In the blink of an eye, 2022 has come to an end. Many of us will look back and review what we have done in the past year, and assess what we have gained and what we have lost. We should keep up and continue with what we have done well, and rectify what has not been properly done. We should make amends with and apologise to those we have offended, and keep our hearts and minds open to welcome a new year.
The fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic broke out at the beginning of 2022, and the pandemic is still with us. The number of confirmed infections per day is still high. It is not uncommon for friends or colleagues to have caught the illness. We must learn to live with Covid-19.
It has already been three years since the first outbreak and we cannot continue to stay isolated and suspend all social activities. Even if we keep ourselves and members of our family homebound, there is no guarantee that we won’t catch the disease. On the contrary, we must not turn into a blind alley and live in constant fear of being infected. This will only impact our mental and spiritual health.
We are social beings and need contact and interaction with others. The government, having assessed the situation and the needs of the society and the economy, has further relaxed social distancing measures. For religious premises, the maximum number of persons at each religious gathering [e.g. Mass or a wedding] can be at 100 per cent of the normal capacity of the venue. The faithful will definitely benefit from physically attending spiritual activities and liturgies. We hope that everyone is willing to step out of their comfort zone and return to the sheepfold, so that the Church will become active again.
On January 1, New Year’s Day, we also celebrate World Peace Day. In mid-December, Pope Francis issued a papal message calling upon world leaders to put aside self-interest and work together to solve the many prevailing challenges, especially the calamities brought about by wars.
It has been 10 months since the Russian army invaded Ukraine. Despite the pope’s repeated appeals, pleadings and attempts to mediate, the war is still on. In view of deaths and misery caused and the displacement of many people, the Pope Francis appealed again for peace. The pandemic also brought about social and economic unrest. The various social distancing measures imposed heightened people’s sense of loneliness. Those living in homes for the elderly have been barred from meeting with their families for a long time. The restrictions also adversely impacted the economy. While we are glad to see recent relaxation of these measures, we still need to be mindful to protect ourselves from the disease.
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God feast day falls on the New Year’s Day. Let us follow the example of Mary’s unwavering faith, particularly when we are disappointed with the gap between our dreams and the reality. When we meet challenges in life, we should “keep all these happenings and pondering them in our hearts,” so that while accepting them, we are able to discern God at work. SE
