Hebrews 13:1-2: “Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”
In recent weeks, our nation has been deeply affected by a series of heartbreaking events that unfolded alarmingly close to home.
When I read the story of little Megan Khung, a four-year-old girl whose life ended through horrific abuse, I teared up reading the abuse she went through. She was just four – the same age as my niece whom I love very much.
At her age, there were many things in life she could not have understood and a bright future stood ahead of her. I could not bear to continue reading – just thinking of the fears and pain she went through as a young girl – suffering so much and yet not understanding what was going on.
Reading her story also brought painful memories of my own experience of physical abuse as an eight year old boy. Then, a family member threw a pot at me out of anger, which resulted in me being rushed to hospital in an ambulance. Doctors had to remove a few splinters from my head, stitch me up and I had to be hospitalised for observation. In the 70s, child abuse wasn’t something that people would take notice of. Life just simply went on.
Besides the news on Megan, we also read of various persons including some elderly people that were found lifeless all alone in their homes – their passing unnoticed for days. They were discovered only when neighbours complained about the awful smell coming from the homes of these people.
These heartbreaking accounts — one of a defenceless child harmed by those meant to protect her, and the other of elderly individuals passing away in solitude — reveal a sobering truth about our world: that in the rush of our daily lives, we often overlook those around us who are lonely, unloved, innocent, or vulnerable.
As followers of Jesus, we cannot look away. The gospel calls us to enter the world’s suffering with eyes of compassion and hearts of mercy.
In Matthew 25:34-40, Jesus spoke about caring for the marginalised and identifies with the most vulnerable, teaching that when we care and serve them, we are serving him directly.
“Then the King will turn to those on His right and say, “Come, my blessed ones. Receive the kingdom that has been waiting for you since the beginning of time. You showed love when it mattered most — when I was hungry, you fed Me; when I was thirsty, you gave Me something to drink. You welcomed Me when I was a stranger, clothed Me when I had nothing, cared for Me when I was sick, and visited Me when I was alone in prison.
Then the people will ask, “Lord, when did we ever see You in need and help You?”
And the King will answer, “When you cared for the least among my brothers and sisters, you were caring for Me.” (Paraphrased)
Some thoughts for us all to think about.
Both children and the elderly are precious in God’s sight and vulnerable in our society. Megan depended on adults to protect her; the elderly depend on companionship to remind them they are not forgotten.
As a church, we are a community. As one, we must be alert and watchful— alert to those in signs of distress, watchful for those in moments of need.
Perhaps, to show “hospitality”, as Hebrews reminds us, is not just to open our homes, but to open our hearts — to notice (be watchful), to listen (be alert) and to love.
In a recent Facebook post from MP of Mountbatten Gho Sze Kee, she said, “Over time, I realized that nothing can ever replace the human connection. This is why I have always talked about building up the kampong spirit. There is a Chinese saying, “远亲不如近邻” – a close neighbour is better than distant relatives. With more of our society being single, by choice or by circumstance, the community, the neighbourhood, becomes that vital support network. With a little more care and friendship to our neighbours, we can build a kampong spirit in our community that makes it much harder for people to be forgotten.
We may never be able to prevent every single lonely passing, but we certainly can help prevent many lonely lives.”
Wherever the Lord has placed us, we can check in on our struggling friends, lonely neighbours, encourage weary parents and become channels of divine love. We could always send them a text message or give them a call to ask how are they doing.
Make friends with our neighbours – give them gifts during Christmas or Chinese New Year. Be on the lookout for the elderly and children living along the same corridor as us. Sometimes my neighbours and I would bring back simple gifts from our travels and share with each other’s families. We can build the kampong spirit both in church and also with our neighbours.
Through simple acts of kindness or friendship, others may just glimpse the tender love of God.
A few years ago, I took a period of no pay leave from my previous ministry to recover from depression. There were days I felt ok and on bad days, I would struggle with negative thoughts – feelings that I am not good enough to be a pastor, that no one cares for me, no one understands me. I thought perhaps it’s because I am weak spiritually, that’s why I am struggling with depression. And I would think of just ending my life just to stop the emotional and mental anguish.
When you are depressed, your brain ceases to be able to think rationally at times. There were moments when I would break down in tears uncontrollably and I would beg God to heal me and make me well again.
One morning, while I was alone at home and my wife was teaching in school; I broke down and started sobbing. I didn’t even know why I was crying. I just felt very lousy about myself.
I live on the 13th floor, and as I looked out at my window, the thought of just jumping and ending my life came to mind.
But at that very moment, I received a text message from one of the church members from my previous church — a lady in her 80s. I usually greet her at the door every Sunday morning. She rarely messages anyone except her daughter, so her text came as a complete surprise.
And this was the message she sent to me that day.
GL: “Good morning, Pastor Stanley. How are you? For a long time haven’t see you around, not that I often attend worship service whenever the law permits on-site attendance.
I hope you and your family are well. Miss also your benign presence radiating sincere Christian love for me – an ordinary member of the church.
Haven’t heard you preach in any of the Sunday worship service for a long time. I always find your sermons relevant and relatable.
Thank you for the means through this WhatsApp started by you to communicate your love and care for me, finding out if I’m alright during the pandemic. I really appreciate your genuineness. You’re really a nice pastor in every way.
God loves you and is blessing you with his presence, peace and power.”
Upon reading her message, I started sobbing again and all thoughts of suicide went away.
I had just experienced God’s love and loving presence at that precise moment that I needed Him.
It took me another 2 days before I collected my thoughts and replied to her. And in my reply, part of my message to her was this:
“God is good and faithful, and I know he is always watching over each of us and will always hold us fast in his hands.
When I read your message, I broke down and cried as I felt encouraged not only by you but by the Lord Jesus. Your timely words of encouragement lifted my heart, and I am so thankful that God sent His love to me through your message.”
Some may think that this was probably a coincidence. For me, I knew God’s loving mercy was at work. I was struggling with discouragement. I was at the brink of ending it all. God knew that and at that precise exact moment, He used someone to encourage me through a WhatsApp message.
That’s what church community is about – being watchful to those around us and also being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to be used to reach out and bring God’s love to another.
If each of us can be courageous enough to pray and ask the Spirit to give us a heart that is sensitive to His prompting, imagine what the Spirit can do in and through us.
As we heed ourselves to His leading, we learn to pray and reach out to people in need – our family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, church mates, even strangers in our midst.
Hebrews 13:2 exhorts us, “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”
Perhaps we may never literally host angels. Yet when we show kindness, comfort, and attention to those who are hurting or lonely, they may feel as if an angel has visited them.
In our small acts of care, others may sense the touch of God’s grace — as though angels had come to their doors and they had experienced Him this side of heaven.
Back to my earlier sharing about my head injury. As I laid in hospital, I remembered thinking in my young mind, “Why is my life so painful? Why can’t I have normal loving parents like my classmates or cousins?”
Yet it was through this incident that I was introduced to Jesus. How?
When the incident occurred, my family member quickly rushed over to our neighbour next door to ask for help.
My neighbour rushed over, took one look at the situation, and immediately called for the ambulance from her home. And after that, she came back over to stop the bleeding from my head. I blacked out soon after and only woke up later in the hospital, uncertain of what had happened in between.
A week or so after, my neighbour knocked on our door to check on my well-being. And she took the opportunity to ask my parents if she could bring my sister and I to church. That’s how I started attending Sunday School and learned about this man Jesus who loved children very much.
I later learned that my neighbour’s name was Aunty Grace. She was like an angel sent by God. In a sense, Grace found me and introduced me to Jesus.
Looking back, am sure this too wasn’t a coincidence. God had prompted Aunty Grace to come over to ask my parents permission to bring me to church so that I could get to know Jesus.
What happened to the family member who hurt me? Many years later, in God’s gracious and mysterious ways, He worked reconciliation and forgiveness between me and the family member who had caused me pain. And I am thankful to God for the closure and healing.
Even as we remember little Megan Khung, we entrust her to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though she may not have heard His name, we pray that He may have mercy on her soul.
And while we are unable to reach out to those who have passed away alone and unseen, let us extend kindness to those still among us. As we reach out, may our kindness feel like a visit from heaven — where no one is unseen, unheard, or unloved.”
May we be continue to be His church – a kampong of people making a difference!
Like the lyrics of the song, ‘Making a Difference’, may our Lord …
“Give us a heart of compassion
For a world without vision
We will make a difference
Bringing hope to our land
We will answer the call
To build this church without wallsLet Your glory be shown
Bring salvation to the lost
To the lost”
