主題：信仰耶穌基督是最好的禮物
首先，祝大家聖誕快樂平安。
猶記得初領洗的時候，關於天主聖子降生成人的奧蹟，祗知是一個奧蹟，並未感受到當中所表達的大愛。當時有一個疑問，不斷地環繞自己的思想：「我們中國人有甚麼不好？為甚麼耶穌不是降生為中國人而是猶太人？」與其他信仰上的疑問一樣，這些問題祗是一個起步點，是一些次要的問題。做了幾十年的天主教徒，今天發覺到問題的核心，是天主的愛。問題變成了：「人類有甚麼好？為甚麼天主對人類不離不棄，要降生成人，為人的罪過，死在十字架上？」不過，我知道這不會是終極的問題，祗是一個過渡性的問題。將來發展如何，現在我沒有能力預知。這就是信仰，是窮一生去追尋的答案，去追求的目標。
今天教會選讀若望福音，不是我們平常聽慣的聖誕故事。這裡沒有二千年前的聖母瑪利亞和若瑟，沒有馬槽，沒有三個賢士，沒有牧羊人等等。這裡，若望宗徒把時間推得更前，推到時間開始之前，即是說，在沒有時間和空間之前，在創世以前。那是一個甚麼也沒有的狀態，人類還沒有存在，遑論對這狀態有所認識。倘若不是天主啟示，人類根本不能想像到正在發生甚麼事。那時存在的惟有天主，因為時間是祂後來所創造的，祂並不存在於時間之中，我們祗能說「在起初祂已存在，祂是沒有開始，沒有來源的。」
天主進一步把自己揭示給我們，讓我們知道祂是「愛」。因為天主是「愛」，所以天主是充滿生命力的。既然祂是充滿力量，所以祂不是靜止的，祂洋溢的愛，創造了整個宇宙和宇宙之內的萬物。健康的「愛」一定要有對象的，否則便是「自戀狂」。那麼，是否在天主以外，還有另一個神呢？從舊約的經驗之中，我們知道天主祗有一個，是獨一無二的一個。那麼，天主所愛的對象是甚麼呢？就是發自天主自己的「說話」，祂所發出的聖言，就創造了宇宙萬物。我們怎樣領受到以上這些天主進一步的啟示呢？就是透過降生成人的耶穌基督。耶穌基督就是那看不見的天主，有形可見的啟示，耶穌基督的一生，由誕生到受難復活升天，每一個細節都在表達著天父的慈愛。若望宗徒用多差不多六十年的時間，默想與耶穌基督一起生活的三年，得到了結論，寫出了：「在起初已有聖言，聖言與天主同在，聖言就是天主…」（若1:1-5）。有了光，我們可以看清楚事物的真相，這真理使我們獲得自由，有了自由，我們的生命得以保存，得以發展。這就是我剛才所說的「天主進一步的啟示」了。我們不一定能明白若望宗徒的意思。有如我剛才所說的，信仰是窮一生去追尋的答案，要將來面對面看見天主時，纔能完全明白。
今天，有十對父母把他們的嬰孩帶到聖堂來接受洗禮。他們與天主合作，把生命傳送給這些嬰孩，把這些嬰兒帶到世上，並承諾盡力把他們養育成人。作為父母，他們當然把最好的事物，送給自己的兒女。無論是出生前的胎教、出生後的一切嬰兒用品、將來入學讀書等等，他們必定揀選最好的。他們對兒女的愛，子女們不一定有能力明白。作為父母的，不會等子女們明白纔去做。天主對我們也是一樣，無論我們明白與否，祂仍舊愛護我們。有一個這樣愛護我們的天主，我們豈能不把信仰傳授給自己的兒女，使他們得到不離不棄的天主的愛護呢？這就是做父母為自己的兒子送上的最好的禮物。
各位家長，您們的信仰未必是完美無缺的。但甭愁，領洗加入教會，您們會得到教會的支援，培育您們的子女。而且，所謂「教學相長」，在教導自己兒女的過程中，您們自己的信仰肯定會有可觀的長進。各位在場的兄弟姊妹，你們除了給予這些父母支援之外，自己亦應回顧身邊尚未信仰耶穌基督的人，使他們能認識到天主是愛的真理，可以得到耶穌基督的光照，可以享受作為天主子女的幸福。
香港人生活忙碌，為很多的衣食住行，經濟政治等事物憂心，以致很多市民神經衰弱，心情煩躁，不但健康受到影響，而且人際關係也變得緊張。香港人非常需要休息，聖誕節正好給予我們一個休息的機會，恢復身心；還可以有時間修補與親人、朋友和同事的關係。其實，相對世界上其他的地方，香港總算幸福，我們並沒有恐怖襲擊、沒有戰事、沒有霧霾窒息的空氣。這些都是值得感恩的。所以，趁聖誕假期，除了休息和享受天倫樂之餘，讓我們感謝天主，並默想天主聖子降生成人的奧蹟。
天主保祐！
Christmas
Theme: Believing in Jesus Christ is the best gift
Hong Kong citizens lead a hectic life. They worry about clothing, food, housing, transportation, economy and politics so much so that many suffer from neurasthenia and shortness of breath. Not only is their health affected, but their interpersonal relationships are also strained. Hongkongers are badly in need of rest. Christmas holidays give us a good opportunity to take a break, refresh our body and mind. Furthermore, we may also make use of the time to mend fences with our family members, relatives, friends and colleagues. In fact, Hong Kong is lucky in comparison with other places on earth. We don't have terrorist attacks, wars and smog. We should be grateful. Therefore, take this holiday, not only to rest and to enjoy family life, but also to thank God and to meditate on the mystery of Incarnation.
When I was newly baptized, the mystery of Incarnation was simply a mystery. I did not feel the great love it expressed. One question kept hovering in my mind, "What is wrong with us Chinese? Why didn't Jesus incarnate to be a Chinese but a Jew?" Like any other questions on faith, these questions are only starting points, non-essential questions. After living as a Catholic for decades, I find that the core question is God's love. Today, the question becomes, "What is so good about humanity? Why did God not abandon us, took up our flesh and died on the cross for our sins?" Well, I know that this is not going to be the ultimate question, but a transitional one. I do not have any foresight to know where it will lead to. This is faith for which we spend our whole life to seek the answer, to pursue the goal.
Today, the Church reads the gospel of John, not the usual nativity stories. Here, we don't have the BVM and Joseph two thousand years ago. There was no crib, no Magi nor shepherds etc. Here, John pushed the time frame even earlier. He pushed it before the beginning of time. That is to say, before Creation where there was no time and space. It was a state of nothingness. Men did not exist, not to mention understanding such a state. If God had not revealed, men would not have imagined what was happening. Only God existed in that state because time was later created by Him. He does not exist in time. We can only say that God was before the beginning. He has no beginning, no origin.
God further revealed Himself to us. He made known to us that He is Love. Since He is Love, He is full of Life. Since He is full of life force, He cannot be static. His overflowing love results in the creation of the known universe and everything within. Healthy love needs an object. Otherwise it is narcissism. Then, is there another deity besides God? From the experience of the Old Testament, we know that God is one. God is unique. Then what is the object of God's love? It is the Word spoken by God. God spoke and the universe was created. How do we know this further revelation? It is through the incarnated Jesus Christ who is the visible revelation of the invisible God. Every detail of the life of Jesus Christ, from birth to Passion, Resurrection and Ascension tells us of the mercy of the Father. John spent nearly six decades to meditate the three years he had spent with Jesus Christ. He drew this conclusion, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ..." (John 1:1-5) With light, we are able to see the truth and the truth shall make us free. With freedom, our life can be preserved and can develop. This is the further revelation of God I mentioned previously. We may not understand John's idea. Like what I said, faith is a lifelong search until we come face to face with God. Then God shall make us understand completely.
Today, ten pairs of parents bring their babies to the Church to receive baptism. They cooperated with God, passed life onto these babies, bringing them into this world and promised to bring them up. As parents, they give their children the best, whether it be pre-natal, post-natal or schooling in the future. They will choose the best. Even though their children may not understand, parents would not wait until they understand to do it. Our God is the same. Whether we understand or not, God loves and cares about us. With such a loving God, how can we not pass on our faith to our children so that they may receive the loving care of a God who never abandons? Believing in Jesus Christ is the best gift parents can ever give their children.
Parents. Your faith may not be perfect. Don't worry! With baptism, you will receive the support of the Church to help you bring up your children. Moreover, teaching and learning go hand in hand. In teaching your children, your own faith will surely undergo tremendous development. Parishioners. Besides supporting these parents, you should also look around yourselves to locate people who have not yet believed in Jesus Chris. Help them understand the truth that God is love so that they will be illuminated by Jesus Christ and can enjoy the happiness to be God's children.
God bless!
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