不要小覷自己 Don’t Belittle Yourself

不要小覷自己（瑪20:20-28）

十二宗徒之中，伯多祿，雅各伯和他的弟弟若望，可算是耶穌基督的『入室弟子』。因為在三個重要場合中，只有他們三人與基督同在：復活雅依洛的女兒（谷5:37）；耶穌在高山上顯聖容（瑪17:1）；在革匝瑪尼園深處祈禱（26:37）。這是非常合理的，伯多祿是教會的磐石（16:18）；若望是惟一的宗徒在十字架下陪伴耶穌；最後，按《宗徒大事錄》的記載，雅各伯是第一位殉道的宗徒（宗11:1-2），被黑落德〔阿格黎帕一世〕所殺。雅各伯與若望脾氣火爆，綽號『雷霆之子』（谷3:17）。當他們向耶路撒冷進發，經過一座撒瑪黎雅村莊時，村民拒絕接待他們。這對『雷霆之子』問耶穌，可否叫火自天降下，焚毀這座村莊（路9:54）。可見這對『雷霆之子』，的確名不虛傳！相傳雅各伯曾前往西班牙傳福音，回到耶路撒冷後，在公元44年死在黑落德手上，應驗了耶穌基督的預言：「我的爵你們固然要飲」（瑪20:23a）。以後，他的遺體又奇蹟地移到西班牙安葬，聖雅各伯便成了西班牙的主保！

耶穌基督在『真福八端』，不是教訓我們要「溫良」（5:5）嗎？雅各伯卻是個脾氣火爆的人，絕不溫良。而且聖經學者普遍認為，他的脾氣是他殉道的導火線。其次，按今天的福音選段記載，他們兩兄弟的母親，〔藉裙帶關係〕求耶穌給他倆在天國享有崇高的權勢（20:21b），試問公義何在？可見耶穌基督並沒有挑選精英來結合成一隊『夢幻組合』 ，建樹一個完美的教會。教會的成員各有創傷和缺陷、遺憾與挫折。耶穌基督用甚麼來幫助他們共融合一呢？是『護慰者聖神』，祂是聖父聖子之間交流的愛，祂又是『真理之神』（若14:17）。

親愛的兄弟姊妹，把目光注視著自己的傷口和缺陷是無補於事的，它只會繼續發炎腐爛。呼求聖神降臨吧！祂會更新我們的心靈、聽眾們的心靈；祂使大地更新復興（詠104:30）。聖雅各伯，為我等祈。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
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Don’t Belittle Yourself (Matthew 20:20-28)

Among the Twelve, Peter, James and his brother John formed the “inner circle” among the disciples of Jesus Christ. It is because in three significant occasions, the three of them stayed with Christ: raising the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:37); the Transfiguration of Jesus on a high mountain (Matthew 17:1); the Agony in Gethsemane (26:37). This is reasonable because Peter is the Rock of the Church (16:18); John was the only apostle staying with Jesus during His crucifixion; and lastly, according to the book of Acts, James was the first apostle to die in the hand of Herod Agrippa I (Acts 11:1-2). James and John were hot-tempered and nicknamed “Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17). When they heading towards Jerusalem through a village in Samaria, the villagers refused them hospitality. The Boanerges asked Jesus for permission to call down fire from heaven to consume the village (Luke 9:54). They were true to their nickname! Tradition has James evangelizing in Spain. After returning to Jerusalem in 44 A.D., he was beheaded by Herod, thus fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy, “My cup you will indeed drink” (Matthew 20:23a). Tradition has James’ corpse miraculously transported to Spain by angels and was buried there. St. James the Great becomes the patron saint of Spain!

Has Jesus Christ not taught us to be meek in the Beatitudes (5:5)? James was definitely not a meek person. Some biblical scholars even speculate that his hot-temper led to his martyrdom. Moreover, according to the gospel text today, their mother asked Jesus to make James and John command high authority in the Kingdom of Heaven (20:21b). This is blatant despotism. Where is justice? Thus, we see that Jesus did not choose elites to form a “Dream Team” to build up a perfect Church. Without exception, all Church members carry wounds, defects, regrets and frustrations. How does Jesus Christ form them into a communion? It is the “Advocate”, the Holy Spirit who is the interflow of divine love between the Father and the Son. He is also the “Spirit of Truth” (John 14:17).

Beloved brethren. Gazing our wounds and defects does not help. They will continue to infest and rot. Invoke the Holy Spirit! He will renew our hearts and souls; as well as those of our audience. “You renew the face of the earth” (Psalms 104:30). St. James the Great, pray for us. Amen.
God bless!

天國的話 The Word of the Kingdom

天國的話（瑪13:18-23）

聖經學者告訴我們，耶穌所說的比喻，尤其是那些短句，有時只是借用當代人熟悉的『常言道』。例如：「人點燈，並不是放在斗底下…」（瑪5:15）；「舊皮囊裝新酒」（9:17）等等，都是百姓耳熟能詳，大眾公認的道理。但其他比喻的藝術成份更高，聽來更深入民心，例如『撒種比喻』（13:3-8），『亡羊比喻』（19:12-14）等等。它們不但藝術成份高，內容更有意外的驚喜，吸引了聽眾的注意力，令他們念念不忘。

例如『撒種比喻』中的種子實在太神奇了！從羅馬帝國的官方紀錄可知，種植小麥的回報率大約是1:6到1:10之間。所以耶穌所說的『一百倍結實』，以當代的耕種技術水平而言，是沒有可能的神跡。如果有這樣的『超級種子』，請給我一顆，好讓我也去耕種！一顆能生百顆，百顆能生萬顆…發達喇！即使是30倍也蠻不錯：一生三十，三十生九百，九百生八十一萬…倘若世上真的有這樣的種子，人類便不愁饑荒，就不須要為爭奪罕有的資源而發動戰爭了。世界和平，指日可待！朋友，供過於求的事物，當然沒有人會爭奪。但世上還有其他罕有的資源或情報，足以發動那怕是地區性的戰爭！全球已經一體化，地區性戰爭足以影響全世界！不要太天真了！

『了解』一詞在耶穌解釋這個比喻時，一共運用了兩次。第一次是指一般的了解明白。那就是說，當世人不了解、不願意接受福音的時候，就有如撒殫拿走我們所聽到，與主與人修好的福音一樣（13:19）。但第二次使用『了解』一詞時，肯定不是頭腦上的了解明白那麼簡單，必定包括了行為上的實踐和服從。試問只有撒種，而沒有隨後在日曬雨淋的境況下耕種、除草、施肥及收割，何來百倍、六十倍、三十倍的結實呢？況且，耶穌曾說：「凡聽了我這些話而實行的，就好像一個聰明人…」（7:24）。可見『知』必須與『行』合一，否則就白費了一生的歲月，空悲切！

各位親愛的兄弟姊妹，有沒有人告訴過你『天國的話』呢？你了解嗎？你實行了嗎？你宣講過嗎？
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：gemini.google.com

The Word of the Kingdom (Matthew 13:18-23)

Biblical scholars tell us that many parables of Jesus’, especially those short ones, are contemporary aphorisms. For example, “Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket …” (Matthew 5:15); “People do not put new wine into old wineskins” (9:17) etc. Those were common wisdom among Jesus’ contemporary. However, the artistic elements of other parables are higher, making them more receptive to the audience. For example, the “Parable of the Sower” (13:3-8) and the parable of the “Lost sheep” (19:12-14) etc. Not only are they highly artistic, but they also contain surprises to attract the attention of the audience and leave behind deep impressions.

For example, the seeds in the “Parable of Sower” are truly miraculous! From the Roman official tax records, we know that the yield of wheat was roughly between 1:6 and 1:10. Thus, with the agricultural technology of that age, a hundredfold yield was next to impossible. If there were such “miraculous seeds”, gave me one so that I would become a farmer too! One grain yielded 100; 100 yielded ten thousand … Bingo! Even a thirtyfold were not bad: One grain yielded 30; 30 yielded 900; 900 yielded eight hundred and ten thousand … Had the world such miraculous seeds, mankind would not have had to worry about famines. Countries would not have started wars to fight for scarce resources. World peace were in sight! Friends, of course people do not fight for oversupplied goods. But there are still scarce resources and information which suffice to start regional warfare! Globalization amplifies even regional conflicts to shake the whole world! Don’t be naïve!

When Jesus explains this parable, He uses the term “understand” twice. The first use is ordinary understanding. That is to say, when we do not understand and are not willing to accept the gospel, it is like Satan taking away what we hear, the good news of reconciliation with the Lord and our neighbour (13:19). The second use is definitely not simply cerebral understanding but also includes practising and obeying. How can sowing seeds without the subsequent sweaty labour under the sun of weed-removal, of fertilizing and of harvesting … etc., yield hundredfold, sixtyfold and thirtyfold of wheat? After all, Jesus says, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man …” (7:24). Thus, understanding must go hand-in-hand with practising. Otherwise, all things are vanity!

Beloved brethren! Has anybody told you “the word of the Kingdom”? Do you understand? Do you practise? Have you proclaimed?
God bless!

我們比先知和義人更有福 We Are More Blessed Than Prophets and the Righteous

我們比先知和義人更有福（瑪13:10-17）

讀經切忌『斷章取義』，應該儘量全盤地研讀，以經解經，避免解錯。
耶穌基督來應驗舊約的預言（瑪5:17），但時代不同，古人沒有現代人的詞彙，很難準確地應驗百分百的細節。例如，今天《瑪竇》所引述的《依撒意亞》預言（13:14-15; 依6:9-10），給讀者的印象，是天主不願意以色列人獲得醫治，獲得罪赦！這樣理解是錯的，不但違反天主的本性，也與其他經文所啟示的真理，產生矛盾。例如「天主是愛」（若一4:8）；「因為我〔吾主上主〕不喜歡任何人喪亡」（則18:32）。

群眾來自不同背景，生活著不同程度的『心盲』，各人懷著不同的意圖和渴望…因此耶穌基督對他們只講比喻，給群眾自由選擇。有些人因為聽不懂而離去；有些人聽不到符合他們期望的道理，也會失望地離開；部份群眾聽了比喻，覺得天國原來是那麼實在，而且並不深奧，便興高采烈地走了；有些想認識更多『天國奧秘』的人，便留下跟隨耶穌，請教耶穌…這就是耶穌所說的：「因為凡有的，還要給他，使他富足；但是，凡沒有的，連他所有的，也要由他奪去」（瑪

13:12; 25:29）！其實耶穌在後來講述的『塔冷通比喻』中再次指出，每個人的天賦固然不同，但決定性的因素在於個人的抉擇（25:24-25）！所以，不是天父不願意罪人獲得赦免，而是罪人是否願意回心轉意，尋求與主與人修和！

各位親愛的兄弟姊妹，在《瑪竇福音》，『義人』一詞出現過18次，是指『無罪、守法或天主悅納的人〔例如：亞伯爾〕』。他們的賞報是光榮的：「那時，義人要在他們父的國裡，發光如同太陽」（13:43）。不過，我們作為耶穌的門徒，比先知和義人更有福。因為耶穌解釋了『天國奧秘』給我們知道，是先知和義人沒有機會看到和聽到的。並且祂要派遣『護慰者聖神』親自教訓我們，使我們想起祂所說的一切（若14:26）。請注意，即使我們擁有比先知和義人更大的優勢，將來我們未必「發光如同太陽」。相信大家已經心領神會。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
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We Are More Blessed Than Prophets and the Righteous (Matthew 13:10-17)

Quoting a piece of biblical text out of context is the worst thing we are able to do against believers. We should study the Bible as a whole, explaining scripture with scriptures so as to avoid misinterpreting the Bible.
Jesus Christ came to fulfil prophecies in the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17). But our ages are different. Ancient people did not have modern vocabulary. It is next to impossible to fulfil up to 100% of the details. For example, Matthew quotes a prophecy by Isaiah (13:14-15; Isaiah 6:9-10) which gives the readers an impression that God is reluctant to heal and to forgive the Israelites! This interpretation is categorically wrong. Not only does it go against the nature of God, but it also contradicts the truth revealed in other passages. For example, “God is love” (1 John 4:8); “For I [the Lord God] find no pleasure in the death of anyone …” (Ezekiel 18:32).

The crowd came from different backgrounds, living in different degrees of “spiritual blindness”. Each one of them harboured different intentions and desires … Therefore Jesus Christ told them parables, giving the crowd the freedom to choose. Some did not understand and left. Some did not hear the messages they anticipated and left in disappointment. Some felt that the Kingdom of Heaven was not difficult to understand and left joyfully. Some wanted to know more about the “mysteries of the Kingdom” and decided to stay and follow Jesus. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (13:12; 25:29)! In fact, Jesus spoke again later in the Parable of Talents. He points out that our talents are of course different but the definitive factor is the personal choices (25:24-25). Thus, it is not that the Father does not want to forgive. Instead, the ball is in the court of sinners. It is up to them to decide whether they are willing to repent and to seek reconciliation with the Lord and with their neighbour!

Beloved brethren, in the gospel of Matthew, “the righteous” appears 18 times to mean “the innocent, the law-abiding or those whom God looks with favour [e.g. Abel]”. Their reward is glorious, “Then, the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (13:43). However, being disciples of Jesus, we are more blessed than prophets and the righteous. It is because Jesus explains the “mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven” to us. Prophets and the righteous did not have the opportunity to see or to hear. Furthermore, Jesus will send us the “Advocate” to teach us everything and to remind us of all that He has told us (John 14:26). Pay attention! Even if we have advantages over prophets and the righteous, we may not be able to shine like the sun in the future. I am sure you understand what I mean.
God bless!

耶穌請派遣我 Jesus, Send Me

耶穌請派遣我（若20:1-2;11-18）

先教宗方濟各在2016年7月22日，把聖瑪利亞瑪達肋納的『紀念日』〔聖多瑪斯稱許她為『諸宗徒之宗徒』〕，升格為『慶日』，不覺已有十年！聖女是一位忠貞的門徒，在十字架下與聖母瑪利亞和若望宗徒，不離不棄，直到耶穌基督的遺體埋葬到墓穴。不但如此，她在第一個復活節黎明時，來到埋葬耶穌的墳墓，相信是為了給耶穌的遺體『補粉』罷！她對耶穌基督的愛慕，的確無微不至！於是天主子賞報她成為看到復活主的第一人，並差遣她向宗徒們宣告祂的升天計劃：「妳到我的弟兄那裡去，告訴他們：我升到我的父和你們的父那裡去，升到我的天主和你們的天主那裡去」（若20:17）。

雖然若望只記載瑪利亞瑪達肋納一個人在第一個復活節黎明的事蹟，但並沒有否定其他婦女的同行（20:30-31）。可是，為甚麼主耶穌派遣瑪利亞瑪達肋納，不是去宣告祂的復活，而是祂的升天計劃呢？理由非常簡單，在當時的猶太文化，即使是幾個婦女的作證，都不會被接納為真。所以當她們回報宗徒們主耶穌的遺體不知所終的時候，伯多祿與若望兩個成年男人，便須要前往墓穴查證作實（20:3-10）！預報救主升天就沒有這個作證上的困難了，因為尚未發生。事實上，在《瑪竇福音》記載的最後一刻，「…有人還心中疑惑」（瑪28:17）。

各位親愛的兄弟姊妹，宣講『天國奧秘』真是那麼困難嗎？我們既然沒有神職人員或傳教士的包袱，理應是十分輕鬆的。為甚麼我們要介意沒有人相信我們的宣講呢？耶穌基督派遣的標準〔倘若有的話〕，應該是對祂愛慕有多深。倘若耶穌不派遣我們，我們反而要擔心，擔心我們在天國留位了沒有，對嗎？ 聖瑪利亞瑪達肋納，為我等祈。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
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Jesus, Send Me (John 20:1-2; 11-18)

On July 22, 2016 the then Pope Francis elevated the memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to festivity. It has already been a decade! Saint Magdalene is a faithful disciple. She stood by the cross with the BVM and the apostle John until the corpse of Jesus Christ was buried. Not only that, she was the first person to visit the tomb of Jesus before daybreak, probably to further embalm the body of Jesus! Her love of Jesus Christ goes truly down to the tiniest details. Thus the Son of God rewards her to be the first person to witness the risen Lord and to commission her to announce His Ascension plan, “Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:17)

Though John only mentions Mary Magdalene in the first Easter dawn, he does not deny the existence of other accompanying women (20:30-31). But why did Lord Jesus send Mary Magdalene, not to proclaim His Resurrection, but His Ascension plan? The reason is simple. The Jewish custom during that age did not accept the witness of women, however many they might be. Thus when she reported to the apostles that Jesus’ corpse was missing, Peter and John, two Jewish adults, proceeded to the tomb to verify (20:3-10)! Announcing the Ascension of the Saviour has no such difficulty because it had not yet happened! In fact, as reported in the Gospel of Matthew, at the last moment, “…, they [the eleven disciples] worshipped, but they doubted” (Matthew 28:17).

Beloved brethren! Is proclaiming the Mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven really that difficult? We don’t have the burdens of clergy and missionaries. Our hearts are light. But why does nobody listening to our proclamation bother us? The criterion of Jesus Christ’s commission, if there be any, should be how much we love him. Had Jesus not sent us, we would have been worried! We should worry whether there is room reserved for us in heaven, shouldn’t we? St. Mary Magdalene. Pray for us. Amen.
God bless!

不是耶穌基督親屬的人又如何？ What Of Those Non-Family-Members of Jesus Christ?

不是耶穌基督親屬的人又如何？（瑪12:46-50）

相信各位對今天的福音選段，一定非常熟悉。耶穌基督希望恢復人類最原始，亦是最完美的人際關係。在原罪的影響下，人的視野狹窄了，只關心自身的益處。今天所見，缺乏『公德心』的行為，比比皆是！君王把天下變成了自己的私人財產，私家花園，很自然帝位只傳給長子嫡孫。上行下效，百姓亦把自己的產業，按親疏秩序遺留給有自己血統的人。耶穌基督要建立的天國，並不是這樣的，因為再沒有死亡，不用再愁如何分配遺產了！所以主耶穌要打破『血緣』關係制度，毫不含糊地說：「不拘誰遵行我在天之父的意旨，他就是我的兄弟、姊妹和母親」（瑪12:50）。在天國裡做祂的親屬，不在於任何形式的『血緣』關係〔例如『上契』、『包養』等等的誼親關係！〕，而在於有沒有遵行天父的意旨！

主耶穌後來說：「被召的人多，被選的人少」（22:14）。那麼，那些沒有成為耶穌基督親屬的人，他們的命運又如何呢？答案就在今天福音選段的三節上文（12:43-45），可惜沒有收錄在主日或平日讀經之中，今天且讓我們趁機進行默想。這三節經文上接法利塞人的自大，拒絕悔改，甚至挑戰耶穌。他們即使附了魔，憑他們自己的儀式亦足以驅逐（12:27）。結果助長了他們的自我膨脹，有恃無恐！耶穌除了表示自己比厄里亞和撒羅滿還大之餘，坦白地警告他們將會泥足深陷，不能自拔！要知道無論古今中外，附魔的個案大部份是自己招惹來的。在正常的環境下，人類有充足的所謂『正氣』保護，邪魔不能輕易入侵。驅魔成功後，理應培養出『居安思危』的態度，尋找附魔的根源，加以防範。倘若抱著有恃無恐的心態，結果只會招來「七個比牠〔之前的邪魔〕更惡的魔鬼來，進去，住在那裡；那人末後的處境就比以前的更壞了。對這邪惡的世代也必是這樣」（12:45）。

各位親愛的兄弟姊妹，即使邪魔的存在不容易察覺，也不用愁。因為尋求和履行天父的意旨，一點也不難。且讓我們彼此代禱，呼求『護慰者聖神』降臨輔導，幫助我們成為耶穌的真親屬。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝： copilot.microsoft.com

What Of Those Non-Family-Members of Jesus Christ? (Matthew 12:46-50)

I’m sure you’re familiar with the Gospel passage today. Jesus Christ wants to restore the original and the most nearly perfect interpersonal relationships. Under the influence of the Original Sin, our sight becomes narrow and we care only about our personal advantages. Wherever we set our sight, most people neglect the common good. Empires became possessions and private gardens of kings. The firstborns became crown princes by default. The commoners below followed suits and offspring inherited wealth in peck order. The Kingdom of Heaven which Jesus Christ wills to establish is unlike this because there is no more death. Nobody needs to worry about the distribution of inheritance! Thus Lord Jesus wants to abolish the “blood-line” institution. Without ambiguity, He says, “For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:50). In the Kingdom of Heaven, people relate to the Lord not through consanguinity but through doing the will of God the Father!

Later, Lord Jesus says, “Many are invited, but few are chosen” (22:14). Then, what’s the fate of those non-family-members of the Lord? The answer lies in the previous 3 verses just before text we read today. Regrettably, they do not appear in any lectionary. So, let us take the opportunity to meditate on them now. These 3 verses follow the story of the Pharisees’ refusal to repent and their challenges to Jesus. Even when they were possessed by demons, they were able to exorcise with their own rituals (12:27). Consequently, their successes fueled their inflated egos! Besides telling them that He is greater than Jonah and Solomon, Jesus warned them of their inability to save themselves! Let’s be true to ourselves. Whenever and wherever possessions happen, the victims usually invite them! Under normal circumstances, people possess sufficient integrity to shield themselves from demonic intrusions. After successful exorcisms, we should not be complacent. Instead, we should dig up the sources and find ways to contain them. If instead, when people are arrogant, self-content and over-confident, “it [the exorcised unclean spirit] goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there; and the last condition of that person is worse than the first. Thus it will be with this evil generation” (12:45).

Beloved brethren, even if the existence of evil spirits is not easy to detect, don’t worry. It is because it is not difficult to do the will of the Father. Let us pray for each other, invoke the “Advocate” to come down to counsel us and to help us become the true family members of Jesus. Amen.
God bless!

視而不見 Look and Yet Not See

視而不見（瑪12:38-42）

法利塞人不是沒有見過耶穌行的治病驅魔神跡，例如一個附魔的啞巴，耶穌驅逐啞巴身上的魔鬼後，啞巴就說出話來（瑪9:33）。可惜法利塞人心硬，心盲了；以至他們視而不見，強說耶穌仗賴魔王驅魔（9:34, 12:24），所以不算是神跡！在今天的福音選段中，他們要求耶穌行一個『徵兆』。這不是一個普通的神跡，而是一個符合他們規定的，『來自天上』的神跡，例如天降瑪納，足以供應60萬以色列人食用40年！他們以為這樣便可以難倒耶穌，揭穿祂的偽裝！因此，耶穌批評他們是「邪惡淫亂」的世代（12:39）。之所以是『淫亂』，是因為他們失去了對天主的『忠貞』。他們自我膨脹，信賴自己的權勢和地位，多於信靠天主。其實，我們何嘗不是好像法利塞人一樣，或多或少也習染了他們的思維，信賴自己辛苦經營得來的現世成就，多於信靠天主嗎？

尼尼微是亞述帝國的首都，天主曾借助亞述帝國懲戒北國以色列，讓他們亡國悔改。法利塞人當然知道這段沉痛的歷史，因為南國猶大重蹈覆轍，亡國給巴比倫帝國。法利塞人亦在這個亡國時期，應運而生，成為猶太人的精神領袖！到了耶穌時代，他們被名利充昏了頭腦，抗拒耶穌基督的教導，並挑戰祂的權威！耶穌便借約納先知的故事和舍巴女王的事蹟，提醒法利塞人「這裡有一位大於約納/撒羅滿的」（12:41-42）。

各位親愛的兄弟姊妹，天主子降生成人，以默西亞身份來滿全法律與先知（5:17）。我們接受嗎？抑或我們要求天父滿足我們特定的要求，我們才去信從耶穌基督呢？求天主聖神助祐我們吧，溶化我們的驕傲自大，學習耶穌的良善心謙，背起自己的十字架跟隨基督吧！亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝： gemini.google.com

Look and Yet Not See (Matthew 12:38-42)

The Pharisees had seen Jesus’ healing miracles and exorcisms, for example the healing of a mute person. When the demon was driven out, the mute person spoke (Matthew 9:33). Regrettably, the Pharisees were so stiff-necked and blind in heart that they looked and yet did not see. They said that Jesus drove out demons by the prince of demons (9:34, 12:24). Thus, it was not a miracle! In the gospel text today, they demanded a “sign” from Jesus. This “sign” was no ordinary miracle but one that met their criteria. It should be a miracle from heaven above, e.g. dropping manna from heaven to feed 600,000 Jews for 40 years! They thought that Jesus could not make it and they would debunk His claims! Thus, Jesus criticized them as an “evil and unfaithful generation” (12:39). They were “unfaithful/promiscuous” because they had lost their “chastity” towards God. Their ego was inflated. They worshipped power and status more than reliance on God. In fact, sometimes we also act like Pharisees, buy their mentality and trust in our own achievements on earth more than reliance in God!

Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. God had made use of the Assyrian Empire to conquer in order to chasten the northern kingdom of Israel to repent. Of course the Pharisees knew this painful lesson well because the southern kingdom of Judah followed the same track and was conquered by the Babylonian Kingdom. The Pharisees arose during this Babylonian Captivity and became the spiritual leaders of the Jews! In Jesus’ time, their minds were flooded with fames and benefits. They rejected Jesus’ teachings and challenged His authority! Jesus made use of the stories of Jonah and Queen Sheba to remind the Pharisees that “there is something greater than Jonah/Solomon here” (12:41-42).

Beloved brethren! The Son of God incarnates to fulfil the Law and the Prophets in the role of the Messiah (5:17). Do we accept? Or do we believe in Jesus Christ only after the Father fulfils our demands? Pray to the Holy Spirit to melt our pride and our ego so that we are able to learn from the humility of Jesus and to carry our crosses to follow Christ. Amen.
God bless!

天主對壞人的慈悲 God’s Mercy On the Wicked

常年期第十六主日，甲年
主題：天主對壞人的慈悲 God’s Mercy On the Wicked

我們必須承認，人類是有限的。世上沒有一個人是全知全能和不死的。倘若有，他不是一般的人而是『神人』或『神仙』。古代寫詩寫得好的，被人吹捧為『詩仙』、『詩佛』；棋藝精湛的，被封為『棋聖』；劍術無雙的是『劍聖』…等等。他們斷非泛泛之輩，浪得虛名的人。但人類始終會疲勞、會受情緒和精神壓力影響。西洋棋有一句著名諺語：「犯倒數第二個錯者勝The winner of the game is the player who makes the next-to-last mistake」。結果，不會疲勞的『人工智能』，先後在1997年擊敗西洋棋世界冠軍；在2016年撃敗圍棋世界冠軍！常言道：『智者千慮，必有一失』。『棋聖』也會疲倦而算漏一著。但是倘若我們想成為一個成功人士，或者希望保持在成功的狀態，我們便必須考慮多幾步『後著』了！

天主是無限的，所以祂的『運作模式』不同人類的運作模式，因為天主不須要考慮『後著』！先知說：「誰曾指揮過上主的心靈；或做過祂的參謀，教導過祂呢？祂曾向誰請教過，請他教導自己，指導自己正路，教授自己知識，指示明智的行徑呢？」（依40:13-14）；先知繼續說：「因為我〔上主天主〕的思念不是你們的思念，你們的行徑也不是我的行徑」（55:8）。但為我們最難明白的，是為甚麼天主容許邪惡的人，胡作非為，殃及無辜？其實天主的思想並不複雜，祂容忍人類作惡是情理兼備的。
首先，人類是按祂的肖像所造（創1:26），有能力與祂溝通，是祂所有創造中的『傑作』。天主對我們『徧心』，不斷給我們回頭悔改的機會是正確的，因為我們的『失敗』，也就是祂的『失敗』！正如上主藉先知說：「因為我不喜歡任何人喪亡─吾主上主的斷語─你們回心轉意罷！你們必得生存」（則18:32）。
其次，天主是大能的，所以祂自然會極度自我克制，絕不會隨意出手。否則，祂的毀滅能力將會是難以想像的。正如今天的《答唱詠》所說：「上主，祢是良善而慈悲的天主，祢緩於發怒，極其寬仁又極其信實」（詠86:15, 出34:6）。可見天主的全能大能，不單只顯示在祂所行的驚天動地的神跡之中，更顯現在祂的慈悲寬恕之中。讓我們重溫幾個歷史案例，或許可以改變大家的觀感。

首先，亞當吃了『禁果』之後，上主天主固然要懲罰亞當（創3:17-19）；但懲罰之前，上主先許下『原始福音』，就是女人的後裔將要踏碎撒殫的頭，而撒殫要咬傷他〔女人的後裔〕的腳跟（3:15）。這就是將來耶穌基督以十字架的苦難來救贖世人的預言！在驅逐原祖父母離開樂園之前，上主為他們造了一件皮衣（3:21）。可見上主真的捨不得看見自己的『傑作』喪亡。
加音殺了亞伯爾之後，上主並沒有「…以命償命，以眼還眼，以牙還牙…以疤還疤」（出21:23-25）去報復。否則，上主的兩件『傑作』便會毀壞了¹！上主只懲罰加音成為一個流離失所的人（創4:12），並給加音一個記號保護他，以免遇見他的人撃殺他（4:15）！上主疼愛亞伯爾，同時亦憐愛加音²！
到了大約公元前1960年，亞巴郎出生。上主接受99歲的亞巴郎為惡名昭著的索多瑪城求情（18:32）；同樣，到了大約公元前15世紀〔另一說公元前13世紀〕，當以色列人在曠野拜金牛時，上主接納梅瑟為這個執拗的民族求情，撤消了要加諸那些拜金牛的百姓的災禍（出32:14）。
到了君王時代，南國猶大的第12任君王阿哈次，是一個虛偽邪惡的君王。他不但仿效外族崇拜偶像，甚至把自己的兒女拿去祭神（列下16:2-4）！就是這位阿哈次，上主天主派依撒意亞先知向他宣布『厄瑪奴耳』的預言（依7:10-17）。他死後由兒子希則克雅繼位，與及後來的約史雅，阿哈次的孫，是二十位猶大君王中，兩個絕無僅有，在上主前無可指摘的猶大君王（18:3; 22:2）！倘若上主沒有給阿哈次悔改機會，希則克雅何來出生的機會呢？

認識了天主的『運作模式』，我們不難理解『麥子與莠子比喻』的教訓。世上正進行著一場靈性的戰爭。天主在世上播下了良好的麥子，但撒殫出於嫉妒，在良好的麥子四周播下壞種子。一方面與好種子競爭資源，使好種子變壞；另一方面好種子與壞種子的關係就好像生在土地下的根一樣，千絲萬縷，糾纏不清。天主出於憐憫和忍耐，等到末日時才作出最後的審判。因此，好人與壞人、義人與惡人，一起生活、一起成長，是無可避免的現實。那麼，我們可以怎樣與那些傷害我們的人一起生活呢？

正如今天的第一篇讀經所記載：「義人必須憐愛眾人」（智12:19）。『眾人』當然包括了邪惡的人，因此我們必須好像天主一樣，憐愛邪惡的人！可能你會想，我們知道天主憐憫邪惡的人，但我們不是天主，我們憑甚麼憐憫邪惡的人呢？所以各位兄弟姊妹，你們是有自由不同意執事的意見。但在憐憫罪人這一點上，雅各伯宗徒的教訓是恰當的，他說：「對不行憐憫的人，審判時也沒有憐憫，憐憫必得勝審判」（雅2:13）。憐憫罪人的動機不是姑息養奸，而是給罪人回頭悔改的機會，是愛德的表現。同時也是信德的表現，因為我們相信天主，而天主在經上清楚說明，「復仇是我的事，我必報復」（羅12:19, 申32:35, 希10:30）。即是說，懲罰和報復由天主來做，由天主來負責！因此，憐憫罪人、寬恕罪人是愛德，同時又是信德的行為。雅各伯宗徒寫完「憐憫必得勝審判」後，繼續寫『沒有行為的信德是死的』（雅2:14-26）。從上文下理可以推斷，雅各伯宗徒正在說：「倘若你沒有憐憫罪人，你的信德是死的，你相信天主是假的，你在說謊！」

各位親愛的兄弟姊妹，主耶穌教我們祈禱時說：「求祢寬恕我們的罪過，如同我們寬恕別人一樣」（瑪6:12）。即是說，倘若我們只能寬恕一些雞毛蒜皮的事，在大事情上總要與人斤斤計較，算清算楚的話，我祝願大家好運了！試想想，天父只寬恕我們雞毛蒜皮的罪。聖詠的作者說：「上主，你若細察我的罪辜，我主！有誰還能站立得住？」（詠130:3）
天主保祐！

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¹雖然在時間上，法律是後來的事，但天主從起初已構想了盟約和法律；祂不會自相矛盾，凌駕在自己定立的法律之上。上主沒有殺死加音，顯示了上主的克制！

²據《創世紀》的記載，加音的子孫中，就有畜牧者的始祖（4:20）、彈琴吹蕭的始祖（4:21）。那時人類已進入銅鐵器時代（4:22）。

2023年反省
圖片鳴謝： gemini.google.com, 周家明博士