Christmas Message 2024 of Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong
Hope seems harder to come by in our world today. With the slower-than-expected recoveryof global and local economies, there are growing war cries in different parts of the world,increasingly tense geopolitics.
Christmas is a feast of love through the direct intervention of the ever-loving God into ourhuman history. This was made possible by sending God’s only Son to journey with us. Itssalvific objective is to show us the compassionate love of God that knows no bounds.
The Catholic Church is to celebrate the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025. The OrdinaryJubilee, in fact, occurs once every 25 years. The theme of this Jubilee Year is “Pilgrims ofHope,” for “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). We are reminded that everyone is onlya sojourner; no one can live forever in this world. It is consoling when we believe that we areon our way to another life, reuniting with our loving Creator in eternity, our beloved ones,and those who loved us.
Therefore, with this love and hope in our consciousness, we can help bringing love to ourcommunities. We need to reinforce this hope that does not disappoint those we love, thosewith whom we have difficulties, and those who are strangers to us, especially those who arestruggling in the social margins.
We can think of those who are struggling in war zones with seemingly endless torment,displaced persons and refugees looking for a dignified future, prisoners waiting for a new life,married couples who cannot see a sufficiently stable future for childbearing, young peoplewho fail to identify convincing reasons to envisage a hopeful future, the elderly who arelonely and abandoned, and those who are sick and lonely in hospitals.
Finally, Christmas and the New Year are a time for hope, love, peace, and dreams! Withouthope and dreams, there will be no future. Especially for our young people, we need to walkalongside them and empower their creative hopes and dreams.
A joyous Christmas and a hope-filled 2025 to you all and our Common Home!
