I did not know him myself

At last, we finished our Sacramental Theology  today. Today, the last four (out of ten) groups presented what they had read in the textbook written by Fr. Hon who filled up our inadequacy afterwards. Our group was the last. We knew that most of our materials would have been mentioned by the other groups. So, we came to the understanding that we should speak less, leaving more time for Fr. Hon to speak. After all, no matter how good our presentation would be, we would never be on a par with the author. However, like most of the other classmates, once they spoke from the pulpit, they left themselves open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and spoke. Though they were nervous, they would speak fluently once they stepped on the podium.
Our group did not do well. We did not have any chance to sit together to come up with an understanding. Our configuration was like a star of which I was the centre. We relied on email to communicate. It was convenient and efficient. But when we came to the actual presentation after lunch, my group members seemed to have forgotten our understanding and spoke in an unrestrained way. It was understandable. Everyone was eager to share their hard work in front of the author as a compliment.

Betty, Jenny, Fr. Hon and Cosmas

Year 3 students were very much attached to Fr. Hon as I discovered in our Closing Prayer that they went together on a pilgrimage before, probably to the Holy Land. The Closing Prayer was a traditional hymn the lyrics of which were rewritten by them. The lyrics were hilarious as well as touching. They were a collection of their feelings of Fr. Hon within and without the classroom. I can see that the Year 3 classmates are very creative and artistic as well.
Photo sessions followed and we celebrated mass together to finish the day.

In his homily, Fr. Hon shared with us some of his random thoughts. He mentioned how his father gave him his name. They were not yet Catholics at that time. But God's hand had been guiding him. Today, working in the Congregation of Evangelization, Fr. Hon would be actualizing his name --- a huge radiance （大輝） to people sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. This same story appears in Kung Kao Pao today.
Of course, Fr. Hon would not miss the messages in the readings today. In the Gospel, John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus (John 1:29-34). The Baptist told the people that Jesus was the Son of God. However, there are two puzzling verses.
I did not know him myself ... (John 1:31, 33).
These two verses are illogical. Had the Baptist not known Jesus, how would he have borne Jesus witness? But to a certain extent, these 2 verses are right.
After baptism, Christians are supposed to bear witness for Jesus to the whole world. Our role is very much like that of the Baptist. The Baptist confessed that he did not know Jesus. Again, are you sure that we know Jesus well enough? Most of us would say no and shrink from talking about Jesus in front of other people. Why do we hesitate? Do we want to study enough theology and only after that would we start talking about Jesus? Paradoxically, like most subject matters, the more we study theology, the more we know we don't know. This Sacramental Theology course is one such example. So, we don't wait until we know well enough to evangelize. Do we want to become a morally good enough man and only after that would we start talking about Jesus so that we would bring Jesus a bad name? Chances are we will never be morally good enough. Most of us have a personality flawed somewhere, somehow. Old habit dies hard. Ideally speaking, we strive for excellency in our daily dealings as well as our moral. Yet, it is only an ideal. So we don't wait until we are morally good enough to evangelize.
I think we do not love Jesus enough, love our fellow men enough so that we are reluctant to evangelize. It is not a matter of knowledge, but a matter of motivation. We need a push to start the engine rolling.

Dear Lord, we thank You for creating us in such a way that we are able to share our life with You. We love You but not enough. Have mercy. Grant us the Holy Spirit to move us so that we may love You more. Amen.