A sermon
preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 16 December 2018, the
Third Sunday in Advent, by
the Rev. Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that day were Isaiah 12:2–6; Philippians
4:4–9; Luke 3:7–18.
Opening
prayer:
Holy Spirit, come to inspire us and transform us by
the words and deeds of Christ. Fill us with Your love and Your joy, O God. Amen.
The third
Sunday of Advent traditionally is connected with joy. The candle of joy was lit
at the beginning of the service this morning.
I would like
to begin my sermon with this song, and please respond to it with action.
“When you’re
happy and you know it, clap your hands.”
“When you’re
happy and you know it, wave your hand.”
“When you’re
happy and you know it, stomp your feet.”
You all did
very well!
How do you
feel after doing this little exercise—feeling warmer, happier and more energetic?
Our body has the energy and power to change our mood. That’s why exercises
always help people who are suffering from depression.
When I was
preparing today’s sermon on joy, I had a little trouble because I don’t really
feel it.
Let me tell
you why. My health is not so good. I suffer from dizziness, and it is quite
troublesome to me. If I read too long from my desktop computer or cell phone,
my head will be a bit heavy, and I feel unwell. Moreover, I find that my body
strength and productivity are not as good as before—a sign of aging? What to do?!
My heart is
heavy when I see some friends who are mourning and suffering from the loss of a
beloved spouse and family member.
I am also upset
by the political situation in Hong Kong. There is the disqualification of
pro-democracy activists from running in the Legco election and the recent ban
of Eddie Chu Hoi-dick from running in an election for rural representatives,
which is a violation of the right to vote and to stand for election.
A journalist, Victor Mallet, hosted a talk with a Hong Kong
independence advocate at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in August. The Hong Kong government
declined to renew his work visa as a journalist for the Financial Times. He was not even granted a tourist visa to enter Hong
Kong. The action taken by the government is a big blow to freedom of the press
and expression.
Like many
people in Hong Kong, I am angry, frustrated and worried as we witness the
decline of civil rights and freedoms in the city. Where is joy? What is the
good news?
The good news is “Rejoice in the Lord!”
Insights and
strength are taken from the Word of God through the epistle reading today taken
from Philippians 4:4.
“Rejoice in
the Lord” allows us to acknowledge and accept:
1. Joy is not an absence of despair. Joy
is not an absence of problems and difficulties. Joy is never an absence of
suffering and pain. We know that adversities exist in human reality and in our
broken world.
2. The basis of joy is that we acknowledge
our feelings and are not forced to supress them. It is okay to be not okay. We
don’t need to hide our true feelings and pretend. What we need is the courage
to heal and faith in God to face them.
During Advent,
we are preparing our heart to receive Christ, the incarnated God who entered
into the world and identified with our
human brokenness. Jesus Christ, Immanuel, is with us and suffering with us.
Today is a
special day to me. My mother died on this date seven years ago. Her funeral
service was held in this sanctuary.
While my
family and I were grieving for my mother’s passing, I felt great comfort and
joy because I received so much love and care from friends, brothers and sisters
from the church. Their love is a great sign of God’s presence and compassion. When
you know that there are people who empathize with your suffering and share your
pain, you won’t feel alone.
Joy is sharing
the presence of love and care with each other, especially in times of loss and
sadness.
In the season of Advent, we are listening to the word from John the
Baptist who was the one to prepare the way for Jesus. John gave an important
message to his followers and those who came to be baptised as recorded in the
Gospel of Luke. He told them they have to bear
fruits worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8).
When the crowd asked what should they do, John told them to share their
extra clothes and food that they have with those without. He told people with
position and power (the tax collectors and soldiers) that they should not be
greedy and abuse their power for their own personal interests and desires.
John’s message reminds us that we can be a source of joy for others if
we share with those in need and make good use of our power and resources to
serve, but not to abuse.
Rejoice in the Lord!
The Old
Testament reading from the Book of Isaiah 12:2–6 provides us with insights too.
Another key
for living a joyful life is to be thankful and grateful. We need to know and
remember that God, who is the source of life and all things, will provide for
us. The God who took care of the Israelites and all our ancestors in the past will
continue to care and bless us and the people today. God is the God of history
and of all creation; God will never leave His children alone.
Yesterday I
officiated at a very moving wedding. The young couple is from my home church,
and I have known them since they were teenagers. They were both raised in a
single-parent family. Their mothers worked very hard to take care of them. Both
mothers did not receive a good formal education, but they were, and are, very
responsible mothers who did whatever they could for their children. Although
the young couple has gone through many difficulties in their childhood, they
are very thankful to their mothers who have given them the best in the midst of
inadequacy. They are grateful for their mothers’ love and sacrifices. Again,
the love of their mothers has manifested God’s love. In their tears, I saw
their joy deep inside and their grateful heart to God. A life of complaints
brings you to nowhere, but a life of thanksgiving gives you fullness of joy.
For Christians and churches, we are joyful because God has given
promises of new life to all peoples and redeems the world through Christ Jesus.
“Rejoice in the Lord” is a belief, an invitation, a deep trust in God
and an action to be taken.
Pastor Wang Yi,
a pastor from the evangelical Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, was
detained last Sunday, and his church has been persecuted by the authorities in
China. I would like to share his writing after his detention.
He professed that
Jesus is the Son of God who died for sinners and was resurrected for us. He
affirmed Christ is the King of the World and eternal God of the past, present
and future. He declared that he is the servant of Christ. He will stand firm
with a gentle heart to fight against all evils that are against God. He will
joyfully disobey all authorities that do not obey the law of God.
The Rev. Wang is a man of faith. His trust in God and union with Christ
has revealed to us what “rejoice in the Lord” is all about. He has set a good
example for us.
I would also like to share quotes from Benny Tai, one of the nine Occupy
Movement leaders who has been charged with violating laws related to creating a
public nuisance. He was one of the organizers who initiated the Occupy Central
with Love and Peace civil disobedience campaign to fight for universal suffrage
in Hong Kong.
Here I quote his closing statement at his trial:
“If we were to be guilty, we will be guilty for daring to share
hope at this difficult time in Hong Kong. I am not afraid or ashamed of going to prison. If this is the cup
I must take, I will drink with no regret.”
Tai’s firm
belief in Christ and his willingness to suffer with Christ for the sake of having
a democratic system and just society in Hong Kong are a great witness of God.
His courage has given us hope and joy. He is a light that shines in this time
of darkness.
To conclude my sermon, I would like to share
Charlie Chaplin’s heartwarming statement:
“Life
is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.”
I would like to modify
these thoughts as follows:
Life is real joy in God’s eternality
that moves beyond time and space. The suffering, death and resurrection of
Jesus Christ have given joy in the midst of all adversities.
In Advent, we prepare our heart to receive
Christ. When John the Baptist asked
his followers to repent and return to God, the first and foremost thing for us
to do today is:
Rejoice in the Lord! Amen.
# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, December 16, 2018
