surat ke-2 bulan Januari 2005

2) Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord, January 09, 2005

Monday, January 03, 2004. The Dialogue is a state of
mind of one who strives constantly to put the message
of which he is custodian into the mainstream of human
discourse. It is an example of the art of spiritual
communication (Pope Paul VI).

In the morning, Petrus, Alejandro and I went to Saint
Therese Church to help out putting down Christmas
ornaments at the basement till noon. Father Michael
cooked various pastas for our lunch that put weight on
me became heavier about 200 pounds (93 kgs). In the
afternoon I cooked in my community, lasagna and beef
soup (semur). At night Petrus, Dharmawan and I went to
Edi-Liza’s house in Chinatown to celebrate Liza’s
birthday.

Tuesday, January 04, 2004. To be able under all
circumstances to practice five things constitutes
perfect virtue. These five things are gravity,
generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness and
kindness (Confucius).

In the evening after Vesper, Petrus and I went to
Magda Locklin’s house in Buffalo Grove (Northwestern
Chicago) to attend Magda’s invitation. The four
Indonesian Vincentian priests (Jack, Eko, Astanto, and
Susilo) also came to this special occasion in which we
celebrated the birthday of Father Astanto, cm who just
came from Philadelphia with Father Susilo, cm from New
York City. We had very delicious Indonesian food
cooked by the older sister of Magda who came from the
Dutch. As we left the place the snow already poured
down changing the circumstances surround became really
white winter season.

Wednesday, January 05, 2004. If you want others to be
happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy,
practice compassion (The Dalai Lama).

At night from 8.30 to 10, coming to our house the four
Indonesian Vincentian priests: Astanto, Susilo, Jack
and Eko; also Father Edi, osc while the snow was still
falling heavily.

Thursday, January 06, 2004. Knowledge speaks, but
wisdom listens (Jimi Hendrix).

After supper, we had a short community meeting talking
about the schedule of next three weeks in J-Term
period of CTU adjusted to our community timetable.

Friday, January 07, 2004. The most important thing in
life is to have a focus and a purpose (Marcus
Aurelius).

In the morning I shared my reflection upon the
liturgical reading of the Mass. I went to my ministry
site, David Darst to meet my supervisor in order to
plan a weekend retreat on January 21-23. It is my
reflection:

Reflection of Luke 5:12-16 (Friday, 07 January 2005)
Once upon a time a little girl said to her mother,
“Mom, why should we pray every day with the same
prayer? Does God already know our needs? Always saying
the same prayer is boring, Mom! Maybe we can write
letters to God and we don’t need to say the same
prayer ever day again.”
For us as religious perhaps having the same feeling
and experience in living our daily prayer that
sometimes makes us bored without enthusiasm to say it,
but because we have to do so, we do likely without a
full of consciousness. May we ask ourselves, “What
does prayer mean for me?” The questions about prayer
really cluster around the ‘God’s question’. The more
important question for us is: “What image of God is
operative in our life? Is God distant and uninvolved?
Does God offer love as a free gift or has it to be
earned? Is prayer essentially God’s action or is it
our effort expressed by quantity?
In the Gospel today, we heard that Jesus after healed
a man full of leprosy, continued to cure other
ailments but eventually he withdrew to deserted place
to pray. Often times we heard that Jesus needs also a
prayer time besides his ministry of others in order to
regain spiritual strength to serve them. We see in
Jesus life, there is an integration of ministry and
prayer life. Jesus knows when he needs a spiritual
retreat and avoiding a lot of people who need his
help. In our Xaverians Constitution number 43 it is
written, “Prayer is the principal activity of the
missioner. It strengthens his faithfulness and
sustains his apostolic commitment. The Lord often
retired to a quiet place to pray to the Father. His
example invites us to reserve ample space for
individual prayer, reflection, contemplation, even, if
necessary, at the expense of charitable work and
apostolic ministry.” In addition, in the Testament
Letter of our Founder number 8 mentioning that “As we
work for the salvation of others, may it never happen
that we neglect our own. Experience teaches that
indifference to spiritual means, a diminished interest
in things above, less concern for the good, feeble
resistance to temptation are all aspects of one and
the same thing.”
Saint Ignatius of Loyola saw God as dwelling in all
things and ‘laboring’ for people in the world and
experiences of life. This understanding is present
especially in the ‘Contemplation to attain the love of
God’ in the Exercises, which is arguably both a method
of prayer and a way of understanding the process of
prayer in daily life. It points to an awareness of God
in all times and in all things so that contemplation
and action become not two distinct things but
inextricably linked one to another. In other word,
“Contemplation in action and action in contemplation.”
Saint James in his letter (2:17) wrote, “Faith without
work is dead.” In our world we can see that most
people are busy with their work and spend little time
to pray. It is evident when I searched on the
Internet: on Yahoo as I searched the word “prayer”
there are 21,900,00 entries and the word “work”
509,000,000. Then I put “prayer and work”, there are
8,890,000 entries. It deciphers that not many people
understand and live in the meaning of ‘ora et labora’
(prayer and work), yet most people are busy to do
their mundane work to make money for their life and
happiness. But one said, “Often people attempt to live
their lives backwards; they try to have more things,
or more money, in order to do more of what they want,
so they will be happier. The way it actually works is
in reverse. You must first be who you really are, then
do what you need to do, in order to have what you
want” (Margaret Young).
The story of Christ’s healing of the leper is told at
this time of the liturgical year when we celebrate his
birth and will soon recall his baptism in the Jordan
for a very good reason. It looks forward to his public
ministry and suggests his coming passion and death by
which he will fulfill the purpose of his coming in the
flesh, namely, to restore our race to God’s favor. The
healing of a leper is a symbol of redemption, rebirth
and new life brought by the One sent by God to cleanse
all people from sin and the darkness of error and to
bestow of grace and eternal life. Here at the altar
where we offer the Eucharist and receive in communion
the body and blood of the risen Savior, we ourselves
receive a share in the healing touch of Jesus. They
are given as a fuller life that transcends all the
ills and passing sorrows and pains or a world made
sick through sin and the blindness of heart that it
causes. May we always prove grateful for his healing
gifts and in our turn be instruments of his compassion
and mercy to one another and especially to those who
are mourning and suffering and need our support and
help.
Mother Teresa said, “The fruit of silence is prayer,
the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is
love and the fruit of love is silence.” In prayer,
faith and love we remember our brothers and sister who
return to the Father because of the natural disaster.
O God, whose spirit moved over the deeps and called
forth order out of chaos. O God who sent a dove with
an olive branch to tell Noah that the flood was over,
send food and water, blankets, tents, medicine,
compassion, order and finally hope to all who suffer
on the shores of the Indian Ocean. To those whose
universe has crumbled, whose past and future have been
erased, send the comfort of human touch the knowledge
that strangers the world over ache for them and pray
and give for a new future filled with healing and new
possibility. In the midst of this anguish, help us see
how little it matters whether an orphan is Muslim or
Christian, whether roads are cleared by Americans or
Indians or Australians. Remind us that the prayers of
Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims all reach
your ears. Their cries are heard, their dead are held
in your eternal hands, their hope is in your mercy,
spread throughout the world by people who call on your
name in many tongues and follow your gracious will to
love and cherish their neighbor. Amen. (Taken from
“Prayer for Lost Souls”).

Saturday, January 08, 2005. The ultimate measure of a
man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but
where he stands at times of challenge and controversy
(Martin Luther King, Jr.).

In the morning I went to CTU to meet my academic
supervisor, Gil Ostdiek to sign up my add/drop form of
J-Term. Then, together with Petrus I went to Midway
airport to take an Indonesian friend and two others to
downtown and Metra station. Afterward, we went to
Saint Therese Church Chinatown: having lunch cooked by
Father Michael and spiritual direction with him. In
the evening, we had rosary prayer led by Petrus and we
prayed the Angelus prayer.

Sunday, January 09, 2005. Our family is a circle of
love, guided and directed from God above. With every
union and every birth, our circle grown with joy and
mirth. This love that flows so strong and deep, leaves
us memories to treasure and keep. And when a sadness
comes along, our circle tightens, remaining strong
(Anonymous).

Indonesian Catholics in Chicago held a fundraising
Mass in English at Saint Therese Church Chinatown for
the tsunamis’ victims in Aceh, Nias and other islands
in Indian Ocean. It was concelebrated by Father Eko,
cm, Father Jack, cm, Father Edi, osc and Father Kevin
(campus minister of DePaul University in Chicago). In
the homily, Father Edi was saying that we’re not only
human beings who have experiences but most importantly
that we’re spiritual beings who have compassion to
others who are mourning and weeping regardless their
religions, ethnic, nations, etc. Some of the
attendants were coming from CTU, not only Indonesians
but also some Philippinos, Americans even my
supervisor of ministry at David Darst came as well
since she read the announcement of this Mass from the
Internet. At the end of the Mass Father Eko was saying
his farewell words in Indonesian that he leaves for
Indonesia on January 19th to continue his ministry
after studying in Chicago for 3.5 years. We continued
our gathering with lunch prepared by Ibu Imelda, Ibu
Ina and other friends with simple menu fried rice and
eggs. In the evening at Erna’s house, we came to talk
and plan our appeal to raise fund at Saint Thomas the
Apostle Church for next week after Masses on Saturday
and Sunday.

2) Hari Minggu Pesta Pembaptisan Tuhan, 09 Januari
2005

Senin, 03 Januari 2004. Dialog adalah keadaan pikiran
seseorang yang berusaha terus-menerus menyampaikan
pesan di mana ia adalah pemelihara dalam percakapan
utama manusia. Ini adalah suatu contoh seni komunikasi
rohani (Pope Paul VI).

Pagi hari, saya ikut Petrus dan Alejandro pergi ke
Gereja Saint Therese Chinatwon untuk menurunkan hiasan
Natal di basement hingga siang hari. Pastor Michael
memasak berbagai macam makanan dalam bentuk pasta
untuk makan siang bersama yang membuat berat badan
saya naik hingga 200 pounds (93 kgs). Nampaknya berat
badan ini sudah mencapai puncaknya di awal tahun 2005
karena banyak ‘perjamuan’ di akhir tahun 2004 dan awal
tahun 2005, sudah saatnya untuk diet lagi. Sore hari
saya memasak untuk komunitasku yaitu masak lasagna
(sudah jadi tinggal masukin ke oven) dan semur daging.
Malam harinya Petrus dan Dharmawan mengajak saya pergi
ke rumah Edi-Liza di Chinatwon untuk merayakan hari
ulang tahun Liza. Ini makin menambah buncit perut
saya.

Selasa, 04 Januari 2004. Untuk bertahan dalam segala
situasi adalah dengan menerapkan lima hal yang
merupakan lima keutamaan. Kelima hal ini adalah
keseriusan, kemurahan hati, ketulusan hati,
kesungguhan dan kebaikan (Confucius).

Di sore hari setelah doa sore, Petrus dan saya pergi
ke rumah Magda di Buffalo Grove (Northwestern Chicago)
untuk menghadiri undangan Magda. Keempat pastor
Vincensian Indonesia (Jack, Eko, Astanto, dan Susilo)
juga datang pada acara khusus ini di mana kami
merayakan ulang tahun Romo Astanto, cm yang baru saja
tiba dari Philadelphia bersama Romo Susilo, cm dari
New York City. Kami makan makanan Indonesia yang
sunggu lezat serasa di Indonesia (soto Betawi, Sio
May, rempeyek Philadelphia, dll) yang dimasak oleh
kakak Magda dari Belanda. Ketika kami keluar rumah
untuk pulang salju sudah turun mengubah suasana
sekitar menjadi benar-benar musim dingin yang putih
dengan salju.

Rabu, 05 Januari 2004. Jika Anda menginginkan orang
lain bahagia, terapkanlah belas kasihan. Jika Anda
ingin bahagia, berbagilah belas kasihan (The Dalai
Lama).

Malam hari dari pukul 8.30 hingga 10, datang ke rumah
kami keempat pastor Vincensian Indonesia: Romo
Astanto, Susilo, Jack and Eko; juga Romo Edi, osc
sementara salju masih terus turun dengan lebatnya.

Kamis, 06 Januari 2004. Pengetahuan berbicara, namun
kebijaksanaan mendengarkan (Jimi Hendrix).

Setelah makan malam, kami mengadakan rapat komunitas
untuk membahas jadwal kuliah di CTU dalam tiga minggu
ke depan di musim J-Term (masa Januari) menyesuaikan
jadwal untuk kegiatan komunitas kami.

Jumat, 07 Januari 2004. Hal yang paling penting dalam
kehidupan adalah memiliki suatu fokus perhatian dan
sebuah tujuan (Marcus Aurelius).

Pagi hari saya mensharingkan renungan saya atas bacaan
liturgi dalam misa hari ini. Saya pergi ke tempat
kerasulan saya, David Darst untuk menemui supervisor
saya dan merencanakan retreat tanggal 21-23 Januari.
Untuk renungan saya di atas silahkan baca di atas
dalam versi bahasa Inggris.

Sabtu, 08 Januari 2004. Ukuran paling penting bagi
seorang manusia adalah bukan di mana ia menempatkan
diri dalam kenyamanan, namun di mana ia menempatkan
diri dalam menghadapi tantangan dan pertentangan
(Martin Luther King, Jr.).

Pagi hari saya pergi ke CTU untuk menemui dosen
pembimbing akademis saya, Gil Ostdiek, OFM untuk minta
tanda tangan formulir tambah/kurang untuk masa kuliah
J-Term. Lalu, bersama dengan Petrus saya pergi ke
bandara Midway untuk mengantarkan seorang teman
Indonesia dan dua teman lain ke downtown dan stasiun
kereta Metra. Setelah itu, kami pergi ke gereja Santa
Theresia Chinatown: makan siang di sini seperti biasa
dimasak oleh Pastor Michael dan bimbingan rohani
dengan Pastor Michael. Sore hari kami mengadakan doa
rosario di komunitas yang dipimpin oleh Petrus dan
kami berdoa juga doa Angelus.

Minggu, 09 Januari 2004. Keluarga kita adalah sebuah
lingkaran kasih, dipandu dan diatur oleh Allah
sendiri. Dengan setiap persatuan dan setiap kelahiran,
lingkaran kita berkembang dalam sukacita dan
kegembiraan. Kasih ini yang mengalir begitu kuat dan
dalam, memberikan kita kenangan untuk terus dijaga dan
dipelihara. Dan ketika duka menimpa, lingkaran kita
makin erat terjalin, tetap kuat (Anonim).

Pukul 12 siang di Gereja Santa Theresia Chinatown
Chicago PWKI (Paguyuban Warga Katolik di Chicago)
mengadakan misa dalam bahasa Inggris untuk menggalang
dana bagi para korban tsunami di Aceh, Nias dan
pulau-pulau lain di Samudera Hindia. Misa ini
dipimpin oleh Romo Eko, cm, Romo Jack, cm, Romo Edi,
osc dan seorang romo dari campus ministry di DePaul
University, Father Kevin. Dalam khotbahnya, Romo Edi
mengatakan bahwa kita bukanlah hanya makhluk hidup
yang memiliki pengalaman namun yang paling penting
lagi adalah bahwa kita adalah insan spiritual yang
memiliki perasaan dan belas kasihan terhadap sesama
yang sedang berduka dan menangis tanpa melihat agama,
suku, bangsa, dst. Beberapa dari umat yang datang pada
misa ini dari CTU, bukan hanya umat Indonesia namun
juga beberapa dari Philippine, Amerika bahkan
supervisor dari tempat kerasulan saya di David Darst
Center juga datang karena ia membaca pengumuman misa
ini di Internet. Pada akhir misa Romo Eko menyampaikan
kata-kata perpisahannya dalam bahasa Indonesia kepada
umat bahwa ia akan kembali pulang ke Indonesia tanggal
19 Januari meneruskan karyanya setelah selama 3,5
tahun belajar di Chicago. Kami melanjutkan kebersamaan
kami dengan ramah tamah dan makan siang di basement
seperti biasa yang disiapkan oleh para ibu kita yang
peduli dan berbagi kasih seperti Ibu Imelda, Ibu Ina
dan teman-teman lain dengan menu sederhana nasi goreng
plus telor dadar. Sore hari di rumah Mbak Erna, kami
berbicara dan merencanakan usaha pencarian dana untuk
korban tsunami ini di Gereja Santo Thomas Rasul di
Hyde Park untuk minggu depan setelah misa hari Sabtu
dan Minggu.