「世界現在需要的是愛，甜蜜的愛。這是唯一不足夠的……」以上是1965年一首流行曲《世界現在需要的是愛》的歌詞，我相信大多數人、就算不是全部、都同意這一點。然而，我們身處的全球文化，著重的是利己的愛，多於聖誕節所慶祝、利他而又包容的愛。聖誕的愛關乎到天主子，他虛空自己，進入我們的歷史，陪伴我們，更成為了我們的未來。

除了愛，我們的世界也需要希望，由聖誕的愛而來的真希望，讓我們有信心面對看似是圍困著世界的黑暗。

每日的新聞都提及地緣政治的緊張關係，最觸目的當然是殘暴的俄烏戰爭。還要到何時、要怎樣這場戰爭才可結束？東亞地區加劇的地緣政治張力，也愈來愈引人關注。疲憊的全球經濟加上地緣政治，令我們的心繼續忐忑不安，也令我們的精神變得緊張。

2023年搖擺不定的前景，彷彿在光明與黑暗、希望與絕望之間，在各地形成了漸趨強烈的挫折和絕望感。面對著這嚴峻的現實時，我們可以做甚麼，才能帶來轉變？

我們要互相關懷、支持和付出，而不是以自利為先去慶祝聖誕節的和平、希望和愛。說到底，最好的聖誕禮物，是交付自己，去成就別人。

然而，這種自我交付的行動，還要配合尊重和同理心。我們看到心懷善意的成人和父母，希望把最好的交給年輕人，包括為他們設計了精心的計劃。同樣，疫情下的防護措施，令長者與親友分隔起來，長者因而變得愈發孤寂和壓抑。由此可見，接受的一方不一定欣賞也不一定歡迎施予一方的行動。取而代之的是，我們見到青年變得悲傷、不滿、絕望、或是呆滯，以示抗議。長者就在沒有親人陪伴下孤獨離世。

合符理想的交付，是務實的陪伴，讓施予與接受雙方，都能夠在具備同理心的情況下互相了解。如此，施予者便會知道如何能最好地把自己交付給對方，也知道如何最適切地讓對方看到希望。

愛的禮物就是生命的禮物！讓我們找到最好的方法，把這份禮物送給別人。祝大家有一個窩心的聖誕，以及滿懷希望的2023年。

＋周守仁主教

“What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of….”  That was in the lyrics of a popular song back in 1965, “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” I believe most of us, if not everyone, would agree with that. We live in a world culture where egoistic love seems more evident than altruistic and inclusive love, which we celebrate with Christmas. The love of Christmas is about the Son of God, who empties himself, enters into our history to be with us, and through that, becomes our future.

But besides love, our world also needs hope, real hope that stems from the love of Christmas and gives us the confidence to face the darkness that seems to have besieged our world.

Geopolitical tensions are in the daily news, and nowhere is it more noticeable than the atrocious Russo-Ukrainian War. When and how will it end? The intensifying geopolitical tensions in east Asia should also be an area of growing concern. The flagging global economy plus the geopolitics are unsettling our hearts and unnerving our spirits. The wavering prospects of 2023, between light and darkness, hope and despair, are contributing to a growing sense of hopelessness and frustration around the world. What can we do to make a difference when confronted with these harsh realities?

Through mutual care, support and self-giving, instead of self-interests coming first. After all, the best gift at Christmas is the giving of oneself for the betterment of others.

However, this self-giving action should be paired with respect and empathy. We have seen well-meaning adults and parents wanting to give their best to their younger ones, including their well-thought-out plans. Similarly, elderlies are increasingly lonely and depressed when protective measures have cut them off from their loved ones during the pandemic. Yet, these are not appreciated or welcomed by their intended recipients. Instead, we see young people becoming miserable, resentful, despairing or totally inert as a sign of protest. And elderlies have passed away in isolation without their loved ones accompanying them.

The desirable way of giving is through down-to-earth accompaniment to achieve empathic and mutual understanding between givers and recipients. Then the givers will know how best to give themselves to their recipients. And how best to help them see hope.

A gift of love is in fact a gift of life! May we find the best way to become givers of such gift to our recipients. A heart-warming Christmas and a hope-filled 2023 to you all!

+ Bishop Stephen Chow, S.J.