Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 / 1 Cor 12:31 – 13:13 / Luke 4:21-30
The Lunar New Year is just around the corner, with the usual festive frenzy, and with people busy with cleaning, cooking and shopping.
And with two public holidays to celebrate the Lunar New Year, there will be plenty of eating, as we go around visiting our relatives and friends.
But not everyone will be looking forward to it, because there will be the usual yearly questioning from those people whom we usually meet only once a year (usually it’s the aunties).
So for those who are thinking how to answer those questions, here are some snappy and not-so-polite answers to those irritating and not-so-polite questions.
When they ask: Why so old still collecting ang bao?
You can say: Why until now you still giving only $2 angbao?
When they ask: Why no girlfriend/boyfriend?
You can say: They heard about you and they ran away.
When they ask: When are you getting married?
You can say: Married already, didn’t invite you.
So, there it is, not-so-polite answers to those irritating and not-so-polite questions. But then it might end up as a not-so-happy Lunar New Year. So, better be polite to those who are not-so-polite.
But Lunar New Year or otherwise, we will always have to face those difficult questions that have no easy answers.
Those questions will irritate us, and it will be rather challenging not to be irritating in return. It would be even more challenging to answer it with truth and with love.
No doubt the truth will set us free but the truth can also make some people unhappy and even angry.
We heard in today’s gospel passage that Jesus preached in the synagogue and He won the approval of all and they were astounded by the gracious words that came from His lips.
So all was well until they started asking questions like “This is Joseph’s son, surely?” It was a rather intrusive question. They were not questioning about what He said. They were questioning about who He is and His family background.
Jesus replied by saying that they missed the point. They were not focused on the message but they were investigating the messenger. So it was not so much about what was said but who said it. So Jesus had to tell them that they missed the point.
And Jesus had to remind them that in the past their ancestors had also missed the point of God’s message.
And so the prophets who were sent to them, were sent to outsiders, the non-Jews, to proclaim the message of God and that the blessings and miracles were worked for outsiders and not for the people of God.
Obviously, they were not happy to hear that. They were not happy and they were so angry that they hustled Jesus out of town and to the brow of the hill and to throw Him from the cliff. In other words, they wanted to kill Jesus.
Nothing new actually. When people miss the point of the message, they turn on the messengers, the prophets and persecuted and killed them.
But of course, we are not so violent as to want to kill people for answering us impolitely or rudely. But of course we will get angry with them for doing that. And we may also get irritated when we are told truth about ourselves.
But we can spare ourselves of the cutting truth when we think a bit before we ask our questions. Because very often, those questions that we want to ask reveal very much about ourselves, our motives, our insecurities.
Just like in the gospel, when the people asked the question: This is Joseph’s son, surely?
Besides revealing that they missed the point of the message of Jesus, their question revealed their prejudice and biasness. Jesus is the son of Joseph the carpenter. Carpenters don’t preach and they cannot do so.
Or that occasion when Peter asked Jesus how many times must he forgive someone. Was 7 times enough? Peter thought that 7 times was already too much. And then Jesus had to tell him that it is not 7 times but 70 x 7 times. Poor Peter, just when he thought he was going to score high with Jesus, he got it really low.
So before we ask questions, let us think about what is the question that we are asking. Think as in:
T for truth. Is it as truthful question, or is it there an ulterior motive behind it?
H for helpful. Is it helpful to both parties to come to an understanding?
I for important. Is that question important for clarification? Or is it going to cause confusion?
N for necessary. Is it necessary to ask that question there and then, especially when there are others around.
K for kind. Is that question asked out of a genuine kindness and concern for that person?
So think before we ask those questions and we won’t get scorching answers in return.
Think and may the Lord bless us with a joyful and peaceful Lunar New Year.