The similarities between CNY and the beginning of Lent

Mar 05, 2015

IPOH (Herald Malaysia): The beginning of Lent and Chinese New Year (CNY) are similar in that they both celebrate the same things, the only difference being in the way of celebrating.

St Michael’s Church parish priest, Fr Stephen Liew, said this in his homily during the Chinese New Year bilingual Mass on Feb 19.

The Mass was concelebrated with SMC priest-in-residence Fr Robin Andrews, and Fr Rudy Wong CSsR.

Lent is the season of spring in the Church, whilst Chinese New Year is the Spring festival. Both events celebrate the new season, Fr Liew said. Lent, the Spring of the Church, is a celebration of renewed relationships, with God and oneself, and with others.

In the Church, there are three traditional ways of preparing for this new life: through fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

In celebrating the Lunar New Year, the Chinese also do three things for renewing relationships with self, God and others.

During Chinese New Year, red is the colour to affirm their identity as Chinese and to enhance self-realisation.

Secondly, at Chinese New Year, there is prayer to show the awareness of the Spirit of God.

For renewal with others, Chinese families gather to pay reverence to their ancestors.

“Most of the time, there is no time to come together as a family, but at New Year, this coming together is to show their acknowledgement of each other and with their ancestors.

“At Lent, we are doing the same thing but in a different way.

“We have enriched ourselves, so there is no contradiction between the two events.

“Today, as we celebrate the start of the year of the Goat/Sheep, we are reminded of Jesus as the Lamb of God who gave up his life, so that we may live and have eternal life.

“It is a constant reminder that God is with us,” he said.

The rite of reverence to God was then carried out, with the congregation giving three bows, thanking God for blessings, for Jesus Christ who gave us eternal life and for the Holy Spirit who leads us to God the Father.

During the Rite of reverence to ancestors, the people listened to Scripture readings of unity and love amongst the people of God.

It was then time to give another three traditional bows, towards the priests who have served the people and to give them respect and thanks, and to God for blessings upon them.

The congregation also bowed to each other, thanking everyone for the gift of themselves.

Following this, there was the blessing of oranges and distribution of angpows, during which the Chinese choir sang joyful Chinese New Year songs.

After Mass, everyone gathered outside to wish each other and the priests a Happy Chinese New Year and to present angpows.