As Hong Kong and most parts of the world are psyched up for the celebration of the Christmas festivities, what are the dominant outlooks that may colour our capacity to celebrate?

There is news of wars and terrorism continuing in daily news, geopolitical tensions concerning China in particular, which have bearings on Hong Kong, a slack post-pandemic economy, noticeable labour shortages in various industries and professions, and, most heartbreaking, the rising numbers of young people engaging in self-destructive behaviours—all these, when added up, can contribute to a flat and even darkened spirit, lacking confidence of a brighter future anytime sooner. Then why should we celebrate?

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shone” (Isaiah 9:1).

Christmas is the celebration of God’s promise of eternal love and faithful companionship for all being fulfilled in this newborn baby, Emmanuel, i.e., God-is-with-us, and Jesus, i.e., the Lord is salvation. This promise was not only for those people more than 2000 years ago, but each time we celebrate Christmas, the promise is re-affirmed.

This promise should give us light in our darkness and joy in our sorrows, regardless of whether we are Christians or not. Real love knows no boundaries of histories, religions, cultures, politics, or economies. Christmas is the cause of deep joy for anyone who wants to celebrate life and have hope in the divine intervention in a frail reality.

Hong Kong is certainly a place where Christmas has been celebrated for over a century, while the reality of the Son of God being born for our ancestors up to this point in time is always the case. The miracles of the ever-faithful companionship of Emmanuel and the love of Jesus have never ceased since, even for all those who are non-Christians. However, the effects of these miracles should be more pronounced for true believers.

So, are we ready to celebrate the miracles of Christmas that dispels darkness and doubts in the life-draining reality? Furthermore, are we willing to become agents of those miracles, i.e., to be faithful companions to those who need accompaniment and unconditional love for those who would appreciate loving affirmation?

“ And she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).

People at the time of this baby Jesus’ imminent coming were not ready to host him. They were occupied with other guests whom they deemed more worthy of their time and space. That was why he was born in a manger, a most unseemly space for any human newborn, not to mention the Son of God. People’s hearts had no time or space for him.

When our hearts are closed to the source of Love, we cannot experience it either, even though it is offered to us. And when our hearts are uncaring for others, especially those who are struggling on the social or economic margins, we are condemning each other to prolonged suffering. But if we can make the time and space for them, especially our young people and the elderly, light and joy can come in as well.

Our society needs to strengthen a culture of empathic understanding, tolerance, and forgiveness. No one can be certain that she or he will not become the yearning recipient of empathy and forgiveness in the future. For when there is an established culture of empathy and compassion, we can start accompanying and moving forward with each other— especially with our young people.

We must also allow our educators to have time, space and energy to accompany them. Walking with each other requires time, inner space, and non-judgmental listening of each other’s plights. But if our educators are already overwhelmed by the different job-related requirements, they cannot be in a position to learn how best to accompany their students, even if they want to do so. But this will be a worthy Christmas gift for our young people and ourselves as the essential gifts of Christmas are God’s committed companionship and unfailing love for all humanity and Creation.

Indeed, we can be thankful to individuals and groups of religious or social institutions, including the government, which have been working behind the scenes helping young people, who have violated the laws in recent years, reintegrate into our society and move ahead with their lives through various means. But more are still waiting to receive such hope-filled treatments. There are also those who make special efforts in accompanying vulnerable elderlies, an age group that holds the highest suicidal rate.

My friends in Hong Kong, do have confidence in our worthiness for something much better than what we are experiencing. But we must get up, leave our limiting comfort zones, stop feeling sorry for ourselves, and follow the light of Christmas to attain the essential gifts of Christmas. Let us be the ones who reflect the light of Christmas to those struggling in their darkness.

I pray that we will enjoy a blessed Christmas. May we be endowed with wisdom to face all sorts of joys and challenges in 2024!

+ Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J. Bishop of Hong Kong