希望的傳承者是「地鹽世光」Messengers of Hope are Salt and Light

常年期第五主日，甲年
主題：希望的傳承者是「地鹽世光」Messengers of Hope are Salt and Light

作為「希望的傳承者」，我們的使命就是讓我們所接觸到的近人，重燃對天主、對大地、對世人和對自己的希望。今天彌撒所選讀的聖經章節，告訴我們怎樣具體地踐行這個使命。且讓我們先從福音的選段開始默想，但首先，我們須要調整對「光」的理解。

今天我們習慣用「光」來象徵「真理」，可是在古代的猶太文化，「光」卻代表仁愛、慈悲和公義。例如今天『答唱詠』的重句部份，就是這樣說：上主的仁愛、慈悲和公義，有如光明照亮義人（詠112:4）；一個人若能散財賙濟貧苦的人，他便會受人敬仰，獲得光榮（112:9）。可見光明代表仁愛和慈悲。又例如大家耳熟能詳的「最後審判比喻」，耶穌基督事先張揚了的六道考入天堂的「入學試題目」，即教會傳統教導的六種『形哀矜』，包括：「飢者食之，渴者飲之、裸者衣之、收留旅人、照顧病人、探望囚者」（瑪25:35-36）。從今天的第一篇讀經我們知道，其實耶穌基督是引用猶太人熟悉的先知宣講：原來天主所悅納的祭獻，不是全燔祭、贖罪祭、和平祭和素祭等等，而是「要人將食糧分給飢餓的人；收容無地容身的窮人，到自己的屋裡；見到赤身露體的人，給他衣服穿，不要避開你的骨肉」（依58:7）。「骨肉」是同胞的意思，看來依撒意亞當先知的年代，已到了禮崩樂壞的世代，很多以色列人連自己的同胞也刻薄剝削，他們向天主的祭獻，天主又怎會悅納呢？此外，先知的論述，並沒有排除外邦人。因為在《梅瑟五書》內，也有提及愛護外邦人。先知的宣講是不會與律法互相矛盾的。倘若我們照先知的教訓做，「你將光芒四射，有和黎明…上主的光榮要作你的後盾」（58:8）！可見自古以來，猶太文化以光明象徵用愛心照顧弱小貧困的行為；凡這樣做的人，就會光芒四射！耶穌基督是第一世紀的猶太人，所以當祂說：「你們是世界的光」（瑪5:14a）的時候，祂是指愛心和善行。因為祂繼續說：「照樣，你們的光也當在人前照耀，好使他們看見你們的善行，光榮你們在天之父」（5:16）。所以作為「希望的傳承者」，作為「世界的光」，我們應以善行，照亮近人，重燃他們的希望。

我們應該怎樣理解「你們是地上的鹽」（5:13a）呢？在古代，鹽是用來調味和防腐的。作為基督徒，作為希望的傳承者，我們應該有甚麼「味」呢？非常簡單，我們應該有「人情味」！對人真誠、關懷、欣賞、感激、不斤斤計較、成人之美、守望相助…等等，只不過是人之常情而已。但「防腐」好像有點難度，因為我們沒有消滅「邪惡」的能耐，沒有權力改變社會上的偏見和剝削制度！此言差矣！或許對於別人的邪惡，我們沒有能力制止，但最少我們可以節制自己的邪惡！先知說得很清楚：「我〔上主天主〕所中意的齋戒，豈不是要人解除不義的鎖鏈，廢除軛上的繩索，使受壓迫者獲得自由，折斷所有的軛嗎？」（依58:6）自問我們有沒有壓迫身邊的人呢？有沒有奪走他人的自由，束縛綑縛他們呢？例如，很多家長誤信了「贏在起跑線」的謬論，於是把孩子的時間表填滿，放學後補習、參加樂器班、演藝班、劍擊班…，但求在面試時拿著厚厚的「作品集」，擊敗對手！這些「怪獸家長」強加自己的意願在子女身上，使他們身心疲累，侵犯了他們的自由，真是「好心做壞事」

此外，生活在現代社會，尤其是人口急速老化的香港，同時照顧子女和長者，成了大部份香港家庭要面對的挑戰。居住環境不能容納大家庭，除了工作糊口之外，再騰不出人手照顧子女和長者。在政府沒有足夠的支援的情況下，虐兒和虐老的新聞報導，日益增多。我們怎樣平衡子女或者長輩的安全和他們的尊嚴呢？作為基督徒，倘若我們有幸不需要做照顧者，我們可以協助鄰居的照顧者，減輕他們的負擔嗎？這樣做不但有人情味，還可以減少虐兒虐老的個案，豈不是做到了鹽的防腐功能嗎？

總括地說，今天的讀經，是上一個主日「真福八端」的延續。耶穌基督要求我們做「地鹽世光」，去建設天國。倘若我們「失了味」（瑪5:13a），或者「放在斗底下」（5:15），即是我們沒有善用天賜的恩寵去行善，改善弱小貧困者的狀況，我們就是「毫無用途，只好拋在外邊，任人踐踏」（5:13b）的廢物了！我們對主耶穌的要求，豈能掉以輕心！讓我們呼求聖神的指引和幫助，做到名副其實的地鹽世光，成為一個發光發熱的「希望的傳承者」。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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2023年反省
圖片鳴謝：grok.com

作息有時 A Time To Labour, A Time To Rest

二月七日
《希望的傳承者系列 VI》
主題：作息有時（谷6:30-34）

任何工程，必須在人力、物流及管理上，有條理地規劃。否則半途而廢，貽笑大方（路14:28-30）。作為「希望的傳承者」，我們又豈能例外呢？否則我們便會後勁不繼，功虧一簣。

上文提到，耶穌派遣十二宗徒，兩人一組在加里肋亞地區傳福音（谷6:7），重燃猶太人對天主救援的希望。他們完成任務後，回來向耶穌作出彙報。宗徒們是我們的榜樣，他們示範了作為「希望的傳承者」應有的行動模式。我們應當建立一個良好的習慣，每天省察，包括「良心省察」和「意識省察」。簡單地說，我們應該每天祈禱，「將所作所教的一切，都報告給耶穌」（6:30）！在這裡，我只能假設大家每天的祈禱，是私人的祈禱，而不是好像宗徒一樣，是團體的祈禱。我們不必強求每天參加團體祈禱，因為大家的生活處境不同。只要我們能保持著每天祈禱，那就好了！

主耶穌豈會不知道我們所作所教的一切呢？其實祂希望我們停下來，稍作休息（6:31; 瑪11:28），跟祂學習（11:29），讓祂調校我們的步伐。所謂「欲速則不達」，雄心勃勃是我們的通病。長此下去，我們便會油盡燈枯；沒有從主耶穌身上吸取靈感和教訓，我們不久便會江郎才盡。

各位親愛的兄弟姊妹，作為「希望的傳承者」，不祈禱休息，不與主密談，便會一事無成，我們怎能不嚴肅對待，作息有時呢？
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：grok.com

[Messengers of Hope Series VI]
Theme: A Time To Labour, A Time To Rest (Mark 6:30-34)

All projects rely on systematic planning to allocate labour, logistics and accountabilities. Otherwise, they will halt half-way and become a laughingstock (Luke 14:28-30). As “Messengers of Hope”, how can we be exempted? Otherwise, we will burnout quickly and leave the project half-done.

Previously, Jesus sent the Twelve, two-by-two to preach the gospel in the region of Galilee (Mark 6:7) to rekindle the Jews’ hope in the salvation of God. After the completion of their mission, the Twelve returned and reported to Jesus. The Twelve are our exemplars. They demonstrate the modus operandi of “Messengers of Hope”. We should build up a good habit of daily examination, including both “examination of conscience” and “examination of consciousness”. Simply put, like the Apostles, we should pray daily, “report all they had done and taught” (6:30) to Jesus. Here I assume your daily prayers are private prayers, unlike the Apostles’ which were community prayers. It is not necessary to force community prayers onto ourselves because our stations of life are different. It is good enough to keep praying every day!

How can Jesus not know what we have done and taught? In fact, He wants us to go to Him and rest a while (6:31; Matthew 11:28), learn from Him (11:29), let Him adjust our paces. As the aphorism goes, “more haste more waste”. Most of us are too ambitious. Such an MO is unsustainable. We will soon burnout. If we do not draw inspirations and teachings from Lord Jesus, we will dry up soon.

Beloved brethren! As “Messengers of Hope”, we will achieve nothing if we do not pray, rest and talk to the Lord. We cannot afford to be complacent. There is a time to labour and a time to rest.
God bless!

沉默的大多數 The Silent Majority

二月六日
《希望的傳承者系列 V》
主題：沉默的大多數（谷6:14-29）

今天教會紀念在日本發生教難時的殉道者，他們的事跡並不驚天地、泣鬼神，而是見證了信徒如何面對天主的沉默。他們的見證，的確可歌可泣。二十世紀有作家把這些事跡編寫成小說，後來更拍成電影，進入觀眾心靈的深處。電影拍得頗為沉重，令人不期然問：「天主，祢還在嗎？為甚麼祢看見我們受苦，仍然袖手旁觀呢？」的確，面對有系統的迫害時，信徒沒有選擇的餘地，只好效法耶穌的沉默，堅忍地靜待天主的拯救。

可能自知劫數難逃吧，自始至終，若翰洗者並沒有選擇沉默。他被捕後仍然不停大聲疾呼，希望能喚醒黑落德安提帕的良心（谷6:20），好能迎接天主的受傅者，通過祂回歸天父的家鄉。這是若翰洗者的「望德」，一點也不是為自己的利益，是近乎「愛德」的「望德」！人類是有理性的個體，為了理想，連性命也可以捨棄，真是名副其實的「天主的肖像」（創1:26）！

但人類歷史不竟是現實的，大奸大惡，滿手無辜者鮮血的人，遺臭萬年；藉著「立德、立功、立言」的人，成為萬世師表，名垂青史，在世人心目中成為楷模！至於那些「沉默的大多數」，他們的名字不會在史書上出現，當權者亦不加理會，直到他們發聲為止… 但願本文付梓之日，天主已妥善處理好伊朗的示威了！

各位親愛的兄弟姊妹，每個「天主的肖像」都是獨特的，所以不能強求劃一的殉道方式。作為「沉默的大多數」，讓我們依恃聖神，忍耐地為上主天主的美善作見證。「不呼喊，不喧嚷，在街市上也聽不到他的聲音」（依42:2），謙遜地做「上主僕人」，做「希望的傳承者」。我們的名字已寫在「生命冊」上了（斐4:3）。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：1971年電影《沉默》截圖

[Messengers of Hope Series V]
Theme: The Silent Majority (Mark 6:14-29)

Today the Church celebrates the Japanese martyrs whose stories might not be earth-shaking. Rather they bear witness to how disciples should stand during the silence of God. Their stories worth praising with psalms and songs. In the 20th century, a Japanese novelist wrote about them. The novel has been made into movies to enter into the psyche of the movie-goers. The movies are heavy. People naturally ask, “God, are you still here? Why don’t you help us when you see us suffer?” Indeed, standing before systematic persecutions, believers have no choice but to follow the example of Jesus’ silence, waiting patiently and steadfastly for God’s salvation.

Probably anticipating martyrdom, John the Baptist did not choose to remain silent. After being arrested, he continued to shout and yell, hoping to awake Herod Antipas’ conscience (Mark 6:20); to receive God’s Messiah through whom he would return to the Father. This was the Baptist’s hope which did no good to his own benefit, a hope nearly indistinguishable from charity! Human beings are rational and yet are willing to lay down their lives for some ideals and values. They are genuinely God’s image (Genesis 1:26)!

After all, human history is realistic. Historians record evil people whose hands were soaked with blood of the innocent. Historians also put into writing those exemplars whose virtues, legacies and philosophies build up our civilizations. As for the “silent majority”, their names will not appear in history books. People in power will ignore them until they start roaring … Pray that when this post goes public, God has already settled the protests in Iran.

Beloved brethren! Every “image of God” is unique. There is no standard way to suffer martyrdom. As members of the “silent majority”, let us rely on the Holy Spirit to bear witness patiently for the beauty and mercy of the Lord God. “He will not cry out, nor shout, nor make his voice heard in the street” (Isaiah 42:2). Let us be “Servants of the Lord”, be “Messengers of Hope” so that our “names are in the book of Life” (Philippians 4:3). Amen.
God bless!

貧乏加強希望 Poverty Strengthens Hope

二月五日
《希望的傳承者系列 IV》
主題：貧乏加強希望（谷6:7-13）

讀今天的福音，我們容易被驅魔和治病的神跡吸引。當時的十二門徒，也會因為自己運用新增的權柄所能做到的事，同樣感到興奮！但作為耶穌的代表，傳福音的宗徒，他們所應該注意的，不是權柄，而是人靈的益處。為群眾做甚麼事才是對他們最好呢？

「除了一根棍杖外，甚麼也不要帶：不要帶食物，不要帶口袋，也不要在腰帶裡帶銅錢」（谷6:8b），主耶穌這些指令，對傳福音有甚麼幫助呢？在物質層面看，對領受福音的群眾並沒有任何益處，門徒甚至會成為了他們經濟上的負擔。倘若門徒們不想在物質上負累受眾，他們就要好像保祿一樣，自食其力（得前2:9）！這樣做，反而會帶給群眾社會性及靈性上的益處。

第一，沒有財政上的支持，傳福音的進度一定快不起來。門徒會有更長的時間，與受眾一起生活，與他們一起發展這個蒙恩得救者所組成的團體。第二，在無權無勢的環境下，上主天主成為了他們惟一的靠山，這是最理想的。聖詠的作者說：「你們不要全心依賴王侯大臣，也不要依賴不能施救的世人；他的氣息一斷，就要歸於灰土，他的一切計劃，立刻化為烏有」（詠146:3-4）。的確，自古以來，當教會獲得帝國青睞時，不但發展蓬勃，一時無兩：入教人數劇增；並且得到很多貴族捐贈物業、政府豁免納稅的優待等等。可惜，因為財富與權力多了，很多聖職人員便貪污腐敗了，使耶穌基督以血和淚所建立的教會蒙羞！

各位親愛的弟兄姊妹，曾幾何時，我們相信自己多於相信天主呢？我們仰賴人的關係和力量，多於仰仗與天主的關係和天主的力量呢？且讓我們更體會耶穌基督教導「真福八端」的一片苦心，以貧乏對抗富貴和權勢，加強我們對天主承諾的望德。以僅有的貧乏資源，關心近人的需要，履行愛德，成為「希望的傳承者」。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：grok.com, copilot.microsoft.com

[Messengers of Hope Series IV]
Theme: Poverty Strengthens Hope (Mark 6:7-13)

Reading the story today, we will easily be attracted to the exorcisms and miraculous cures. The Twelve too would also be excited by the newly delegated authority and the things that they could do! But as representatives of Jesus and apostles that evangelize, they should focus, not on authority but on the benefits of human souls. What is the best thing to do with the crowd?

“To take nothing for the journey but a walking stick --- no food, no sack, no money in their belts” (Mark 6:8b). How would this instruction benefit evangelization? On the material level, it didn’t bring the recipients any benefit. The disciples would even become a financial burden to the congregation. If the disciples did not want to burden the congregation, they must work with their own hands like Paul (1 Thessalonians 2:9)! In this way, the instruction brings social and spiritual benefits to the crowd.

First, without financial support, evangelization would not pick up momentum. The disciples would spend longer time, living with the people to develop a community of the redeemed. Secondly, without the support of the people in power, the Lord God becomes the only person for them to rely on. This situation is perfect. The Psalter says, “Put no trust in princes, in children of Adam powerless to save. Who breathing his last, returns to the earth; that day all his planning comes to nothing” (Psalms 146:3-4). Indeed, since ancient times, whenever the Empire looked upon the Church, she flourished unprecedentedly. Attendance ballooned, nobilities showered her with buildings and the State exempted her from taxation etc. Regrettably, increase in wealth and authority corrupts many clergy, bringing shame to the Church Jesus Christ built with blood and tears!

Beloved brethren! How often do we believe more in ourselves than in God, rely more on human connections and power than in our connections with God and His power? Let us discern the spirit of the Beatitudes Jesus Christ teaches, resist wealth and authority with poverty. Let us strengthen our hope in God’s promise, make use of the scarce resource we have in hand to care for our neighbour’s needs, practise charity and become “Messengers of Hope”. Amen.
God bless!

以希望還希望，以愛還愛 Repay Hope with Hope, Love with Love

二月四日
《希望的傳承者系列 III》
主題：以希望還希望，以愛還愛（谷6:1-6）。

有甚麼事物能令「全能、全知」的天主感到詫異呢？在邏輯上應該沒有。
耶穌不是天主嗎？倘若祂是天主，祂便是全能的。為甚麼祂在家鄉「不能行甚麼奇能」（谷6:5），只能做一些雞毛蒜皮的治病呢？倘若祂是天主，一切事物都在祂的認知之中。為甚麼祂會因為自己的鄉親父老們的「無信心而感到詫異」（6:6a）呢？難道祂對鄉人失望了，「遂周遊四周各村施教去了」嗎？ 《馬爾谷》這樣描述，難怪有人會懷疑耶穌基督是否真天主！

有疑問是一件好事，表示我們對真理的渴求。但我們必須抱著謙遜的心尋求真理，因為我們的理性能力有限，我們的判斷受到我們的文化背景和政治立場所影響。首先，我們必須謙遜地承認「耶穌基督真是天主又真是人」，是一項超越人類語言所能表述的命題。中世紀前出現分裂教會的「異端」，大部份都是圍繞著耶穌基督的天主性如何與祂的人性完美地結合的表述，真是有理說不清！

出於愛，「聖言成了血肉」（若1:14）。祂的天主性可以加強祂的人性，例如：耶穌以血肉之軀，「憑自己的神力，即刻認透了他們〔經師們〕私自這樣〔耶穌赦癱子的罪，說了褻瀆的話〕忖度」（谷2:8a）；又可以施行神跡，顯示天主的臨在。另一方面，祂的天主性不可以做一些矛盾人性的事，例如：在耶穌復活前，祂能同時佔據著不連續的空間而仍然活著，即使身首異處也能生存！此外，祂尊重人類的自主，不會強迫他們相信祂、愛祂。

基於上述原則，耶穌基督不是對鄉人失望而周遊四周各村施教，而是因為祂在世的時間有限，祂又不能同時分身在四周各村施教，所以時間到了，便起程前往其他地方傳福音！正因為耶穌基督對自己的鄉親父老滿懷希望，才會因他們的無信心而感到詫異。出於愛，耶穌寧願對世人滿懷希望、寧願被朋友出賣，也不願以自己的「全能、全知」，操控我們的命運。祂甚至拒絕知道末日的時刻（13:32）！

親愛的弟兄姊妹，感謝聖史馬爾谷，他讓我們知道主耶穌基督對我們滿懷希望。是祂先對世人懷有希望，所以我們也應該以希望還希望，以愛還愛，做一個「希望的傳承者」。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：grok.com, copilot.microsoft.com

[Messengers of Hope Series III]
Theme: Repay Hope with Hope, Love with Love (Mark 6:1-6)

What could surprise an omnipotent and omniscient God? Logically there shouldn’t be any.
Is Jesus not God? If He is God, He is omnipotent. Why was He “not able to perform any mighty deed there apart from curing a few sick people” (Mark 6:5)? If He is God, He knows everything. Why was He “amazed at their [His own kin’s] lack of faith” (6:6a)? Was He disappointed so that “He went around to the villages in the vicinity teaching”? Mark’s narrative would make readers question the divinity of Jesus Christ!

It is a good thing to ask questions. It shows our desire to seek the truth. But we must seek the truth with humility because our rationality is finite and our judgment is coloured by our cultural background and our political stance. Firstly, we must humbly confess that “the divinity and humanity of the Son of God is united in one person Jesus Christ” is a premise beyond the expressiveness of human languages. In fact, many heresies before the Middle Age were inadequate articulations of the union of the two complete and distinct natures in one person!

Out of love, “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14). His divinity enhances his humanity. E.g. In flesh, “Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they [the scribes] were thinking [Jesus was blaspheming] to themselves” (Mark 2:8a); and performed miracles to indicate the presence of God. On the other hand, His divinity does not contradict His humanity. E.g. before His resurrection, He did not simultaneously occupy non-continuous spaces and lived! Moreover, He respected human autonomy and did not force them to believe in Him, to love Him.

Based on the principles mentioned above, Jesus Christ did not go preaching to the villages in the vicinity because He was disappointed with His kin. Rather, His earthly time is limited. He could not simultaneously preach to different locations. Thus when time came, He had to go preaching elsewhere! Just because Jesus Christ was hopeful for His kin, He was surprised by His lack of faith. Out of love, Jesus preferred hope in human beings, preferred betrayal by friends to control our fate with His omnipotence and omniscience. He even refused to know the day or the hour of the end of the world (13:32)!

Beloved brethren! Thanks be to Mark the Evangelist who made known to us that Jesus Christ fully hope in us. It is He who hope in us first. Let us repay hope with hope, love with love and become “Messengers of Hope”. Amen.
God bless!

滿懷希望打破規矩 Breaking Rules with Hope

二月三日
《希望的傳承者系列 II》
主題：滿懷希望打破規矩（谷5:21-43）

相信天主全能全知、慈悲慈愛、無處不在，言出必行…並不難，困難在於遇上挫折失敗、恐懼疑惑、痛苦甚至迫害時，仍然相信天主的慈愛！是「望德」發揮作用的時候了！今天的故事中，會堂長雅依洛與及患血漏病的婦人，究竟碰上甚麼困難呢？

故事中的婦人患病已有十二年（谷5:25），不但受了許多痛苦，還花盡了自己所有的一切求醫，病情卻日益嚴重（5:26）！這個婦科病令她長期「不潔」，被社會隔離，沒有任何正常的社交生活。在缺乏親友支援的情況下，她理應心灰意冷。是「望德」支持她捱到耶穌的出現，耶穌的聲名帶給了她一線生機！她可以好像尼苛德摩（若3:1-2）一樣，夜訪耶穌求醫嗎？可能不合禮教。她可以好像一般的癩病人一樣，遠距離公開地向耶穌求醫嗎？可能沒有這個機會。要知道她擠身在人群中間，走到耶穌後面摸祂的衣裳，會令她所接觸到的所有人，包括耶穌在內，直到晚上都「不潔」（肋15:19-30），帶給很多人麻煩！但她已經到了「亂投藥石」的階段，顧不了那麼多法律和規矩，因為耶穌是她獲得痊癒的最後機會！她惟有選擇打破規矩，擠入人群中，摸耶穌的衣裳！她滿懷希望地打破規矩，結果耶穌沒有令她失望，安慰她並讚揚她的信德（谷5:34）。

雅依洛是會堂長（5:22），很可能是法利塞人。要知道大部份法利塞人仇視耶穌，甚至與自己的政敵聯手，除滅耶穌而後快（3:6）。雅依洛公開向耶穌求醫（5:22-23），是在打破法利塞黨內的團結，在黨內必會招來排擠，他有足夠的「望德」支持嗎？另一方面，雖然目睹耶穌治好血漏婦人的神跡，但女兒死去的噩耗，引發雅依洛的恐懼和失措，是非常實在的，令他幾乎吃不消，須要耶穌立刻給他支持：「不要怕，只管信」（5:36），肯定了他背棄黨的團結是恰當的，並維持著他的希望！今次雅依洛只需要捱受短時間的困難，日後耶穌受難時，才是真正考驗他「望德」的場合！

親愛的兄弟姊妹，只要是天主的旨意，打破規矩是正確的，但需要更清楚的「明辨」和更強大的望德才可以。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：grok.com

[Messengers of Hope Series II]
Theme: Breaking Rules with Hope (Mark 5:21-43)

Believing in an omnipotent, omniscient, all-forgiving, all-loving, all-present and all-faithful etc. … God is not difficult. Difficulty arises when we meet doubts, failures, fears, frustrations, pains and even persecutions. Do we still trust in God’s mercy? It is high time hope worked! In the story today, what difficulties did Jairus, a synagogue official and the bleeding woman encounter?

The woman had been suffering with haemorrhages for twelve years (Mark 5:25). Not only did she suffer pains, but she had also spent all that she had and yet, the affliction was getting worse (5:26)! This gynecological illness made her unclean, sandboxed by the society and deprived of normal social interactions. She should have become disheartened due to a lack of familial support. It was HOPE that had sustained her until the arrival of Jesus whose fame gave her a glimpse of life! Could she visit Jesus at night like Nicodemus (John 3:1-2) to seek cure? Mosaic Law would probably not permit. Could she beg for a cure from a distance in public like lepers? Probably she did not have that opportunity. Take note that when she elbowed her way among the crowd to come behind Jesus and to touch His cloak would make everyone she came in physical contact with, including Jesus, unclean until evening (Leviticus 15:19-30), bringing “inconvenience” to many people! But she was desperate and could not afford to care so much about rules and laws because Jesus was her last chance to get cured! Probably reluctantly she chose to break the rule and squeezed herself among the crowd in order to touch the cloak of Jesus! With hope she broke the rules and Jesus did not disappoint her. He consoled her and praised her faith (Mark 5:34).

Jairus was a synagogue official (5:22), most likely a Pharisee. Take note that most Pharisees were hostile to Jesus. They even joined hand with their political enemies to eliminate Jesus (3:6). Jairus was breaking the solidarity of Pharisees when he sought Jesus’ cure in public (5:2-23). Consequently he would be sidelined in the party. Did he find sufficient support in HOPE? On the other hand, though the miraculous cure of the bleeding woman would boost his faith, the news of his daughter’s death would definitely trigger fear and collapse of confidence. This was existential and needed Jesus’ immediate intervention, “Do not be afraid; just have faith” (5:36) which affirmed his deserting the party and sustaining his hope! This time, Jairus only needed to suffer a brief difficulty. His real challenge would come when Jesus suffered and died in the future!

Beloved brethren! When it is God’s will, breaking rules is appropriate on condition that there is a clear discernment and a stronger virtue of hope.
God bless!

懷著希望遵守規矩 Observing Rules with Hope

二月二日（獻耶穌於主殿）
《希望的傳承者系列 I》
主題：懷著希望遵守規矩（路2:22-40）

在大部份人的心目中，時代不斷地進步；生活富裕了、舒適了、方便了…不知不覺地，人們便覺得傳統的規矩落後，追不上時代進步的需要。時代的快速進步，正不斷地挑戰傳統所倡議和守護的價值。可惜經濟進步只是片面的，很多新興的工種和生活方式，並沒有提升人性的尊嚴。

當天主子進入這個世界開始祂贖世工程時，這是一個新世代的開始。但祂並沒有立刻改變當時的制度和規矩。當祂降生成為一個猶太人的時候，祂仍然履行那些沿用了千年的「梅瑟法律」：出生八日行「割損禮」，並起命耶穌（路2:21; 肋12:3）；滿了「取潔」的日期：即男嬰40日（12:2-4），女嬰80日（12:5），按法律到〔會幕〕聖殿獻上祭物（12:6-8; 路2:24）。猶太人深信，他們由「天主選民」淪為亡國奴，是因為他們沒有遵守天主藉梅瑟所頒布的法律，於是天主假借外族的手，懲誡他們。所以，無論環境順逆，猶太人必定堅守梅瑟法律，盼望天主的拯救，獲得「以色列的安慰」（2:25）。

西默盎不愧是先知，他在耶穌聖嬰身上，「親眼看見了天主的救援」（2:30）。我們不知道西默盎等了多少歲月，但從女先知亞納的年紀可以推算到，她已在聖殿裡等候了不少於63年（2:36-37）！這兩位先知，真是「望德」的楷模，他們為嬰孩耶穌作見證，真是名副其實的「希望的傳承者」！

親愛的兄弟姊妹，讓我們效法西默盎和亞納的榜樣，即使教會或政權的人事、制度和規矩如何不濟、即使面對信仰上的敵意、即使要冒生命的危險，仍然懷著希望，遵守法律，堅定不移地尋求和履行天主的旨意，因為祂絕不會令仰賴祂的人失望。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：grok.com

[Messengers of Hope Series I]
Theme: Observing Rules with Hope (Luke 2:22-40)

In most people’s mind, our age is making progress continually. Life becomes affluent, comfortable and convenient etc. Imperceptibly, people feel that traditional rules are backward and unable to meet the needs of progress. The pace of progress is quick and unceasingly challenges values that tradition advocates and upholds. Regrettably, economic progress is partial. Many newly created jobs and life styles do not elevate human dignity.

When the Son of God entered the world to begin His redemptive project, a new age broke in. But He did not revoke immediately the existing institutions and rules. When He incarnated as a Jew, He still observed the Mosaic Law that had been practised for a millennium: eight days after birth, He was circumcised and given the name Jesus (Luke 2:21; Leviticus 12:3); when the days of purification were fulfilled: 40 days for male babies (12:2-4) and 80 days for female babies (12:5), the mother should perform a purification offerings at the [Tent of Meeting] Temple (12:6-8; Luke 2:24). Jews firmly believed that they were God’s Chosen People. However, they and their ancestors had not obeyed the laws God gave them through Moses. So God made use of pagans to punish them. Therefore, for better or for worse, they should strictly observe the Mosaic Law, hoping to see God’s salvation, to wait for “the consolation of Israel” (2:25).

Simeon was indisputably a prophet. He was able “to see God’s salvation” (2:30) in Infant Jesus. We don’t know for how long Simeon had waited but from the age of Anna a prophetess, we estimate that she had waited for at least 63 years in the Temple (2:36-37)! These two prophets are truly exemplars of the virtue of Hope. They bore witness for Infant Jesus. They were genuine “Messengers of Hope”!

Beloved brethren! Let us follow the example set up by Simeon and Anna. Even when ministers, institutions and rules in the Church or the State are rotten; even when our faith confronts hostilities; even when we must risk our lives to defend our faith, observe rules with hope. Steadfastly seek and do God’s will because He shall not disappoint those who rely on Him. Amen.
God bless!