五旬節（甲年）
主題：我們與聖神的關係
耶穌升天前許下聖神，並囑咐門徒往普天下去宣揚福音。在五旬節，天主聖神降臨到門徒身上，賦予他們來自天上的大能。於是門徒充滿聖神，說各地的方言，行神蹟，治病驅魔，一日之內吸引了三千人加入這個充滿聖神的團體，揭開了「聖神時代」，亦即是「教會時代」的序幕。五旬節可算是教會的生日。
天主是無形可見的，在舊約時代，亞巴郎祗能見到天主的三位使者，梅瑟祗能見到焚燒的荊棘，依撒意亞先知亦祗能見到煙霧瀰漫的天主御座。所以若望宗徒說「從來沒有人見過天主，祗有那在父懷裡的獨生者，身為天主的，他給我們詳述了。」（若1：18）能與降生成人的天主子耶穌一起生活過的宗徒可算是最幸福的，因為他們能看到、聽到、觸摸到有形可見的天主。他們有三年的時間，與天主子耶穌同行、同食、同住。留心聆聽他的教導，親眼看到他所行的神蹟、受難和復活，親手摸過他復活後仍保留著的釘孔。發展了廿一個世紀直到今天的教會是以天主子耶穌為屋角石，而這些曾與天主子耶穌一同生活過的宗徒們就成為了教會的基礎（弗2:20）。所以我們每個主日唸【信經】的時候，我們宣認這個教會是「從宗徒傳下來的教會」。
保祿宗徒曾把教會比喻為基督的奧體。基督是這奧體的頭，我們是這個奧體的各個支體器官。一如耶穌是因聖神降孕，同樣教會亦有賴聖神的降臨所形成。沒有聖神，就沒有耶穌、也沒有教會。因此，聖神與教會的生活，息息相關。讓我們從以下三方面，加深對聖神的認識。
在創世紀天主造人的故事裡，有一個很有啟發性的細節。天主按自己的肖像，用泥土造了一個人，然後在他的鼻孔吹了一口氣，人便成了一個「有靈的生物」（創2:7）。意思是說，天主已在全人類的生命之中，埋下了追求造物主的種子。有些種子在惡劣的環境下生長，尋求天主的旅程並不順利。有些種子就比較幸運，可以「修成正果」。聖保祿宗徒在今天第二篇讀經說過，「除非受聖神感動，沒有一個能說：『耶穌是主』的。」（格前12:3）所以，我們有幸領洗入教，尋得真主，都是出於聖神的感動。且看入門的三件聖事，每一件都是聖神的傑作。舉行洗禮的時候，是聖神降臨在約旦河的耶穌身上，祝聖了水，使領洗者獲得新生命。領受堅振聖事時，天主聖神在領洗者身上，傾注聖神的七恩，堅強他們的靈性生命。我們所共同分享的基督聖體，是有賴天主聖神所祝聖，使耶穌所許下「我與你們天天在一起，直到今世的終結」（瑪28:20）的諾言得以兌現。
除了聖事生活外，天主聖神在祈禱靈修方面亦不斷地扶助著我們。我們每日可能祗會唸幾次「天主經」、「飯前經」、在聖母月唸聖母經，玫瑰經、有些年長的教友會加唸「三鐘經」、有接受過聖經或神學訓練的教友會唸早晚課，參加星期五的泰澤祈禱，Lectio Divina，到思維靜院參加避靜，學習依納爵神操等。老實說，我們知道祈禱靈修是重要的，但我們不知道怎樣祈禱纔對。聖保祿宗徒曾說過，「因為我們不知道如何祈求纔對，而天主聖神卻親自以無可言喻的歎息，代我們轉求。」（羅8:26）其實，天父在我們祈禱之前，已經知道我們的意向。所以，與其不斷唸經祈禱，倒不如享受一下與聖神同在的神聖時刻吧，聖神會代我們轉求，會在我們「神枯」時給予我們「神慰」。
講到安慰，耶穌在最後晚餐時，許下賜予門徒另一位「護慰者」聖神。祂是世界所不能領受的「真理之神」（若14:16-17），就是祂「把未來的事傳告給我們」（16:13）。其實，聖神更加是「愛德之神」，祂加強我們的力量，使我們能履行耶穌的教訓。耶穌曾教導我們「真福八端」，但按世俗的價值和尺度，「真福八端」根本是不可能實踐的。誰不想榮華富貴？有誰甘心「神貧」呢？誰不想行使權力？「溫良和善」簡直不能在社會立足。有誰不怕「麻煩」？祗有傻瓜纔會「為義而受迫害」，無人可憐。別人打你右頰，你不還手已算好修養，有誰可以把左頰也轉給他？其實，耶穌的教訓，並不是一種不切實際的理想，而是大愛的表現。因為眾人都是天主的肖像，是天主所渴望要拯救的靈魂，連迫害、傷害你的人都是天主的肖像。你能看得出他們是天主安排給你的恩寵嗎？所以，我們需要天主聖神開啟我們的眼目，看見真理，認出天主的肖像。
在今天的福音中，我們聽到耶穌賜予宗徒聖神，去赦免眾人的罪。赦罪的目的是為了使眾人能夠與天主，與近人和好。寬恕他人的過犯不是一件輕易的事，我們需要天主聖神溫暖我們的愛心，對身邊的人溫良、憐憫，對有需要的人慷慨伸出援手，為迫害麻煩我們的人祈禱。祗有在聖神的幫助之下，我們纔可以做「地上的鹽，世界的光」。當人看見我們的善行時，就會光榮我們的天父。
在今天的第二篇讀經，聖保祿說天主聖神賜予各人不同的神恩，來服侍同一個主，建設同一個基督的奧體。聖伯多祿亦把我們比喻為一塊塊的「活石」，一起建造成屬神的殿宇，成為一班聖潔的司祭，奉獻中悅天主的屬神的祭品（伯前2:5）。所以我們在成聖的路上，不可能獨善其身。我們已加入了這個充滿聖神的團體，就應藉著聖神的滋潤，發熱發光，在聖神內共融，互助互補。聖神使眾人在基督內合而為一，成為天父所悅納的祭品。
願天主聖神永受讚頌，從現今直到永遠，與聖父聖子，是惟一的天主，永生永王。亞孟。
天主保祐。
Pentecost (Year A)
Theme: Our relationship with the Holy Spirit
Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus promised his disciples the Holy Spirit to help them preach to all nations. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, bestowing on them heavenly powers. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples preached in different languages, worked miracles, cured diseases and exorcised demons. Three thousand people were attracted to join this Spirit-empowered community. The curtain had been lifted on “Age of Holy Spirit”, the “Age of the Church”. Thus, Pentecost is also the birthday of the Church.
God is invisible. In Old Testament times, Abraham could only see three angels of the Lord, Moses the burning bush and Isaiah a smoke-filled temple. Therefore, John wrote “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.” (John 1:18)
The Apostles were truly blessed. They were able to live with the Incarnate Son of God, to see, to hear and to touch a visible God. For three years, they were walking with Jesus the Son of God, eating with him and living with him. They were able to pay attention to his teachings, to see with their very eyes the miracles, passion and resurrection, to touch the marks of nail which Jesus still kept after resurrection. After developing for twenty one centuries, the Church today is founded on Jesus the Son of God as her corner stone and those apostles who had lived with Jesus the Son of God her foundation (Ephesians 2:20). Thus, when we recite the Creed every Sunday, we confess an Apostolic Church.
St. Paul described the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ. Christ is the head and we are members of this body. Just as Jesus “was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary”, the Church was formed by the descent of the Holy Spirit. Were there no Holy Spirit, there would be no Jesus, nor the Church. Therefore, the Holy Spirit and the life in Church are closely linked. Let us reflect deeper on the workings of the Holy Spirit from three perspectives.
In the Genesis story of the creation of man, there is an inspiring detail. God made use of dust to form a man in His own image. Then He “…breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7) Which means God has already implanted in man the “seed” to seek the Creator. Some seeds grow up in adversities. Their journey to seek God is tortuous. Some seeds are luckier and are able to bear fruits. In the second reading today, St. Paul tells us that no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 12:3). Therefore, it is the Holy Spirit who moves us so that we are counted blessed to be able to be baptized and found the one true God. Take a look at the three sacraments of the Rite of Christian Initiation. They are the work of the Holy Spirit. In Baptism, it was the Holy Spirit who descended on Jesus in River Jordan to consecrate the water so that the baptizees may obtain a new life. In Confirmation, the Holy Spirit pours out the seven gifts to strengthen the spiritual life of the recipients. The Holy Eucharist we share relies on the consecration of the Holy Spirit. Thus the promise “I am with you always, to the close of the age” which Jesus made can be honoured (Matthew 28:20).
Besides the sacramental life, the Holy Spirit continuously supports us in our prayers and spirituality. Everyday we may recite the Lord’s Prayer, Grace before meals; the Hail Mary and Rosary in the month of May; some senior Catholics may add the Angelus; those who have received biblical or theological trainings may recite Lauds and Vespers, join Taize prayer meetings on Fridays, Lectio Divina, participate in retreats and Ignatian Spiritual Exercises in Xavier House etc. Frankly speaking, we know the importance of prayers and spirituality but we do not know the right way to pray. St. Paul once said, “… for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26). In fact, before we pray, our Father in heaven already knows our intention. Thus, instead of reciting prayers, we should enjoy sacred moments with the Holy Spirit who shall intercede for us. The Holy Spirit will give us “spiritual consolation” when we experience “spiritual desolation”.
When it comes to consolation, Jesus promised the disciples another Counselor. He is “the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive” (John 14:16-17). He “will declare to you the things that are to come” (16:13). Indeed, the Holy Spirit is more the “Spirit of love”. He empowers us to put Jesus’ teachings into practice. Jesus taught us the Beatitudes which according to secular norms, are impracticable. Who doesn’t want to be rich? Who is willing to be poor? Who doesn’t want to exercise authority? It is out of question for the meek to gain any foothold in the society. Who is not afraid of “troubles”? Only an idiot will suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake. Sympathy is in short supply. If you do not strike back when somebody strikes you on your right cheek, you are very civilized. Who would turn his other cheek?
In fact, Jesus’ teachings are not some impracticable ideals. Rather, it is an expression of great charity. It is because all men are images of God and God desires to save all souls. Those who persecute and hurt you are also God’s images. Can you see them as a grace God arranges for you? Therefore, we need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see the truth, to see the images of God.
In the gospel reading today, Jesus gave the apostles the Holy Spirit to forgive the sins of people. The purpose of forgiving sins is to reconcile all men to God and their brethren. It is not easy to forgive. We need the Holy Spirit to inflame our heart so that we may be meek, merciful and extend a generous helping hand to the needy and to pray for those who persecute us, those who give us troubles. Only with the help from the Holy Spirit can we truly become the salt of the earth and the light of the world. When people see our good works, they shall give glory to our Father in heaven.
In the second reading today, St. Paul says that the Holy Spirit gives us varieties of spiritual gifts to serve the same Lord, to build up the same Mystical Body of Christ. St. Peter compares us to pieces of living stones “to build into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1Peter 2:5). So, on our journey of sanctification, we cannot be alone. We have joined this Spirit-empowered community, we should “drink of one Spirit”. We glow and are in communion with each other in the Holy Spirit who makes us one in Christ to become an acceptable sacrifice of the Father.
May the Holy Spirit be praised, now and forever. With the Father and the Son, one God, He lives and reigns forever. Amen.
God bless.
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