Cardinal Joseph Zen, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, has urged the entire Church to make the defense of the family “the main mission” of its pastoral action. In a reflection published on his blog on the occasion of the liturgical readings for Monday of the 17th week of Ordinary Time, the Salesian cardinal maintains that a large part of the current crisis stems from the loss of the meaning of life and warns that questioning marriage and the family is part of that process.
Although he was unable to attend the meeting of the College of Cardinals held at the end of June, Zen explains that he closely followed everything that happened during those days. In his view, one of the most accurate reflections was that “the root of the problem seems to be that people have lost the meaning of life,” that is, “they have not found the treasure and the pearl, or perhaps they found them, but then abandoned them.”
The cardinal links this diagnosis to the Gospel parables of the hidden treasure, the precious pearl, the mustard seed, and the yeast. Discovering the Kingdom of God, he affirms, is only the beginning: the Christian is called to remain faithful so that grace may bear fruit and not end up like “the rotten belt” of Jeremiah’s prophecy, useless for having turned away from God.
Three enemies of the Christian
From this reflection, Zen recalls that the Christian life requires constant vigilance. “What can separate us from Him? There should be nothing,” he writes. However, he warns that every believer must face three enemies: “disordered passions, the spirit of the world, and the devil.”
The Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong insists that “the devil exists” and recalls that Scripture teaches that “he prowls around the world seeking someone to devour,” which is why he encourages the faithful to frequently ask for the protection of Saint Michael the Archangel.
But he also warns against the spirit of the world, which he considers especially dangerous because it acts in a seductive manner. “It does not present itself with the horrible appearance of the devil; it knows how to speak with seductive words, it seeks to become your friend. One must be very attentive,” he warns.
Added to this are disordered passions, which act from within man. “Let us never say that these are small things. Small sins, when they become a habit, end up weakening the will. Bad habits are as dangerous as a drug,” he states.
“LGBTQ sins violate the Creator’s plan”
In this context, the cardinal addresses sexual morality. He acknowledges that Christian ethics is not limited to the sixth and ninth commandments, but warns that “this kind of sin is the one that most easily generates addiction.”
“LGBTQ sins completely violate the Creator’s plan for humanity: a man and a woman called to love each other for life and to transmit life in an environment of love,” he writes.
Zen adds that “homosexual acts are not only called sin in the Bible, but are an ‘abomination’ before God,” before recalling the account in Genesis: “The merciful God also rained down fire to destroy Sodom.”
The family, at the center of the spiritual battle
For the cardinal, the loss of the meaning of life inevitably leads to contempt for the family and the transmission of life.
“If the value of life and the family is denied, what beauty remains in life? Have we abandoned the spring to seek water in a cracked cistern?” he asks, evoking the image of the prophet Jeremiah.
He then recalls an expression he attributes to the devil: “It is said that even the devil recognized that if he destroys the family, victory will be his.”
In the face of this reality, Zen encourages Catholics to adopt an active attitude. “The best way to fight is to go on the attack,” he writes, explaining that helping others to do good is also the best way to persevere personally in the Christian life.
A call to the whole Church
The cardinal concludes his reflection with a call to all members of the Church to become involved in the defense of marriage and the family.
“Let us all mobilize: bishops, priests, religious, nuns, married and single faithful; those who enjoy a united family and those who are going through difficulties. Let us make the protection of the family our main mission and the center of pastoral action,” he exhorts.
Finally, he entrusts this mission to the intercession of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Virgin Mary, and Saints Louis and Celia Martin, parents of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, so that “young people may fully trust in God’s plan of love” and rediscover the beauty of God’s design for marriage and the family.