在末日前復活 Resurrection Before Judgment Day

常年期第廿二主日，甲年
主題：在末日前復活

耶穌基督受洗後，在曠野四十日四十夜，經歷魔鬼的試探；耶穌基督祇透露了其中三個。這些試探，可以理解為魔鬼想盡辦法，窺探天主派遣來到眼前的聖者，用甚麼方法救贖普世。牠向耶穌基督獻計，用經濟、政治和宗教手段，解決世上的罪惡問題。但耶穌基督守口如瓶，祇引用【申命紀】回覆，令魔鬼一點線索也找不到。今天，魔鬼又出動了！

承接上一個主日的福音，耶穌基督已找到了天父所挑選的教會磐石（瑪16:17-18），於是向門徒透露一點，拯救世界的方法。耶穌基督有點高估了祂的門徒，他們仍以「選民」自居，忘記了「選民」對普世人類的神聖責任。事實上，他們並未有足夠的心理準備，因為他們心目中所期望的默世亞，即「受傅者」，好像梅瑟或者波斯王居魯士（依45:1）一樣，是天主派遣來解放以色列人的。他們沒有想過，耶穌基督是消除世罪的天主羔羊（若1:29），是為全人類的！耶穌基督的方法，就是死而復活，把人類從罪惡的奴役出，解放出來（瑪16:21）。

現代人不相信復活，大多數因為他們否定靈魂的存在。沒有靈魂，復活還有甚麼意義呢？耶穌時代的人，即使相信有靈魂，但對復活的觀念並不一致。希臘人不希望有復活，因為他們認為肉體是靈魂的囚室，人死後，靈魂得到解放，重回宇宙的「大靈魂」去，所以保祿在雅典講道踫壁（宗17:32）。即使在猶太人中，也有分歧。由司祭組成的撒杜塞黨，就不相信有復活並經常與相信復活的法利塞人爭論（23:7-8）。而相信復活的，是相信死人在末日復活，例如瑪爾大（若11:24）。所以，門徒們沒有心理準備，接受「第三天要復活」（瑪16:21）！即使親眼看見過耶穌復活雅依洛女兒的伯多祿（谷5:37），也有困難。不錯，耶穌的確有復活死人的大能。但祂死了，有可能令自己復活嗎？而且，他們的「事業」，正日上中天，有很多跟隨者。倘若他們所追隨的耶穌死了，一切捨棄/投資，將化為烏有；難怪伯多祿要諫責耶穌（瑪16:22）！

即使是天父挑選的磐石，仍有很多地方須要雕琢！他犯的一切錯誤，都成了後世信徒的借鏡。耶穌轉身對伯多祿說：「撒殫，退到我後面去！」（16:23）表面上是當眾責備他，教育他。但從語氣上，和祂素來對宗徒們的疼惜來看（17:14-21），更有可能是替伯多祿驅魔！要知道撒殫慣用的技倆，就是在我們不知不覺之中，替牠做出反對天主的事！眷戀眼前的成就，憧憬未來更偉大的成就，乃人之常情。擁有雄心壯志，不輕言放棄，屢敗屢戰，是堅毅不屈的美德；但當它不是天父的旨意時，成就反過來便成了我們，甚至其他人，親近天主的絆腳石！謹慎理智是美德，但當它不符合天父的旨意時，就變成了不願作見證的藉口了！撒殫的手段，真的是層出不窮。但憑人性上的「四樞德」，很難與祂抗衡。靈魂上的戰鬥，有賴超性的德行，和天主的助祐！

讓我們回頭默想復活的課題。在末日時，所有人都要復活，是猶太人，尤其是法利塞人素來的觀念。保祿怎樣處理耶穌基督可以在末日前復活呢？他引入了「復活次第」的觀念，試圖突破末日纔復活的局限。「就如在亞當內，眾人都死了，照樣在基督內，眾人都要復活；不過各人要依照自己的次第：首先是為初果的基督，然後…」（格前15:22-23）。保祿借助為人熟悉的「初果」觀念，來像徵耶穌基督。既然是初果，就表示以後世世代代，還有很多人會像耶穌一樣復活，就是那些「屬於基督的人」。所以在末日前復活，祇是一個次序上的問題。因此，耶穌基督可以在末日前復活！但福音的革命性之處，在於耶穌的復活，不但是在末日前，而更是在「第三天」，在眼前！在復活拉匝祿的故事中，耶穌基督的言論，值得深究。祂說：「我就是復活，就是生命。」（若11:25）簡單地說，祂宣稱自己就是生命的主宰。祇要好像拉匝祿一樣，與祂建立了關係，（用保祿的術語，就是「屬於基督的人」），即使在末日前，也可以復活！拉匝祿就是一個例子。他們一家三口，是耶穌基督的好朋友。拉匝祿死了，耶穌基督為他落淚（11:35）！無疑，拉匝祿後來再一次死了。但他曾復活過，所以在末日的復活，不是空談！

在保祿的神學裡，耶穌基督的復活，彰顯了天主聖三的共融。聖子取了人性，成了會死的人！天主也可以死，真是絕妙的道理！按保祿的觀點，聖子死後，是聖神，即保祿所說的「父的光榮」復活祂（羅6:4；8:11）！所以，擁有聖神，即使在末日前，在今時今日，就已經可以復活重生了！不一定是象徵式的重新做人，而是真實在從死裡復活。「你相信嗎？」（若11:25-26）事出突然，連相當接近耶穌的瑪爾大，亦祇能回應她所能明白的（11:27）。天主的奧秘，真是神妙莫測，不易為世人承受！

各位兄弟姊妹，伯多祿的例子，教我們不必氣餒！雖然受到「原罪」的影響，伯多祿一時糊塗，思念「人的事」，但並沒有動搖了他跟隨主耶穌的抉擇。雖然伯多祿很不堪當，有千瘡百孔的性格，但他不斷回頭悔改，最後能走上十字架上殉道，爭取到光榮的冠冕。回頭悔改，不就是復活的滋味嗎？世上不斷的磨練和復活，不就是耶穌基督所教導的「窄門」（瑪7:13）嗎？讓我們努力，向永生邁進！
天主保祐！
2017講道
圖片鳴謝： sundayschool.works

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Twenty Second Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: Resurrection Before Judgment Day

After His baptism, Jesus Christ spent 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness to experience the Devil's temptations. He only revealed three of the temptations which could be understood as the Devil's attempt to decipher what this Holy One sent from God before its eyes would do to save the entire world. It suggested economic, political and religious ways to solve the global problem of sin. But Jesus Christ was reticent. He only quoted from the book of Deuteronomy, leaving the Devil clueless. Today, the Devil strikes once more!

Subsequent to the gospel passage last Sunday when Jesus Christ had identified the "petra" upon which the Father has chosen to build His Church (Matthew 16:17-18), He revealed to the disciples how He was going to save the world. Jesus Christ has overestimated the disciples who still cherished their identity as God's Chosen People. They had forgotten the sacred duty of the Chosen People to all peoples. Indeed, they were not psychologically prepared. They were anticipating a Messiah, the Anointed One, like Moses or the Persian King Cyrus (Isaiah 45:1), to deliver them. They had never thought of Jesus Christ as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), as someone for all humanity! By dying and coming back to life, Jesus Christ would deliver humanity from the bondage of sin (Matthew 16:21).

Modern men do not believe in resurrection because most of them deny the existence of souls. Without souls, is it meaningful to talk about resurrection? Jesus' contemporaries, even if they believed in souls, didn't arrive at a consensus about resurrection. Greeks did not want resurrection because they believed that our souls were imprisoned inside our body. At our death, the soul would be liberated and return to the Universal Soul. Thus, Paul's preaching in Athene was a failure (Acts 17:32). There were also controversies among the Jews. The Sadducees, who were made up of priests, always denied resurrection and argued with the Pharisees (23:7-8). For those who believed in resurrection, they believed that it would take place on the Judgment Day, for example, Martha (John 11:24). Therefore, the disciples were not psychologically prepared to hear "on the third day be raised" (Matthew 16:21). It was difficult even for Peter who had witnessed Jesus' resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37). Yes, Jesus has the powerful to raise the dead. But after His death, was He able to raise Himself? Moreover, their campaign was at its zenith. There were many followers. If Jesus died, all their sacrifices/investments would come to null. No wonder Peter took Jesus aside to rebuke Him (Matthew 16:22)!

Even though Peter was elected by the Father to be the rock, he still needed a lot of polishing. The mistakes he made serve as guideposts for Christians in the future generations. Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!" (16:23) Superficially, Jesus rebuked Peter in public to chastise him. But the tone and the love Jesus had shown the apostles (17:14-21) suggests that probably Jesus was performing exorcism on Peter! Be known that Satan's modus operandi is to lead us into doing things against God unknowingly! To cherish one's achievement and to dream of more glorious prospect is human. To harbour ambitions, to never give up easily, fight doggedly is the virtue of perseverance. But when it is not the Father's will, this can be a stumbling block for us as well as others in coming close to God! Prudence is a virtue. But when it is not the Father's will, it can become an excuse not to bear witness! Satan is extremely tricky. It is difficult to fend it off with the four cardinal virtues only. In order to fight this spiritual battle, we need supernatural graces and the support of God!

Let us turn back to meditate resurrection. All men shall come back to life on Judgment Day. This is the traditional concept of the Jews, in particular the Pharisees. How did Paul explain the resurrection of Jesus Christ before the Last Day? He introduces the concept of "proper order" in order to break through the restriction. "For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the first fruits; then …" (1 Corinthians 15:22-23). Paul makes use of the familiar concept of "first fruits" to designate Jesus Christ. Since there is the first fruit, more shall come after in the future ages, "those who belong to Christ". Therefore, resurrection before the Judgment Day is only a matter of proper order. Therefore, Jesus Christ was able to come back to life before the Last Day. But what is revolutionary in the gospel is that not only did Jesus' resurrection come before the Last Day, but it was "on the third day", here and now! The narrative of the resurrection of Lazarus is a good example. The family of three was good friends of Jesus. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept (11:35)! No doubt, Lazarus would subsequently die. But he had come back to life. Thus, his resurrection on Judgment Day is not empty talk!

In the theology of Paul, the resurrection of Jesus Christ manifests the communion of the Blessed Trinity. The Son took flesh and became mortal! God can be mortal! What amazing doctrine! According to Paul's view, after the death of the Son, it was the Holy Spirit, in Paul's words "the glory of the Father", who raised Christ from the dead (Romans 6:4; 8:11)! Thus, the possession of the Holy Spirit is a guarantee for resurrection before Judgment Day, here and now! It is not necessarily a symbolic turning of a new leaf but a real resuscitation from the dead. "Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26) Even a person so close to Jesus as Martha was caught unprepared when confronted by the question. She could only utter whatever she could understand (11:27). God's mystery is so ineffable that it is difficult for us mere mortals to bear!

Brethren! The example of Peter teaches us not to give up! Although damaged by the Original Sin Peter made the mistake of thinking as human beings do, his decision to follow Lord Jesus Christ was not shaken. Although Peter was unworthy and his personality was flawed, he repented continually and finally suffered martyrdom on the cross and attained his glorious crown. Isn't repentance a foretaste of resurrection? Aren't those continual struggles and resurrections on earth the "narrow gate" (Matthew 7:13) taught by Jesus Christ? Let's work diligently and march towards eternal life!
God bless!

我信從宗徒傳下來的教會 I Believe in the Apostolic Church

常年期第廿一主日，甲年
主題：我信從宗徒傳下來的教會

曾讀過一篇，相信是基督新教的學者寫的，有關伯多祿是「磐石」的作品。作者懂得從希臘文入手，讀來頗有說明力。他說原文的πέτρα，不一定是磐石，也可以是石頭、石塊stone！我們天主教為了保障自己的地位，過份抬舉了伯多祿。建基在伯多祿這樣不堪的「石頭」上，真是岌岌可危！

其實，基督信仰的基礎，是耶穌基督，絕對不是伯多祿。是基督替我們釘十字架，伯多祿釘十字架殉道，並不是為了救贖我們，而是為了見證信仰。基督復活升天了，伯多祿的復活和升天與否，已超出新約作者所能記載的範疇了。耶穌基督自己曾引用聖詠，指出自己就是「匠人棄而不用的廢石，反而成了屋角的基石」（詠118:21，瑪21:42）。初期教會的宣講，也喜歡引用這段聖詠（宗4:11，伯前2:7）。這「廢石」的希臘文原文是λίθος，有異於「磐石」πέτρα。（可惜「屋角的基石」的原文，無論是希伯來文或是希臘文，是「頭」和「屋角」，並沒有運用「石」字。）

不過，用「磐石」翻釋πέτρα，是否抬舉了伯多祿呢？讓我們看看πέτρα這個字，在瑪竇福音其他部份，是怎樣用的。當中包括了「建屋在磐石上」（7:24）；耶穌斷氣時，「巖石崩裂」（27:51）和耶穌死後，遺體安放在「巖石間所鑿成」的新墓穴（27:60）。值得一提的是，在同一句，瑪竇用了λίθος來描述「把一塊大石頭滾到墓口」，所以λίθος不一定是廢石啊！從瑪竇這一句看來，巖石明顯比大石頭龐大堅實了。另一方面，伯多祿前書也是用λίθος來描述教友是建築屬神殿宇的活石（伯前2:5），並沒有基礎的意思。所以，既然是「匠人棄而不用的廢石」，應該大不了多少！這段聖詠的神奇之處，是不完美的「廢石」，落在天主手上，竟然可以化腐朽為神奇，變成屋角的「基石」！因此，耶穌基督引用這段聖詠，重點是天主的偉大：「那是上主的所行所為，在我們眼中，神妙莫測。」（詠118:23，瑪21:42）一點題外話，「基礎」的希臘文是θεμέλιος，由θέμα「埋下」和λίθος「石頭」所組成。例如默示錄記載那從天降下的新聖城耶路撒冷，它的城牆是建基在十二座「基石」之上，基石上刻有十二宗徒的名字。（默21:14）祇要埋下了，便可以借助大地的承托，成了建築物的基礎！真正的基礎不是這塊石頭，而是比這塊基石更大的地球！

在原罪的氛圍下生活，人人都有缺點。要從伯多祿，從十二宗徒或者特朗普、普京和特區一眾的高官身上找缺點，一點也不難。令人詫異的，是天父竟然召選了這些「廢石」，這些不堪當的人，來成就祂的旨意！今天互聯網發達，大家很容易接收到資訊，不再像從前一樣無知。大家有獨立的思考能力，不會被文宣所蒙蔽，有能力作出客觀判斷。掌權者既然擁有這麼大的公權力，理應負責任地為人民服務。可惜我們所見的掌權者，竟然做出這麼多反智的決定，真令人莫名其妙，慨歎不已！注意，不是掌權者的決策不符合我的心意，所以我覺得他們反智。而是人民的眼睛是雪亮的！不是一少撮「反對派」的政見，而是越來越不沉默的大多數人的共識！他們默默地承擔著掌權者「殘民以自肥」的苛政，有誰替他們申冤呢（瑪25:40）？

從更宏觀的信仰角度看，其實也是教宗方濟各不斷提出的呼籲。例如，他說：「基督信仰生活是一場永續的搏鬥…這也是一場與魔鬼、邪惡之王的長期搏鬥。」（【你們要歡喜踴躍】#158-159）魔鬼並非神話，它非常願意我們相信它並不存在！但是，相信天主，相信天主創造了有形和無形的天地萬物，我們又怎能否定靈界的存在呢？這樣的否定，豈不是自相矛盾嗎？所以大家所見到的反智政策，除了是自私的貪婪之外，除了是掌權者為了維護自私利益所建立的剝削制度外，背後還有更深層的因素！我們的對手，不單是可見的掌權者，更是不可見的魔鬼。

今天耶穌對伯多祿說：「你是伯多祿，在這磐石上，我要建立我的教會，陰間的門決不能戰勝她。」（瑪16:18）〔很有趣，為甚麼是「門」？，「陰間的門」是指魔鬼嗎？今天沒有時間深入默想，祇說一句：耶穌基督是「羊的門」（若10:7）〕所以，教會除了倡議和參予社會公義之外，還要在另一戰線與魔鬼搏鬥。教會有能力嗎？她自己當然沒有，但天主有！

這教會是「惟一」的。但不可不知，惟一的天主是三位一體的。所以教會的惟一，是包容多元的合一，而不是統一！在世界各地不同的本地教會，各有自己的文化特色；各基督教派有不同的傳統，卻是信奉同一的主、行同一的洗禮。
這教會是「神聖」的，並不是因為她是由神聖的成員所組成。這樣的話，祇有精英纔可得救！按伯多祿的教導，她是由接近了耶穌基督而成為「活石」的信徒所建構而成的，一座屬於天主的教會（伯前2:4-5）！
這神聖的教會也是「至公」的，即普世的。她不分種族、語言和習俗，收容了各式各樣的「廢石」，讓天主把他們改變成為，裝飾新耶路撒冷城牆基石的寶石（默21:19）。因此，倘若將來在天上遇見特朗普等人，發現天主真的為他們在天上留了一席位，不要奇怪！
最後，這教會是「由宗徒傳下來」的。天主教強調伯多祿是第一任教宗、今天的教宗方濟各是第二百六十六們掌門人、所有主教的按立，可以追溯到十二宗徒…這是多麼令人安心！不過，這是歷史的偶然，更重要的，是天主教代代相傳的「聖傳」!甚麼是聖傳？因為聖經不能盡錄耶穌基督所有的行實（若20:30-31），我們的信仰，有賴門徒的口耳相傳。所以能保存這些從宗徒傳下來的傳統，再經後世教會的訓導，保證其正確性，就是「從宗徒傳下來」的意義！

各位兄弟姊妹，我們有幸蒙召成為宗徒傳下來的教會中的一員，不要妄自菲薄，覺得自己很不堪當。這不是謙遜的表現，反而是否定天主的慈愛與全能！我們可能對教會領袖很失望，對政府高官很失望。請不要停留在失望中，因為對人失望，就是對按自己肖像創造卻令你失望的天主失望！對天主失望、懷疑，是魔鬼常用的技倆！小心！讓我們為所有不堪當的人祈禱，願天父的旨意，能順利地在她們身上開展。
天主保祐！

2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：wikipedia.com

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Twenty First Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: I Believe in the Apostolic Church

Once I read an article written by, I believe, a Protestant author questioning the firmness of Peter as the Rock of the Church. The author was rather persuasive because he began with the Greek original. He said, the Greek word "πέτρα" does not necessarily mean rock. It could simply be a stone! We Catholics want to elevate Peter in order to defend our status. Building upon such a weakling as Peter is definitely shaky!

In fact, Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christianity, not Peter. It was Christ crucified for us. Peter's martyrdom on the cross is martyrdom, bearing witness. Christ resurrected and ascended into heaven. Whether St. Peter had come back to life and ascended is beyond the narrative scope of New Testament authors. Once Jesus Christ described Himself as "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." (Psalm 118:21, Matthew 21:42) The early Church also liked quoting this psalm (Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7). This "rejected stone" is "λίθος" in Greek, different from "πέτρα", the rock. (Unfortunately, the original word for "cornerstone", whether in Hebrew or in Greek, is "head" and "corner". No "stone" can be found anywhere.)

But have we over-elevated Peter by translating "πέτρα" into "rock"? Let's find out how Matthew used the word "πέτρα" in the other parts of the gospel. They include, "built his house on rock" (7:24); the moment Jesus died, "rocks were split" (27:51) and lastly, Jesus' corpse was laid in a new tomb that was "hewn in the rock" (27:60). In the same breath, Matthew continued to use "λίθος" to describe "rolling a huge stone across the entrance of the tomb". Therefore, "λίθος" is not necessarily a rejected stone! From this verse in Matthew, it is obvious that rock is more massive and solid than a huge stone. On the other hand, the First Letter of Peter also uses "λίθος" to describe believers as living stones to be built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). It does not suggest any sense of foundation. Since it is a stone rejected by builders, it cannot be huge! The wonderful part of this verse is, when this unworthy, rejected stone falls into God's hand, it is turned into the cornerstone of a house! Therefore, when Jesus quoted this psalm, the focus was God's wonder, "By the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes" (Psalm 118:23, Matthew 21:42). Here is a digression. The Greek word of "foundation stone θεμέλιος" is made up of "to bury θέμα" and "stone λίθος". For example, the Book of Revelation mentions the New Jerusalem descending from heaven. "The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles" (Revelation 21:14). Once a stone is laid on the ground, the earth would support it to become the foundation of buildings! The real foundation is not the foundation stone, but the Earth!

Living in the milieu of Original Sin, everybody is flawed. It is not a bit difficult to find faults with Peter, with the Twelve Apostles, with Trump, with Putin and with the upper echelon of the SAR etc. The heavenly Father surprises us by calling these unworthy "rejected stones" to do His will! With the popularizing of the Internet, all of us are no longer ignorant because we are able to gain access to information. We have the ability to make independent judgment and without being persuaded by propagandas. People in power are delegated authority to serve the people in responsible manners. Regrettably, we only see them making mind-boggling stupid policies one after another. Be noted. I judge that their policies defy common sense, not because I do not buy their ideas. People's vision is twenty-twenty! It is not the political view of the minority opposition party, but the consensus of a not so silent majority today! They quietly shoulder the harsh administration of power brokers whose aim is to fatten themselves at the expense of the people. Who will render the people justice (Matthew 25:40)?

From a more macro-religious perspective, which Pope Francis has been always been advocating, e.g. he says, "The Christian life is a constant battle … It is a constant struggle against the devil, the prince of evil" (Gaudete et Exsultate #158-159), the Devil is not a myth. It definitely wants us to believe its non-existence! But since we believe in the Father, Maker of all things visible and the invisible, how can we deny the existence of the spiritual realm? It is contradictory to deny it. Therefore, all these stupid policies are more than selfish greed, or exploiting institutions established by people in power to perpetuate their interests. There is a deeper being behind! Our struggle is not simply against power brokers, but the invisible Devil.

Today, Jesus speaks to Peter, "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18). [Very interesting! Why "gate"? Does "gates of the netherworld" mean the devils? Today there is no time for further meditation. I only say, Jesus is "the gate of the sheep" (John 10:7)] Therefore, not only does the Church advocate and promote social justice, but she also engages in a struggle against the Devil. Is she capable? She's not, but God is!

She is One. Let it be known that the One God is a Trinity. Therefore, there is plurality in the oneness of the Church. She is a communion of plurality, not uniformity! There are local churches with different cultural characteristics all over the world. The different Christian denominations have different traditions. But they all believe in one Lord and confess one baptism.
This Church is Holy not because she is made up of holy members. If she were, only elites would be saved! According to Peter's teaching, she is made up of living stones by coming close to Jesus Christ to be built into a spiritual house belonging to God (1 Peter 2:4-5)!
This Holy Church must also be Catholic, i.e. universal. She embraces all sorts of "rejected stones" regardless of their races, languages and customs. Let God transform them into precious stone to decorate the walls of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19). Therefore, don't be surprised to meet Trump et. al. and discover that God really has reserved a room for each of them in heaven!
Lastly, this Church is Apostolic. Catholicism emphasizes that Peter was the first pope and Francis is the 266^th, and that all the consecration of bishops can be traced all the way back to the twelve Apostles etc. How reassuring! But this is only a historical coincidence. The more important element is the Tradition handed down through ages within the Catholic Church! What is Tradition? Since the Bible is unable to contain all the words and deeds of Jesus Christ (John 20:30-31), our faith relies on the oral tradition of the disciples. The ability to preserve the tradition handed down from the Apostles, and guaranteed its truthfulness by the Magisterium of the Church through the ages is the meaning of the Apostolicity of the Church!

Brethren! We are blessed to be called to become members of the Apostolic Church. Don't look down upon yourselves because of your unworthiness. This is not humility. On the contrary, it is a denial of the mercy and omnipotence of God! We may be disappointed with Church leaders, disappointed with the State leaders. But don't stay in despair because disappointment with humanity is disappointment with God who created humanity in His own image! Disappointment with and doubt of God is the usual tricks of the Devil! Beware! Let us pray for those unworthy people. May God's will be done with them.
God bless!

耶穌的沉默 The Silence of Jesus

常年期第二十主日，甲年
主題：耶穌的沉默

提洛和漆冬，正是位於當今世界注目的黎巴嫩境內。黎巴嫩在聯合國成立後，便脫離了法國的托管，成為一個獨立的國家。阿以衝突，黎巴嫩收容了大批巴勒斯坦難民，埋下後來的內戰危機，之後便是歷史了！
耶穌基督有很豐富的難民經驗，出生後不久，為了逃避大黑落德的追殺，聖家星夜「退避到埃及去了」（瑪2:14）。今天福音的故事，不是發生在以色列境內，而是耶穌與法利塞人和經師衝突之後，「離開那裡，就迅往提洛和漆冬一帶去了」（15:21）。走得那麼快，好像逃難一樣。所以說，耶穌基督有很豐富的難民經驗！當然，耶穌基督並不害怕法利塞人的勢力，祂是出於慈父的憐憫，不想他們心腸硬化，灰心喪志（哥3:21），纔不與他們繼續衝突！

耶穌基督驅魔的能力，毋庸置疑。祂施行神蹟，與信德息息相關。一方面，神蹟可以激發群眾的信德。正如今天的神蹟，使「許多群眾帶著瘸子…頌揚以色列的天主」（瑪15:30-31）。另一方面，當事人的信德，亦是引發神蹟的關鍵（9:22）。但值得一提的，是今天的驅魔故事，當事人並不在場，而是她母親的信德激發了神蹟。這個神蹟確定了為他人的需要代禱，展示出「諸聖想通」的道理；而且，祈禱的力量很大，因為我們所祈求的天主，力量很大（路1:51a）。耶穌基督「隔空」驅魔，天主的威力，可見一斑！

在基督徒眼中，天主子降生成人，拯救世人，無分種族，包括以色列人和外邦人，是毫無疑問的。雖然耶穌親口說：「我被派遣，祇是為了以色列家失迷的羊」（瑪15:24），但這都是為了猶太人信徒的需要而記載下來的。且看這個驅魔故事，是以「頌揚以色列的天主」（15:31）作結，便知道是瑪竇為了猶太信徒而這樣寫的。在以色列人的靈魂裡，深深刻上「選民」觀念的烙印。他們是天主「從萬民中特殊的產業，是司祭的國家，聖潔的國民」（出19:5-6）。另一方面，即使亡國充軍，在異地流離失所，卻是為了讓外邦人認識天主（依45:4-5；耶16:13；則20:41，達3:45）。這種衝破種族疆界的普世性思想，出自以天主眼光看待世界的先知之口，是合理的。他們沒有受制於司祭眼光的約束，這種「進步」的選民觀念，使猶太人即使亡國，仍可以引以為傲。保祿宗徒深明猶太人的一神觀念，成了猶太人信仰耶穌基督的絆腳石，所以在今天的書信中，表達了他對鄉親的情懷。他指望在外邦人中間傳福音的成就，可以刺激到他的同胞，皈依基督（羅11:14）。同樣，瑪竇所記載的耶穌基督雖然受聖父派遣，先向以色列家宣傳福音，但並沒有排斥外邦人的意思。同時，耶穌基督以猶太人身份，在外邦人的地域大顯神威，反而為猶太信徒，爭回不少光彩。和聖保祿一樣，瑪竇也希望願耶穌基督在提洛和漆冬的成功，能刺激更多的同胞皈依！

瑪竇對宗徒們（當然包括自己）的缺點，毫不掩飾。他們擁有「選民」的身份，自尊心強。但提洛和漆冬，始終不是以色列的地方，總不應目中無人。在外邦人的地方，卻容忍不了外邦婦人的糾纏，「就上前求祂說：『打發她走走罷！因為她在我們後面不停地喊叫。』」（瑪15:23）雖然說是「求」，但這個「求」是為了自己，抑或是為了那婦人的需要呢？我對後者有保留。且看今天第一篇讀經的教訓。皈依之後是事奉，事奉之後是愛慕，愛慕之後，纔做守盟約的僕人（依56:6）！門徒跟隨耶穌，為耶穌代勞都做到了（瑪10:5-42）。但他們愛耶穌有多少呢？相信很有限，他們尚未掌握到耶穌基督的心意。倘若他們真心愛耶穌，就應該愛耶穌所愛的人。耶穌基督愛護所有的人，包括門徒們不屑交往的外邦人。他們尚未能做到，他們的「選民自我」仍然很大。耶穌基督的回覆（15:24），直刺那「選民」的自尊心，令他們感覺到這自尊心，怎樣帶來兩難！若要維護「選民的尊榮」，就要忍受糾纏的不便；若要擺脫糾纏，就要放下「選民」的身段！原來做「選民」，竟然帶來這麼多的不便，值得把持不捨嗎？

其實，這個客納罕婦人很大體，她祇在耶穌基督的後面求祂，並沒有在祂面前攔截祂，勉強祂！耶穌基督的反應是有趣的，祂「卻一句話也不回答她」（瑪15:23），好像不理會她，繼續前行考驗她，看她有多少能耐，讓她知難而退。這樣做，好像是為了維護門徒「選民」的脆弱心靈，但這樣做便放棄了救贖普世的宏旨。耶穌究竟在做甚麼呢？耶穌基督是天主，在客納罕婦人未提出要求以前，祂已經知道她需要甚麼（6:8）。所以真心的祈禱，不在多言，能在寧靜中，共主相處，四目交投，就足夠了！就在這個時刻，婦人趁耶穌把門徒陷於兩難時，來到耶穌跟前叩拜求助；不再是為了女兒，而是為自己了：「主，援助我罷」（15:25）! 相信這位客納罕母親，為照顧附魔的女兒，也受了不少苦，照顧者的苦，服務者之苦。但人總不願在人前示弱，喜歡用其他人的困難，做自己的擋箭牌！但來到天主面前，還需要掩飾嗎？耶穌與婦人的對話，好像是耶穌在為難她，歧視她。但那婦人並不示弱，從前已分析過，不再贅述。這裡想補充的，是婦人在祈禱中，雖然救女心切，但仍能細心聆聽到天主對她的講話，找到切入點「反擊」，既維護了自己的尊嚴，亦承認了以色列天主的偉大（15:27）！今天發覺到，原來與天主交談，真的有機會與天主搏鬥（創32:23-33）！

各位兄弟姊妹，雖然在祈禱以前，天主已經知道我們需要甚麼；但天主仍然與我們交談，針對我們的需要，因材施教，操練我們，有如祂今天操練門徒與客納罕婦人一樣。今天且讓我們為黎巴嫩的苦難，向人類救主，呈上我們的祈禱，扭轉當地人民的命運（詠126:4）！
天主保祐！

2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：https://www.orucc.org/on-being-heard-tammy-martens-3-4-18/

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Twentieth Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: The Silence of Jesus

Tyre and Sidon are located at the focus of the world today, namely Lebanon which attained independence as the French Mandate terminated after the establishment of the United Nations. During the Arab-Israeli Conflicts, Lebanon received many Palestinian refugees which contributed to subsequent civil wars. The rest is history!
Jesus Christ is an experienced refugee. Soon after His birth, the Holy Family "by night and departed for Egypt" in order to hide from the assassination of Herod the Great. (Matthew 2:14) The story today did not take place in Israel. It was after the conflict with the Pharisees and scribes, "Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon" (15:21) like a refugee. That's why I said earlier that Jesus had been an experienced refugee! Of course, Jesus Christ was not afraid of the Pharisees' power. Instead, He showed them fatherly love, not wanting them to harden their heart and discourage them (Colossians 3:21). Thus He did not continue to provoke them!

Jesus' exorcist power is indisputable and working miracles is closely related to faith. On one hand, miracles can enhance people's faith. Like the miracle today, it resulted in "great crowds came to him, having with them the lame … and glorified the God of Israel." (Matthew 15:30-31). On the other hand, the faith of the person concerned was always the key which triggered off miracles (9:22). But there is one thing worth paying attention to. In the exorcism story today, the person concerned was not at the spot. It was her mother who triggered the miracle. Therefore, this miracle affirmed the teachings of intercession prayer and communion of saints. Furthermore, the power of prayer is tremendous because the God we pray to is extremely mighty (Luke 1:51a). Jesus' "remote exorcism" shows just how powerful God can be!

In the eyes of Christians, that the Son of God took flesh and became man to redeem humanity irrespective of races, including both Israelites and Gentiles, is common knowledge. Although Jesus Christ says in His own words, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24), it was for the sake of the Jewish disciples. Look at this exorcism story. It ended with "glorified the God of Israel" (15:31) which shows that Matthew wrote this for the Jewish Christians. Craved deeply in the souls of all Israelites is the concept of the "Chosen People". They were God's "treasured possession among all peoples, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:5-6) On the other hand, they were able to see their captivity as an opportunity to allow the Gentiles to know Yahweh (Isaiah 45:4-5, Jeremiah 16:13, Ezekiel 20:41, Daniel 3:45). It is reasonable for this global mentality, which goes beyond races and regions, to come from prophets who saw with the eyes of God. They were not constrained by the priestly perspective. Such a "progressive" conception of Chosen People empowered the Jews to sustain in exile. Paul the apostle knew too well that the Jewish monotheism would be a stumbling block for Jews to accept Christianity. He showed his passion for his country folks in the epistle we read today. He wished that his successful evangelization among Gentiles might make his race jealous and convert to Christ (Romans 11:14). In the same way, the Jesus in Matthew made it clear that He was sent to the House of Israel. But that does not exclude the Gentiles. At the same time, as a Jew, Jesus Christ manifested His might among the Gentiles, winning back the dignity of the Chosen People. Like St. Paul, Matthew might also want Jesus' success in Tyre and Sidon to provoke more Jews to conversion!

Matthew does not cover up the inadequacy of the Apostles (of course, including he himself). They were proud of their identity as the Chosen People. But after all, Tyre and Sidon were alien lands. They shouldn't be arrogant. In a foreign land, they could not tolerate a foreign woman dogging them, "came and asked Jesus, ‘Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us'" (Matthew 15:23). Did they come and ask for their own sake or for the sake of the woman? I doubt very much about the latter. Let's take a look at the first reading today. After joining comes ministering, after ministering comes loving and only after loving would they become servants holding fast God's covenant (Isaiah 56:6)! The disciples had joined and ministered to Jesus (Matthew 10:5-42). But how much did they love Jesus? I believe that their love is limited. They were still unable to know Jesus' mind. Had they loved Jesus genuinely, they would have loved whomever Jesus loved. Jesus loves us all, including the Gentiles whom the disciples despised. They couldn't. Their Chosen People ego still loomed large. Jesus' response (15:24) pierce through their self-image which put them in a dilemma! To maintain the dignity and glory of being a Chosen People, they had to tolerate the inconvenience of being dogged. To rid themselves of the dogging, they had to let go of their pride as the Chosen People. How inconvenient it is to be God's Chosen People! Is such an identity worth keeping?

In fact, this Canaanite woman knew her position well. She only begging Jesus Christ from behind and did not intercept Him and ram her request down Jesus' throat! Jesus' response was interesting. He "did not say a word in answer to her" (Matthew 15:23). It seems that Jesus ignored her, continued ahead to test her, to see how long she would persist and leave. In doing so, He seemed to have protected the fragile souls of the disciples as the Chosen People. But such an interpretation goes against Jesus' will of universal redemption. What was Jesus doing? Jesus Christ is God. Before the Canaanite woman asked, Jesus had already known what she needed (6:8). Therefore authentic prayers need not to babble. Stay with the Lord in silence. Maintain a blessed gaze. That's enough! The woman seized the moment when Jesus put his disciples in a dilemma, came and did homage to Him begging, not for her daughter but for herself, "Lord, help me" (15:25)! I believe that this Canaanite mother must have suffered a lot attending to her possessed daughter. She suffered as many a care-giver. But people don't want to reveal their weaknesses before others. They like to hide behind other people's vulnerabilities, their fig-leaf! But before God, need we to hide? In the dialogue between Jesus and the woman, it looks as if Jesus was putting obstacles before her, discriminating against her. But the woman was in fact fighting back. I have previously analysed this point and shall not repeat here. But I want to mention one more point. In her fervent intercession for her daughter, the Canaanite woman was able to listen to God's word attentively. She was able to spot a stance to fight back, defending her dignity as well as acknowledging the wonder of the God of Israel (15:27)! Indeed, when you engage with God in prayers, be prepared for a fight (Genesis 32:23-33)!

Brethren! Although the Father already knows what we need even before we ask Him, He is pleased to talk with us, teach us and train us according to our abilities, just like what Jesus did today with the disciples and the Canaanite woman. So, let us pray for the sufferings of Lebanon. Offer our prayers to the Redeemer of humanity to "Restore our captives" (Psalms 126:4)!
God bless!

小信德的人 You of Little Faith

常年期第十九主日，甲年
主題：小信德的人

2001年9月1日，在美國發生了轟動全球的恐怖襲擊。在眾目睽睽下，一幕一幕的慘劇，透過電視螢光幕現場直播，傷透美國人，甚至西方國家的心靈！當時很多人問，天主去了哪？為甚麼要讓這麼多無辜的人受害？有人回應說，因為美國過份世俗化，把天主拒諸家庭外、學校外、經濟外、社會外、政治外和文化外，所以天主當頭棒喝，喚醒他們云云。19年後，新冠病毒-19在全球肆虐，很多人舊調重彈，搬出同樣的答案，回答「天主去了哪」的老問題！我覺得奇怪，為甚麼這麼多人的思維，一點也沒有進步呢？莫非他們真的成功地把天主拒諸門外了？為甚麼當天災人禍出現時，用天主做代罪羔羊，用宗教信仰作為「遮醜布」？對於不接受基督信仰的文化，「天主去了哪」是沒有意義的。其次，有很多其他變數可以用來解釋這疫情，用不著抬天主出來。

其實在大眾傳媒，宗教一直有市場。大概每十年，總會有新演繹的「耶穌傳」，或者「梅瑟與法魯」之類的電影，所以美國人並未能完全把天主趕出國外。例如在2013年，電視播放十集的【聖經】片集，從《創世紀》講述到《宗徒大事錄》。片集中經常出現的對白是「天主與我們同在」，是在成功渡過難關後，例如過了紅海，由主角呼喊出來。可以說，這是基督徒向世俗化了的世界，一句清晰響亮的宣言。我是個吹毛求疵的人，覺得不是味道。在成功的時候，纔察覺到天主與我們同在。那麼在困難的過程中，難道天主躲了起來嗎？好像祂在成功時，纔現身邀功！

其實，耶穌的一生，不是展示了天主如何在困難的過程中，與我們同在嗎？一開始，耶穌基督誕生在馬槽；為了逃避大黑落德的追殺，聖家成為逃往埃及的難民；祂在納匝肋成長，並不富庶；三年的公開生活，祂用一句「但是人子卻沒有枕頭的地方」（瑪8:20）來概括；祂在最後的公開教導時，提醒聽眾在貧困和有需要的人身上尋找祂（25:40）；最後，祂接受當時最大的恥辱，當眾赤條條地釘死在十字架上；死後被埋葬在別人的墳墓裡！即是說，耶穌基督，可見的天主，並沒有躲起來。祂一直在困苦中，陪伴著受苦的人：在世界貿易中心雙塔內、在反修例運動的衝突現場、在快要崩潰的醫護人員身旁、在貝魯特大爆炸現場，擁抱著死傷者…「天主去了哪？」，你看不見嗎？就在無辜的人、受苦的人那裡！為甚麼我們看不見呢？因為我們好像宗徒們一樣，好像大部份人一樣，都是「小信德的人」（14:31）！在成功時纔看到天主，在絕望的時候，看不見祂陪著我們受苦！

有時候，福音的教訓好像有點矛盾，其實不然。例如：耶穌教我們祈禱時，不用多說，「因為你們的父，在你們求祂以前，已知道你們需要甚麼。」（6:8）另一方面，祂又鼓勵我們恬不知恥地祈禱，好像可以藉著祈禱，改變天主的思想一樣（路11:5-8，18:1-7）！莫非瑪竇的天主與路加的天主，不是同一個天主嗎？當然是同一個天主！不要忘記，祈禱是我們與天主交談。在上的不一定是天主，有所求的不一定是人。為甚麼耶穌不可以用「寡婦」自居？那個「不怕天主，不敬重人的判官」（18:2），不是我們的寫照嗎？天主有如寡婦，在我們這個硬心腸的判官身邊，不斷給我們機會，敲我們的心門，想我們接納祂，接受祂的恩寵。祂會恬不知恥，不斷地糾纏我們，直到我們回頭！天主會成功嗎？耶穌跟著說的一句，表達出祂的憂心：「人子來臨時，能在世上找到信德嗎？」（18:8）可見，未能在受苦和無辜的人身上看到基督，是沒有信德的指標和證據，在末日用來量度我們！

今天福音的故事，發生在「五餅二魚」神蹟之後。這個神蹟，理應加強了門徒的信德。最少，他們知道放棄現有的一切，跟隨耶穌基督，絕對是一個正確的「投資」。「五餅二魚」神蹟，即使未能令他們看到「天主與他們同在」，最少也證明了跟隨耶穌基督，將會不愁衣食！後者不是信德，而是商業的，現實的謀算！憑謀算，教會是不足以應付，緊隨著成功而來的，一浪接一浪的衝擊！

可能天未亮，四周還是漆黑一片，能見度低的緣故，當「耶穌步行海上，朝著他們走來」時，在沒有師傅同在的情況下，門徒們方寸大亂，大叫「是個妖怪」（瑪14:25-26）！這個對現實環境的反應，是可理解的。伯多祿認出是耶穌的聲音，可能是為了堅固兄弟的信德（路22:32）罷，「遂從船上下來，走在水面上，向耶穌那裡去。」（瑪14:29）請注意，是「從船上下來」，是小心翼翼地，是謹慎的表現，而不是一時衝動的行為。這與另一次海上經歷不同，可能是同一地點，但是在耶穌復活後發生。伯多祿不是從船上下來，而是「縱身跳入海裡」（若21:7）。這次不是小心翼翼地、謹慎地從船上下來，是信德的表現！前者需要耶穌基督出手，收拾殘局，伯多祿因為「小信德」而顏面無存（瑪14:30-32）；後者伯多祿獲得耶穌基督的寬恕，並委以牧養教會的重任（若21:15-17）！

「謹慎」是四樞德之首，能幫助我們的信仰，不會陷入迷信和狂熱。但過份著重謀算，反令我們懷疑天主對我們的愛，看不到天主一直陪在我們身邊，同甘共苦。準確地拿捏謹慎與信德的平衡，真的不容易！前者可以修煉，後者有待天主的恩賜！
主啊！請增加我們的信德罷！（路17:5）亞孟。

2017講道
圖片鳴謝：usinessinsider.combat, thesun.co.uk

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Nineteenth Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: You of Little Faith

On September 1, 2001, a terrorist attack in USA shocked the whole world. Many people saw with their own eyes, scenes after scenes of tragedy stream live on the TV screen. These scenes pierced the souls of the Americans and the Western countries. Many people asked where God had been. Why did He allow so many innocent people to get killed? Some people would answer that it was because USA had become too secular. The people had kept God out of families, schools, economy, society, politics and culture. So, this terrorist attack was a "wake-up" call from God etc. Nineteen years have elapsed. The whole world is suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Many people put up the same answer to the same old question: Where has God been? I'm surprised why the minds of so many people remain stagnant? Is it that they really have successfully driven God out of the door? Why, when disasters strike, do they make God a scapegoat and make religious faith a fig-leaf? For cultures which reject Christianity, asking where God has been is meaningless. Secondly, this pandemic can be explained with many other factors. We don't need God to be a variable in our explanations.

In fact, religion has market in mass media. Once every decade, there would be a new movie on Jesus Christ, or Moses & Pharaoh. Therefore, the Americans have not kicked God out completely. For example, in 2013, a 10-episode TV series called "The Bible" was aired which covered from Genesis to Acts. One of the favourite lines which is often put into the mouth of the heroes after victory, such as crossing the Red Sea, is "God is with us!" This is a loud and clear Christian declaration to the secularized world. But I'm a hair-splitting person who is not too happy with the line. Only after victory did people see that God was with them. Then did God hide Himself in the process of struggle? It sounds like He emerged after victory only to claim the credit!

In fact, hasn't the life of Jesus shown us how God stays with us all the time in difficulties? From the start, Jesus was born in a manger. In order to evade the murderous attempt of Herod the Great, the Holy Family became fugitives fleeing to Egypt. Jesus grew up in Nazareth, not a well off town. In His own words, Jesus describes His three-year public ministry in these words "But the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head" (Matthew 8:20). In His last public teaching, He reminded us to look for Him among the poor and the needy (25:40). At last, He embraced the most shameful death of the time, naked crucifixion before all eyes. Even His tomb was somebody else's! That is to say, Jesus Christ, the visible God, does not hide away. All the time, He stays with those who suffer: inside the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre, on the clashing ground during the Anti-Extradition Bill unrest, next to the collapsing medical staff, embracing the dead and wounded at the Beirut explosion! Where has God been? Don't you see Him? He's among the innocent and suffering! Why don't I see Him? It is because like the Apostles and most people, "O you of little faith" (14:31)! You see Him in victory but in time of despair, you don't see Him suffering with you!

Sometimes, gospel teachings seem contradictory but actually they are not. For example, Jesus teaches us not to babble in prayer because "Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." (6:8) On the other hand, He encourages us to pray with perseverance. It looks as if praying without becoming weary, we can change God's mind (Luke 11:5-8, 18:1-7)! One wonders if the God of Matthew is the same God of Luke! Of course the same God! Don't forget, prayer is a dialogue between God and man. The one on top is not necessarily God and the one who begs is not necessarily a man. Why can't Jesus be the widow? Isn't the judge who "neither feared God nor respected any human being" (18:2) an accurate portrait of ours? God is like a widow, standing next to us, the heart harden judge, giving us many opportunities, knocking on the door of our hearts, hoping that we accept Him, receive His grace. He would persevere and keep bothering us until we repent! Will God be successful? The next sentence uttered by Jesus indicates His worry, "But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (18:8) Thus, we can safely draw the conclusion that the inability to see Christ among the innocent and the suffering is an indicator and evidence of our lack of faith. At the end of the world, we'll be measured accordingly!

The gospel story today happened after the Five Loaves & Two Fish miracle. We expect this miracle to have strengthened the faith of the disciples. At least, they knew that abandoning all that they had at the moment to follow Jesus Christ was an absolutely correct "investment". Even if they were unable to see "God is with us" in the miracle, at least it proves that they wouldn't have to worry about food supply in the future! The latter is NOT faith but commercial and realistic calculation! With calculations, the Church would be unable to combat waves after waves of shock after an initial success!

Perhaps it was not yet dawn, pitch dark all around and visibility was low, when "He came toward them, walking on the sea". Without the company of the Master, the disciples were perplexed and cried out in fear "It is a ghost" (Matthew 14:25-26)! This was an understandable reaction to the concrete real life situation. Recognizing the voice of Jesus and perhaps wanting to strengthen the brothers (Luke 22:32), "Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus" (Matthew 14:29). Notice that, it is "got out of the boat", showing that Peter was cautious and prudent. He was not impulsive. The action was totally different from another incidence at the sea, probably the same spot but took place after Jesus' resurrection. This time, Peter did not get out of the boat, but "jumped into the sea" (John 21:7). It was neither cautious nor prudent. It was an act of faith! In the former case, Jesus had to stretch out His hand to catch him. Peter lost his face because of his little faith (Matthew 14:30-32). In the latter case, Peter received Jesus' forgiveness and commission to tender the Church (John 21:15-17)!

Prudence is the first of the four Cardinal Virtues. It prevents our faith from becoming superstitious and fanatic. But over-calculation makes us question God's love for us, rendering us unable to see God suffering alongside us. The balance is extremely delicate! The former can be cultivated, the latter at God's pleasure!
Lord! Increase our faith! (Luke 17:5). Amen.

耶穌基督的節制 The Temperance of Jesus Christ

常年期第十八主日，甲年
主題：耶穌基督的節制

聖伯多祿曾這樣勸勉信徒：「你們要節制，要醒寤，因為，你們的仇敵魔鬼，如同咆哮的獅子巡遊，尋找可吞食的人。」（伯前5:8）這話說得真合時！

的確，自古以來，就有一隻怪獸和它的代辦，張牙舞爪，四出「殘民以自肥」。即使人民起來革命，推翻了一隻；結果取而找之的，卻成了另一隻更聰明的怪獸。當古代的人相信神明存在的時候，尚且可以借助神明來制衡君王的獨裁。「君權神授」的確是一柄雙刃的利劍；既可以賜予統治者合法性，亦成了推翻統治者的口號！啟蒙時代之後，人類相信理性可以幫助他們自我完善，胸有成竹地以法律去制衡獨裁者，以法律去限制統治者的權力，提出「三權分立，互相制衡」的思想。可歎道高一尺，魔高一丈。統治者掌握了新的遊戲規則，集立法、執法與司法於一身，令自己的權力無限膨脹，並振振有辭地說依法而治！二千五百年前的孔子沒有見過獅子，聖伯多祿沒有見過老虎。既然獅子和老虎同屬貓科，我相信聖伯多祿會同意孔子在路過泰山時，所作出「苛政猛於虎」的教訓（禮記．檀弓下）。孔子當時的表現，可謂節制和醒寤！

作為耶穌基督的大使（格後5:20），向世人，包括當權者，宣講與天主修和的福音，我們無疑是「送羊入虎口」（羅8:36；詠44:23）。但保祿宗徒憑著耶穌基督對我們的愛，是滿懷希望的。他信賴天主，雖泰山崩於前而色不變。「面對這一切，我們可以說甚麼呢？若是天主偕同我們，誰能反對我們呢？」（羅8:31）這是何等的氣慨！我們在香港，尚未淪陷到「饑餓、赤貧和刀劍」的地步！可惜身邊很多朋友，已被忿怒衝昏了頭腦，有如加音一樣，失去節制，在社交媒體肆無忌憚地詛咒謾罵，以語言暴力，發洩情緒！這樣做於事無補，且讓自己失去醒寤，誠為可惜。

四部正典福音都記載了五餅二魚的神蹟，是發生在黑落德安提帕殺死洗者若翰之後。馬爾谷和路加是第二代的門徒，相信不會在神蹟現場。在編寫福音時，他們安排這個神蹟，發生在宗徒們第一次奉差遣傳福音（谷6:7-13，路9:1-6），歸來向耶穌基督報告成績後發生，給讀者的印象是他們的福傳很成功，吸引到很多人來見耶穌！瑪竇不同，第一次奉差遣傳福音是在第十章，「距離」第十四章的五餅二魚神蹟頗遠，沒有誇耀成績的味道。瑪竇一句「耶穌一聽說這消息，就從那裡上船，私下退到荒野地方」（瑪14:13），反而給讀者一種避難的感覺！瑪竇在神蹟現場，相信他能夠直接感受到耶穌基督當時的心情，他的安排較為可信。不要忘記，亦祇有瑪竇記載耶穌誕生後不久，便要逃避大黑落德王的追殺；今天長大成人，出道宣講天國的耶穌基督，亦要謹慎地，節制地收歛鋒芒，退到荒野地方。不像洗者若翰，他從荒野地方出來，與安提帕正面衝突。因為耶穌基督清楚自己的使命，明白甚麼時候應該做甚麼事，「祂的時辰還沒有到」（若7:30）。這是何等「審時度勢」的修養！

當然，耶穌基督是沒有可能收歛鋒芒的，祂自己可以四十日、四十夜守齋祈禱，拒絕把石頭變成麵包，向魔鬼證明自己是天主子（瑪4: 4）。但在五千饑餓的群眾前，祂動了憐憫心，不怕被魔鬼發現祂的行蹤，行了增餅神蹟，解決了群眾的物質需要，實踐了天主藉先知所許下的承諾（依55:1-2）！固然，耶穌基督滿足了群眾的物質需要，但祂更關心的，是依撒意亞先知所許諾的「心靈的喜悅」（55:2）。後來，在第十五章，祂教訓法利塞人和經師有關祖傳的問題後，耶穌基督又一次「離開那裡，就退往提洛和漆冬一帶去了」（瑪15:21）。難道耶穌基督又是「時辰還沒有到」嗎？祂害怕法利塞人和經師的迫害嗎？絕對不是，而是祂憐憫他們。耶穌基督明白，倘若與他們硬碰，他們反而會更加硬起心腸，斷絕了他們悔改之路！這是何等的慈悲，對猶太知識分子何等的憐愛！耶穌基督所關注的，是全面的物質與心靈需要。我們呢？因著「原罪」的傷害，令我們在心靈與物質之間，顧此失彼，甚至為了「賺得了全世界，卻賠上了自己的靈魂」（16:26），值得嗎？我們經常不能兩全其美，真是可憐！所以選擇貧窮（5:3），讓我們可以更輕鬆地妥善照顧自己的靈魂，向成聖邁進，的確是一個明智的決定！

今天對神蹟後收拾「剩餘的碎塊」（14:20）有另一番感受。這些剩餘的碎塊令我記起「拉匝祿和富翁」的比喻（路16:19-31）。為甚麼要收拾呢？為了環保？為了施捨給窮人？不想浪費？不是，是為了促進人與人彼此的聯系！耶穌基督增餅後，「遞給門徒，門徒再分給群眾」（瑪14:19）。十二宗徒怎樣親自分派到五千人手上呢？雖然瑪竇沒有提及把群眾分五十人一組坐下（谷6:40，路9:14），但五千人分佈的空間不可能是細少！所以群眾一定有份參予分派的工作，而且他們之間，一定有很多群組，絕不是完全的陌生人。因此，這分派與後來的收拾工作，絕對是一個治療「關係貧窮」的好練習！

耶穌基督對我們的愛，與父母對子女無微不至的愛，有過之而無不及！所以我們可以好像聖保祿宗徒一樣，放心大膽，向當權者宣講與天主修和的福音了。
天主保祐！

2014默想
圖片鳴謝：古詩學習網，wikimedia.org

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Eighteenth Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: The Temperance of Jesus Christ

St. Peter advised the disciples, "Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8) How timely this saying is!

Indeed, since ancient time, there was a monster and its deputies roaming about devouring people to fatten themselves with bloody teeth and claws. Even when people overthrew one such monster, the hero who replaced it would turn into a more intelligent monster. In ancient time when people still believed in deities, they would make use of the deities to counter balance tyranny. Theocracy was truly a double-edge sword that cuts both ways. Not only did it bestow legitimacy on rulers, but it also would be a war-cry to dethrone them. After Enlightenment, men believed that rationality would help them achieve self-perfection. They confidently believe that laws would restrain tyrants and limit their powers. People advocated "the separation of powers". Regrettably, rulers learnt the new rules of the game. They aggregate legislation, administration and jurisdiction into their hand to expand their power beyond control. They claim to rule by laws. 2500 years ago, Confucius had never seen lions and St. Peter had never seen tigers too. Since lions and tigers are felines, I believe St. Peter would concur with Confucius, who while crossing Mount Tai, taught that "harsh administration is more horrible than tigers" (Book of Rites, Tangong II). Confucius showed temperance and sobriety!

Being ambassadors of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) to proclaim the gospel of reconciliation to everybody, including rulers, we are surely "sheep to be slaughtered" (Romans 8:36, Psalms 44:23). But with the love of Jesus Christ for us, Paul was full of hope. He believed in God, unmoved by catastrophes ahead. "What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) How bold he was! We in Hong Kong today have not yet suffered from "famine, or nakedness, or the sword"! Unfortunately, many friends of mine are so infuriated that like Cain, they have lost their temperance, cursing obscenities on social media to vent their frustrations! It doesn't help at all. It would be a pity to allow oneself to fall from sobriety.

All four canonical gospels mention the miracle of five loaves and two fish which took place after Herod Antipas had killed John the Baptist. Mark and Luke were second generation disciples whom I think were not on the spot. When they lay out the narrative, they put it after the first commission of the twelve apostles (Mark 6:7-13, Luke 9:1-6). The miracle happened after they returned and reported their successes to Jesus, giving the readers an impression how successful their evangelization had been! Matthew was different. The first commission was found in chapter 10, rather "far away" from the miracle in chapter 14. Not a hint of success could be read. Matthew's "When Jesus heard of it, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself" (Matthew 14:13) gives readers an impression of a fugitive. Matthew was on the spot. I believe he was able to feel directly what Jesus felt at that time. His narrative is more credible. Don't forget, it was only Matthew who mentioned the Holy Family fled from Herod the Great's murderous scheme soon after Jesus' birth. Now that He had grown up and began His public ministry, Jesus Christ prudently covered up His presence and retreated to the wilderness, unlike John the Baptist who emerged from the wilderness and engaged in a frontal combat with Antipas. Jesus knew clearly His mission. He knew what to do at what time. "His hour has not yet come" (John 7:30). How impeccable Jesus' judgment and timing are!

Of course, it was impossible for Jesus Christ to hide His power. For Himself, He was able to fast for forty days and nights, refusing to turn stones into bread to prove to Satan that He is the Son of God (Matthew 4:4). But before Him were 5000 hungry people. Jesus was filled with compassion. Not fearing to reveal His location to the Devil, Jesus performed this multiplication miracle to satisfy the physical needs of the crowd in order to honour the pledge God made through the prophets (Isaiah 55:1-2)! On one hand, Jesus Christ satisfies the physical needs of the crowd. But He is more concerned with the pledge of "delight in rich fare" (55:2). Later in chapter 15, after teaching the Pharisees and scribes about ancestral traditions, once more "Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon" (Matthew 15:21). Again had His hour not yet come? Was He afraid of the persecutions from the Pharisees or scribes? Absolutely not! He had mercy on them. Jesus Christ understood that had He continued the combat, it would have further hardened their hearts, cutting off their option to repent! How merciful Jesus was, in particular towards the intelligentsia of the Jews! Total, physical and spiritual needs are Jesus' concerns. What about us? We have been impaired by the Original Sin and are unable to handle both spiritual and physical at the same time. "What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" (16:26) Is it worthwhile? We are always unable to attain the best of both worlds. What a pity! Therefore, choosing poverty (5:3) enables us to unload the burden on our souls and to travel light on the path of sanctification. It is a wise option!

Today, I have a new feeling about picking up "the fragments left over" after the miracle (14:20). Those crumbs remind me of the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16:19-31). Why did they pick them up? To protect the environment? To give them to the poor? Don't want to waste food? No, for the cementing of interpersonal relations! After breaking the loaves, Jesus "gave them to the disciples who in turn gave them to the crowds." (Matthew 14:19) Could the twelve apostles distribute the loaves to the 5000 people by hand? Although Matthew does not mention arranging the crowds into groups of fifties (Mark 6:40, Luke 9:14), the 5000 people must have occupied a huge space. Therefore, the crowd had to be involved in the distribution. Among them, there must have been companies. They could not be total strangers. Thus, the distribution and subsequent picking up is an absolutely perfect therapeutic exercise to heal relational poverty!

Jesus Christ loves us more meticulously than parents love their children! Therefore, we can be as bold as St. Paul to proclaim the gospel of reconciliation to people in power.
God bless!

真我的善惡二路 The Good and The Evil Paths Before the Authentic Self

真我系列之六：
真我的善惡二路（瑪14:1-12）

福音中的黑落德安提帕，惡名遠播，不下他的父親，那個在耶穌出生時，作為羅馬帝國傀儡，統治猶大的大黑落德！安提帕荒淫無道，即使違反梅瑟的法律，也娶了自己兄弟斐理伯的妻子黑落狄雅（瑪14:3），並且還對她的女兒起了淫念（谷6:23）。安提帕殘暴成性，為了遵守醉酒亂發的誓言，挽回面子，竟不惜犧牲了群眾公認為先知的洗者若翰（瑪14:9）。安提帕為人狡猾，有點小聰明，知道比拉多送上的禮物，耶穌，是因為他不想負上「千古罪人」的污名。安提帕當然不會這樣蠢，便把耶穌送回（路23:11）。安提帕的罪行，真是罄竹難書！我們不禁要問，安提帕的真我，掉到那裡去了？也難怪，安提帕生在大黑落德的家裡，他的真我難免受到各種荊棘的窒息，無法成長起來！

另一方面，洗者若翰是匝加利亞的兒子，原本可以繼承父業，在耶路撒冷當上一個司祭職（1:5）。但天主心目中的洗者若翰，要當一位擁有厄里亞精神的先知！所以當若翰在母胎時，天主便祝聖了他（1:14），讓他在充滿恩寵的環境中成長。長大後的若翰到曠野生活，在遠離貪婪、淫蕩和暴力的環境下，探索天父的旨意，過著成聖的生活；並向猶太人宣講悔改的洗禮，預備他們的心靈，迎接久待了的默西亞（瑪3:1-12）。他為耶穌基督作證，並為祂施洗後（3:15），知道是隱退的時候，並沒有逃避安提帕的拘捕（若3:30）；並以身殉，預示耶穌基督受難的命運（瑪17:12）！洗者若翰的真我，不單是天主肖像、天主聖者和天主義子，更是天主子的私人指標，幫助世人認清耶穌基督的真我。
天父啊！祢把生死之路擺在我們面前，給我們選擇。請加強我們的力量，在生命之路上行走。亞孟！

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：aleteia.org

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Authentic Self Series VI
The Good and The Evil Paths Before the Authentic Self (Matthew 14:1-12)

Herod Antipas was as infamous as his father Herod the Great who was the Roman puppet king of Judaea when Jesus was born! Not only was Antipas lustful, taking the wife of his brother Philip against the Mosaic Law (Matthew 14:3), but he was lustful towards her daughter as well (Mark 6:23). He was cold blooded. In order to save his face to honour a drunken vow, Antipas killed John the Baptist whom the Jews believed was a prophet (Matthew 14:9). He was cunning. He knew that Pilate sent him a gift, Jesus because Pilate did not want to become a "Sinner of a thousand ages". Antipas would not be so stupid as not to send Jesus back (Luke 23:11). It takes an ocean of ink to list his crimes and sins! We wonder where Antipas had dropped his authentic self. Antipas was born and raised in the house of Herod the Great. It was no wonder that his authentic self was smothered by all sorts of thorns, preventing it from growing!

On the other hand, John the Baptist was the son of a priest, Zechariah. He would have inherited his father's office and become a priest himself in Jerusalem (1:5). But in God's mind, John the Baptist was to be a prophet in the spirit of Elijah! Thus, when John was still in his mother's womb, God had consecrated him (1:14), allowing him to grow up in an environment full of grace. When he grew up, John left for the wilderness to stay away from a greedy, lustful and violent environment to seek the Father's will and led a sanctifying life. He preached a baptism of repentance to prepare the hearts of the Jews to receive the long anticipated Messiah (Matthew 3:1-12). He bore witness to Jesus Christ and after baptizing Christ (3:15), did not evade Antipas' arrest. He knew his position (John 3:30) and died a martyrdom to reveal Christ's passion in the future (Matthew 17:12). The authentic self of John the Baptist is not only an image of God, a holy one of God and an adopted child of God, but is also a personal pointer to the Son of God, helping others to know the authentic self of Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father! You put before us a path of life and a path of death to choose. Give us strength to take the path of life. Amen.