We’re Ambassadors of Reconciliation 我們都是修和大使

We’re Ambassadors of Reconciliation

Deacon Alex Kwok

By the time you’re reading this edition of Homestead, we’re probably celebrating the Paschal Triduum in the Holy Week. So before we enjoy the glorious fruit of Easter, let’s review whether we have prepared well enough so as to make up for what is lacking, as the virgins did in Matthew 25:9, before the arrival of the bridegroom. The Lenten Season is a period of forty days for the Elect to prepare for their baptism at Easter Vigil. It is also a time for the baptized to revitalize the graces they received in their baptisms. Like any annual celebrations such as birthdays and marriage anniversaries, we’ll enjoy more when the preparation is better done.

Pope Francis kick-started this Lenten Season by encouraging us to persevere in doing good in his Lenten message 2022. He quoted St. Paul, saying “Let us not grow tired of doing good …” (Galatians 6:9). Then he elaborated on three areas in which we need to put up our efforts: Let us not grow tired of praying, of uprooting evil from our lives and of doing good in active charity towards our neighbours. The Holy Father’s exhortation is both traditional and modern. Traditionally, Christians do three things in particular during Lent: prayers, fasting & abstinence and almsgiving. Our Pope makes these three items relevant to our lives in 2022.

Through prayers, we reconcile with God; draw strength and consolation from our heavenly Father. This is particularly urgent in the current pandemic and on-going war in Ukraine. In different occasions, the Pope invited all Christians and men of goodwill to pray for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. He even consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady on the Solemnity of Annunciation. These days, all churches in Hong Kong are closed. Paradoxically, prayer services have become more accessible, thanks to the popularity of the Internet. Brethren! Have you taken part?

Through almsgiving, we reconcile with our neighbours. From the current pandemic, we learn the importance of keeping the supply-chains connected. If any link is broken because of lockdowns, a lot of people will suffer. The Catholic Church has always acted as a hub of charity. She passes on donations from benefactors to the needy and the marginalized. Our Church has clearly demonstrated the role of charity-hub during this pandemic. Many people have a lot of donated money, coupons, food and medical supplies to us and we have volunteers going out in pairs to visit the needy all over Hong Kong. Brethren! Have you taken part?

Through fasting & abstinence, we reconcile with ourselves. But the traditional form of fasting & abstinence is rather irrelevant to our life in a modern society. Nowadays people are health/figure conscious and fasting has lost its altruistic meanings of sacrifice and life-enhancement for the poor. Thus, our Pope turn our attention to “evil in our lives”. What is “evil in our lives”? The Pope mentioned both the traditional concupiscence and the modern addiction to the digital media. He encouraged us to go to confession saying, “God never tires of forgiving”.
I feel that this is the most difficult part. Fasting & abstinence is easy but going to confession is never easy, right? The older we inevitably grow, the more difficult for us to forgive ourselves. We are burdened with all kinds of failures, mistakes, regrets and misunderstandings etc. Though the Pope has reminded us that God never tires of forgiving, we doubt whether we deserve God’s forgiveness …
Brethren! Such a doubt is a terrible temptation of the Devil. Let me assure you. Christ embraces you in the confessional. Before you’re able to say how many times you have committed such-and-such, you’ll burst into tears and be relieved. Brethren! Have you taken part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Brethren! If you have taken part, congratulations! I’m sure you’ll have a fruitful Easter 2022. If you haven’t taken part enough, there’s still time. Our sweet Lord is waiting to hug you in the depth of your hearts, among the marginalized and inside the confessional.
God bless!