However, there was one hiccup. I was given a mike, not the lectern! So, there was nowhere for me to put my paper! I had to do the homily from my head! Unfortunately, my memory was no longer as avid as in my younger days. I forgot some beautiful lines!
Here is the homily. I hope you enjoy.
「浪子回頭」是一個家傳戶曉的故事。故事中的父親象徵了天主，小兒子代表了罪人，而大兒子是那些自以為是的人。罪人不識好歹，離棄天主，結果自討苦吃。痛定思痛後，決定悔改，回歸父家，結果得到天主的寬恕，得到天主的接納。
相信大家都有聽過「陳振聰受浸，信奉耶穌基督」的新聞。如果我們懷疑他的誠意，不能接納一個曾經裝神弄鬼，既貪心，又對太太不忠的男人，悔改皈依的話，我們就好像比喻中的長子所影射的法利塞人與及所有自以為是的人，他們好像長子一樣，未能體諒親心，領悟到天主的心意了。天主是非常歡喜，非常渴望看見我們悔改，回歸父家，與祂共享永恆的生命。這一點相信大家一定已經十分明白，大家一定不會好像大兒子那樣心胸狹窄，不能接受天主對眾生，特別對罪人的慈悲。
天主是忠信的，千年猶如一日。祂二千年前對猶太人的慈愛，今天對現代人仍然一樣慈愛。福音成書，已幾乎接近二千年。不過，它是天主的啟示、天主的說話，二千年後的今日，它仍然有說不盡的話，向我們傾訴。
所以，不要忽略故事中的一些細節，因為它們亦包含了不少的智慧和真理，值得我們「默存心中，反覆思量」。例如有關分家產的細節。今天，我邀請大家與我一起默想這些細節，對我們說怎麽。
- 故事是這樣開始的：
「一個人，有兩個兒子，那小的，向父親說：父親，請把我應得的一份家產，分給我吧！父親於是把產業，分給他們。」
即是說，分家產是由小兒子提出。按理，在亞洲地區，長子嫡孫是享有特殊地位，而聖經亦有祝福長子的記載，所以，哪會有小兒子提出分家產的可能！他這樣提出，很大可能是大兒子慫恿他這樣做，所謂「精人出口，笨人出手」。父親是一個明理的人，哪會不明箇中袖裡，但他仍然把產業分給他們兩兄弟。其中有很大的做人道理，值得大家進一步默想。 - 我們很容易被粤語長片的橋段所引導，用中國人分家產的印象生硬的套進去，以為父親把全部的產業分給兩兄弟。長子嫡孫分雙份，負責供養父親；又或者現代化一些，兩兄弟平分產業，輪流負責供養。但很奇怪，比喻中的父親竟然保留了一份給自己。福音是這樣記載的。父親去勸解大兒子的時候說了以下的一句話：
「孩子！你常同我在一起，凡我所有的，都是你的；」
所以比喻中的分家產，並不是分了全部的家產，父親仍保留了可觀的一份！所以他說「凡我所有的，都是你的。」聽起來有點兒不合理。
請大家注意，在真實的人類歷史社會制度當中，父親一定要安排好全部家產的分配，否則，不在生前亦必在死後，一定會引起爭產的是非，遺禍子孫。 - 不要奇怪為何分家後，比喻中的父親仍保留一份給自己。其實，他並不是故意留一份給自己，而是他的兒子根本無可能瓜分全部的家產！我們作為天主子女的，又怎能分得盡天主的家產呢？一日我們在天主身邊，一日我們都能享有「起初如何，今日亦然，直到永遠，及世之世，亞孟」的恩寵。能夠留在天父的身邊是一件多麽有福的事。
- 就算我們能分盡俗世的父親的一分一毫，如果能夠與上了年紀的老父同住、孝順他；能凝望、默想你的根源，回憶、細味他對你的照顧，你是多麽有福，多麽令人羨慕。
皈依天主不是一時衝動的事，而是聖保祿所說的「一生努力不懈的賽事」。保祿告訴我們，作為基督徒是蒙召成聖的。「洗禮」，就是「成聖馬拉松」的起步，以後還有很多抽筋、口渴和跌倒的機會。所以，教會在沿途設有「告解聖事」、「修和聖事」去醫療大家的傷口，去完成這場「成聖馬拉松」賽事。
我邀請大家在這個星期，找一本【天主教教理】，或者上網搜尋，或者用智能手機的Apps，從第1423條開始讀一讀，重溫一點基本的道理。然後星期五晚返聖堂拜苦路、辦告解，為過復活節，好好作準備。
天主保佑。
The Prodigal Son is a well-known parable in which the father symbolizes God, the younger son sinners and the elder son those self-righteous people. Not knowing the seriousness of the consequences, sinners rebel against God and suffer. After chastened by sufferings, sinners decide to repent and return to God, obtaining forgiveness and acceptance.
I trust most of you have heard of the recent news about Tony Chan's conversion to Christianity. If we doubt his sincerity, if we do not accept the repentance of a greedy rascal who is also unfaithful to his wife, we are no different from the elder son in the parable, the Pharisees in Jesus' time and all those self-righteous people the story warns against. Like them, we do not appreciate the mercy of God, our Father. God rejoices in seeing us repent, in returning to Him to share His eternal life. I believe all of you understand this point very well. You are not as narrow minded as the elder son who cannot accept God being merciful to all, especially to sinners.
God is faithful. A thousand years is just one day to Him. Two thousand years ago, He was merciful to the Jews. Today, He is merciful to modern men. The Gospels have been written for more than 2000 years. However, the revelation of God, the Word of God is still speaking to us, like there are endless words to say.
So, let us not ignore some details in the story because they contain wisdom and truth worthy of "keeping and pondering" in our hearts. For example, the details of sharing the property. Today, let us meditate together what this sharing of property is trying to tell us.
- Here is how the story begins:
"There was a man who had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.' And he divided his living between them." (Luke 15:11-12)
That is to say, it was the younger son who demanded the sharing. Theoretically speaking, anywhere in the continent of Asia, a younger son was in no position to make such a demand. First born sons enjoy special privileges. Even the Bible has records of blessing of the first born son, such as what Isaac did in Genesis. The younger son did not have a chance to demand sharing the property. Most likely, the elder son cheated the younger son to do it for him. Of course the father knew it. Yet he still divided the living between them. There is great truth in this detail which is worth further pondering. - We will be easily misguided by our Chinese conception of dividing the living and interpret it likewise. The first born son gets a double portion and is responsible for supporting the father; or in a modern context, the two brothers share equally and take turn to support the father. Surprisingly, the father in the parable keeps a portion for himself! According to the parable, when the father came out to invite the elder son to join the feasting, he said,
"Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours." (15:31)
So, in the parable, the sharing of property is not total. The father still keeps a handsome portion. That is why he said "all that is mine is yours".
This is surprising. Pay attention. In real life situations, the father must properly divide ALL his property. Otherwise, if not after his death, there will be disputes over his property even during his life time and this is disastrous for children. - Do not be surprised why in the parable the father still keeps a portion for himself. In fact, he does not deliberately keep a portion for himself. Rather, the children are unable to share all his property! How can we, as children of God, be able to share all that God has? As long as we stay with God, we will be able to enjoy His grace, "as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen." Staying with our heavenly Father is a blessing.
- Even if we are able to share the last cent of our earthly father, if we can still live with our aged parents, honour them, gaze and meditate our origin, remember and appreciate how he has nurture you. You are lucky and everybody envies you.
Although we have our Original Sin and our personal sins cleansed to join the Church and become children of God through baptism, it does not heal all the wounds inflicted and left behind by the Original Sin and bad habits in our nature. So, God helps us lead our Christian life well through the administration of Sacraments by the Church. The sacrament of Confirmation gives us the Holy Spirit to strengthen our spiritual life. Jesus unites with us through the sacrament of the Eucharist to continue his unfinished mission. Sacraments do not rain down from heaven like manna out of nothing. So, there is the sacrament of the Holy Orders to consecrate some specially called ministers to carry out the teaching, the governing and the sanctifying ministries. The sacrament of Matrimony consecrates man and women to lead married life to bear witness of God’s love to the world. The sacrament of Anointment strengthens the sick and elderly members to sublime their sufferings into support of evangelization like St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Last of all, the sacrament with many nicknames: the sacrament of Conversion, of Penance, of Confession, of Forgiveness, of Reconciliation (CCC 1423-4).
Conversion is not an impulsive thing, but like what St. Paul said, a competition of a life time. St. Paul tells us that Christians are called to become saints. Baptism is only the start of a 'Marathon of Sanctification'. Like a marathon, there will be many occasions in which we cramp, we thirst and fall. So, along the way, the Church administers the sacrament of confession and reconciliation to heal our wounds, to finish this Sanctification Marathon.
So, in this week, may I invite you to get hold of a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or search the Internet or run an Apps in your smart phone. Start reading from #1423 to review some basic doctrines. Then come back on Friday to join the Stations of the Cross, make a confession to prepare well for Easter.
May God bless us all.
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