Numbers 6:22-27 / James 4:13-15 / Matthew 6:31-34
In the celebration of the Chinese New Year, there are many forms of decorations and many symbols are also used.
So there are lanterns and frills, banners with New Year greetings of peace, joy and prosperity.
The most prominent colour of these decorations and symbols is none other than the colour red; not just red, but very red.
And these red-coloured decorations and symbols are not just on the walls and ceilings.
They come right down into our hands in the form of “ang pows”.
But the colour red is not just a Chinese New Year colour, or a colour for Chinese New Year decorations and symbols.
For the Church, the colour red also symbolizes the sacrifice of Jesus.
The colour red symbolizes the blood of Jesus that is poured out on the Cross for our salvation.
And that sacrifice of Jesus brought about abundant blessings for us.
And we will be receiving God’s blessings in the form of mandarin oranges.
The oranges are golden in colour to symbolize the royal blessings from the King of kings.
The sweetness of the fruit symbolize the deep and gracious love of God for us.
So with such abundant blessings of love, let us not worry too much about what to eat, or what to drink, or what to wear.
Let us not worry too much about life or about the future.
God blesses us and loves us. Let us be a blessing for others by sharing God’s love with them as we celebrate this festival.