Reflections...

All humans are blessed! Psalm 8 serves as a beautiful hymn, celebrating God’s marvellous creation and the unique place humans hold within it. The psalmist proclaims:“What are humans that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honour.” (Psalm 8:4-5)

God has indeed crowned humans with glory and honour! 

As we reflect on this proclamation, how does it make you feel? I invite you to close your eyes and listen deeply to these words. After I say them, I will pause for 10 seconds.

"God has crowned humans with glory and honour!" 

"God has crowned you with glory and honour!" 

To me, this message is affirming and uplifting. How about you? Hold onto that feeling and carry it into your prayers.

Psalm 8 further explains that God has entrusted humans with the special responsibility of caring for creation—animals of all kinds and all the earth’s creatures. We are called to be stewards of this beautiful world.

All humans are equal and precious in God’s eyes. 

While we acknowledge the positive and beautiful aspects of creation, we also face the harsh realities of our world. We witness the dark side of humanity: wars in the Middle East that claim thousands of innocent lives, including many children; individuals jailed without fair trials for advocating for human rights; women abused at home and in the workplace, and the many who suffer from mental illness, facing discrimination rather than support.

It is natural to ask God, “Where are you? Why does the psalmist's declaration seem unfulfilled?” These are tough questions to deal with.

Let’s explore these questions through the gospel reading from Mark 10:2-16, which Jennifer Chan just shared. 

In Jesus’s time, children and women were among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. They were often not regarded as full members of society. Women were treated as property, belonging first to their fathers and then to their husbands, with little regard for their well-being. When Jesus responded to questions about divorce, he highlighted the necessity of a certificate of dismissal under Moses’s law to protect vulnerable women. He understood the harsh reality of the men’s hardened hearts and their violation of God’s intention for marriage—a union meant to unite a couple as one.

The patriarchal system of Jesus’s time also marginalized children. Unlike today, where children are cherished, they were often seen as inconsequential. This is why Jesus’s disciples initially tried to prevent children from approaching him. Yet Jesus defied societal norms, embracing the children, laying hands on them, and blessing them. His actions echoed Psalm 8:2, demonstrating God’s care for the vulnerable.

Jesus’s compassionate wisdom challenged cultural norms and religious authorities, revealing what it means to be truly human: to embody compassion and justice, and to speak out for the vulnerable and the excluded. But what is remarkable, Jesus did not attempt to control the outcomes; he allowed humans the freedom to choose to follow God’s will.

As God's Son, Jesus revealed divine love, especially to those who are marginalized and neglected. This is the good news for us today! Jesus continues to embody God’s presence on earth. 

As we read the Scriptures, we see Jesus’s work reflected in our world. Consider these examples:

- Family members, friends, and pastors visiting political prisoners, lawyers and activists advocating for their rights.

- Fearless journalists striving for press freedom, even amid constant threats.

- Individuals and organizations demonstrating solidarity with abuse victims, refusing to forget their plight.

- Activists organizing forums to raise awareness about human rights violations, such as those caused by martial law in the Philippines.

- Organizations like Rainlily in Hong Kong providing counseling and legal support for victims of sexual violence.

- Communities coming together to pray for peace amid the tragic conflicts in the Middle East. (today a prayer gathering will be organized in KUCspace at 5pm. You may consider to join)

Today, we are reminded that God has crowned humans with glory and honor! 

As blessed beings, we have the responsibility to reflect God’s glory by taking concrete actions, no matter how small, to serve those who are suffering.

Communion Sunday

Today is Communion Sunday and also World Communion Sunday. The observance of World Communion Sunday, which originated in the US Presbyterian Church in the 1930s and was further developed during World War II, has become a global practice. 

At KUC, we celebrate this day to promote Christian unity and ecumenical cooperation, fostering a world where humans can live freely and safely with dignity. 

Holy Communion, instituted by Jesus, reminds us that we are one in His love. One God, one world, one human race! It calls us to remember the sacrifice of Jesus—His broken body and shed blood signify His deep love for a suffering world.

World Communion Sunday serves as a powerful reminder of the Church’s calling to live like Christ, sharing love and compassion with those in need, and acting with justice for the abused and persecuted. As we receive God’s blessings, it is our duty to share those blessings with others in the whole world.

Humans—blessed are you! Amen!