將臨期第三主日（乙年）
太陽之下無新事（訓1:9），二千年前發生的故事，今天仍繼續演出。
耶穌時代可以說是一個亂世。猶大淪為羅馬帝國的殖民地，有人攀附權貴，甘心做羅馬人的傀儡，跑腿，做統治者的宣傳機器，亦有人選擇使用暴力頑抗，而大部份人就忍氣吞聲做沉默的大多數。就在整個社會都充滿壓力的時候，忽然在曠野出現了一個「你們悔改罷，因為天國臨近了」的呼聲（瑪3:2）。京城的權力中心自然要派人去查個究竟。這個調查團包括了司祭、肋未人和法利塞人。當他們問若翰的身份時，若翰一口否定了自己是他們所期待的默西亞。那麼，默西亞究竟是甚麼呢？
「默西亞」是希伯來文受傅者的意思。在舊約時代，那些身負重要公職的人，例如君王和司祭，都會經過一個公開的儀式，把香油倒在候選人的頭上，向以色列人民表示他們是天主所揀選的人。這個「默西亞」的稱號，不一定是以色列人專用的，例如，依撒意亞先知曾預言波斯王居魯士是上主的受傅者（依45:1）。
達味統一十二支派成為以色列國的君王的初期，安放了十誡的約櫃仍然在帳幕內（撒下7:2）。於是達味想為天主建造一座聖殿，供奉天主的約櫃。天主見達味一片忠心，不但不要達味為祂建造聖殿，反而藉納堂先知之口，應許達味的王朝永遠長存。這就是有名的「納堂神諭」。下一個主日的讀經一就是這一段。
後來達味的王朝覆滅，猶大國人充軍巴比倫，要由波斯王居魯士這個默西亞解放他們回國。痛定思痛，天主的諾言是絕不會落空的，所以縱使達味王朝一時滅亡，天主總會派遣一個達味的後裔來重建達味王朝。這個就是天主所派遣，所傅了油的「默西亞」。
當調查團查問若翰時，大部份的猶太人正熱切期望默西亞來驅逐羅馬人，解放他們，有如當年的居魯士。當然，對於那些既得利益者，他們就並不熱衷默西亞的出現了，因為驅逐羅馬人對他們不會帶來任何好處。所以若翰的答案令他們鬆一口氣。但他們仍不放心繼續追問若翰是否厄里亞。那麼，厄里亞又是誰呢？
「厄里亞」是君王時代，抗衡拜偶像的腐敗君王的一個先知典型。他捍衛雅威的崇拜，曾獨力與450個拜偶像的假先知比拼誰所呼喚的神是真天主，結果當然是厄里亞勝出。他最為人所津津樂道的，莫過於他並沒有好像一般人一樣死去，而是天主派遣一輪由火馬拉的火車，在旋風中把他接到天上去。另一位先知瑪拉基亞曾預言在末日，在默西亞來臨前厄里亞會出現，為默西亞作好末世的準備，是默西亞的前驅。若翰又否認了。調查團更放心了，末日沒有這麼快出現。
「那位先知」(若1:21)是指梅瑟在【申命紀18章】所提及的一位像梅瑟一樣的先知。因為他像梅瑟一樣，所以這位先知亦可能會擔任拯救以色列的任務。他的出現對當時的權貴亦不會是一個好消息，一個福音。
既然若翰不是那些預言中的大人物，法利塞人就放心質問若翰憑甚麼權柄為人施洗。這樣就給若翰一個為基督作證的機會。你們知道嗎？若翰就是因為這個機會，感到滿心歡喜。因為他就是為了為耶穌作先驅，預備他的道路而來到這世上的。若翰說:「有新娘的是新郎；新郎的朋友侍立靜聽，一聽得新郎的聲音，就非常喜樂：我的喜樂已滿足了。」（若3:29）耶穌曾評論並讚美洗者若翰說：「在婦女所生者中，沒有興起一位比洗者若翰更大的」（瑪11:11）。
今天是「喜樂主日」。作為基督徒，我們有甚麼值得喜樂呢？保祿宗徒在讀經二告訴我們，天主的旨意是要我們「在基督耶穌內時常喜樂」（得前5:16-18）。在基督耶穌內時常喜樂是甚麼意思呢？請各位想一想，我們做天主教徒，信了耶穌之後是甚麼使我們喜樂呢？
原來喜樂的秘訣就記載在今天的讀經一之中。天主透過依撒意亞先知告訴我們：吾主上主的神臨到我身上，派遣我向貧苦的人傳佈喜信，治療破碎了的心靈…等等，我們就會有如新郎新娘一樣喜樂。先知說，我們每人都領受了聖神，獲得神恩。聖保祿宗徒說，神恩雖各有不同，都是為建樹基督的身體（弗4:12）注意，喜樂已不再在於物質生活上的富足，不在於攀登上社會的高位，有權有勢；而在於好像若翰洗者一樣，完成天主所委派給我們的任務，就是傳福音的任務。傳福音使其他人都能獲得天主的救恩，這就是做天主教徒喜樂的真正意義。
可是，天主教徒在人前好像並不喜樂。很多教友覺得在人前表露教徒的身份很尷尬。歸根究底都是我們並不熱衷傳福音。為甚麼我們並不熱衷傳福音呢？因為我們洗禮之後，沒有恆心讀經祈禱，尋求天主的旨意。我們對福音的內容陌生，怕自己說錯了。殊不知是天主聖神希望透過我們向未信的人說話。耶穌說：「聖神必要教給你們應說的話。」(路12:12) 我們覺得領聖事，參彌撒已經足夠了，最多參加善會，服務堂區，已算熱心了吧，傳福音就留給神父、執事、修士修女做吧。領聖事，參彌撒，服務堂區固然是重要，但這些祗是前菜而不是主菜。天主在我們面前擺設了豐富的盛宴（詠23:5），而我們卻揀飲擇食，祗挑選了一些前菜而不吃主菜。真可惜。我們既然領受了聖神，享受著天賜的神恩，為甚麼埋沒了這些神恩，不運用它們呢？在我們傳福音的時候，我們就像先知一樣，天主透過我們向不信的人說話，我們將會經驗到天主的德能在我們身上運行，這是何等的喜樂。這種喜樂，不應是神職人員的專利，我們每一個教友都有權分一杯羹。
依撒意亞先知是四大先知之首，他宣講了很多有關默西亞的預言。將臨期主日的十二篇讀經一，就有七篇出自依撒意亞。所以黎神父曾建議過我們在將臨期讀完依撒意亞先知書。雖然將臨期已過了一半，所謂「遲到好過無到」。現在開始研讀依撒意亞先知，體會他的精神，也未算遲。天主保佑。
3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B
Theme: Joy in evangelization is the joy of Christians
There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). A 2000-year old story continues to play out today. The time of Jesus was a troubled time. Judaea was a Roman colony. Some played up to the powerful, willingly became their puppets, running dogs and even propaganda machines. Some chose to resist with violence and the rest became the silent majority. When the whole society was pressurized, a voice appeared in the wilderness calling “Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2). Naturally, the power centre in Jerusalem sent a delegation to investigate. It consisted of priests, Levites and Pharisees. When they asked the Baptist who he was, the Baptist denied that he was the Messiah. So, what was the Messiah?
Messiah is a Hebrew word, meaning the Anointed One. In Old Testament time, important officials such as kings and priests would be anointed in a public ceremony to indicate to the Israelites that they were chosen by God. However, the title of “Messiah” was not exclusively Jewish. For example, Isaiah called Cyrus, the Persian King, the Anointed One of the Lord (Isaiah 45:1).
During the early stage of the United Empire when David had united the 12 tribes of Israel, the Ark of Covenant was still housed within curtains (2 Samuel 7:2). Therefore, David intended to build a Temple to adore the Ark. God saw the loyalty of David. Not only did God decline David’s generosity, but He also promised, through the prophet Nathan, that David’s dynasty would last forever. This was the famous “Nathan Oracle” which will be read next Sunday.
Later, David’s dynasty was overthrown. Jews were exiled to Babylon only to be liberated by King Cyrus the Anointed One. On reflection, the Jews reasoned that God’s promise would not fail. Therefore, though the Davidic dynasty might fall, God would raise a descendant of David to rebuild his kingdom. This would be the Messiah they were awaiting.
When the delegation interrogated the Baptist, most Jews were eagerly expecting the Messiah to come to drive away the Romans, to liberate them like what Cyrus did in the past. Of course, the parties of vested interests were not as eager because driving out the Romans brought them no benefits. So, they were relieved to hear John’s denial. But their relief was incomplete. They continued to ask the Baptist whether he was Elijah. So, what was Elijah?
Elijah was a typical prophet who fought against corrupt and idolatrous kings. He defended Yahweh-worship and single-handedly combated 450 Baal prophets to prove whose god was the true God. Of course Elijah won the day. He was most remembered for being taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot drawn by fiery horses in a whirlwind. Prophet Malachi prophesized that on the Lord’s Day, Elijah would appear to prepare the coming of the Messiah. Elijah was the forerunner of the Messiah. The Baptist denied a second time. The delegation was relieved because the end time had not yet arrived.
“The prophet” (John 1:21) was the prophet Moses mentioned in Deuteronomy 18. This prophet was as powerful as Moses and so was expected to take up a liberator role. His appearance would not be a good news to the people of authority either.
If the Baptist was not any prophesized important dignitary, the Pharisees would feel safe to challenge the Baptist’s authority to baptize. This gave the Baptist an opportunity to bear witness to Jesus. Because of this opportunity, the Baptist was full of joy because this was his raison d'être. John said, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.” (John 3:29) Jesus once commented and praised the Baptist, saying: “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.” (Matthew 11:11)
Today is Gaudete Sunday. What makes us Catholics joyful? In the second reading today, St. Paul told us that it is God’s will for us to be always joyful in Christ Jesus (1Thessalonians 5:16-18). What does it mean to be always joyful in Christ Jesus? Let’s ponder, what makes us joyful after becoming a Catholic, after believing in Jesus?
The secret to be joyful is found in the first reading today. Through Isaiah, God told us that the Spirit of the Lord is upon me ... sending me out to bring good tidings to the afflicted and to bind up the brokenhearted etc. Then we would be as joyful as brides and bridegrooms (Isaiah 61:1, 10). Isaiah said each of us has received the Spirit, received spiritual gifts. St. Paul told us that though God’s grace may be different for each of us, the purpose is to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). Pay attention. Joy is no long material satisfaction, or social status, power and influence. Instead, it is, like the Baptist, the accomplishment of the mission commissioned by God, viz. evangelization. Evangelization is to make others receive God’s salvation. This is the true meaning of Christian joy.
However, Catholics do not appear to be joyful in front of people. Many Catholics find it embarrassing to reveal their Christian identity. Why? It is all because we are not enthusiastic in evangelization. Why not? It is because we are not steadfast in prayer and bible study to discover God’s will after baptism. When we are not familiar with the contents of the gospel, we are afraid to make mistakes when we preach. We don’t know that it is the Holy Spirit who wishes to speak to non-believers through us. Jesus said, “The Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:12). We feel that it is enough to receive sacraments, to join masses or we are fervent enough when we join some laity associations to serve the parish. Leave the preaching job to the clergy and nuns. Of course it is essential to receive sacraments, to join masses and serve the parish, but these are just side dishes, not the main course. The Lord prepares a table before me (Psalm 23:5), yet we are very choosy, picking up the side dishes rather than the main course. What a pity! Since we have received the Holy Spirit and are enjoying God’s graces, why should we bury the talents and do not make use of them? In preaching the gospel, we will be like prophets, allowing God to speak through us to non-believers. We will be able to experience the joy and excitement of God’s power working in us. This joy is not the privilege of the clergy. Each baptized Catholic can partake in this excitement.
Isaiah is the first of the four Major Prophets. He prophesizes a lot about the Messiah. Among the 12 first readings on Advent Sundays, 7 are taken from Isaiah. That was why Fr. Lejeune encouraged us to finish reading Isaiah in Advent. Though we are already halfway through Advent, it is better late than never. Start reading Isaiah to experience his spirit now. God bless.
No comments:
Post a Comment