永生得來不易 Eternal Life is Difficult to Attain

四旬期第五主日，甲年
主題：信德系列之七：永生得來不易

做耶穌基督的朋友，不用擔心死後去哪，因為主耶穌肯定在天堂，已為他們留了一席位。不過在生時，生活就未必好過了。拉匝祿要等到病死後，主耶穌纔動身去復活他（若11:43）；保祿歸化後，為耶穌基督嘗過了不少困苦（格後11:23-28），纔獲得光榮的冠冕（弟後4:7-8）；以後的殉道聖人如斯德望及老楞佐等，就不用多說了。那麼，如果沒有機會為耶穌基督受苦殉道，我們還是不是祂的朋友呢？我們在天國的席位，會否岌岌可危呢？

現代人生活富庶了，講求生活質素。能夠活動、工作、與人交往，纔顯得自己存在著，並且是有價值的。死亡的可怕之處，不一定在於死前所捱受的痛苦，否則，世上就沒有烈士/殉道者了。死亡的恐怖，是死後的化為烏有，被人遺忘，甚至被天主所遺忘。多篇哀求的聖詠，表達了對死亡實在的恐懼，無他，都是恐怕被天主遺棄在陰府裡（詠6:6, 30:10, 88:11-13, 15:17）。所以人更加把持著自己的性命，不肯放手，恐怕天主會忘記了他的存在！所以無論信德有多大，也很難把自己，把自己的生命，完全托付在天主的手中！「不要照我所願意的，而要照祢所願意的。」（谷14:36）談何容易！

保祿、斯德望和老楞佐選擇了殉道成聖之路。可憐的拉匝祿，在非自願的情況下，失救而死！誠然，在死亡面前，除了天主子外，誰也沒有選擇權。所謂「生有時，死有時。」（訓3:2），我們控制不了。天主子耶穌基督就不一樣，「誰也不能奪去我的性命，而是我甘心情願捨掉它；我有權捨掉它，我也有權再取回它來。」（若10:18）所以，祂自願的死，成了後世殉道者的榜樣。祂有能力自己從死者中復活，一點也出奇，因為祂身為天主，在生死之間自由往還，一點困難也沒有。可是，跟隨祂榜樣的殉道者，憑自己是沒有能力復活的，惟有信靠這位生命的主宰。在拉匝祿的個案中，耶穌基督給我們證明了，祂的確有起死回生的能力。等一等，耶穌基督不是曾復活了雅依洛的女兒（瑪9:25）和納因城寡婦的獨生子嗎（路7:14-15）？對素未謀面的陌生人，耶穌基督尚且如此善待，復活自己的好朋友，又有甚麼希奇，有甚麼特別之處呢？

復活拉匝祿有甚麼獨特的訊息呢？這個故事，給耶穌基督一個詳細講論永生道理的機會。而且，大家有沒有注意到瑪利亞的角色呢？瑪爾大和瑪利亞在若望福音中的表現，與路加福音的描述十分吻合（路10:40）。瑪爾大是一個行動型的人，瑪利亞是默觀型，一言不發，默存心中，反覆思想，而聖母瑪利亞集二者於一身。耶穌基督有關永生的教訓，散見整部若望福音。在這裡有兩點：「我就是復活，就是生命；信從我的，即使死了，仍要活著；凡活著而信從我的人，必永遠不死。」（若11:25-26）這兩句話，可能也適合應用在雅依洛的家庭和納因城寡婦的家庭，但對觀福音的描述重點，並沒有明顯地指向永生。拉匝祿故事的描述卻有所不同。

若望福音把拉匝祿描述為耶穌基督「所愛的」（11:3），所以拉匝祿對耶穌基督的信德，是肯定的。而耶穌的宣講，「信從我的，即使死了，仍要活著」，亦在拉匝祿身上，具體地彰顯在眾人面前。耶穌基督透過復活拉匝祿，「賜給他們（百姓）另一顆心，在他們臟腑放上另一種精神；拿走他們鐵石的心，給他們換上一顆血肉的心。」（則11:19；36:26）結果，得出兩極的效果，「就有許多人信從了祂」（若11:45）獲得永生；同時，「在那一天起，他們（即公議會）就議決要殺害耶穌。」（11:53）。拒絕換心，拒絕永生的，大有人在！

瑪爾大很有現代人的氣息，停不了，四出張羅。她像大部份的母親一樣，不行動無以表現對子女的愛；瑪爾大不行動無以表現對耶穌基督的愛。不過，不可以小覷她的信德。她對主說：「就是現在，我也知道：你無論向天主求甚麼，天主必要賜給你。」（11:22）她是「知道」，是肯定的而不是「相信」，是沒有百份百把握的！更重要的，是她沒有規定耶穌基督向天父求甚麼。這份對耶穌基督和對天父的開放，的確難能可貴！瑪利亞則剛好相反，雖然她也對耶穌基督說了與瑪爾大相同的話（11:32），表現出一致的姊弟情，並向主表達了她們現在的苦況，但她用不著要求耶穌基督了。因為在耶穌基督身上，瑪利亞已感受到復活的氣息；從主的眼淚中（11:35），默觀到永生的澎湃！與天主子同在，必永遠不死！

各位兄弟姊妹，相信永生並不是迷信，也不是精神的安慰，因為會受苦甚至殉道。相信永生，使我們在現世的生命，活得更淋漓盡致，瑪爾大仍是瑪爾大，不過是一個更能生活天父旨意的瑪爾大；瑪利亞仍是瑪利亞，不過是一個更敏銳地展現默觀生活價值的瑪利亞。願今天默想拉匝祿的復活，能再激起我們對永生的渴求，無懼現世生活的種種困難和挑戰。
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：lifewater.church

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Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A
Theme: On Faith (VII) --- Eternal Life is Difficult to Attain

Friends of Jesus Christ don't have to worry about where to go after death because Lord Jesus definitely has reserved a place in heaven for them. But life on earth would not be easy. Lazarus had to die of illness before Lord Jesus proceeded to raise him (John 11:43); Paul had suffered a lot after conversion (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) before he could attain the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7-8); not to mention the martyrs, such as Stephen and Lawrence in subsequent ages. Then, if we don't have the opportunity to suffer or die martyrdom for Jesus Christ, are we still His friends? Would our lack of sufferings cast doubt on our place in heaven?

Modern people live in affluence. We chase after quality of life. We act, work and interact to express our very existence, to make ourselves worthy of attention. The horror of death lies not in the pains before it. Otherwise, there would not be any martyrs. The horror is the nothingness after death. Nobody remembers us, not even God. Many lamentation psalms express this fear in concrete terms of being abandoned in Sheol by God (Psalms 6:6; 30:10; 88:11-13; 15:17). Thus, men hold fast their life the more lest God would forget their existence! However great our faith is, it is very difficult to surrender ourselves and our lives completely to God! "Not what I will but what you will." (Mark 14:36). It is more easily said than done.

Paul, Stephen and Lawrence had chosen the path of sanctification through martyrdom. Poor Lazarus, he died of a lack of cure, not of his own choice! Of course, nobody can choose when to die except the Son of God. "A time to give birth and a time to die;" (Ecclesiastes 3:2) Death is beyond our control. Jesus Christ the Son of God is different. "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again." (John 10:18) His willingness to lay down His life becomes the exemplar for martyrs in subsequent ages. It is no surprise that He is able to rise from the death. As God Himself, it is not difficult for Him to move freely between life and death. But the martyrs who have followed His example do not have the power to rise themselves. They could only trust in this Author of Life. In the case of Lazarus, Jesus Christ proves that He really has the power to raise the dead. Wait! Hadn't Jesus Christ raised the daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:25) and the only son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:14-15)? If Jesus Christ shows kindness to total strangers, what is so special about raising His good friend?

What special message does the story of raising Lazarus show us? This narrative provides Jesus Christ an opportunity to expound on the meanings of eternal life. Moreover, have you noticed the role Mary plays in this story? The description of Martha and Mary agrees with that in Luke (Luke 10:40). Martha is a woman in action, Mary a contemplative. Mary speaks little and keeps all things reflecting on them in her heart. The BVM is a combination of both. The teachings of eternal life scatter throughout the whole gospel of John. And here are two points, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26) These two verses probably apply to Jairus' family and the family of the widow of Nain. But the focus of the narratives in the Synoptic gospels does not explicitly point to eternal life. The Lazarus narrative is different.

John describes Lazarus as the one the Master loves. (11:3) Lazarus' faith in Christ is certain. Thus, Jesus' proclamation, that "whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live", is concretely demonstrated before the people. Through raising Lazarus, Jesus Christ, "gives them anther heart and a new spirit I will put within them. From their bodies I will remove the hearts of stone, and give them hearts of flesh." (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26) Consequently, it achieved two opposite effects "Many of the Jews who had … seen what He had done began to believe in Him" (John 11:45) and attained eternal life. At the same time, "So from that day on they (the Sanhedrin) planned to kill Him." (11:53) Many are there indeed who refuse hearts transplant and eternal life!

Martha is very modern. She can't stop moving around working. Like most mothers who can't show their children enough love without working, Martha can't show Jesus Christ her love without actions. However, don't underestimate her faith. She says to the Master, "Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you" (11:22). She "knows" and is affirmative, not "believes" without any certainty. More importantly, she does not demand what to ask of God. This openness to Jesus Christ and the Father is precious! On the contrary, even though Mary says the same as Martha has said (11:32), showing the same love among siblings and articulates their plights to the Master, she does not ask anything from Jesus Christ. It is because she senses in the Master the breath of resurrection and from the tears of the Master (11:35), she contemplates the rigour of eternal life! With the Son of God, we shall never die!

Brethren! Faith in eternal life is not a superstition or a spiritual consolation because it brings sufferings and even martyrdom. Instead, faith in eternal life makes our life on earth more fulfilling. Martha is still Martha, but a Martha who lives more closely according to the will of the Father. Mary is still Mary, but a Mary who is more able to demonstrate into focus the values of contemplative life. May our meditation on the resurrection of Lazarus today trigger our desire for eternal life, fearlessly accepting all challenges and difficulties in our life on earth.
God bless!

沒有偏見真難！ How Hard To Be Without Bias

信德系列之六：沒有偏見真難！（若7:40-53）

讓我們羅列，若望福音第一至六章的記載，猶太人對耶穌基督本人或祂的言論的一些成見：

• 「從納匝肋還能出甚麼好事嗎？」（若1:46a）
• 「這座聖殿建築了四十六年，你在三天之內就會重建起它來嗎？」（2:20）
• 「人已年老，怎樣能重生呢？難道他還能再入母腹而重生嗎？」（3:4）
• 「你既是個猶太人，怎麼向我一個撒瑪黎雅婦人要水喝呢？」（4:9）
• 為此，猶太人越發想要殺害他，因為他不但犯了安息日，而且又稱天主是自己的父，使自己與天主平等。（5:18）
• 他們說：「這人不是若瑟的兒子耶穌麼？他的父親和母親，我們豈不是都認識麼？怎麼他竟說：我是從天上降下來的呢？」（6:42）
• 因此，猶太人彼此爭論說：「這人怎能把他的肉，賜給我們吃呢？」（6:52）

看過前六章的例子，今天我們聽到：「從加里肋亞不會出先知的。」（7:52）便是意料中事了。倘若問，是甚麼妨礙我們信靠耶穌基督呢？先入為主的成見肯定是其中一個因素。

時移世易，耶穌基督的身價不同了，人們對他的期望也不同了，但亦免不了一些先入為主的成見！例如：我們是中國人，「耶教」是洋教，在優秀的中華文化面前，還能出甚麼好事嗎？耶穌教人愛仇人，難道愛可以對付侵略者的飛機大砲嗎？耶穌的教訓很危險，經常質疑甚至顛覆政府的政策。所以一定要未雨綢繆，趁它未成氣候前便剷除它…

今天要找到一個對信德開放的斐理伯（1:46b）、尼苛德摩（7:51）或者全心信靠的伯多祿（6:68），真不容易！
天父啊！願祢的名受顯揚。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：community.artauthority.net

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On Faith (VI) --- How Hard To Be Without Bias

Let us make a list of prejudices the Jews harboured against Jesus Christ or against His discourses taken from John 1-6:

• "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46a)
• "This Temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" (2:20)
• "How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot re-enter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?" (3:4)
• "How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" (4:9)
• "For this reason the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but also called God his own father, making himself equal to God." (5:18)
• And they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven'?" (6:42)
• The Jews quarrelled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (6:52)

After reading examples of the previous six chapters, hearing "Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee" (7:52) today would not surprise us. Then what prevents us from believing in Jesus Christ? Preconceived bias is definitely one of the causes. Time has changed. The status of Jesus Christ is no long the same. People's expectations have changed but prejudices are inevitable. For example, we are Chinese. Christianity is Western. In front of our magnificent culture, would there be anything to offer? Jesus teaches us to love enemies. Can love defend invaders' aeroplanes and cannons? The teachings of Jesus Christ are very dangerous. They always challenge and even subvert government policies. Therefore, it should be nipped in the bud … Today, it is a rarity to find someone who is open to faith like Philip (1:46b), like Nicodemus (7:51) or completely surrenders like Peter (6:68)! Heavenly Father! Hallowed be Thy name. Amen.

信德的終極任務 The Ultimate Mission of Faith

信德系列之五：信德的終極任務（若7:1-2，10，25-30）

耶穌基督以身犯險，前往耶路撒冷，嘗試向拒絕認識聖父的猶太人，宣講聖父的旨意。祂這樣做，恐怕祇有那些向野蠻的原始人傳福音的傳教士，纔可以媲美。昨天我們提及雅各伯宗徒說過的，沒有行為的信德是死的（雅2:17, 26），我們自然會問，有甚麼行為可以證明我們的信德不是死的呢？是否依照耶穌基督所教訓的，運用信德去移山呢（瑪17:20）？可是，保祿宗徒以愛德，否定了這類空洞無益的信德了（格前13:2）。是的，信德必需與愛德結合，纔不至是死的信德。那麼，有甚麼行為是信德與愛德互相結合的呢？就是傳福音！

傳福音是耶穌基督升天前的遺訓（瑪28:19），可以說是信德和愛德的最高表現！出於對罪人的大愛，天主子願意紓尊降貴，降生成人，宣揚與天父修和的福音；並以十字架上的死，兌現這修和的承諾。天主子邀請跟隨祂的人，以傳福音去繼續祂未完成的工程。讓我們反省，我們對天主子的信靠有多真實呢？

天主教徒推辭傳福音的使命，有很多藉口，以下兩個是最常見的。「傳教是神職人員的事，我們可以做的，是為傳教祈禱。」這些天主教徒忘記了他們領洗時，已分享了耶穌基督的君王、先知和司祭職務！傳福音祇不過是履行這些職務而已。不履行職務，怎可以算得上是天主教徒呢？「我們不懂神學，怕說異端，誤導別人。」這些天主教徒，忘記了是天主聖神借助他們作證（路12:12），成功與否，不是他們的功勞或過失！況且，不透過傳福音的實習，怎能體會到與天主聖三同在的經驗呢？

歸納起來，不傳福音，上對天主無信，下對身邊的人缺乏愛心，對他們靈性的生死存亡，無動於衷，並辜負了其他努力傳福音的兄弟姊妹，包括神職人員！
天父啊！願祢的國來臨。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：goarch.org

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On Faith (V) --- The Ultimate Mission of Faith

Ignoring death threats, Jesus went up to Jerusalem, trying to preach the Father's will to the Jews who refused to know the Father. Probably only actions of missionaries to savages would be comparable. Yesterday, we mentioned Apostle James' remarks that faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26). Naturally we would ask what works prove that our faith is alive. Should we follow Jesus' teaching to move mountains with our faith? (Matthew 17:20) But Apostle Paul has refuted this kind of empty faith with charity (1 Corinthians 13:2). Rightly, faith must work with charity to keep itself alive. Then what actions are combinations of faith and charity? It should be evangelization!

Evangelization is the last command Jesus Christ gave His followers before He ascended into heaven (Matthew 28:19). It can be said to be the ultimate manifestation of faith and charity! Out of great love of humanity, the Son of God degraded Himself, incarnated and took up flesh to proclaim the gospel of reconciliation with the Father. He died on the cross to honour this pledge of reconciliation. The Son of God invites His followers to continue His unfinished project with evangelization. Let us meditate how genuine we believe in the Son of God.

Catholic laymen have a lot of excuses not to evangelize. The followings are the two most common ones. "Evangelization is the work of the clergy. We can only pray for evangelization." These Catholics have forgotten that when they were baptized, they partake in the threefold ministry of Christ, kingship, priesthood and prophetic mission! To evangelize is to discharge this ministry. How can you call yourself a Catholic if you don't discharge the ministry? "I don't know theology. I'm afraid I would speak heresies and mislead people." These Catholics forget that they evangelize on behalf of the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:12). Successful or not is not their merit or fault! Moreover, without partaking in evangelization, where else can you experience the presence of the Blessed Trinity?

In conclusion, refusal to evangelize shows a disbelief in God and a lack of charity to the spiritual destiny of one's neighbour and fails those who evangelize diligently, including the clergy!
Heaven Father! Your Kingdom come. Amen.

信德的倫理幅度 The Moral Dimension of Faith

信德系列之四：信德的倫理幅度（若5:31-47）

作為基督徒，最困難之處莫過於尋求天主的旨意。
熱心的教友，每天虔誠地唸經、齋戒、參加彌撒和勤領聖事，這就是天主的旨意嗎？若嫌不足，不妨每天默想聖經，參加退省，報讀課程。倘若還不夠，就積極地施行形哀矝，甚至投身社運，爭取天國在地上臨現。還欠缺了甚麼呢？

這一切都很好，並沒有做錯。但是相信耶穌基督，口口聲聲以基督徒身份為榮的人，就祇有這一點能耐而已嗎？幾許虔誠正義的信徒，一番努力，直到油盡燈枯之後，仍得不到半點神益。錯在哪裡？今天我們默想耶穌基督對反對祂的猶太人的信德其中一個批評（若5:44），可能會有所啟發。

反對耶穌基督的猶太人如何「尋求光榮」呢？從耶穌基督狠批法利塞人和法學士的記載中，可見一斑（路11:37-54）。以滿足自己的利益、榮譽和成就作出發點，甚至制訂規矩，貶抑別人以高舉自己，甚至窒礙別人的發展。這與耶穌基督的教訓，大相逕庭。耶穌基督教訓我們溫良慈悲（瑪5:5,7），不強加自己的意願到別人身上，為的是樂於造就他人；行善是為了天父的光榮而不是自己的個人榮辱（5:16）；並不是為了在天主前邀功（路17:10）等等！

雅各伯宗徒說得好，沒有行為的信德是死的（雅2:17, 26）。基督徒的信德，是從他們的行為判斷出來的。不但如此，相同的行為，也要看行為的動機！虔誠地唸經和領聖事是行為，炫耀自己抑或是欽崇天主是動機！報讀課程與施行哀矝是行為，沽名釣譽與服事臨現在弱小兄弟身上的基督是動機！投身社會運動是行為，賺取政治本錢與團結善意人士合力拆除結構性的罪惡是動機…
天父啊！願祢的旨意奉行在人間，如同在天上。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝： Wikipedia

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On Faith (IV) --- The Moral Dimension of Faith

The greatest difficulty in being Christians is to seek God's will.
Do piously saying prayers, fasting, joining masses and receiving sacraments every day mean doing God's will? If you feel it is not enough, why don't you meditate scriptures, go retreating and enrol in bible/theology courses? Still not satisfied? Then do more corporal works of mercy, join social actions and fight for the materialization of the kingdom of heaven on earth. What else have I left undone?

All these are very good. There is nothing wrong. But is that all who claim to be proud of the identity of Christian can do? Many a pious and righteous Christian feels burnt out and spent after working diligently and yet receives not a bit of spiritual consolation. What has gone wrong? Meditating on the criticism which Jesus Christ levels against the faith of his contemporary Jews (John 5:44) may give us some hint.

How did the Jews who opposed Jesus "accept praise from one another"? We may get a glimpse from the harsh criticisms of Jesus Christ against the scribes and Pharisees (Luke 11:37-54). Their motive was to seek personal gains, fame and achievements. They even made up rules to exalt themselves and humble others, smothering others' advancement. This is the very opposite of Jesus' teachings. Jesus teaches us to be meek and merciful (Matthew 5:5, 7); never impose personal wills upon others in order to edify them; doing good works to glorify the Father and not ourselves (5:16) and do not claim credits for what we have done (Luke 17:10) etc.

Well said James, the apostle, that faith of itself without works is dead (James 2:17, 26). A Christian's faith is evaluated by his works. Not only that, the same action should be judged by its motive! What's the motive of pious prayers and receiving sacraments, showing off or genuine worship of God? Are enrolment in courses and works of mercy fame-hunting or serving Christ present among the needy neighbour? Is participating in social movement a means to earn political capital or joining all men of good will to demolish structural sins in the society …?
Heavenly Father! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

天主信人 God Believes in Men

信德系列之三：天主信人（路1:26-38）

當士兵對指揮官缺乏信任的時候，他們怎會替指揮官賣命呢？當今世界各地，出現了不少的示威運動，部份原因都是出於人民對政府管治的不滿和不信任。即使是醫術高明的醫生，倘若得不到病人的信任，也是束手無策。上司與下屬、政府與人民、醫生與病人之間，都有著一份不同程度的合作關係。合作的成敗，取決於信任的程度。在上的很多時候都採用家長式管治，因為對在下的缺乏信任：「我係老闆，你唔係」、「最後要負責嘅係我，唔係你」、「我比你知得多」、「我咁樣做都係為你好」等等，毫無合作和信任的餘地！

天主剛好相反，祂對人類的信任，真是令人驚訝。且看耶穌基督，他竟然邀請一個在世俗眼中，成事不足，敗事有餘的伯多祿，與祂合作在世上建設天國，並且把天國的鑰匙交給他（瑪16:19）；從耶穌基督的族譜，我們可以見到在耶穌基督身上的遺傳基因，容納了很多行為上和性格上有毛病的人！天父竟然這樣信任人類，願意天主子降生成脆弱的人類，而不是大能的天使！人類呢？被撒殫挑撥離間（創3:5），竟然懷疑賴以生存的造物主。天人之間的關係，真是脆弱！

可幸在人類之中，還有聖母瑪利亞代表我們，表達對天父的信任！雖然她不明白為甚麼天主拒絕她以守貞的方式服事祂（路1:32），但聖母是有福的，她「信了由上主傳於她的話必要完成」（1:45），使她雖然生育天主子，但仍能保持永遠的童貞！的確，除了天主之外，有誰能言出必行呢？我們的信德動搖，多是出於懷有不合乎天主旨意的期望！即使是高貴的期望，聖母也並不執著，這就是她能帶給人類祝福的秘訣（創12:3）。
天父啊！求祢不要嫌棄我們微薄的信德，仰賴祢的慈悲，讓我們也蒙受祝福吧。亞孟！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：etsy.com

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On Faith (III) --- God Believes in Men

When soldiers do not trust their commanders, how would they bite the bullets for their superiors? All over the globe today, many peoples take to the streets to vent their dissatisfaction and mistrust of their governments. Even professional physicians, if they are not able to command their patients’ trust, they could not treat them. Between supervisors and subordinates, states and subjects, doctors and patients, there exists a certain degree of cooperative relationship. The success of their cooperation depends on trust. Most of the time, supervisors take a patriarchist approach and show no trust to the subordinates: "I'm the boss. You aren't!", "In the end, I am held responsible. Not you!", "I know more than you do" and "I do this for your good" etc. There is no room for trust and cooperation!

God's approach is the very opposite. His trust in men is astounding. Take a look at Jesus Christ. He chooses such a weakling as Peter, works with him to build up the Kingdom of Heaven and asks him to keep the key (Matthew 16:19). From His genealogy, we find that Jesus Christ embedded DNA of many people with flawed personalities and behaviours! The Father so trusted humanity that the Son incarnated as a fragile man and not a mighty angel! What about men? Deceived by Satan (Genesis 3:5), men doubted their Creator who sustains their lives. How delicate is the God-men relationship!

Good for humanity, there is the BVM to represent us to show our trust in the Father! Although she did not understand why God rejected her wish to serve Him in celibacy (Luke 1:32), she is blessed because she "believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled." (1:45) Her faith made it possible for her to give birth to the Son of God and at the same time, keeping her virginity perpetually! Indeed, who else but God speaks and things get done? Most of the time, our faith is shaky because we harbour unreasonable expectations in God's will! Even if the cause is noble, the BVM does not insist. This is the secret of bringing blessing to the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3).
Heavenly Father! You do not despise our miserable faith. Per Your mercy, make us blessed as well. Amen!

自以為義的信德 Self-Righteous Faith

信德系列之二：自以為義的信德（若5:1-16）

患病除了肉體受痛苦外，心靈上，經濟上和人際關係上，也承受著沉重的負擔。所以當耶穌基督問癱子：「你願意痊癒嗎？」（若5:6）聽來有點奇怪！有誰不願意健康地生活呢？原來不願意健康的，大有人在！例如，你有病，親友同事關心你。你康復了，他們便把注意力轉到其他地方去了。這樣的話，你願意痊癒嗎？

身為天主子的耶穌基督，明白人心的矛盾，所以祂在醫治前先詢問癱子，其實是對罪人（5:14）的一份尊重。因為天主尊重人類的自由，不會禁止人犯罪，不會強迫人悔改，強迫人相信祂，接受祂的拯救！癱子雖然沒有直接回答，但他多年來努力守候在池邊，已清楚表露了他願意痊癒的意願。不但如此，他更清楚表達出他的無助，他的不能自救（5:7）！

的確，很多人仍然缺乏悔改的決心，仍然執迷不悟，拒絕天主的治療！可能他們對自己的處境絕望，以為天主不會寬恕，結果好像猶達斯一樣，一死了之。不過，我相信大多數拒絕天主治療的人，有如福音中的法學士和法利塞人一樣，他們除了貪戀利益之外（谷12:40，路11:43），更嚴重的，就是他們自以為義，「我無病」（11:42）！於是他們不覺得自己是離開了天主，而且對自己在天堂的一席位，蠻有信心！其實他們信自己多於信天主！他們有豐富的知識，但他們的信德不是真的。即使在我們眼中這些人是如何痛苦，如何可憐，奈何他們卻自得其樂，即使是短暫的快樂！
天父啊！擺在我們眼前的是癱子和法利塞人，請教我們如何選擇。亞孟。

圖片鳴謝：frontroyalchurchofchrist.com
生命恩泉

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On Faith (II) --- Self-Righteous Faith

Illness inflicts heavy tolls not just bodily, but spiritually, economically and interpersonally as well. Thus, it sounds a bit queer when Jesus Christ asks the sick man, "Do you want to be well?" (John 5:6) Who doesn't want to lead a healthy life? But in reality, many people want to stay sick! For example, you are sick, your friends and relatives care about you. When you recover, they turn their attention elsewhere. In this way, do you want to be well?

As the Son of God, Jesus Christ knows very well our contradictions. When He asked the sick man before He healed him, Jesus was showing respect towards sinners (5:14). God respects our freedom. He would not stop us sinning, would not force us to repent, to believe in Him or to accept His salvation! Although the sick man did not answer directly, his perseverance in staying beside the pool had already indicated his intention to be healed. Not only that, he also clearly expressed his helplessness, his inability to save himself (5:7)!

Indeed, many people still lack the determination to repent, still stubbornly reject God's cure! Probably they are desperate, thinking God would not forgive them. Like Judas, it is better not to have been born! But we believe that most of those who reject God's cure, like the scribes and Pharisees in the gospel, turn away from God not only because of greed (Mark 12:40, Luke 11:43), but also because of self-righteousness (11:42)! They don't think they have abandoned God. They are confident that a place has been reserved for them in heaven! In fact, they believe in themselves more than in God! They are rich in knowledge, but their faith is not authentic. No matter how painful they are in our eyes, they still enjoy their bliss, however brief it would be!
Heavenly Father! Before us are the sick man and the Pharisees. Teach us choose wisely. Amen.

有條件的信德 Conditional Faith

信德系列之一：有條件的信德（若4:43-54）

大部份基督徒宣認耶穌基督為主，並常把「主啊！主啊！」掛在嘴邊（瑪7:21）。但有多少人更具體地，並真心地相信耶穌基督是生命的主宰呢？「祂是我的主人，我服從祂。」非常好。「我會為祂赴湯蹈火。」那更好！但相信並宣認祂是生命的主宰，卻是另一個層次了。我已把自己完全交托到祂手中，不再堅持執著自己的性命，因為我相信祂操生殺之權。祂有權令人死，也有權令死人復活。這一點天主已藉先知撒慕爾的母親啟示了（撒上2:6）。

今天所讀的神蹟並不希奇，與對觀福音中，應外邦人請求為親屬治病的故事大同小異（瑪8:5-13；谷7:24-30；路7:1-10），都是與信德有關。但若望的故事暴露了一個信德的破綻：原來我們的信德是有條件的（若4:48）！試想想，倘若這王臣的兒子死了，他還會不會像瑪爾大一樣前去懇求耶穌呢？（11:22）從多默宗徒的故事，我得到一個悲觀的結論，原來很多人並不希罕成為有福之人，因為他們不見不信（20:29）！難怪耶穌慨歎說：「人子來臨時，能在世上找到信德嗎？」（路18:8）

除了這個有破綻的信德之外，更要命的是我們喜歡自己做天主，更試探天主和擺佈祂，要求祂做這做哪（瑪4:1-10；谷8:11；15:30）！今天的王臣懇求耶穌基督醫治自己的兒子，是親情，是父愛的表現；請耶穌在他兒子未死以前出手（若4:49），雖然是自然不過的事，但卻在不自覺中，指揮天主滿足自己的要求！難道天主不是心裡有數，早有安排嗎？默想到這裡，我感覺到瑪爾大的信德真大，因為她對天主的拯救，保持了一份開放的態度！
主啊！一切祢都知道，祢曉得我愛祢！亞孟。

圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia
生命恩泉

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On Faith (I) : Conditional Faith

Most Christians confess Jesus Christ to be their Lord, saying "Lord, Lord" all the time (Matthew 7:21). But how many of them concretely and sincerely believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord of life? "He is my Lord, I obey Him." Good of you. "I will do whatever He tells me, even to hand my body over." Even better! But believing and confessing that He is the Author of life goes to another level. I entrust my life in His hand. I do not regard my life something to be grasped because "The Lord puts to death and gives life, casts down to Sheol and brings up again", said the mother of Samuel the Seer (1 Samuel 2:6).

The miracle today is not extraordinary. In the Synoptic gospels, there are similar stories of faith, healing miracles at the requests of Gentiles (Matthew 8:5-13, Mark 7:24-30, Luke 7:1-10). But John’s story exposes a flaw in our faith: Our faith is conditional (John 4:48)! Just think about it, had the son of the royal official died, would he have come to beg Jesus as Martha did (11:22)? From the story of Thomas the Apostle, I come to a pessimistic conclusion: people don't bother to be blessed because they won't believe without seeing (20:29)! No wonder Jesus lamented, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8)

On top of this flawed faith, we love playing God, putting Him to test and commanding Him to do this and to do that (Matthew 4:1-10, Mark 8:11; 15:30)! Today, the royal official begged Jesus to heal his son. This is fatherly love. Asking Jesus to "come down before my child dies" is natural but imperceptibly, commanding God to meet our requests! Does God need you to tell Him what to do? Coming to this point of meditation, I admire the greatness of Martha's faith because she kept an open attitude towards God's salvation!
Lord, You know everything. You know that I love you. Amen.