The Catholic Church has a very busy calendar. Nearly everyday, they celebrate at least one saint. Today, it is St. Alphonsus (1696-1787). He was the founder of the Redemptorists and had contributed greatly to the modern development of moral theology of the Catholic Church.
I joined La Salle College in 1976 as a supply teacher for Brother Alphonus Chee, a Malaysian Chinese Brother, who went away for a training program for a few months. In the end, I spent 20 years in LSC instead of a few months. Brother Alphonsus was the vice-principal when Brother Raphael Egan began the metamorphosis project of LSC in last three years of 1970's. Brother Thomas was another vice-principal. Both of them were responsible for seeing this new building through. Many people expected Brother Thomas to succeed Brother Raphael because both of them were Irish and Brother Thomas was the best Economics teacher in Hong Kong at that time. However, when Brother Raphael retired, he handed the College over to Brother Alphonsus Chee instead. Quite a number of people were very disappointed. Brother Thomas went to South Africa to undergo some sort of substance-abuse therapy.
Brother Alphonsus was a very intense person. He was a perfectionist and expected quality work from himself and others. He knew very well that as a Chinese, he needed to put in extra effort to find acceptance among students, teachers and people in the region. He only spent six years at the helm and handed the College over to Brother Francis. He has become a different person since his retirement, more relaxed and humourous. I always respect all these religious because they have devoted their whole life for the service of the Lord. They are the living witness of the living gospel. We need more of these saintly people to affirm our faith. I respect Brother Alphonsus in particular because he was able to stand firm on his ground despite smear-campaigns. I remember most fondly his 'Every' remarks long before the EMI controversy: Every lesson is an English lesson. Every teacher is a discipline teacher etc. Unfortunately for La Salle College, her very success is the reason for the decline of the number of aspirants to join the Brothers. What an irony! La Salle College has been able to produce a lot of elite leaders of Hong Kong, but not a single Brother. God's plan is a mystery.
In reading Jeremiah 26 today, we find similar events happening under the sun. In proclaiming God's message, Jeremiah made himself unpopular among the Judeans. While many other prophets spoke sweet talks, prophesizing about peace while doom was imminent, Jeremiah had to bear the brunt of attacks for speaking the truth. Usually, it takes ordinary people a long time to recognize the truth.
And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, "You shall die! (Jeremiah 26:8)
It is only too human to try to please others so that we will find acceptance among others. However, the truth is almost always an unpopular reality.
My dear Advocate, our Lord Jesus has promised us that the truth will set us free. Yet freedom is such a heavy, costly commodity. With freedom comes responsibility. May we, instead of running away from freedom, generously embrace our responsibilities. St. Alphonus, pray for us so that in faith and love, we may grow into more mature followers of Christ. Amen.
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