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CHINESE NEW YEAR

All at once

FR. John MURRAY, Member of the Order of St Augustine,

Monday, December 14, 2020

Chinese New Year, Tet, Valentine’s Day are all important celebrations in this region, and beyond.  As I faced the celebration of Mass on Sunday, I was quite amazed to realize that all three came together at once.  I knew on the spot that no one should be ignored, with each deserving acknowledgment in the perspective of celebrating life.  

To be honest, being who I am, these three major celebrations are not of great personal significance to me.  I know they are the most important celebrations, even essential, in certain major parts of the world and in many people’s lives.  Without reservation then, I respect universally their significance for others.    
As they matter more here than back home, I observe and respect them in my Bangkok, even when they may not be part of my upbringing or personal culture.  Both these parts of me recede to the background, happily giving precedence to what matters much more in my here and now.
Early Chinese currency was of this style

Early Chinese currency was of this style

As they matter more here than back home, I observe and respect them in my Bangkok, even when they may not be part of my upbringing or personal culture.  Both these parts of me recede to the background, happily giving precedence to what matters much more in my here and now.  

There is the recognition of others around me, all of whom matter.  There is the recognition of other cultures around me, all of which are just as important as mine.  These celebrations matter very much for they are in my present sphere of influence which includes the many others who make up my life and world, and they matter much more than who I am, a western, Aussie male.   

So much all at once.  What to choose?  What to do?  

 

Choose them all and allow our Christian perspective to place them all under one heading – celebrating life.  Life is worth celebrating in any good way and for any good, human motive, whatever the origin of celebrations and milestones.  No one way, no one culture, no one person is foreign to us as Christians.  Being universal, we are able to embrace all that is good for the sake of humanity and proclaiming the good news to all.  
So celebrate all at once, happily in unison, under the universal umbrella of our faith.  

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