It takes patience to read the writings of John. The text of Good Shepherd we read today (John 10:11-18) shows his style. Like a Russian doll, there are layer upon layers of meanings unfolding before our eyes.
He began with "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (10:11)
Fair enough. Yet on a closer reading you will discover that he lays down his life NOT only for his sheep (10:3), but for the sheep, for all sheep! What does it mean? For me, Jesus has a large heart. At the moment of speaking, he had very few followers. But he was confident that eventually many more would follow him. He did not lay down his life for the good only but for all, even for those who betrayed him, denied him and crucified him. On the cross, Jesus prayed to the Father to forgive them all because "they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34). Jesus cares for all of us.
Further down, Jesus reveals another layer of meanings, another criterion for being a good shepherd.
"I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me." (John 10:14)
If you think of a shepherd as a leader, Jesus' intention was clear. If you want to be thought of as a good leader, you should know your followers and let your followers know you. At least, you should project such an image as to suggest that you are approachable. You door is always open to welcome criticisms etc.
No. when you think Jesus meant to teach you to be a strategically skillful leader, you are wrong. In the same breath, Jesus continues to lay down the ground rule. What did Jesus mean by "know"?
"as the Father knows me and I know the Father" (10:15a)
Remember that Jesus was a Jew and when a Jew says "know", he means more than intellectual knowledge. He means deeper than. I think the sentence should be read together.
"I know my own and my own know me as the Father knows me and I know the Father."
Bracket out the "I know my own and ... I know the Father", in the middle part, you will get
"my own know me as the Father knows me."
How is it possible for us to know Jesus as the Father knows him?
Jesus was talking about the intimate internal life of the Blessed Trinity which our understanding can never penetrate. What we can see is the external revelation of the Trinity. Within the Trinity, the Son and the Father are one (10:30). On the outside, the Father is greater than the Son (14:28)
I have to admit that I have not yet thoroughly understand the gospels. At this stage, I do not know Jesus much.
My Good Shepherd, illuminate my mind and set my heart on fire so that I can truly know you. Amen.
Sunday 26 April 2015
Sunday 19 April 2015
我們就是這些事的見證人 We are witnesses of these things
復活期第三主日
主題：我們就是這些事的見證人
無論你是嬰孩時被父母抱來聖堂洗禮，抑或是長大成人出於自己的願望接受洗禮，事實只有一個：「是天主揀選了你，賜予恩寵給你」。每個信天主領洗入教的人都有他們不同的故事。無論你領了洗有多少年，你總會有機會被人問到為甚麼洗禮。你沒有親眼見過2000年前的耶穌，你憑甚麼信耶穌呢？更進一步，你憑甚麼資歷，一如今天的讀經所記載的，做耶穌的見證人呢？
首先，請大家明白，新約聖經所記載的是二千年前的事蹟，是反映耶穌的第一代甚至第二代門徒所要應付的問題。他們尚可以好像法政先鋒一樣，搜集現場証物例如殮布、空的墓穴等，或者請出一些証人，例如天使、婦女和曾目睹耶穌顯現的門徒等，來回應當時對他們偷去耶穌屍體的指控。今天，不但這些人証物証已經不存在，而且今天反對基督信仰的性質已完全不同了。
雖然今天仍有很多人繼續去發掘「挪亞方舟」，很多的科學家繼續研究「都靈聖殮布」，很多教徒敬禮釘過耶穌的十字架或者其他的聖髑，但我們的信仰絕對不是，而且絕對不能建基於這些物質之上。聖經考古或者挖掘研究聖經中提及過的事物固然可以滿足人類的好奇心，但這些物質，真偽難辨，總會有不信的人質疑或挑戰你的發現或研究成果。這些努力對我們的靈性生命有何幫助呢？
假如真的在亞辣辣特山上找到「挪亞方舟」的殘骸又如何？証明了洪水滅世是真正的歷史而不是神話故事，所以聖經記載的事蹟是真的，所以彩虹的確是天主向人類保證不再用洪水消滅世界的信物嗎？從「都靈聖殮布」驗到耶穌的血是AB型又如何？耶穌對人類的愛可以用他的血型說明嗎？各位，我們的信仰不是基於這些物質性的所謂証據之上的。
那麼，我們的信仰基礎是甚麼？正如今天第一篇讀經和福音所記載的，「我們都是見証人。」所以我們的信仰是基於宗徒的見証。二千年來，宗徒們把他們對耶穌基督的信仰，代代相傳到今時今日。這就是我們在主日彌撒中所唸的「信經」所說的：「我信唯一、至聖、至公、從宗徒傳下來的教會。」的意義。
我們不祗聽他們所傳遞的道理，而且我們還要看他們的所作所為，來決定他們的宣講是否可信。所謂「聽其言、觀其行。」
二千年來，千千萬萬的人因信仰復活了的耶穌基督而令到他們的生命得以改善，他們甚至為了這信仰而殺身成仁，捨生取義，成為殉道者，成為烈士；有些人為了回報天主的大愛，他們甘心忍受艱難困苦，四處傳揚福音，做傳教士；有些人為了達到與天主更深刻的契合，隱居山林，默觀祈禱，做隱修士；有些人發揮天主的恩賜，捍衛真理，做神學家；有些人依照耶穌的教訓，去服事在窮人身上的耶穌，做安貧小姊妹。這二千年來，天主因應教會在歷史中所面對的不同挑戰，感召和派遣不同的聖人幫助信徒，邁向永生。這就是「從宗徒傳下來的至聖公教會」的意義，也就是當今教宗方濟各頒布「獻身生活年」的目的，希望大家對各個修會和它們的神恩有所認識，亦明白天主對人類的愛如何多姿多彩，他們以自己的生命回應天主的召叫和恩賜，他們都在說：「我們都是這些事的見証人。」
讓我們反省一下，我們可以怎樣做耶穌的見証人，薪火相傳，把基督信仰繼續傳揚開去呢？
首先，我們要問，我有每天祈禱讀經的習慣嗎？只會唸幾篇經固然不足夠，能用自己的說話向天主禱告是另一個層次，但仍然不足夠。因為祈禱是與天主交談，所以自言自語是無益的，我們要在祈禱中聽到天主對我們說話。
您辨認到天主的聲音嗎？聖經記載了天主的啟示，所以用聖經來祈禱，默想每日讀經的內容是一個很好的祈禱，從中您可以聽到，感覺到天主對您的啟示，對您的支持和對您的慈悲。
有了祈禱讀經的習慣是第一步。讓我們再進一步反省自己對天主的說話，有回應嗎？回應得夠爽快嗎？很多時我們埋怨天主沒有俯聽我們的祈禱，或者天主回應得不夠爽快。其實天主在我們祈求之前已經安排了我們所需要的各種恩寵，是我們沒有爽快地踏出一步，沒有伸手去領取，去回應天主而已。
在我們已習慣了的安樂窩中，再沒有我們所需要的，新的恩寵了。讓我設個比喻。我們祈求所需要的，就好像玩尋寶遊戲中的寶物一樣，須要離開我們習慣了的安樂窩，四出探索纔可以找到。不是盲目的探索，因為我們有聖經作為藏寶圖。
離開安樂窩，踏出一步回應天主的說話豈不就是「做耶穌的見証人」嗎？
您立時的反應可能是：向外人傳教，不是神職人員，或者慕道班導師做的嗎？我沒有足夠的訓練又怎能做呢？其實並非各位想像中的困難。所謂「多有多做，少有少做」。我們是有能力做「小規模」的見証人。如何細小呢？細小得像「酵母」一樣。【拿出堂區通訊，介紹「酵母行動」】
正如廖神父在今期堂區通訊頭版所說的，『領洗不足一年的新教友已經在信仰生活上轉趨冷淡…我們渴望慕道者能儘快投入堂區大家庭，明白信仰的道路實不孤單。』堂區成立了一個「家庭牧民專責小組」，其中一個任務就是在堂區推行「酵母行動」。『顧名思義，這行動的目的是要發揮酵母的作用，讓堂區的教友們作為酵母，引發慕道者積極投入堂區的信仰生活。』
那麼，願意成為「酵母」的教友要做甚麼？要花多少時間呢，會不會很困身呢？放心，廖神父說得很清楚，參加「酵母行動」的教友『認識、鼓勵及陪同慕道者一同參與感恩祭及其他的堂區活動…堂區…會為願意成為「酵母」的教友作出培育及在感恩禮中接受派遣。』
做酵母的教友不用做法証先鋒去証明耶穌的復活，不用做殉道者或修士修女。您們祗做平時的您，讀經祈禱，參加主日彌撒和堂區活動，把您們領洗入教，與耶穌來往，耶穌的復活如何改變了你們的生命等等的故事與慕道者分享就是了。
您回應廖神父的邀請，回應天主的邀請，爽快嗎？
天主保祐。
Third Sunday of Easter (Year B)
Theme: We are witnesses of these things.
Whether you were baptized in your infancy or you made your own choice as an adult to receive baptism, there is only one fact: God chooses you to give you grace. Every baptized person has his own peculiar story. However, no matter how long you have been baptized, there are chances you will be asked why you chose to be baptized. You have not seen Jesus who lived 2000 years ago. What made you believe in Jesus? Furthermore, what qualifications do you have, like the readings today, to make you a Jesus’ witness?
First of all, we need to understand that New Testament writings reflect the problems which the first generation or even second generation Christians had to deal with. They were still able to do CSI, like scrutinizing the Shroud, the empty tomb or putting witnesses such angels, women and those who claimed to have seen the resurrected Jesus through cross-examination. They did this to refute the charges of stealing Jesus’ corpse. Today, these evidences and witnesses no longer exist and the anti-Christianity charges are not the same.
Although nowadays many people continue to excavate Noah’s Ark; many scientists still scrutinize the Shroud of Turin; many believers venerate the cross on which Jesus was crucified or some other relics, I think that our faith absolutely cannot be and should not be based on such physical evidences. Biblical archaeology or excavation expeditions of artefacts mentioned in the Bible can satisfy the curiosity of people, but the authenticity of these items is difficult to determine. Moreover, there will always be skeptics who question or challenge your findings. What good do these endeavours do for our spiritual life?
Suppose you are able to locate the wreckage of Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat. So what? Does it prove that the Deluge was for real and not a myth, therefore Biblical stories are real and the rainbow is truly a sign of God’s promise never to destroy the world again with floods? Suppose you find from the Shroud of Turin that the blood type of Jesus is AB. So what? What can this blood type prove about Jesus’ love for humanity? Brethren, our faith cannot be based on such physical evidences.
What then is the foundation of our faith? As it is written in the first reading and the gospel today, “We are witnesses of these things.” (Acts 3:15, Luke 24:48) Thus, our faith is based on the witness of the Apostles. For 2000 years, the Apostles passed on their belief in Jesus Christ down the generations to us today. This is the meaning of the Creed we recite on Sundays, “I believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.” We do not only listen to their preaching but we also scrutinize their acts to decide whether their witness is trustworthy, to see whether they practise what they preach.
For 2000 years, the life of millions of people has improved for the better because of their belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Some of them even gave up their lives for their faith and became martyrs. Some repaid the great love of God by enduring great sufferings in the proclamation of the gospel as missionaries. Some sought more intimate union with God and retired into the wilderness to become ascetics. Some made good use of God’s gift to defend the truth and became theologians while others followed Jesus’ teaching to serve the Lord in the needy as Little Sisters of the Poor. For 2000 years, in response to different needs arising throughout history, God inspired and sent many different saints to help the faithful to attain eternal life. This is the meaning of Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. This is also the intention of Pope Francis to declare a Year of Consecrated Life, wishing you to know more about the different charisma of the religious orders, to understand the splendour of God’s love towards humanity. These people respond to God’s call and grace with their lives. They are saying, “We are witnesses of these things.”
Let us ponder how we can also be witnesses of Jesus, to pass on and spread Christianity?
First of all, we have to ask ourselves whether we have the habit of daily prayers and scripture reading. Reciting a few set prayers is not enough. Speaking to God in your own words is better but not enough. It is because prayer is a dialogue with God. Mumbling to yourself is of no benefits. We need to hear God speaking to us in prayers. How do we discern God’s voice? The Bible carries God’s revelation. Biblical prayer, meditating daily readings is a very good way to pray. From the verses, you will be able to hear, to feel God’s revelation to you, to support you and show you mercy.
Having built up a habit of praying with the Bible is only the first step. Let us reflect further whether we have responded to God’s word, whether we have responded promptly. Many times, we complain that God does not answer our prayers or God does not answer promptly enough. In fact, God has already prepared for us all sorts of graces we need even before we pray for them. It is we who do not promptly take the first step, stretch up our hands to answer God.
In our comfort zone, we do not need any new graces. Let me give an analogy. When we pray for our needs, we are like playing treasure hunts. We need to step out of our comfort zones to search for those treasures. We do not search blindly. The Bible is our treasure map!
Is not leaving our comfort zone to answer God’s call “bearing witnesses for Jesus”? Your immediate reaction would be: Isn’t preaching the gospel to non-believers the job of the clergy or catechists? We don’t have enough training. How can we do it? In fact, it is not as difficult as you imagine. There is always a right measure for you. We have the ability to be a small scale witness. How small? As small as a yeast!
To quote what Fr. Joseph Liu says on the front page of the latest issue of the Parish Newsletter, “The religious life of the newly baptized turns cold in less than one year ... we wish to help the catechumens to partake in the family of the parish as soon as possible so that they may understand that they are not alone in their faith.” The parish has set up a “Family Pastoral Care Task Force”. One of its tasks is to organize a “Yeast Action” in the parish. “The purpose of this Action is to help our parishioners carry out their function as yeast, to encourage the catechumens to partake in the religious life in the parish.”
So, what do these “yeasts” do? Would it be time-consuming? Fr. Liu assures that parishioners who want to become “yeasts” simply “know, encourage and accompany the catechumens to join mass and other parish activities ... The parish ... will give these “yeasts” briefings and commission them during mass.”
These “yeasts” do not need to collect CSI evidence to prove Jesus’ resurrection, to die a martyr death or become religious brothers or nuns. You simply do what you are doing in your everyday life, saying daily prayers, joining Sunday masses and parish activities, share your experience with the catechumens about your walking with Jesus and the stories of how Jesus’ resurrection changes your life.
Do you respond to Fr. Liu’s invitation and God’s invitation promptly enough?
God bless.
主題：我們就是這些事的見證人
無論你是嬰孩時被父母抱來聖堂洗禮，抑或是長大成人出於自己的願望接受洗禮，事實只有一個：「是天主揀選了你，賜予恩寵給你」。每個信天主領洗入教的人都有他們不同的故事。無論你領了洗有多少年，你總會有機會被人問到為甚麼洗禮。你沒有親眼見過2000年前的耶穌，你憑甚麼信耶穌呢？更進一步，你憑甚麼資歷，一如今天的讀經所記載的，做耶穌的見證人呢？
首先，請大家明白，新約聖經所記載的是二千年前的事蹟，是反映耶穌的第一代甚至第二代門徒所要應付的問題。他們尚可以好像法政先鋒一樣，搜集現場証物例如殮布、空的墓穴等，或者請出一些証人，例如天使、婦女和曾目睹耶穌顯現的門徒等，來回應當時對他們偷去耶穌屍體的指控。今天，不但這些人証物証已經不存在，而且今天反對基督信仰的性質已完全不同了。
雖然今天仍有很多人繼續去發掘「挪亞方舟」，很多的科學家繼續研究「都靈聖殮布」，很多教徒敬禮釘過耶穌的十字架或者其他的聖髑，但我們的信仰絕對不是，而且絕對不能建基於這些物質之上。聖經考古或者挖掘研究聖經中提及過的事物固然可以滿足人類的好奇心，但這些物質，真偽難辨，總會有不信的人質疑或挑戰你的發現或研究成果。這些努力對我們的靈性生命有何幫助呢？
假如真的在亞辣辣特山上找到「挪亞方舟」的殘骸又如何？証明了洪水滅世是真正的歷史而不是神話故事，所以聖經記載的事蹟是真的，所以彩虹的確是天主向人類保證不再用洪水消滅世界的信物嗎？從「都靈聖殮布」驗到耶穌的血是AB型又如何？耶穌對人類的愛可以用他的血型說明嗎？各位，我們的信仰不是基於這些物質性的所謂証據之上的。
那麼，我們的信仰基礎是甚麼？正如今天第一篇讀經和福音所記載的，「我們都是見証人。」所以我們的信仰是基於宗徒的見証。二千年來，宗徒們把他們對耶穌基督的信仰，代代相傳到今時今日。這就是我們在主日彌撒中所唸的「信經」所說的：「我信唯一、至聖、至公、從宗徒傳下來的教會。」的意義。
我們不祗聽他們所傳遞的道理，而且我們還要看他們的所作所為，來決定他們的宣講是否可信。所謂「聽其言、觀其行。」
二千年來，千千萬萬的人因信仰復活了的耶穌基督而令到他們的生命得以改善，他們甚至為了這信仰而殺身成仁，捨生取義，成為殉道者，成為烈士；有些人為了回報天主的大愛，他們甘心忍受艱難困苦，四處傳揚福音，做傳教士；有些人為了達到與天主更深刻的契合，隱居山林，默觀祈禱，做隱修士；有些人發揮天主的恩賜，捍衛真理，做神學家；有些人依照耶穌的教訓，去服事在窮人身上的耶穌，做安貧小姊妹。這二千年來，天主因應教會在歷史中所面對的不同挑戰，感召和派遣不同的聖人幫助信徒，邁向永生。這就是「從宗徒傳下來的至聖公教會」的意義，也就是當今教宗方濟各頒布「獻身生活年」的目的，希望大家對各個修會和它們的神恩有所認識，亦明白天主對人類的愛如何多姿多彩，他們以自己的生命回應天主的召叫和恩賜，他們都在說：「我們都是這些事的見証人。」
讓我們反省一下，我們可以怎樣做耶穌的見証人，薪火相傳，把基督信仰繼續傳揚開去呢？
首先，我們要問，我有每天祈禱讀經的習慣嗎？只會唸幾篇經固然不足夠，能用自己的說話向天主禱告是另一個層次，但仍然不足夠。因為祈禱是與天主交談，所以自言自語是無益的，我們要在祈禱中聽到天主對我們說話。
您辨認到天主的聲音嗎？聖經記載了天主的啟示，所以用聖經來祈禱，默想每日讀經的內容是一個很好的祈禱，從中您可以聽到，感覺到天主對您的啟示，對您的支持和對您的慈悲。
有了祈禱讀經的習慣是第一步。讓我們再進一步反省自己對天主的說話，有回應嗎？回應得夠爽快嗎？很多時我們埋怨天主沒有俯聽我們的祈禱，或者天主回應得不夠爽快。其實天主在我們祈求之前已經安排了我們所需要的各種恩寵，是我們沒有爽快地踏出一步，沒有伸手去領取，去回應天主而已。
在我們已習慣了的安樂窩中，再沒有我們所需要的，新的恩寵了。讓我設個比喻。我們祈求所需要的，就好像玩尋寶遊戲中的寶物一樣，須要離開我們習慣了的安樂窩，四出探索纔可以找到。不是盲目的探索，因為我們有聖經作為藏寶圖。
離開安樂窩，踏出一步回應天主的說話豈不就是「做耶穌的見証人」嗎？
您立時的反應可能是：向外人傳教，不是神職人員，或者慕道班導師做的嗎？我沒有足夠的訓練又怎能做呢？其實並非各位想像中的困難。所謂「多有多做，少有少做」。我們是有能力做「小規模」的見証人。如何細小呢？細小得像「酵母」一樣。【拿出堂區通訊，介紹「酵母行動」】
正如廖神父在今期堂區通訊頭版所說的，『領洗不足一年的新教友已經在信仰生活上轉趨冷淡…我們渴望慕道者能儘快投入堂區大家庭，明白信仰的道路實不孤單。』堂區成立了一個「家庭牧民專責小組」，其中一個任務就是在堂區推行「酵母行動」。『顧名思義，這行動的目的是要發揮酵母的作用，讓堂區的教友們作為酵母，引發慕道者積極投入堂區的信仰生活。』
那麼，願意成為「酵母」的教友要做甚麼？要花多少時間呢，會不會很困身呢？放心，廖神父說得很清楚，參加「酵母行動」的教友『認識、鼓勵及陪同慕道者一同參與感恩祭及其他的堂區活動…堂區…會為願意成為「酵母」的教友作出培育及在感恩禮中接受派遣。』
做酵母的教友不用做法証先鋒去証明耶穌的復活，不用做殉道者或修士修女。您們祗做平時的您，讀經祈禱，參加主日彌撒和堂區活動，把您們領洗入教，與耶穌來往，耶穌的復活如何改變了你們的生命等等的故事與慕道者分享就是了。
您回應廖神父的邀請，回應天主的邀請，爽快嗎？
天主保祐。
Third Sunday of Easter (Year B)
Theme: We are witnesses of these things.
Whether you were baptized in your infancy or you made your own choice as an adult to receive baptism, there is only one fact: God chooses you to give you grace. Every baptized person has his own peculiar story. However, no matter how long you have been baptized, there are chances you will be asked why you chose to be baptized. You have not seen Jesus who lived 2000 years ago. What made you believe in Jesus? Furthermore, what qualifications do you have, like the readings today, to make you a Jesus’ witness?
First of all, we need to understand that New Testament writings reflect the problems which the first generation or even second generation Christians had to deal with. They were still able to do CSI, like scrutinizing the Shroud, the empty tomb or putting witnesses such angels, women and those who claimed to have seen the resurrected Jesus through cross-examination. They did this to refute the charges of stealing Jesus’ corpse. Today, these evidences and witnesses no longer exist and the anti-Christianity charges are not the same.
Although nowadays many people continue to excavate Noah’s Ark; many scientists still scrutinize the Shroud of Turin; many believers venerate the cross on which Jesus was crucified or some other relics, I think that our faith absolutely cannot be and should not be based on such physical evidences. Biblical archaeology or excavation expeditions of artefacts mentioned in the Bible can satisfy the curiosity of people, but the authenticity of these items is difficult to determine. Moreover, there will always be skeptics who question or challenge your findings. What good do these endeavours do for our spiritual life?
Suppose you are able to locate the wreckage of Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat. So what? Does it prove that the Deluge was for real and not a myth, therefore Biblical stories are real and the rainbow is truly a sign of God’s promise never to destroy the world again with floods? Suppose you find from the Shroud of Turin that the blood type of Jesus is AB. So what? What can this blood type prove about Jesus’ love for humanity? Brethren, our faith cannot be based on such physical evidences.
What then is the foundation of our faith? As it is written in the first reading and the gospel today, “We are witnesses of these things.” (Acts 3:15, Luke 24:48) Thus, our faith is based on the witness of the Apostles. For 2000 years, the Apostles passed on their belief in Jesus Christ down the generations to us today. This is the meaning of the Creed we recite on Sundays, “I believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.” We do not only listen to their preaching but we also scrutinize their acts to decide whether their witness is trustworthy, to see whether they practise what they preach.
For 2000 years, the life of millions of people has improved for the better because of their belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Some of them even gave up their lives for their faith and became martyrs. Some repaid the great love of God by enduring great sufferings in the proclamation of the gospel as missionaries. Some sought more intimate union with God and retired into the wilderness to become ascetics. Some made good use of God’s gift to defend the truth and became theologians while others followed Jesus’ teaching to serve the Lord in the needy as Little Sisters of the Poor. For 2000 years, in response to different needs arising throughout history, God inspired and sent many different saints to help the faithful to attain eternal life. This is the meaning of Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. This is also the intention of Pope Francis to declare a Year of Consecrated Life, wishing you to know more about the different charisma of the religious orders, to understand the splendour of God’s love towards humanity. These people respond to God’s call and grace with their lives. They are saying, “We are witnesses of these things.”
Let us ponder how we can also be witnesses of Jesus, to pass on and spread Christianity?
First of all, we have to ask ourselves whether we have the habit of daily prayers and scripture reading. Reciting a few set prayers is not enough. Speaking to God in your own words is better but not enough. It is because prayer is a dialogue with God. Mumbling to yourself is of no benefits. We need to hear God speaking to us in prayers. How do we discern God’s voice? The Bible carries God’s revelation. Biblical prayer, meditating daily readings is a very good way to pray. From the verses, you will be able to hear, to feel God’s revelation to you, to support you and show you mercy.
Having built up a habit of praying with the Bible is only the first step. Let us reflect further whether we have responded to God’s word, whether we have responded promptly. Many times, we complain that God does not answer our prayers or God does not answer promptly enough. In fact, God has already prepared for us all sorts of graces we need even before we pray for them. It is we who do not promptly take the first step, stretch up our hands to answer God.
In our comfort zone, we do not need any new graces. Let me give an analogy. When we pray for our needs, we are like playing treasure hunts. We need to step out of our comfort zones to search for those treasures. We do not search blindly. The Bible is our treasure map!
Is not leaving our comfort zone to answer God’s call “bearing witnesses for Jesus”? Your immediate reaction would be: Isn’t preaching the gospel to non-believers the job of the clergy or catechists? We don’t have enough training. How can we do it? In fact, it is not as difficult as you imagine. There is always a right measure for you. We have the ability to be a small scale witness. How small? As small as a yeast!
To quote what Fr. Joseph Liu says on the front page of the latest issue of the Parish Newsletter, “The religious life of the newly baptized turns cold in less than one year ... we wish to help the catechumens to partake in the family of the parish as soon as possible so that they may understand that they are not alone in their faith.” The parish has set up a “Family Pastoral Care Task Force”. One of its tasks is to organize a “Yeast Action” in the parish. “The purpose of this Action is to help our parishioners carry out their function as yeast, to encourage the catechumens to partake in the religious life in the parish.”
So, what do these “yeasts” do? Would it be time-consuming? Fr. Liu assures that parishioners who want to become “yeasts” simply “know, encourage and accompany the catechumens to join mass and other parish activities ... The parish ... will give these “yeasts” briefings and commission them during mass.”
These “yeasts” do not need to collect CSI evidence to prove Jesus’ resurrection, to die a martyr death or become religious brothers or nuns. You simply do what you are doing in your everyday life, saying daily prayers, joining Sunday masses and parish activities, share your experience with the catechumens about your walking with Jesus and the stories of how Jesus’ resurrection changes your life.
Do you respond to Fr. Liu’s invitation and God’s invitation promptly enough?
God bless.
Thursday 2 April 2015
家有一老，如有… AN ELDERLY AT HOME IS JUST LIKE A ...
「家有一老，如有…」
此文章首先刋登在【天主教屯世主堂贖第338期堂區通訊（2015.4）】
常言道：「家有一老，如有一寶。」在今天這個商業化的香港社會，說得過嗎？
的確，在古代，長者承傳生活的知識和智慧給後代，他們確實是寶。但在資訊爆炸的今天，恐怕長者們已沒有能力趕上，不但成了家中的負擔，更有可能被社會淘汰。生活在教友家庭中的長者能倖免嗎？
讓我和大家一起細數長者在他們的晚年如何成為家庭的祝福。
天主保祐
圖片下載自http://blog.artron.net/space-488757-do-album-picid-4643904-goto-up.html
AN ELDERLY AT HOME IS JUST LIKE A ...
As a Chinese idiom goes, “An elderly at home is just like possessing a jewel.” In a highly commercialized city like Hong Kong, can the idiom be true?
Indeed, in ancient times, the elderly handed on the knowledge and wisdom of daily life to the posterity. They were truly jewels. However, in this age of information explosion, I am afraid the elderly can hardly catch up. Not only do they become a burden at home, they would also become obsolete in the society. Can the elderly in a Catholic family be exempted? Let me number how the elderly are blessings in the family even in their mature age.
此文章首先刋登在【天主教屯世主堂贖第338期堂區通訊（2015.4）】常言道：「家有一老，如有一寶。」在今天這個商業化的香港社會，說得過嗎？
的確，在古代，長者承傳生活的知識和智慧給後代，他們確實是寶。但在資訊爆炸的今天，恐怕長者們已沒有能力趕上，不但成了家中的負擔，更有可能被社會淘汰。生活在教友家庭中的長者能倖免嗎？
讓我和大家一起細數長者在他們的晚年如何成為家庭的祝福。
- 他們肢體退化，行動開始緩慢
香港人的生活步伐素來急促，很多時候我們同時兼顧著幾組活動：在同一部電腦上網，做文書處理、試算表；聽著背景音樂，用免提電話與客戶爭取合約條款；與此同時正與同事開會……長者們正好拖慢我們，讓我們能細味天主在生活中賜予我們的恩寵。 小心，當您推著輪椅時，記著坐在輪椅上的長者。她是一位天使，叫您放慢腳步，細心欣賞身邊事物的天使。請不要衝鋒陷陣地推輪椅。 - 他們記憶衰退，不時重覆煩瑣
長者們因為記憶衰退，時常忘記了不久前曾說過，曾做過的事，但對前半生的「豐功偉績」，會不斷覆述，令我們不勝其煩。其實，她們在努力地保留美好的記憶，甚至改寫過去不光彩的歷史。
長者們真是天主賜給我們學習寛恕、修和的天使。從今天起與人多做修和寬恕罷，不要保留忿恨的記憶，以免將來把自己囚禁在這些怨恨的記憶中受苦。學習長者們「選擇性地記憶」罷，祗記著別人的恩惠，忘記別人的無禮和冒犯。
長者們又是天主派來操練我們耐性的天使。這裡不再贅述。 - 家中的長者，是我們未來的寫照
雖然我們沒有水晶球預見未來，但我們的基因，一半來自父親，一半來自母親。他們就是天主賜給我們預示未來的天使。他們是我們未來健康上和脾氣上的寫照。雖然說「有其父必有其子」，但男人一半的基因亦來自母親。可能相貎上似父親，但脾氣上亦有母親的影子。所以，家中的長者正在運用他們的晚年，展示著家主的未來。長者安享晚年固然是好，若他們有甚麼不是之處，你應自我檢討，趁尚有時間，想辦法預防這些事情，將來發生在你自己身上。父母年事已高，已無法改變。但你尚年青可改，又有不同的基因組合，又有時間在手上，必定可以為自己的將來創造有利的條件。
天主保祐
圖片下載自http://blog.artron.net/space-488757-do-album-picid-4643904-goto-up.html
AN ELDERLY AT HOME IS JUST LIKE A ...
As a Chinese idiom goes, “An elderly at home is just like possessing a jewel.” In a highly commercialized city like Hong Kong, can the idiom be true?
Indeed, in ancient times, the elderly handed on the knowledge and wisdom of daily life to the posterity. They were truly jewels. However, in this age of information explosion, I am afraid the elderly can hardly catch up. Not only do they become a burden at home, they would also become obsolete in the society. Can the elderly in a Catholic family be exempted? Let me number how the elderly are blessings in the family even in their mature age.
- Their limbs deteriorate. Their motions begin to slow down.
It is well known that the living paces of Hong Kong people are extremely fast. Many times, we multitask: on the same computer we surf the net, do word-processing, calculate a spreadsheet; listen to background music, using a hand-free mobile to negotiate a better deal with clients while briefing your colleagues ... It is just right for the elderly to slow us down, allowing us to appreciate the grace which God bestows on us in our daily life.Beware, when you wheelchair, remember the elderly who is sitting on it. She is an angel who tells you to appreciate the good things around you. Don’t charge! - Their memories fail, repeating minor details all the time.
The memory of the elderly is fading. Often, they forget what they have said or done a moment before. However, they can remember their “past glories” and repeatedly tell you, making you fed-up. In fact, they are trying to retain their beautiful memories and even rewrite their shadowy history in the past.
The elderly are truly godsend angels to help us learn forgiveness and reconciliation. Starting from today, forgive and reconcile. Don’t keep unpleasant memories to haunt and torture you when you are imprisoned in resentful memories in your old age. Learn from the elderly to remember selectively. Remember the good things people done you and forget their arrogance and abrasiveness.The elderly are also godsend angels to teach us patience. There is no need for me to elaborate here. - The elderly is your future image.
Although we do not have a crystal ball to see our future, we have genes of which half come from our fathers and the other half our mothers. Our parents are godsend angels to foretell our future. They show us our health and temper in the future. Though we say “like father like son”, half of our genes came from our mothers. We may look like our fathers, but our temper and characters may mirror our mothers. Therefore, the elderly are making use of their final years to show the housemasters their future. It is a blessing for the elderly to lead a peaceful life at their full age. Even if they are troublesome, we should scrutinize ourselves, take measures to prevent these troubles from happening in your future while there is still time. Your parents are already too old to change but you are still young. You have a different combination of genes and time is on your side. You can surely create advantageous conditions for your future.
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