The Year of the Monkey

Feb 05, 2016

The monkey in China:
The most common monkeys in China are, The yellow monkey or Macacus thibetanus of the Tibetan borderlands. The golden monkey or Rhinopethicus roxellanae of Szechuan and Gansu.

The Skin of the monkey is much valued by the Chinese. There is a saying that, at one time, only members of the Imperial Family were entitled to wear it.

The monkey as a symbol:
The monkey is one of the symbolical animals corresponding to the NINTH OF THE TWELVE TERRESTRIAL BRANCHES. It is the symbol of UGLINESS and TRICKERY

Worshipping of the monkey

The monkey is worshipped to some extent by the Buddhists and by the Taoists of Folk Religions.

It was first worshipped in return for some supposed services rendered to the person who went to India, by special command of the Emperor of the Tang.

Dynasty, to obtain the Sacred Books (Scriptures) of the Buddhist religion.

Deification of the monkey
The Emperor ‘deified’ the monkey, or at least, he conferred upon it the August title of “The Great Sage equal to Heaven.”

The birthday of the monkey, His Excellency, the Holy King, is on the 23rd day of the second Chinese month, when his majesty is especially worshipped by men from all classes of society.

The power of the monkey The monkey is believed to have general control of hobgobins, witches, elves.

It is also believed that the monkey is able to bestow health, protection and success on mankind in one way or another by keeping away malicious, evil spirits or globins.

Because the people often imagine that sickness or want of success in study and trade, is caused by witches and hobgobins, the monkey is worshipped in order to drive away or prevent the evil influence of the various evil spirits or powers.

The Christian Reflection on the monkey:
First, let us look at the dark side of the monkey, which is usually assoctiated with Ugliness and Trickery.

The ugly monkey business is not for us to emulate. What is ugly? TRICKERY is ugly! Sin is ugly. Evil is ugly. The devilish work of the devil and evil spirits is ugly!

Physical ugliness is not a problem nor a moral evil. It is the spiritual ugliness embodied in sin that is terribly ugly and should be shunned by people of all faiths.

However, there is a bright side to the monkey. For the Buddhists, the monkey is associated with helping the person ordered by the Imperial Majesty to get the Sacred Scriptures from India to China and thereby was honoured or “deified” by the King as “The Great Sage equal to Heaven”

For us Christians, this reminds us of the messengers sent by God to give us the light of Revelation, the Word of God, written by people, inspired by God, to be handed down for posterity to know and follow the Sacred Scriptures contained in our Holy Bible. We remember those in the past who helped in spreading this Word of God to others, to sanctify the hearts of people. We also remember those who are, now, and those who will be spreading this Holy Word of God that can save us from our sins and give us eternal life. The Holy Word of God can protect us against all evil influences, against all superstitions, all evil spirits and devils.

The Holy Word of God bestows health to our souls, brings success in our undertaking or studies and every work, whether it be trade or other types of work that we are engaged in, for the Holy Word of God enlightens our minds and hearts, gives us strength and consolation, bestows peace into our hearts, so that we remain holy and healthy in the Lord God, Our Heavenly King of the Universe, for God is our Protector and His Word is ever infinitely Powerful, active and dynamic and effective in sanctifying the hearts of all.

Conclusion: New Year Resolutions
In our New Year Resolutions:

1. Let us have no dealings with the evil ones, the devil, portrayed by the dark side of the monkey before its `sanctification'. Let us never turn to sin for happiness for it is ugly and harmful to us. Let us not turn to trickery to obtain what we want, i.e. let us not do any monkey business.

2. Let us have recourse to God for protection, good health and success in our new year undertakings.

3. Let us have recourse to Holy Scriptures, the Holy Word of God. For the Holy Word of God is our Guide, our Light, our Strength and our Salvation.

May we turn to the Holy Word of God in season and out of season for our spiritual nourishment, at all times, for all the years of our life.

May the good Lord Jesus who came to reveal to us the Word of God and who came to protect, save, forgive, sanctify nd serve us even unto death on the Cross, bless every one in the World, and all of us during the Chinese New Year of the monkey and all the years to come.

May I wish you all a very Happy, Prosperous and Holy New Year. -- By Fr Stephen Chin Sacred Heart Church 7th Mile, Kuching