Category: Faith

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Advent Word 2022, Day 7 ‘Unity’ 合一

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Unity #合一 ‘Jerusalem might have been built as a city that is at unity with itself, but you have to look pretty hard to see unity there these days. It’s almost always that way. We see unity as an aspiration rather than a reality. In our hope for unity, God gives us a gift. As we prepare for Christ’s return, we can look for a common hope and mission even amidst all our variety and diversity. Unity is not uniformity. Unity is, above all else, a shared hope in “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 7 ‘Unity’ 合一

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Advent Word 2022, Day 6 ‘Ready’ 做好準備

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Ready #做好準備 ‘Ready? I holler up the stairs, hoping the kids will hear the urgency. But they’re kids so they drag their feet, one last TikTok to watch, a few more seconds under the warmth of a blanket. But then I think that they are not so unlike me—especially when it comes to Jesus’s call for us to be ready. In Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples “You must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” I’d prefer to know the exact time and date and until then, stay in my cozy corner. … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 6 ‘Ready’ 做好準備

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Advent Word 2022, Day 5 ‘Make’ 做

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Make #做 ‘Make a plan, make a change, make a difference, make a promise. Make memories, make the most of it, make something of yourself. To make something is to act upon it, to bring it into being. It is intentional, purposeful. What are we being asked to make this Advent? Or is that the wrong question? Would it be better to consider what God is trying to make of us? What is the Maker making here, now? We can work so hard to develop ourselves, to get closer to the life we have imagined. Is it possible that … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 5 ‘Make’ 做

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Advent Word 2022, Day 4 ‘Mountains’ 眾山

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Mountains #眾山 ‘Humans have always been drawn to mountaintop experiences and for good reason—it often takes an effort to get there but the reward more than justifies it. From Abraham and Moses to the Transfiguration and Crucifixion, major events in the Bible are often centered atop mountains. And yet, a mountaintop experience is not how God chose to reveal the Messiah to the world. Instead, Jesus was born in a cave surrounded by domesticated animals, the miracle of our Savior’s birth revealed first to lowly shepherds so that all, especially the lost and the least, might be drawn to … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 4 ‘Mountains’ 眾山

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Advent Word 2022, Day 3 ‘Teach’ 教導

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Teach #教導 ‘When I think about the ministry of Jesus, often the first thing that comes to mind is that he was a preacher and teacher. When I was an elementary school teacher, I always looked forward to my students having a “lightbulb moment”—the moment when a concept they had struggled with suddenly became clear. Jesus was an extremely patient teacher. I imagine he would delight in the “lightbulb moments” he helped facilitate through his teaching. When have you experienced a “lightbulb moment?” Kathryn Nishibayashi ‘Exquisite Pain‘ by Damien Hirst at St. Bartholomew-the-Great’s Church (Great St. Barts), London’s oldest … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 3 ‘Teach’ 教導

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Advent Word 2022, Day 2 ‘Together’ 一起

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Together #一起 ‘In pandemic times, one of the best ways to stay healthy is in isolation. But in every other circumstance, separating ourselves is a path toward unhealth—physically, mentally, and certainly spiritually. We need to be together. Binding ourselves to each other pushes away fear and despair, and together we discover more courage and hopefulness. In coming together, we unlock creativity and joy. In this season of preparation, we remember that God desires to be together with us, so much so that Christ came to walk alongside us and to live among us.’ (Katherine Bush) ‘WE’ by Jaume Plensa … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 2 ‘Together’ 一起

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Advent Word 2022, Day 1 ‘Walk’ 行走

Catherine Lee

#AdventWord #Walk #行走 ‘The very first journey to the manger begins, not with passive waiting, but with a walk. Imagine the pure physicality of that walk: a heavily pregnant Mary and a weary Joseph place one sore, dusty foot in front of the other, mile after mile. Mary plants each foot carefully, lest she slip and harm her child. Like Mary and Joseph, we embark upon a journey today. Let us walk with God through Advent, mindfully and intentionally, with our hearts and minds open to all the possibilities this expectant season brings.’ (Anita Philbrick) Today is Advent Sunday, and … Continue reading Advent Word 2022, Day 1 ‘Walk’ 行走

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Praying for Peace…

Catherine Lee

Today, February 28 is a public holiday in Taiwan for Peace Memorial Day, this year commemorating the 75th anniversary of the 228 incident in 1947, which marked the beginning of the White Terror era. Today also, a ‘host of golden daffodils’ has bloomed in Yangmingshan National Park after 2 months of endless rain, and are smiling up at blue skies, like the colours of the Ukrainian flag. Daffodils are also known as Lenten Lilies, reminding us that Lent starts this week on Ash Wednesday, and lasts for 40 days until Easter. This Lent, let us pray for peace in Taiwan, … Continue reading Praying for Peace…