A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on Sunday 3 January 2021, Second Sunday after Christmas, by Revd Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that day were Jeremiah 31:7–14; Ephesians 1:3–14 and John 1:10–18.
Happy New Year! We use to greet friends and others with “Happy New Year!” at the beginning of the calendar year.
In a new year, being happy is so much needed. It is especially true for this year of 2021. In the past year, with the Covid 19 pandemic, the political and economic hardship both in HK and other parts of the world, many people across the board have been feeling unhappy and worried. There is no joy.
Do you wish for a happy life in 2021 and beyond?
How can we make 2021 a new beginning?
What is a new beginning to you?
I would like to share a story about a young man who was suffering from depression. He was living on the 12th floor of his building. One day when he was at home looking down at the park in front of his building, he saw old people sitting on the bench chatting and playing chess. He found trees and flowers. He could even see birds flying and hear their singings. He also realized people and all objects were smaller than usual. Even the rubbish bin that he found so dirty whenever he passed by was just so small. With that distance, he basically could not see the rubbish nor smell anything bad.
With such a scene, he realized God helped him to see that when he was so absorbed by his own negative emotions and problems, it’s like he was living in the darkness. He could not see the light. When he allowed himself to stand from above to look down with some distance, he recognized that space has given him new visions. Whenever he walked in the park, he didn’t notice the beautiful trees and flowers, the lovely birds and the old people who were doing something so relaxing to enjoy themselves. He realised he had missed so many good things God has created and given. The dirty rubbish bin has also inspired him to understand no matter how bad was a person, an object or an incident in life that bothered him, the problem or the trouble was much smaller than he thought when he stood up much higher and kept a bit of distance from the situation.
From a faith and spiritual point of view, if we try to go up to the divine above and look down at our life and all challenges with God’s eyes, we would be able to see things with a new vision. With a divine vision from above, we are able to have more clarity and find good alternatives to encounter our problems in the troubled world.
The gospel reading this week is taken from John. This passage is often read on Christmas Eve or Day because it is the only “Christmas story” we get from the gospel of John.
In the gospel of John, the writer does not dwell in the specific story with Mary, angels, shepherds, and so on. The reason is this gospel writer tends to emphasize the divine aspects of Christ. Jesus Christ is equated with “the Word” that was with God at the beginning of time.
The Divine became human flesh and came to the world. This breaking in of the Divine to the earth has given us a profound spiritual insight. As human kind, we are able to build a close relationship with God. We are able to relate to God in entirely new ways that allow us to reach the Divine above. From verses 12-13, the writer further assures us that “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.” We who claim Jesus as God are given the divine identity as God’s children. Human beings who live in Christ are spiritual beings fully in union with God. As a result, human beings can be transcended and transformed like Christ. Given this power, we who are faithful to God will live with grace upon grace. Nothing on earth can defeat us when we are connected to God as God’s children bearing the light and life of Christ.
2020 has been a difficult year for many people in Hong Kong. The enactment of Hong Kong National Security Law has further damaged the freedom of speech and posed increasing threat to people who have been engaged in the civil society to strive for freedom, human rights and social justice. Pro-democracy politicians and activists have gone exiled to a foreign land. Many who are worried, fearful or disappointed by the increasing political control by the government have emigrated or planned to emigrate to other countries such as Taiwan and United Kingdom. It’s estimated that more people will leave Hong Kong in this or next couple of years.
There is a deep sadness for these people who are voluntarily or involuntarily leaving their home due to political reason. Those who stay in Hong Kong are also sad to see their families and friends leaving. The sentiment now in Hong Kong is similar to Jeremiah in his time when Israel was conquered by another powerful nation.
The Book of Jeremiah has been taken as the book of consolation. The reading that we heard this morning is written to console.
Jeremiah, the prophet of Israel, writes to those who left their own home during Babylonian exile and those who stayed at their home country. Jeremiah writes to both groups a bright and hopeful future in which God will gather up them again and bring them home, because they are God’s beloved people.
Most of this passage is written in the future tense; God promises joy that will happen one day in the future. God will bring people of young and old, able and disable, male and female back home to reunion again. Jeremiah has also prophesized that God will do all this to all people from all nations. What people need right now is be patient to wait, and to wait with hope.
For people who are sad right now because they are suffering or seeing others suffering, the deep sorrow is too much to bear. They may ask how long do they have to wait for this joy coming in future? From the prophetic message of Jeremiah, the first line, however, is in the present tense, with the prophet calling on the people to sing aloud and praise shouts today for the joy that is promised in the future. It gives us insight about joy. Joy is not just about the promise in future. Joy is about NOW. Jeremiah speaks to God’s people to rejoice now by singing praises to God who is present in our life and in our world. The manifestation of joy is to sing and shout praises to God.
In the past two years, we have witnessed so many protesters and activists injured, arrested, jailed, exiled, like many people from Hong Kong who are grieving, my heart has been paining. In 2020, millions of people died of coronavirus and many people struggled with livelihood because of the economic downturn. When I prayed to God, I asked, where is the joy that you have promised to give us and for those who have been faithfully following the footstep of Jesus Christ?
One day when I went to my facebook account, by chance I watched a video about a toddler boy. He demonstrated deep love and tender care for his baby sister. He helped his mother to bring nappy to her. When his baby sister cried, he went close to her, comforting her and singing to her with a gentle voice. My heart was melted when I watched it. The pure love of this little boy to his baby sister filled my heart with joy. After this episode, I tried to pay attention to the people around me and the very small things that happened in my daily life. I then noticed that there are many things that could make my heart merry. The love and care from my family reminded me how blessed I am for God has sent these angels to me. The donations in different forms from many generous and kind people to the church have demonstrated God’s goodness in people’s hearts. The blue sky and beautiful tree outside the church reveal God’s wonderful creation. People who have been persistent in fighting for justice at the expense of their own freedom and life, encouraged me to keep up and never give up. When I focus and keep my awareness on all these goodness, my heart is gradually transformed and changed to be more positive and joyful. The story that I shared earlier about that young man who discovered that by keeping distance from the troubles and move up to a higher level and even imagine I am in the spacious sky to see things below, I have got the space to accept and embrace what have been happening. When I see life and love, I see God. Joy and hope are then regenerated again within my heart.
We are on the second Sunday after Christmas. Christmas is a time we celebrate the birth of baby Jesus. Jesus Christ, saviour of the world, came in form of baby. Baby is a sign of newness, a life full of new possibilities and new imagination. With new life, we can create and recreate many possibilities. Remember, everyday is new, every moment is new. In the new year, we are reminded that we may live a new life with new vision and new plan. A new beginning starts with a new mind set in God and with Christ. A new beginning starts to affirm: from Christ his fullness we have received, grace and upon grace, (John 1:16), regardless of our background and status (Ephesians 1:3-14). In Christ, we are all accepted and all loved. It’s the deep love of God who sent Jesus, the incarnate, to save the world.
As a new beginning in 2021, I wish we all be happy and able to lead a joyful life in the year ahead. In here, I would like to share with you my newly created ten commandments on Joy:
Joy is not an absence of sorrow,
but the presence of love.
Joy is not an absence of tears,
but the presence of care.
Joy is not an absence of difficulties,
but the presence of hope.
Joy is not an absence of wounds,
but the presence of healing.
Joy is not an absence of isolation,
but the presence of friendship.
Joy is not an absence of brokenness,
but the presence of reconciliation.
Joy is not an absence of cruelty,
but the presence of kindness.
Joy is not an absence of fear,
but the presence of peace.
Joy is not an absence of darkness,
but the presence of light.
Joy is not an absence of death,
but the presence of the Spirit.
Where there is God, there is joy.
Sharing of a beautiful song: By Gentle Power
In the year ahead, we may still face a lot of challenges. The winter is cold. But let us remember the warmth brought by the sun. Darkness is still overwhelming. But let us remember the light that shines day and night.
The God of history is still walking with her people today. The unity with Christ empowers us to know we are not alone!
To close my sermon, I would like to share this beautiful song with you – By Gentle Power.
On the 1st day of the new year, Doris, shared this song in one of our church’s whatsapp group.
The words of this song are based on a prayer written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer for his fiancee and family for Christmas and New Year’s Eve while he was in prison for his action to fight against Hitler, the dictator.
I was deeply touched by this song. My tears kept rolling across my face when I was listening.
May this song bring you comfort and light to your heart.
(Bonhoeffer wrote this prayer eight weeks before his execution and four months before the fall of the Nazi Regime. The music version of his prayer was written in 1977 by Siegfried Fietz.)
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Lyrics of the song in English
Surrounded by such true and gentle powers
So wondrously consoled and without fear,
Thus will I spend with You these final hours,
And then together enter a new year
By gentle powers lovingly surrounded,
With patience we’ll endure, let come what may.
God is with us at night and in the morning
and certainly on every future day.//
The worries of the old year still torment us.
We’re troubled still by long and wicked days.
Oh Lord, give our frightened souls the healing.
For which You’ve chastened us in many ways.
By gentle powers lovingly surrounded,
With patience we’ll endure, let come what may.
God is with us at night and in the morning
and certainly on every future day.//
Warm and bright be our candles’ flame today,
Since into gloom you brought a gleaming light,
And lead again us,if you will, together!
We know it: you are beaming in the light.
By gentle powers lovingly surrounded,
With patience we’ll endure, let come what may.
God is with us at night and in the morning
and certainly on every future day.//
# posted by Kowloon Union Church : Sunday, January 03, 2021
