Sunday 27 October 2013
God's righteousness is His salvation
"For my thoughts are not your thought, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8)
This is particularly true when we talk about justice. God's justice is not human justice.
Within our limitations as human beings, we think of justice as "getting even". When God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites as a guideline to their life, God simply told them what to do and what not to do. God did not intend to help them get even. In order to deal with practical daily life situations, the Israelites expanded them into 613 laws. Many of them deal with restitution and restrained retaliation. For example, the famous "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21) Getting even does not come from the Ten Commandments. This concept is of human origin.
Nowadays, the concept of justice is popularized by Michael Sandel's online lecture series and an accompanying book Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? Justice has become the moral principle per se, the right thing to do, over and above the benevolence and harm principles.
What does God think about justice? He only gave the Ten Commandments, the kind of right things He expects us to do. Philosophers try to dig up the underlying principles and justice, meaning "getting even", emerges. However, is "getting even" the intention of God when He gave the Ten Commandments? A categorical no.
"The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." (Psalm 98:2-3, KJV)
From the parallelism of the text, we learn that God's righteousness/justice is his salvation. His salvation is his mercy and his truth. For God, righteousness/justice means salvation, mercy and truth. The Lord God is one. There is no other deity besides Him. Therefore, the idea of getting even is meaningless to God. For God, liberating the oppressed, restoring the dignity of the poor, elevating the lowly and defeating the rich and arrogant etc. show His righteousness. This perspective will help us understand better why, in Jesus' parable, after praying in the Temple, the tax collector was justified while the Pharisee was not (Luke 18:14).
In his prayer, the tax collector confessed that he was a sinner. He acknowledged that he was in need of God's forgiveness and salvation. Therefore, he was forgiven and justified. On the other hand, the arrogant Pharisee showed off his piety and did not see his need of salvation. Therefore, he did not give God an opportunity to save him.
Deacon Tsang spoke well in his homily. The gospel is silent in the details about the tax collector. The Pharisee boasted that he had not committed any extortion, unjust practices and adultery etc. However, he might be blind towards other offences against his neighbour. The Pharisee boasted of his piety. That does not mean the tax collector was not pious. Perhaps all Jews practised a similar piety: fast every week and offer tithes. I am sure the Pharisee did more than other Jews did. It is only that the tax collector did not mention his piety in his prayer. The tax collector focused on his sinfulness, his need of God's salvation. Indeed, God sees us doing our piety. There is no need to remind God of our piety. The Pharisee failed to score this point. Now I know that God intends all men to be saved. Yet some perfect model believers reject salvation.
What a reversal of fortune, a theme running throughout the gospel of Luke!
Dear Lord, remove arrogance from my heart so that I will not be blind to my unworthiness. Amen.
Sunday 20 October 2013
Sanctified by truth
The Catholic Church in Hong Kong celebrates Mission Sunday today. The gospel we read today is taken from the last few lines of the long prayer of Jesus in the Last Supper as recorded in John. So, these few lines are expected to be heavyweight in theology and spirituality.
“Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
The word “truth” appears 27 times in John. It begins with “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (1:14) and ends with Pilate’s question “What is truth?” (18:38) The Logos is full of glory, grace and truth. Yet, men do not see his glory and consequently do not know the truth. This is exemplified by Pilate’s question. In an incident before the Last Supper, Jesus mentioned the importance of the truth, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (8:32)
Within the Last Supper, the word “truth” appears 9 times. It begins with the famous “I am the way, the truth and the life” (14:6) and finishes with “that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” (17:19)
From all these sayings, we may draw a tentative conclusion that this knowledge, this truth is essential for our salvation. But what kind of knowledge is it? From the experience of John, it is the Logos, i.e. the Word, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus is knowing the truth because he claims to be the truth. He is truth personified. And the truth shall make us free, shall enable us to attain salvation. Jesus did it through his death on the cross and the subsequent resurrection. The key to salvation is to build up a close relationship with God. We do this through Jesus Christ.
How do we know Jesus? One of the ways is to study the gospel and meditate its messages. In meditation, we come face to face with the Word and merge with him. We lose our words and we are filled with the Word. I know not how to express any more.
Sweet Lord, purify me for I am a sinner, your unworthy servant. Amen.
Sunday 13 October 2013
感恩增強信德
常年期第廿八主日（丙年）
主題：「在一切事上懷著感恩之心，向天主祈求。」(斐4:6)
今天想同大家講述聖經故事的背景，使大家更能體會箇中的意義。
在舊約的君王時代，撒羅滿的兒子繼位，他沒有父親的智慧，沒有能力團結十二支派，結果國家分裂為南北兩國，國力因而大大削弱，於是鄰國對北部的以色列，虎視眈眈。加上國內上下拜偶像成風，人心變得腐敗，國運岌岌可危。天主曾派厄里亞先知掃蕩歪風。厄里叟是厄里亞的接班人，繼續厄里亞的使命。【讀經一】提到的納阿曼是敘利亞的將軍，今次來以色列求醫，背後隱藏了很大的政治危機。如果醫治失敗，便會成為敘利亞起兵侵略以色列的藉口。結果，天主治好納阿曼，一個侵略者反而成為了一個皈依者。雖然以色列暫時渡過一個政治危機，但是他們仍沒有汲取教訓，依然故我拜偶像，最後亡國在亞述人手上。亞述人為了無後顧之憂，將大部份的以色列人充軍亞述，再遷徙其他部族入住以色列的地區，沖淡剩下來的以色列人的血統。這些混血兒，就成為了撒瑪黎雅人。在後來的猶太人眼中，撒瑪黎雅人就是雜種，所以被猶太人歧視。
福音中這十個痲瘋病人，他們之中有一個是被歧視的撒瑪黎雅人。為甚麽這個撒瑪黎雅人可以同歧視他的猶太人一起呢？古代的人怕被痲瘋病傳染，而且又是沒有醫治方法的，因此，痲瘋病人必須受隔離，被趕出鄉鎮之外，自生自滅。所謂同是天涯淪落人，惟有彼此扶持，纔會增加生存的機會。於是他們放下彼此之間的互相敵視，共渡難關。原來苦難是有令人共融合一的能力。一個人孤獨地承擔痛苦是很最痛苦的。耶穌在十字架上就親身體驗過。所以他最能明白我們的痛苦。在團體中，大家彼此扶持，所受的苦就可以忍受的。倘若與能體諒我們的耶穌一起，我們所受的苦就變得輕鬆了。這就是得救的意思。
讓我們再深入默想這個神蹟。十個受惠於神蹟的痲瘋病人，祗有一個回頭光榮天主，感謝耶穌。祗有這個痲瘋病人獲得真正的救恩。
神蹟與得救是兩回事。神蹟可以是得救的第一步，神蹟可以幫助人進一步獲得天主的救恩。天主出於對受苦的人的憐憫，便應允他們的哀求，打破大自然的規律，消除了他們所受的苦。福音中記載了一些醫治的神蹟、驅魔的神蹟、平息風浪及增餅的神蹟，全部都是天主出於慈愛，為了解除當事人所處的困境。
耶穌曾治好很多人，以後他們會再病；用五餅二魚解決5000人的饑餓問題，這些人以後再會饑餓；耶穌曾復活過三個人，他日他們依然會死去。因此，神蹟祗可以解救人一時的困境，並不會一勞永逸。想一勞永逸，就必須把握時機，與天主建立持久的關係。有神蹟固然好，但有沒有神蹟祗屬次要。與天主建立持久的關係纔是關鍵所在。十個痲瘋病人中，祗有一個掌握到關鍵，回頭與天主建立持久的關係，祗有這個外人、這個撒瑪黎雅人、這個納阿曼得救。
為甚麽其他九個痲瘋病人不回來歸光榮於天主，並感謝耶穌呢？
其中一個可能的原因是他們太開心、太得意忘形，趕快到司祭面前驗身，証明自己真的痊癒了。猶太人的司祭，不像今天的神父，可以在堂區很容易找到。猶太司祭祗在聖殿工作，而聖殿祗有一座在耶路撒冷。找司祭驗身並不是跑到街上找醫生寫醫生信告假那樣簡單。而是長途跋涉由加里肋亞的某處，行約150公里的路程到耶路撒冷。這些痲瘋病人須要準備行裝，行兩三天纔可到達耶路撒冷。
原來，我們也像那九個痲瘋病人一樣，很容易不分輕重，把大部份的精力花在次要的事物上，本末倒置。例如我們為了使妻子過比較舒適的生活，於是努力賺錢，結果失去了健康和親子的時間，得不償失。學生為了公開試考取好成績，放學後再去補習，結果筋疲力盡，影響到正式課程的學習與公開試的成績，結果又是得不償失。同樣，著眼在神蹟而忘記了改善與天主的關係，是本末倒置。
這幾個主日福音的主題，都是環繞著「信德」。今天的福音告訴大家，我們的信德並非建基在神蹟之上，而是建基於與天主的關係之上。天主既然有恩於我們，感恩便是理所當然的。保祿宗徒也曾教導斐理伯教會的教友在一切事上，懷著感恩之心，向天主獻上祈禱。
為甚麽感恩是如此重要呢？在上星期的福音，門徒請耶穌增加他們的信德。十個痲瘋病人對耶穌豈沒有信德呢？沒有信德就不會向耶穌求助了。但祗有一個痲瘋病人懷有感恩之心。原來增加信德的秘訣就在於有感恩的心。在某情度上，有感恩的心就表示自己的不足，承認需要別人的幫助，是謙遜之德，是抗衡驕傲的美德，可以令人得救。從另一個角度看，有感恩的心促進了人與天主的關係，當然會令人得救。其餘九個痲瘋病人的信德，祗停留在皮毛的階段，祗可以解決他們目前的困苦，不足以幫助他們達到永生。
做人何嘗不是一樣呢？做子女的對父母給予的愛護以為是理所當然，而不去感恩，試問今天的親子關係又怎會好，將來又如果為自己建立一個幸福的家庭呢？做父母的以為子女孝順是理所當然的，而不去感恩，珍惜，試問老來，當你的記憶漸漸消失的時候，你祗剩下怨忿的記憶，你的日子將要怎樣過呢？
各位兄弟姊妹，記著時時懷有感恩的心，向天主獻上祈禱。天主保祐。
28th Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Thanksgiving in everything (Philippians 4:6)
Today, I would like to speak a little bit about the background of the Bible stories so that we may understand the messages better.
In the Kingdom era of the Old Testament after the death of King Solomon, Rehoboam, his son did not possess the wisdom to hold the 12 tribes together. The Kingdom of Israel was split into two, thus reducing its strength. The neighbouring countries began to poach on the northern Kingdom of Israel. Meanwhile, idolatry was widespread in the kingdom. The hearts of the people became corrupt. The fate of the kingdom was hanging on a thread. God had sent Elijah to eradicate the corrosion. Elisha carried on the baton of Elijah. Naaman was a Syrian captain of the army. His coming to Israel to seek therapy created a political crisis. Had the cure failed, it would have become an excuse to invade Israel. In the end, God cured Naaman of his leprosy. An invader became a convert. Though Israel had weathered through a political crisis, she did not learn the lesson and continued her idolatry. At last, she was conquered by Assyria. To ensure no possibility of rebellion, the Assyrians exiled most of the Israelites and resettled other tribes into the land of Israel so as to thin out their blood. These hybrids became Samaritans. In the eyes of the Jews, Samaritans were impure and were despised.
Among the ten lepers in the gospel, one was a despised Samaritan. Why was this Samaritan able to live among the Jews who despised him? In ancient time, leprosy was contagious and there was no cure. Therefore, lepers were quarantined and chased out of the villages and towns to fend for themselves. Being wretched drifters, these lepers stayed together to improve their chances of survival. They had to put down their mutual hostility to weather through. Suffering has the power to build up solidarity. The greatest pain is to suffer alone. Jesus knew it well when he was abandoned on the cross. Therefore, he understands thoroughly our sufferings. With the support in a community, sufferings are bearable. If we suffer with Christ who understands us, our sufferings will become light. This is the meaning of salvation.
Let us meditate deeper into the miracle. Among the ten cured lepers, only one returned to glorify God and thank Jesus. Only one leper truly received salvation.
Miracle and salvation are two different things. Miracles can be the stepping stone to salvation. They help people further receive God’s salvation. Out of His compassion, God hear the plights and breach the laws of nature to eliminate the sufferings of those who call upon Him. There are cure miracles, exorcisms, calming of the waves and multiplication of loaves. God performs all these miracles out of His compassion to relieve the sufferings of the people. Jesus cured many who were sick and they would be sick again. Jesus fed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. These people would be hungry the day after. Jesus raised 3 people from the dead and they would die again the other day. Therefore, miracles can relieve the current sufferings but they are not once and for all. In order to have a permanent effect, we should take the opportunity to build up a lasting relationship with God. It is good to have miracles but they are only secondary. Building up a lasting relationship with God is the key of salvation. Among the ten lepers, only one held this key. He returned to build up a lasting relationship with God. Only this foreigner, this Samaritan, this Naaman received salvation.
Why didn’t the nine other lepers return to glorify God and thank Jesus?
One possible reason was that they were too excited to be cured and hurried to see the priests to examine them, to certify them purified. Unlike Catholic priests today who are easily available in the parishes, Jewish priests worked in the Temple and there was only one Temple in Jerusalem. To look for a priest to examine your leprosy was not like going down the street to ask a physician to write you a medical certificate. It took them about 150 km to walk all the way from Galilee to Jerusalem. These lepers needed to pack themselves to walk at least three days to reach Jerusalem.
Like the nine lepers, we can easily make mistakes in prioritizing our life. We spend most of our time and energy on secondary matters, turning our life on its head. For example, in order to provide our wife and children with a more comfortable life, we work hard to earn money so much so that we lose our health and quality time with our children. The loss outweighs the gain. Students who want to achieve high scores in public exams attend tuition classes after school. In the end, they are exhausted and their normal studies and exam scores are affected. Once again, the loss outweighs the gain. In the same way, focusing on miracles and neglecting the improvement of relationship with God is turning our salvation on its head.
Faith is a theme running through the gospel readings in these few weeks. Today, the gospel tells us that our faith is not built upon miracles, but on our relationship with God. God delivers us. Being grateful to God is right and fitting. St. Paul wrote to the Philippians that “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Galatians 4:6).
Why is thanksgiving so important? In the gospel reading last week, the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). Didn’t the 10 lepers have faith in Jesus? If they hadn’t had faith, how would they have asked Jesus for help? But only one of them was grateful. Indeed, the key to increase faith is to have a grateful heart. To a certain extent, being grateful admits our inadequacy, acknowledging that we are in need of others’ help. This is the virtue of humility which counters the capital sin of pride and facilitates our salvation. Looking from another perspective, having a grateful heart improves our relationship with God and certainly brings us salvation. The faith of the nine other lepers remains on a superficial level. It could only solve their problems at hand and was insufficient to bring them salvation.
The same is true in our daily life. If children take their parents’ love for granted without gratitude, how can their relationship with parents be good? How can they build up happy families of their own in the future? Parents take the filial piety from their children for granted, without gratitude. When they grow old, their memories are failing. When only bitter and resentful memories remain, how shall they spend their remaining days?
Brothers and sister, keep in mind to be always thankful when you offer up your prayers to God.
God bless.
主題：「在一切事上懷著感恩之心，向天主祈求。」(斐4:6)
今天想同大家講述聖經故事的背景，使大家更能體會箇中的意義。
在舊約的君王時代，撒羅滿的兒子繼位，他沒有父親的智慧，沒有能力團結十二支派，結果國家分裂為南北兩國，國力因而大大削弱，於是鄰國對北部的以色列，虎視眈眈。加上國內上下拜偶像成風，人心變得腐敗，國運岌岌可危。天主曾派厄里亞先知掃蕩歪風。厄里叟是厄里亞的接班人，繼續厄里亞的使命。【讀經一】提到的納阿曼是敘利亞的將軍，今次來以色列求醫，背後隱藏了很大的政治危機。如果醫治失敗，便會成為敘利亞起兵侵略以色列的藉口。結果，天主治好納阿曼，一個侵略者反而成為了一個皈依者。雖然以色列暫時渡過一個政治危機，但是他們仍沒有汲取教訓，依然故我拜偶像，最後亡國在亞述人手上。亞述人為了無後顧之憂，將大部份的以色列人充軍亞述，再遷徙其他部族入住以色列的地區，沖淡剩下來的以色列人的血統。這些混血兒，就成為了撒瑪黎雅人。在後來的猶太人眼中，撒瑪黎雅人就是雜種，所以被猶太人歧視。
福音中這十個痲瘋病人，他們之中有一個是被歧視的撒瑪黎雅人。為甚麽這個撒瑪黎雅人可以同歧視他的猶太人一起呢？古代的人怕被痲瘋病傳染，而且又是沒有醫治方法的，因此，痲瘋病人必須受隔離，被趕出鄉鎮之外，自生自滅。所謂同是天涯淪落人，惟有彼此扶持，纔會增加生存的機會。於是他們放下彼此之間的互相敵視，共渡難關。原來苦難是有令人共融合一的能力。一個人孤獨地承擔痛苦是很最痛苦的。耶穌在十字架上就親身體驗過。所以他最能明白我們的痛苦。在團體中，大家彼此扶持，所受的苦就可以忍受的。倘若與能體諒我們的耶穌一起，我們所受的苦就變得輕鬆了。這就是得救的意思。
讓我們再深入默想這個神蹟。十個受惠於神蹟的痲瘋病人，祗有一個回頭光榮天主，感謝耶穌。祗有這個痲瘋病人獲得真正的救恩。
神蹟與得救是兩回事。神蹟可以是得救的第一步，神蹟可以幫助人進一步獲得天主的救恩。天主出於對受苦的人的憐憫，便應允他們的哀求，打破大自然的規律，消除了他們所受的苦。福音中記載了一些醫治的神蹟、驅魔的神蹟、平息風浪及增餅的神蹟，全部都是天主出於慈愛，為了解除當事人所處的困境。
耶穌曾治好很多人，以後他們會再病；用五餅二魚解決5000人的饑餓問題，這些人以後再會饑餓；耶穌曾復活過三個人，他日他們依然會死去。因此，神蹟祗可以解救人一時的困境，並不會一勞永逸。想一勞永逸，就必須把握時機，與天主建立持久的關係。有神蹟固然好，但有沒有神蹟祗屬次要。與天主建立持久的關係纔是關鍵所在。十個痲瘋病人中，祗有一個掌握到關鍵，回頭與天主建立持久的關係，祗有這個外人、這個撒瑪黎雅人、這個納阿曼得救。
為甚麽其他九個痲瘋病人不回來歸光榮於天主，並感謝耶穌呢？
其中一個可能的原因是他們太開心、太得意忘形，趕快到司祭面前驗身，証明自己真的痊癒了。猶太人的司祭，不像今天的神父，可以在堂區很容易找到。猶太司祭祗在聖殿工作，而聖殿祗有一座在耶路撒冷。找司祭驗身並不是跑到街上找醫生寫醫生信告假那樣簡單。而是長途跋涉由加里肋亞的某處，行約150公里的路程到耶路撒冷。這些痲瘋病人須要準備行裝，行兩三天纔可到達耶路撒冷。
原來，我們也像那九個痲瘋病人一樣，很容易不分輕重，把大部份的精力花在次要的事物上，本末倒置。例如我們為了使妻子過比較舒適的生活，於是努力賺錢，結果失去了健康和親子的時間，得不償失。學生為了公開試考取好成績，放學後再去補習，結果筋疲力盡，影響到正式課程的學習與公開試的成績，結果又是得不償失。同樣，著眼在神蹟而忘記了改善與天主的關係，是本末倒置。
這幾個主日福音的主題，都是環繞著「信德」。今天的福音告訴大家，我們的信德並非建基在神蹟之上，而是建基於與天主的關係之上。天主既然有恩於我們，感恩便是理所當然的。保祿宗徒也曾教導斐理伯教會的教友在一切事上，懷著感恩之心，向天主獻上祈禱。
為甚麽感恩是如此重要呢？在上星期的福音，門徒請耶穌增加他們的信德。十個痲瘋病人對耶穌豈沒有信德呢？沒有信德就不會向耶穌求助了。但祗有一個痲瘋病人懷有感恩之心。原來增加信德的秘訣就在於有感恩的心。在某情度上，有感恩的心就表示自己的不足，承認需要別人的幫助，是謙遜之德，是抗衡驕傲的美德，可以令人得救。從另一個角度看，有感恩的心促進了人與天主的關係，當然會令人得救。其餘九個痲瘋病人的信德，祗停留在皮毛的階段，祗可以解決他們目前的困苦，不足以幫助他們達到永生。
做人何嘗不是一樣呢？做子女的對父母給予的愛護以為是理所當然，而不去感恩，試問今天的親子關係又怎會好，將來又如果為自己建立一個幸福的家庭呢？做父母的以為子女孝順是理所當然的，而不去感恩，珍惜，試問老來，當你的記憶漸漸消失的時候，你祗剩下怨忿的記憶，你的日子將要怎樣過呢？
各位兄弟姊妹，記著時時懷有感恩的心，向天主獻上祈禱。天主保祐。
28th Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Thanksgiving in everything (Philippians 4:6)
Today, I would like to speak a little bit about the background of the Bible stories so that we may understand the messages better.
In the Kingdom era of the Old Testament after the death of King Solomon, Rehoboam, his son did not possess the wisdom to hold the 12 tribes together. The Kingdom of Israel was split into two, thus reducing its strength. The neighbouring countries began to poach on the northern Kingdom of Israel. Meanwhile, idolatry was widespread in the kingdom. The hearts of the people became corrupt. The fate of the kingdom was hanging on a thread. God had sent Elijah to eradicate the corrosion. Elisha carried on the baton of Elijah. Naaman was a Syrian captain of the army. His coming to Israel to seek therapy created a political crisis. Had the cure failed, it would have become an excuse to invade Israel. In the end, God cured Naaman of his leprosy. An invader became a convert. Though Israel had weathered through a political crisis, she did not learn the lesson and continued her idolatry. At last, she was conquered by Assyria. To ensure no possibility of rebellion, the Assyrians exiled most of the Israelites and resettled other tribes into the land of Israel so as to thin out their blood. These hybrids became Samaritans. In the eyes of the Jews, Samaritans were impure and were despised.
Among the ten lepers in the gospel, one was a despised Samaritan. Why was this Samaritan able to live among the Jews who despised him? In ancient time, leprosy was contagious and there was no cure. Therefore, lepers were quarantined and chased out of the villages and towns to fend for themselves. Being wretched drifters, these lepers stayed together to improve their chances of survival. They had to put down their mutual hostility to weather through. Suffering has the power to build up solidarity. The greatest pain is to suffer alone. Jesus knew it well when he was abandoned on the cross. Therefore, he understands thoroughly our sufferings. With the support in a community, sufferings are bearable. If we suffer with Christ who understands us, our sufferings will become light. This is the meaning of salvation.
Let us meditate deeper into the miracle. Among the ten cured lepers, only one returned to glorify God and thank Jesus. Only one leper truly received salvation.
Miracle and salvation are two different things. Miracles can be the stepping stone to salvation. They help people further receive God’s salvation. Out of His compassion, God hear the plights and breach the laws of nature to eliminate the sufferings of those who call upon Him. There are cure miracles, exorcisms, calming of the waves and multiplication of loaves. God performs all these miracles out of His compassion to relieve the sufferings of the people. Jesus cured many who were sick and they would be sick again. Jesus fed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. These people would be hungry the day after. Jesus raised 3 people from the dead and they would die again the other day. Therefore, miracles can relieve the current sufferings but they are not once and for all. In order to have a permanent effect, we should take the opportunity to build up a lasting relationship with God. It is good to have miracles but they are only secondary. Building up a lasting relationship with God is the key of salvation. Among the ten lepers, only one held this key. He returned to build up a lasting relationship with God. Only this foreigner, this Samaritan, this Naaman received salvation.
Why didn’t the nine other lepers return to glorify God and thank Jesus?
One possible reason was that they were too excited to be cured and hurried to see the priests to examine them, to certify them purified. Unlike Catholic priests today who are easily available in the parishes, Jewish priests worked in the Temple and there was only one Temple in Jerusalem. To look for a priest to examine your leprosy was not like going down the street to ask a physician to write you a medical certificate. It took them about 150 km to walk all the way from Galilee to Jerusalem. These lepers needed to pack themselves to walk at least three days to reach Jerusalem.
Like the nine lepers, we can easily make mistakes in prioritizing our life. We spend most of our time and energy on secondary matters, turning our life on its head. For example, in order to provide our wife and children with a more comfortable life, we work hard to earn money so much so that we lose our health and quality time with our children. The loss outweighs the gain. Students who want to achieve high scores in public exams attend tuition classes after school. In the end, they are exhausted and their normal studies and exam scores are affected. Once again, the loss outweighs the gain. In the same way, focusing on miracles and neglecting the improvement of relationship with God is turning our salvation on its head.
Faith is a theme running through the gospel readings in these few weeks. Today, the gospel tells us that our faith is not built upon miracles, but on our relationship with God. God delivers us. Being grateful to God is right and fitting. St. Paul wrote to the Philippians that “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Galatians 4:6).
Why is thanksgiving so important? In the gospel reading last week, the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). Didn’t the 10 lepers have faith in Jesus? If they hadn’t had faith, how would they have asked Jesus for help? But only one of them was grateful. Indeed, the key to increase faith is to have a grateful heart. To a certain extent, being grateful admits our inadequacy, acknowledging that we are in need of others’ help. This is the virtue of humility which counters the capital sin of pride and facilitates our salvation. Looking from another perspective, having a grateful heart improves our relationship with God and certainly brings us salvation. The faith of the nine other lepers remains on a superficial level. It could only solve their problems at hand and was insufficient to bring them salvation.
The same is true in our daily life. If children take their parents’ love for granted without gratitude, how can their relationship with parents be good? How can they build up happy families of their own in the future? Parents take the filial piety from their children for granted, without gratitude. When they grow old, their memories are failing. When only bitter and resentful memories remain, how shall they spend their remaining days?
Brothers and sister, keep in mind to be always thankful when you offer up your prayers to God.
God bless.
Sunday 6 October 2013
Faith as a grain of mustard seed
The Synoptic Gospels mention "mustard seed" in only 5 occasions. All three report the parable of the mustard seed which says that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which begins small but will develop into a great tree (Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:31-32, Luke 13:19). The remaining two mention the power of faith. If you have the faith as a grain of mustard seed, you would be able to uproot a mountain (Matthew 17:20) or a sycamine tree (Luke 17:6). Naturally, you may ask what Jesus had actually said, mountain or tree, or both.
The Synoptic Gospels report similar events but they differ in details. For example, a woman anointed Jesus with expensive ointment in the house of Simon. In Matthew and Mark, the woman anointed Jesus' head and Simon was a leper (Matthew 26, Mark 14). In Luke, the woman was sinful. She anointed Jesus' feet and Simon was a Pharisee (Luke 7) So, what had actually happened? We cannot know for sure. It is totally legitimate to speculate that Jesus had been anointed twice, once on the head and another at the feet. It is also possible that Jesus was anointed only once and Luke modified some details in the story to preach his message.
So, what about this saying about faith as a grain of mustard seed? As I teacher, I myself say the same thing in different occasions and make appropriate adjustments accordingly. Therefore, I speculate that Jesus has mentioned faith as a grain of mustard seed for more than once. There might be a mountain in sight in Matthew and a sycamine tree at the door in Luke. The message is the same. Faith is so powerful that even faith like a grain of mustard seed is enough to move mountains.
When we talk about moving mountains, there is a Chinese legend about a Foolish Old Man who decided to level two huge mountains which his house faced and which caused him inconvenience in moving around. A Wise Old Man came to tease him of the futility of wasting his remaining days of life to do the impossible. The Foolish Old Man refuted him, "Though I die, I have children who will give birth to generations of grandchildren without end. Yet, the mountains would not grow. So, why can't it be levelled?" The Wise Old Man did not know how to answer back. In the end, the Heavenly Lord was moved by his sincerity/faith「帝感其誠」and ordered two demigods to remove the mountains for the Foolish Old Man.《列子‧湯問篇》Ancient Chinese did not have faith in a personal God. However, the moral of this legend is clear. Our faith/sincerity is able to move the divinities in heavens. Miracles are possible when we have faith.
In the gospel reading today, we read of how the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). When we read the whole context, we might find it puzzling. Previously, it seems to be a collection of unrelated sayings. Jesus talked about the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), the unfaithful steward, the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16). Then, Jesus warns against leading others to sin (17:1-2) and forgiving one's brother seven times in a day (17:3-4). Then suddenly, the apostle asked Jesus to increase their faith. In answering them, Jesus told them the power of faith as little as a mustard seed (17:6). After that, Jesus told the parable of "unworthy servant" (17:7-10). Now, what has faith to do with the preceding and subsequent parables and teachings? What doubts were there in the minds of the apostles so that they asked Jesus to increase their faith?
One possible source of doubt was the discrepancy between their Messianic hopes and the teachings of Jesus. Most of them would not expect the Messiah to forgive the sins of the aggressors, nor teach them to forgive their brothers. They would not expect a beggar to receive better treatment than a rich man in the kingdom. How could their future master praise an unfaithful steward? What kind of a new world it would it be, definitely not the one they expect it to be. They felt that they needed more faith if they still wanted to continue following Jesus.
It is good of Jesus to encourage them that faith as little as a grain of mustard seed is enough because like the mustard seed which will grow into a big tree, our faith in Christ will surely increase day by day when we serve Jesus like an unworthy servant (17:7-10). Don't be arrogant. Be humble. We are no more than unworthy servants doing our duties. Without Jesus' backing, we cannot achieve anything. So, put our faith in the Lord and see how things unfold. Then we will be able to repent, to avoid sins, to make the right choices and to forgive. It is puzzling because it sounds circular: we place our faith in the Lord in order to increase our faith! On a second thought, it makes sense. If you bet on a wrong horse, you lose money. If you bet on the right horse, your money will snowball (Matthew 13:12, Mark 4:25, Luke 8:18).
Dear Lord, You alone have the word of eternal life. Who else shall we go? (John 6:68) Amen.
The Synoptic Gospels report similar events but they differ in details. For example, a woman anointed Jesus with expensive ointment in the house of Simon. In Matthew and Mark, the woman anointed Jesus' head and Simon was a leper (Matthew 26, Mark 14). In Luke, the woman was sinful. She anointed Jesus' feet and Simon was a Pharisee (Luke 7) So, what had actually happened? We cannot know for sure. It is totally legitimate to speculate that Jesus had been anointed twice, once on the head and another at the feet. It is also possible that Jesus was anointed only once and Luke modified some details in the story to preach his message.
So, what about this saying about faith as a grain of mustard seed? As I teacher, I myself say the same thing in different occasions and make appropriate adjustments accordingly. Therefore, I speculate that Jesus has mentioned faith as a grain of mustard seed for more than once. There might be a mountain in sight in Matthew and a sycamine tree at the door in Luke. The message is the same. Faith is so powerful that even faith like a grain of mustard seed is enough to move mountains.
When we talk about moving mountains, there is a Chinese legend about a Foolish Old Man who decided to level two huge mountains which his house faced and which caused him inconvenience in moving around. A Wise Old Man came to tease him of the futility of wasting his remaining days of life to do the impossible. The Foolish Old Man refuted him, "Though I die, I have children who will give birth to generations of grandchildren without end. Yet, the mountains would not grow. So, why can't it be levelled?" The Wise Old Man did not know how to answer back. In the end, the Heavenly Lord was moved by his sincerity/faith「帝感其誠」and ordered two demigods to remove the mountains for the Foolish Old Man.《列子‧湯問篇》Ancient Chinese did not have faith in a personal God. However, the moral of this legend is clear. Our faith/sincerity is able to move the divinities in heavens. Miracles are possible when we have faith.
In the gospel reading today, we read of how the apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). When we read the whole context, we might find it puzzling. Previously, it seems to be a collection of unrelated sayings. Jesus talked about the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), the unfaithful steward, the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16). Then, Jesus warns against leading others to sin (17:1-2) and forgiving one's brother seven times in a day (17:3-4). Then suddenly, the apostle asked Jesus to increase their faith. In answering them, Jesus told them the power of faith as little as a mustard seed (17:6). After that, Jesus told the parable of "unworthy servant" (17:7-10). Now, what has faith to do with the preceding and subsequent parables and teachings? What doubts were there in the minds of the apostles so that they asked Jesus to increase their faith?
One possible source of doubt was the discrepancy between their Messianic hopes and the teachings of Jesus. Most of them would not expect the Messiah to forgive the sins of the aggressors, nor teach them to forgive their brothers. They would not expect a beggar to receive better treatment than a rich man in the kingdom. How could their future master praise an unfaithful steward? What kind of a new world it would it be, definitely not the one they expect it to be. They felt that they needed more faith if they still wanted to continue following Jesus.
It is good of Jesus to encourage them that faith as little as a grain of mustard seed is enough because like the mustard seed which will grow into a big tree, our faith in Christ will surely increase day by day when we serve Jesus like an unworthy servant (17:7-10). Don't be arrogant. Be humble. We are no more than unworthy servants doing our duties. Without Jesus' backing, we cannot achieve anything. So, put our faith in the Lord and see how things unfold. Then we will be able to repent, to avoid sins, to make the right choices and to forgive. It is puzzling because it sounds circular: we place our faith in the Lord in order to increase our faith! On a second thought, it makes sense. If you bet on a wrong horse, you lose money. If you bet on the right horse, your money will snowball (Matthew 13:12, Mark 4:25, Luke 8:18).
Dear Lord, You alone have the word of eternal life. Who else shall we go? (John 6:68) Amen.
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