主題：天主的救贖
舊約聖經處處傳揚天主是生命主宰的訊息，尤其是新生命。在創世紀，原祖犯罪被逐出樂園之後，厄娃懷了孕，生了加音，說：「我賴上主獲得了一個人。」（創4:1）聖詠集讚頌天主，使不育的婦女生育，令她快樂無窮（詠113:8）；而且，很多偉大的人物，都是不育的婦女所生的！例如亞巴郎的妻子撒辣素來不育，在90歲時生了依撒格；雅各伯所愛的表妹辣黑耳是不育的，後來生了古聖若瑟。就是這個若瑟，將來從饑荒之中救了全家和全埃及的百姓；後來著名的民長，例如三松和撒慕爾，他們的母親都是不育的。今天我們所慶祝的若翰洗者的誕辰，在某程度上也是慶祝，天主是生命的主宰。因為福音記載，若翰的母親依撒伯爾，也是「素不生育」的（路1:7）。
誠然，天主是全能的，祂不是死人的天主，而是活人的天主（20:38）。生命由祂所創造，所以祂是生命的主宰，是無可致疑的。可是，令不育的婦女產子，有另一層意義，它突顯出天主的救贖，天主的慈悲。舊約時代，女性沒有地位。她們的主要任務是為丈夫誕下男兒，繼承丈夫的產業。沒有為丈夫生下男嬰的，是一種遺憾；不能生育的，更是一種恥辱。即使有一個愛自己多個十個兒子的丈夫，也不能令撒慕爾的母親釋懷（撒上1:8）。她在撒慕爾斷乳後，便把他獻給了上主，因為上主洗脫了她不育的恥辱。她不再欠丈夫任何的債，任何的責任。本來，她是沒有能力還的，但現在天主為她還清了！依撒伯爾老年誕下若翰洗者，也是天主的救贖，洗脫了她的恥辱，使她加入了聖祖們，撒辣、黎貝嘉和辣黑耳等人的行列！
那麼，天主對依撒伯爾的丈夫，是否苛刻了一點呢？總領天使加俾額爾在聖殿的聖所裡，顯現給匝加利亞，告訴他天主應允了他的祈禱，賜給他一個兒子，並吩咐匝加利亞為孩子取名若翰（路1:13）。可惜，天主的應允來得有點遲，使匝加利亞有點為難。倘若在他年青力壯時得子，當然是一件值得感恩的事。可是，他夫妻倆已上了年紀，身體的機能未必負擔得起；假若他倆死去，誰人可以養育年幼的若翰呢？匝加利亞的顧慮是可以理解的。可惜他是司祭，而不是經師，一時忘記了舊約中，眾聖祖的事蹟；又不善辭令，說出了一句類似懷疑的話：「我憑著甚麼能知道這事呢？」（1:18） 1結果，匝加利亞啞了九個月，直到孩子出世，並起名若翰後，匝加利亞纔恢復說話的能力。（1:64）即使天主是慈悲的，天使加俾額爾可能出手重了些，不是嗎？
不要把匝加利亞啞了，看成是不相信天主的懲罰。其實，天使在幫助匝加利亞，令他的作證更可信。要知道猶太人的法律，要求兩個證人的證言，纔可以成立一件事實。聖所裡祇有一個人和一個天使，沒有天主的批准，其他人是見不到加俾額爾的。因此，匝加利亞走出聖所，告訴其他人見到天使，是不能成立的，除非當初是兩個，而不是一個司祭進入聖所獻香。令匝加利亞不能說話九個月，是最低傷害，最大效率的證據！而且，保持沉默九個月，有助匝加利亞深入默想天主對他夫妻倆和對以色列民族的救贖。當他一開口說話時，匝加利亞便讚美天主，歌頌祂的救贖，並預言若翰洗者的使命。天主不但應允了他的祈禱，賜給他一個兒子，更安排他的兒子，成為救主的前驅，預備一個悔改的猶太民族，迎接即將來臨的默西亞。這一篇「匝加利亞讚主曲」，便成了我們每天晨禱用的一篇讚歌。
匝加利亞的際遇，值得我們反省。福音說他夫妻倆在天主前都是義人（1:6），好人理應有好報的，不是嗎？不過，天主的時間和人類的時間不同，天主沒有在他們年青時賞給他們一個兒子，反而在他倆年老時，計劃安享晚年的時候，纔給他倆恩寵和使命。所以，我們也不可安於現狀，覺得自己已經做到令天主滿意！我們應當時常祈禱讀經，好像匝加利亞進入聖所一樣，與天主建立緊密的關係。說不定有一天，天主會派遣一位天使，一位你身邊的人，給予我們一個使命，去領受履行這個使命時，天主為我們預備了的恩寵。所以，離開我們的安樂窩，在我們的慣性生活中，保持警覺；在一切事物中，在遇到有需要的人身上，看到天主的臨在。去親近天主，去服務那些需要我們的人吧！在那些可見的最小的弟兄身上，愛那不可見的耶穌基督。當其他人看見我們的善行時，懂得光榮天主聖父。這樣做，我們在履行洗者若翰，作為耶穌基督前驅的使命。
各位兄弟姊妹，到外面去傳福音，去行善吧，天主的恩寵等著你。
天主保祐！
[1]翻譯上，「知道」亦可解作「行房」。按上文下理，是可以的。
Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist
Theme: God's Redemption
The Old Testament reiterates many times the message that God is the author of life, in particular new life. In Genesis, after the Fall of our First Parents and they were driven out of Eden, Eve conceived and gave birth to Cain, saying "I have produced a male child with the help of the Lord." (Genesis 4:1) The Psaltist praises God for giving the childless wife a home, the joyful mother of children. (Psalm 113:8) Moreover, many great men were born of barren wives! For example, Abraham's wife Sarah was barren. She gave birth to Isaac at 90. Jacob loved his cousin Rachel who was also barren. She gave birth to Joseph who saved the whole family and Egypt from famine. Subsequently, famous Judges such as Samson and Samuel were born of barren mothers. Today, we celebrate the Nativity of John the Baptist. To a certain extent, we are celebrating God, the author of life. It is because John's mother, Elizabeth was also barren (Luke 1:7).
Indeed, God is almighty. He is not a God of the dead but the God of the living (20:38). Life was created by Him. There is no doubt that God is the author of life. However, making barren women give birth to children has another meaning. It manifests the redemption and mercy of God. In Old Testament times, the status of women was low. Her major mission was to give birth to a male baby for their husbands to inherit their estates. It was regrettable not giving male babies but a shame to be barren. Even a husband who loved her more than ten sons could not console Hannah (1 Samuel 1:8). Once Samuel was weaned, Hannah his mother offered him to the Lord because the Lord had removed her shame. She was no long in debt to her husband, owed him no more responsibility. In fact, Hannah was unable to pay the debt. But now God redeemed her! Elizabeth gave birth to John in her old age and it was also God's redemption. It removed her shame and placed her among the matriarchs like Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel!
Then, was God too harsh to the husband of Elizabeth? Archangel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the sanctuary, telling him that God heard his prayer and would give him a son. He told Zechariah to name his son John (Luke 1:13). Unfortunately, God's favour came a bit late and put Zechariah in a difficult position. If he were young, Zechariah would be grateful to have a son. But now, both Zechariah and his wife were old. Their bodies might not be able to bear the burden. If they died, who would raise the young John? Zechariah's worries were understandable. Unfortunately, he was only a priest, not a scribe. He probably had forgotten the stories of the patriarchs. Furthermore, he was not eloquent and spoke something like a doubt, "How should I know this?" (1:18)2 Consequently, Zechariah became dumb for nine months until the child was born and given the name John. Then Zechariah could speak again (1:64). Even if God is merciful, angel Gabriel seemed to have pushed too far.
Do not see Zechariah's dumbness as a punishment of unbelief. In fact, the angel was helping Zechariah make his testimony more credible. According to Jewish laws, it takes two persons to establish the truth of a statement. There were only one man and one angel in the sanctuary. Without God's permission, no other people could see angel Gabriel. Thus, when Zechariah came out of the sanctuary and told people that he saw an angel, it could not be established unless two, not one priests entered the sanctuary to offer incense. Making Zechariah dumb was the least damaging but most effective evidence! Moreover, keeping silence for nine months, Zechariah was able to meditate deeply how God had redeemed them as well as the people of Israel. When he was able to speak again, Zechariah praised God's redemption and foretold the mission of John the Baptist. Not only did God answer his prayer, giving him a son, but God also made his son the forerunner of the Saviour to prepare a repentant Jewish people to welcome the Messiah. We pray this Canticle of Zechariah during our daily Lauds.
What befell Zechariah is worth reflecting. The gospel says that both Zechariah and his wife were righteous in the eyes of God (1:6). Good people deserve rewards, right? However, the time scale of God is different from that of humanity. God did not give them a son when they were young. Instead, when they were old and planning their retirement, God gave them grace and mission. Thus, we too should not stay in our status quo and feel that we have already satisfied God! Instead, we should pray and study the bible hard, just like Zechariah entering the sanctuary to build up a tight relationship with God. Perhaps one day, God shall send us an angel, somebody beside you to give us a mission, discharging which we shall receive the grace God has prepared for us. Therefore, leave our comfort zone. Keep alert in our daily routines to discover the presence of God in all things and in all the needy people we encounter. Get intimate with God in serving the needy! Serve the least of these little brothers whom we are able to see, to love the Christ whom we cannot see. When people see our good work, they may glorify our Father in heaven. In this way, we are playing John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ.
Brethren, get out to evangelize and to do good. God's grace is waiting for you.
God bless!
[2] The word “know” also means having sexual intercourse. For the context, it makes sense.
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