Man is not omniscient. Given a particular situation, nobody has the advantage of holding perfect knowledge of the situation at his finger tips. In ancient times, people went through all sorts of rituals to seek oracles, consult Urim and Thummim or offer sacrifices to bribe the gods etc. to reduce uncertainty. Modern people are able to collect more information and make use of powerful computers to calculate all sorts of forecasts and probabilities to help them make decisions. At the end of the day, we can only hope for the best and must prepare for the worst.
In particular, nobody knows when he will die.
But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.
You also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an unexpected hour (Luke 12:39-40)
Therefore, Jesus advises us to be alert, to be ready at all time. To be alert is alright. But at all time?
Well, it is too tiring to be so.
Being ordained for sixty years, Fr. Lejeune always says in his homilies how he wishes Jesus come to take him home. Physically, his body is getting fragile. His legs are aching. But his spirit is still very alert. In his homily today, he expressed his high hope to be served by the master!
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit at table, and he will come and serve them (Luke 12:37).
How many servants would dream of their master serving them? What a reversal of roles, a reversal of fate! This promise truly goes beyond the wildest imagination. This promise is too good to be true. Yet, this is a promise from Jesus, a promise from God. Do we have the faith to put our hope in this promise? The author of Hebrews devotes the whole chapter 11 to describe what biblical characters could do with faith. Through faith, they gained God's approval.
For by it the men of old received divine approval (Hebrews 11:2).
Fr. Lejeune did not forget the HKCEE candidates whose results were released last Wednesday. Some ten thousands of them are able to secure a form six place to continue their studies for university entrance examination. Many more have been running desperately here and there to get a vacancy. The same frenzy has been repeating itself year after year.
Why do they do this? Do they have nothing better to do? Yes and No.
Yes, they have nothing better to do. They have no choice but to fight for a place in form six and subsequently in the university. Otherwise, they are less saleable in the job market.
No, these young people are still willing to invest their youth and vigour into a future which nobody can be certain about. Who can predict what this society will be like in five years' time? Actuarial analysis was hot but who could predict the 'financial tsunami' that wiped out millions of jobs and zillions of dollars? People in Hong Kong still keep their faith in a brighter tomorrow. It is a faith in a barely visible sun ray on the horizon. But there is no guarantee the sun will shine.
Luckily, this frenzy is going to be the last one. With the introduction of NSS, senior secondary students will sit for just one university entrance exam. The competition is still keen but they don't need to run around the city, knocking at the door of one school after next like refugees tossed into the raging oceans. At the end of the day, faith will be rewarded.
Dear Lord, will Fr. Lejeune be able to see me consecrated? Your will be done. Amen.
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