Numbers 6:22-27 / James 4:13-15 / Matthew 6:31-34
Today we are gathered together on this first day of the Lunar New Year to celebrate a new beginning.
New beginnings are always important as they revive our hope of blessings in the days ahead and also to renew our faith in God who is the source of all blessings.
And blessings from God are important, and the 1st reading states clearly the formula for blessing and how to invoke God’s blessings on His people.
Although the Lunar New Year (or what is commonly called the Chinese New Year) seems more like a cultural and ethnic celebration, yet we can see many aspects of our faith in it.
For example, last evening we had our “Reunion Dinner” with our family. Today we come as a family of faith to have our reunion with God in the Eucharist.
And about the colour red. The decorations are red, the dressing is red, the angpows are red. Although legend has it that the colour red is to ward off evil spirits, the colour red for the Church is the colour of the Holy Spirit.
We want to celebrate the Lunar New Year with love, peace and joy, all of which are the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and we also pray for a Spirit-filled year ahead.
Now, about the Year of the Pig. So what has the pig got to do with our faith?
When we think of the pig, we think of bak-kwa (which is $50/kg), roast pork, pork knuckles, ham and bacon.
But when we think of the piggy, what will come to mind is not just food, but of savings. Remember the piggy-bank?
Just as with a piggy-bank, we put in little coins to inculcate the habit of saving, the piggy-bank will also remind us of our prayer-bank, which helps us to inculcate a habit of regular prayer.
So the Year of the Pig reminds us that small regular savings in the piggy-bank bears more results than trying the luck at 4D or Toto.
And the piggy-bank reminds us of our prayer-bank, that regular prayer bears more results in patience and perseverance than last-minute desperate prayers.
So the celebration of the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Pig is not about eating and drinking and hoping for something lucky and at the same time being anxious with worry.
It is a celebration of faith and trusting in God’s blessings for the days ahead and believing that God hears our prayers and grants us what we need.
And so, as we begin the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Pig, may the Lord bless us and keep us. May the Lord let His face shine on us and be gracious to us. May the Lord uncover His face to us and bring us peace.