This is great, but if I'm to add something, I think taking "talent" to mean the regular English synonym of gift and ability doesn't defeat the moral of the story at all. Gifts, abilities, aptitudes, intelligence, physical beauty... are but gifts of the divine mercy. They are not ends in themselves, but means for us to fulfill the Divine Providence. Whoever does well with his talents are given more, but not for himself. Notice how he says "I will give you greater responsibilities". Responsibilities, not benefits or vacation days. We are his permanent servants. Our talents are to serve our master's purpose, and we take joy in our master's joy.

Mt 26:11 The poor you will always have with you; but you will not always have me.

 A ton of important New Testament events happen in this chapter, but for some reasons this one stuck out to me the most. I'm sure the Agony in the Garden or Peter's Denials have been more frequently written about. This verse specifically tells us to always put God first. There are some who say that on certain days, their work, their wife, or their children must take priority over God. It sounds touching and all that, but you can't help perceiving a sense of self-importance/inflation in the person who says that, despite his effort to appear unselfish. All the same with the indignant disciples who says the costly perfumed oil "could have been sold for much and the money given to the poor". Clearly they're irritated because it wasn't them who thought of anointing Jesus first. Oh, we hypocrites. Why don't we go out and give to the poor themselves, instead of judging others? Other than that, costly perfumed oil, magnificent cathedral and works of art, flowers, statues, prayers, 5 minutes of our day... God deserves ALL that. Anyone of us who claims that these can and should be directed to other goods lower than God are hypocrites, upset because we are not up to that level of devotion.

We sang this hymn on Sunday mass at my school today. Totally related.

These reflection paragraphs are getting long... And sorry for not providing context.

Bonus picture: Me and my college friends.

Lent- Day 4: Matthew 22-24

Mt: 22: 21: "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God"

Before I was even committed to be received into the Catholic Church, I did contemplate reading the Bible just for moments like this one. How different is it compared to One thousand Arabian nights as a string of interesting, well-told stories with good moral lessons? Yes, I do believe Jesus made jokes, and this one is especially witty. Theological significance asides on this one, it also testifies that the gospel truth can triumph by the mean of reason only, too (also is the spirit of the Gospel of Matthew).

Mt: 23: 3: Do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.

This doesn't seem like a fair, quote-worthy moment. This verse at the beginning of Chapter 23 is followed by Jesus' heavy rebuke of the Pharisees and hypocrites ("Oh you hypocrites" appears to be one of his favorite sayings), which speaks to me like a long, passionate lament for the humankind. Nonetheless, verse 3 stuck out to me, as he also advises us to observe the teaching of the Pharisees. Perhaps the bad example of the teacher does not discredit the teaching. We must learn to separate them.

 Mt: 24: 26-27: So if they say to you, 'He is in the desert,' do not go out there; if they say, 'He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. For just as lighting comes from the east and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

This chapter foretells the second coming. Again, there seem to be many more quote-worthy verses (are there, really?) on keeping watch and preparing for the second coming. This verse in particular warns about false prophet. What it speaks to me is to follow God's testimony over human testimony. Do not let false prophets limit your relation to God. You yourself has the capacity to search and find Him. Don't worry, because it will become clear to you. When it's lighting on the east, it can be seen as far as the west.

Bonus picture: When I visited a pig farm as a Catholic Worker House, which smelled awesome for a pig farm (or my preconception of a pig farm). Perhaps there'll be a story written about this experience later.

Lent- Day 3: Matthew 19-21

Mt: 19:10: His disciples said to him, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry".

Amazing is the fear of commitment when it comes to marriage. It's not as if Jesus who taught these words +2000 years ago had such an old-fashioned view of marriage. He knew the challenge. He knew the fear. That's why marriage is offered as a sacrament- a gift, a grace, an offer of help.

            Mt: 20:15: Are you envious because I am generous?

It's not enough that we must succeed. Others must fail, too. Why do we secretly wish for people's falling?

            Mt: 21:22: Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.

No brainer, right? Are we so loved that our prayers and faith can alter Divine Providence? That's one way to look at it. But I think we should also see to it that it's God who inspires our thoughts in prayers in the first place. When we pray with faith, our will is aligned with His. Our words during prayers seem not so much us speaking to God and God speaking to us.

Bonus picture: A little Psych poster that I'm listed as one of the authors.

Tiểu chủng viện tại St. Mary's

Chủng viện là nơi đào tạo chủng sinh để trở thành linh mục. Chủng viện tiếng Anh là seminary, có nguồn từ tiếng Latinh seminarium = vườn ươm.

Tại Mỹ có các trường đại học tư của Giáo hội Công giáo, cho nên các Tiểu chủng viện (minor seminary) cũng được đặt tại đây. Nam chủng sinh 4 năm đầu vừa học tu và làm việc trong khuôn viên chủng viện, vừa học văn hóa với các sinh viên khác. Tiểu chủng viện tại St. Mary's mang tên là Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Không biết đi tu thì phải hi sinh bao nhiêu, chứ vườn và nhà thì đẹp quá.

Bên ngoài

Hình chụp mùa hè năm ngoái, lúc trường đóng cửa nghỉ hè thì Thảo đột nhập vào khuôn viên chủng viện dạo chơi.

Hình ảnh Mẹ Mary nâng thân hình Chúa Giê-su làm theo khuôn mẫu La Pieta nổi tiếng của họa sĩ nhà điêu khắc Ý trứ danh Michelangelo.

Tư thế nằm xoãi tay nổi tiếng được các họa sĩ khác thể hiện lại trong khung cảnh khác, ví dụ như:

"Death of Marat" Jaques-Louis David

Ảnh ngày là cửa sổ ngoài nhà thờ/ nhà nguyện, có dây leo bao quanh.

Vườn tưởng niệm mang tên Đức Giáo hoàng John Paul II.

Bức tượng tấm vải liệm trống để tượng trưng cho Chúa Giê-su sống dậy. Hòn đá tượng trưng cho hòn đá bên mộ Chúa Giê-su.

Từ phía ngoài nhìn lại.

Bên trong

Ảnh bên trong chụp vào mùa thu năm ngoái, lúc Thảo tham dự tĩnh tâm tại đây.

Một phòng ở dành cho một người.

Mùa Halloween vừa qua nên bậc thang trước cửa đặt những trái bí khắc thánh giá.

Nhà thờ lớn mang tên Nhà thờ Thánh John Vianney, Thánh bảo trợ cho linh mục.

Cánh cửa ra vào có glass etching hình hai thiên thần.

Nhà thờ không lớn lắm, sức chứa vừa đủ cho khoảng 50 nam chủng sinh hằng năm.

Còn đây là nhà thờ nhỏ trên gác.

Từ phòng Thảo nhìn xuống dưới sân, buổi sáng.

Tủ lạnh đựng rượu và bánh thánh.

Tự dưng không có nhiều ảnh phòng giải trí và phòng âm nhạc của họ.

Tinh thần thể thao của Nike kết hợp Thánh giá.

Còn đây là các bạn chủng sinh biểu diễn một bài thánh ca Do Thái trong một đêm trình diễn âm nhạc của trường.

Around the world in 10 tables

Trường Mỹ rất thích đa văn hóa, thích chiêu dụ sinh viên từ nhiều nền văn hóa khác nhau, thích phô trương sự đa văn hóa của mình, dù là trường ở một nơi hẻo lánh của Minnesota, 90% da trắng nữa.

Kinh nghiệm: Nhắc đến văn hóa thì hầu như ai cũng nghĩ trước hết đến văn hóa ẩm thực. It có gì gây ham thích bằng thức ăn. Đến dự Around the World in 10 Tables Thảo được ăn bánh Mễ, uống nước gạo mễ, uống cà phê của Ả rập xê út, để cho văn hóa đi vào trong máu.

Mexico

Colombia

Vietnam

Saudi Arabia (A-rập Xê-út)

China