Beatitudes 2011

What makes Chinese Chinese, and Christians Christians?
First of all, to be a Chinese, you must be a human being. On top of being a human being, you must belong to a particular race, with a particular set of genetic traits. Then, you add on the language spoken by Chinese, the customs carried on by Chinese and of course, you love being a Chinese.
I think I am not being harsh in setting up these requirements. You may call me a racist in demanding a particular set of genetic traits. But I think it is common sense. Perhaps one day in the not so near future, when people are free to migrate anywhere they want and they have no qualm marrying people from different races, the genetic pool of the world will become more homogeneous. Then and only then can we drop the genetic criterion to define a Chinese or any nationalities. Only then is genetic makeup not a differentiating factor in determining the nationality of a person.
You may object by quoting the nationalization procedures in which a person is free to nationalize to whatever nations they want after fulfilling certain legal requirements. I agree. But don't forget, people would give up their nationality by birth and nationalize to a desired country because that country is more desirable than their country of origin, say being richer and/or more democratic. Now, who would desire to nationalize to become a Chinese?

Being a Christian does not require possessing special genetic traits, or speaking Latin. Therefore, it boils down to practising what Christians do and longing for being a Christian. If you are a Christian reader, ask yourself. Do you look like a Christian? Do you practise? And do you long for being a Christian?

Let me begin with the second criterion. That is, do you long for being a Christian?
St. Paul did not paint a favourable portrayal of Christians at the beginning of his First Epistle to the Corinthians. Christians were described as foolish, weak and lowly (1 Corinthians 1:26). There was nothing for Christians to boast of and to be proud of. So, if you accept what St. Paul said, do you still want to be a Christian? Do you have anything or have you done anything you can be proud of yourself? Throw it away in order to become a Christian.
Do you look foolish enough, weak enough and lowly enough to look like a Christian? We are lucky to live in a modern democratic society in which personal background counts very little. Employers look at your academic certificates, not your birth certificates. It is alright to come up from a lowly family background. But who wants to appear foolish and weak in this competitive society? Who, then wants to become a Christian?

Let me turn now to the first criterion. That is, what do Christians do?
They keep the 10 Commandments.
Well, what is so special about Christians keeping the 10 Commandments? The 10 Commendments are universal moral precepts which nearly all peoples keep, though not honouring them with the title of the 10 Commandments. Which people encourage murder, or adultery, or stealing or telling lies? Which people do not honour their parents? Which people do not worship deities? Therefore, keeping the 10 Commandments is not a defining characteristic of a Christian.
I think the defining criteria are the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-12. They are even called the Magna Carta of Christianity. Some nine Christian values are enshrined in those lines. Through pursuing these values, Christians pursue happiness, true happiness that lead to eternal life.

Fr. Lejeune celebrated the 11 a.m. mass with us. In his opening greeting, he brought our attention of the Lunar New Year decorations in the Church. There are a number of Chinese character "Happiness 福 (fook)" on the wall. He invited us to ponder on the meanings of true happiness.  In the rite of contrition, he told the congregation to repent and ask God for His mercy because we had concentrated our efforts on the wrong kind of happiness. In his homily, he commented incisively on the meaning of the Beatitudes (真福八端).
He told us that at first, he objected to hanging the character "fook" upside down which had become very popular in the last decade. He did not like it because there were superstitious elements in such a practice. Gradually, he did not object anymore because he was able to see beatitudes in the inverted "fook" --- Christ has turned what the world thinks to be "happiness" upside down.
When people think that being rich is good, Christ teaches us to be poor in spirit.
When people prefer laughters to depression, Christ teaches us to mourn for our sins.
When people believe that might is right, Christ teaches us to be meek and mild.
When people put benefits above fairness, Christ teaches us to be hungry and thirst for justice.
When people are calculating and demand justice, Christ teaches us to be forgiving and merciful.
When people indulge in enjoyment, Christ teaches us to be pure and focussed in our heart.
When people stir up conflicts in order to gain advantages in the confusion, Christ teaches us to make peace.
When people pervert the course of justice, Christ teaches us to suffer injustice quietly.
Jesus has truly turned the world upside down. He is truly revoluntary in whatever ages his teachings are proclaimed.

Fr. Lejeune shared with us that when he went against the current wisdom to become a missionary priest in Vietnam after his ordination, his country fellows did not support him. A war was raging over there and there was a lot of pastoral work to do in France. Why put your life at risk? As it turns out, Fr. Lejeune is made wise and strong by becoming a missionary priest in North Vietnam.
but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong,
God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:27-30)

Fr. Lejeune is a truly humble old man. He asked the congregation to wish him a better child of God during this Lunar New Year and thanked them in advance. After serving God for sixty years as a missionary priest, this Lejeune still thinks that he is not yet a good enough Christian.

Dear Lord, I thank You for sending a wise priest to shepherd us. May his life inspire more people to follow Your footsteps to bring forth the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Amen.