Tuan Yuan and the Eternal Family Reunion
Chinese New Year is upon us again! What are you most looking forward to, as this celebration approaches? If you are not of Chinese ethnicity, perhaps you hope to simply enjoy a few days off from work; and if you live in an urban centre, you might happily anticipate the traffic-free streets as many Chinese urbanites return to their hometowns to celebrate.
For many Chinese folk, though, one of the most important aspects of Chinese New Year is the Family Reunion (团圆, tuányuán) on New Year’s Eve, celebrated with a reunion dinner.
What is filial piety and why is it so important?
孝, xiào, the filial piety of children to parents, is very important in Chinese culture because of the influence of Confucian philosophy and values. One way this value is expressed during Chinese New Year is in the significance of the Family Reunion.
This is when filial children travel hundreds or thousands of kilometres to go back to their hometowns in order to join in this annual feast – hence the previously mentioned empty roads in urban centres. Filial piety is also an important value in Christianity, as Christians are commanded to honour and obey their parents (Exodus 20:12).
In addition to filial piety, other familial relationships are also important in Christianity, like those of husbands and wives (Ephesians 5:21-33), parents and children (Ephesians 6:4), siblings (Genesis 25:24-34), and extended family (Genesis 24). The Family Reunion, therefore, is a wonderful time for families to meet, eat, laugh, and renew their bonds of friendship and fellowship in the Lord.
Reunions can be an opportunity to share Christ
In the spirit of “making the most of every opportunity,” what if instead of just gathering to enjoy delicious food, chit-chat, and fend off awkward questions from nosy relatives, we actually made time in the midst of our Family Reunion to share our lives with one another in a way that glorifies God and encourages one another in the Lord?
If your family members are Christians, everyone can be free to give thanks to God and testify about how He helped us through the year. If some of your relatives aren’t Christians, how about a reflection with each person sharing one highlight and one learning of the past year? Our Daily Faith website has some conversation starters to help you get going.
In all this, we can hope and pray that our testimonies of how God has worked in our lives for the past year may spark a spiritual hunger and thirst for God’s goodness and love in their own lives.
>>READ: The meaning of Chinese New Year’s ‘Fu’
>>WATCH: The Christian meaning behind ‘blessing’, 福
An eternal reunion awaits us in Heaven
For those of us who have lost a loved one in the past year (or even longer ago, for grief can linger long), family reunions can be melancholic. If our loved one was a Christian, there is hope of another, greater reunion that we will celebrate when Jesus comes again, and what a joyful reunion that will be!
But what if our dearly missed loved one was not a Christian? I cannot give you any guarantee of their presence at that Heavenly reunion, except that we do not know what happens in a person’s final moments on earth. Only God knows, and it is always possible that Jesus appeared in a vision to them and gave them the offer of salvation one last time before it was too late.
So, friend, hold on to hope, and trust in God. He is good, He loves you, and He desires that none should perish (Ezekiel 18:32). Leave your departed loved one in His loving hands, and do not let your uncertainty about their eternal destiny rob you of your present joy of living and your future hope of restoration and reunion.
For those of us whose unbelieving loved ones are still with us, let us take every opportunity to share God’s love and salvation with them in ways that they can understand and accept (Ephesians 5:15-16). This Chinese New Year, may all of you who celebrate it find much joy in your Family Reunions, and may God be with you and bless you and all your loved ones!
Happy Chinese New Year!
From all of us at Our Daily Bread Malaysia
About the Author
Kiew Sieh Jin is a member of Taman Ujong Methodist Church, where he serves as a lay preacher, worship leader, and acting Captain of the Boys’ Brigade. He is happily married to Chen May and has two often endearing, sometimes naughty, but always beloved children.
To read other Spotlight Malaysia articles, click below.
