信仰天主是美德 Believing In God Is A Virtue

天主聖三節，丙年
主題：信仰天主是美德

科學家告訴我們，人類所生活的宇宙，由時間和空間所組成，是從一顆超級原子的「大爆炸」開始的。雖然這個「大爆炸」祇是一個理論，仍有很多破綻有待克服；但這個理論的可信性很高，因為它符合我們的生活經驗。首先，每一個個體都佔據著、充斥在一個三維的連續空間，不會同時佔據著兩個或多個不連續的空間。現在你在上水「基督之母堂」參加主日彌撒，你不能同時在上水「彩匯酒樓」同朋友飲早茶，或者同時出席兒孫在「上水官立中學」的學校禮堂舉行的頒獎典禮。我們同時佔據幾個不連續的空間祇有一個可能，就是「身首二處」，或者「五馬分屍」！其次，世上的萬事萬物，有開始，也有結束。我們每個人都由母親誕生，絕大部份人，除了【聖經】裡的某幾個人物，或者中國民間故事裡得道升仙的人物；又或者其他文化裡的神人混合體之外，他們的生命都會結束的一日。到時，組成他們身體的分子會分解，最後歸於塵土。簡而言之，我們都是歷史的產物，在特定的時空之中生活。

現代人接受了科技的洗禮，凡事講求實質的證據。倘若拿不出真憑實據而相信，就是落後、迷信、主觀和愚不可及等等。科學是客觀的，可以重複其他科學家所做過的實驗，獲得相同的數據和結論。『能夠重複做實驗並且獲得相同的結果』是一個非常嚴格的尺度，應用在一般的自然科學，例如物理學、化學還可以，在天文學領域重複地做實驗就相當困難，甚至不可能了。所以「大爆炸」祇可以是一個理論，而不是「定律」，因為不可能重複做實驗。不但天文學，即使社會科學也不可能，因為在人類身上做社會科學實驗，例如「心理測驗」、問卷等，便完全失效，不能重複！原來石頭、液體和空氣是沒有記憶的，做一百次實驗都可以獲得相同的結果。但人類有記憶，懂得學習。完成第一次心理測驗可能需要五分鐘。但做同一個測驗十次，他還需要五分鐘纔完成嗎？倘若人沒有記憶，不懂學習；那麼政府投資教育，栽培人才，豈不是把金錢倒在大海裡嗎？所以，那些不學無術，對科學一知半解的人，批評宗教信仰是「主觀」、「迷信」，就好像有些人用筲箕運送食水、用鋤頭寫字一樣，用錯了工具，根本沒有適當的理據，判斷「宗教」這個社會制度是「迷信」、是「落後」。所以「宗教是人民的鴉片」，祇不過是一個政治口號，不是真理。

宗教信仰不單祇是一大堆教條，更加是一種「情操」，表現在信徒的言行和態度上。我們稱這些言行和態度做「德行」。基督徒相信兩個教條：即天主是「三位一體」；耶穌基督是真人真天主。清楚明白這兩個教條的人，可以是邏輯無懈可擊的神學博士，但不一定是一個令人敬重的基督徒！分別就在「情操」上。天主是三位一體的，是愛和共融合一的表現。倘若基督徒沒有愛心，喜歡挑撥離間，漁人得利…他們有天主聖三的「情操」，令人信服嗎？

向現代人述說「天主」的存在並不容易。首先，從宣講者角度考慮，有誰能掌握天主的奧秘呢？天主曾藉祂的發言人，提醒我們說：「誰曾用手心量過水…或做過祂的參謀…祂曾向誰請教過…指示明智的行徑呢？」（依40:12-14）「因為我的思念不是你們的思念…就如天離地有多高…我的思念離你們的思念也有多高」（55:8-9）。為甚麼是這樣的呢？因為天主是超越我們所能認知的宇宙以外的天主。倘若天主不主動把自己啟示給我們，我們沒有能力發現天主。有人曾自作聰明說詭辯的話：「如果天主創造人類，那麼誰創造天主呢？」真可笑，連定義也未掌握。既然是「受造物」，又甚稱得上是「天主、造物主」呢？聖保祿說得好：「…天主的愚妄總比人明智，天主的懦弱總比人堅強」（格前1:25）。那麼，難道我們就祇有相信，而不去運用天賦的智力思考辨別嗎？這與迷信有何分別？對！我們應該採取「中庸」之道，做恰當的事，不要走向極端。即是說，運用天賦的智力思考辨別，是應該的；但也要承認人力的不足之處，適可而止，謙遜地接受和承認天主的啟示。

天主的啟示是甚麼？主耶穌所愛的門徒，在聖神降臨後，花了超過六十年的時間默想反省，留給後世的教會一本福音、三封書信和《默示錄》，我們從中獲益良多。他說：「天主是愛」（若一4:8b）。天主愛「按祂的肖像」所創造的人類，於是為他們預備了一個適合他們生存的宇宙，在那裡他們可以找到他們的創造者，並與祂來往，過幸福快樂的生活（創1:26）。可惜人類背叛了他們的造物主，破壞了天人之間，人與人之間和人與宇宙之間的和諧。天主不願意看見祂的傑作喪亡，便派遣祂的聖子降生成人，救贖世人，「天主竟這樣愛了世界，甚至賜下了自己的獨生子，使凡信祂的人不至喪亡，反而獲得永生」（若3:16）。天父愛祂所創造的世界，這世界即使被罪惡所破壞和污染，天父並沒有放棄她，還派了祂的聖子救贖她。

今天的福音進一步透露了天主聖三的關係。首先，主耶穌說：「當那一位真理之神來時，祂要把你們引引入一切真理…並把未來的事傳告給你們」（16:13）。很明顯，這位「真理之神」與聖父聖子不同，但又與聖父聖子有關係。於是主耶穌繼續說：「…祂要把由我所領受的，傳告給你們」（16:14）。即是說，聖神，那「真理之神」是聖子所派遣的。主耶穌再補充說：「凡父所有的一切，都是我的」（16:15a）。簡單地說，這位惟一的天主就是「愛」，我們從三方面領會到這位愛我們的天主：就是創造我們的天父、救贖我們的天主子、和啟示我們的聖神。這「三位一體」的天主是共融合一的，所以人類都應該是共融合一的。共融合一並不是劃一的，而是保持著個別特色的「和而不同」的合一！

各位親愛的基督徒，你們領受了聖神，憑藉聖神的恩賜，結出聖神的九個美德，即聖神九果，即信仰天主聖三的「情操」，就是「…仁愛、喜樂、平安、忍耐、良善、溫和、忠信、柔和、節制…」（迦5:22-23），成為「萬民的福源」（創12:3），促進世人的共融合一。因為我們相信永恆的天主是信實的，既許必踐。亞孟。
願三位一體的天主保祐大家！

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2022年反省
圖片鳴謝：

可以保持緘默嗎？ Can We Maintain Our Reticence?

【福傳系列（六）】
可以保持緘默嗎？（瑪5:33-37）

讓我們先澄清為甚麼法律接受「發誓」程序。猶太文化對法治，貢獻良多。他們不但留下「十誡」給後世，而且是他們提出「凡殺人的案件，應依據幾個人的口供，纔可處決殺人犯；惟獨一人作證，不足以將人宣判死刑」（戶35:30; 達13:36-41）。倘若真的祇有一個見證人，如何是好？憑甚麼推翻見證人的話，而接受被告喊冤呢？倘若見證人在說真話，難道因為少了一個見證人而讓犯法的人逍遙法外嗎？於是，發誓求天主做見證，成了權宜之計。因為猶太人相信，沒有人膽敢妄呼天主的聖名，來支持自己行不義。兩個見證人合謀行不義，誣告蘇撒納，就是一個好例子，說明即使有兩個見證人，也不能保證裁判是公義的。

於是耶穌基督便杜絕了這個權宜之計，這個「發誓」程序。因為世界之大，除了相信天主的人之外，還有很多不相信天主存在的人；和表面相信，但心裡仍懷疑的人。即使他們按法律條文發誓，他們未必是真心的。他們的心是怎樣，祇有天主知道，法庭是無法確實的！天主子的要求是簡單易行的：「你們的話當是：是就說是，非就說非；其他多餘的便是出於邪惡」（瑪5:37）。

「是就說是，非就說非」，不需要潤飾、加重語氣、畫蛇添足、圓滑地不傷感情、不令當事人尷尬等等，不是最簡單易行嗎？可惜人性受了「原罪」污染，再加上沒有靈性生命的修煉，人總會說些「多餘」的話來潤飾，來加強說服力，令場面不會尷尬…結果，「毒藥」披上了「糖衣」，而真話卻被埋藏在厚厚的「調味料」之下，你們來判斷是否邪惡！

古語有云：「一言既出，駟馬難追」，可見說話是不應隨便出口的。且看，據《對觀福音》的記載，耶穌基督受審時，不是保持緘默，並沒有為自己爭取公義的裁判嗎？所以，我們可以跟隨基督的榜樣，選擇保持緘默。不過，一切應以天主的旨意為依歸，正如達尼爾的例子一樣。上主俯聽了蘇撒納的喊冤，「便感了動了一個青年人的聖善心靈，這青年名叫達尼爾」，為她申冤（達13:45-49）。請注意，這已經超出了「發誓」的範圍，而是憑「良心」說話了。

親愛的朋友，你知否救人的靈魂，是最大的法律嗎？而最大的誡命，不出愛主、愛人。所以關顧身邊的人靈性的死活，實在義不容辭。向他們宣講與天父修和的福音吧！成功與否，由天父決定，不用我們操心。放心大膽宣講吧，我們祇不過是祂的器皿，略盡綿力而已。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：shop.artuk.org, www.sohu.com, grok.com

[Evangelization Series VI]
Can We Maintain Our Reticence? (Matthew 5:33-37)

Let me clarify why the law accepts the procedure of “Oath-taking”. The Jewish culture contributes a lot to the rule of the law. Not only did they leave the posterity the Ten Commandments, but the Jews also enshrines, “Whenever someone kills another, the evidence of witnesses is required to kill the murderer. A single witness does not suffice for putting a person to death” (Numbers 35:30, Daniel 13:36-41). If there is only one witness, what is to be done? With what can we overturn the words of the witness and accept the not-guilty pledge of the defendant? If the witness speaks the truth, shall we set the culprit free because there is one witness short? Thus, invoking God as a witness became a compromise. The Jews believe that nobody dare to call upon the name of God to support his wickedness. The case of two elders framing Susanna illustrates well that having two witnesses is unable to guarantee a fair judgment.

Jesus Christ wants to eradicate this compromise, this oath-taking procedure. The world is big. Besides people who believe in God, there are many who do not believe in the existence of God and those who believe with reservation. Even if they take oath according to the letters of the law, they may not be genuine. Only God knows their conscience. The court of the law is unable to ascertain! The demand of the Son of God is simple and easy, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No’. Anything more is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37).

Isn’t “‘Yes’ means ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ means ‘No’”, no need to embellish, to emphasize, to decorate, not to offense sensibility and not to embarrass etc. simple and easy? Regrettably, humanity is contaminated by the “Original Sin”, together with a lack of spiritual exercises, men tend to embellish, to convince, to be diplomatic … Consequently, poison puts on a sweet coat, and the truth is buried under thick layers of dressings. It is evil, isn’t it?

As an aphorism goes, “A four-horse chariot is unable to chase after a spoken word”. Look! According to the narratives of the Synoptic gospels, when Jesus was on trial, didn’t He remain reticent and did not fight for a righteous judgment? Thus, we can follow the example of Jesus and choose to remain silent. However, God’s will be done, like the case of Daniel. God heard the prayer of Susanna, “stirred up the Holy Spirit of a young boy named Daniel” to fight for her justice (Daniel 13:45-49). Notice that this has already gone beyond “oath-taking” and arrived at “speaking from the conscience”.

Beloved brethren. Don’t you know that the salvation of souls is the supreme law in the Church? The greatest commandment does not go beyond loving the Lord and loving your neighbour. Therefore, there should be no hesitation in taking care of the well-being of the spiritual life of the people around you. Proclaim the gospel of reconciliation to them! There is no need to worry about successes or failures because the Father decides. Proclaim boldly! We are merely His vessels contributing negligible efforts. Amen.
God bless!

吾未見好德如好色者 I’ve Never Seen a Person Enjoying Virtue Like Beauty

【福傳系列（五）】
吾未見好德如好色者（瑪5:27-32）

「不可姦淫」（出20:14）是天主頒布的十誡之一，是禁止與婚姻配偶以外的人物發生性行為。禁止的範圍包括婚姻以外的、同性的、自我的或異物的性行為。這誡命的精神是尊重婚姻、尊重身體。尊重婚姻容易明白，因為家庭是社會的基礎，而婚姻就是家庭的基礎。夫妻倆組織一個家庭，先有夫妻關係，然後纔有父母子女兄弟姊妹的關係！家庭擔起了整個社會承先啟後的任務。一個沒有下一代的社會，是一個沒有發展希望的社會，不久便會在歷史中消失了。

但為甚麼身體值得尊重呢？很簡單，因為人的身體是按天主的肖像所造（創1:26）。即使是無神論的科學家，還沒有找到千真萬確的證據，否定這句經文！而這句經文所引申的倫理道德，為現代社會所倡議的各種人權，提供了基礎 。祇要是人，就享有人權，他們的身體便應受尊重！作為基督徒，聖保祿教訓我們，信徒的身體是聖神的宮殿（格前6:19）。所以作為耶穌基督的追隨者，怎能不尊重自己和別人的身體，尊重供奉在身體內的天主聖神呢？

所謂「道高一尺，魔高一丈」，犯法的人總可以找到法律條文的破綻和漏洞，逍遙法外！所以耶穌基督從根本入手，教導我們避免「引狼入室」，失足犯姦淫！眼睛是「靈魂之窗」，看美麗的事物使靈魂舒暢，帶來愉快的情緒，原本是一樁美事，而且是一份修煉的功夫。「所謂誠其意者，毋自欺也，如惡惡臭，如好好色，此之謂自謙，故君子慎其獨也！」（禮記‧大學），「慎獨」是修煉的功夫。可惜人性受到了「原罪」的影響，所追求的不再是「好色」，而是私慾偏情；加上缺乏「四樞德」的修煉，結果失去節制，放任自己的淫念，犯上了千奇百怪的姦淫！難怪孔子也感慨地說：「已矣乎！吾未見好德如好色者也。」（論語‧衛靈公）

天主子明白關鍵就在「靈魂之窗」。所以祂用誇張的口吻，邀請我們有「壯士斷臂」的態度，既挖眼，又斷臂，培養「好德如好色」的精神。「因為喪失你一個肢體，比你全身投入地獄 ，為你更好」（瑪5:29-30）！祇有修煉德行，纔能還原被「原罪」所污染了的人性，纔能真實地「好好色，惡惡臭」，而不再追求虛幻的私慾偏情了。

親愛的讀者，這麼振聾發聵的福音，豈能「藏在地下」（25:25），快快宣揚吧！亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：businessweekly.com.tw, global.udn.com, grok.com,

[Evangelization Series V]
I’ve Never Seen a Person Enjoying Virtue Like Beauty (Matthew 5:27-32)

“Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery” (Exodus 20:14) is one of the Ten Commandments God gives. It forbids sexual intercourses with someone/something other than our marital spouses. It includes extra-marital, homosexual, solitary or fetishistic sexual behaviours. The spirit of this commandment is to respect marriage as well as to respect body. It is easy to understand why we should respect marriage because family is the foundation of the society and marriage is the foundation of families. Husband and wife build a family. It starts with the spousal relationship. Then comes parents, children and siblings etc. Families take up the sustention mission of the entire society. A society without the next generation loses hope of growth and development. Soon it will vanish in human history.

But why does the body worth respect? Simple! It is because the human body was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Even atheist scientists have not found any conclusive evidence to refute this verse! And yet, the ethics and morality derived from this verse provide the foundation of all sorts of human rights modern people advocate. As long as an agent is a person, he enjoys human rights. Their bodies should be respected! As Christians, St. Paul teaches us that our body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Thus, how can Christians not respect our own bodies and others’, not respect the Holy Spirit in the bodies?

As an aphorism goes, “The outlaws outwit the sheriff”. People will always find cracks and loop-holes in written laws and take advantage! Thus, Jesus Christ goes to the root and teaches us not to invite the devils and fall into adultery! The eye is the window to the soul. Seeing beautiful things soothes the soul and brings joyful emotions. It is good and can be a spiritual exercise. “‘Making the thoughts sincere’ means allowing no self-deception, such as hating a bad smell and enjoying what is beautiful. This is self-humility. Therefore a superior person is watchful over himself when he is alone” (Liji, Da Xue). Watching over oneself when one is alone is self-discipline and is a spiritual exercise. Regrettably, humanity suffers from the “Original Sin”. Instead of desiring what is beautiful, we crave for concupiscence. Furthermore, with a lack of practice of the Cardinal Virtues, we lose temperance, allowing our lust to commit all sorts of queer acts! No wonder Confucius lamented, “It’s all over! I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves beauty” (Analects, Wei Ling Gong).

The Son of God knows the key is the “Window to the soul”. In hyperbole, He invites us to have the determination of a strong warrior, to gouge out an eye and amputate an arm in order to disciple a spirit of enjoying virtues as beauty. “It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna” (Matthew 5:29-30)! Only through practising virtues can we restore the humanity contaminated by the “Original Sin”, genuinely “enjoy true beauty and hate foul stints” and will not crave for concupiscence.

Beloved brethren. How can we bury such a gospel that opens the deaf ears in the ground (25:25)? Go and proclaim it quickly! Amen.
God bless!

掌握自己的情緒有何難？ Is Managing Our Emotions Difficult?

【福傳系列（四）】
掌握自己的情緒有何難？（瑪5:20-26）

在星期二的默想中，我曾說：「我們很容易把『真理』理性化和抽象化，以至『真理』祇在頭腦裡，不在肺腑中！」，今天的福音說明了，真理決不停留在腦袋裡，要實踐到情緒裡去！

憤怒是一種基本的情緒，發怒就是宣洩這情緒。我們稱有些憤怒為「義怒」，是符合理性的和受約束的。其他的發怒，祇是一時的痛快，後果嚴重。例如在中國的戰國時代，我們可以找到「義怒」與肆意「發怒」的對比。事緣秦王嬴政想侵佔安陵，唐睢向安陵君自薦做說客，希望秦王罷手，以免生靈塗炭。知道來意後，嬴政對唐睢發怒說：「天子之怒，伏屍百萬，流血千里」！唐睢從容地答道：「若士必怒，伏屍二人，流血五步，天下縞素，今日是也。」挺劍而起。嬴政立刻投降，放棄侵佔安陵的計劃（戰國策‧魏策四），嬴政總算能在緊急關頭掌握到自己的情緒。但在起初，加音不聽從天主的警告，放任自己的憤怒，結果殺死了自己的弟弟亞伯爾（創4:5-8）！可見人不單要「知善惡」，更要掌管和修煉自己的情緒！能掌握到自己和別人的情緒，沒有比這更重要的靈修了！

梅瑟法律有明文規定「不可殺人」（出20:13），是十誡之一；又規定「以命償命」（21:23），但仍要處理一些誤殺或報血仇的個案，所以要經過「裁判」的程序。依據幾個見證人的證言，纔可以宣判死刑，處決殺人犯（戶35:30）。可見「應受裁判」不一定會死！

耶穌基督要求門徒的義德，要超過經師和法利塞人的義德（瑪5:20），是甚麼意思呢？天主子要求我們不應像經師和法利塞人那樣僵化地遵守法律條文，而應該以立法的本意和初心，履行法律條文。「不可殺人」的初心就是尊重生命和尊重生命的創造主！但耶穌基督更進一步地提昇了「不可殺人」的精神，要求門徒掌握自己的情緒。向自己的兄弟說「瘋子」，比說「傻子」的後果更嚴重。說「傻子」祇受「裁判」，未必會死；但說「瘋子」肯定會遭受懲罰，而且是下地獄！

親愛的朋友，耶穌基督的忠告是輕鬆的，並不沉重難做。倘若你發覺到弟兄有埋怨你的事（瑪5:23）…注意，是弟兄埋怨你，覺得你對他不公平！即使你沒有不公平，主吩咐你主動地找你的弟兄，釋出善意，與他修和。看！這完全不是對錯的問題、腦袋的問題，而是修煉情緒的功夫！你主動修和頂多是損失了少許面子或尊嚴。若能少一個敵人，多一個朋友，何樂而不為呢？ 亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：feeds-drcn.cloud.huawei.com.cn, grok.com, creator.nightcafe.studio

[Evangelization Series IV]
Is Managing Our Emotions Difficult? (Matthew 5:20-26)

In the meditation on Tuesday, I said that we “would easily made truth rational and abstract so much so that it remains in our heads and not in our hearts!” The gospel passage today tells us that truth must not remain in our heads. We need to practise it in our emotions!

Anger is basic emotion. Showing fury is venting this emotion. We call some instances of anger “righteous” because they are rational and restrained. Other wraths are gratifying with serious consequences. For example, during the Warring Era in Chinese history, we can easily find contrasts of righteous anger and aggressive anger. One such story goes: Ying Zheng, King Qin wanted to invade Anling. Tang Ju volunteered to lobby, hoping that King Qin would stop lest commoners suffered. After knowing Tang Ju’s intention, King Qin was furious and said, “When an emperor is in wrath, millions die and blood streams for thousand miles!” Tang Ju calmly replied, “When a commoner has to be angry, 2 persons fall, blood streams for 5 steps. The whole country mourns and it is today”. Tang Ju drew his sword and rose. Ying Zheng immediately yielded and abandoned the invasion plan (Zhan Guo Ce, Wei Ce#4). Ying Zheng was sensible enough to manage his emotions at the critical moment. But in the beginning, Cain did not listen to God’s warning. He let his anger take over him and killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:5-8)! Thus, not only must we know Good from Evil, but we also need to manage and discipline our emotions! There is no spirituality more important than managing our emotions and others’!

Mosaic laws clearly forbid murder (Exodus 20:13). It is one of the Ten Commandments. Moreover, it is stipulated that “You shall give life for life” (21:23). But cases of homicides or blood vengeance need a judgment procedure to decide. The evidence of witnesses is required to kill the murderer. A single witness does not suffice for putting a person to death (Numbers 35:30). Thus, going through judgments does not necessarily results in death!

Jesus Christ demands the disciples’ righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20). What does it mean? The Son of God demands that we should not observe the letters of the Law rigidly as scribes and Pharisees did. We should follow the letters in the spirit, the original intentions when the regulations were written. The spirit of “Thou shalt not kill” is to respect life and to respect the Creator of life! But Jesus further elevates the spirit of no-murder and demands the disciples to manage their emotions. The consequence of calling his brother a “Fool” is more serious than calling his brother “Raqa” which only receives judgment and not necessarily death. But calling his brother a “Fool” will be punished in hell!

Beloved friends. The advice of Jesus Christ is light and not burdensome. If you recall that your brother has anything against you (Matthew 5:23) … Pay attention, it is your brother who has something against you, feeling that you have been unfair to him! Even if you have done nothing unfair, the Lord tells you to take the initiative to visit your brother, extend your good will and reconcile. Look! It is not a matter of right and wrong which is a rational question. Instead, it is a matter of disciplining your emotions! Taking the initiative to reconcile costs you a little face or dignity. If in the end you win a friend and lose an enemy, why not? Amen.
God bless!

平安是源源不絕的 Peace Is Inexhaustible

【福傳系列（三）】
平安是源源不絕的（瑪10:7-14）

相信大家對今天的福音不會感到陌生，讓我們一起默想今天觸動了我的一句：「倘若這一家是堪當的，你們的平安就必降臨到這一家；倘若是不堪當的，你們的平安仍歸於你們」（瑪10:13）。

首先，不要理會「堪當」是甚麼意思，因為這是天主的標準，不是人的標準。我們認為「不堪當」的，可能天主審視他們的良心時，判斷他們是「堪當」的，也未可知。基督不曾告誡過我們說：「你們不要判斷人，免得你們受判斷」（7:1）嗎？

「平安」則不同，因為它是天主賞賜給信徒的，所以我們應該清楚理解基督所說的「平安」是甚麼意思。在《瑪竇福音》，「平安」出現在3節之中，是指世上的「和平」（10:34）或者是指心中的「平安」（10:13; 28:9）。有趣的是，祇有《路加福音》和《若望福音》記載復活的主顯現給宗徒 時，祝福他們平安。瑪竇和馬爾谷沒有記載這份祝福，反而記載耶穌怪責他們無信和心硬！

那麼，這份心中的「平安」是甚麼意思呢？若望宗徒保存了這個啟示，主在最後晚餐時說：「我把平安留給你們，我將我的平安賜給你們：我所賜的給你們的，不像世界所賜的一樣。你們心裡不要煩亂，也不要膽怯」（若14:27）。世界所賜的平安、國際間所能維持的和平，是依賴大殺傷力的武器來達到的，所以是矛盾和不穩定的。真正的平安來自耶穌基督，有了它，我們的心不會煩亂，面對失敗、迫害和死亡時也不會膽怯。不但問心無愧，更能從容就義，以微笑迎接死亡！ 能夠獲得這種「平安」，表示這個人、這個家庭是天父認為「堪當」的，可以或者已經與天父和好如初，做了祂的子民、祂的義子（羅8:15; 迦4:5; 弗1:5）。

親愛的讀者，不要以為「平安」是有限的，即使「我們的平安降臨到這一家」，我們的平安不但沒有減少了，反而增多了。因為當我們看見有人接受福音，信主而獲得永生的時候，我們必定心滿意足，感謝讚頌天父。當人拒絕福音的時候，我們心安理得，沒有半點損失。我們要為他們的靈性生命祈禱，願天父對他們慈悲。這樣，我們的心裡，仍然擁有平安。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：creator.nightcafe.studio

[Evangelization Series III]
Peace Is Inexhaustible (Matthew 10:7-14)

I trust all of us are familiar with the gospel passage today. So let us meditate on a particular verse that touches me, “If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you” (Matthew 10:13).

Firstly, let us put aside the meaning of “worthy” because it is God’s standard, not ours. What is “not worthy” for us may probably be “worthy” in God’s eye when He judges their consciences. Hasn’t Jesus taught us, “Stop judging, that you may not be judged” (7:1)?

“Peace” is different because God gives it to the disciples. Thus we should understand clearly what Jesus means by “peace”. In the gospel of Matthew, “peace” appears in 3 verses, meaning “peace” on earth (10:34) or in our hearts (10:13, 28:9). It is interesting to observe that only the gospels of Luke and John mention how the Lord greeted the Apostles peace when He appeared to them after resurrection. But Matthew and Mark do not mention this blessing. Rather they mention how Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart!

Then, what does this “peace” in our hearts mean? John the Evangelist leaves us this revelation. In the Last Supper, the Lord says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). The peace the world gives and keeps internationally relies on weapons of mass destruction. Thus it is contradictory and unstable. True peace comes from Jesus Christ and with it, our hearts will not be troubled. Confronted with failures, persecutions and death etc., we will not be afraid. Not only are our conscience clean, but we are also calm to lay down our lives to bear witness to the Truth and smile to the face of death! Receiving this “peace” shows that the Father deems this person, this house worthy; has reconciled with them and they have become His people and His adopted children (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5).

Beloved brethren. Do not think that “peace” is in limited supply. Even if “our peace comes upon this house”, not only is our peace not diminished, but is instead increased. It is because when we see people accept the gospel, believe in the Lord and attain eternal life, our hearts will be satisfied. We shall thank and praise the Father. When people reject the gospel, our hearts remain in peace and we lose nothing. Let us pray for their spiritual lives. May the Father have mercy on them. Then, our hearts still possess a full share of peace. Amen.
God bless!

「光」象徵「真理」嗎？ Does Light Symbolize Truth?

【福傳系列（二）】
「光」象徵「真理」嗎？（瑪5:13-16）

現代人通常用「燈」，用「光」來象徵「真理」。為甚麼今天的《瑪竇福音》卻說是「善行」（瑪5:16）呢？誰對，誰錯呢？

要知道在【聖經】裡，達味是第一個使用「真理」這個詞彙的人。他祈禱感謝天主時說：「我主上主，惟有祢是天主！祢的話是真理，是祢向祢僕人應許了這些恩惠」（撒下7:28）。「真理」就是「上主的話」，是無可厚非的；但這樣論述，容易把「真理」理性化和抽象化，以至「真理」祇在頭腦裡，不在肺腑中！例如，達味這樣說：「祢的言語是我步履前的靈燈，是我路途上的光明」（詠119:105），他運用「光」來象徵「真理」。

感謝天主父派遣聖子降生成人，矯正我們在認識「真理」時容易犯的謬誤。若望宗徒寫福音時，志在重新演繹《梅瑟五書》。在《梅瑟五書》之中，天主的第一句說話就是「有光」（創1:3）。於是若望開宗明義地說，「聖言」就是天主，在「聖言」之內有生命，這生命是人的「光」（若1:1-4）。當若望講論天主子降生成人的奧跡時，他說：「於是，聖言成了血肉…我們見了祂的光榮，正如父獨生者的光榮，滿溢恩寵和真理」（1:14）。到耶穌受難前與十二宗徒吃「逾越節晚餐」時，祂更直截了當地說：「我就是道路、真理、生命，除非經過我，誰也不能到父那裡去」（14:6）。倘若我們承認「上主的話」是真理，我們也必須承認降生成人的「聖言」是「真理」！ 但更重要的，這「聖言」，是有血有肉的耶穌基督，祂以自己的生命演繹出「真理」的意義，就是「愛」；不是一般世俗的「愛」，而是為了對方的益處，不惜犧牲自己的愛，正如母親對子女的愛一樣。所以，當比拉多面對「真理」時問「甚麼是真理？」（18:38a），真是有眼無珠，選擇了視而不見（依6:9）！

倘若我們對「真理」尚有半點疑惑，或者覺得實踐「真理」有困難時，瑪竇宗徒的記載，絕對有幫助！他說：「照樣，你們的光也當在人前照耀，好使他們看見你們的善行，光榮你們在天之父」（瑪5:16）。可見不需要殉道，即使是微末的「善行」，也足以實踐真理，讓人歸光榮於天父。令人歸光榮於天父，這不就是「福傳」了嗎？

親愛的讀者，原來傳福音是出於對身邊的人的愛、是善行、是實踐真理、是歸光榮於在天大父的使命。你關心愛護你身邊的人，記掛他們靈性生命的死活嗎？
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：creator.nightcafe.studio

[Evangelization Series II]
Does Light Symbolize Truth? (Matthew 5:13-16)

Modern people usually symbolize truth with lamp or light. Then why does the Matthew passage today symbolize “good deeds” (Matthew 5:16) instead? Who is right, who is wrong?

In the Bible, David was the first person to use the term “truth”. When he prayed to thank God, he said, “Since You, LORD God, are truly God and Your words are truth and You have made this generous promise to Your servant” (2 Samuel 7:28). To say that “the words of the Lord” is “truth” is not wrong. But saying so would easily made truth rational and abstract so much so that it remains in our heads and not in our hearts! For example, David says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path” (Psalms 119:105). He made use of “light” to symbolize “truth”.

We thank God the Father to send His Son to incarnate, to take flesh to correct us from fallacies when we try to know the “truth”. When John, the Evangelist, wrote the gospel, he tried to write a treatise on the Torah in which the first words of God is “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). Thus, John starts writing that the Word was God; and there was life in the Word; and this life was the light of the human race etc. (John 1:1-4). When John narrates the mystery of Incarnation, he says, “And the Word became flesh … we saw His glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (1:14). When Jesus ate the Last Supper with the Twelve before His Passion, He spoke directly, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (14:6). If we profess that the Word of the Lord is truth, we must also confess that the incarnated Word is truth!

But more importantly, this Word is the human person of Jesus Christ. He interprets the meaning of “truth” with His own life: love. Not the secular love with which we are familiar but “agape”, the love which drives us to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the others, such as the way mothers love their children. Thus, when Pontius Pilate asked “What is truth?” (18:38a) in front of the Truth in person, he chose to be blind and not to see (Isaiah 6:9)!

If there remains any doubt about “truth”, or feeling difficult to put “truth” into practice, Matthew’s narrative absolutely helps! He says, “Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16). We may confidently conclude that to die a martyrdom is not necessary. Even a negligible “good deed” is good enough to practise truth and make people glorify our heavenly Father. Isn’t making others glorify God evangelization?

Beloved brethren. Evangelization begins with our love and care of people around us. It is a good deed, a practice of truth, giving glory to our heavenly Father and it is a mission. Do you love the people around you? Do you care about the life and death of their spiritual life?
God bless!

我必不留下你們為孤兒 I Will Not Leave You Orphans

【福傳系列（一）】
我必不留下你們為孤兒 （若19:25-27）

除了亞當之外，所有人都有母親，有些人還有不只一個！除了物質上的母親外，我們還有法律上的，和靈性上的母親。可能你會問，為甚麼我們須要關心靈性上的母親呢？是須要的，因為這是人性的基本需求！有母親呵護和教養的人，與因為種種原因而喪失了母愛的人比較，他們之間的自我形象、性格、學習能力、辦事能力、親和力以及社交能力的差別，高下立見。失去母愛的人的痛苦，恐怕祇有一闕『世上祇有媽媽好』，纔能充份傳意！

今天的福音記載了耶穌在十字架上向聖母瑪利亞「託孤」的事蹟。祂稱呼瑪利亞為「女人」，並非沒有禮貎，而是在這莊嚴的時刻，天主子以「踏碎古蛇頭顱者」身份，向生祂的女人（創3:15）說話。祂固然是「妳的兒子」（若19:26），但保祿宗徒教導我們，教會是「基督的奧體」（格前12:12-13）。所以，基督之母，也就是「教會之母」了！做兒子的，孝愛母親是天經地義的事（出20:12）。所以作為基督的信徒，也應當孝愛這位「教會之母」，享受她的教養！

天主子離開了這個世界，返回天上，坐在聖父的右邊。祂在最後晚餐時曾向我們許諾：「我必不留下你們為孤兒，我要回到你們這裡來」（若14:18）。耶穌如何兌現祂的承諾呢？就在十字架上，基督把未來的教會，託付給聖母瑪利亞照顧，直到祂光榮再來之日。耶穌在升天前召集了120人（宗1:15）。聖神降臨前，聖母已經立刻開始擔起母親的任務，與眾人「同心合意地專務祈禱」（1:14）。正如耶穌基督因聖神降孕，由童貞瑪利亞誕生。所以，聖神亦在五旬節，藉童貞瑪利亞，誕生了「基督的奧體」，當日便有三千人藉水和聖神的洗禮，加入了教會（2:41）。如今聖母已蒙召升天，教會深信她在天上，「仍繼續盡行對基督肢體的母親職分，在被救者的靈魂中，分擔產生和發展超性生命的工作」（聖教宗保祿六世手諭《天主子民的信經》，1968年）。

親愛的讀者，今天是「教會之母」紀念日，我們慶祝自己不是孤兒，不再孤獨，因為天主子在十字架上，拜託聖母瑪利亞，「使得救的人加入會眾」（宗2:47）。世上還有許多「孤兒」，需要我們伸出援手。請關顧他們靈性生命的生死。亞孟。 天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：creator.nightcafe.studio/studio

[Evangelization Series I]
I Will Not Leave You Orphans (John 19:25-27)

All human beings except Adam have mothers. Some even have more than one! Besides physical mothers, we have legal mothers as well as spiritual mothers. You may wonder why we need to care about spiritual mothers. It is necessary because this is a basic need of being human! In contrast to people who have mothers to care and to raise up, those who have lost motherly love for various reasons have lower self-esteem, personality, learning skills, problem solving skills, affinity and social skills etc. Their pains can only be sufficiently conveyed by a popular song “On Earth Only Mothers Are Good”!

The gospel passage today tells us how, while hanging on the cross, Jesus entrusted the Church to the care of Our Lady. The Son of God called her “woman” not out of disrespect, but at this solemn moment spoke in the capacity of the woman’s offspring who strikes at the Serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). He is of course “your son” (John 19:26), but St. Paul teaches us that the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Thus, the Mother of Christ is also the Mother of the Church! It is God’s will that we should honour our mothers (Exodus 20:12). As followers of Christ, we should also honour this Mother of the Church and enjoy her loving care and raising up!

The Son of God has left this world, returned to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. But during the Last Supper, He pledged, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). How would Jesus honour His pledge? On the cross, He entrusted the future Church to the care of Our Lady until He returns gloriously on the Last Day. Before His ascension, Jesus gathered 120 disciples (Acts 1:15). Before the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Our Lady had already taken up her motherly role to devote with one accord to prayer with all of them (1:14). Just as Jesus Christ “was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary”, on Pentecost, the Mystical Body of Christ was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On that day, 3000 persons were baptized and added to the Church (2:41). Now that Our Lady was assumed body and soul into heaven, the Church firmly believes that “The Blessed Mother of God, the New Eve, Mother of the Church, continues in heaven her maternal role with regard to Christ’s members, cooperating with the birth and growth of divine life in the souls of the redeemed” (Credo of the People of God, #15, by Pope Paul VI, June 30, 1968).

Beloved brethren, today is the memorial of the Mother of the Church. We celebrate that we are not orphans and alone because the Son of God had asked the Blessed Virgin Mary while He was being crucified to help add “to their number those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). There are still many “orphans” on earth who need our helping hands. Please extend our helping hand to care for the life and death of their spiritual life. Amen.
God bless!