A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 17 February 2013
by the Rev. Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that day were Deuteronomy
26:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13.
Opening prayer:
God
of light, enlighten our heart to receive your word. Open our eyes, oh God, to
see your vision and the Holy Spirit leads us to your truth. Amen.
Introduction
I would like to begin by sharing a real story.
It is a story about two men who are pretty well known in Hong Kong. One of them is Mr Lin Yuet Tsang (練乙錚). Lin is a current affairs commentator and a former
member in the government Central Policy Unit.
When Lin was studying in secondary school and
was about to graduate, he
was struggling with his future. He had a strong
passion and desire
to study and continue his academic journey. And yet his family was too poor to support his education. He was very unhappy about it and
he shared his feeling with his school principal. After his sharing with his school principal, the Father of that Catholic School referred him to see an alumni of his school. This alumni gave to Lin an envelope when
he met him. Inside the envelope, there was a huge
amount of money that enabled Lin to go for further study abroad. Before Lin left the alumni’s office, he said to
him, “you don’t have to return the money to me. But in future if you know
someone in need of money, you may use this amount of money to help that person.”
This alumni is Martin Lee (李柱銘). Martin Lee is the former Chairman of the Democratic Party. Martin is
a veteran political leader fighting for democracy in HK. He
is a reputable barrister in the legal profession. In an interview, Martin was asked about this story as Lin wrote about it in his book. Martin shared with the interviewer that Mr Lin did not need to appreciate him. It was because he had been helped in
exactly the same way by a friend of his father. When he was in need of money to go for further study, this “uncle” gave him the money he needed. This “uncle”
spoke the same thing to him, “You don’t have to return the money to me. But in
future if you know someone in need of money, you may use this amount of money
to help that person.”
Both Mr Lin and Mr Martin Lee are two well known public figures who
have demonstrated their concerns to the society of Hong Kong, and have
contributed to the political and social development of Hong
Kong.
A kind giving by a man has planted a good seed that carried on to the next generation. A generous giving has helped to nurture people with
conscience to serve the community and to give what has been given to those who
are in need of help.
We
have entered into the Lent season since last Ash Wednesday. Today is the first
Sunday of Lent.
Lent
is a season to offer Christians a chance to reflect on our faith. It is a time
to remind us of the need to repent and refocus our lives in God.
A life of giving is a key area for us to reflect today. We are also
challenged by putting this Christian core faith into practice in the season of
Lent. (In our congregation, an encouragement to the congregation to prepare an
almsgiving box and put the money in for charity purpose is a concrete action in
practicing ‘giving’)
Prayer, fasting and meditating on the word of God are inner spiritual practices
of an individual and the faith community to nurture our spirit and to deepen
our faith in God. All these spiritual practices aim to help us be more
connected to God. Our God, is a God of love and life giving. God is fully
manifested in Jesus Christ.
Lent reminds us the suffering, sacrifice and death of Jesus. He died on
the cross in great pain. His identification with those who are suffering in
pain has led his followers, the Christians and Church to remember and be
concerned with the poor, the weak and the vulnerable.
In the Old Testament reading today, it is an old story retold once and
again in the Jewish community that they are God’s chosen people. God who is
their savior redeem them from slavery and free them from the bondage and
oppression in Egypt.
God of the Israelites takes them to a land with milk and honey. Because of
God’s kind and gracious giving to the Jews, they are committed to the
relationship with God by following the commandment given to them by God. The
Jews are called to give with thanksgiving. They are demanded to return some
portions of their gifts to God and share them with foreigners, orphans and
widows. These people are representation of the vulnerable, weak and
marginalized in the society.
This is the reason for many churches to designate the 1st
Sunday in Lent Social Concerns Sunday.
The basis of social concern is a compassionate heart for others and a
sense of justice to people who are not treated with dignity and equality.
At the beginning of the Lent season, Christ’s disciples are reminded that
we are human beings connected to each other in God. Because of this connection
with each other, and God’s gracious gifts to us through our ancestors and the
death of Jesus who gave his life out of love, we are called to love by leading
a life of giving.
We love because God first loves us. We give because God first gives to
us. The commandment given to the Jews reminds them and us everything is from
God.
Truly, it is not easy to lead a life of giving in the world we are
living today. Like Jesus, we have been tempted in many different ways. We have
been put into different kinds of tests. Our personal needs, our pride, our
suspicion towards others, our desire and greed for power, influence and status,
may be the barriers that make us keep things for ourselves instead of giving to
others generously.
The good news from the word of God today is Jesus Christ has set an
example for us that we may overcome the temptation before us. Let us learn from
Jesus by focusing our live in God. By reading and putting the word of God
deeply in our heart, by taking full responsibility of our own acts without
blaming God of inaction, by trusting in God that in all circumstances God will
be there to lead us on when we turn to God.
The life of giving is a spiritual practice.
From Martin Lee and Lin Yuet Tsang’s story, we see how the generous act
of giving may impact on other people and bring goodness to a community.
Very truly both Martin Lee and his uncle have done a very good job in
nurturing a caring and supportive world. Their act of generous giving has given
great encouragement to us. How about then Jesus’ sacrifice of his life in order
to save our lives and the whole world?
Shall we all receive this gift with gratitude and share this gift with
others?
.
I would like to conclude my sermon by highlighting the way we should try
out when we travel in Lent:
The way in Lent we travel with Christ is
-
Not what we can take,
but what we can give.
The way in Lent we travel with Christ is
-
Not what we can
possess, but what we can share.
The way in Lent we travel with Christ is
-
Not what we can
acquire, but what we can contribute.
The way in Lent we travel with Christ is
-
Not what we can secure,
but what we can give up.
Closing Prayer:
Dear God, lead us to have a meaningful
Lent. May our faith be deepened, and our life be transformed by you. Help us to
live a life more like Christ that may bear fruits to the world and bring glory
to you. Amen.
# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, February 17, 2013
