「耶穌於是對他們說：『唉！無知的人哪！為信先知們所說的一切話，你們的心竟是這般遲鈍！ 默西亞不是必須受這些苦難，纔進入他的光榮嗎？』」（路24:25-26）

以「一顆遲鈍的心來信」基督復活所帶來的喜樂，會使我們遲遲才能看到希望。基督耶穌已經戰勝了那看似無可避免的死亡。他的復活為我們的信心帶來保證，死亡沒有、也不可能擁有最終話語權。因為復活意味著「任何受造之物，都不能使我們與主基督耶穌之內的愛相隔絕」（參羅馬書 8:31-39）。因此，我們的盼望是建基於天主驚人的愛之上，而這愛就在主基督為世上眾生而復活所彰顯的。

所以，不要讓艱苦或惡念侵蝕我們的心靈、壓倒我們的氣魄，免得我們淪為死亡的代理人。我們需要的是「正面和賦予生命的文化」，好讓在生活的困苦中，我們仍能以具建設性和可持續的方法來面對一切。此外，我們需要正向文化，正因它有助孕育出希望和轉型。

事實上，很多香港人在持續的困苦中仍不斷為希望而奮鬥。雖然經濟剛見轉機，但是這些處身社經下層的人士，仍需要所屬社群和「近人」來提供援助和心理性的鼓舞。他們不應被視為社會上的負擔，反過來說，他們其實是中介，為上主致送祝福給那些提供援助給他們的人士。

因此，當不需要依靠消費券的人士，慷慨地捐出從消費券而來的數千元時，受惠者的精神會為之一振。想一想，為需要額外金錢的人來說，這種分享行動，能夠給他們帶來多大的安慰、信心和希望。天主虛空了自己，好讓我們可以因祂的名、在祂的愛內永得安慰。

去年十二月的新聞報導指出，約有6,000人因2019年的社會事件而被捕，他們正等候警方決定是否起訴他們。他們甚麼時候才能看到曙光？會被當局起訴與否，這些決定會成為他們可以怎樣向前走的標記。無了期地等待，對他們本人、以至整個社會邁向療癒，都沒有幫助。或許有人會希望透過懲罰來尋求公義。然而，以慈悲和寬宏的方法處理那些較輕的罪行，才能為我們受傷的社群帶來希望和正能量。我們已經目睹，仇恨和暴力給我們深愛的香港帶來死亡的惡臭氣味。現在我們應該以慈悲和寬大的心，去讓復原中的香港增添生命的芬芳。

照顧長者、尤其是「遺老」和獨居長者，務必是優先要處理的事情。讓照顧者與長者聯繫起來，能夠讓長者深深地體會到他們自己是有所貢獻的，感受到被人欣賞，而與青年人連結一起時，則讓長者能夠看到那伸延的未來。這些都有助增強聯繫感，帶來希望和生命的意義。其實對比其他年齡層，青少年和長者是最合拍的。

這些日子，我們都要向離開或決定離開香港，去追尋理想的眾多朋友和家人道別。我們祝福他們的同時，也留意到在他們離開以後，社會不同範疇都出現了明顯又不易填補的空缺，也不知到何時才能補上。然而，當我們真誠地為一個更公平和更自由、人人得以安居的家園而祈求上主時，我們要有希望，確信在歷史中一直福祐著香港的上主，絕不會離棄我們。

最後，我們正是生活在焦慮和混亂的世界裏，它被糅合了權力遊戲、欺凌、責備、威迫和制裁等形式的政治思維根深蒂固地操控著。其實，我們追求的新世界，是講求公平及良性競爭、同理心、尊重、對話文化、仁愛，多元而合一、更好地分配資源，關心生態環境等等。當然，我們不會天真地期望將會有戲劇性的正面轉變，但是通過真誠和具策略的努力，總會有漸進式的發展，這就很好了。

我們要為後代締造希望。所以我們必須讓大家擁抱希望，相信將來會更好。祝願身處香港或其他地方的各位：復活節快樂！

周守仁主教 2023年3月25日 預報救主降生節

“And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)

“Slow of heart to believe” in the joy of Easter makes us slow to have hope. Christ Jesus has overcome the seemingly inevitable grip of death. His resurrection assures us the confidence that death does not and cannot have the final say. For Easter means that ‘nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 8: 31-39). Hence, our hope has its foundation in the amazing love of God manifested in the risen Lord for all walks of life in this world.

What is advisable is not to allow hardship or evil thoughts to corrupt our hearts or crush our spirits, lest we could become agents of death. What is called for is “a positive and life-giving culture” that enables us to face hardships in life in some constructive and sustainable ways. Moreover, we need a positive culture so to become incubators of hope and transformation.

It is a fact that many people in Hong Kong are still struggling for hope amid their ongoing suffering. As the economy has just begun to pick up, many people struggling at the lower socioeconomic strata still need assistance and the psychological boost from their social communities and “neighbours”. These individuals should not be perceived as burdens of society but as intermediaries of heavenly blessings on those who come to their aid.

So, for those who do not need their consumer vouchers, there are those whose spirit will be lifted by the generous sharing of their few thousand dollars. Imagine how much consolation, confidence and hope their sharing can make possible for the ones in need of those extra dollars. God has emptied Himself for us so that we can be eternally consoled in His name and love.

From news reports published in last December, there were around 6,000 arrests due to the violent outbreaks in 2019. They are waiting to see whether the police will charge them or not. When will they see the light? Charge or no charge, they will be signs showing them how to move on. Waiting endlessly will not help them or our society to move toward healing. Some may want to seek justice through retributive means. However, it is through compassion and leniency on lighter offences that can give hope and positive energy to our wounded community. We have seen how hatred and violence have brought the stench of death to our beloved Hong Kong. Now, we should lean on compassion and magnanimity to reinforce the fragrance of life in our recovering Hong Kong.

Caring for the elderly, especially those “left behind” or living alone must be a priority. Connecting with those who care about them will enable them to feel a deeper sense of generativity for others, being appreciated by others, and being connected with the youth, the extension of their future. All these will contribute to a better sense of connectedness and hope, and the meaning of life. It should not be surprising that youth and the elderly are better fit for each other than the other age groups for them.

We have been bidding farewell to many friends and family members who have left or decided to leave Hong Kong for their aspirations. While we wish them all the best, their departure has created noticeable voids in different layers of our social fabric that are not easy to fill. And we do not know when those voids will be filled. But we can be hopeful that our God, who has bestowed His blessings over Hong Kong throughout our history, will not abandon us who call upon Him sincerely, seeking for a fairer and freer homeland for everyone dwelling in it.

Finally, we are living in an anxious and messy world dominated by an entrenched political mentality through power plays, bullying, accusations, threats and sanctions, etc. We desire a new world with level playing fields, empathy and respect, dialogic culture, loving kindness, unity in plurality, better distributions of resources, environmental consciousness, etc. Of course, we are not so naïve to expect dramatic positive changes, but incremental development with sincere and strategic efforts will be nice.

Our future generations need to have hope from us. We must make it possible for each other to have hope for a better future.

Happy Easter to you all in Hong Kong and beyond!

+ Bishop Stephen Chow, S.J. 25 March 2023 Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord