Tuesday, 6 October 2026
Good morning, teachers and students.
Two days ago, we listened together to our schoolmates sharing their trip to Poland. Hearing their travel stories made me think about my traveling experience to Rome. Rome is a city I really love, and I have been lucky enough to visit it several times by myself and with students as chaperone. Especially their Gelato is the best in the world, those in Poland is not comparable.
I still remember I was so amazed whenever I walk through the streets of ancient Rome and see the old ruins. Two thousand years ago, the Roman Empire was powerful. Their land was huge—over 4,000 kilometers from Spain in the west to the mountains that close to Russia in the east, and over 3,000 kilometers from Scotland in the north down to North Africa.
They built a giant horse-racing track for 100,000 people. They built the famous Colosseum for 50,000 people in just 8 years, and they were so smart that they could even fill it with water to have fake boat battles inside! Their army defeated everyone across the world.
Yet today, when you walk around Rome, what do you see? Only broken stones, ruins, and tourists taking photos, not even mention the faked gladiators. Where are the emperors? None are left. Where is that unbeatable army? Completely gone.
Back then, the powerful Roman emperors tried very hard to destroy a small group of Christians. In the year 64 AD, after a big fire broke out in Rome, the emperor blamed the Christians and punished them. Early leaders like Peter and Paul were killed.
If anyone said back then, “This small group will last longer than the giant Roman Empire,” nobody would believe it.
Yet in a recent Sunday Gospel from Matthew, Jesus said to Peter: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and nothing will overcome it.”
Today, two thousand years later, the Roman Empire is gone. But that Catholic faith is still alive and well, with the 267th leader, Pope Leo XIV, still serving in the Vatican today.
Why did Jesus choose Peter? Peter was not rich, royal, or powerful, he was just an ordinary fisherman. Some Bible scholars suggest that Peter had good communication skills because he had to talk to customers and sell fresh fish every day before it spoiled. He was also a leader on his fishing boat. But Jesus did not choose him for his CV or perfection, Peter had plenty of flaws and weaknesses too. God chose him simply out of love, because he was a beloved child of God, just as we all are.
In school, it’s easier for us to compare. we often worry about getting the highest marks, having the newest phone, or being the most popular in class, making more friends. We think having more things will make us happy, just like the Roman emperors trying to build the biggest empire.
Chinese philosophy has taught us for thousands of years: 「知足者，貧亦樂，不知足者，富亦憂」又有說：「禍莫大於不知足。」
Real joy does not come from winning against others or showing off. Real joy begins when we stop and notice the good things we already have.
Remember, happiness is FREE. Count the true blessings we have, when we realize how blessed we are, we stop complaining about what we lack, and we start feeling thankful and happy.
I once worked on a big puzzle with my family. We spent hours putting all the pieces together, but we discover at the very end that one small piece was missing. It was so frustrating because without that single piece, the whole picture felt incomplete.
In fact, every one of us is like a small piece in a giant puzzle. You might feel small or ordinary compared to others. But in life, every single piece matters. If your piece is missing, the whole picture is not complete.
You do not need to do something famous to live a meaningful life. Just be a good friend, be kind to your family, be a good citizen to our country, and do your best every day, make the right decisions when you need to choose.
Let us open our eyes today, be aware of our daily blessings, and find joy and peace in the simple things around us.
Mr Kwan YW