天國系列（一）
願祢的國來臨（瑪13:31-35）
天主說：「人單獨不好」（創2:18），所以人必須群居在團體社區之中，夫妻是最基本的單位。當一個人成家立室，工作糊口，養妻活兒後，便會明白到社區的重要；與外族接觸後，漸漸形成國家觀念，甚至建立了一套「齊家治國平天下」和「世界大同」的政治理想。但理想始終是理想，在現實生活中，有很多內在和外在的因素阻礙了這些理想的實現。例如：「國家」包含甚麼元素呢？要有「疆界」嗎？要說統一的語言嗎？如何界定「國民」的身份呢？憑種族、膚色甚至宗教信仰決定資格嗎？國家必須有「主席」嗎？領導人要有甚麼質素呢…「政治」的確是一門大學問！
既然「國家」是一個這樣複雜的概念，「天國」豈能用三言兩語可以清楚地說明呢？所以耶穌基督祇用比喻向群眾宣講「天國」。對於那些祇是出於好奇的人，聽後不了了之；對於那些有心求道的人，便會進一步追求「天國」的奧秘。
「酵母的比喻」固然有以小化大的觀念，但重點在於「轉化」；它可以指個人透過學習，使心靈產生的轉化；亦可以指家庭在新加入的成員（初生嬰兒、照顧年邁的父母等）影響下所產生的變化；甚至某種意識形態在一個國家立足生根，成為了統治階層的指導思想！那麼，「天國」的指導思想是甚麼呢？大家不用我說白了罷！
天父，願祢的國來臨。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：i.pinimg.com
Kingdom of Heaven Series (I)
Thy Kingdom Come (Matthew 13:31-35)
God says, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Thus, men must live in groups and communities. A married couple is the most fundamental unit of a group. When a man sets up his family, earns the livelihood for the family, he begins to understand the importance of the neighbourhood. After getting contact with foreigners, he gradually forms the concept of a nation and even dreams up a political ideology of “managing families, governing states and keeping the world in peace” as well as “global solidarity”. After all, ideologies are ideals. In reality, many internal and external obstacles are hindering the actualization of those ideals. For example, what elements constitute a nation? Is there a border? Should nationals speak the same language? How should nationality be defined, using race, colour or even religious beliefs? Should there be a Chairperson? What qualities should leaders possess … etc. Political science is surely an enormous discipline!
If “kingdom” is such a complicated concept, how can people explain the “Kingdom of Heaven” is a few words? Therefore, Jesus Christ spoke to the crowd in parables when He proclaimed the “Kingdom of Heaven”. For those curious souls, they would stop searching after hearing parables. For those who strived to seek the truth, they would explore further the mystery of the Kingdom.
Today we read of two parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, each of which highlights some aspects of the Kingdom. The parable of the mustard seed tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven has a negligible beginning but it shall flourish and its branches spread wide such that the birds of the sky come and dwell (Matthew 13:32). We do not find any traces of “border” in this parable. Instead, there are branches, plurality as well as “birds of the sky come and dwell” --- showing “global solidarity”! This parable is appropriate for describing the universal growth of the Church.
The parable of leaven describes how the small changes the big, but the key-point is transformation. It may mean spiritual transformation of a person through learning; or changes in families when new members join (newborn babies or taking care of ageing parents etc.); or even an ideology which takes root in a country and becomes the “Torah” of the ruling class! Then, what is the ideology of the Kingdom of Heaven? I’m sure all of you know!
Heavenly Father, may Your Kingdom come. Amen.
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