天國與地獄之間 BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL

永生系列（四）
天國與地獄之間（谷9:41-50）

人生在世短短百年光景，為各種事物作出比較是難免的。運用黑白的二分法作判斷，確是方便，但卻非常不智；要知道黑白之間的灰色光譜，是很廣闊的。不過，一旦進入永恆、無限和絕對的境界，又豈是高天與深淵的距離可以比擬呢？耶穌基督既然要述說絕對的真理，便免不了要借助功利主義的辭彙了。且看今天短短的十節經文，祂便用上了四次「更好」！但天國與地獄之間，怎能用「更好」來比擬呢？

在今天的福音中，耶穌基督述說了三組對比，指出在短暫的人生中，影響著永恆生命的一舉一動：建樹與摧毀天主與人的關係、肢體與整體之間的取捨，最後是人性的建立。當我們的舉動，即使微不足道到給人一杯水喝（谷9:41），可以讓人繼續相信天主不會放棄任何一個罪人，我們必得天主的賞報；相反，鼓吹歪理，混淆視聽，讓人對天主失望絕望的，必屍沉大海，死無葬身之地（9:42）！

即使為了保存血肉的性命，避免毒害散播全身，我們也會毫不猶豫地採取截肢手術，何況是為了保存永恆的靈性生命哩！我們豈能吝惜這個可腐朽的臭皮囊，而讓那不滅的靈魂在不滅的火中永遠地焚燒呢？

最後，人是天主的肖像，而天主的內在生命是聖三的共融。所以，和平共融是人性的本質（9:50）。締造和平的人堪稱為天主的子女（瑪5:9），失去了這股共融的勇氣，就有如鹽失去了鹹味一樣。

親愛的讀者們，不要判斷不同立場的對錯（7:1），祇要能幫助人信靠天主的，便不需要反對了。因為當我們進入永恆的時候，我們與「對家」，也祇不過是五十步與一百步之差距而已；天國與地獄之間，亦祇不過是一門之隔，門裡門外之別而已！
天主保祐。

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：reddit.com/r/midjourney/

BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL (Mark 9:41-50)

Life is short, no more than a century. It is inevitable for us to make comparisons. Though absolutely imprudent, it is very convenient to deploy a dichotomy mindset. Alas! The shades of gray between black and white are innumerable! However, once we enter the realm of eternity, infinity and absolute, not even the gulf between heaven and earth is able to compare. Thus, when Jesus speaks of the absolute Truth, it is necessary for Him to use utilitarian jargons. He uses "It would be better" 4 times within the 10 verses of text today! However, is it appropriate to use "better" to compare heaven and hell?

In the gospel text today, Jesus Christ discourses 3 groups of contrasts that affect our eternal life within the short span of our earthly life: viz. to edify or to destroy the relationship between God and man; to choose between the whole body and its elements; lastly the actualization of humanity. When our actions, even as insignifiicant as giving the thirsty a glass of water (Mark 9:41), as long as it assures people that God shall never give up a sinner, God will reward us. On the contrary, if we fabricate rumours and spread falsities to make people lose hope in God, a great millstone will put around our necks and we will then be thrown into the sea (9:42)!

In order to protect even our physical life from the spread of lethal venom, we shall not hesitate to amputate our limbs, not to mention the presevation of our spiritual life! How can we allow our perpetual souls to be burnt in unquenchable fire to save our perishable skins?

Lastly, men were created in the image of God whose inner life is the communion of the Blessed Trinity. Thus, peaceful solidarity is the essence of humanity (9:50); peacemakers are called the children of God (Matthew 5:9). Losing this courage of communion is like salt losing its saltiness.

Beloved readers! Do not judge the correctness of different stances (7:1). As long as it helps people trust in God, do not oppose. It is because when we enter eternity, the difference between our rivals and us is only a matter of pot calling kettle black. Heaven and hell is a matter of a door, between within and without.
God bless!