27 September 2020
“Come, Lord Jesus!”
Crises and difficulties
Since the middle of last year, Hong Kong has witnessed repeated incidents of social protests causing social unrest. Political conflicts arising from the Amendment Draft of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, the National Security Law of HKSAR and the postponement of the Legislative Council Election scheduled for September 2020, have triggered off civil strife between the police and mostly young people, giving rise to many ugly scenes of violence. Society at large, countless social groupings and even families have been severely torn apart.
In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has ravaged the world since the beginning of this year, with over 5,000 confirmed cases and more than 103 deaths in Hong Kong. Schools have been closed for many months, while restaurants and other enterprises have been intermittently suspended, businesses have stagnated, people have become unemployed or under-employed and livelihood has been hard hit.
Students cannot study in the usual manner and all normal activities of society have been seriously impaired. In recent months, major powers in the international political arena have been contending for dominance in such areas as science and technology, medical care, trade, finance, military capabilities and diplomacy.
As an international financial centre and a technologically advanced city, Hong Kong will inevitably be caught up in many of such vortices. Moreover, the recent implementation of the territory-wide anti-epidemic test triggered some heated discussions on innovative devices or practices made possible by technological advances, such as the Health Code and the Social Credit System.
It is deeply felt that consensus is hard to find and the people of Hong Kong have a long way to go before hopes of social reconciliation materialise.
Over the past six months, schoolteachers have been busy coping with new teaching approaches and rearranging scheduled activities, whereas students have been adapting to the unconventional learning modes. Teaching now takes place in a virtual classroom where the faces of teachers and students only appear on the screen.
Teachers may not be able to immediately perceive students’ understanding of what is being taught, while students may not have grasped it thoroughly. Both have to adapt to the new way of how assignments are to be submitted and marked. Students may worry that they will not be able to catch up with their schoolwork and may feel annoyed at being stuck at home all day.
They may even worry about their parents’ employment, which might be adversely affected by the pandemic, while extra expenses at the start of the new school year might cause families greater financial hardship.
What is lamentable is that our society has been overwhelmed with divergent messages from the media. So-called “facts” as reported in the press may have occasionally been distorted, obscured and misleading, overstated and fawning, blurred and unfocused, which is most unfortunate.
This eventually leads to delusion of authenticity, muddling up of information and disinformation, confounding the ability to tell right from wrong, thus causing injustice in society.
What worries Christians most is whether in the future, a highly technologically advanced civilised society will, in the name of protecting public and private interests or consolidating governance, be keen to monitor or even to manipulate thoughts and behaviours of its people.
Such a society might be, knowingly or unknowingly, on the verge of trampling on the free will and the dignity of hummankind and desecrating God’s sacred portrait imprinted on the human soul, which displays all the good and beauty in its capacity, and its desire for truth and love, as well as for wisdom edified by reasoning.
These personal, family, and social rifts and crises have frustrated and disappointed many. But there are people in society who adhere to their principles and will not lose hope!
The Church, a group of humble, meek and mild Christians, is forever looking forward to Christ, who died but has resurrected—for when he comes again, it will be the ultimate salvation of humanity. This modest small group imitates the believers of the early Church, holding onto a joyful hope and shouting amidst the difficulties:
“Come! Lord Jesus!”
Outpouring of grace
History tells us that the first generation of Apostles and Christians were oppressed by the religious leaders in Jerusalem. This has gave impetus for the spread of Christ’s gospel and resulted in the establishment of communities of believers in Judah, Samaria, Caesarea, Damascus, Cyprus, Antioch and other distant areas. It demonstrates that abundant grace gushes out from adversity.
The early Christians were also persecuted for refusing to declare that Caesar, their ruler and emperor of the Roman Empire, was a god. They firmly believed that Jesus Christ, who was put to death and resurrected, is the Son of the only eternal God. They led a life that was full of holiness, benevolence, peace and justice. They refused to enter the Colosseum to watch criminals and slaves fighting to death and they unconditionally released their slaves out of love.
The Church Fathers at that time criticised the Romans for their decadent lifestyle that pursued luxury and pleasure, which made those in power feel threatened. As a result, Christians were brutally persecuted and killed for the first 300 years or so. They were barred from participation in political life or holding official positions. They were banned from public assemblies and had to meet in catacombs, where they hid and lived in long darkness.
But these early Christians firmly believed in the promise of Jesus Christ that he would come again! They cherished hope in the face of adversity, anticipating that he would be “coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27) and recalled his instructions: “Remember! I’m coming soon… I will repay everyone according to their behaviour” (Revelations 22:12).
Whenever they met, they greeted one another saying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” so as to echo and to intensify the urgent cry for strength in hardship, to encourage each other to remain steadfast in their faith, while longing for justice and peace.
The Christian faith was finally granted legal recognition by the Roman Empire in 313 AD and began to spread all over the world.
“Come! Lord Jesus!”
Strengthening the virtue of hope
When people find themselves in good times, especially in an affluent society where advanced economic and technological developments have submerged people in virtual realities that progressively advocate automation and full control over everything via big data, people will easily yield to temptations of all kinds and tend to “become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness” while hunting for power, wealth and interests.
People will also be inclined to focus solely on secular worries and “anxieties of daily life,” (Luke 21:34) suffocating their pursuit of humanistic values and realisation of truth, goodness and beauty in the human nature.
Similarly, in good times, Christians might ignore the Christian way of life and even become indifferent to God. “…In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage… They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:38-39)
There is no longing for, or even the awareness of, the coming of Christ at any time, let alone “staying awake and pray.” This can be likened to children who, incapable of self-control, indulge themselves in online videos or games on weekend nights when their parents are out at social functions. How would they possibly want their parents to come home very soon and push them to study?
God allows us to undergo difficulties and crises in order to rekindle our desire for noble values so that we will seek the ultimate meaning of life and strengthen our faith, “knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint…” (Romans 5:3-5).
Only in the face of severe adversities will humanity be determined to pursue virtuous principles, and Christians may suddenly realise that, deep in their souls, they are really longing for the “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
This ever-changing world with its excessive noise and absurdity makes us truly yearn for the return of Christ, the Prince of Peace. Just as most students, who are taken aback upon realising that the ineffectiveness of their learning threatens their academic future after the long absence of companionship in a group learning environment, coupled with slackened external supervision.
Only then will they begin to desire for an early return to normal school life in a place most conducive to learning while in the company of teachers and friends.
Adversity may be a blessing in disguise and we should be grateful for it.
“Come! Lord Jesus!”
Repent and be alert
Since we long for the Prince of Peace and the new heavens and earth to appear in real life, we should not just dream or talk about it, but should repent and lead a righteous life. In the gospel (the 26th Sunday of the Ordinary Time) Jesus tells the parable of the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32). One son said, “Yes, sir” to his father’s instructions, but did nothing. The other said, “I will not” but later obeyed and carried out his father’s will.
Jesus used this parable to point out to the chief priests and the elders of the people that they had failed to follow the teachings of John the Baptist and repent, so that tax collectors and prostitutes would enter the kingdom of God before them.
Integrity entails the consistency in words and deeds.
Verifying one’s words with one’s deeds is the fundamental of really knowing a person. We teach our students and children such morals and expect the same of interpersonal or international relationships.
The same is true for the God-Man relationship and communication. If our longing is no better than lip service without repentance and correspondingly appropriate behaviour, how can we call upon Jesus to come soon, let alone to “have the strength … to stand before the Son of Man” when he returns? (Luke 21:36)
Immediately after telling the parable of the two sons, Jesus told the parables of the wicked husbandmen and of the wedding feast. It clearly shows that everyone must have sincerity and good deeds, that is, tenants should pay with their produce on time, whereas guests should dress appropriately for a wedding banquet, so as to be worthy of the return of Christ and the realisation of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Bible repeatedly reminds us to be honest and sincere in repentance, to understand that suffering is often caused by man’s own sins and to plead for God’s forgiveness and help just as the author of the Psalm (Psalms 25:4-9). We must trust in God’s righteousness to reward the good and to punish the evil and should praise him for his mercy to convert the wicked (Ezekiel 18:25-28).
We should not “grasp” what we think we deserve, but imitate Christ’s mind and heart to “empty” and “humble” ourselves before the Lord (Philippians 2:6-11). We should also “be of the same love”, “do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, be humble”, “each looking out not for his own interests, but everyone for those of others.” (Philippians 2:1-5).
Let us contemplate, starting with our daily personal (as students) and community life, and sincerely repent for our shortcomings as we long for the new heavens and new earth, and cry out “Come, Lord Jesus!”
• For not cherishing grace bestowed and for our omissions in community affairs (Students: late submission or no submission of, or copying others’ homework assignments) ;
• For treating lightly others’ goodwill and efforts (Students: ignoring the advice of parents and teachers) ;
• For criticising or complaining maliciously about people or things (Students: resenting schoolmates);
• For inflicting physical or psychological harm on others in words and deeds (Students: speaking ill of others);
• For being stubborn, arrogant and failing to respect different viewpoints (Students: quarrelling with others);
• For ignoring others’ dignity in pursuit of power or fortune (Students: ganging up and bullying classmates);
• For the lukewarm attitude adopted when testifying to truth, justice, love, and peace when necessary; (Students: muddling along in life and in one’s studies)
• For the uninterested and indifferent attitude towards the coming of the Kingdom of God (Students: living aimlessly);
• For… May we reflect deeply, repent sincerely and be converted wholeheartedly.
“Come! Lord Jesus!”
Steadfast faith
Some Christian philosophers describe despair as a process of soul searching. In the Old Testament, Job faced a series of misfortunes and sicknesses. When he debated with friends and dialogued with God, he completely turned every inch of his soul over. Finally, he revived in the same heart and soul a much deeper faith. When Christians are on the brink of desperation, they must humbly acknowledge the omnipotence and infinite wisdom of God and entrust themselves to his just and benevolent care.
This is likened to an incident that happened more than six years ago to a veteran media person who holds the conviction of “With Truth in Heart, With a Pen in Hand; To be Free is to be Selfless and Fearless.” He was then a former chief editor of a newspaper known for its objectivity and impartiality. He was brutally attacked and severely wounded, not for any known cause related to personal grievances.
He and his family still firmly believe that everything is in the hands of the Lord and that everything happens with the Lord’s will.
While still in their agony they encouraged everyone concerned to remain faithful to their posts and fulfill their personal duties, quoting St. Paul who wrote: “…… all things work together for good ……” (Romans 8:28).
“……we …… boast of …… your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions you endure.” (2 Thessalonians 1:4) “Faith is the realisation of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1) .
We worry about future changes in society, whether the glitter of the past will fade or even disappear.
Yet Christians firmly believe that just as Jesus can bring Lazarus back to life, even if the present suffering is likened to darkness in the tomb, it can be perceived as the pain before the birth of a new life. We will still wait patiently with anticipation. (John 16:21)
“Come! Lord Jesus!”
What to do as the Lord is
coming soon
The political situation of our society will be affected by changes in the domestic, foreign or international power struggles. The impact of the pandemic will also fluctuate. Thus the social and political situation is complex and ever changing. But we firmly believe that the new heavens and earth full of love, faith, justice, and peace of Christ the King will one day come (Psalms 85:11). At this moment, we will not wait passively, but will wait for the Lord with unwavering faith.
Waiting is the most important task for Christians at this moment! In the time of the Old Testament, the Chosen People experienced long years of wandering and waiting to be nurtured into a nation with a strong faith in God.
This is an important part of his redemption plan. The Chosen People must come to know more of their God for he is not only “to mark our sins”, but also to give “kindness and full redemption.” (Psalms 130:3,7).
If the coming of someone or something is meaningful to us, we will naturally prepare for it properly. How does the Bible teach us to wait for the Lord? God is not only interested in the moment he comes when we must be like wise virgins, awake, carrying a lamp with oil prepared and opening the door to greet him. The Lord pays even more attention to what we have been doing when he is yet to come.
It is for us to be the faithful and prudent servant taking good care of the household entrusted to us by the master and distribute to them their food at the proper time. When the master arrives, he will put the servant in charge of all his property. (Matthew 24:45-47)
Therefore, we must be faithful to the role entrusted by the Lord to all. We need to be honest and earnestly fulfill our personal and social responsibilities with integrity. Meanwhile, to fulfill our professional obligations, we should strictly abide by the professional codes of different industries, whether civil servants, media and news, medical or legal fields, teachers, social work, accounting and finance, culture and art, information technology, engineering and other sectors… It is high time that Christians studied the principles and contents of the Church’s social teachings which is a treasure accumulated over the recent centuries. When applying its principles to social ethics, its prophetic teachings and admonitions for the secular world should be heeded. Its spirit serves as a good navigating guide and reference for social participation.
As Catholic teachers and principals in the education sector, we promote our core values and principles by endeavouring to advocate and to speak the truth; to uphold justice in our relationships with God and men; to perform acts of charity for the poor and the weak; to respect, protect and treasure life; to safeguard the status and functions of the family, and to nurture harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
Moreover, in accordance with the Code for the Education Profession of Hong Kong, we need to fulfill our obligations to the education profession, students, colleagues, employers, parents and the public. For those who are students, we should focus on our studies, study hard, and at the same time grasp fully and comprehensively all that has been happening locally and globally, and reflect upon their impacts on us.
The Lord is the master of human history. Although we live in a constantly changing world, we are grateful for the people and things in Hong Kong in the past few decades.
We should cherish and give witness to the life-long struggle of our past generations, which has forged the spiritual and material civilisation of our society, shaping its outlook and instilling in it all the essential characteristics of a cosmopolitan city.
Meanwhile, we are all to be responsible for and earnestly look forward to the future of our society. Our students should make good use of the gifts God has given everyone, including our priceless lives, precious time, learning opportunities as well as caring family members and mentors.
They should equip themselves well so that each will become an instrument of the Lord and contribute to building a civilised society filled with justice and love in accordance with God’s will, thus helping write a new page in the history of Hong Kong.
In addition, we must also listen to people with whom we come into contact who may be in great despair, especially those who are in depression, or burdened with worries or resentment, so as to understand and empathise with their plight, to exchange views and feelings with them, and to broaden each other’s horizons as well.
We should accompany them as much as possible and share with them our own transformational experiences in tough times, so as to bring about hope to the traumatised.
With other Christians, we should form communities that are “always alert with steadfast hope” to counsel and encourage one another— “putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is hope for salvation; … admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil … Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks …” (1 Thessalonians 5:8,14-18)
“Come! Lord Jesus!”
How to do as the Lord is
coming soon
Because we have full trust in God who is rich in justice, we will still have joy in our hearts even in yet greater darkness and more difficult situations. “I await the day of distress that will come upon the people who attack us. For though the fig tree blossom not nor fruit be on the vines, Though the yield of the olive fail and the terraces produce no nourishment, Though the flocks disappear from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, Yet will I rejoice in the Lord and exult in my saving God, God, my Lord, is my strength …” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)
“Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer” (Rm 12:12) because “…… all things work for good for those who love God…(Romans 8:28)
May we stand firm in our faith and wait for the Lord, with courage, joy, patience, kindness, and compassion, to reveal the beauty of our hearts as a portrait of God, and to recognize the Christ in others, to ignite hope together, and to wait for the Light.
Let us be full of gratitude and anticipation, and shout to the Lord in our hearts with all the brothers and sisters.
“Come Lord Jesus!”
