Message
by His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Hong Kong and South East Asia
on the occasion of the entrance into the Chinese New Year of the Rooster.
The Rooster in the Christian tradition symbolises a sinner’s acceptance of divine pardon through Jesus Christ.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells the disciples that they will all fall away from Him because of the events that would lead up to His death. Immediately, “Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.” (Matthew 26:33–35)
Peter did indeed deny any relationship to Jesus three times. “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.”After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:69–75)
Peter was a broken man who repented and experienced grace. The message is powerful: God’s pardon extends to sinners who repent.
Let the Chinese New Year of the Rooster be for all of us a Year of Repentance and a Year of Remembrance of the salvific grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
恭喜發財 Kung Hei Fat Choi
With my best wishes and love in Christ
+ Metropolitan Nektarios of Hong Kong and South East Asia
***
香港及東南亞都主教黎大略
於雞年之始的牧言
在基督教傳統，雞象徵一個罪人透過耶穌基督接受神聖的饒恕。
在馬太福音，耶穌告訴門徒在祂受難之前，他們都會離棄祂。“彼得說：“眾人雖然為你的緣故跌倒，我郤永不跌倒。”耶穌說：“我實在告訴你，今夜雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。” 彼得說：“我就是必須和你同死，也總不能不認你。”眾門徒都是這麼說。” （馬太 26：33-35）
彼得真的三次否認與耶穌有任何關係。“彼得在外面院子裏坐著，有一個使女前來說：“你素來也是同那加利利人耶穌一夥的。”彼得在眾人面前郤不承認，說：“我不知道你說的是甚麼。”既出去，到了門口，又有一個使女看見他，就對那裏的人說：“這個人也是同拿撒勒人耶穌一夥的。”彼得又不承認，並且起誓說：“我不認得那個人！”過了不多的時候，旁邊站著的人前來對彼得說：“你真是他們一黨的，你的口音把你露出來了。”彼得就發咒起誓地說：“我不認得那個人！”立時，雞就叫了。彼得想起耶穌所說的話： “雞叫以先，你要三次不認我。”他就出去痛哭。”
( 馬太 26：69-75)
彼得是一個破碎的人。從悔改中，他經歷恩典。神寬恕悔改罪人這訊息是強大的。
讓雞年成為我們悔改之年並讓我們常記主耶穌之救贖恩典。
恭喜發財 Kung Hei Fat Choi
