永生系列（二）
都市生活找不到「永生」（谷9:30-37）
舊約聖經記載了不少款待旅客的故事，到了新約時代，這種風氣仍然存在。例如，《希伯來書》便有這樣的一段文字，鼓勵信徒慷慨地接待旅客：「不可忘了款待旅客，曾有人因此於不知不覺中款待了天使。」（希13:2）。耶穌基督也有類似的勸諭，教導門徒。例如在今天聆聽的《馬爾谷福音》所記述的，與《瑪竇福音》有關末日審判的比喻（瑪25:40），有著異曲同工之妙。作為基督的門徒，有機會收留一個落難的人，就是接待耶穌基督；接待基督，就是款待派遣基督的天父，這是何等的榮幸（谷9:37）！因此，履行這個接待無家可歸者或者難民的「形哀矜」，應該是義不容辭的。何況聖家三口，為了逃避大黑落德的追殺，亦曾經成為難民，成為露宿者。所以，在他們身上更容易感覺到耶穌基督的臨在。可是，為甚麼今天生活在都市中的基督徒，對於收留一個露宿者，會這樣為難呢？
倘若一位基督徒想收留一位露宿者，他必定相信福音的教訓，肯定這個「形哀矜」行動，會帶給他永生，「永生就是：認識祢，惟一的真天主，和祢所派遣來的耶穌基督」（若17:3）。即使這樣，這位充滿愛心的基督徒，首先也要花時間認識這位露宿者的背景，掌握到越多越好，以免招至不明因素帶來的損失。還要審視自己有沒有足夠的多餘資源，可以款待這位露宿者三個月以上；不要忘記，把他轉送給其他團體接手，也需要時間…
在不知不覺中，慈悲的基督徒已經為自己定下了底線，「我的愛到此為止」，因為我不是耶穌基督，而是一個有限的受造物，我沒有本領愛到痛仍堅持下去！
親愛的讀者，在都市生活中找不到「永生」，對嗎？
天主保祐！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：abc.net.au
Eternal Life Series (II)
Can’t Find Eternal Life in Urban Life (Mark 9:30-37)
There are many hospitality stories in the Old Testament. During New Testament times, this custom continued. For example, the book of Hebrews exhorts Christians to entertain strangers generously, “Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2). Jesus Christ has given similar advice. For example, the narrative we hear in the gospel of Mark today rings the same tune with the Last Judgment parable in the gospel of Matthew (Matthew 25:40). As followers of Christ, receiving a fugitive on our part is receiving Jesus Christ and entertaining Jesus is entertaining the Father who sent Christ. The honour is beyond words (Mark 9:37). Thus, Christians find no excuse not practising this “corporal work of mercy” of receiving the homeless or refugees. Moreover, the Holy Family had once been refugees and homeless when they evaded the murderous attempt on the life of the Messiah. Therefore, it is easier for Christians to recognize the presence of Jesus Christ in them.However, why do urban Christians find it difficult to receive the homeless nowadays?
People living in the city, including Christians, easily pick up the mode of urban life thinking and do “cost-benefit-analysis CBA” subconsciously! They are extremely busy, spending the least amount of time to obtain the greatest amount of utility. They will only start and maintain relationships that yield the greatest perceived utility and are unwilling to invest emotion and time on fruitless ones. Even if a project fails, they will try their best to minimize losses.
If a Christian wants to receive a homeless, he must firmly believe that this corporal work of mercy will bring him eternal life, “Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ” (John 17:3). Given as such, this full-of-charity Christian must first of all spend time knowing the background of this homeless person, the more the better lest incurring loss for unknown factors. Moreover, he needs to ascertain that he has sufficient spare resources to receive this homeless person for at least three months. Don’t forget, it takes time for other agencies to process the transferral of responsibility …
Imperceptibly, our merciful Christian has drawn a bottom-line. “My love ends here” because I am not Jesus Christ but a finite creature. I don’t have the capacity to love until it hurts and beyond!
Beloved readers, we cannot find eternal life in urban life, can we?
God bless!
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