天國無疆界 Royaume des Cieux Sans Frontière

天國系列（二）
天國無疆界（瑪13:36-43）

比喻是一些簡單易明的故事，有它們的局限性，因此祇能表述真理的某些部份。在常年期第十六主日，福音記載了耶穌基督用「莠子的比喻」來講述「天國」的奧秘（瑪13:24-30）；今天祂解釋當中事物所象徵的意義（13:37-43b），大家可以自己閱讀理解。我倒想在這裡反省耶穌基督沒有解說的事物，或許可以拾獲一些寶貝，也未可知！

首先，故事發生在「主人的田裡」（13:24），驟耳聽來好像包含了「地域、界限」的觀念，難道「天國」有「疆界」嗎？當然沒有！天主創造了整個可見與不可見的宇宙，所以，祂的管治權包羅萬有，超越了任何疆界。所謂「普天之下，莫非王土；率土之濱，莫非王臣。」（詩經‧北山）注意，我在斷章取義！【聖詠】說得最清楚：「我若上升於高天，祢已在那裡；我若下降於陰府，祢也在那裡」（詠139:8）。除了物理的空間外，還有心理上的空間。古今中外，也會用「田地」來象徵心靈。它是一片更深廣遼闊的空間，所以【聖詠】的作者這樣說：「上主，祢鑒察了我，也認清了我…祢由遠處已明徹我的思考…我的舌頭尚未發言，上主，看，祢已經知悉周全」（139:1b-4）。的確，天主願意所有的人都得救，並得以認識真理（弟前2:4），既然天主無處不在，並且因為祂願意所有人得救，祂無微不至地照顧著祂所創造的萬物和人類，所以「天國」是沒有「疆界」的。

「莠子比喻」的主題，指出天主在今世終結前，容許惡人存在，准許惡事發生。因此，我們面對發生在我們四周的罪惡時，固然應該哀慟（瑪5:4），但不可因此而懷疑天主對人類的慈愛，失去了得救的希望。因為天父喜歡以痛苦激發我們的潛質，藉挫折培養我們的堅忍。世界是充斥著各種罪惡，國家如是，教會亦不會例外。

親愛的諸位，在你們的眼中，今天的教會醜聞纏身，但請不要對耶穌基督的慈愛，失去信心和希望，離開祂的新娘。
天主保祐！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：jw.org

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Kingdom of Heaven Series (II)
Royaume des Cieux Sans Frontière (Matthew 13:36-43)

Parables are some simple stories which are easy to understand. They have limitations and therefore can tell only some parts of the truth. On the Sixteenth Ordinary Sunday, the gospel passage tells us that Jesus Christ makes use of the Parable of Wheat and Weeds to narrate the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:24-30). Today He explains what the images symbolize (13:37-43b). I’m sure all of you are able to understand the Lord’s explanation. Therefore, I would rather meditate on what Jesus Christ has not explained. Perhaps we may be able to unearth some more gems!

First of all, the story happens “in his field” (13:24). It sounds as if it is carrying the concept of “border and territory”. Does the Kingdom of Heaven have border(s)? Of course not! God created all the visible and invisible things in the known universe. Thus, His sovereignty embraces all and transcends all boundaries. Allow me to quote out of context, “Under the wide heaven, isn’t all the king’s land? Within the sea-boundaries of the land, aren’t all the king’s servants?” (Bei Shan, Book of Poetry). The Psalter sings more plainly, “If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol, there you are” (Psalms 139:8). Other than the physical space, there is also the psychological one. Throughout all ages, all peoples deploy “the field” to symbolize the heart. It is a deeper, broader, wider and more comprehensive space. Earlier the Psalter sings, “Lord, you have probed me, you know me … you understand my thoughts from afar … Even before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it all” (139:1b-4). Indeed, He wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Since He is omnipresent and because He desires all to be saved, He takes care of His Creation and men meticulously. Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven has no borders.

The theme of the Parable of Wheat and Weeds tells us that before the end of this age, God allows the wicked to live and evil things to happen. Thus, when sins are happening around us, we should mourn (Matthew 5:4) but we should not thus doubt God’s mercy towards us and lose the hope of salvation. It is because the Father likes to stimulate our potentials with pains and to build up our endurance with frustrations. The world is infested with sins, so are the nations. The Church is not exempted.

Beloved brethren! In your eyes, may be the Church today is scanalized. Please do not lose faith and hope in the mercy of Jesus Christ and leave His Bride.
God bless!