What does it mean to be blessed?

Christmas is just 2 days away. We have entered the final preparation for Christmas. The best thing to do is to make a good confession so as to make room for Jesus in our hearts.

An old friend of mine, Daniel Mok, who had emigrated to England for many years, called me the other day to greet us merry Christmas in person. More than two decades ago, we met in Golden Arcade, Sham Shui Po, the IT Paradise which all tourists must visit. In those days, we cracked software and jokes. He is a Protestant and I am a Catholic. We have no quarrel but lively sharing of our faith. In view of the 1997 handover, his whole family left Hong Kong for England and had to struggle hard for quite a number of years in order to gain a footing. Now that his two sons have married and got good jobs, Daniel can finally enjoy a peaceful life. He told me that he was able to see God's hand guiding and granting them favour all these difficult years. I am consoled to see my friend successful both spiritually and temporally. He and his family are blessed.

In the gospel reading today, we heard of Mary being blessed among women (Luke 1:42). Mary is blessed in a special way because she believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord (Luke 1:45). So, what does it mean to be blessed for us?

Traditionally, many people would count longevity as being blessed. People who died young could not lead their lives to the full and have their ambitions fulfilled. They were deemed cursed. Nowadays, people value the quality of life more than its length. In a culture of death, people look for euthanasia as an exit. Longevity is no longer a sign of being blessed. Many people would count material abundance as being blessed. They would have no worries for daily necessities in their life. More demanding people would take esteem and respect from others as being blessed. However, most of the time, their lives are corrupted by power and end up in tragedy. Then, how can possessing esteem and respect be regarded as being blessed? From Maslow's point of view (the hierarchy of needs), material abundance and power only satisfy our needs. Having needs satisfied cannot be counted as blessed because we are not free. When our happiness depends on something external to us, we cannot enjoy our happiness freely. How can we count ourselves blessed? Thus, we have to look for blessedness beyond material and social dimensions. Being blessed must be spiritual.

As a Buddhist, gaining enlightenment is blessed. As a Christian, gaining God's favour is blessed. Perhaps you would object because this blessedness depends on God, on some Being outside and beyond us. We cannot command God to give us favour nor can we work hard to gain His favour. We all depend on God to grant us favour at His pleasure. However, we know and we believe that God wants all of us to be saved, to be freed from the bondage of sin and death (1 Timothy 2:4). His love is unconditionally because God is our heavenly Father. It is not through our works that we gain His favour. God has extended His invitation. It depends on whether we are willing to accept it. When we surrender our stubbornness and believe in His love, His favour will immediately descend on us and we are blessed. Mary has set us a model to copy. We believe and become blessed like Mary.

Sweet Lord Jesus, allow me to surrender my arrogance, believe in Your love and be counted blessed. Amen.