將臨期第一主日（甲年）
主題：新禮儀年願望
將臨期的第一個主日，是禮儀年度的開始。三年一個循環，今天是甲年的開始。甲年主要讀瑪竇福音，它是寫給對猶太背景有所認識的信徒。所以閱讀的時候，要求我們對舊約有相當的認識。例如，瑪竇福音的第一句是這樣寫的：「亞巴郎之子，達味之子耶穌基督的族譜：」（瑪1:1）瑪竇假設讀者已經認識亞巴郎和達味是誰，知道他們在基督徒的信仰之中，佔了甚麼地位，並且知道族譜有甚麼作用。所以，執事所推薦的讀對觀福音次序，不是按新約目錄的順序，而是先讀馬爾谷，其次是路加；第三纔是瑪竇。無論如何，讓我們立定志向，今年之內，好好地默想瑪竇福音。
將臨期是聖誕節前的四個星期，目的是為救主耶穌的來臨，做好準備。不過，救主耶穌的來臨有兩個意義。第一是祂二千年前的降生，第二是祂在末日從天而降，審判生者死者。很奇怪，瑪竇福音的最後一句是這樣寫的：「看！我同你們天天在一起，直到今世的終結。」（28:20）既然耶穌天天與我們同在一起，而「天天」當然包括世界末日的那一天。那麼，祂在末日重臨，審判世人又有甚麼特別的意義呢？
首先，我們要對「審判」有一個正確的理解。在人類的世界裡，「審判」是按「公義」原則，賞善罰惡的意思。如果天主的「正義」好像人類的「正義」一樣，那麼，天主當然好像人類的法官一樣，按法律賞善罰惡。例如你殺了人，判你死刑或者終身監禁；你貪污舞弊，於是充公家產，坐牢三十年。咦，為甚麼法律好像沒有賞善，祗有罰惡呢？對！因為人世間的「公義」是消極的公平，為了維持社會的穩定運作，並不能保護弱勢社群，或者帶給市民真正的幸福。而且，還造就了一群專業利用法律漏洞發財的人。
我們所信的天主不是法官。因為在天主的字典裡，祂的「正義」在於拯救和解放信仰祂的人。在聖詠集和依撒意亞先知書中，有很多章節把天主的「正義」，等同祂的「救恩」，當作同義詞互換。這是合理的。因為人類是按天主的肖像所造，人類背逆天主後，天主並沒有放棄祂的傑作，並許下救贖人類的諾言（創3:15）。所以，當天主拯救人類的時候，天主在履行祂的諾言。倘若天主不拯救人類，反而是祂「不義」。即是說，天主以祂的救恩來表示祂的正義，而天主的所謂「審判」，實際上是祂的拯救行動。福音和保祿的書信，多處強調「因信德而生活」（羅1:17; 迦3:11），信耶穌得永生（若3:15-16, 36），「信而受洗的必要得救，但不信的必被判罪。」（谷16:16）等。不相信耶穌基督，就是不相信天主在履行祂的諾言，來拯救我們。試問，這樣的態度，又怎能獲得天主的救贖呢？
今天的福音，可以從兩個層面看人子的再來。 第一個是普世的層面：是指世界的末日。到時，耶穌要重臨， 拯救信靠祂的人，至於那些不接受祂的，耶穌祗有把他們遺棄在地獄之內了（瑪24:40-41）。世界末日，比較遙不可及，所以今天我想和大家反省第二個層面，就是個人的層面：
我們每個人死後，靈魂會被引領到天主台前，交待一生的所作所為。但是沒有人知道自己的死期，所以，惟一最明智的做法是時時刻刻保持醒寤，做好準備，隨時可以回到天父面前交待。
教會有很優良的傳統，幫助我們預備自己的末日。教會提醒我們要定期辦告解，最少每年一次，檢討與天主的關係，與天主修好。所以告解又稱為「修和聖事」。剛結束的慈悲禧年，再三強調天主在赦罪之中，在修和聖事之中，不斷展示祂的慈悲。雖然禧年已經結束，但天主的慈悲永遠長存。所以，我們應繼續領受修和聖事，領受天父的慈悲。
其次，教會鼓勵我們每晚在睡前做「夜禱」，好好省察每日的過失，向天父懺悔，保持靈魂的潔淨，縱使天主即晚收回我們的靈魂，我們亦無憂無懼。
第三，我們要恆常讀經祈禱。為甚麼呢？請問大家，您們能否認出耶穌呢？耶穌在復活後顯示給門徒時，門徒未能認出復活的主，直至耶穌做一些他們熟識的行為，例如擘餅，門徒纔認出祂來。所以，我們需要讀經，認識耶穌的言行；我們要默想祈禱，體會耶穌的心意。否則，當我們的靈魂前往天主台前，在路上遇見耶穌的時候，有如陌路人，我們又怎能認出主耶穌基督呢？大家在丙年，有沒有讀完路加福音呢？倘若沒有，兩年後再讀吧！趁禮儀年開始，讓我們立志完成瑪竇福音吧！
第四，耶穌在瑪竇福音第廿五章，一再強調在服務最弱小的兄弟時，就是服事祂。在慈悲禧年，教會一再鼓勵並提供機會，讓大家履行神形哀矜。大家應爭取機會，慰問病人，探訪外判清潔工人等，服事臨現在他們身上的耶穌基督，將來與祂重逢的時候，再不會感到陌生。
最後，我們每個領了洗的人，是蒙召成聖的。我們每一個人，都生活在家庭之中，或者身為子女，或者身為父母、丈夫或者妻子。我們都是蒙召在家庭或婚姻生活中成聖。我們的樞機在將臨期期牧函中，提出未來一年的牧民重點在於婚姻、家庭及關愛生命。請大家在彌撒後買一份【公教報】，知道教區的未來動向。
上述五點，希望可以幫助大家訂立新禮儀年的願望。
天主保祐！
First Sunday of Advent (Year A)
Theme: New Liturgical Year Resolutions
This Sunday is the beginning of the Liturgical Year. It is Year A of a 3-year cycle. In Year A, we mainly read the gospel of Matthew which was written for Jewish Christians. Therefore, you need to know something about the Old Testament in order to read it fruitfully. For example, the gospel begins with "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." (Matthew 1:1) Matthew assumed that the readers know who Abraham and David were and their position in Christianity. Furthermore, they should be familiar with the use of genealogy. Therefore, I always recommend reading the Synoptic gospels, not according to the Table of Contents of the New Testament, but according to the sequence Mark, Luke and then Matthew. Whatever, let us make this our New Year resolution to read and meditate the gospel of Matthew within this year.
The Advent Season is the four weeks before Christmas. The purpose is to prepare for the coming of Lord Jesus. His coming consists of two meanings. The first one is his birth two thousand years ago. The second is his coming at the end of the world to judge the living and the dead. The last sentence of Matthew reads, "Lo, I am with you always, to the close of this age" (28:20). Since he is with us always, which includes the Last Day, then what special meaning does the second coming at the end have?
First of all, we need to have a correct understanding of the word "judge". In our secular world, "to judge" is to reward good and punish wrongs according to some "justice" principles. If God's justice were like human justice, then God would pass judgment like human judges according to the law. For example, you are guilty of murder. God would sentence you to death or life imprisonment. You are guilty of corruption. God would confiscate your assets and put you behind bars for thirty years. Wait. Why does the law only punish evil but does not reward good? You are right! It is because human justice is a rather passive justice. It maintains the smooth running of a society but cannot protect the minority or bring true happiness to the citizens. Furthermore, it breeds a bunch of professionals who abuse the loopholes to make money.
The God we believe in is not a judge. It is because in His dictionary, justice means the deliverance and liberation of those who believe in Him. In the Psalms and Isaiah, there are many passages in which God's righteousness and His salvation are synonymous. This is reasonable because men were created in the image of God. After the Fall of humanity, God did not abandon His creation and promised to redeem humanity (Genesis 3:15). Therefore, when God carries out His salvation, He is honouring His promise. Had God failed to redeem humanity, He would have been "unjust". That is to say, God expresses His justice with His salvation. The so-called "judgment" of God is actually His saving act. Among the gospels and Pauline epistles, we find many passages, such as "He who through faith is righteous shall live" (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11) "Whosoever believes in him may have eternal life" (John 3:15-16, 36) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16) Not believing in Jesus Christ means not believing that God is honouring His promise to save us. How can one obtain God's redemption with such an attitude?
There are two different levels to read the second coming of the Son of Man in the gospel today. The first level is a universal level. It means the end of the world. By then, Jesus shall come again to deliver those who believe. For those who refuse to believe, the Son of Man will naturally leave them behind in hell (Matthew 24:40-41). The end of the world is a bit far off. So, I would like to reflect with you the second level, i.e. the personal level.
After we die, our souls will be taken before God to review what we have done in life. But nobody knows when he dies. Therefore the best strategy is to be ready all the time to return to the Father.
The Church has good practices to help us prepare for our last days. She reminds us to do confession regularly, at least once a year to evaluate our relationship with God and reconcile with God. Thus, confession is also known as the Sacrament of Reconciliation. During the Jubilee of Mercy which has just come to an end, the Church kept reiterating that God shows His mercy all the times through the forgiveness of sins and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Although the Jubilee of Mercy has come to an end, God's mercy lasts forever. Therefore, we should continue to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to receive the mercy of the Father.
Secondly, the Church encourages us to pray the Completorium before going to bed. We reflect on what we have done or what we have failed to do during the day. We repent to keep our souls clean. Then, even if God takes back our souls tonight, we have nothing to worry or fear.
Thirdly, we should keep studying the scriptures and praying. Why? Let me ask you. Can you recognize Jesus? After resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples who could not recognize him until Jesus did something they were familiar, e.g. breaking of bread. Therefore, we need to study the scriptures to know the words and deeds of Jesus. We need to meditate to feel His will. Otherwise, when on their way to God, our souls meet Jesus. How could we recognize him if we are not familiar with him? In Year C, have you finished reading the gospel of Luke? If you haven't, read it again two years later. Let us make a resolution to finish reading the gospel of Matthew in this liturgical year!
Fourthly, in Matthew 25, Jesus tells us that in serving the least of our brethren, we are serving him. During the Jubilee of Mercy, the Church repeatedly encouraged and provided opportunities for us to perform Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. So, let us take the opportunity to visit the sick and the out-sourcing janitors etc. Serve the Jesus present in them. When we meet in the future, we will not be unfamiliar with him.
Lastly, we were baptized and were called to become saints. Each one of us leads a family life as children, or parents or husbands or wives. We are called to sanctification through family or married life. In the Advent Pastoral Letter, our Cardinal informs us that the pastoral focus of the Diocese next year will be about marriage, family and life. Buy a copy of Sunday Examiner after mass to know where the Diocese is heading.
I hope the five points above may help you formulate your New Liturgical Year Resolutions.
God bless.
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