Reflections...

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 24th May 2009 by the Rev. Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that day were Psalm 1 and John 17:6-19.


Prayer: God of Trinity, may your word inspire us and guide us to understand your truth. May your word touch our heart and give us strength and hope. Amen.

Today is Asia Sunday. This is a designated Sunday initiated by the Christian Conference of Asia for a special celebration in Asia and among ecumenical organizations. As we live in Hong Kong and our church is located in Asia, this special Sunday is meaningful to us. It is a time for us to give thanks to the Lord for the gifts and grace to the people in this continent, so rich and diversified. It is a time to demonstrate concern and solidarity to our neighboring countries. Concern and support especially to people and countries which have been undergoing warfare, human right abuses by autocratic rulers, economics problems and poverty due to poor political and social systems.

The theme for Asia Sunday this year is ‘Tear Drop’. It symbolizes the country of Sri Lanka. People in this country have been suffering from ongoing civil wars. The wars have brought to people nothing but violence, division and poverty. Obviously, Sri Lanka is not the only country in Asia suffering from all the aforementioned

Despite the fact that we face so many troubles in Asia and in the world, we as God’s people are able to rejoice in the word of God. We are a community of faith that we need to share this message of joy and hope to people who are still struggling for peace and justice.

As a community of faith, we are able to rejoice in the Word of God. What is the Word of God in the first place?

The Word of God is God, Godself. In the beginning is the Word, and the Word was with God, the Word was God (John 1:1). God takes the initiative to come to the world through Jesus Christ, to reveal Godself. ‘The Word became flesh and lived among us, Jesus, son of God comes to us. Jesus Christ as a manifestation of God’s presence and glory, he is full of grace and truth.’ (John 1:14)

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus has told us that people of God would live in a terrible world. The world stands against God’s people who insist to stay with God, speak for the truth and stand for the righteous. Jesus understood that his believers might have a hard time to live in the world. Out of love and concern, Jesus prayed to God for his people before he left his earthly journey. He asked God to protect them. Jesus has made it clear that God’s people live in this world and yet they do not belong to the world. God’s people lead a life different from the world values. Because of this, they will face additional difficulties and hardship. As Jesus said, the world hated them. Jesus therefore, on behalf of the people, asked for God’s protection for them. Jesus has been standing for those who belong to God. If we truly believe in God, we should have no fear of the world. We should have no fear of the world’s antagonism against us, no fear of the world’s hatred to us if we stand where Jesus stood against the powerful who are doing evils and the wicked. Let us live with freedom, with Jesus’ love. There is no fear in love. (1 John 4: 18) The very freedom from God enables us to have inner peace and joy. Jesus has strengthened us to face the hardship, not to evade from it.

True it is very scary if we try to speak up for the truth and live a life against the powerful, and world values and norms. Yes, we may put ourselves at risk and in vulnerable position. It is like Jesus in his time when he challenged the authorities of the religious leaders. He eventually was put to death. But his death was not the end. His death was able to bring new life, it was a life of resurrection that brings forth hope and new possibilities to the world.

In addition, by going through the hardship with the full presence and help of God, we will grow and be sanctified in truth. It is through the hardship and suffering, God may help us to understand the deeper meaning of life. Jesus has asked God to sanctify the disciples’ life in truth, God’s word is truth. (John 17:17)

While we praise God for Jesus’ love and hope, as Jesus’ disciples we should take the footstep of our Lord Jesus to pray for people around us who are rejected by the world. Here the world means the authorities who hold power to manipulate other people and the systems.

In John 17:11, Jesus mentioned about ‘oneness’. Jesus is with God as one. He reiterated also disciples and the community of faith as one. Jesus Christ came to save the whole world, both Christians and non-Christians. Therefore, when Jesus talked about oneness, that connectedness refers to all people who belong to God. Those belonging to God are walking in the righteousness and truth of God.

People are able to rejoice in God when we are one and connected. Why? When people are serving one another and demonstrating solidarity, the evil cannot defeat God’s people. In addition, the connectedness of people with God is demonstrated in Jesus’ solidarity with humanity, especially to the poor, the blinds, and the oppressed. Jesus’ salvation to humanity was through his humility in suffering and his sacrifice. He stayed very close to human needs and plights. It therefore explains why the Church should be concerned for people who struggle for life and death. It explains why the church should have a stand for the weak, the oppressed and the marginalized. Only when the Church chooses to stand on the side of the righteous and the just, the people who are rejected and hated by the world can be saved from the wicked by God through us as God’s agent.

Recently, there are two issues that catch my attention. One of these is concerning the Burmese pro-democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. She is charged by the military government for keeping a foreigner in her apartment without notifying the government. Bearing in mind that Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest for 13 years. The unreasonable charge of Aung San Suu Kyi by the military has aroused outraged opposition from the international community. There are signature petitions appealing to support the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and also other political prisoners. The other recent issue that strikes my heart is the 20th anniversary of the June 4 Student Democratic Movement in China. These two are examples that I would like to highlight, that the church should demonstrate her support and solidarity to the people who have been crying for action and for freedom and democracy. In a way, this appeal is very basic human rights which all people should be entitled to. God creates women and men to be all equal and deserving the basic human dignity and rights. No authorities should deprive other people’s freedom and rights for the sake of upholding their own power and interests. Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma, and the students who died in the Democratic Movement in 1989, the pro-democratic leaders who were exiled and the Tiananmen Mothers in China are representation of the suppressed and the marginalized who call for truth and justice. There are Christians who may find it inappropriate for the Church to be involved in any social actions related to human rights or democratic movement for they may think that the issues are too political. Some may even think the Church should not be involved in political action and demonstration at all.

It is true that the Church is not a political body, she is not a pressure group or activist group to assert political influence for her own interest. Church is a community of faith in Christ. Church should not be reduced to a political body. However, the Church does not need to avoid any political action. Quite on the contrary, the Church has to make a stand in issues related to peace and justice. The call for peace and justice, is nothing more than a call for concern of humanity, a call for concern of people who suffer from human abuses, loss of dignity and basic human rights. Jesus identified with the poor and the oppressed, therefore whenever there is exploitation and oppression of the poor the Church must give a voice. Jesus came to the world for peace. If there are wars, injustice and abuse of power the Church should give a stand for love and peace. The church has a public role to play.

The support from the Church to the vulnerable and marginalized is a demonstration of God’s divine presence. Church’s participation makes the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized know that they are not alone. The church is with them. God of justice is with them. This is the Christian presence on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ to love, serve and witness.

The Church’s presence to the people who suffer and make a voice against injustice in society, is a social witness to tell people that God loves them and cares for them. The church and Christians as Christ’s disciples tell people who grieve and mourn, God is their comfort and light. When Church participates in actions for promoting peace and justice, it is time to tell people in the world that God teaches the disciples to love, even for enemies, and be faithful servant of Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth and the life.

Oneness in humanity through the demonstration of solidarity is so important. People who are in extreme sufferings and struggles will have the will power to continue if they find that they are not alone. When we offer our solidarity to people who are isolated and suppressed, we have demonstrated Christ’s solidarity with humanity. We would have practiced Jesus’ commandment of ‘love one another’. God is in us and we are in them.

Ding Zilin, (丁子霖) founder of the Tiananmen Mothers organisation. Her 19 year old son died in the Student Democratic Movement in 1989. She was under close monitoring near the time of June 4 every year. She, together with other mothers, has worked hard to find out the truth and seek justice for their sons and daughters who had sacrificed their lives in the democratic movement twenty years ago. Although she has been threatened and suffered a lot in the past years, Ding Zilin continues her tireless advocacy for truth and justice for the June 4 crackdown in China. She shared that the support of the Hong Kong people is one source of encouragement and strength. Since 1989, thousands and thousands of people in Hong Kong sign up different kinds of petitions and come to candlelight vigils to commemorate the students and continue the struggles for a democratic China on June 4. It is a demonstration of human conscience to do justice and stand for the righteous. Conscience is a gift of God. Righteousness is our God’s nature. As in Psalm 1:6, it reveals to us God watches over the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked will perish.

Conclusion

Today is the seven Sunday after Easter. It is also the last Sunday of the Eastertide.
The essence of Easter is hope. It is Jesus’ death and resurrection that gives us the possibility of new life and love. We have to bear in mind however, hope in Jesus Christ is never meant to serve as anesthesia (麻醉劑) for pains encountered in realities or serve as an easy escape from harsh life conditions. No, not at all. Easter is a season of hope that gives us courage and strength to live in a world full of turmoil, violence, hatred and disappointment. We live in the world and yet we do not belong to this world. Given the hope in Christ, we are able to have the freedom and courage to walk in the path of righteousness.

God is good. God has promised us if we lead a life connected in the Word of God and in Christ, to lead a life of righteousness, we will not perish but have eternal life. God will help us to bear fruits according to seasons.

The resurrection of Jesus has changed the course of life of the disciples. He has also demonstrated new possibilities to the world. Let us go ahead in our life journey by walking together in a community in which Jesus Christ unites and bonds us together in love and joy.

May God bless you and Glory be to God our creator and redeemer. Amen.