聖人難做 How Hard It Is To Be A Saint

聖人難做（瑪4:18-22）

按聖教會的傳統，安德肋曾經沿黑海宣講福音，直到當今烏克蘭首都基輔。因此，聖安德肋成了烏克蘭、羅馬尼亞及俄羅斯的主保聖人，是第一位君士坦丁堡宗主教。如今「俄烏戰爭」已持續超過22個月，不知道聖安德肋如何為同根生的雙方轉禱呢？所謂「好人難做」，看來聖人更加難做！

我們在四部福音中，能找到十二宗徒的資料，並不均衡。有關伯多祿的記載多，其他的很少，可能因為伯多祿在帝國首都羅馬開教罷！連作為伯多祿兄弟的安德肋，我們所知的亦不多。在十二宗徒名單中，安德肋從當初的第二位（瑪10:2），跌到五旬節聖神降臨前的第四位（宗1:13），原因無從稽考。最後在耶路撒冷主持大公會議的，已經不是伯多祿，而是次雅各伯，並且亦沒有提及其他宗徒，卻多了一批長老（15:6, 13）！我們不用替安德肋抱不平，他可能在黑海的傳教路上，未能出席耶路撒冷大公會議！始終在教會發展的歷史中，羅馬宗主教的地位脫穎而出，已是不爭的事實了。但不可不知的，就是有名的首次增餅神蹟，是安德肋找來五餅二魚的（若6:8-9）。

我們已經到了禮儀年的最後一周，讀過了不少末日的言論。末日後的天國好比一個婚宴，充滿了完美的喜樂。但在末日前，地上的天國，即旅途中的教會，我們眼見的，仍是多事之秋。那麼，天上的天國，即勝利的教會，又會是怎麼樣的呢？因為我們和他們，諸聖相通，彼此血脈相連，恐怕他們仍要為我們的安危操心、為我們骨肉相殘而心痛。和我們一樣，多麼渴求末日早日來臨。
聖安德肋，為我等祈。亞孟！

How Hard It Is To Be A Saint (Matthew 4:18-22)

According to Church Tradition, Andrew proclaimed the gospel along the Black Sea, reaching present day Kiev in Ukraine. Thus, Andrew becomes the patron saint of Ukraine, Romania and Russia. He is the first Patriarch of Constantinople. Now that the recent Russo-Ukrainian War has continued for more than twenty-two months, I wonder how St. Andrew would intercede for these two countries from the same root. It is already not easy to be a good man. How hard it is to be a saint!

In the four canonical gospels, the amount of information of the 12 apostles is uneven. Most of the materials are about Peter and few for the rest. Probably it was because Peter established the Church in Rome, the capital of the Empire! The information of Andrew, the brother of Peter is not much. Among the lists of the Twelve, Andrew came second at the beginning (Matthew 10:2) and dropped to the fourth in the eve of Pentecost (Acts 1:13). We can only speculate the reasons behind. Lastly, in the Jerusalem Council, it wasn’t even Peter to steer the meeting but James the Lesser. Moreover, a group of elders attended (15:6, 13)! We don’t have to feel that Andrew was unfairly treated. He was probably preaching along the Black Sea and did not attend the Jerusalem Council! After all, in Church History, the Patriarch of Rome came forth as a leader among the Patriarchs is indisputable. However, be not ignorant of the fact that Andrew found the five loaves and two fish in the first miracle of multiplication of bread (John 6:8-9).

We have arrived at the last week of the Liturgical year and have read many discourses on eschatology. The Kingdom of Heaven after the Judgment Day is like a wedding banquet filled with perfect joy. But before the end, the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, that is the Pilgrim Church, is still suffering turmoil in our eyes. Then, what is the situation of the Kingdom of Heaven above, that is the Triumphant Church? We are saints in communion with each other. I am afraid our spiritual welfare worries them and our infightings ache their hearts. Like us, how much they desire the Judgment Day comes!
St. Andrew! Pray for us. Amen!

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生命恩泉
Picture Credit: johnsanidopoulos.com