HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR OF SNAKE

It is good to be Chinese. We don't hate snakes or develop any ophidiophobia. Indeed, snakes become a favourite Chinese dish around autumn because by that time snakes have eaten enough before their hibernation. Chinese soak snakes in wine for a certain period of time to make a therapeutic drink. In Chinese medicine, intake of snakes, especially their gall bladders, is good for driving away unhealthy "pneuma" in the body. Though we don't befriend them or keep them as pets, we make good use of them.

In the Old Testament, the snake does not have a good track record. It was the Serpent which tricked Eve to eat the Forbidden Fruit (Genesis 3). When Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai to get the 10 Commandments, the Israelites below grew impatient and made a golden calf. God sent fierce serpents among them to bite them (Numbers 21) and Isaiah mentions fiery flying serpent (Isaiah 30) etc. Snakes must have made a fearful imprint in the psyche of the Jews. At last, in the New Testament, we see victory over serpents (Mark 16:18, Luke 10:19 etc.). After all, when God created a habitable world for us, including snakes, He saw that everything was very good (Genesis 1:31)! What else could it be? In the beginning, chaos were overcome and the universe was orderly for man to live. In the end, the whole Creation will live so peacefully that
The sucking child shall play over the hole of asp and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den (Isaiah 11:8).
Every creature has its place in the cosmo to help us approach our Creator and attain salvation.

When God created men, He created them in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). Among all God's creatures, only men are able to enter into dialog with God. Thus, men are able to establish a relation with God far deeper than any other creatures. We are privileged and thus carry greater responsibilities. We are God's stewards toward His Creation and responsible for its redemption. Among mankind, we should be treating each other with respect due to the image of God. Let us keep in mind this image of God when we intercourse with each other.

The Ancient Serpent brought our downfall. It also brought us the Son of God. It tricked us to taste the Fruit of Knowledge of Good and Evil. It also opened up a greater self-awareness in us. Life is no longer one-dimensional but full of paradoxes. Therefore, in this Year of the Snake, may I wish my dear readers, wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).

Happy Lunar New Year of the Snake!