沒有一種苦難是徒然的 — 黎智英、戴耀廷與的信仰堅持

In an age where authoritarianism suppresses dissent and truth-tellers are thrown into prison, the witness of Jimmy Lai and Benny Tai stands as a beacon of hope—grounded in the unshakable conviction that, in Christ, no suffering is purposeless.These two men—Jimmy Lai, a devout Catholic and founder of Apple Daily, and Benny Tai, a Protestant legal scholar, co-founder of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, and my senior classmate from high school—have chosen the narrow path. They are paying the price for peacefully defending truth, justice, and freJimmy Lai’s Catholic convictions have only deepened behind bars. He draws strength from Scripture, daily prayer, and—when available—the Eucharist. One figure who has long served as his spiritual guide is Cardinal Joseph Zen, the emeritus bishop of Hong Kong. A fearless advocate for religious freedomLai has called his time in prison “God’s grace.” This is not resignation—it is clarity. He lives out the Catholic teaching on redemptive suffering, offering up his pain in union with Christ’s Passion. This is not escapism; it is the mystery of the Cross: that out of suffering, love and grace can oveTogether, Lai and Tai embody the spirit of Colossians 1:24, where Paul says, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake… for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” Their trials are not merely personal—they are sacrificial offerings for a greater good: the hope of freedom for future generatioTheir faith is not passive; it is prophetic. Cardinal Zen, now in his 90s and a mentor to both men, remains unafraid to speak truth to power. His example continues to inspire them. He reminds us that the Church must stand where Christ stands: with the persecuted, the poor, and the imprisoned.Jimmy Lai and Benny Tai are not heroes simply because they suffer. They are heroes because they have found purpose in their suffering—offering it up for justice, for their people, and for God. Their lives form part of a divine tapestry—a pattern of faith, sacrifice, and hope stitched into the story And through them, we are reminded: In Christ, no suffering is wasted. No suffering is purposeless.