提防心變硬 Hark Heart Hardening

將臨期第一主日，乙年
主題：提防心變硬

將臨期是禮儀年的開始，我們又進入了新的一年，進入了救恩歷程的一個新開始。可能大家會覺得奇怪，教會定下將臨期，不是為了預備聖誕節嗎？為甚麼將臨期的第一第二主日，會默想世界末日呢？答案非常簡單，耶穌基督要降臨世界兩次，二千多年前是第一次，為了成全法律和先知的教訓，並以十字架上的犧牲，奠定救贖的基礎。耶穌基督藉著教會，天天臨現在世上，與我們同在一起，直至世界末日（瑪28:20）。到時，耶穌基督以普世君王的姿態，君臨天下；教會亦完成任務，功成身退。

將臨期第一主日的主題非常簡單直接。在短短五節經文之內，主耶穌說了四次「醒寤」！可惜很多人誤解聖經的教訓，甚至穿鑿附會，並誇大其辭，危言聳聽，以收到佔據市場的效果！遠的不用說，2012年以瑪雅曆法來預言世界末日，不少人因此而發了末日財，今天已經是2020年了。近期疫情肆虐，天災人禍不停，又煽動了不少末日的情緒！難怪主耶穌說：「是就說是，非就說非；其他多餘的便是出於邪惡。」（5:37）主基督真的要我們「醒寤」末日前的預兆嗎？既然沒有人知道那時刻（谷13:33），所以不是與時間有關的「醒寤」。祂究竟要我們「醒寤」甚麼呢？

聖經所紀錄的，並非完全是天主從上而下對人的說話和啟示。聖經中包括了很多祈禱，例如《聖詠集》，是從人的位置，從下到上，表達人類的心聲！注意，祈禱其實是天主與人的互動，因為當我們不知如何向天主說話時，天主「聖神卻親自以無可言喻的歎息，代我們轉求」（羅8:26）。所以即使是人的祈禱，也有天主啟示的成份！
今天第一篇選讀的先知書，是猶太人從下而上，向天主表達的渴望；不是一般和平時期的渴望，而是遭受亡國之苦，求救的渴望！先知呼求上主，再顯神威，「望你衝破諸天降下，諸山在你面前震盪…使萬民在你面前戰慄」（依63:19-64:1）。上主天主應驗了先知的話，「並不是使者，也不是天使拯救他們，而是祂自己」（63:9）。的確，祂親自來了。很奇怪，祂並沒有帶著猶太人所期望的光榮而來。祂出生在馬槽，葬在別人的墳墓裡，由始至終都是貧窮的。祂的光榮，不是熔化群山，分開海水，而是懸於十字架上，求天父寬赦世人（路23:34）！正如先知所說「因為祢行了誰也想不到的驚人事蹟，是人從未聽過的，耳朵從未聽過，眼睛從未見過…」（64:2-3）祂這樣溫良地做，為的是尊重人性的自主，不願強迫人類接受祂的好意！恐怕祇有依照耶穌基督的教訓，經常「醒寤」，好像先知的人，纔會體會得到。天主教徒領了洗，不是分擔了主耶穌的先知職務，是一個先知嗎？

先知的另一句話，是值得我們留意的，因為與我們的本份有關。他說：「上主！祢為甚麼讓我們離開祢的道路？使我們的心變硬而不敬畏祢？」（63:17）很奇怪，倘若是天主令我們心硬，做出壞事，我們還需要負上責任嗎？當年天主令埃及的法朗不斷「心硬」（出4:21），最後招至「殺長子」的災難。那麼，是天主使法朗心硬，所以錯不在法朗了！大家不要奇怪，猶太人沒有我們今天的倫理系統。在他們的心目中，天主掌控一切。所以，「令法朗心硬」，是表現天主是天主，是講故事的手法。其實，一個「殺長子」災難，已經足夠迫使法朗放人，用不著十個災難那麼浪費時間，浪費人力和物力。對嗎？所以，我們不能用「天主讓我們犯罪、天主令我們心硬」，作為我們犯罪的辯護！

是甚麼令我們「心硬」，不敬畏天主呢？注意，有很多原因令人不敬畏天主，例如無知，不知道天主存在，或者即使知道了，但不知道應該要敬畏祂；又或者驕傲，科學昌明，加上對人性過份樂觀，令現代人覺得天主存在與否，與他們無關！今天要默想的，是甚麼令人「心硬」，以至不再敬畏天主。

路加福音中「富翁與拉匝祿」的比喻（路16:19-31），點出財富令人心硬的危險。天天奢華宴樂的富翁，竟然對「躺臥在他的大門前」的乞丐，視若無睹（16:19-20），是「心硬」的寫照。教宗方濟各在《你們要歡喜踴躍》宗座勸諭，論述神貧真福時說得好：「當我們心裡認為自己很富有，就會變得那麼自滿，以至於沒有空間聆聽天主的聖言、愛我們的兄弟姊妹，或享受生命中最重要的事物。」（GE #68）對自己的優勢、財富、權力和成就自滿，被這些東西充塞了自己的心，便沒有空間容納天主聖言、耶穌基督和祂的訓誨。這就是心硬。當我們還懂得向最少的兄弟中的一個，伸出援手（瑪25:40），表示我們仍有血肉之心，而不是冰冷的鐵石心腸！

對於弱勢的一群，當他們受到侮辱、攻擊、欺凌和歧視；既沒有人，包括天主，出現來保護他們，而自己又沒有報復的機會和能力的時候。為了減低痛苦和傷害，受害人容易探取一個消極的方法，就是硬起心腸，表示強壯，不怕攻擊，不需要別人可憐。結果，他們埋怨天主，祇能把自己變得天不怕，地不怕來應付生存。試問他們又怎會敬畏天主呢？在這裡，溫良、哀慟、飢渴慕義、憐憫的真福，變得蠻有意義了！做人抱溫良的心態，又怎會欺凌歧視弱勢的人呢？為罪惡對人的傷害而哀慟流淚，心腸又怎會變硬呢？期望天主的救贖，如飢似渴的人，怎會不敬畏天主呢？憐憫寬恕傷害自己的人，不但釋放了別人，也釋放了自己，不想被報仇的念頭所操控，何來心硬呢？但能做到真福八端的目標，沒有聖神的助祐，聖神七恩的扶助，又怎能成事呢？

各位兄弟姊妹，耶穌基督勸我們「醒寤」，是要我們警醒，不要讓我們的心，因為財富、權勢和成就，變得自滿堅硬，不理別人死活；更不要讓忿怒和仇恨毒害自己的心靈，變得麻木不仁，不再敬畏天主。呼求天主聖神的助祐吧！天父願意所有的人都得救（弟前2:4），一定樂意賜聖神予求祂的人（路11:13）！
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：takebackyourtemple.com

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First Advent Sunday, Year B
Theme: Hark Heart Hardening

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The Advent Season is the beginning of a Liturgical Year. We have entered a new year, a new beginning of the Redemption Cycle. Perhaps you would wonder why Advent is not a preparation for Christmas and why we meditate the end of the world during the first two Sundays in Advent. The answer is simple. Jesus Christ comes to the world twice. Two millennia ago was the first visit in which He fulfilled the teachings of the Law and the prophets. With the sacrifice on the cross, He set the foundation of salvation. Jesus Christ is present among us every day through the Church till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). At the end, Jesus Christ shall appear once more as the King of the Universe. By then, the Church shall have accomplished her mission.

The theme of the First Advent Sunday is simple and direct. In just five verses, Lord Jesus says, "Watch" four times! Regrettably, many people misunderstand the teaching of the Bible. Some even speculate and exaggerate so as to attract attention! Not too long ago, using the Maya calendar to foretell the end of the world in 2012, many people made money and 2020 is approaching its end. Recently, apocalyptic sentiments are fanned by the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters! No wonder Jesus says, "Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes', and your 'No' mean 'No'. Anything more is from the evil one." (5:37) Does Jesus Christ really want us to be watchful of the signs before end time? Since nobody knows when the time will come (Mark 13:33), therefore, being watchful has nothing to do with time. Then what does He want us to be watchful?

The Bible is not all top down revelation and words from God. There are many prayers in the Bible, such as the book of Psalms. It is a bottom up expression of human desires! Note that prayers are in fact an interaction between God and men because when we do not know how to pray as we ought, "the Holy Spirit intercedes with inexpressible groanings" (Romans 8:26). That is to say, even our prayers can be part of God's revelation!
The first reading we choose today is a Jewish bottom up prayer to tell God their desires. It is not an ordinary desire during peace time but a distress sigh for being conquered! The prophet begs God to show His glory, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you … and the nations would tremble before you." (Isaiah 63:19-64:1) The Lord God fulfils the words of the prophet, "It was not an envoy or a messenger, but His presence that saved them." (63:9) Truly, He came in person. But strangely, He did not come in the glory the Jews had expected. He was born in a manger and buried in other people's tomb. From cradle to grave, He was poor. His glory did not melt the mountains nor split the oceans but hanging on the cross to beg the Father to forgive men (Luke 23:34). Like what the prophet says, "You worked awesome deeds we could not hope for, such as had not been heard of from of old. No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen…" (64:2-3) He works in such a meek manner because He respects human autonomy and does not want to impose His good will on men! I'm afraid only those who follow Jesus Christ's teaching and are watchful like the prophet can understand. Catholics who were baptized have partaken in the prophetic ministry of Lord Jesus. Are they not prophets?

We should pay attention to another verse by the prophet because it is related to our duties. He says, "Why do you make us wander, Lord, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we do not fear you?" (63:17) Very interesting! If God hardens our hearts so that we do evil, are we still responsible for our actions? In Egypt, God kept hardening the heart of Pharaoh (Exodus 4:21). In the end, God sent the plague of "Killing the firstborns". God hardened Pharaoh's heart. Then it was not Pharaoh's fault! Don't be surprised. Ancient Jews did not follow our moral system. In their minds, God was in full control. Thus "harden Pharaoh's heart" is a narrative technique, showing God is God. In fact, one "Killing the firstborns" plague was enough to bend Pharaoh. Why did God send ten plagues, wasting time and resources, right? Thus, we can't use "God makes us sin. God hardens our hearts" as a defence for our sins.

What hardens our hearts so that we have no fear of God? Be careful! Many things are able to cause the lack of fear of God. For example, ignorance of the existence of God or even if people know God exists but they know not that they should fear Him. Again pride. With the advances in sciences and technology, coupled with an unwarranted optimism on human nature, modern people feel that the existence of God is none of their business! Today, we meditate on what hardens our hearts and leads to a lack of fear of God.

The parable of "The Rich Man and Lazarus" (Luke 16:19-31) is an excellent narrative of how wealth hardens human hearts. The rich man who dined sumptuously each day and ignored the poor Lazarus who was lying at his door was a stark illustration of "heart hardening". In his apostolic exhortation "Gaudete et Exsultate", Pope Francis explains the beatitude of spiritual poverty, "Once we think we are rich, we can become so self-satisfied that we leave no room for God's word, for the love of our brothers and sisters, or for the enjoyment of the most important things in life." (GE #68) When we are satisfied with our merits, wealth, power and achievements, when our hearts are stuffed with these things, there is no more room for God's word, Jesus Christ and His teachings. This heart is hardened. When we are still able to extend a helping hand to "one of the least of these brothers of mine" (Matthew 25:40), it shows that we still have a heart of flesh and blood, not a cold lump of stone!

When the disadvantaged are insulted, attacked, bullied and discriminated, nobody, including God, stands up for them and they themselves don't have the opportunities or abilities to take revenge, in order to reduce the pains and the hurt, victims would take an easy way out: to stiffen their hearts and appear to be tough, appear not to fear attacks and to need no pity. Consequently, they blame God and turn fearless in order to survive. How would they fear the Lord? Here, the beatitudes of meekness, being mournful, hunger for justice and mercy become meaningful! When you are meek, how will you bully or discriminate the disadvantaged? When you mourn for the damages sins inflict on men, how will your hearts be hardened? When you hunger and thirst for God's salvation, how will you not fear the Lord? When you are merciful and forgive those who hurt you, not only do you release the perpetrator, but you also release yourself from being controlled by the thoughts of revenge, how shall your heart be hardened? But to be able to achieve the target of the Beatitudes without the support of the Holy Spirit, the power from His seven gifts, how shall it be possible?

Brethren! Jesus Christ urges us to be watchful always not to allow our hearts to be hardened because of wealth, power and achievements which make us feel satisfied and ignore the plights of other people. Furthermore, don't let anger and hate poison and numb our heart so that we no longer fear the Lord. Invoke the help of the Holy Spirit! The Father in heaven wills everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). He is eager to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13)!
God bless!

君王此中尋 Come Meet Thy King

耶穌基督普世君王節，甲年
主題：君王此中尋

瑪竇福音二十五章，是耳熟能詳的經文。但天主的聖言，的確充滿生命力，不同經歷後的默想，觸動了不同的感應。不知為甚麼，在不同的神職人員團體的分享中，大家不約而同地聚焦到「君王」去。

今天讀的福音，不是耶穌基督虛構的比喻，而是祂以圖像，講述將來必定發生的結局：公審判！今次讀這個公審判的故事時，我的第一個感覺是「當今的君王去了哪」與「世上列王群集一堂，諸侯畢至聚首相商，反抗上主，反抗祂的受傅者」（詠2:2），形成一個強列的對比！為甚麼寶座上祇有「人子」一個？沒有人挑戰祂嗎？那些叱吒風雲，呼風喚雨，有權有勢的人物去了哪？當然，宇宙的君王可以隨時革去世上所有君王的權勢，即使是這樣，以下的默想仍然是有意義的。

按保祿的論述，「在發命時，在總領天使吶喊和天主的號聲響時，主要親自由天降來，那些死於基督內的人先要復活，然後我們這些活著還存留的人，同時與他們一起要被提到雲彩上，到空中迎接主」（得前4:16-17）。非常簡單地，保祿把末日的人，分成兩批：死過的人和仍存活的人。
讓我們先從那些死而復活的人中找打權勢的人吧。他們當中，肯定有很多帝王將相，是曾經擁有過權勢的人。問題是，他們都死了，他們的權力，不是由別人繼承了，便是被他人奪取了。所以從死裡復活的人，生命是恢復了，但權威是沒有了。不要忘記，他們的新生命，都是靠生命之主，耶穌基督賜予的。所以他們即使有權威，也在耶穌基督的權威之下！

那麼，讓我們在那些「活著還存留的人」中找吧。既然他們仍活著，或多或少，總會掌握著一點權勢吧！難道有權勢的人，都在末日前全部死去了嗎？
我們不排除這個可能性，而且，全部有權勢人士的死亡，更有可能是促使世界末日出現的原因之一。聖經中很多末日言論，經常提及「太陽昏暗，月亮無光，星宿墜下」之類「天上萬象動搖」的描述（瑪24:29）。從自然科學看，遠在這些事件發生之前，地球已經不復存在，所以祇能從它們的象徵意義理解。在古代，這些日月星宿大多象徵帝王將相。所以，末日前全球的統治者在相對短的時間內，相繼死去，他們的繼承者或奪權者，把全界推入一個類似戰國的時代，開始末日倒數，是可能發生的。

這樣的「戰國時代」有兩個可能結局：全球亂局達到一個不可收拾的程度，再沒有一個人有任何權勢，全球陷入完全失去秩序的狀態！那時，有待耶穌基督，普世君王，君臨天下，審判生者死者，安排他們到天堂地獄裡去。當然，全球亂局還可以有另一個結果，就是「天下三分」，互相制衡，全球恢復秩序，繼續發展新的可能性，直到下一次「全球戰國時代」的出現。總有一次，結果是全球進入無序狀態，人類不可能再生存，天主子一定要介入！
初步結論，到了末日，世上列王不復存在，宇宙間祇有一個耶穌基督，普世君王。

上面提及的全世界再沒有一個人有任何權勢，可能嗎？這一點需要進一步澄清。
自古以來，權力是怎樣來的呢？在起初可能來自個人的體力。但人類與其他物種不同之處，在於他們懂得為了生存而團結的思維。在團結的大前提下，個體必須作出取捨，犧牲一些利益，換取生存。這樣，權力出現了；而且使這個以權力維系的團體，更成功地生存下去，做更有組織，更龐大的巴貝耳塔！結果本末倒置，追求權力，而不是生存，變成了目標，編織了整部人類歷史！耶穌基督第一次來臨時，不是來廢除權力，而是來完滿它，重申權力的真義：守護、服務兄弟姊妹。祂使用「為門徒洗腳」的圖像，教導我們「若我為主子，為師傅的，給你們洗腳，你們也該彼此洗腳」（若13:14），更正了加音所推卸，守護兄弟的責任（創4:9）！
可以想像，到了末日亂局，再沒有任何精神、政治及文化領袖，全球失去秩序，人人自危自保，再沒有守護服務兄弟的思維，何來權勢，何來君王？

作為執事，我們有幸以服務為本，權力為末，時常嘗試在「我這些最小兄弟中的一個」（瑪25:40），尋找耶穌基督。在監獄中的囚犯及職員、醫院裡的病人，家人及醫護員工、安老院的職員及義工、在船上漂泊的船員或機場過境的機組人員、被社會邊緣化了的露宿者、外判清潔工人等…我天真地，浪漫地，想在他們身上找到我們心目中，曾為門徒洗腳的君王，來肯定自己的服務。無疑地，在服務弱勢社群的時候，接觸個別有需要安慰的靈魂的同時，我自身的傷痛，也獲得處理。可是「君王」呢？仍擦身而過，不留痕跡…
今天我纔清楚看見，耶穌基督並不在這些人身上！這些人並沒有被基督附體！祇要執事們與這些弱勢人士，因耶穌基督之名聚在一起，祂曾應許，要臨在他們中間（18:20）。在理智上，我們一再提醒自己，執事職的服務，不是社會福利服務，而是因主耶穌基督之名，守護兄弟的服務。知易行難，但願我們所領受的聖體聖事，讓我們感受到基督的真實臨在。
主啊！請佔有我。亞孟。
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia

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The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year A
Theme: Come Meet Thy King

Matthew 25 is a well-known passage. But the Word of God is full of life. It touches different nerve fibres when we meditate it after different experiences. For some unknown reasons, in different clergy gatherings, all sharing focuses on the King.

The gospel we read today is not a parable. Jesus Christ makes use of images to tell us a definite ending, the Judgment Day. This time, when I read this story, the first thought that jumped up was "Where have all the powerful people today gone?" It is a sharp contrast with "Kings on earth rise up and princes plot together against the Lord and against his Anointed One." (Psalm 2:2) Why is only the Son of Man on the throne? Why is there nobody to challenge Him? Where have all those oligarchs, totalitarians and cartels gone? Of course, the King of Universe can relieve all worldly kings of their powers. Still, it would not make the following meditation meaningless.

According to Paul, "The Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), Paul simply divided people at the end into two groups: those who have died and those who are still alive.
Let us look for those powerful people in the group of the dead. Among them, there were emperors and supreme commanders, people with unchallenged authorities. The problem is that they have died. Their authority was either inherited or usurped by others. Therefore, those who shall come back to life have life but no authority. Don't forget, their new life is given by Jesus Christ, the Author of Life. Even if they have any power, their powers should be subordinate to Christ's authority!

Then, let us turn to those who are still alive. Since they are alive, they should, to some extent, have some power, unless all powerful people die before the end of the world. Would it be possible?
We cannot exclude this possibility and the death of all the powerful people can be one of the reasons that trigger the end of the world. The eschatological narratives in the Bible usually mention "The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken …" (Matthew 24:29) or something similar. From the knowledge of natural sciences, the world would disappear long before such things happen. Therefore, those narratives can only be understood in a symbolic manner. In ancient times, celestial objects usually represented emperors and commanders. Therefore, the narratives probably mean that within a short period of time, all the powerful people die and their successors or usurpers push the world into a state of warring kingdoms. End time countdown would kick-off in this way.

There are two possible endings to this era of global warring kingdoms: The whole world would become so chaotic that not a single person is able to hold any power. Humanity arrives at a stage of global disorder, awaiting Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe to come down to judge the living and the dead, sending them to heaven and hell. Of course, there is another possible ending. Global chaos sinks into a tripartite state in which three parties log head against each other, reaching equilibrium. Global order is restored and continues to develop into new possibilities until the next global warring state appears. After many such cycles, the final outcome of one such cycle would be a global disorder in which humanity is unable to survive and the Son of God has to intervene!
As a preliminary conclusion, at the end of the world, there shall not be any powerful people on earth. There shall only be one king in the universe, Jesus Christ.

Previously, I mentioned "not a single person is able to hold any power". Is it possible? Let me clarify.
Since ancient times, where does authority come from? At first, it might come from the physical strength of individuals. But human beings are different from other species in that they have the mentality to cooperate in order to survive. With the imperative of solidarity, individuals have to give up some of their benefits and freedom in exchange for survival. Authority appears. Organization makes such authority-bound communities more capable to survive and to build bigger Babel towers! Consequently, the cart has come before the horses. Seeking authority, not survival, has become the end. The rest is history! When Jesus Christ came for the first time, he did not come to abolish authority but to fulfil it, to clarify once more its true meaning: to keep and serve our brethren. Christ made use of the image of "washing the feet of the disciples" to teach us, "If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet." (John 13:14) to correct the sin of Cain, his refusal to be the keeper of his brother (Genesis 4:9)! It is imaginable that at eschatological chaos, there would be no more spiritual, political and cultural leaders. The world would have lost its order. Everybody fends for themselves in order to survive. There's no more mentality of brother's keeper. Where comes authority? Where come the kings?

As deacons, we are blessed to put service as an end and authority as a means. We try to look for Jesus Christ among "one of these least brothers of mine" (Matthew 25:40). Among the inmates and staff in prisons; patients, their family members and medical staff in hospitals; workers and volunteers in homes for the aged; sailors on ships or flight crew in transit; socially marginalized homeless and out-sourcing janitors etc. I naïvely and romantically try to seek among them the king who once had washed the feet of his disciples, thus affirming my ministry. Doubtlessly, when I serve these disadvantaged people or when I encounter souls in need of consolation, my wounds are being dressed. But the king? He is still intangible…
But today I see more clearly that Jesus Christ is not embodied in these people! These people are not "possessed" by Christ! It is only when we deacons and those disadvantaged people come together in the name of Jesus Christ, He promises to be present among us (18:20). Rationally, we keep on reminding ourselves that the diaconal ministry is not social welfare services. Rather, it is the service as a keeper of brothers in the name of Jesus Christ. It is more easily said than done. Pray that we can feel the real presence of Christ in the Holy Communion we receive.
Lord! Possess me. Amen.

行為可以沒有後果嗎？ Is Action Without Consequences Possible?

行為可以沒有後果嗎？（路20:27-40）

人類是有理性的生物，生活在一個有秩序的宇宙中。從觀察所得，世間萬事萬物，必有先後次序，有因有果。中國人以「物有本末，事有終始」（大學 1），來總結出這人類的大智慧。倘若生活是莫名其妙，不明不白；這一刻你是我的丈夫，下一刻我是你的父親，再下一刻你我是陌路人的話，這樣的生活必定會令人精神崩潰！

從來要否定一個命題，較支持一個命題容易。所以就「復活」的命題，撒杜塞人與法利塞人交手，應該佔盡了上風。今次耶穌幫助了法利塞人勝回一仗，所以有幾個經師應聲稱讚耶穌（路20:39），因為耶穌解答了他們很久也未能解答的難題。

耶穌不但為法利塞人勝回一仗，天主子更再次肯定了宇宙是有秩序的！
倘若真的沒有復活，有些行為變成沒有後果了！因為某些行為的後果是即時的，例如，我忽然把一碗熱湯潑在你的面上！但有些行動的後果，卻需要很長的時間，總會彰顯出來，例如，把塑膠廢物傾倒在海裡！沒有復活，就沒有足夠時間讓某些行為的後果彰顯出來。有因卻沒有果，因果定律失效。因果定律不成立，人類沒有倫理道德的可能，因為一旦後果不能溯源，人類便不須要為自己的行為負責任，很多人便可以不顧後果，為所欲為，逍遙法外！到時人人自危，朝不保夕，這真是一個令人精神崩潰的世界！

為甚麼撒杜塞人這樣愚蠢呢？他們是甚麼人？從他們的立論能力看，撒杜塞人並不愚蠢，而是心盲！撒杜塞黨是由司祭組成的，他們堅持現有的特權，以權謀私，纔妄顧事實，否認真理！從他們的立論邏輯看，撒杜塞人認同行為是有後果的。但他們知道否定復活的後果，是這樣嚴重嗎？可能他們心盲，看不見後果的嚴重吧，我實在想不到其他原因了。
主，叫我看見（18：41）。求祢使那些心盲的人，也能看見。亞孟！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：Charisma News

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Is Action Without Consequences Possible? (Luke 20:27-40)

Human beings are rational animals living in an ordered universe. From observations, we conclude that events happen in sequence and there are causes. The Chinese aphorism "Things have roots and shoots. Events have beginnings and ends" (Daxue 1) is a distillation of great human wisdom. Had life been arbitrary and absurd: this moment you're my husband, the next I'm your father and the next we are total strangers, such a life would have had all of us suffering nervous breakdowns!

It has always been easier to negate a statement than to affirm it. Thus, in the debate of the existence of resurrection, the Sadducees must have won the upper hand many times over the Pharisees. Now that Jesus helped them defeat the Sadducees, some scribes came to say thanks (Luke 20:39) because Jesus had answered a tough challenge unsolved for a long time.

Not only did Jesus win a battle for the Pharisees, but the Son of God has also affirmed once more that the universe is ordered!
Had there been no resurrection, some actions would have had no consequences! It is because some consequences are instant. E.g. Suddenly, I pour some hot soup on your face! But the consequences of some actions take a long time to manifest. E.g. I dump plastic wastes into the oceans! Had there been no resurrections, there would not have been enough time to allow the consequences of some actions to manifest. When actions have no consequences, the Universal Law of Cause and Effect fails. If the law of cause-effect fails, no morality is possible because consequences cannot be traced back to action and nobody can be held responsible. People would do whatever they fancy and no law can restrain them! Nobody is secure. What a nervous breakdown hell we would be living in!

Why were the Sadducees so stupid? What were they? From their reasoning, the Sadducees were not stupid but blind in hearts! Sadducees were made up of priests who insisted on their privileges and abused their authority to fatten themselves. Thus, they denied the truth! From their logic, they acknowledged consequences. But did they know the gravity of denying resurrection? Perhaps their hearts were genuinely blind and failed to see the seriousness. I could not think of any other reasons.
Lord! Please let me see (18:41). Pray that those who are blind in hearts also see. Amen!

當以權謀私出現時 When Embezzlement Happens

當以權謀私出現時（路19:45-48）

「我的殿宇將稱為萬民的祈禱所」（依56:7；路19:46）所以把聖殿管理好，是全心、全靈、全力、全意愛上主天主（10:27）的表現，是履行「最大誡命」，是非常重要的事。由誰來做？當然是司祭了。

雖然天主不食人間煙火，但一磚一瓦是不會從天而降，而是需要真金白銀買來的。聖殿的維修和負責管理聖殿的司祭們的伙食住宿，是需要相當可觀的金錢來維持的。讓商人在聖殿的外圍擺賣，既方便朝聖者，又可以增加聖殿的租金收入，是一個正確的財政方案。至於執行起來，應該交給誰負責督察呢…

天主子來到聖殿「預檢」，把買賣的人趕出殿院（19:45），是對司祭們的管理，作出很嚴厲的評價，是將來耶路撒冷被毀的預警。之後，耶穌仍然每天在聖殿內施教（19:47），顯示了天主子的不離不棄，祂的清理行動是出於善意的。

司祭們素來不知道自己的錯謬嗎？他們不知道群眾的不滿嗎？朝聖者不是刁民，他們的眼睛是雪亮的，他們是不會無理取鬧的。很明顯，耶穌的清理聖殿行動，是得到耶路撒冷居民和朝聖者的支持（19:48）！
接到了「業績評估」，不但不思改進，反而「設法要除掉」耶穌！可見，司祭們真是心盲了！可惜的是，當今世上，這些司祭並不孤獨，很多當權者也是採取這種不肯面對現實的「滅聲」政策，鏟除「吹哨人」！難道他們這樣天真，「視而不見，聽而不聞」，問題便不存在，問題便會隨著時間而消逝嗎？
主啊！求祢保護執政者的心智，讓他們能認清真理，造福人民。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia

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When Embezzlement Happens (Luke 19:45-48)

"My house shall be a house of prayer for all peoples" (Isaiah 56:7; Luke 19:46) Therefore, managing the Temple well is to "love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind" (10:27), doing the greatest commandment. It is an extremely important business. Who should take this duty up? Of course the priests.

Although God doesn't need sacrifices, each brick and stone do not descend from heavens but have to be paid for. The maintenance of the Temple and the livelihood of the priests had to be provided for. The amount was huge. Allowing merchants to do business in the outskirt of the Temple was not only convenient for pilgrims but also increased Temple incomes. It was an appropriate financial arrangement. However, who came to inspect the execution?

When the Son of God came to pre-inspect the Temple, he "proceeded to drive out those who were selling things" (19:45) It was a very negative evaluation of the management of the priests, a warning to what was to descend on Jerusalem. Afterwards, Jesus still came to teach every day in the Temple area (19:47), showing that the Son of God never meant to abandon them. His cleansing was well-intended.

Had the priests never known their own mistakes? Were pilgrims' dissatisfactions unknown to them? Pilgrims weren't hooligans. Their visions were sharp. They weren't troublemakers. Obviously, Jesus' cleansing action was supported by pilgrims as well as inhabitants of Jerusalem (19:48)!
After getting the evaluation report, the priests refused to improve. On the contrary, they sought to put Jesus to death! They were genuinely blind at hearts. Regrettably, the priests were not alone in modern times. Today, many people in power deploy the same policy to silence the whistle-blowers! Are they really so naïve as to believe that denying the problem and the problem will pass away in time?
Lord! Protect the hearts and minds of the people in power. Let them know the truth and serve the good of the people. Amen.

與主一起哀悼耶路撒冷 Lament For Jerusalem Together With the Lord

與主一起哀悼耶路撒冷（路19:41-44）

在默想前，必須澄清「眷顧時期」一詞的意義！【思高聖經】的翻譯，反映了神父們對天主慈悲的信靠，卻淡化了天主公義的審判！「眷顧」的原文，是指「督察」的意思，有如巡案大臣代表君王出訪，地方官員向他述職，由巡案大臣作出合理的升遷貶抑決定。福音中，是天主親自出訪！當前，雖然「天主沒有派遣子到世界上來審判世界」（若3:17），但天主子一再警告，「你們應當謹慎，免得…那意想不到的日子臨於你們」（路21:34）。所以是一番好意的預檢。

那督察、檢視的日子，無論是個人的死亡、一個城市的毀滅、一個帝國的覆亡，甚至整個世界的末日，必定來臨！而且，所有行為必定帶有後果，這是物質世界及倫理世界的定律。到最後，天主會否大發慈悲，把所有行為的後果，一筆鉤銷，都不是你和我可以定奪的。

耶路撒冷的命運，是掌握在耶路撒冷的居民手中。同理，我們的命運，是我們自己決定的！因此，我們應該聽從天主子的忠告，「認識眷顧妳的時期」（19:44）。

1. 不要心盲，認清真相。是就說是，非就說非（瑪5:37）；不要心硬，謙遜地承認自己的不足。跟隨天主子，哀慟世人的，包括自己的罪過（5:4）！
2. 應該學習稅吏長匝凱，謀算衡量永生的效益與放棄現世財權的代價，作出明智的抉擇。
3. 把自己的才幹，放在正確的地方，便可以履行天父的旨意，愛人如己。看到每一天和每一個與人的接觸，都是天主給我們履行仁愛，上愛天主，下愛近人的機會。這樣做，便「能獲得永生」（路10:25）。耶路撒冷在公元七十年被毀的命運，是一個標記，警告我們不可重蹈覆轍。

主啊！讓我與祢一起，為耶路撒冷及居住其中的人民哀哭吧。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：LA Quaker

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Lament For Jerusalem Together With the Lord (Luke 19:41-44)

Before our meditation, let us clarify the meaning of "the time of your visitation"! The Studium Biblicum version shows the steadfast faith of the friars on God's mercy. In effect, it plays down God's righteous judgment! The Greek word means "inspection", like a visiting minister representing the king to investigate the performance of local officials in order to decide their promotion or demotion. In the gospel, God Himself visits! At the moment, although "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world" (John 3:17), the Son of God repeatedly warns, "Beware that … lest that day catch you by surprise" (Luke 21:34). Therefore, it is a good-will pre-inspection. That day of visitation, be it a personal death, the destruction of a city, the collapse of an empire or even the end of the world, shall definitely come! Moreover, all actions bring consequences. This is a law in the physical as well as moral worlds. At the end, whether God shall be so merciful as to wipe out all consequences is not decided by you or me. The fate of Jerusalem was sealed by her people. Similarly, our fates are decided by us! Therefore, we should listen to the advice of the Son of God and "recognize the time of your visitation" (19:44) First of all, don't be blind at heart. Know the truth. Let your yes mean yes and no mean no (Matthew 5:37). Don't harden your heart. Humbly acknowledge your inadequacies. Follow the Son of God to mourn for the sins of the world, including yours (5:4)! Secondly, learn from the chief tax collector Zacchaeus to calculate and evaluate the benefits of eternal life against the cost of abandoning worldly wealth and power. Choice wisely. Thirdly, put your talents in the right place to do the Father's will and love your neighbour. See that every day and every encounter with everyone is an opportunity God gives you to practise charity, to love God and to love your neighbour. Do this to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25). The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. is a sign, warning us not to repeat our mistakes. Lord! Let us mourn for Jerusalem and her inhabitants. Amen.

被誤會了的主人 A Misunderstood Master

被誤會了的主人（路19:11-28）

我們怎樣評價這位取得了王位的貴人呢（路19：15）？
在兩個成功的僕人身上，我們看到這個貴人是一個知人善任的主人。對一個能夠用一個「米納」賺取了十個「米納」的僕人，便派他掌管十座城（19：16-17）；對一個以一賺五的，便派他掌管五座城（19：18-19）…這位主人/國王，的確能把僕人的才幹，發揮得淋漓盡致！能作為他的僕人，應該慶幸有一個「伯樂」賞識他們！

福音並沒有交代為甚麼「他本國的人，一向懷恨他」（19：14）。假如那個把「米納」收存在手巾裡的「惡僕」（19：20）有代表性的話，就是本國的人，認為這個主人很嚴厲，在「沒有存放的，也要提取；沒有下種的，也要收割」（19：21）。很奇怪，這個描述，是指控主人的「不公義」，拿取不屬於他的財物，而不是甚麼嚴厲，苛求！更奇怪的是，主人竟然同意這個「嚴厲」的描述。那麼，為甚麼「沒有下種的，也要收割」，不算是拿取不屬於他的財物呢？

其實，按天主肖像所造的人類，有無限的潛能！科學家也認同，一般人祇運用了腦袋不足十分一的能力。在那些積極有為的僕人眼中，這個主人賞識他們的才幹，給他們發揮所長的機會，恨不得主人給他們更具挑戰性的工作。但在那些「惡僕」眼中，主人苛求他們做一些他們力有不逮的事。他們惟有採取消極的方法，不做不錯，減少損失！

這樣看來，錯不在主人，而是惡僕的錯誤觀念！既然他「沒有存放，也要提取」，事在必行，他怎會不出手協助，眼巴巴看著你失敗呢？即使是客觀上是沒有可能成功的事，天主又怎會放棄你，讓你失敗呢？祂必會助佑你，幫助你成功。保祿說得好：「罪惡在那裡越多，恩寵在那裡也越格外豐富。」（羅5：20）
天父，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：Pinterest

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A Misunderstood Master (Luke 19:11-28)

How do we evaluate this nobleman who had obtained his kingship (Luke 19:15)?
From the two successful servants, we see that this nobleman is a master who knows how best to deploy his servants. For one who was able to earn ten additional gold coins with one, he assigned to take charge of ten cities (19:16-17). For another who was able to earn five, he assigned to take charge of five cities (19:18-19) … This Master/King is really capable of hooking the potentials of his servants who should feel honoured to serve such a good master!

The parable doesn't explain why the fellow citizens despised the nobleman (19:14). If the "wicked servant" who kept the gold coin stored away in a handkerchief could supply any clue, the fellow citizens must have felt the same that this master was a demanding person, who takes up what he did not lay down and harvests what he did not plant (19:21). Strangely, this description is an accusation of foul play on the part of the Master, rather than being demanding! Strange still, the Master agreed to this "demanding" accusation. Why is "harvesting what he did not plant" not a foul play?

Indeed, God created men in His image, making men infinite in potentials! Scientists generally agree that we have not deployed more than 10% of our brain's capacity. From the eyes of the proactive servants, this Master knows their capabilities and gives them opportunities. Wish that He had given them more challenging assignments. But in the eyes of the wicked servants, the Master is demanding the impossible. They resort to a passive strategy of not doing anything in order to contain damages!

Then the fault lies not in the Master but in the wrong perception of the wicked servants. Since the Master takes up what He did not lay down, would He stand by to see you fail without giving you additional support? Even if something is objectively impossible, would God forsake you and let you fail? He shall definitely make you succeed. Paul says well, "Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more" (Romans 5:20)
Heavenly Father, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

匝凱老謀深算嗎？ Was Zacchaeus Calculating?

匝凱老謀深算嗎？（路19:1-10）

人類的文明和進步，除了是累積前人的成果，站在「巨人的肩上」之外，好奇心是重要的推動力之一。因為前人的權威，往往是後世進步的絆腳石。自然科學的歷史中，有很多革命性的進步，都不是另起爐灶而來的；而是當舊有的權威不足以處理新現象時，科學家惟有另尋出路了！新現象是從哪來的？好奇心！當然，不是所有的好奇心都會帶來好的效果，例如厄娃的好奇心。不過，沒有犯錯，人類又怎能改善和進步呢？

那些人的好奇心最大呢？當然是小孩子！成年人認為是理所當然的事，例如日出日落，小孩子卻視為奇蹟。成年人不理會的花鳥蟲魚，小孩子會認真地觀察和欣賞！他們沒有機心，不去計算成本效益。在他們充滿神奇事物的宇宙裡，享受好奇心所帶來的樂趣！所以耶穌基督告訴我們：「誰若不像小孩子一樣接受天主的國，決不能進去。」（路18：17）

今天，富有的稅吏長匝凱（19：2），出於好奇心，卻付出了很沉重的代價！有誰願意拿自己一半的財產，換取看看耶穌是甚麼人的幾分鐘呢？作為一個稅吏長，匝凱肯定是一個老謀深算的人，他一定是善於計算成本效益，否則他也不會成為稅吏長！當然，人算不如天算，天主是一個充滿驚喜的天主，是一個我們不能參透的奧秘。倘若匝凱預先知道後果是這樣嚴重，或許他會打消看看耶穌的念頭！但天主是慈悲的，天主有祂的吸引力，可以把一個老謀深算的稅吏長，轉化成為如同小孩子一樣，不去計算成本效益，拿出一半財產，進入天國！「今天救恩來到了這一家」（19：9）

從另一個角度看，匝凱所得到的，不是幾分鐘的「驚鴻一瞥」，而是永恆的救恩。看來，匝凱仍是匝凱，不愧是一個老謀深算的稅吏長！
主啊，雖然我沒有匝凱的家財，但我不介意爬上野桑樹上，渴望見祢一面。希望祢不嫌棄，光臨寒舍。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia

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Was Zacchaeus Calculating? (Luke 19:1-10)

Human civilization and progress rely not only on accumulating the fruits of predecessors and standing on the shoulder of giants, but curiosity is also an important contributor. It's because the authority of predecessors has often proved to be stumbling blocks of subsequent generations. In the history of natural sciences, many revolutionary progresses did not come about by reinventing the wheel. Rather, when authorities of previous generations were found inadequate in handling newly found phenomena, scientists were forced to break new paths. From where did those new phenomena come? Curiosity! Of course, curiosity does not guarantee to bring good consequences, e.g. Eva's curiosity. However, had men not made mistakes, would they have improved and made progress?

Whose curiosity is the greatest? Of course children's! Things which adults take for granted, such as sunrise and sunset, are wonders in children's eyes. Flowers, birds, insects and fish which adult don't bother are objects of serious observation and admiration for children who don't calculate costs and benefits. In their universe which is filled with wonders, children enjoy the happiness brought about by curiosity. Thus Jesus Christ tells us, "Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it" (Luke 18:17)

Today, Zacchaeus the wealthy chief tax collector (19:2) paid a huge price for his curiosity! Who would take half of his possessions in exchange for a glimpse of Jesus for just a few minutes? As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus must have been a calculating man, good at calculating costs and benefits. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been chief! Of course, nobody is able to outwit God who has a lot of surprises in store, a mystery we can never fathom. Had Zacchaeus known beforehand how much it would cost him, would he have cancelled the whole curious idea? But God is merciful. He is attractive and capable of turning a calculating chief tax collector into a child, not calculating costs and benefits but willing to offer up half of his possessions to enter the Kingdom of God! "Today, salvation has come to this house" (19:9)

Seen from another perspective, Zacchaeus had secured not a few minutes' glimpse but an eternal salvation. Zacchaeus is after all Zacchaeus, a calculating chief tax collector!
Lord! Though I'm not as wealthy as Zacchaeus, I don't mind climbing a sycamore tree in order to see You. I pray You don't mind staying at my house. Amen.