Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu: support for the family, against chaos, on Chinese New Year
In his message for the lunar New Year, which falls on 8 February, Mgr John Wong says, the family is the “foundation of society. When family units are broken, the order of society and the world will be in chaos”. Materialism and selfishness are the first enemies of the family. According to Chinese tradition, New Year family “reunion dinner was a day not to be missed but to be greatly treasured.”
Kota Kinabalu (AsiaNews) – The family is the “foundation of society. When family units are broken, the order of society and the world will be in chaos,” said Mgr John Wong, archbishop of Kota Kinabalu (Sabah State, eastern Malaysia), in his message for the lunar New Year, which falls on 8 February this year.
"Celebrating the Chinese New Year,” writes the prelate, “there are two important reasons to put emphasis on the family. The first is that in the tradition and customs of the Chinese lunar Year revolves around the family reunion and its units; the second is that last October in Rome, Pope Francis has met the Synod of Bishops with the theme of family, and I will have attended."
“At this turn of the season,” Mgr Wong adds, “people are generally preoccupied with planning. What is your plan? I hope that your plan will include building a family of faith and happiness.”
“It has been an important and a long-practiced tradition for generations of Chinese to have their families gather around the dinner table on the eve of Chinese New Year. Despite the long distance and minimal availability of transportation system during the agricultural era, reunion dinner was a day not to be missed but to be greatly treasured.”
For the archbishop of Kota Kinabalu, “with modernisation and advancement in technology, our values, especially in terms of the significance of family and its values, have changed. There is a growing phenomenon where people do not know how to treasure the gift of their families, as they ought. With secularisation, material wealth becomes top priority, and more time is expended at work to build a career and accumulate wealth. This has come at the expense of time spent in nourishing their marriages and nurturing their children.”
Many risks await families. “The divorce rate is on the rise. The vow of everlasting love that was taken on their wedding day fades away all too soon. They emphasise the fulfilment of their personal happiness instead of those of their spouses. They become selfish and are reluctant to forgive and accept each other as they are.”
The family, writes the prelate, “is the basic foundation of society. When family units are broken, the order of society and the world will be in chaos. We read in Genesis that God created man and woman and hence, instituted marriage. This was the first family He has created. Married couples are called to continue God’s work through procreation. With children as the fruits of love between husband and wife, it is the primary mission of parents to share and help children experience the love of God.”
“As Catholics, are our homes filled with the Presence of God?” Mgr Wong asks. “Do we have a place at home for the Sacred Scripture, the Crucifix and holy items? Do we pray and read the Bible together? If not, let us make this New Year a new beginning to grow together in Christ as a family.”
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02/08/2019 11:30
