The
Second Sunday after Trinity
21st June 2009 11:45am St John Brigade Service
Preacher:
The Revd Peter Koon
愛需要行動 -When love requires actions
There was an old man, who came
into a church out of starvation, hoping he could find some help there. At that
time, the church had a group of faithful members of the congregation praying,
the poor man went up and asked, “I am starving and I have not been eating
anything for two days, please give me some food?” Those faithful people replied
to him, “Old man, take it easy! God has mercy! Please go home, and we will be
praying for your needs!” After the poor man heard what they had said, only he
could go home with an empty stomach. After two days, he went back to the church
to seek help, as he could no longer bare the torture of hunger. This time he
saw the same lot of people praying again, and the poor old man went up and said
to them: “I am really starving, as I haven’t been eating anything for four
days, please give me some food?” Those faithful people replied to him: “Old
man, please do not lose faith in God, God is a merciful God, go home and we
will continue to pray for your needs.”
What is the result? That is on one
end, there is a poor and lonely old man left dying, whereas the ‘faithful’
Christians remain praying continuously.
Love does not solely require the
merciful hearts, it requires merciful actions in
response. This is the motto of St. John Ambulance’s Founding Fathers, the
Knights Hospitallers who founded the organization,
‘For the Faith and in the Service of Humanity. Previously,
The Chinese Philosopher - Han Feizi (韓非子) used a phrase called “pretending
to be flautist in order to match up with demand in numbers”, it is from a
parable to describe one man called “Nam Kwok” who pretended to be a flautist
and joined the wind band of three hundred in the Warlord’s Palace. However,
when the Warlord died and succeed by his son, the new master preferred a solo
performance from each flautist. Therefore, Mr. Nam Kowk
left the palace in no time, as he simply did not know how to play the
instrument.
Members, “having the ability that matches
reputation” is essential. Such ethic does not only apply towards the business
sector (for example the tainted milk cases in the mainland, which made the
entire export food products from China carrying such bad name), also applies
within the purpose of our team’s existence.
In society today, there are many
people who carry a ‘purpose’ to participate in public services, some got
involved because it would boost their reputations; others even dare to make a
profit out of it. As parents, they would do whatever it takes to gain an
advantage for their children’s school entry exams; by signing up to all sorts
of extra curriculum activities, to earn an extra point on the record book.
These ‘service providers’ take no interest to serve the people. They never
truly sacrificed their time, money and love for the sake of others, other than
their own agenda. When they were asked to contribute their true hearts, to use
care with love, to help others, they would think such actions are purposeless,
and often find those events time wasting. The worse ones would choose to leave
the organization.
Nevertheless, I believe that members
sitting here are all willing to inherent the essence of the Knights Hospitallers, ‘serving people with faith’, in order to be a
member of St. John Ambulance, and without any personal agenda. However, after
being with the service for many years, whether we could still remain in the
same spirit, serving the people in need? Had the enthusiasms disappeared due to
whatever reasons? Whether we could continue to hold the same pride by serving
as a member of St. John Ambulance?
May all members of St. John
Ambulance inherent the spirit of the Knights Hospitallers,
to serve the people with faith, and pass on the same spirit to the next
generation and generations. To be a member who has the ‘ability matches its own
reputation’, to serve others with love and action. Furthermore, may all members
of the St. John Ambulance acknowledge the pride of St. John Ambulance given to each
member, not only because of the slick uniform, the knowledge we have on First
Aid, or the stars and strokes on our shoulders, but it’s the steadfast love we
have and things we do, by serving the people in need, and to save people from
life threatening situations.
Amen.