Message
by Metropolitan Nektarios
of Hong Kong and South East Asia
for the Chinese New Year of Monkey
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Monkey is a clever animal. A monkey, also, is so stubborn, and selfish that he will not let go of what he wants, even to save his life.
Monkeys may be caught simply by placing food in a box that has a narrow opening, just large enough to squeeze their hand in, and grab the food. The monkeys try to pull their hand and the food out of the box. However the added size of the food, in their hand make it impossible to pull their hand out of the box. It has been proven that the monkeys will not let go of the food, in order to avert capture, or death. A lot of Christians are just like the monkeys, as they try to hold on to the things of this world, and be a follower of God’s will at the same time.
Apostle Paul says, “Do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
親愛的弟兄姊妹：
猴子是聰明的動物。但猴子也非常固執和自私，到一個地步，甚致危害生命也不會放棄牠想要的東西。
捉猴子的方法很簡單。把食物放在一個箱子裏，箱子有細小的開口，讓猴子把手擠進去拿食物。猴子嘗試把食物和手拉出來，但若手中的食物體積太大，牠便無法把手拉出來。過往已証實，猴子不會為了逃避捉拿或死亡，而放棄手中的食物。很多基督徒也像猴子一樣，他們跟隨基督，但同時也緊緊抓著世上的東西。
宗徒保羅說：“不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。”
（羅馬書 12：2 ）
恭喜發財 Kung Hei Fat Choi
With my best wishes
+Metropolitan Nektarios
of Hong Kong and South East Asia
