ASIA/HONG KONG - Easter Pastoral Letter from Catholic Bishop of Hong Kong: “Let his joy surprise us once more !”

Hong Kong (Fides Service) - “Let his joy surprise us once more !” was the title of an Easter Pastoral Letter issued by Bishop Zen of Hong Kong. In the letter, published in the diocesan bulletin Kong Ko Bao Bishop Zen reflects on the problems affecting society today, threats to married life and the family; the urgent need to promote justice and democracy; fatigue and disappointment in a society dominated by criteria of productivity. But, the Bishop wrote, Jesus says we must not lose hope: “We preach the sacredness of marriage and the importance of the family, but the dominating culture goes in diametrically opposite directions: disordered relations between man and women, the family shaken at its foundation, the lack of desire to have children...what disaster all this may bring for tomorrow we dare not imagine. We care for society. We defend justice and democracy without reticence but in return we are misunderstood and rejected. The old policies persist with new tactics. We are tired, we are tempted to give up, a sense of frustration, of helplessness. But Jesus comes again “Do not be afraid”, he says. “I am the life and the resurrection. Rise up! I rose on the third day after my death”.
Underlining the power of Christ’s resurrection Bishop Zen wrote: “Jesus’ resurrection has changed everything. There is still life after death. There is life without end. The shouts of Alleluia have broken the silence and the light has dispelled the darkness”.
At the end of the Letter the Bishop of Hong Kong rallies his people: “So let us get up once more! Let us allow him to bring to us again this year his surprising Good News!”.
(Agenzia Fides 31/03/2005 Righe: 23 Parole: 230)