During one of my international trips, I had a chance to visit the Hong Kong Museum of National History. The museum is supposed to preserve Hong Kong’s historical and cultural heritage. Having explored the museum, I did not see any sign of the Christian presence in the country; no mention about Christian missionaries; no allusion to the legacy of British colonialism related to Christianity. As far as I can recall, the only display in the Museum that relates to Christianity is about the visit of Paul VI to Hong Kong in 1970. At some point, I began to wonder if God was really present in the history of this island nation. However, looking at the suffering of the local people throughout the country’s history, I can see that God was present among them.
In the first reading, we hear that Paul is in a foreign place, and he has to deal with a foreign culture with which he is not familiar. Nevertheless, he can see that God is present in this foreign culture. “For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.”
In prayer today, reflect on how close God is to each of us. He can even be present in a strange and unfamiliar place or culture. Imagine being in Paul’s shoes as he goes to the foreign and unknown place. Is God present among the foreigners?