主題：重溫「平信徒」的王者職務
在今天強調民主、人權的世界， 我們慶祝耶穌基督普世君王節，是否太封建，太不合時宜呢？其實，人不能單獨生存。無論是原始的世界或者先進的社會，人必須團結纔能生存。無論用甚麼稱號，例如酋長、皇帝、總統或者總裁，任何團體或組織必須有領袖。這個領袖之所以是領袖，可以源於他個人的能力或者魅力；可以是傳統習俗；可以來自團體所建立的合約或憲法。
耶穌基督是怎樣成為君王呢？是靠魅力、抑或是傳統世襲、抑或是憲法呢？
保祿宗徒在第二篇讀經告訴我們，耶穌基督是天主子，宇宙萬物是靠祂所創造，靠祂所維持。若望福音的第一章亦有相同的見解。人類雖然背叛了天父，但天父並沒有放棄祂的創造，更派遣聖子降生成人，引領世人回歸父家。在起初，耶穌的確是憑個人的魅力吸引追隨者。他行神蹟，以革命性的言論宣講天主的慈悲，並再三擊敗宗教權貴的挑戰。不過，他自己說：「當我從地上被高舉時，我要吸引眾人歸向我。」（若12:32）所以，耶穌基督不是憑世襲或者憲法成為君王，而是以受難復活來羅致他的追隨者。耶穌基督為甚麼不打一場漂亮的仗，擊倒撒殫為王，而要釘十字架呢？這是出於天主子對人類自由的尊重，並不強迫人類接受祂的大愛。倘若人類能像被釘的右盜，在苦難和失敗之中，仍能承認耶穌是主，這樣的信德纔是真實的。所謂「以力服人者霸，以德服人者王」。耶穌以十字架作為他的寶座，古往今來，恐怕祗有耶穌基督一個是用這種方式宣示主權的。耶穌就是以他偉大的愛，征服全世界。
在我們藉著洗禮，與基督合成一體，成了天主的子民，按自己的生活處境，分享基督的司祭、先知和王者的職務(CCC#897)。分享耶穌基督的三重職務，就是在我們的生活中，有創意地「把基督的教義和基督徒生活的要求滲入社會、政治和經濟領域」(CCC#899)。今天是基督普世君王節，是默想如何「分享基督的王者職務」的好機會。
我們是藉耶穌的寶血所贖回來，歸祂名下的天主子民。我們享有他的王者職務，即享有君王的權利與義務。甚麼權利呢？古今中外，與開國皇帝打江山的，都有份分封土地。我們可以默想路加福音記載的「米納比喻」（路19:12-27），得到相關的啟示。話說主人遠行，把財物交與管家發展，待主人回來，論功行賞。結果，那個賺了十倍的，主人賜他掌管十個城，那個賺了五倍的，主人賜他掌管五個城。這個比喻告訴我們，祗要我們在世時善用天主所賜予的才幹，履行君王、先知和司祭的職務，拓展天國；在末日，當耶穌基督以整個宇宙的君王身份第二次來臨，審判生者死者的時候，祂會賞賜我們掌管宇宙的一部份。即是說，在履行君王職務的時候，拓展天國是義務；掌管宇宙是權利。讓我們進一步反省如何善用天賦的才幹，具體地履行君王的職務吧！
我們中國人有所謂「格物、致知、誠意、正心、修身、齊家、治國、平天下」的政治理想，一切是從自己做起，在認知上做到「格物、致知」，在靈修上做到「誠意、正心」，在待人接物上做到「修身」。這樣做，建立天國就有基礎了。所以，履行君王職務的第一階段在於「修身」，戰勝「原罪」在我們身上所做成的傷害。「以克己和聖德的生活，在自己身上戰勝罪惡的王國。」(CCC#908)
這個星期禮儀年的結束，我們慶祝耶穌基督在末日要君臨天下，作為整個宇宙的君王。在這個禮儀年，教宗方濟各頒布了慈悲特殊禧年，舉辦了各項活動，鼓勵普世教會默觀、見証和宣講天父的慈悲。大家有朝聖、辦告解、參加慈悲善功嗎？隨著今天梵蒂崗聖伯多祿大殿聖門的關閉，禧年是結束了，但天父的慈悲仍會繼續。讓我們繼續透過履行耶穌基督的君王職務，讓世人體會天父的慈悲，回頭悔改，領受天父的救恩。
接下來的第二個階段，就是在家庭中，在工作崗位上，發揮酵母的作用，把福音的教訓，生活出來。在家庭中，建立與家人一起祈禱讀經的習慣，奉耶穌基督為家庭之主；在工作崗位中，勇敢地表露自己是天主教徒的身份，對有困難的人關懷愛護，與受到不公義對待的兄弟姊妹同行。履行君王職務的第二階段是在於「齊家治國」，在自己的崗位中，灌注基督福音的精神。「把道德價值灌注在人類的文化和活動中。」(CCC#909)
最後，一個人的力量始終有限，而且將來要管理的宇宙，單憑一人的力量是不可能掌管的。所以，我們需要練習與人合作。那裡是學習合作的好地方呢？當然就是堂區及教區大家庭了。所以，我們應該與牧者合作，服務教會團體，例如參加教友總會、教區議會、堂區的善會及各種愛德服務。(CCC#910)
天主保祐！
Feast of Christ the King (Year C)
Theme: The kingship of the Laity
Is it feudalistic and outdated to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King in a world which emphasizes democracy and human rights? The fact is men cannot survive alone. Whether we live in a primitive world or an advanced society, men need to stand together to survive. Whatever name you call, such as chief, king, president or CEO, leaders are indispensable in all communities or organizations without exception. One can be a leader through his charisma or capability; or through tradition and customs; or through contracts and constitutions.
How did Jesus Christ become a king? Was it through charisma, or traditional inheritance or through constitution? In the second reading today, St. Paul tells us that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The universe was created and is sustained through Him. John 1 shares the same opinion. Even though men rebelled against the Father, He did not abandon His creation. He even sent His Son to incarnate and became man to lead the humanity back to Himself. At the beginning, Jesus did make use of his charisma to attract followers. He worked miracles and proclaimed a revolutionary view on God's mercy and refuted challenges from the religious authorities. However, he says, "When I am lifted from the earth, I will draw all men to myself." (John 12:32) Therefore, Jesus Christ did not become king through inheritance or constitution but through his Passion and Resurrection to draw followers. Why didn't Jesus fight a spectacular battle to defeat Satan to become king, but instead chose to be crucified? It was because the Son of God respected our freedom. He does not want to impose His great love on us. If we can acknowledge Jesus as our Lord while we are in adversity and defeat, like the repentant thief, then our faith is genuine. As the Chinese idiom goes, "A warlord bends people with might. A king wins people over with virtue." Jesus took the cross as his throne. Nobody has ever claimed sovereignty in this way, not even in the future. In short, Jesus "conquers" the world with his great love.
Through baptism, we are incorporated with Christ and integrated into the People of God. We are made sharers of the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of Christ. (CCC#897) Sharing the threefold office of Christ means that we should discover or invent means for permeating social, political and economic realities with the demands of Christian doctrine and life. (CCC#899) Today, we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. It is high time we meditated how we share the kingly office.
We were redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. We make up the People of God and belong to him. We share his kingly office, i.e. we enjoy the privileges and obligations of kings. What are the privileges? Throughout history, those who fought with kings to build up an empire would be given a piece of land. Meditating on the parable of pounds (Luke 19:12-27) will shed light on the privileges. A nobleman was going to a far away place. He called his servants and gave them pounds to make money. He would reward them accordingly when he returned. Consequently, the one who gained tenfold was given authority over ten cities. The one who gained fivefold was given authority over five cities. This parable tells us that if we make good use of the talents given by God to discharge our kingly, prophetic and priestly office, to extend the kingdom of heaven, on Judgment Day when Jesus Christ returns as the King of the Universe to judge the living and the dead, he would give us authority over a portion of the universe. That is to say, in discharging the kingly office, our obligation is to expand the kingdom of heaven and our privilege is to have authority over a portion of the universe. Let us reflect further more concretely how we make use of talents given by God to discharge the kingly office.
Confucian political philosophy teaches eight steps to achieve the political ideal. They are: observe things, construct knowledge, have a sincere will, form a clear conscience, build a disciplined character, manage a family, govern a country and maintain peace on earth. Everything begins with the self. Observe things and construct knowledge are the achievements on the intellectual level. Have a sincere will and form a clear conscience are the targets on the spiritual level. Build a disciplined character is the aim of interpersonal level. Thus done, we have laid the foundation of building up the kingdom of heaven. Thus, the first stage of discharging the kingly office is to build a disciplined character, to overcome the damages done by the Original Sin on us. "By the self-abnegation of a holy life, we might overcome the reign of sin in ourselves." (CCC#908)
This Sunday marks the end of the liturgical year. We celebrate Jesus Christ coming majestically on the Judgment Day to be the king of the whole universe. In this liturgical year, Pope Francis proclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, organized a variety of activities to encourage the Church to contemplate, to witness and to proclaim the mercy of the Father. Did you go pilgrimage, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation or take part in deeds of mercy? With the closing of the Gate of Mercy at St. Peter's Basilica today in Vatican, the Jubilee comes to a close. But the mercy of the Father lasts forever. Let us, by discharging the kingly office of Jesus Christ, show the mercy of the Father to all men and help them repent to receive the salvation of the Father.
The next stage is to leaven our family and our work with the teaching of the gospel, to live up the spirit of the gospel in our life stations. Let us build up the habit of prayers and scripture studies in the family. Make Jesus the Lord of our home. In our office, be courageous in showing our Catholic identity, care about colleagues in difficulties and accompany those who are unfairly treated. To discharge the kingly office in Stage 2 is to manage our family and govern our office with the spirit of the gospel. "We will impregnate culture and human works with a moral value." (CCC#909)
Lastly, the capability of a single person is limited. When we manage the universe in the future, the capability of one single person is insufficient. Thus, we need to practise collaboration. Which is a good place to practise collaboration? Of course, the big family of the parish and the diocese are the best choices. Thus, we should cooperate with our pastors in the service of the ecclesial community. For example, to participate in the Central Council of the Laity, Diocesan Commissions, service groups in the parish and all sorts of charitable works. (CCC#910)
God bless.
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