by Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J.
My friend bought a bundle of beautiful pink Sakura flowers and proudly displayed them near a large window. The spring sun rays came through the glass pane, caressing the petals and transforming the gentle pastel pink into shades of pink with sparkles. Simply wonderful!
The time for the Sakura blossoms is approaching once again. Many in Hong Kong have already made plans to visit Japan so to marvel at the array of colours and clouds of Sakura blossoms. The shapes and postures of the Sakura trees, laden with an abundance of flowers, are simply spectacular.
Besides the flowers, there are products – various food and cosmetic products supposedly made with Sakura. I must confess that I find Sakura flowers have close to no fragrance. However, those who love these products claim that the flowers have a subtle scent, and so do the products. Most of all, I believe those who consume them carry a poetic sense of Sakura blossoming and petals swaying in the spring air as they enjoy these products.
Indeed, what may be the main contributing factor towards this fabulous picture is the spring season itself. It is a time of awakening, new life, pastel colours, youthfulness and hope. Those chirping birds, busy bees and dancing butterflies celebrate spring without hesitation. What a gorgeous season of life, filled with hope!
Another fixed feature around this time of the year for the Chinese is the Ching Ming Festival, the main festival to commemorate our ancestors and loved ones who had gone before us. It is a time of memories and feelings of loss, yet not without a deep sense of gratitude and love. How we hope to reconnect ourselves with our loved ones soon after this life!
How is Ching Ming Festival related to Sakura? Both are celebrated in the season of spring, and both are about life and hope. Flowers play a central role in each. Flowers were traditionally used for tomb sweeping during Ching Ming. They used to be rather thin in colours, such as white or yellow. But in recent years, we have seen a wider array of brightly coloured flowers offered at the graveyards. What this might mean is that we are embracing a more positive outlook towards the commemoration of our deceased loved ones and ancestors. We are more ready to show our appreciation and gratitude with an affirmative endorsement of their lives.
No one is perfect, and neither are the deceased, no matter how much they are appreciated. Yet, for us Christians, we can certainly have real hope for a new life awakened in eternity – something we can only catch glimpses of during our earthly lives.
Moreover, it will be an eternity of youthfulness since our new life will be with God, who is ever afresh and creative. God is never tired of showing mercy and embracing with love those who yearn for the beauty of God’s truth, goodness and love before their passing from their earthly home. Hence, we can have hope for our loved ones resting eternally with God, not only at the Ching Ming Festival but beyond this day.
Happy spring, enjoy Sakura, and celebrate the life and eternity of our deceased in God!
+ Stephen Cardinal Chow, S.J.
