不能再逃避自己 Can’t Run Away From Oneself Anymore

常年期十三主日，乙年
主題：不能再逃避自己

運用電腦多年的我，仍然犯上最低級的錯誤，真是汗顏！
重新安裝操作系統時，在未安裝防毒軟件之前，竟然心急地下載來歷不明的軟件，中了勒索病毒；清理硬盤的啟動分割區時，不慎令硬盤從電腦消失了；在恢復硬盤內數據的過程中，一步一步地令數據變得不可讀…買了一部可以撥電話的平板電腦時，插入新電話咭後，一直未重新開機，以致電話號碼兩天以來，一直沒有註冊…這兩個星期，不知浪費了多少冤枉的時間，一事無成！我漸漸感覺到，天主正在考驗我，訓練我的謙遜！今天，我看到了曙光…

馬爾谷福音把耶穌基督行的兩個神蹟放在一起，突顯出天主子的力量。祂不但能治病，更能起死回生。但在默想治好血漏病婦人時，卻多了另一番體會。她患的是一般婦科病，月經失調，不會是甚麼致命的病患，找醫生調理，並無大礙。豈料十二年來，這個病竟然毫無進展！真的像馬爾谷所埋怨的，「她在許多醫生手裡，受了許多痛苦」（谷5:26）是那些庸醫，一個又一個地欺騙她的金錢嗎？難道十二年來，一個有本領，有醫德的醫生也找不到嗎？
保祿的一句有關我們獲得救恩的說話，我們比較少反省。他說：「因為我們得救，還是在於希望。所希望的若已看見，就不是希望了；那有人還希望所見的事物呢？」（羅8:24）的確，是那份希望和堅持，令血漏婦人一次又一次地希望落空，遭受損失，但她並沒有放棄。看在天主眼中，她這份努力，為她獲得了多一份天主的憐憫。在她身上，我看見了自己頑固和盲目的影子，希望天主會憐憫我，一如祂憐憫血漏婦人一樣。
當時候到了，耶穌基督開始天父的救贖工程時，困苦的人會陸續得救！但得救絕非我們憑自己的努力不懈，憑觸摸耶穌基督的衣裳(谷6:28)，便可以成就的，而是要有耐性地，謙遜地等待時機，與天主邂逅。

其實，需要補救的，何止是健康和電腦呢？我自己的人際關係，我所認識的親友教友，很多人在人際關係上，都處理得不好；更廣闊些，整個社會在近期的動盪中，加劇了團體內和團體間的分裂，考驗著信徒們對耶穌基督的信德！無疑，許多人的性格和動機，對和諧的關係不利；再加上社交媒體的排波助瀾，情況令人擔心。不少教友對聖職人員的表現失望，嚷著要離開教會；很多人受了氣，便向身邊的人發洩…不少人不但心理需要輔導，甚至他們的婚姻也亮起了紅燈…

血漏婦人知道自己病了，還能尋求醫治。終於，她的信德和望德，為她帶來痊癒。可借今天很多人明知自己有病，卻諱疾忌醫，不斷逃避，令身邊的人替他們空著急！能夠成功地逃避自己，要付出非常高的代價，到頭來，會變成精神分裂或者妄想狂！相比之下，這個血漏婦人真是幸福得多，她的病鎖定了她，使她不能逃避，最終卻得到康復。忽然，我看見了被釘在十字架上，不能動彈，不能逃避，任人侮辱的耶穌基督！我開始明白為甚麼祂選擇死在十字架上，原來祂是為了拯救那些逃避自己的罪人。

主啊！請寬恕我們的驕傲自私，幫助我們脫離罪過的奴役。我們承認自己的無能，沒有祢的助祐，我們便一事無成。請補助我們的無信，憐憫那些我們力有不逮，未及照顧的靈魂，獲得治療。亞孟。
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：nousapeiron.com

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Thirteenth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Can’t Run Away From Oneself Anymore

I’ve been using computers for decades. Yet, I’ve made the most elementary mistakes recently. What a shame!
I had to re-install the operating system. Before I installed some anti-virus software, I had rushed to install programs from unfamiliar sources. In the end, the computer was infected with ransomware! While trying to clean up the partition table, I turned the hard drive invisible. Trying to recover the lost data in the hard drive, I step-by-step made the data unreadable … I purchased a tablet which is able to make telephone calls. After inserting the SIM card, I forgot to reboot the tablet so that the phone number was not registered for two days … During these two weeks I spent and wasted many fruitless hours, always returning to square one! Gradually, I sense that God is testing me, training me to be humble! Today, I saw a glimpse of light …

Mark puts two healing miracles together to amplify the power of the Son of God. Not only was He able to cure diseases but He was able to raise the dead. While meditating on the cure of the bleeding woman, I came up with some fresh understanding. The woman suffered from menorrhagia, a non-fatal ordinary gynaecological illness. A general practitioner was able to handle it. Yet, no progress was made in twelve years! Was Mark fair in his complaint that “She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors” (Mark 5:26)? Did incompetent doctors cheat her of money one after another? Didn’t even one single competent or ethical doctor turn up in those twelve years?
Paul says something about salvation which we seldom meditate. He says, “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees?” (Romans 8:24) Indeed, it was hope and perseverance that cost the woman money again and again. She was disappointed repeatedly and yet she did not give up. In God’s eyes, her perseverance earns her a greater portion of God’s mercy. In this bleeding woman, I see my own stubbornness and blindness. I hope God have mercy on me like His having mercy on the bleeding woman.
When time came, Jesus Christ began the Father’s salvation project. Poor people would be saved one by one! Salvation is not the merit of our efforts, or through touching the cloak of Jesus Christ (Mark 6:28). Rather, we have to wait in patience and humility to encounter the Lord.

Health and computers are not the only things which need remedy. My interpersonal relationships and those of my friends’ and my parishioners’ are not handled properly. In a wider context, the society is severely divided through recent social unrests. There are a lot of infightings within and among communities. The faith of the believers of Jesus Christ is under scrutiny! Without doubt, the personalities and motives of many people are detrimental to harmonious relations. The situation is worrying when social media are stirring up divisions. Many a laity is disappointed by the performance of the clergy and declares to leave the Church. Many people pick up easy victims to vent their frustrations … Not only do many people need counselling, but their psychological problems are also taking toll on their marriages …

The bleeding woman knew that she was sick. She went about to seek treatment. In the end, her faith and her hope brought her health. Unfortunately, many people know that they themselves are sick and yet, they don’t want to talk about it. They run away from themselves, making their loved ones worry! One needs to pay an extremely high price in order to run away from oneself successfully. In the end, they may become schizophrenic or paranoid! In contrast, this bleeding woman was luckier. She was “locked up” by her illness. She could not run away and finally she was cured. Suddenly, I saw in her Jesus Christ crucified. He could not move. He could not run away from the cross and the humiliation from people! I begin to understand why He chose to die on the cross. Jesus Christ wants to save sinners who run away from themselves.

Lord! Forgive us of our pride and selfishness. Deliver us from the slavery of sins. We acknowledge our incompetence. Without Your help, we could do nothing. Help us of our lack of faith. Have mercy on those souls who are beyond our reach to care. Help them regain health. Amen.

天主不管我們的死活嗎？ Doesn’t God Care About Our Perishing?

常年期第十二主日，乙年
主題：天主不管我們的死活嗎？

無論你相信聖經的啟示與否，大部份人也相信世界有末日，而且末日前會發生大災難。
教會明白世人的喜樂與憂慮，所以她喜歡借用「諾厄方舟」來比喻自己。教會相信在天主的照顧下，她能安然渡過末日的災難。就好像洪水到來前，人和動物進入了方舟便能得救一樣。若把洪水象徵末日，在末日審判前加入教會，便能得救，獲得永生。
可是，天主不是承諾過不用洪水來毀滅有血肉的生物（創9:15）嗎？是的！但這承諾並不否定末日的來臨，而且耶穌基督在對觀福音中，論述了末日的情況。因此末日的來臨是肯定的，而洪水祇不過是末日的象徵而已。所以教會負擔著傳福音的使命，讓更多人在末日前加入教會，進入這艘在塵世中航行的方舟，好能在審判時得到好的判決，享受永生。

不得不承認，人的心理非常複雜。他們雖然能運用理性去思考，創造偉大的事業，但自己的情緒：例如忿怒、恐懼、妒忌和愛恨，就好像一匹脫韁野馬，駕馭不了！例如加音，他沒有理會天主的忠告，管理好自己的忿怒，結果殺了自己的弟弟亞伯爾；達味沒有理會十誡的訓令，姦淫並謀殺…這些罪惡都不是一時衝動所做成的，而是情緒管理不善的後果！今天福音中的門徒，大難臨頭的時候向他們的師傅求救：「師傅！我們要喪亡了，你不管嗎？」（谷4:38）試想想，他們所認識的師傅是誰，有多大能耐？撇開耶穌基督有權威的教訓外（1:22），祂祇不過是一個「神醫」，有能力治好癩病人、驅魔、癱子和枯手人。但在波濤凶湧的海上，治病的異能有用武之地嗎？可見門徒們的恐懼，和大部份的人一樣，已經不是理性所能克服了！而在恐懼的影響之下，大部份人會做出不理性的行為，包括暴力！可幸耶穌基督即時出手，解除了門徒們的恐懼，制止了更大的災難！

今天疫情仍在漫延，世上沒有一個民族，沒有一個地區能倖免，全球有如陷入海上的風暴一樣。倘若教會就是在波濤凶湧中的其中一條小船，我們並不孤獨，因為「還有別的小船」（4:36）。這些其他的小船可能是不同的宗教、各國政府和跨國企業…他們用自己的方法：例如以封關手段來約束病毒的散播、研發疫苗、舉行祈福求神儀式等，各單位以自己可行的方法，聯手對抗這疫症的衝擊。信仰耶穌基督的教會在這疫情中，可以如何自處呢？因為各地的文化政治及經濟環境不同，各個地方教會應該有不同的對策！容許我祇就香港的環境反省。

和讀聖經一樣，反省任何社會事件，也應該要注意事件發生前的情況！疫症爆發前，香港經歷了十多個月的社會動蕩，很多市民看見政府官員的無能與不公義，不再信任他們的管治了。所以今天當政府推出接種疫苗計劃時，三個多月來，祇有18.3%的人口接種了兩劑疫苗，距離群體免疫的70%目標還很遠！這些都情緒管理上出了問題，不是理性上出了亂子。負責的官員也承認很多市民正在「鬥氣」。可是，當今的形勢，是追究誰是誰非，是互相指摘的時候嗎？
教會也要面對類似的衝擊。教會應該是團結合一的，但分裂的元素始終存在著，祇不過一場社會運動，把以往看不見的分裂更表面化而已。在香港的天主教徒人數，雖然不及人口的十分之一，但很多都是中產階級。在社會運動期間，部份教友揚言對教會失望，要脫離天主教。今天更出現了明顯的移民潮。當然，即使離開教會、離開香港，祇要心中仍有耶穌基督，仍不失得救的機會。至於教會，作為基督的奧體和基督的淨配，這條船是不會沉沒的！但主教/教宗作為這條船的舵手，有責任喚醒睡著了的耶穌基督，喝停風浪，讓這條船能夠平安到達彼岸。天主子耶穌基督睡在我們這條船上，是我們的優勢，是其他小船不能奢望的。我們反而有責任，憑天主子的力量，平息這場風暴，讓其他小船也能得到安全！

像福音中的門徒一樣，我們的信德並不特別堅強，也看不懂時代的徵兆。甚至為了自保，與權貴同流合污。但天主接受和包容我們的軟弱，並趁機淨化我們、提拔我們。且看，相信是今次平息風浪的經驗，令伯多祿有足夠的膽量，在耶穌基督步行水面時，跳到海裡跑向他的主（瑪14:28-29）！雖然這一次以失敗告終，但伯多祿經過這些磨煉之後，耶穌基督立伯多祿為教會的磐石（16:18-19）。所以，今次的疫情也是天主賜給我們的機會！不是倚靠自身的能力，而是信靠天主子的力量。
且看，今天的權貴已經自身難保（詠146:3-4）了，我們惟有尋求天主的救助。我們請主教神父們舉行多幾台為消滅疫症的彌撒嗎？還是響應教宗的呼籲，整個五月每天唸玫瑰經嗎？看來這些傳統的方法並不見效，否則今天還會圍繞著疫情默想嗎？看來我們是求錯了，疫情是不會因為唸經祈禱而消失的。

各位兄弟姊妹，我們不須要祈求疫情的減退，因為「天下任何事皆有定時…殺戮有時，治療有時」（訓3:1，3）。而事實一再證明，天主是不會掉下我們，不理我們的死活。所以，學習在疫情下生活，與病毒共舞吧，說不定天主出於對人類的憐憫，設下疫情，防止更大的災難出現，亦未可知！我們所面對的，是情緒的管理問題，給我們帶來了信仰上的危機，懷疑天主的存在，懷疑天主對罪人的愛意！我們儘管向主求救，不要指望「跳船」會帶來生存的希望。
天主保祐！
2015年講道
圖片鳴謝：caruthers.com

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Twelfth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Doesn’t God Care About Our Perishing? Whether you believe in the revelations from the Bible or not, most people believe that the world would end one day before which there would be great disasters.
The Church understands the joys and worries of mankind. Thus, she likes to identify herself with Noah’s Ark. The Church believes that with God’s providence, she would safely pass over the end of the world disasters. When men and animals entered the Ark before the arrival of the Great Flood, they would be saved. Similarly, if the Great Deluge symbolizes the End of the World and if people can join the Church before the Last Judgment, they would be saved and enjoy eternal life.
But didn’t God pledge that “the waters would never again become a flood to destroy every mortal being” (Genesis 9:15)? Yes, but that pledge does not rule out the imminence of the End of the world. Moreover, Jesus Christ teaches about the situation of the end of the world in the Synoptic gospels. Thus, the end is a certainty and the Great Deluge is only a symbol of the End. Therefore, the Church accepts the commission to evangelize, allowing more people to join the Church before the End. When they enter this Ark which is sailing all over the world, they would receive a favourable judgment and subsequently receive eternal life.

Undeniably, human psychology is extremely complicated. Though they are able to think rationally to work out gigantic projects, their emotions, such as anger, fear, jealousy, love and hatred are like uncontrollable wild horses off harness! For example, Cain did not heed God’s advice to manager his anger. Consequently, he murdered his brother Abel. David did not care about the guidance of the Ten Commandments. He committed adultery and murder … These evils were not consequences of impulses but failures of emotional management! The gospel passage today tells us that in imminent disaster, the disciples desperately sought help from their teacher, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38) Think about it. How much did they know their teacher? How powerful was He? Forget about the authority Jesus showed in His teachings (1:22), He was only a “miracle healer” who had special power to heal lepers, to drive out demons, to cure the paralyzed and withered hands etc. What use had this healing power before those raging elements? It showed that like most people, the disciples were seized by a fear which rationality could not prevail! In fear, most people would resort to irrational actions, including violence! Fortunately Jesus Christ calmed the storm just in time to relieve the disciples of their fears, averting an even greater disaster!

Today, not a people or a region on earth is exempted from the Covid-19 pandemic. The whole world is tossing on sea during a storm. If the Church is a small boat in the raging waters, we are not alone because “Other boats were with Him” (4:36). These other boats could be other religions, governments or multinational corporations etc. They deploy different methods, for example, locking down a city to contain the spread of virus, vaccination research, benediction rites etc. to fight against this pandemic. Each unit does whatever they can and join hand to fight against the impact of this pandemic. How does Christianity conduct itself in this situation? Since different churches operate within different cultural, political and economic environments, their strategies should be different! Allow me to reflect on the situation of Hong Kong only.

Like bible studies, we need to pay attention to what happened before in the reflection of social incidents in context! Before the pandemic, Hong Kong underwent more than a year and a half’s social unrest. Many citizens see clearly the incompetence and injustice of government officials and they no long trust in the governance of the Special Administration Region. Thus, when the government implements the vaccination project, only 18.3% of the population have done 2 shots after more than three months, very much behind the target of 70% for herd immunity! This is an emotional management problem, not a rational problem. Government officials in charge of the project admit that the citizens are holding grudges against the government. But at this moment, is it a time to play the blaming game?
The Church is also facing similar impacts. She is supposed to be united and in communion. However, there exist elements of schism which remain invisible until the social unrest and pandemic manifest them. In Hong Kong, the Catholic population is less than 10% but most of them are middle class. During the social unrest, many aired their disappointment of the Church and claimed to leave the Catholic Church. Today, an exodus is on the horizon. Of course, leaving the Church and leaving Hong Kong do not deny one’s salvation as long as one has Jesus in his heart. As for the Church, she is the Mystical Body and Spouse of Christ. She will never sink! As helmsmen of the Noah’s Ark, bishops and Pope has the responsibility to wake Jesus Christ up to calm the storm so that the Ark might safely arrive at the other shore. Jesus Christ the Son of God is resting in our ship. This is our advantage over the other boats. Rather, we have the responsibility, with the power of the Son of God, to calm the storm so that the rest of the boats may reach safety!

Like the disciples in the gospels, our faith is not particularly strong and we fail to discern the signs of the times. In order to survive, some of us even go along with the powerful. But God accepts and tolerates our frailties and takes the opportunity to purify us and raise us up. Look, I trust this experience of witnessing Jesus’ calming of the storm had encouraged Peter to walk towards Jesus Christ on the water (Matthew 14:28-29)! Although he had failed again, after all these challenges Jesus Christ made him the Rock of the Church (16:18-19). Thus, this pandemic might be an opportunity provided by God! Don’t rely on our efforts but the power of the Son of God. Where are the princes and officials today? They are powerless and nothing (Psalms 146:3-4). So, we have to turn to God. Shall we ask the clergy to celebrate masses to eliminate the pandemic? Or shall we follow the exhortation of the Pope to recite the Rosary every day in May? It seems that these traditional methods are ineffective. Otherwise we don’t have to meditate on this pandemic today! Perhaps we have prayed for the wrong thing. The pandemic will never vanish because of prayers.

Brethren! We don’t need to pray for the disappearance of the pandemic because “There is an appointed time for everything … a time to kill and a time to heal” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 3). The fact is God will not leave us behind and does not mind our perishing. Thus, learn to live with the virus. Perhaps out of His mercy, God allows this pandemic to divert an even greater disaster! What we need to confront is a temptation to forsake our faith because of our failure of emotional management. It is a crisis of faith, a doubt of God’s existence and a doubt of God’s love for sinners. Let us beseech the Lord’s help. Jumping shipping might not bring hope of survival.
God bless!

了解我們的老闆 Know Our Boss

常年期第十一主日，乙年
主題：了解我們的老闆

我們大部份人都是不同形式的僱員，按照老闆的指示工作。無論你是為了糊口還是為了興趣，倘若不能在工作上找到滿足感，生活一定很苦！工作上的滿足感因人而異，各有所求：有人看在金錢份上，有人看在成就上；有人為了滿足顧客的需要，有人為了滿足老闆的要求…無論如何，老闆是讓你在工作上獲得滿足感的決定性因素。所以，了解我們的老闆是必須的！ 天主/耶穌基督是我們的終極老闆，我們對祂了解多少呢？
請嘗試反省及回答以下兩條問題，幫助自己更認識天主。然後用不多於二十字，舉例說明天主/耶穌基督，在以下的範疇內的態度：

1. 耶穌基督的經濟學
2. 祂的人事管理哲學

讀經必須要了解經文的上文下理，掌握經文片段的取向。例如今天的福音之前的一句，是「因為凡有的，還要給他；凡沒有的，連他所有的，也要從他奪去。」（谷4:25）這一句經文，可以怎樣指導我們解釋跟著的「種子自長比喻」和「芥子比喻」呢？這兩個天國的比喻，一般是用來解釋傳福音的事業。即是說：種子是天主的福音，「種子自長比喻」教訓我們傳福音時，「祇問耕耘，不問收獲」。因為聽眾怎樣信從福音，我們是不知道的（4:27），所以收獲豐富與否，也不是我們努力的成果。「芥子比喻」鼓勵我們不要對傳福音的「業績」灰心，微小的開始在天主聖神的助祐之下，將會有豐盛的成果。以上是傳統的解釋，而前一句擴闊了我們的視野。

梵蒂崗第二次大公會議之後，天主教提出了「新福傳」。不是對教外的人傳福音，而是鼓勵已領洗的教友，接受持續的培育，以提高他們的信仰質素！原來我們有責任向自己傳福音！這樣的話，前一句的「富者越富，貧者越貧」，便給我們解決了「不知道種子怎樣生長」的疑問了。對於那些接受了洗禮的人，信仰有如逆水行舟，不進則退。「不進則退」，這不就是靈性上「富者越富，貧者越貧」的寫照嗎？倘若以為接受了洗禮，便畢業了，上了岸，不思進取，不作持續地自我培育，我們的靈性生命，將會日漸萎靡不振。因此，教會有幫助教友成聖的責任，「新福傳」是正確的方向。教友自己亦要認識這不進則退的道理，對聖神開放，日進於德。假以時日，大家的信仰質素，必會像芥子一樣，提升成為大樹！這「富者越富，貧者越貧」，不就是耶穌基督的「經濟學」嗎？

我們祇讀了上文的後半段，仍然犯了斷章取義的毛病。「富者越富」之前是這樣說的：「你們用甚麼尺度量給人，也要用甚麼尺度量給你們，且要多加給你們。」（4:24）字面上的意思，是鼓勵大家對別人慷慨。倘若你對人慷慨，天主會對你慷慨，而且要對你更加慷慨；倘若你對人吝嗇，天主也祇能對你吝嗇…但天主是悲慈的，祂怎樣對你更加吝嗇呢？讓我們轉換另一個概念看：權力。權力有如一柄雙刃劍，既方便行事，卻會腐化運用權力的人。接下一句的時候，變成「有權的越有權，無權的被剝去僅有的權力」！當你運用權力（尺度）來服務（量給人）的時候，天主會給你所需要的權力，而且多加權力給你服務，你變成「最大的」。當你運用權力謀私，不是「量給人」的時候，天主會給你權力謀私，而且多加權力反過來腐化你，最終你會一敗塗地！所以耶穌基督教訓我們說：「你們中那最大的，該作你們的僕役。」（瑪23:11）這不就是耶穌基督的「人事管理哲學」嗎？

但這句「權力是為了服務」，與兩個傳福音的比喻，有甚麼關係呢？
在結構上看，天主教確是一個很有制度，從上而下，階級權力分明，換句話說，很「官僚」的組織。2020年7月，教廷「聖職部」向全球的聖職人員發出指令，要求本地教會，從堂區層面開始，為傳福音作出適當的「牧民歸依」。這不是再一次印證天主教很「官僚化」嗎？請耐心地讓我說下去，不要過早下判斷。在這份文件裡，「聖職部」探討在目前的聖教法典框架內，堂區可以怎樣把權力和責任，下放到堂區教友的手上，使堂區更能成為一個「眾團體的團體」，共聚一起欽崇天主的團體，一個既能從天主聖言獲得滋潤的團體，更能在身處的社區（因為互聯網的普及，打破了舊有的地域觀念，而成為存在的空間），宣揚天主聖言，基督福音的團體。看來，教廷開始認識到種子如何生長的奧妙，並且有勇氣地從微末的景況下，向沒有把握的前程出發，信靠天主聖神的帶領，使由一小撮有如芥子般的神職人員所掌管的傳福音工作，變成大樹一樣，群策群力，以服務世人為目標的傳福音事業。

各位兄弟姊妹，在傳福音的使命上，你願意置身事外，讓自己的靈性生命漸漸枯萎？還是響應普世教會的「牧民歸依」，投身福傳工作，使自己的信仰，日漸壯大成長起來呢？
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia

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Eleventh Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Know Your Boss

Most of us are employees of some sorts and follow the instructions of our bosses. No matter you work to earn a living or to enjoy your interest, life would be difficult if you don’t find satisfaction in the tasks at hand! People differ in the job satisfaction they pursue. Some find it in monetary returns while others in achievement. Some work to satisfy customers’ needs while others in meeting the demands of their bosses … In whatever situation your boss is a decisive factor in your job satisfaction. Therefore, it is essential to know your boss! God/Jesus is our ultimate boss. How much do we know Him?
Try to reflect on the following two questions to help you better understand God. Then, in less than 20 words, illustrate Jesus’ attitude in the following areas:

1. Economics
2. Human Resource Management

When we study the texts of the Scripture, we should know their context in order to take a proper orientation in interpretation. For example, the verse before the gospel passage today reads, “To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”(Mark 4:25) How does this verse guide us to understand the parables of the growing seed and mustard seed? Usually, we interpret these two parables of the Kingdom of Heaven as a reference to evangelization. That is to say, the seed is the Word of God. The parable of the growing seed teaches us that when we evangelize, we only focus on the effort and not the outcome because we don’t know how the audience accepted the gospel (4:27). The outcomes are not the fruit of our efforts. The parable of the mustard seed encourages us not to be disheartened for the poor performance of evangelization. With the support of the Holy Spirit, a meagre beginning can have a bounty harvest. Verse 4:25 above extends the horizon of our interpretation.

After the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church started talking about a “New Evangelization”. It is not the proclamation of the gospel to non-believers. On the contrary, it is an effort to encourage those who were baptized to undergo continual formation to enhance the quality of their faith. It turns out that we have the responsibility to evangelize ourselves! Thus, the earlier verse, “The rich becomes richer and the poor poorer” solves the problem of “knowing not how the seed grows”. For those who were baptized, faith is like rowing a boat against the current. If you don’t make progress, you retreat. Isn’t “Progress or Perish” a correct description of our spiritual life? If we think we are graduated after baptism, we have reached the shore and have no intention to keep going and undergoing formation continually, our spiritual life will wither. The Church has the responsibility to sanctify the faithful. “New Evangelization” is the proper direction to go. The faithful should also understand the wisdom of this aphorism “Progress or Perish”. They should open up to the Holy Spirit and make progress in virtues. In time, the quality of our faith will be like the mustard seed which grows into the largest of plants. Isn’t this “The rich becomes richer and the poor poorer” the economics of Jesus Christ?

If we only read the one verse just before our passage, we still make the mistake of reading out of context. The verse before the “Rich becomes richer” reads, “The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.” (4:24) The verse literally encourages us to be generous towards the others. If we are generous to others, God will be generous and more generous to us. If we are miserly, God can only be miserly to you … But God is merciful. How can He be more miserly to you? Let us consider again by switching to another concept: authority. Authority is a double-edged sword. It facilitates our projects but at the same time, it corrupts the owner. When we read the verse together with the next, it becomes “People with authority get more authority. People without authority would be striped of the little authority they have”! When you exercise your authority (the measure) to serve (measure) others, God will give you the authority you need and still more will be given to you so that you become the greatest. When you abuse your authority to obtain privileges and not to serve others, God will give you the authority you need and still more will be given to you to corrupt you. In the end, you fall! Thus, Jesus Christ teaches us that “The greatest among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11) Isn’t this the human resources management policy of Jesus Christ?

What has this “Authority is for Service” to do with the two evangelization parables?
Structurally speaking, the Catholic Church is highly top-down hierarchical. In other words, she is very bureaucratic. In July 2020, the Congregation for the Clergy of the Roman Curia issued an Instruction to clergy all over the world, demanding local churches to undergo appropriate pastoral conversion on the parish level. Didn’t it prove once more how bureaucratic the Catholic Church is? Be patient. Don’t pass judgment too early. In this document, the Congregation explores how parishes can delegate authority and responsibilities to parishioners within the framework of the Canon Law. The aim is to make the parish become “A community of communities” coming together to worship God. It is a community nourished by the Word of God and a community to proclaim the Word of God, the gospel of Jesus to the neighbourhood. The popularity of the Internet has changed the concept of parish from a territorial space to an existential territory! This indicates that the Curia begins to understand the mystery of the seed which grows by itself. The Curia has the courage to start with a meagre situation and to move towards an uncertain future. Trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, let the “mustard” group of clergy who have been in charge of evangelization become an inclusively great plant embracing all the faithful to serve the people on earth for evangelization.

Brethren! Would you stay away from the mission of evangelization, allowing your spiritual life to wither gradually? Or would you answer the call of “Pastoral Conversion” from the universal Church, involve yourself in evangelization and strengthening your faith day by day?
God bless!

群體免疫 Herd Immunity

聖體聖血節，乙年
主題：群體免疫

作為造物主，上主天主在行使祂的權威時，是可以為所欲為，不受約束。所以，當聖經記載有關祂與諾厄立約（創9:11）、與亞巴郎立約（17:7-11）、透過梅瑟作中保，與以色列人立約（出19:5-6），到最後透過耶穌基督，親自與全人類訂立新約（谷14:24），真是令人驚訝！為甚麼當權者竟然會約束自己呢？請留意不同盟約的內容，包含著天主不可以做的甚麼事，例如禁止祂用水消滅所有生物；和祂不可不做的事，例如永遠保存以色列民族，不會在人類歷史上消失；甚至保證最少有部份人類，可以享受祂的永恆生命！這表示了甚麼？除了是愛之外，我找不到更令人滿意的解釋了。試想想，無限的天主與渺小的人類來往，就好比科幻電影中的「金剛」，牠以碩大無朋之軀，竟然可以細膩地與脆弱的小女孩來往一樣，是充滿著何等的溫柔呵護！天主對人的關愛和保護，的確無微不至。

在人類的歷史中，國與國之間，民族與民族之間，經常為了達成共同的利益，會「歃血為盟」。他們舉行隆重的儀式，把牲畜的血塗在嘴唇上，以表誠信。倘若違背盟誓，就有如被宰的牲畜！以色列人也有類似的儀式。例如，在今天的第一篇讀經，我們看到梅瑟上山領取十誡前，便宰殺牛犢，祭獻天主。取了一半的血，灑在祭壇上；梅瑟向群眾唸過盟約的內容後，把另一半的血灑在百姓身上（出24:4-8）。可見訂立盟誓，是嚴重的，是以性命作擔保的！今天的第二篇讀經告訴我們，到了訂立新約的時候，天主所用的，不再是牲畜的血，而是自己的血，其嚴重性，真是非筆墨可以形容（希9:11-12）。天主子降生成人，最後在十字架上把自己的寶血傾流淨盡，為世人贖罪。為了悔改的罪人，天主子留下了自己的體血，滋養他們的生命。試問為了罪人的回頭悔改，天主還有甚麼可以做而未做的事呢？

舊約的不足之處，在於讓人以為遵守法律，便可以成為「義人」，可以在天主的面前無可指摘。這種思想，忽略了恩寵的角色。殊不知沒有天主的恩寵，所有努力都是徒然。法律是天主白白所賜，教導我們行善避惡。所以法律也是天主的恩寵之一。可惜很多人，尤其其有學問的法學士，以為遵守法律便是一種功勞，足以用來賺取救恩。這種思想，就是後世的白拉奇主義。雖然聖保祿提出「因信成義論」，與及後來的聖奧思定提出「恩寵論」，糾正這異端的錯謬；但直到今天，這思想仍陰雲不散，以其他形式出現在教會內！關鍵在於我們必須相信並接受天主對世人，尤其是罪人的愛。沒有這份信任、信靠，即使天主有多大的善意，世人是不會領情的！

疫症已肆虐了一段日子，全世界沒有一塊土地，沒有一個國家的人民，得以倖免。終於，科學家已研發了一些疫苗，供緊急使用。這場抗疫戰爭，漸露曙光。祇要有相當多的人口接種了疫苗，專家估計要70%，纔能達到「群體免疫」的效果。所以各國政府，不會獨善其身，有義務與貧窮落後地區，分享疫苗。同理，為了公益，市民應按政府的安排，依次序接種疫苗：首先是前線醫護人員，繼而是高危的長者等等。環視世界各地接種疫苗的進度，香港實在落後。截到今天，疫苗接種計劃已進行了超過一百天，但接種了兩劑疫苗的市民不足15%！這樣推算，若要達到70%的群體免疫門檻，恐怕要用大概15個月的時間。但病毒變異是不會等候人類的，到時，疫苗還有效嗎？這個社會現實帶給我們甚麼反省？

我們生活在一個被罪惡污染了的世界，罪惡有如病毒，感染了每一個人。天主憐憫人類，以自己的體血，作為解藥，拯救被罪惡奴役的人類。罪惡有如病毒，不斷「變種」。從前的罪惡，例如殺人、姦淫、搶劫等等，比較個人化；今天的罪惡，變得制度化，通過法例，屠殺未能為自己喊冤的胎兒、准許離婚和同性婚姻、剝削外判工人等等。信徒生活在這樣的環境下，可以倖免嗎？
天主子耶穌基督在升天前，曾派遣門徒向世人宣講福音，使萬民成為門徒。這樣，當大多數的世人信從了福音之後，我們便能達到對罪惡「群體免疫」的效果，可以享受到不受騷擾的宗教自由了！可見，傳福音是何等重要的任務。

各位兄弟姊妹，我們都領受了聖體聖事，領受了天主子耶穌基督的大愛。我們有沒有吸收到基督聖體的恩寵，成為基督的肢體呢？我們既然是基督的肢體，基督充滿著愛的心，有沒有推動我們去拯救其他在羊棧外的羊呢？聖體既然在我們內，我們便是一個聖體櫃了！我們是在聖堂內的聖體櫃，還是在社區內的流動聖體櫃，把天主的大能和救恩，分施給得救的人，邀請他們加人救得的團體，我們的教會呢？
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：biblegraphics.com

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Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Year B
Theme: Herd Immunity

When the Lord God exercises His authority as the Creator, He can do whatever He wishes without any constrain. Thus when the Bible tells us about His making covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:11), with Abraham (17:7-11), with the Israelites through Moses as a mediator (Exodus 19:5-6) and at last built a covenant with all humanity Himself through Jesus Christ (Mark 14:24), it is truly shocking! Why would somebody in power agree to restrain himself? Take a look at the contents of the covenants. They include what God is NOT allowed to do, for example, forbidding Him from destroying all living things with flood. They also include what God MUST do, for example, to ensure the existence of the Israelites throughout the ages and even to guarantee that at least some human beings are able to partake in His eternal life! What does it mean? Other than love, I find no explanation more satisfactory. Just think about it. An infinite God interacts with negligible humanity is just like a King Kong in sci-fi movies, which is able to handle delicately a fragile child with its gigantic hand. How mild and caring it is! God’s love and protection of humanity covers every minute detail.

Throughout history, covenants have been made between countries and peoples so that they might maximize their mutual benefits. They went through ceremonies in which cattle’s blood is smeared on their lips to demonstrate fidelity to the pact. Had they breached the covenant, they would have perished like the slaughtered cattle. Israelites also took part in similar ceremonies. For example, from the first reading today, we read that before Moses went up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, the Israelites offered burnt offerings to God. Then Moses took half of the blood and splashed it on the altar. He read the covenant to the people and splashed the blood on the people (Exodus 24:4-8). Thus, building a covenant is a solemn business, using one’s life as a guarantee! The second reading today tells us that when the new covenant was set, God did not use cattle’s blood but His own blood. The solemnity is indescribable (Hebrews 9:11-12). The Son of God incarnated and took up human flesh. At last He poured out all of his blood on the cross to take away the sins of the world. He left behind His body and blood to nourish the lives of repentant sinners. Let us ask ourselves, for the repentance of sinners, what has God left undone which He is capable to do?

The insufficiency of the Old Testament is the illusion that observing the laws justifies a man so that he is without fault before God. This logic has left out the role of grace. Without grace, all human endeavours are nothing. The law is given us without our merit by God, teaching us to do good and to avoid evil. Thus, the law is also a grace. Regrettably, many people, in particular the learned scribes believed that observing the law is a merit, enabling us to earn our salvation. This mentality was the Pelagianism in the future. Although St. Paul refuted this heresy with “Justification by Faith” and St. Augustine with his “theology of grace”, to this date, Pelagianism still lingers on in different disguises within the Church! The crucial point is that we must trust and accept God’s love for us, in particular His love for sinners. Without this trust and reliance, no matter how much God loves us, humanity would never respond!

The pandemic has been around for a while. No piece of land or people from any country is exempted from infection. At last, scientists have developed vaccines and obtained approval for emergency use. Dawn has broken over the horizon in this pandemic war. When enough people, experts estimate at 70%, are vaccinated, herd immunity would be achieved. Therefore, no government is an island. Each has the obligation to share vaccines with the poor or underdeveloped regions. Similarly, for the sake of common good, citizens should follow the government’s arrangement to receive vaccination: firstly the frontline medical staff. Then go senior citizens of high risk groups etc. Surveying the situation of global vaccination today, Hong Kong is falling behind. As of this writing, more than 100 days of vaccination programme have elapsed, less than 15% of the population is fully vaccinated! From extrapolation, I’m afraid it would take about 15 more months before we might achieve 70% vaccination. But virus does not wait for us to mutate. By then, would the vaccine be effective? This social reality forces us to reflect!

We’re living in a sins-infested world. Sins are like virus, infecting everybody. The Lord is merciful. He makes use of His body and blood to be our antidote to deliver us from the slavery of sins. Sins mutate like virus. Previously, sins such as murder, adultery and theft etc. were individual. Nowadays, sins become more structural. Through legislation, innocent foetuses are butchered, divorce and same-sex marriages are permitted and outsourced workers are exploited etc. Living in such an environment, can believers be exempted?
Before His ascension, the Son of God Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples to proclaim the gospel and to make disciples of all peoples. Thus, when the majority of people believe in the gospel, we shall achieve herd immunity against sins. We shall be able to enjoy religious freedom without fear! Thus evangelization is an extremely essential mission.

Brethren! We have received the Sacrament of Eucharist, the undeserved love of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Have we absorbed the grace from the Holy Communion and become members of the Mystical Body of Christ? If we are members of the Mystical Body, does the love-overflowing heart of Christ move us to deliver other lambs outside this fold? Since the Holy Communion is inside us, we have become a tabernacle. Are we tabernacles stationed inside the Church or mobile tabernacles in the neighbourhood, sharing God’s power and salvation with people, inviting them to join the community of the redeemed, the Church?
God bless!

耶穌吩咐了甚麼？ What Have Jesus Commanded?

天主聖三主日，乙年
主題：耶穌吩咐了甚麼？

猶太教可以說是現代世界性一神宗教的鼻祖，亞巴郎是他們在信仰上的祖先。以色列人信奉一神的歷程，當然並非一帆風順。他們以天主選民自居，但亡國充軍到巴比倫時，聖殿被毀，更出現了身份危機。於是編纂了自己的歷史和經典，希望在逆境後能重張旗鼓。皇天不負有心人，七十年後，波斯帝國滅了巴比倫，猶太人可以回國重建聖殿，而一個有系統，祭獻與教律並重的一神宗教，猶太教便出現了。公元一世紀，猶太信徒中出現了一個新的流派，相信一個被釘十字架的木匠死而復活，他就是天主子耶穌基督。基督徒與猶太教徒同樣相信宇宙間祇有一個真神造物主，但基督徒的神比較複雜，不是單純的一個神，而是三位一體的一個神！信奉一神的伊斯蘭教是另一個故事了，姑且擱置不談。

今天教會慶祝「天主聖三節」，反省天主聖三對人類的大愛。所選讀的福音中，有一句說話覺得很有意義，便拿來默存心中，反覆思想（路2:19）。這三天帶領聖雲先會聖葉理諾堂協會退省，練習「聖言頌讀」。倘若自己不去實踐，真是愧為人師了。是哪一句話呢？就是「教訓他們遵守我所吩咐你們的一切。」（瑪28:20）

首先，耶穌基督吩咐了門徒很多事物：一篇「山中聖訓」已佔去了三章，還有那些在教會內如何相處之規則（18:15-35）；最後，當然還有差遣門徒使萬民成為門徒的訓令（28:19）。這麼多的吩咐，從何入手呢？有沒有一些提綱挈領性的原則，可以涵蓋所有「吩咐」呢？我想起了在最後晚餐時，耶穌基督吩咐的新誡命：「我給你們一條新命令，你們該彼此相愛，如同我愛了你們，你們也該照樣彼此相愛。」（若13:34）相信沒有人會反對這是最能涵蓋所有吩咐吧！而且這樣思考，在福音中也可找到先例。

猶太教的得救之道，在於遵守散見於「梅瑟五書」，包括十誡在內的613條法律。可見得救成義，真的不是一件容易的事。不要以為著名的「十誡」足以代表那613條法律，祇要遵守十誡便可以上天堂。對不起，天主子耶穌基督不同意這個想法。
事緣一位法學士試探耶穌，問他「法律中那條誡命最大？」（瑪22:36）是十誡中的第一誡嗎？耶穌基督不慌不忙地唸出：「『你應全心、全靈、全意，愛上主你的天主。』（申6:5）這是最大也是第一條誡命。」（瑪22:37-38）；祂跟著繼續唸出「你應當愛近人如你自己」（肋19:18），並且說：「全部法律和先知，都繫於這兩條誡命。」（瑪22:40）對不起，十誡沒有入圍；而且，這種涵蓋性的做法，是天主子同意的。

言歸正傳，來自若望福音，耶穌基督吩咐的「彼此相愛」新誡命，足以涵蓋耶穌基督在瑪竇福音的所有吩咐嗎？這是一個很有趣的問題，因為據我有限的知識，我尚未找到「耶穌基督在瑪竇福音的所有吩咐」；即使找到，我相信總有學者不敢苟同。且看，連著名的十誡如何分配，天主教與基督新教也有分歧。所以「耶穌基督在瑪竇福音的所有吩咐」總有相當的不確定性！反觀「彼此相愛」的新命令，既然是耶穌基督在「最後晚餐」的臨別贈言，也應該有相當重的份量了。況且，耶穌基督不是性格分裂的人，兩部福音所記述的，都是同一個耶穌基督，祇是兩位聖史的寫作主旨，取材不同而已，絕不影響耶穌基督的訊息，祂的福音！所以，來自若望福音的「如同我愛了你們，你們也該照樣彼此相愛」，足以涵蓋同一個耶穌基督在瑪竇福音的所有吩咐。讓我們轉移焦點到這新命令吧！

這命令的確很大，甚至是最大，因為耶穌基督愛我們，愛到交付自己性命的地步！祂命令我們照樣彼此交付性命，最低限度，這已超越了「愛近人如你自己」的地位。它可以挑戰「全心、全靈、全意愛上主你的天主」的地位嗎？是可以的！天主子降生成人，為的是來提昇人性到達天主性的地步。耶穌基督不但與罪人為伍，活躍在他們當中，拯救罪人；祂更願意臨現，甚至降生在病人、軟弱的人及囚犯身上，與他們同病同囚，承擔起全世界的罪。所以「凡你們對我這些最小兄弟中的一個所做的，就是對我做的」（瑪25:40）絕非虛言，而是真實的臨在，有如祂臨在於聖體聖事內一樣！所以，愛人就是愛天主。耶穌基督的新命令，足以媲美「最大誡命」了。

天主是自由的，不會強迫我們信奉祂。所以即使是彼此相愛，也要好像耶穌基督一樣，容許對方不領情，接納他人拒絕你的善意所帶來的痛苦。且看，耶穌基督所喜愛的富少年，可以是一個很有前途的門徒。當這富少年拒絕了耶穌基督的邀請後，祂並沒有勉強富少年接受，祇是慨嘆而已（谷10:23-24）我對這新誡命所感觸的，不是交付出性命，而是被拒絕的痛苦。請不要誤會，連性命也可交付，自己可還有甚麼痛苦呢？這痛苦不是被拒絕所引起的忿怒或埋怨，而是對方因拒絕而招至的損失。我不怕傳福音時交付出性命，我卻為你拒絕福音，結果招至喪亡而感到傷痛。你有同感嗎？
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：pics.me.me.

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Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity, Year B
Theme: What Have Jesus Commanded?

Judaism can be said to be the ancestor of global monotheism today. Abraham is their ancestor of faith. The process through which Israel believed in one true God was not a smooth journey. Israelites looked at themselves as the Chosen People of God. But the Babylonian Captivity dealt them a harsh blow. Their Temple was burned down and they suffered from an identity crisis. Thus, they worked hard to redact their history and scriptures, hopefully they would recoup when the Captivity was over. They were not disappointed. After seventy years, the Persians conquered the Babylonians. Jews would return home to rebuild their Temple. A systematic monotheism, Judaism in which temple sacrifice went hand in hand with scripture studies emerged. During the first century, a new branch appeared among the Jews. They believed in a carpenter who was crucified and, they claimed, was risen from the dead. He was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Both Christians and Jews believe that there is one true God who created this universe. But the Christian God is more complicated. Not only is He one, but three Persons in one! Islam is another monotheism and another story which we would not delve into today.

Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity to reflect on the great love the trinite God shows men. One verse from the gospel today is rather meaningful. So, I keep all these things, reflecting on them in my heart (Luke 2:19). On the past three days, I was leading an annual retreat for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Jerome’s Church Confederation to practise “Lectio Divina”. If I do not practise myself, it would be my shame as their retreat director. Which verse was it? “Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20)

First of all, Jesus has commanded the disciples many things: the “Sermon on the Mount” has already occupied 3 chapters. There are also instructions on how to treat each other within the Church (18:15-35); and lastly of course, the great commission to make disciples of all nations (28:19). How do we begin? Is there any all-encompassing principle which is able to cover all commandments? I think of the new commandment which Christ gave the disciples at the Last Supper, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (John 13:34) I trust nobody would object that this is most capable of covering all the commands! It is totally legitimate to think in this way because there is precedence in the gospel.

In Judaism, if one wants salvation, one has to observe the 613 laws scattered among the five books of Torah. Obviously, being righteous and to be saved is not at all easy. Don’t ever think that the Ten Commandments are representative of the 613 laws and keeping them would ensure you a place in heaven. Sorry, the Son of God Jesus Christ doesn’t think so.
It came to pass when one scribe tried to trap Jesus, asking “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” (Matthew 22:36) Is the first commandment of the Ten Commandments the greatest? In no haste, Jesus recited, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) “This is the greatest and the first commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) Then He continued to recite, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) and added, “The whole law and prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:40). Sorry, the Ten Commandments are not qualified to be the greatest. Moreover, the Son of God agrees with summarizing the details in this manner.

Let’s return to the verse. Is the new “To love each other” commandment from the gospel of John able to cover all of Jesus’ commands in the gospel of Matthew? This is an interesting topic. Since my knowledge is limited. I have not found “all that Jesus Christ has commanded” in the gospel of Matthew. Even if I have, there surely exist scholars who disagree. Look, even Catholics and Protestants disagree on how the famous Ten Commandments should be divided. Thus, there must be uncertainty in what should be included in “what Jesus Christ has commanded” in gospel of Matthew! On the other hand, the new “love each other” command is the last words of Jesus Christ in the Last Supper. It should carry heavy weight. Furthermore, Jesus Christ is no schizophrenic. The two gospels are narrating the same Jesus Christ. Only that the two evangelists took different materials to write for different themes. The narration should not affect the message of Jesus Christ, His gospel! Thus, “As I have loved you, so you should love one another” in John is sufficient to cover all that Jesus has commanded in Matthew. Let’s turn our focus on this new commandment!

This commandment is really great, even the greatest because Jesus Christ loves us so much as to give up His life for us! He commands us to give up our lives for each other. As least, this commandment surpasses the status of “love your neighbour as yourself”. Is it able to challenge the standing of the Shema? A categorical yes! The Son of God incarnated to take up human flesh in order to elevate our humanity to attain divinity. Not only was Jesus Christ happy to walk with sinners, actively got Himself involved among them in order to save them, but He is also willing to be present, and even to incarnate among the sick, the weak and the imprisoned, to be sick and imprisoned to carry the burden of all the sins of the world. Thus, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40) is no empty talk but a real presence among them, such as His real presence in the Holy Communion! Thus, loving men is loving God. Jesus’ new commandment is on a par with the greatest commandment.

God is free. He would not force us to believe in Him. Thus, even in loving each other, we should love like Jesus Christ, allowing the other party to reject and to accept the pain of our goodwill being rejected. Take a look at the rich young man whom Jesus loved. He would have been a very promising disciple. When the rich young man declined Jesus’ invitation, He did not impose His will on the young man but lamented (Mark 10:23-24). I was touched by the verse in Matthew, not because of surrendering my life, but the pain of rejection. Don’t take me wrong. If I don’t mind surrendering my life, what pain do I still have? The pain I mentioned was not the anger or frustration of being rejected but the loss the other party incurs in rejecting the gospel. I don’t mind surrendering my life in evangelization, but I feel painful for your demise as a consequence of rejecting the gospel! Do we share the same feeling?
God bless!

為何要保留有些人的罪？ Why Are Sins Retained?

聖神降臨節，乙年
主題：為何要保留有些人的罪？

福音記載了耶穌基督復活後，差遣門徒/教會宣揚祂的喜訊：
「你們要去使萬民成為門徒，因父及子及聖神之名給他們授洗，教訓他們遵守我所吩咐你們的一切。」（瑪28:19-20）「你們往普天下去，向一切受造物宣傳福音。」（谷16:15）「必須從耶路撒冷開始，因祂〔默西亞」的名向萬邦宣講悔改，以得罪之赦。你們就是這些事的見證人。〕（路24:47-48）「就如父派遣了我，我也同樣派遣你們…你們領受聖神罷！你們赦免誰的罪，就給誰赦免；你們存留誰的，就給誰存留。」（若20:21-23）
連保祿也有類似的呼籲：「天主在基督內使世界與自己和好，不再追究他們的過犯；且將和好的話放在我們的口中。所以我們是代基督作大使了，好像是天主藉著我們來勸勉世人。」（格後5:19-20）可見教會和每一個基督徒的使命，就是向世人/萬民/萬邦/一切受造物，宣講天主與世界和好的喜訊。在具體的行動上，我們宣講悔改、施洗、教導世人遵守彼此相愛的誡命、身體力行愛德服務和代表天主赦免人的罪過等等…

今天我們讀的是若望福音，當中的一句令人費解：「你們存留誰的〔罪〕，就給誰存留。」（若20:23）教會的使命是幫助世人與天主修好，她的方法就是代表不可見的天主，赦免世人的罪。所以耶穌基督賜予聖神給教會/信徒，有權威和有能力地赦免世人的罪，治癒罪惡在世上做成的創傷。那麼，為甚麼還要存留有些人的罪過呢？

誠然，有些人死不悔改，即使天主渴望赦免他們，但同時天主卻不會，亦不能剝奪他們拒絕接受寬恕的自由。所以，教會存留了一些人的罪，地獄是不會空無一人的！這個結論看來合理，並且符合倫理的要求。這些「死硬派」下地獄，是自食其果，與人無尤。天主已經釋出絕大的善意，甚至派遣天主子降生成人，死在十字架上，所以責任不在天主…

可是，若望記載的經文，看來與上述的倫理論點，背道而馳！
首先，從文法上看，這「存留」是主動而不是被動的。即是說，教會/基督徒，不知為了甚麼理由，甚至沒有令人信服的理由，保留/不赦免對方的罪，而不是對方拒絕接受/尋求赦免。
主動抑或被動，結果都是沒有赦免，有分別嗎？當然有。這樣寫，可以無限放大，變成教會擁有絕對的權威，操生殺大權。放心，教會是有理性的。但不得不承認，理性始終是有限的。當教會憑她有限的理解，無法判斷你是否真心悔改認錯，即是無論你悔改認錯與否，教會按她良心作出判決，上天堂抑或落地獄的命運，由教會決定！你可以放心嗎？
但大家不要害怕，以上的論述故意地遺漏了聖神在教會內的運作！祂是「真理之神」，必定會把真相啟示給教會；而且聖神是「愛德之神」，必定令教會基於愛德作出判決…但在這討論中，聖神有如雙刃的利劍，既可以幫助我們找到真相，尋求到解困的出路；但另一方面，亦可以一面倒地封閉了討論的空間，因為有了聖神，教會不會錯，教會之外沒有救恩…所以我盡量避免隨便引入。

其次，是為了完整性的緣故，所以正反兩面都寫下來嗎？例如，在瑪竇福音也有類似的記載（瑪16:19），不同之處，在於先講存留，後講赦免。瑪竇的寫法，更彰顯教會/伯多祿的權威，削弱了修和的善意！不得不承認，現代人崇尚民主自由，對「權威」沒有好感。教會曾享有最高權威，但今非昔比了。在經歷過挫折失敗後，教會深深明白到權威是為了服務。赦免罪惡不是權力的展示，而是給予罪人解放！接納罪人返回羊棧，是整個團體要承受的愛德挑戰！保留罪惡不赦，其實並不是一件輕鬆的事。當罪人還沒有充份地悔改的時候，獲得赦免恐怕祇是埋下日後災難的種子而已。從這個角度看，教會存留某些人的罪，除了清晰地彰顯她應得的尊嚴和權威之外，更清楚明白地承擔起修和的責任，並沒有把責任推卸到罪人身上，辯稱他們死不悔改！所以教會/基督徒應妥善履行主耶穌基督所派遣的修和使命，赦免或者存留別人的罪過。

各位兄弟姊妹，以上的反省，是有限的邏輯所推導的結果。但天主的思想不是人可以完全掌握的。所以，若是天主願意，祂一定有辦法，有能力在不違反我們的自由意志（拒絕服從，死不悔改）之下，仍然可以拯救我們。讓我們向聖神開放，與祂通力合作，負起與世界修和的任務。
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：br.pinterest.com

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Solemnity of Pentecost, Year B
Theme: Why Are Sins Retained?

After His resurrection, Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples/the Church to proclaim His gospel:
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) “That repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his (Messiah’s) name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:47-48) “As the Father has sent me, so I send you … Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:21-23)
Even Paul appeals in a similar manner. “God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us.”(2 Corinthians 5:19-20) Thus, the Church and every Christian bear a mission to proclaim the good news of God’s reconciliation with the world to all peoples/nations/every creature. In concrete terms, we preach repentance, baptize and teach people to observe the commandment of loving each other. We practise charity and discharge the service of forgiving sins in the name of God …

A sentence in the gospel we read today is rather enigmatic. “Whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:23) Isn’t the mission of the Church to help people reconcile with God? She does it by forgiving people’s sins in the name of God. Thus, Jesus Christ gave the Holy Spirit to the Church/disciples so that they have the authority and faculty to forgive sins and healing wounds in the world inflicted by sins. Then, why does the Church retain the sins of some people?
To be candid, some people are die-hard unrepentant. Even if God desires to forgive them, but at the same time, God will not deprive them of the free-will to reject forgiveness. Therefore, the Church retains the sins of some people. Hell is not empty! This conclusion appears reasonable and agrees with moral principles. Those die-hard non-repentant go to hell on their own. They can’t blame anyone. God has already shown His good-will, evening sending His Son to incarnate and die on the cross for us. God’s not responsible for their demise …

However, the passage of John goes against this moral principle!
First of all, grammatically speaking, the “retain” is active and not passive. That is to say, for unknown reasons or even unconvincing reasons, the Church/disciples retain the sins of people, not that they reject or do not seek forgiveness.
The end is the same, whether it is active or passive. What’s the difference? Of course it is different. Written in this way, it can be extrapolated to the extent that the Church possess absolute authority to let loose or to kill. Don’t worry, the Church is reasonable. But it is undeniable that rationality has limitations. When the Church judges according to her conscience with finite understanding, i.e. whether you truly repent or not, your fate would be determined by the Church! Would you feel comfortable?
But don’t be afraid. In the discussion above, I deliberately left out the working of the Holy Spirit in the Church. He is the Spirit of Truth. He will show the Church the truth. Moreover, He is the Spirit of Love. The Church will mete out her judgment in love … But in this discussion, the Holy Spirit is a sword which cuts both ways. He can help us find the truth and the exit from adversity. But on the other hand, He can also shut down further room for discussion because with the Holy Spirit, the Church will not err. There is no salvation outside the Church … Therefore I try not to involve the Holy Spirit as much as I can.

Secondly, is it for completeness’ sake that John wrote down both sides? For example, we find a similar narrative in Matthew (Matthew 16:19) with a difference. Matthew mentions “binding” before “loosing”. Putting in this way, Matthew emphasizes more the authority of the Church/Peter and reduces the good-will of reconciliation! We have to admit that modern people advocate democracy and freedom. They are suspicious of authority. Once upon a time, the Church enjoyed absolute authority but does no more. After many frustrations and failures, the Church learns that authority is for service. The forgiveness of sins is not a showing off of authority but liberation for sinners! Embracing sinners back into the fold is a charity challenge for the whole community! Retaining people’s sins is not an easy task. When sinners are not ready for forgiveness, forgiving them would only plant seeds for future disasters. Looking from this perspective, that the Church retains sins of some people not only expresses the dignity and authority she deserves, but she also explicitly takes up the responsibility of reconciliation. She does not pass the buck to sinners, blaming them for being die-hard unrepentant! Thus, the Church/Christians should discharge properly the reconciliation mission commissioned by Jesus Christ by forgiving as well as retaining people’s sins.

Brethren! The reflection above is the fruit of finite logic. But God’s thinking is beyond the capacity of our intellect. Thus, if God so wills, He definitely has a way to save us while not depriving us of our free will (refuse to obey or to repent). Let us open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, work with Him to discharge the mission of conciliating the world with God.
God bless!

不願走出羊棧的羊 Lambs who prefer Staying In the Fold

耶穌升天節，乙年
主題：不願走出羊棧的羊

曾執教鞭當老師的，必定明白「教而後知困」的道理。在教學上遇上困難的課題時，便去進修。同樣，天主教的神學也是迫出來的，並不像幾何學一樣，有系統地推導出來。當基督徒的信仰受到挑戰時，教會的神長們會坐下來辯論，尋求共識，然後向所有信徒頒布信理。例如，天主子也是天主，因為祂與聖父同性同體。雖然聖母是受造物，但她是天主之母親，因為天主子耶穌基督的天主性與人性，是不能分割的…這就是天主教信仰的一大特色。
倘若上至教宗、下至平信徒，人人都熱心地宣揚福音，教會就不用召開梵蒂崗第二次大公會議，商議如何把福音更有效地傳給現代人。這半個世紀以來，天主教會不停頒布有關傳福音的文件。1975年，聖教宗保祿六世提出「新福傳」，目光不但放在非信徒身上，同時亦注意到教友的培訓。聖教宗若望保祿二世在任內，發表了多篇新福傳的通諭和宗座公函；榮休教宗本篤十六世任內成立「宗座新福傳推廣理事會」，定2012-13年為「信德年」，慶祝召開梵二大公會議五十周年，第十三屆全體主教會議所討論的主題也是「新福傳」。教宗方濟各上任八個月，便發表他的第一篇宗座勸諭《福音的喜樂》；2020年，教廷聖職部頒佈「為福傳的堂區牧靈更新」訓令…可見，傳福音是天主教教會內，每一個層面所要面對的，一個十分嚴峻的問題，否則，教廷用不著這樣喋喋不休！

我們知道，傳福音是主耶穌建立教會的目的。在祂離世升天，返回天父的右邊時，耶穌基督明確地把傳福音的使命交給教會（瑪28:19-20，谷16:15-16，路24:47-49，宗1:8）天主子的任務是使世界與天父修好，所以祂建立教會，把這個修好的任務交託給伯多祿（瑪16:19）。這修好的任務當然不祇落在伯多祿一人身上，或聖職人員身上。保祿更呼籲全體信徒，成為基督的修和大使（格後5:20）；他甚至激動地說：「我若不傳福音，我就有禍了」（格前9:16）
誠然，教會在成立之初，基督徒佔人口的極少數，有一望無際的傳福音空間。但當整個歐洲祇剩下新生嬰兒可以接受洗禮之外，而哥倫布尚未發現新大陸之前，傳福音成了沒有意義的事！交通不便，經絲綢之路往返遠東，除非為了賺錢，或者逃避迫害，否則，根本沒有把福音帶往中國的動機。首先傳入中國的「景教」，不就是聶斯多略異端嗎？多世紀以來，即使出現異端，也是針對聖職人員的腐敗，多於信理上的爭論…從另一個角度看教會的歷史，教會的「成功」，埋下了她「失敗」的種子。在安逸的生活，沒有任何挑戰的環境下，耶穌基督的教會就好像一所「完美的羊棧」，信徒是羔羊，聖職人員是羊棧的工人。單純的羔羊無憂無慮在羊棧裡生活，沒有野心的工人也無憂無慮地在羊棧裡服務。

主耶穌說：「我就是門，誰若經過我進來，必得安全；可以進，可以出，可以找著草場」（若10:9）相信耶穌基督之後，領洗加入教會，成為了經過主耶穌基督這扇門進入羊棧的羊，得到了安全。在提供安全方面，教會很成功！從出生到進入墳墓，還有兩端之間的婚姻家庭生活，教會提供了「一條龍」服務，沒有任何競爭，不假外求。我們可以怪責聖職人員不思進取嗎？結果，有如在諾厄的方舟內，工人祇負責把羔羊帶進羊棧，照顧了羔羊在羊棧內的安全，和提供了羔羊所需要的飼料之後，就沒有必要帶羊群到外面的草場去吃草，得到新的營養；舒展筋骨，促進健康，並接觸其他還未屬於這棧的羊！執事想說，傳福音不單是基督徒應有的本份，傳福音者本身就是第一個受益人！在傳福音遇上挑戰或困難時，我們尋求解決的辦法，尋求天主聖神的幫助，我們豈不是第一受益人嗎？長遠地說，當更多人信奉了耶穌基督，我們便改善了我們的生存空間，可以享受到更大的宗教自由。時移世易，教會在今天的世界，四面受敵，既有極權的政府限制宗教自由，還有世俗主義、個人主義、新文化等的競爭。教會不傳福音，與坐以待斃有何分別！

在以往的世代，教會以身教的方式，宣講福音。在愛德服務方面，天主教比其他世界性宗教更入世。當教宗可以說服野蠻人放棄洗劫羅馬城的念頭，當教會成為了羅馬文化的保護者的時候，當絕大部份人都願意聽從教會訓導的時候，我們不需要「硬銷」福音。神長們和修會的兄弟們，祇以默默的臨在，以愛德服務，便可以向「世界」宣講得救解放的福音了。他們不知道還有「新世界」的存在，忘記了耶穌基督曾說過祂還有別的羊，還不屬於這一棧（10:16）。時移世易，世人受的奴役更大了，愛德服務與默默的臨在，已不再有效地宣講解放的福音了。因此，半個世紀以來，天主教會不斷提出新福傳，重燃教友心中久違了的傳福音熱忱。

如何克服那安逸的心態，不願離開安全的羊棧的心態呢？更有甚者，傳福音的時候，必然會遇上不可預期的困難甚至生命危險，到時怎麼辦呢？耶穌不是說過：「我派遣你們猶如羔羊往狼群中」（瑪10:16，路10:3）傳福音豈不是自尋死路，凶多吉少？大家可能忘記了耶穌基督的許諾（瑪28:20，谷16：17-18），祂曾被宰殺，如今復活了。縱使外面是刀山油鑊，有祂相伴，何懼之有？

各位兄弟姊妹，你們可以保證當你們99隻羊留在羊棧內時，善牧沒有跑到外面尋找那隻亡羊嗎？何不跟善牧一起尋找亡羊，到時，我們必然是第一個受益人。我的羔羊，去吧！向一切受造物傳福音，使萬民成為門徒。
天主保佑！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：slideshare.net

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Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord, Year B
Theme: Lambs who prefer Staying In the Fold

Teachers should be able to appreciate the aphorism “Teach and you know the difficulty”. When a teacher meets a difficult topic, he or she will take refresher’s courses. Similarly, many Catholic doctrines are “forced” into existence. They are not deduced logically and systematically from axioms like geometry. When the faith of Christians is challenged, Church fathers come together to debate and reach a consensus. Then, it will be promulgated as articles of faith among believers. For example, the Son of God is God because the Son of God is consubstantial with the Father. Although the BVM is a creature, she is the Mother of God because the divinity and humanity of the Son of God Jesus Christ can’t be separated … This is a characteristic of Catholicism.
Had the Pope down to the laity been fervent in evangelization, the Catholic Church would not have convened the Vatican II to explore how to proclaim more effectively the gospel messages to the modern world. For more than half a century, the Church keeps promulgating documents of evangelization. In 1975, St. Pope Paul VI started talking about New Evangelization. The focus is not only on non-believers but also on the formation of the baptized as well. During his pontificate, St. Pope John Paul II promulgated many encyclicals and apostolic letters on New Evangelization. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI set up the “Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization”，made 2012-13 a “Year of Faith” to celebrate the golden jubilee of the opening of Vatican II. The Thirteenth General Assembly of Synod of Bishops also made New Evangelization their theme. Within eight months of his pontificate, Pope Francis promulgated his first Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium”. In 2020, the Congregation for the Clergy issued an instruction “The Pastoral Conversion of the Parish Community in the service of the evangelizing mission of the Church” … Thus, evangelization is seen as an acute problem at every level of the Catholic Church. Otherwise, the Roman Curia doesn’t have to keep talking about it tirelessly!

We know that evangelization is the raison d’être of the Church. When Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and returned to the right hand of the Father, He explicitly commissioned the Church to proclaim the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:47-49, Acts 1:8). The mission of the Son of God is to reconcile the world to the Father. Thus, He set up the Church and gave this mission of reconciliation to Peter (Matthew 16:19). This reconciliation mission does not fall solely on Peter or the clergy. Paul calls on all Christians to be Christ’s ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:20). He even laments, “Woe to me if I do not preach it” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
To be candid, in the early years of the Church, Christians were an extreme minority. A huge space for evangelization was opened up for them over the horizon. But when only new born babies in Europe remained to be baptized and Columbus had not yet discovered the New World, evangelization was meaningless! When travel was perilous, nobody traversed the Silk Road to the Far East unless they wanted to make money or to flee persecution. Otherwise, there was no motivation to bring the gospel to China. Wasn’t Jingjiao a Nestorian heretic? Many centuries since, heresies arose, not out of theological controversies but the corruption of clergy … Looking at the Church history from another perspective, her successes breed her falls. Living in a comfortable environment void of challenges, the Church set up by Jesus Christ looks like a “Perfect Fold” where believers are lambs and clergy are workers in the fold. Simple lambs led a carefree life in the fold while mediocre clergy with no ambitions served the fold without worries.

Jesus says, “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” (John 10:9) After finding faith in Jesus Christ, were baptized and entered the Church, many people became lambs which entered through the gate of Lord Jesus Christ and found security in the fold. In providing security, the Church proves to be very successful! From cradle to grave and the marital familial life in between, the Church renders a through-train service without competition. There was no need to call for external support. Can we blame the clergy for not being ambitious? Consequently, workers bring lambs into the fold, taking care of their security within the fold and the food they need, very much like Noah’s Ark. Workers do not find it necessary to bring the lambs out, graze them in the pasture to obtain new nutrition, to stretch their feet and work out, meeting other lambs that haven’t yet belonged to the fold! I just want to say, not only is evangelization an obligation of Christians, but Christians are also the first beneficiary themselves! When we meet challenges and difficulties in evangelization, we look for solutions and seek help from the Holy Spirit. Don’t we become the first beneficiary? In the long run, when more people believe in Jesus Christ, we are improving our living space and are able to enjoy greater religious freedom. Time changes and the Church is besieged in the modern world. On one hand, there are totalitarian governments which trample on religious freedom. On the other, there are rivalry from secularism, individualism and new cultures. If the Church does not evangelize, how is she different from death row inmates!

In previous generations, the Church preached by examples. With her charity works, Catholicism is more down to earth than other global religions. When the Pope was able to persuade barbarians from sacking Rome, when the Church became the guardian of Roman culture, when most people were willing to accept the teachings of the Church, we didn’t need to hard-sell the Gospel. The silent presence and charitable works of clergy and friars were sufficient to proclaim the liberating gospel to the “world”. They didn’t know the existence of the New World and had forgotten that Jesus says that He has other sheep that do not belong to this fold (John 10:16). Time changes and people are more enslaved today. Charity and silent presence are not adequate in proclaiming the liberating messages of the gospel. Thus, for more than half a century, the Catholic Church keeps talking about New Evangelization to rekindle the long forgotten zeal of gospel proclamation.

How do we overcome the complacency and the reluctance to leave the security of the fold? Even more accutely, when we proclaim the gospel, we shall definitely encounter difficulties and sometimes it can be life-threatening. What shall we do? Hasn’t Jesus said, “Behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves” (Matthew 10:16, Luke 10:3)? Isn’t evangelization suicidal? Perhaps we have forgotten Jesus’ promises (Matthew 28:20, Mark 16:17-18). He was killed and now lives. Though it’s hellish out there, with Him, fear not!

Brethren! Are you sure when you stay inside the fold among the 99 sheep, the Good Shepherd has not gone out to seek the one lost sheep? Why not go with the Good Shepherd to seek the lost sheep together? Then we shall be the first beneficiary. My lambs! Go forth! Proclaim the gospel to every creature. Make disciples of all nations.
God bless!