How to Benefit from Discrimination

Thirty Third Ordinary Sunday (Year C)
Theme: How to Benefit from Discrimination

The Second World War ended more than 70 years ago. Very few of us here are older than seventy. This means that very few of us have actual experiences of wars. We know of wars only through documentaries. We have never heard sirens of air-strikes, nor have we smelt of gun powder or burning flesh. Horrors of war and war crimes exist only in our imagination. Let's face it. There are more immediate things to worry about than wars, earthquakes, famines and plagues (Luke 21:12). It is persecution. Nowadays, many societies are civilized. There are less blatant persecutions, but implicit ones. We call these implicit persecutions discriminations. Whatever name you call them, they are cruel and unfair treatments.

Most people are narrow-minded, especially when they are the majority. The Cantonese-speaking Chinese in Hong Kong is an example. Nowadays, many Putonghua speaking mainlanders come shopping in Hong Kong. The local Cantonese-speaking Chinese do not welcome them. They see the mainlanders as a threat to their benefits. They come to take away our resources, e.g. maternity beds, milk powder and even our houses and our jobs. Everything becomes more expensive because of them. Life becomes more competitive because of them. Most of these accusations are only exaggerations.
Like their counterparts in other countries, the local politicians want to divert the dissatisfaction of the citizens of Hong Kong away from them. They make the mainlanders scapegoats so that the citizens of Hong Kong pour their anger on those mainlanders and not on these incompetent and greedy politicians. When you are the minorities, you become handy scapegoats. Of course this is unfair. But what can we do or say when we are the minority?

Followers of Christ have always been a minority. In the early history of the Church, there were many martyrs. They suffered and even died because they persevered in keeping their faith. What did Jesus command us to do in face of discrimination? First of all, he told us that we should be happy. Happy? Impossible! How can we be happy in face of discrimination? We should be happy because this is going to be a good opportunity to bear witness to Jesus and his love of sinners (21:13). Jesus promised to give us the Holy Spirit, the wisdom in speaking so that our persecutors are unable to refute. In the end, Jesus will award us a place in the kingdom of heaven.

On the other hand, discrimination helps the minority to be more united. The early Christians were more united because there were persecutions. In order to survive in a hostile environment, they needed to put away their differences and be united. After the Roman Caesar had given them freedom of worship, they began arguing over whether Jesus Christ was a man or a god, whether Mary should be the Mother of Christ or Mother of God etc. Nowadays, the homosexuals are more united because of discrimination. Rational people are sympathetic to them because they think discrimination is irrational. If we had respected the homosexuals as persons created in the image of God, they would not have developed into a political movement fighting for equal rights. When we were more tolerant towards the homosexuals, less people would be sympathetic to them, thinking them to be greedy because they want the benefits of marriage but they do not want to take up the responsibility to beget children. Paradoxically, as a minority group, we benefit from discrimination.

Thirdly, we should not be timid even though the whole world hates us (21:17). Why are we so confident? It is because we believe in God who is the Creator of the whole universe. Jesus promised us that not a hair on our head would be destroyed (21:18). Jesus promised to protect us and deliver us from evil. So, remember to say the Lord's Prayer every day to remind God to keep His promise.

Of course, the society has developed into a more civilized community. Basic human rights will be protected. Therefore, when we receive unfair treatments, we may choose to suffer patiently. This is a Spiritual Work of Mercy. We may also choose to complain to the rightful authority. If justice is not done, let us follow Jesus' command to pray for the souls of the discriminators (6:28).

Brethren, remember to say 5 mysteries a day for the souls in the Purgatory. Some of them might have discriminated against good Christians. We pray for them so that they may enter Heaven earlier. There will be a great Reconciliation in Heaven. What a joyful event it will be!
God bless.