HONG KONG (SE): The St. Thomas More Society of Hong Kong organised a prayer service at St. Joseph’s Church, Garden Road on January 18, for the opening of the 2026 legal year.
The service was officiated by Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, and Anglican Archbishop Andrew Chan of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui.
The homily was given by Jesuit Father Alan Wong, the supervisor of Wah Yan College, Hong Kong.
In his homily, Father Wong meditated on the transformative power of compassion and recognition in law, justice, and spiritual life. Drawing from the parable of the Good Samaritan, he said that true justice is not solely about actions or rules, but about seeing and responding to others with empathy, mercy, and love—seeing with God’s eyes.
Referencing German philiosopher, Axel Honneth, he observed that many social problems arise from how we perceive and recognise each other, stressing that justice involves seeing others with compassion, dignity, and respect, not just legal compliance.
“If we all looked at each other with more compassion, pity, mercy, love then this would slowly affect the world as well,” Father Wong noted.
He noted that St. Ignatius of Loyola asks that when we pray, we first ask “for the gift to look with the eyes of God, to see from God’s perspective of love, and mercy.”
He encouraged those in attendance to reflect deeply on their actions and prayers, urging them to strive to view themselves and others through God’s eyes. The message concluded with a call, echoing the words of Jesus, to “go and do likewise.”
