【天主經系列（六）】
放罪人一條生路吧（路5:27-32）
俗語「近朱者赤，近墨者黑」，總結了教育青少年的經驗。相傳孟軻的母親，曾經為了讓未來的孟子可以在一個良好的環境中長大成人，三次搬家，確認了環境對人健康成長的重要性。而且近代心理學的研究，亦認同朋輩對人類的性格成長，有著舉足輕重的作用。【聖經】是天主啟示的書，當中亦有類似的教訓，例如：「凡不隨從惡人的計謀，不插足於罪人的道路，不參與譏諷者的席位，而專心愛好上主法律的，和晝夜默思上主誡命的，像這樣的人纔是有福的」（詠1:1-2）。因此，當耶穌在肋未家中，與許多稅吏和罪人一同坐席時，「法利塞人和他們的經師就憤憤不平」（路5:30a），是可以理解的，因為耶穌的行為，正在挑戰著【聖經】的教訓！
要知道軟弱的人所需要的，不是指摘而是鼓勵，不是歧視而是同行，不是落井下石，而是一雙伸出的、友善的援手。其實最難醫治的，不是病入膏肓的病人，而是不願意承認自己有病的人！人誰無過？那個人沒有病？就放他一條生路吧！
天父啊！願祢的國來臨。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：pantryiopsy.com
Give Sinners A Break (Luke 5:27-32)
[The Lord’s Prayer Series VI]
“Watch the company you keep” summarizes the practices of adolescence education. Legend has it that the mother of Mencius moved three times to settle in a good learning environment for her son. It affirms the importance of nurture for the healthy growth of a person. Modern psychology also affirms the significance of peers in character formation. The Bible contains God’s revelation and we are able to find similar teachings. For example, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. Rather, the law of the Lord is his joy; and on his Law he meditates day and night” (Psalms 1:1-2). Therefore, when Jesus ate and drank with sinners in Levi’s home, it is understandable that “The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples” (Luke 5:30a) because Jesus’ action was challenging the teachings of the Scriptures!
In fact, education theory provides many ways to help people learn. Besides applying punishments to discourage wrong behaviours, hoping that people would not make the same mistakes in the future, teachers can positively reinforce correct behaviours so that students would build up good habits. Indeed, it was too comfortable and too excessive for the Pharisees to take the role of a bystander, standing on moral high ground to apply the former technique! Christ chose otherwise. He took the latter approach and gave sinners a break. He accompanied them to shake off the shackles of sins. He is willing to pay a heavy price to help them repent; admit them into the People of God and become members of the Church. Therefore, there is no fellowship of perfect saints on earth, only scandal-infested Church of sinners can be the Church established by Jesus Christ.
What weaklings need is not reproach but encouragement, nor prejudice but accompaniment, nor rubbing salt on wounds but an extended friendly helping hand! The most difficult patients to heal are not those suffering from incurable diseases but those who do not acknowledge their illnesses! Who is blameless? Who has never been ill? Give him a break!
Heavenly Father! Your Kingdom comes. Amen.
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