復活期第六主日
主題：天主奇妙的愛
今天想與大家默想天主那奇妙的、意想不到的愛。
在今天的第一篇讀經，【宗徒大事錄】之中，有兩件事值得留意。
第一，初期教會不像今天的教會以「天主聖三」之名施洗，而是因主耶穌基督之名施洗（宗10:48）。只用耶穌之名施洗，好像漏了些甚麼，會不會是不完滿的洗禮呢？其實，我們的信仰是有歷史的，是信徒經過二千年來的努力，千錘百鍊所得來的。
「有歷史的」表示我們對真理的認識，尚未完滿。能應付到二千年前的農村的需要道理並不表示能滿足到今天的國際大都會的需要。幸好耶穌曾許諾派遣聖神與教會同在，教導她所需要的所有真理。所以，祗要對天主的慈愛抱開放的心，就能掌握到所需要的真理。「對天主的慈愛抱開放的心」是甚麼意思，讓我們再看【宗徒大事錄】值得留意的第二件事。
耶穌的門徒全部都是猶太人。耶穌升天的時候，門徒們仍念念不忘復國，仍然以為耶穌復活後會領導他們驅逐羅馬人，解放他們，重建以色列。初期教會以為自己是「新以色列」，取代舊的以色列。舊的以色列有十二支派。所以，耶穌選十二個宗徒。當十二宗徒之一的猶達斯死了，就補選了瑪弟亞，填補猶達斯的遺缺。所以，接受外邦人加入教會是宗徒們所始料不及的。在我們今天沒有讀到的故事的前半部所記載，連伯多祿都認為不應接受外邦人加入教會。
我們不是猶太人，所以是外邦人。我們有幸入教，覺得天主的慈愛是理所當然的，祗是初期教會的猶太信徒太頑固，是他們的信德出了問題而已。其實今天的故事也同樣挑戰著我們對天主的慈愛的開放程度。讓我們來接受挑戰吧！
在我們上慕道班，學習天主教道理的時候，我們學過堅振聖事賜予聖神，而祗有無罪的人纔能領受聖神。因為堅振聖事不像聖洗聖事、告解聖事及病人傅油聖事。這三件聖事是為了赦罪和為了醫治靈魂的病弱。堅振聖事是給予已經領洗重生的人七種恩寵，即所謂「聖神七恩」，讓他們的靈魂成長發展，加強領堅振的人靈魂的力量，成為耶穌的勇兵，在人前為耶穌作見證。在今天的讀經中，科爾乃略全家尚未領洗，即是說他們仍有原罪和本罪，卻先領聖神。很奇怪，那些原罪、本罪不會阻擋他們領受聖神的恩寵嗎？更何況，他們未領洗重生，他們的靈魂就好像未出生的嬰兒一樣。試問未出生的嬰兒又怎樣長大成人呢？合乎邏輯嗎？為甚麼我們的道理與聖經的記載會出現矛盾呢？莫非我們學了錯誤的道理嗎？抑或是我們好像初期教會中的猶太信徒一樣，是我們的信德出了問題嗎？
其實，我們不得不承認我們是有限的受造物，我們在各方面多方面都是不足的，好像耶穌時代的猶太司祭和經師。他們為甚麼要唾棄耶穌呢？因為他們頑固，對天主的慈愛採取封閉的態度，自命為天主救恩的代理人。自己不做，也不讓別人做。在他們眼中，耶穌離經背道，不守賴以得救的法律。例如：法律禁止觸摸不潔的人，耶穌卻觸摸不潔的癩病人；安息日不准做不必要的勞動，耶穌偏偏就在安息日治病；耶穌與不潔的羅馬人來往，治好百夫長的僕人；耶穌怎至與公開的罪人，稅吏娼妓一起同席；他搗亂聖殿；自認天主子；耶穌的罪，簡直罄竹難書。
這些猶太權貴不是罪大惡極的壞人，他們祗是接受一個符合他們要求的天主。最初，伯多祿不能接受外邦人加入教會，也是犯了同一個毛病，就是對天主的慈愛採取封閉的態度。他們的經驗，正好提醒我們對天主的慈愛要抱開放的態度。不與罪人來往，又如何令他們得救呢？按法律行事固然是好事，但強迫人死守法律的條文而忘卻法律的精神，豈不是本末倒置？天主為我們預備了很多的恩寵，倘若我們死守一些自己的偏見，而不去嘗試以天主的眼光看這個世界，不以天主的心愛這個世界，又怎能領受到天主豐富的慈愛呢？
很多夫婦對生命不敢開放，不想生育小朋友，恐怕沒有四百萬養育他們，恐怕他們受共產黨洗腦，將來用文革式的手段批鬥自己。其實，有誰比母親更能具體地表達天主對我們的愛呢？母親對子女無私的養育，正好反映出天主對人類奇妙及意想不到的慈愛。母親的確是教人認識天主慈愛的第一位老師。今天是母親節，讓我們為這些有顧慮的夫婦祈禱，祈望他們能對天主的慈愛開放，讓兩夫婦能憑天主的助佑，共同承擔使命，令作為妻子的能享受到做母親的喜樂。
很多的青年人對前途不敢開放，逃避回應聖召，恐怕自己不配做修道人，又恐怕年邁的雙親沒有人照顧。今年是「獻身生活年」，讓我們為這些充滿疑慮的青年祈禱，祈望他們能對天主的慈愛開放，鼓起勇氣蹈出第一步，探索天主為他們所預備了的恩寵。開放自己，讓天主的恩寵改造自己。
天主保佑。
2012年反省
6th Easter Sunday, Year B
Theme: The Amazing Love of God
Today, let us meditate on the amazing, undreamt of love of God.
In the first reading this morning, two things are worth paying attention to.
First of all, unlike today, the early Church did not baptize in the name of the Blessed Trinity, but in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 10:48). Something seemed to be missing if they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ only. Would their baptism be incomplete? In fact, our faith is historical. Our belief is the deposit of Christian efforts of the last 2 millennia.
That our faith is historical suggests that our understanding of the truth is incomplete. The “truth” which satisfied the needs of agricultural villages 2000 years ago may not meet those of a cosmopolitan city today. Luckily Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit who will teach us all the truth we need. Therefore, when we open up our hearts to the mercy of God, we will be able to get hold of the truth we need. What does it mean “to open up our hearts to the mercy of God”? Let us turn to the second detail I previously mentioned in the Acts today.
All the first generation disciples of Jesus were Jews. On his Ascension, the disciples still wanted to restore the kingdom of Israel. They still thought that after resurrection, Jesus would lead them to drive out the Romans, to liberate them and to regain independence. The early Church thought of themselves as the “New Israel” to replace the “Old Israel”. There were 12 tribes of (Old) Israel. Therefore, Jesus elected the Twelve. When Judas, one of the Twelve, had died, they chose Mathias to fill Judas’ vacancy. Therefore, admitting Gentiles into the Church was unthinkable for the Apostles. In the earlier part of the story we read today, even Simon Peter did not think it was right to admit Gentiles.
We are non-Jews, in other words, Gentiles. We were baptized and entered the Church and take God’s salvation and mercy for granted. We think that the problem lay in the stubbornness of the Jewish believers in the early Church. Their faith was flawed. However, the story today also challenges how open we are to the mercy of God. Let us take up the challenge.
When we learned the Catholic faith in our catechism class, we were told that the sacrament of Confirmation confers the Holy Spirit and only people whose sins have been remitted can receive it. Unlike the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and Anointment which forgive sins and heal the weaknesses of our souls, the sacrament of Confirmation confers to the newly reborn seven graces, the so called “Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit” to help their souls grow up, to strengthen their souls to become the soldiers of Christ and to bear witness before people etc. In the story today, all the family members of Cornelius were not baptized. That is to say, they still had the Original Sin and their actual sins but they received the Holy Spirit. Is it strange? Did not the Original Sin and their actual sins prevent them from receiving the graces of the Holy Spirit? Moreover, they were not yet reborn in baptism. Their souls were like babies not yet carried to term. How could an unborn baby be grown up into an adult? Is it logical? So, why do the instructions we received in catechism classes contradict with what is written in the Bible? Have we learnt something wrong? Or is our faith flawed like that of the Jewish Christians in the early Church?
In fact, we have to admit that we are finite creatures. We are inadequate in many areas like the Jewish priests and scribes in Jesus’ day. Why did they reject Jesus? It was because they were stubborn and closed themselves to the mercy of God. They made themselves the sole dispensers of God’s salvation. What they did not do, they forbade others to do. In their eyes, Jesus was a heretic who did not follow the Torah on which salvation depended. For example, Torah forbids touching the unclean but Jesus touched a leper; people are forbidden to do unnecessary labour on Sabbath but Jesus chose to heal on Sabbaths; Jesus befriended the unclean Romans, healing the servant of a centurion; Jesus even sat at table with public sinners such as publicans and prostitutes; he disrupted the Holy Temple and called himself the Son of God etc. The list of his sins is endless.
These Jewish authorities were not evil. They could only accept a God who fits their requirements. At first, when Peter could not accept Gentiles into the Church, he made the same mistake as the Jewish authorities. He was also closed to God’s mercy. What happened to them is a good reminder for us to be open to God’s mercy. If you refuse to walk along with sinners, how can you bring them salvation? Observing the Torah is a good thing. But by imposing the precepts on the people and forgetting the spirit of the Law, have we put the cart before the horse? God has prepared a lot of graces for us. If we stick to our prejudices and do not try to see the world with God’s eyes, to love the world with God’s heart, how can we receive the abundant grace of God?
Many couples dare not to be open to life. They do not want babies. They worry that they don’t have 4 million dollars to raise a kid. They are afraid that their children would be brainwashed by the Communists so that in the future they would suffer Cultural Revolution style “struggles”. In fact, who can concretely express God’s love better than mothers? The unreserved love of mothers in raising their kids genuinely reflects God’s amazing and undreamt of love towards humanity. Mothers are the first teachers of God’s love to humanity. Today is Mother’s Day. Let us pray for those worried parents. We pray that they can be open to God’s mercy and with the help of God, they can share their mission, enabling wives to taste the joy of motherhood.
Many young people dare not to remain open to their future. They evade their vocation. They worry whether they are worthy to consecrated life. They also worry that there is nobody to take care of their ageing parents. While this is the “Year of Consecrated Life”, let us pray for those confused youngsters. We pray that they are open to God’s mercy to take the first step to explore what grace God has in store for them.
Open ourselves up. Allow God’s mercy to transform us.
God bless.
Sunday, 10 May 2015
Sunday, 3 May 2015
God is greater than our hearts
Fifth Easter Sunday, Year B
My heart is not peaceful at all at this moment. The closer the ordination, the more unworthy I feel. The situation has worsened since the 7-day retreat in Taiwan. Wounds have been uncovered and yet they have not been properly treated. Don't misunderstand me, I am not putting the blame on anybody, which I found to be my MO, in particular the Spiritual Director, Fr. Francis Tam, who has been most helpful. After all, a retreat is a retreat, not a counselling or psychotherapy session. It is spiritual and not psychological. It is an encounter with Jesus Christ and a reconciliation with myself. And here lies the problem. I cannot forgive myself. In time, I will publish my spiritual journal of those 7 days. But at the moment, I am stressed.At the moment, I feel like a bride who wants to run away the night before wedding. Have I not known Jesus enough? No. I think not. I celebrated my 45th anniversary of Confirmation last month and in a few months, I will retire my 39-year career of Bible teaching. Do I not love Jesus? No. I always feel the same as St. Augustine that I have loved Him too late. Does Jesus love me? A categorical YES. There is no doubt about it and at times, I am conscious of his love. Is there anything missing? Not that I know of. So what is troubling me? I don't know. Perhaps I have not prayed hard enough.
"Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything." (1 John 3:18-20)
My conscience is condemning me. John said that my love in deed and in truth shall reassure my heart because God is greater than my conscience and He knows everything.
Perhaps this is the meaning of a private revelation of mine. My wounds shall never get totally healed. I shall have to carry my wounds until the day I meet my Creator who is greater than my conscience but for my sake, He will not erase it. This lack of peace shall accompany me for my whole ministry in the future. This is just the beginning, a foretaste of the things to come in the future so that when it comes, I shall not be caught unprepared.
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:7)
I pray that I shall not bring any scandal to the Church in my ministry. Amen.
Sunday, 26 April 2015
How much do we know our Shepherd/Leader?
It takes patience to read the writings of John. The text of Good Shepherd we read today (John 10:11-18) shows his style. Like a Russian doll, there are layer upon layers of meanings unfolding before our eyes.
He began with "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (10:11)
Fair enough. Yet on a closer reading you will discover that he lays down his life NOT only for his sheep (10:3), but for the sheep, for all sheep! What does it mean? For me, Jesus has a large heart. At the moment of speaking, he had very few followers. But he was confident that eventually many more would follow him. He did not lay down his life for the good only but for all, even for those who betrayed him, denied him and crucified him. On the cross, Jesus prayed to the Father to forgive them all because "they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34). Jesus cares for all of us.
Further down, Jesus reveals another layer of meanings, another criterion for being a good shepherd.
"I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me." (John 10:14)
If you think of a shepherd as a leader, Jesus' intention was clear. If you want to be thought of as a good leader, you should know your followers and let your followers know you. At least, you should project such an image as to suggest that you are approachable. You door is always open to welcome criticisms etc.
No. when you think Jesus meant to teach you to be a strategically skillful leader, you are wrong. In the same breath, Jesus continues to lay down the ground rule. What did Jesus mean by "know"?
"as the Father knows me and I know the Father" (10:15a)
Remember that Jesus was a Jew and when a Jew says "know", he means more than intellectual knowledge. He means deeper than. I think the sentence should be read together.
"I know my own and my own know me as the Father knows me and I know the Father."
Bracket out the "I know my own and ... I know the Father", in the middle part, you will get
"my own know me as the Father knows me."
How is it possible for us to know Jesus as the Father knows him?
Jesus was talking about the intimate internal life of the Blessed Trinity which our understanding can never penetrate. What we can see is the external revelation of the Trinity. Within the Trinity, the Son and the Father are one (10:30). On the outside, the Father is greater than the Son (14:28)
I have to admit that I have not yet thoroughly understand the gospels. At this stage, I do not know Jesus much.
My Good Shepherd, illuminate my mind and set my heart on fire so that I can truly know you. Amen.
He began with "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (10:11)
Fair enough. Yet on a closer reading you will discover that he lays down his life NOT only for his sheep (10:3), but for the sheep, for all sheep! What does it mean? For me, Jesus has a large heart. At the moment of speaking, he had very few followers. But he was confident that eventually many more would follow him. He did not lay down his life for the good only but for all, even for those who betrayed him, denied him and crucified him. On the cross, Jesus prayed to the Father to forgive them all because "they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34). Jesus cares for all of us.
Further down, Jesus reveals another layer of meanings, another criterion for being a good shepherd.
"I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me." (John 10:14)
If you think of a shepherd as a leader, Jesus' intention was clear. If you want to be thought of as a good leader, you should know your followers and let your followers know you. At least, you should project such an image as to suggest that you are approachable. You door is always open to welcome criticisms etc.
No. when you think Jesus meant to teach you to be a strategically skillful leader, you are wrong. In the same breath, Jesus continues to lay down the ground rule. What did Jesus mean by "know"?
"as the Father knows me and I know the Father" (10:15a)
Remember that Jesus was a Jew and when a Jew says "know", he means more than intellectual knowledge. He means deeper than. I think the sentence should be read together.
"I know my own and my own know me as the Father knows me and I know the Father."
Bracket out the "I know my own and ... I know the Father", in the middle part, you will get
"my own know me as the Father knows me."
How is it possible for us to know Jesus as the Father knows him?
Jesus was talking about the intimate internal life of the Blessed Trinity which our understanding can never penetrate. What we can see is the external revelation of the Trinity. Within the Trinity, the Son and the Father are one (10:30). On the outside, the Father is greater than the Son (14:28)
I have to admit that I have not yet thoroughly understand the gospels. At this stage, I do not know Jesus much.
My Good Shepherd, illuminate my mind and set my heart on fire so that I can truly know you. Amen.
Sunday, 19 April 2015
我們就是這些事的見證人 We are witnesses of these things
復活期第三主日
主題：我們就是這些事的見證人
無論你是嬰孩時被父母抱來聖堂洗禮，抑或是長大成人出於自己的願望接受洗禮，事實只有一個：「是天主揀選了你，賜予恩寵給你」。每個信天主領洗入教的人都有他們不同的故事。無論你領了洗有多少年，你總會有機會被人問到為甚麼洗禮。你沒有親眼見過2000年前的耶穌，你憑甚麼信耶穌呢？更進一步，你憑甚麼資歷，一如今天的讀經所記載的，做耶穌的見證人呢？
首先，請大家明白，新約聖經所記載的是二千年前的事蹟，是反映耶穌的第一代甚至第二代門徒所要應付的問題。他們尚可以好像法政先鋒一樣，搜集現場証物例如殮布、空的墓穴等，或者請出一些証人，例如天使、婦女和曾目睹耶穌顯現的門徒等，來回應當時對他們偷去耶穌屍體的指控。今天，不但這些人証物証已經不存在，而且今天反對基督信仰的性質已完全不同了。
雖然今天仍有很多人繼續去發掘「挪亞方舟」，很多的科學家繼續研究「都靈聖殮布」，很多教徒敬禮釘過耶穌的十字架或者其他的聖髑，但我們的信仰絕對不是，而且絕對不能建基於這些物質之上。聖經考古或者挖掘研究聖經中提及過的事物固然可以滿足人類的好奇心，但這些物質，真偽難辨，總會有不信的人質疑或挑戰你的發現或研究成果。這些努力對我們的靈性生命有何幫助呢？
假如真的在亞辣辣特山上找到「挪亞方舟」的殘骸又如何？証明了洪水滅世是真正的歷史而不是神話故事，所以聖經記載的事蹟是真的，所以彩虹的確是天主向人類保證不再用洪水消滅世界的信物嗎？從「都靈聖殮布」驗到耶穌的血是AB型又如何？耶穌對人類的愛可以用他的血型說明嗎？各位，我們的信仰不是基於這些物質性的所謂証據之上的。
那麼，我們的信仰基礎是甚麼？正如今天第一篇讀經和福音所記載的，「我們都是見証人。」所以我們的信仰是基於宗徒的見証。二千年來，宗徒們把他們對耶穌基督的信仰，代代相傳到今時今日。這就是我們在主日彌撒中所唸的「信經」所說的：「我信唯一、至聖、至公、從宗徒傳下來的教會。」的意義。
我們不祗聽他們所傳遞的道理，而且我們還要看他們的所作所為，來決定他們的宣講是否可信。所謂「聽其言、觀其行。」
二千年來，千千萬萬的人因信仰復活了的耶穌基督而令到他們的生命得以改善，他們甚至為了這信仰而殺身成仁，捨生取義，成為殉道者，成為烈士；有些人為了回報天主的大愛，他們甘心忍受艱難困苦，四處傳揚福音，做傳教士；有些人為了達到與天主更深刻的契合，隱居山林，默觀祈禱，做隱修士；有些人發揮天主的恩賜，捍衛真理，做神學家；有些人依照耶穌的教訓，去服事在窮人身上的耶穌，做安貧小姊妹。這二千年來，天主因應教會在歷史中所面對的不同挑戰，感召和派遣不同的聖人幫助信徒，邁向永生。這就是「從宗徒傳下來的至聖公教會」的意義，也就是當今教宗方濟各頒布「獻身生活年」的目的，希望大家對各個修會和它們的神恩有所認識，亦明白天主對人類的愛如何多姿多彩，他們以自己的生命回應天主的召叫和恩賜，他們都在說：「我們都是這些事的見証人。」
讓我們反省一下，我們可以怎樣做耶穌的見証人，薪火相傳，把基督信仰繼續傳揚開去呢？
首先，我們要問，我有每天祈禱讀經的習慣嗎？只會唸幾篇經固然不足夠，能用自己的說話向天主禱告是另一個層次，但仍然不足夠。因為祈禱是與天主交談，所以自言自語是無益的，我們要在祈禱中聽到天主對我們說話。
您辨認到天主的聲音嗎？聖經記載了天主的啟示，所以用聖經來祈禱，默想每日讀經的內容是一個很好的祈禱，從中您可以聽到，感覺到天主對您的啟示，對您的支持和對您的慈悲。
有了祈禱讀經的習慣是第一步。讓我們再進一步反省自己對天主的說話，有回應嗎？回應得夠爽快嗎？很多時我們埋怨天主沒有俯聽我們的祈禱，或者天主回應得不夠爽快。其實天主在我們祈求之前已經安排了我們所需要的各種恩寵，是我們沒有爽快地踏出一步，沒有伸手去領取，去回應天主而已。
在我們已習慣了的安樂窩中，再沒有我們所需要的，新的恩寵了。讓我設個比喻。我們祈求所需要的，就好像玩尋寶遊戲中的寶物一樣，須要離開我們習慣了的安樂窩，四出探索纔可以找到。不是盲目的探索，因為我們有聖經作為藏寶圖。
離開安樂窩，踏出一步回應天主的說話豈不就是「做耶穌的見証人」嗎？
您立時的反應可能是：向外人傳教，不是神職人員，或者慕道班導師做的嗎？我沒有足夠的訓練又怎能做呢？其實並非各位想像中的困難。所謂「多有多做，少有少做」。我們是有能力做「小規模」的見証人。如何細小呢？細小得像「酵母」一樣。【拿出堂區通訊，介紹「酵母行動」】
正如廖神父在今期堂區通訊頭版所說的，『領洗不足一年的新教友已經在信仰生活上轉趨冷淡…我們渴望慕道者能儘快投入堂區大家庭，明白信仰的道路實不孤單。』堂區成立了一個「家庭牧民專責小組」，其中一個任務就是在堂區推行「酵母行動」。『顧名思義，這行動的目的是要發揮酵母的作用，讓堂區的教友們作為酵母，引發慕道者積極投入堂區的信仰生活。』
那麼，願意成為「酵母」的教友要做甚麼？要花多少時間呢，會不會很困身呢？放心，廖神父說得很清楚，參加「酵母行動」的教友『認識、鼓勵及陪同慕道者一同參與感恩祭及其他的堂區活動…堂區…會為願意成為「酵母」的教友作出培育及在感恩禮中接受派遣。』
做酵母的教友不用做法証先鋒去証明耶穌的復活，不用做殉道者或修士修女。您們祗做平時的您，讀經祈禱，參加主日彌撒和堂區活動，把您們領洗入教，與耶穌來往，耶穌的復活如何改變了你們的生命等等的故事與慕道者分享就是了。
您回應廖神父的邀請，回應天主的邀請，爽快嗎？
天主保祐。
Third Sunday of Easter (Year B)
Theme: We are witnesses of these things.
Whether you were baptized in your infancy or you made your own choice as an adult to receive baptism, there is only one fact: God chooses you to give you grace. Every baptized person has his own peculiar story. However, no matter how long you have been baptized, there are chances you will be asked why you chose to be baptized. You have not seen Jesus who lived 2000 years ago. What made you believe in Jesus? Furthermore, what qualifications do you have, like the readings today, to make you a Jesus’ witness?
First of all, we need to understand that New Testament writings reflect the problems which the first generation or even second generation Christians had to deal with. They were still able to do CSI, like scrutinizing the Shroud, the empty tomb or putting witnesses such angels, women and those who claimed to have seen the resurrected Jesus through cross-examination. They did this to refute the charges of stealing Jesus’ corpse. Today, these evidences and witnesses no longer exist and the anti-Christianity charges are not the same.
Although nowadays many people continue to excavate Noah’s Ark; many scientists still scrutinize the Shroud of Turin; many believers venerate the cross on which Jesus was crucified or some other relics, I think that our faith absolutely cannot be and should not be based on such physical evidences. Biblical archaeology or excavation expeditions of artefacts mentioned in the Bible can satisfy the curiosity of people, but the authenticity of these items is difficult to determine. Moreover, there will always be skeptics who question or challenge your findings. What good do these endeavours do for our spiritual life?
Suppose you are able to locate the wreckage of Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat. So what? Does it prove that the Deluge was for real and not a myth, therefore Biblical stories are real and the rainbow is truly a sign of God’s promise never to destroy the world again with floods? Suppose you find from the Shroud of Turin that the blood type of Jesus is AB. So what? What can this blood type prove about Jesus’ love for humanity? Brethren, our faith cannot be based on such physical evidences.
What then is the foundation of our faith? As it is written in the first reading and the gospel today, “We are witnesses of these things.” (Acts 3:15, Luke 24:48) Thus, our faith is based on the witness of the Apostles. For 2000 years, the Apostles passed on their belief in Jesus Christ down the generations to us today. This is the meaning of the Creed we recite on Sundays, “I believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.” We do not only listen to their preaching but we also scrutinize their acts to decide whether their witness is trustworthy, to see whether they practise what they preach.
For 2000 years, the life of millions of people has improved for the better because of their belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Some of them even gave up their lives for their faith and became martyrs. Some repaid the great love of God by enduring great sufferings in the proclamation of the gospel as missionaries. Some sought more intimate union with God and retired into the wilderness to become ascetics. Some made good use of God’s gift to defend the truth and became theologians while others followed Jesus’ teaching to serve the Lord in the needy as Little Sisters of the Poor. For 2000 years, in response to different needs arising throughout history, God inspired and sent many different saints to help the faithful to attain eternal life. This is the meaning of Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. This is also the intention of Pope Francis to declare a Year of Consecrated Life, wishing you to know more about the different charisma of the religious orders, to understand the splendour of God’s love towards humanity. These people respond to God’s call and grace with their lives. They are saying, “We are witnesses of these things.”
Let us ponder how we can also be witnesses of Jesus, to pass on and spread Christianity?
First of all, we have to ask ourselves whether we have the habit of daily prayers and scripture reading. Reciting a few set prayers is not enough. Speaking to God in your own words is better but not enough. It is because prayer is a dialogue with God. Mumbling to yourself is of no benefits. We need to hear God speaking to us in prayers. How do we discern God’s voice? The Bible carries God’s revelation. Biblical prayer, meditating daily readings is a very good way to pray. From the verses, you will be able to hear, to feel God’s revelation to you, to support you and show you mercy.
Having built up a habit of praying with the Bible is only the first step. Let us reflect further whether we have responded to God’s word, whether we have responded promptly. Many times, we complain that God does not answer our prayers or God does not answer promptly enough. In fact, God has already prepared for us all sorts of graces we need even before we pray for them. It is we who do not promptly take the first step, stretch up our hands to answer God.
In our comfort zone, we do not need any new graces. Let me give an analogy. When we pray for our needs, we are like playing treasure hunts. We need to step out of our comfort zones to search for those treasures. We do not search blindly. The Bible is our treasure map!
Is not leaving our comfort zone to answer God’s call “bearing witnesses for Jesus”? Your immediate reaction would be: Isn’t preaching the gospel to non-believers the job of the clergy or catechists? We don’t have enough training. How can we do it? In fact, it is not as difficult as you imagine. There is always a right measure for you. We have the ability to be a small scale witness. How small? As small as a yeast!
To quote what Fr. Joseph Liu says on the front page of the latest issue of the Parish Newsletter, “The religious life of the newly baptized turns cold in less than one year ... we wish to help the catechumens to partake in the family of the parish as soon as possible so that they may understand that they are not alone in their faith.” The parish has set up a “Family Pastoral Care Task Force”. One of its tasks is to organize a “Yeast Action” in the parish. “The purpose of this Action is to help our parishioners carry out their function as yeast, to encourage the catechumens to partake in the religious life in the parish.”
So, what do these “yeasts” do? Would it be time-consuming? Fr. Liu assures that parishioners who want to become “yeasts” simply “know, encourage and accompany the catechumens to join mass and other parish activities ... The parish ... will give these “yeasts” briefings and commission them during mass.”
These “yeasts” do not need to collect CSI evidence to prove Jesus’ resurrection, to die a martyr death or become religious brothers or nuns. You simply do what you are doing in your everyday life, saying daily prayers, joining Sunday masses and parish activities, share your experience with the catechumens about your walking with Jesus and the stories of how Jesus’ resurrection changes your life.
Do you respond to Fr. Liu’s invitation and God’s invitation promptly enough?
God bless.
主題：我們就是這些事的見證人
無論你是嬰孩時被父母抱來聖堂洗禮，抑或是長大成人出於自己的願望接受洗禮，事實只有一個：「是天主揀選了你，賜予恩寵給你」。每個信天主領洗入教的人都有他們不同的故事。無論你領了洗有多少年，你總會有機會被人問到為甚麼洗禮。你沒有親眼見過2000年前的耶穌，你憑甚麼信耶穌呢？更進一步，你憑甚麼資歷，一如今天的讀經所記載的，做耶穌的見證人呢？
首先，請大家明白，新約聖經所記載的是二千年前的事蹟，是反映耶穌的第一代甚至第二代門徒所要應付的問題。他們尚可以好像法政先鋒一樣，搜集現場証物例如殮布、空的墓穴等，或者請出一些証人，例如天使、婦女和曾目睹耶穌顯現的門徒等，來回應當時對他們偷去耶穌屍體的指控。今天，不但這些人証物証已經不存在，而且今天反對基督信仰的性質已完全不同了。
雖然今天仍有很多人繼續去發掘「挪亞方舟」，很多的科學家繼續研究「都靈聖殮布」，很多教徒敬禮釘過耶穌的十字架或者其他的聖髑，但我們的信仰絕對不是，而且絕對不能建基於這些物質之上。聖經考古或者挖掘研究聖經中提及過的事物固然可以滿足人類的好奇心，但這些物質，真偽難辨，總會有不信的人質疑或挑戰你的發現或研究成果。這些努力對我們的靈性生命有何幫助呢？
假如真的在亞辣辣特山上找到「挪亞方舟」的殘骸又如何？証明了洪水滅世是真正的歷史而不是神話故事，所以聖經記載的事蹟是真的，所以彩虹的確是天主向人類保證不再用洪水消滅世界的信物嗎？從「都靈聖殮布」驗到耶穌的血是AB型又如何？耶穌對人類的愛可以用他的血型說明嗎？各位，我們的信仰不是基於這些物質性的所謂証據之上的。
那麼，我們的信仰基礎是甚麼？正如今天第一篇讀經和福音所記載的，「我們都是見証人。」所以我們的信仰是基於宗徒的見証。二千年來，宗徒們把他們對耶穌基督的信仰，代代相傳到今時今日。這就是我們在主日彌撒中所唸的「信經」所說的：「我信唯一、至聖、至公、從宗徒傳下來的教會。」的意義。
我們不祗聽他們所傳遞的道理，而且我們還要看他們的所作所為，來決定他們的宣講是否可信。所謂「聽其言、觀其行。」
二千年來，千千萬萬的人因信仰復活了的耶穌基督而令到他們的生命得以改善，他們甚至為了這信仰而殺身成仁，捨生取義，成為殉道者，成為烈士；有些人為了回報天主的大愛，他們甘心忍受艱難困苦，四處傳揚福音，做傳教士；有些人為了達到與天主更深刻的契合，隱居山林，默觀祈禱，做隱修士；有些人發揮天主的恩賜，捍衛真理，做神學家；有些人依照耶穌的教訓，去服事在窮人身上的耶穌，做安貧小姊妹。這二千年來，天主因應教會在歷史中所面對的不同挑戰，感召和派遣不同的聖人幫助信徒，邁向永生。這就是「從宗徒傳下來的至聖公教會」的意義，也就是當今教宗方濟各頒布「獻身生活年」的目的，希望大家對各個修會和它們的神恩有所認識，亦明白天主對人類的愛如何多姿多彩，他們以自己的生命回應天主的召叫和恩賜，他們都在說：「我們都是這些事的見証人。」
讓我們反省一下，我們可以怎樣做耶穌的見証人，薪火相傳，把基督信仰繼續傳揚開去呢？
首先，我們要問，我有每天祈禱讀經的習慣嗎？只會唸幾篇經固然不足夠，能用自己的說話向天主禱告是另一個層次，但仍然不足夠。因為祈禱是與天主交談，所以自言自語是無益的，我們要在祈禱中聽到天主對我們說話。
您辨認到天主的聲音嗎？聖經記載了天主的啟示，所以用聖經來祈禱，默想每日讀經的內容是一個很好的祈禱，從中您可以聽到，感覺到天主對您的啟示，對您的支持和對您的慈悲。
有了祈禱讀經的習慣是第一步。讓我們再進一步反省自己對天主的說話，有回應嗎？回應得夠爽快嗎？很多時我們埋怨天主沒有俯聽我們的祈禱，或者天主回應得不夠爽快。其實天主在我們祈求之前已經安排了我們所需要的各種恩寵，是我們沒有爽快地踏出一步，沒有伸手去領取，去回應天主而已。
在我們已習慣了的安樂窩中，再沒有我們所需要的，新的恩寵了。讓我設個比喻。我們祈求所需要的，就好像玩尋寶遊戲中的寶物一樣，須要離開我們習慣了的安樂窩，四出探索纔可以找到。不是盲目的探索，因為我們有聖經作為藏寶圖。
離開安樂窩，踏出一步回應天主的說話豈不就是「做耶穌的見証人」嗎？
您立時的反應可能是：向外人傳教，不是神職人員，或者慕道班導師做的嗎？我沒有足夠的訓練又怎能做呢？其實並非各位想像中的困難。所謂「多有多做，少有少做」。我們是有能力做「小規模」的見証人。如何細小呢？細小得像「酵母」一樣。【拿出堂區通訊，介紹「酵母行動」】
正如廖神父在今期堂區通訊頭版所說的，『領洗不足一年的新教友已經在信仰生活上轉趨冷淡…我們渴望慕道者能儘快投入堂區大家庭，明白信仰的道路實不孤單。』堂區成立了一個「家庭牧民專責小組」，其中一個任務就是在堂區推行「酵母行動」。『顧名思義，這行動的目的是要發揮酵母的作用，讓堂區的教友們作為酵母，引發慕道者積極投入堂區的信仰生活。』
那麼，願意成為「酵母」的教友要做甚麼？要花多少時間呢，會不會很困身呢？放心，廖神父說得很清楚，參加「酵母行動」的教友『認識、鼓勵及陪同慕道者一同參與感恩祭及其他的堂區活動…堂區…會為願意成為「酵母」的教友作出培育及在感恩禮中接受派遣。』
做酵母的教友不用做法証先鋒去証明耶穌的復活，不用做殉道者或修士修女。您們祗做平時的您，讀經祈禱，參加主日彌撒和堂區活動，把您們領洗入教，與耶穌來往，耶穌的復活如何改變了你們的生命等等的故事與慕道者分享就是了。
您回應廖神父的邀請，回應天主的邀請，爽快嗎？
天主保祐。
Third Sunday of Easter (Year B)
Theme: We are witnesses of these things.
Whether you were baptized in your infancy or you made your own choice as an adult to receive baptism, there is only one fact: God chooses you to give you grace. Every baptized person has his own peculiar story. However, no matter how long you have been baptized, there are chances you will be asked why you chose to be baptized. You have not seen Jesus who lived 2000 years ago. What made you believe in Jesus? Furthermore, what qualifications do you have, like the readings today, to make you a Jesus’ witness?
First of all, we need to understand that New Testament writings reflect the problems which the first generation or even second generation Christians had to deal with. They were still able to do CSI, like scrutinizing the Shroud, the empty tomb or putting witnesses such angels, women and those who claimed to have seen the resurrected Jesus through cross-examination. They did this to refute the charges of stealing Jesus’ corpse. Today, these evidences and witnesses no longer exist and the anti-Christianity charges are not the same.
Although nowadays many people continue to excavate Noah’s Ark; many scientists still scrutinize the Shroud of Turin; many believers venerate the cross on which Jesus was crucified or some other relics, I think that our faith absolutely cannot be and should not be based on such physical evidences. Biblical archaeology or excavation expeditions of artefacts mentioned in the Bible can satisfy the curiosity of people, but the authenticity of these items is difficult to determine. Moreover, there will always be skeptics who question or challenge your findings. What good do these endeavours do for our spiritual life?
Suppose you are able to locate the wreckage of Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat. So what? Does it prove that the Deluge was for real and not a myth, therefore Biblical stories are real and the rainbow is truly a sign of God’s promise never to destroy the world again with floods? Suppose you find from the Shroud of Turin that the blood type of Jesus is AB. So what? What can this blood type prove about Jesus’ love for humanity? Brethren, our faith cannot be based on such physical evidences.
What then is the foundation of our faith? As it is written in the first reading and the gospel today, “We are witnesses of these things.” (Acts 3:15, Luke 24:48) Thus, our faith is based on the witness of the Apostles. For 2000 years, the Apostles passed on their belief in Jesus Christ down the generations to us today. This is the meaning of the Creed we recite on Sundays, “I believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.” We do not only listen to their preaching but we also scrutinize their acts to decide whether their witness is trustworthy, to see whether they practise what they preach.
For 2000 years, the life of millions of people has improved for the better because of their belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Some of them even gave up their lives for their faith and became martyrs. Some repaid the great love of God by enduring great sufferings in the proclamation of the gospel as missionaries. Some sought more intimate union with God and retired into the wilderness to become ascetics. Some made good use of God’s gift to defend the truth and became theologians while others followed Jesus’ teaching to serve the Lord in the needy as Little Sisters of the Poor. For 2000 years, in response to different needs arising throughout history, God inspired and sent many different saints to help the faithful to attain eternal life. This is the meaning of Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. This is also the intention of Pope Francis to declare a Year of Consecrated Life, wishing you to know more about the different charisma of the religious orders, to understand the splendour of God’s love towards humanity. These people respond to God’s call and grace with their lives. They are saying, “We are witnesses of these things.”
Let us ponder how we can also be witnesses of Jesus, to pass on and spread Christianity?
First of all, we have to ask ourselves whether we have the habit of daily prayers and scripture reading. Reciting a few set prayers is not enough. Speaking to God in your own words is better but not enough. It is because prayer is a dialogue with God. Mumbling to yourself is of no benefits. We need to hear God speaking to us in prayers. How do we discern God’s voice? The Bible carries God’s revelation. Biblical prayer, meditating daily readings is a very good way to pray. From the verses, you will be able to hear, to feel God’s revelation to you, to support you and show you mercy.
Having built up a habit of praying with the Bible is only the first step. Let us reflect further whether we have responded to God’s word, whether we have responded promptly. Many times, we complain that God does not answer our prayers or God does not answer promptly enough. In fact, God has already prepared for us all sorts of graces we need even before we pray for them. It is we who do not promptly take the first step, stretch up our hands to answer God.
In our comfort zone, we do not need any new graces. Let me give an analogy. When we pray for our needs, we are like playing treasure hunts. We need to step out of our comfort zones to search for those treasures. We do not search blindly. The Bible is our treasure map!
Is not leaving our comfort zone to answer God’s call “bearing witnesses for Jesus”? Your immediate reaction would be: Isn’t preaching the gospel to non-believers the job of the clergy or catechists? We don’t have enough training. How can we do it? In fact, it is not as difficult as you imagine. There is always a right measure for you. We have the ability to be a small scale witness. How small? As small as a yeast!
To quote what Fr. Joseph Liu says on the front page of the latest issue of the Parish Newsletter, “The religious life of the newly baptized turns cold in less than one year ... we wish to help the catechumens to partake in the family of the parish as soon as possible so that they may understand that they are not alone in their faith.” The parish has set up a “Family Pastoral Care Task Force”. One of its tasks is to organize a “Yeast Action” in the parish. “The purpose of this Action is to help our parishioners carry out their function as yeast, to encourage the catechumens to partake in the religious life in the parish.”
So, what do these “yeasts” do? Would it be time-consuming? Fr. Liu assures that parishioners who want to become “yeasts” simply “know, encourage and accompany the catechumens to join mass and other parish activities ... The parish ... will give these “yeasts” briefings and commission them during mass.”
These “yeasts” do not need to collect CSI evidence to prove Jesus’ resurrection, to die a martyr death or become religious brothers or nuns. You simply do what you are doing in your everyday life, saying daily prayers, joining Sunday masses and parish activities, share your experience with the catechumens about your walking with Jesus and the stories of how Jesus’ resurrection changes your life.
Do you respond to Fr. Liu’s invitation and God’s invitation promptly enough?
God bless.
Thursday, 2 April 2015
家有一老，如有… AN ELDERLY AT HOME IS JUST LIKE A ...
「家有一老，如有…」
此文章首先刋登在【天主教屯世主堂贖第338期堂區通訊（2015.4）】
常言道：「家有一老，如有一寶。」在今天這個商業化的香港社會，說得過嗎？
的確，在古代，長者承傳生活的知識和智慧給後代，他們確實是寶。但在資訊爆炸的今天，恐怕長者們已沒有能力趕上，不但成了家中的負擔，更有可能被社會淘汰。生活在教友家庭中的長者能倖免嗎？
讓我和大家一起細數長者在他們的晚年如何成為家庭的祝福。
天主保祐
圖片下載自http://blog.artron.net/space-488757-do-album-picid-4643904-goto-up.html
AN ELDERLY AT HOME IS JUST LIKE A ...
As a Chinese idiom goes, “An elderly at home is just like possessing a jewel.” In a highly commercialized city like Hong Kong, can the idiom be true?
Indeed, in ancient times, the elderly handed on the knowledge and wisdom of daily life to the posterity. They were truly jewels. However, in this age of information explosion, I am afraid the elderly can hardly catch up. Not only do they become a burden at home, they would also become obsolete in the society. Can the elderly in a Catholic family be exempted? Let me number how the elderly are blessings in the family even in their mature age.
此文章首先刋登在【天主教屯世主堂贖第338期堂區通訊（2015.4）】常言道：「家有一老，如有一寶。」在今天這個商業化的香港社會，說得過嗎？
的確，在古代，長者承傳生活的知識和智慧給後代，他們確實是寶。但在資訊爆炸的今天，恐怕長者們已沒有能力趕上，不但成了家中的負擔，更有可能被社會淘汰。生活在教友家庭中的長者能倖免嗎？
讓我和大家一起細數長者在他們的晚年如何成為家庭的祝福。
- 他們肢體退化，行動開始緩慢
香港人的生活步伐素來急促，很多時候我們同時兼顧著幾組活動：在同一部電腦上網，做文書處理、試算表；聽著背景音樂，用免提電話與客戶爭取合約條款；與此同時正與同事開會……長者們正好拖慢我們，讓我們能細味天主在生活中賜予我們的恩寵。 小心，當您推著輪椅時，記著坐在輪椅上的長者。她是一位天使，叫您放慢腳步，細心欣賞身邊事物的天使。請不要衝鋒陷陣地推輪椅。 - 他們記憶衰退，不時重覆煩瑣
長者們因為記憶衰退，時常忘記了不久前曾說過，曾做過的事，但對前半生的「豐功偉績」，會不斷覆述，令我們不勝其煩。其實，她們在努力地保留美好的記憶，甚至改寫過去不光彩的歷史。
長者們真是天主賜給我們學習寛恕、修和的天使。從今天起與人多做修和寬恕罷，不要保留忿恨的記憶，以免將來把自己囚禁在這些怨恨的記憶中受苦。學習長者們「選擇性地記憶」罷，祗記著別人的恩惠，忘記別人的無禮和冒犯。
長者們又是天主派來操練我們耐性的天使。這裡不再贅述。 - 家中的長者，是我們未來的寫照
雖然我們沒有水晶球預見未來，但我們的基因，一半來自父親，一半來自母親。他們就是天主賜給我們預示未來的天使。他們是我們未來健康上和脾氣上的寫照。雖然說「有其父必有其子」，但男人一半的基因亦來自母親。可能相貎上似父親，但脾氣上亦有母親的影子。所以，家中的長者正在運用他們的晚年，展示著家主的未來。長者安享晚年固然是好，若他們有甚麼不是之處，你應自我檢討，趁尚有時間，想辦法預防這些事情，將來發生在你自己身上。父母年事已高，已無法改變。但你尚年青可改，又有不同的基因組合，又有時間在手上，必定可以為自己的將來創造有利的條件。
天主保祐
圖片下載自http://blog.artron.net/space-488757-do-album-picid-4643904-goto-up.html
AN ELDERLY AT HOME IS JUST LIKE A ...
As a Chinese idiom goes, “An elderly at home is just like possessing a jewel.” In a highly commercialized city like Hong Kong, can the idiom be true?
Indeed, in ancient times, the elderly handed on the knowledge and wisdom of daily life to the posterity. They were truly jewels. However, in this age of information explosion, I am afraid the elderly can hardly catch up. Not only do they become a burden at home, they would also become obsolete in the society. Can the elderly in a Catholic family be exempted? Let me number how the elderly are blessings in the family even in their mature age.
- Their limbs deteriorate. Their motions begin to slow down.
It is well known that the living paces of Hong Kong people are extremely fast. Many times, we multitask: on the same computer we surf the net, do word-processing, calculate a spreadsheet; listen to background music, using a hand-free mobile to negotiate a better deal with clients while briefing your colleagues ... It is just right for the elderly to slow us down, allowing us to appreciate the grace which God bestows on us in our daily life.Beware, when you wheelchair, remember the elderly who is sitting on it. She is an angel who tells you to appreciate the good things around you. Don’t charge! - Their memories fail, repeating minor details all the time.
The memory of the elderly is fading. Often, they forget what they have said or done a moment before. However, they can remember their “past glories” and repeatedly tell you, making you fed-up. In fact, they are trying to retain their beautiful memories and even rewrite their shadowy history in the past.
The elderly are truly godsend angels to help us learn forgiveness and reconciliation. Starting from today, forgive and reconcile. Don’t keep unpleasant memories to haunt and torture you when you are imprisoned in resentful memories in your old age. Learn from the elderly to remember selectively. Remember the good things people done you and forget their arrogance and abrasiveness.The elderly are also godsend angels to teach us patience. There is no need for me to elaborate here. - The elderly is your future image.
Although we do not have a crystal ball to see our future, we have genes of which half come from our fathers and the other half our mothers. Our parents are godsend angels to foretell our future. They show us our health and temper in the future. Though we say “like father like son”, half of our genes came from our mothers. We may look like our fathers, but our temper and characters may mirror our mothers. Therefore, the elderly are making use of their final years to show the housemasters their future. It is a blessing for the elderly to lead a peaceful life at their full age. Even if they are troublesome, we should scrutinize ourselves, take measures to prevent these troubles from happening in your future while there is still time. Your parents are already too old to change but you are still young. You have a different combination of genes and time is on your side. You can surely create advantageous conditions for your future.
Sunday, 22 March 2015
All men are mortal
There is nothing more certain than death. Most religions promise a transcendence of this inevitability, a life after death. Other moral philosophies are more down to earth. They are contended to make sense of death or more positively, to give life a purpose. There is a well known idiom among Chinese who are well known of their being pragmatic. It reads, "Deaths can be lighter than a feather or heavier than the Tai Mountains." It does not trivialize death, nor glorify it. It simply lays before you a guideline when you contemplate suicide. Is your death worthwhile? This Chinese proverb has an underlying assumption that some deaths do not contribute to the good of the others.
However, Jesus rules out such a classification of deaths. For him, all deaths are meaningful and worthwhile.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (John 12:24-25)
Of course, Jesus was not promoting suicide. He tells us to let go even our life to bring out more lives. Committing suicide so as to escape from suffering is selfish and an act of cowardice. Suicide is morally acceptable only when it saves more lives or gives the future generation a better tomorrow. Therefore, the deaths of martyrs and revolutionaries are laudable and deserve our respect.
What about the deaths of thousands of nameless people who are starved to death everyday because of poverty? What good do these deaths bring?
What about the deaths of terrorists who are killed in action? What fruit do they bear?
What about those aborted fetus which do not even have a chance to see the light of this world? ... These are just some of those perplexing questions which we may not be able to give a convincing answer. Perhaps in the eye of Jesus, these poor souls simply return to the comfort of the bosom of the Father.Whether they leave behind any legacy is the will of the Father. Whether their contribution is good or bad is the judgment of the Father, not us.
God makes it clear that He finds no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). Is God foolish? Paul said, "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." (1 Corinthians 1:25) There is wisdom in God's foolishness, in Jesus' refusal to distinguish among the worthiness of deaths.
Dear Lord, I feel grateful that all of us are precious in your eyes. You do not pass judgment on us. Your love is unsurpassable. Amen.
However, Jesus rules out such a classification of deaths. For him, all deaths are meaningful and worthwhile.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (John 12:24-25)
Of course, Jesus was not promoting suicide. He tells us to let go even our life to bring out more lives. Committing suicide so as to escape from suffering is selfish and an act of cowardice. Suicide is morally acceptable only when it saves more lives or gives the future generation a better tomorrow. Therefore, the deaths of martyrs and revolutionaries are laudable and deserve our respect.
What about the deaths of thousands of nameless people who are starved to death everyday because of poverty? What good do these deaths bring?
What about the deaths of terrorists who are killed in action? What fruit do they bear?
What about those aborted fetus which do not even have a chance to see the light of this world? ... These are just some of those perplexing questions which we may not be able to give a convincing answer. Perhaps in the eye of Jesus, these poor souls simply return to the comfort of the bosom of the Father.Whether they leave behind any legacy is the will of the Father. Whether their contribution is good or bad is the judgment of the Father, not us.
God makes it clear that He finds no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). Is God foolish? Paul said, "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." (1 Corinthians 1:25) There is wisdom in God's foolishness, in Jesus' refusal to distinguish among the worthiness of deaths.
Dear Lord, I feel grateful that all of us are precious in your eyes. You do not pass judgment on us. Your love is unsurpassable. Amen.
Sunday, 15 March 2015
Seventy Years of Exile
Let's do some arithmetics. I rely on the Old Testament timeline provided by Bible Hub to do the following calculations in order to look at the 70-year Babylonian exile. It is commonly agreed that in 537 B.C., Cyrus decreed that the Jews should return to Jerusalem. Moreover, Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians in 586 B.C. Therefore, the exile lasted for 50 years only. However, prior to 586 B.C. the Babylonians had already begun deporting the nobles since 605 B.C. Therefore, a 70-year exile makes sense.
"to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had been paid her sabbaths; for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years." (2 Chronicles 36:21)
This verse stirs up my speculation. The Israelites did not observe the law of sabbathetical year (Leviticus 25), 70 in total. Therefore, they were exiled for 70 years to repay the skipping of sabbathetical years.
Before we start calculating, we need to decide what to make of the Jubilee Year, the fiftieth year. Since the land rested in a Jubilee Year similar to that of sabbathetical years, I will count it a sabbathetical year. Therefore, in 50 years, there were 8 sabbathetical years. Now, the Jews were exiled for 70 years to repay for the skipping of sabbathetical years. Therefore 70 sabbathetical years were skipped. A total of 437.5 (70/8*50) years were covered. When did the Jews begin skipping sabbathetical years and jubilee years? 974 (537 + 437) B.C. During this time, David was fleeing from the onslaugh of his own son Absalom! It sounds reasonable. I speculate that after the death of Absalom, David returned to Jerusalem to mourn for his favourite son who tried to overthrow his own father. Meanwhile, David did not observe sabbathetical years anymore since his return to Jerusalem.
What if we do not count Jubilee Years as sabbathetical years? A total of 500 (70/7*50) years would be covered. That is to say, the Jews began skipping sabbathetical years since 1037 B.C. It was roughly 10 years before Saul openly disobeyed Samuel (1 Samuel 15). Saul had been king for about 6 years since he was anointed king in 1043 B.C. That is to say, ever since the appointment of kings, the Israelites no longer observed sabbathetical years. Both versions make sense. Yet, they are only speculations.
The author of Chronicles saw the Babylonian Exile as a repayment of sabbathetical years. This very idea warned the Jewish readers to keep God's commandments because they had to repay every cent they owed (Matthew 5:26) The reading of John is more consoling. God did not send Jesus to judge the world but to save it (John 3:17). Unlike Matthew, John was less legalistic.
Today, at the 2nd Rite of Scrutiny in St. Francis of Assisi Church, I met a few La Salle old students. After leaving LSC for more than 20 years, some of them will be baptized this Easter. They are all grown-ups now. God is marvelous. I am touched and speechless as well. The Word of God is like a seed growing up on its own in their hearts. This is God's working, not mine.
Dear Lord, I praise you. You will not leave anybody unsaved. Amen.
"to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had been paid her sabbaths; for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years." (2 Chronicles 36:21)
This verse stirs up my speculation. The Israelites did not observe the law of sabbathetical year (Leviticus 25), 70 in total. Therefore, they were exiled for 70 years to repay the skipping of sabbathetical years.
Before we start calculating, we need to decide what to make of the Jubilee Year, the fiftieth year. Since the land rested in a Jubilee Year similar to that of sabbathetical years, I will count it a sabbathetical year. Therefore, in 50 years, there were 8 sabbathetical years. Now, the Jews were exiled for 70 years to repay for the skipping of sabbathetical years. Therefore 70 sabbathetical years were skipped. A total of 437.5 (70/8*50) years were covered. When did the Jews begin skipping sabbathetical years and jubilee years? 974 (537 + 437) B.C. During this time, David was fleeing from the onslaugh of his own son Absalom! It sounds reasonable. I speculate that after the death of Absalom, David returned to Jerusalem to mourn for his favourite son who tried to overthrow his own father. Meanwhile, David did not observe sabbathetical years anymore since his return to Jerusalem.
What if we do not count Jubilee Years as sabbathetical years? A total of 500 (70/7*50) years would be covered. That is to say, the Jews began skipping sabbathetical years since 1037 B.C. It was roughly 10 years before Saul openly disobeyed Samuel (1 Samuel 15). Saul had been king for about 6 years since he was anointed king in 1043 B.C. That is to say, ever since the appointment of kings, the Israelites no longer observed sabbathetical years. Both versions make sense. Yet, they are only speculations.
The author of Chronicles saw the Babylonian Exile as a repayment of sabbathetical years. This very idea warned the Jewish readers to keep God's commandments because they had to repay every cent they owed (Matthew 5:26) The reading of John is more consoling. God did not send Jesus to judge the world but to save it (John 3:17). Unlike Matthew, John was less legalistic.
Today, at the 2nd Rite of Scrutiny in St. Francis of Assisi Church, I met a few La Salle old students. After leaving LSC for more than 20 years, some of them will be baptized this Easter. They are all grown-ups now. God is marvelous. I am touched and speechless as well. The Word of God is like a seed growing up on its own in their hearts. This is God's working, not mine.
Dear Lord, I praise you. You will not leave anybody unsaved. Amen.
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