“A city breached and left defenseless are those who do not control their temper.” (Proverbs 25:28)

Let me begin by asking you a question—do you really know what discipline is?

Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. But all of you have shown good discipline this morning. And that is every one of you managed to wake up on time, get dressed, grab your things, and arrive at school before 8:05am. That might sound like a small thing, but in reality—it’s a big achievement. It’s something worth celebrating. Because that is the fruit of self-discipline. You are here, present, ready to listen, to learn and to equip yourself.

Now I know some of you might be thinking, “Mr. Mak, I wouldn’t call it discipline. I’m just scared of getting a bad habit record.” I get that. Many people misunderstand what discipline really means. We often associate it with punishment or doing something only because we’re afraid of getting into trouble. Like in school—if you break a rule, there’s a consequence. So just to avoid the troubles, you follow the rules… but maybe without really knowing why. But that’s not what discipline is about.

In the Catholic faith, discipline is not something that limits us. It’s something that strengthens us. It helps us grow in virtue and gives us control over our lives. In fact, it gives us true freedom.
Think of it this way: Our mind is like the captain of our body. It tells us when to eat, sleep, play, study, and think. But even the strongest captain has a weakness—and that is desire.
We all have desires. We want money, success, attention, popularity, fun, entertainment. And these things are not bad in themselves. But without discipline, without self-control, our desires can take over—and even destroy the course of our lives. Let me give you a real-life example.

We often think that people who win the lottery are the luckiest people in the world. No more work, no more stress—just a life of luxury, right? Well, not really. In the UK, there was a study on lottery winners under the age of 30. Shockingly, around 70% of them ended up broke or bankrupt within just a few years. What happened? Many of them didn’t have the discipline to manage sudden wealth. They started spending recklessly—buying expensive clothes, luxury cars, going on nonstop holidays, gambling to win even more money. Some quit their jobs or dropped out of school without a clear plan. Some even lost friends because they were afraid people would steal from them.

Eventually, many of them said something truly surprising: “I wish I had never won the lottery.” Can you imagine that? They thought money would bring them freedom. But without discipline, it only brought stress, regret, and emptiness. They ended up trapped in a cycle of desire, constantly asking themselves: “I’m rich now. Why am I still not satisfied?”

There’s a quote from the bible I want to leave with you:

“A city breached and left defenseless are those who do not control their temper.” (Proverbs 25:28)

And that’s where self-discipline comes in. When you have self-discipline, your mind becomes stronger. You start making decisions not just based on how you feel, or what others say, but based on what’s good and right. You learn to say “No” to things that may feel good now but hurt you later—and “Yes” to things that may be difficult now but help you grow. And remember—after your six years here in Shung Tak, there will be no more teachers constantly reminding you what to do. By then, you should have the strength to discipline yourself—to make decisions with good morals and a clear conscience. And of course, when you feel lost or overwhelmed, remember: God is always there—like a lighthouse, guiding us back to the right path to heaven.

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. We remember how Mary, the mother of Jesus, stayed strong and faithful even through deep suffering and pain. She is a powerful example of quiet discipline.

Mr Mak WT