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St Philip’s Church celebrates 25th anniversary
Publish Date: 25-May-2021
Saint Philip's Church of the Diocese of Western Kowloon celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary with a Thanksgiving Eucharist on 1 May. Archbishop Andrew Chan was both celebrant and preacher at the service. In his sermon, Archbishop Chan said that the patron saint of the church, St Philip, was a very rational person who sought for evidence behind everything. In one of the passages of the Gospel reading at the service, Jesus said to Philip, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’. Although Jesus clearly indicated that his disciples had already met God the Father through him, Philip still insisted that Jesus should “show them the Father and they will be satisfied”. Archbishop Chan said that Philip’s actions in the passage represent people’s tendencies to simplify matters and their unwillingness to spend time on thinking and experiencing. People simply wanted someone with authority to offer them standard answers, Archbishop Chan said. Archbishop Chan stressed that in a world ravaged by the COVID-19 and increasing tension in the international sphere, Hong Kongers are facing a new crisis in confidence. A lot of people are like Philip, who wants quick answers from God in times of suffering. However, this type of mentality will only obstruct them from delving deeper into what they have known and what they have experienced. Faith does not require people to have immediate reactions to everything, but it guides followers to slowly digest, understand, reflect, and contemplate on the experiences of life, Archbishop Chan said. Archbishop Chan said “In Philip, we can see that conclusions and answers cannot bring about a spiritual rejuvenation, it will only turn people into slaves of doctrines. Only by being with Jesus, by being in him and by him being in us, can we be liberated and renewed. He gives us vitality and the energy to change and make breakthroughs in life.”
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