fter
an encounter with religious leaders including Buddhist masters, a few years ago,
Pope John Paul II was quoted as saying that missionary activities, especially in
Asia, should rely heavily on contemplation. In
other words, Christian contemplative prayer and spirituality would bear rich
fruits under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
There are two essential elements in the mission of the Church, action and
prayer, and the two are closely related. All
Apostolic and missionary work must be based on a profound inner life of prayer
that intimately unites the person with God.
This is what we call contemplative prayer, or contemplation.
Contemplation is nothing more than our complete existence appearing before God and being entirely embraced by His essence, which is love.
When we are touched and changed by the love of Christ, the mercy, compassion, generosity and enthusiasm of Christ will develop in our lives, and then can be brought to every brother and sister that we get in touch with.
This is the best description of contemplation in action, and a duty that every faithful Christian should try to fulfill.
On May 14, 1998, in St. Peters Basilica, Pope John Paul II presided at a concelebrated Mass to conclude the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Asia. All who attended the synod agreed that it marked an important moment for the Church of Asia and of the world over. A tone of openness and frankness was set by the very first speaker to speak in the hall of the assembly.
Archbishop Leo Jun Ikenaga of Osaka, Japan, raised the necessary question of why beginning with St. Francis Xavier (who arrived in Goa in 1542 and in Japan in 1549) right down to our time it has been a painful struggle to spread Christianity in Japan, whereas Buddhism, which came from China, was well received? In fact, in the whole of Asia, except the Philippines, Christianity is still a very small minority religion. This most populous continent (3,500,000,000) remains largely untouched by the Gospel of Christ.
The question hit a chord with the Synod Fathers. What came through clearly during the synod was that non-Christians perceive Christians, local clergy and foreign missionaries included, not as people who pray. They perceive us as great social workers. We run the best hospitals, schools and orphanages, but when people want a lifeline to the divine, they dont come to us, they go to other spiritual advisers such as yogis, Hindu gurus, Buddhist monks and nuns, etc. Could it be that our priests are too academically formed and therefore too well equipped to answer difficult theological questions, but ill-equipped to teach people how to pray, to meditate or contemplate, and touch the divine?
Archbishop
Mathias U. Shwe of Taunggyi recalled a conversation with a Buddhist monk who
respectfully observed that he had the impression that the Catholic priests
work very hard, but they do not seem to pray.
Whereas the Buddhist monks are in the monasteries all the time, and they
do not work.
This seems to suggest that the bishops of Asia, and not only of Asia, should
look into and revamp the spiritual formation of their seminarians, priests, and
laity. Is there enough emphasis on
prayer, meditation, contemplation and asceticism?
For quite some time now, efforts have been made on the part of the laity to
engage in contemplative prayer and witness to the faith in the market place.
As was said in the synod, there is a thirst for prayer but in a way that
is Asian, that is, meditation and contemplation.
In
our days, Asia is facing an unprecedented economic crisis.
For instance, a large proportion of the 220 million people in Indonesia
are living below the poverty line. How
can the Church in Asia present Christ as the Savior in such an environment, in a
way that is credible and understandable?
There was an intense atmosphere of prayer and collegiality at the synod as participants, feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit, engaged in their work of prayer, reflection and discussion. The resulting proposals awaited the final synod document from the Holy Father, but the Church in Asia must already bear witness to what was experienced and shared at the synod. Formation of the laity, priests and religious must breach as much as possible the division between faith and life in the lives of all Christians a dichotomy which is a great scandal and a poor example of Christian living. It might be worth reminding ourselves of what Christ said in the Gospel: The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Mt. 9:37). And the Second Vatican Council added: it is in answer to prayer that God send workers, into His harvest, opens the minds of non-Christians to hear the Gospel, and makes fruitful the word of salvation in their hearts (Decree on Churchs Missionary Activity, # 40).
The people of Asia have a deeply contemplative soul and they thirst for prayer in an Asian way. Even amid the Asian economic crisis, and while people long for a better life, they cannot help but slow down their pace and think about what is worth seeking other than competition.
God somehow intends to bring his endless blessings and love to all people of Asia. One thing we can and must do: pray.
(From Xaverian Mission Newsletter)