常年期十五主日（乙年）
主題：我們每個人都是傳教士
在彌撒結束的時候，我們聽慣了神父或執事宣報：「彌撒禮成。」，然後大家答「感謝天主。」可惜，這個中文官方翻譯並不理想，譯漏了一個字。拉丁文原文是Ite, missa est. 「彌撒禮成」祗譯了Missa est並沒有譯出Ite. Ite有「去、前去」的意思。後來，有神父執事加了「請大家平安回去，彌撒禮成。」將Ite變成「回去」，結果就變成教友在彌撒後到茶樓霸位飲茶食午飯，失去了Ite原文的精神。好吧，既然講到食飯，我們就由食飯繼續講下去吧。
Missa有使命、任務的意義，即是英文的mission。這樣理解的話，Ite的「去、前去」便有了差遣、派遣的意思，而不是回去的意思了。所以，「彌撒禮成」祗是儀式的結束，而不是使命的結束。神父執事代表著耶穌基督差遣大家去、前去、出去，在平日的生活中，去完成使命。是甚麼使命呢？作為耶穌的門徒，我們有傳福音的任務。這就是上個星期吳神父在講道中提及到的先知使命。這是領洗入教時所獲得的，分享耶穌的三重職務之一。祗要妳是基督徒，妳便有這個先知使命。
一聽到傳福音，傳教，我們第一個反應必然是，我才疏學淺，沒有讀過神學，我不行的，由神父、執事、修士修女做就夠了，我祗能做到的，就是捐錢，就是為聖召祈禱。捐錢固然要，為聖召祈禱固然要，但實際參予傳福音更為重要。其實，大家怕傳福音、 怕傳教，最主要的原因是怕被人拒絕。其實，大家不需要怕，因為有很多人希望成為基督徒，可惜不知道如何入門而已。何解？
如果我們會推介回味無窮的咖啡、好看的電影、商場的特價，或者用手機映下食物的賣相，因為這些都是好的東西，好的資訊的話，我們是否更應該推介天主教的信仰呢？倘若你不覺得這份信仰是好的，你來參加彌撒，你唸經祈禱，讀經默想等豈不是在浪費時間？大家一定覺得這裡有歸屬感，有家的感覺，可以在這裡成長發展，可以升天堂你纔會來。但你自己享受家的感覺，而不理會仍在外面有家歸不得的兄弟姊妹，你於心何忍呢？
在今個主日的福音，我們看到耶穌派遣十二宗徒傳福音的故事，認識到傳福音應注意的地方。二千年前要帶一根棍杖，不要穿兩件內衣（谷6:8-9），今天還要帶一根棍杖傳福音嗎？二千年前不要帶食物，不要帶錢，倚賴好心人的施捨，信賴天主的照顧，今天行得通嗎？沒有錢，可以拍攝視像，上傳Youtube，甚至自己製作宗教電影電視節目、設立一個社會傳播處，開一所天主教電視台去福傳嗎？可見，瞭解經文的精神，比跟隨字面的意思更重要。那麼，傳福音的方法和精神是甚麼呢？讓我們再看一次。
耶穌要十二人兩個兩個去傳福音（谷6:7），這是基督宗教的特質。大家有見過和尚兩個兩個一齊化緣嗎？無。因為佛教比較個人化。一個和尚可以找個有靈氣的地方，閉關二十年就可以頓悟，達到涅槃境界。基督宗教不可以。耶穌吩咐門徒要彼此相愛。一個人又怎樣可以彼此相愛呢？佛教的高僧是個法力高強的一個人。基督徒是罪人，每一個都是有缺陷的罪人。他們要在教會之中成聖，在團體之中得救。所以傳福音不能單打獨鬥，而要彼此扶持。
各位兄弟姊妹，耶穌並不因為我們能幹纔揀選我們做先知。亞毛斯先知也祗不過是一個好像伯多祿一樣未有受過高深教育的牧羊人，天主一樣可以使他成為一個有貢獻的先知，留芳百世。讓我們放心大膽，與堂區內的其他兄弟姊妹合作，出去天水圍社區，告訴區內的居民天主的大愛，帶領他們分享天主的永恆生命。
科技的發達令我們的生活起了不少的變化。從前，吃飯之前就是唸飯前經，感謝天主。今天呢？人未食，手機先食。食物擺在桌上，起筷之前，大家總拿起手機，拍攝食物的賣相，上載到社交網站，等待其他人去like。吃飯不單是為了果腹，更是為了慶祝，為了聯誼，而且不再限於與同檯吃飯的人聯誼，更是為了與分佈在天涯海角的人聯誼，把好的東西，好的訊息，與人分享。同樣，當妳在某茶餐廳喝過一杯回味無窮的咖啡，或看完一齣好的電影或者知道某商店做特價等等，妳會第一時間通知妳的好朋友。這就是那麼理所當然的人性的流露。既然「與人分享」是理所當然的人情，讓我們回頭看看Ite missa est的精神是甚麼吧。
所謂人同此心，心同此理。當你見到人家的孩子有禮貌，談吐得體，對答如流，你總會打聽他在哪所中學就讀；當你見到別人容光煥發，你會問她健康美容之道，用哪些化裝品，吃甚麼減肥餐，去哪裡做瑜珈等。同樣的道理，很多人見到天主教學校教導出來的學生，看到天主教在香港所做的愛德服務，為爭取社會公義所做的見証，他們是羨慕的，渴望加入這一群志同道合的人。他們祗欠一個介紹人。你是否這個介紹人呢？你可以做這介紹人嗎？
耶穌為甚麼要我們兩個兩個而不是三個或四個一組呢？四個人一組，除非你們打麻雀，否則很難持久，很快就會分裂成兩個二人組合，分道揚鑣。雖然說三人行必有我師。但三個人很容易會變成兩個聯手排擠孤立第三個。祗有兩個人，祗有你和我，無論如何難相處，你我也要彼此放下身段，接納對方，共同成長，一齊合作完成使命。一個人無論如何能幹和有本領，總不及兩個人聯手的效益大。你可能有以一敵百的本領，但一個人是很難進步，而兩個人在彼此相愛，互諒互助的互動過程中，就可彼此共同長進。這就是耶穌的智慧。
天主保祐。
Fifteenth Ordinary Sunday (Year B)
Theme: We are all missionaries
When the mass ends, we use to hear the priest or deacon proclaim, “The Mass is ended” and we answer “Thanks be to God.” Unfortunately, the official Chinese translation has left out one word. The Latin original is “Ite, missa est.” “The Mass is ended” translates the “missa est” only. It does not translate the “ite”. “Ite” means “go, go forth.” Later, some priests and deacons add “Return peacefully. The Mass is ended”. “Ite” becomes “return”. Consequently, the parishioners go to restaurants to reserve tables for lunch after mass. The spirit of “ite” is lost. Since we have touched on the topic of going out for lunch, let’s continue to talk about eating lunch.
With the advancement of technology, our ways of life have undergone big changes. We used to say grace before meals. Today, before we eat, we take out our mobile phone to take photographs of the food, upload them to the social media, anticipating “like’s” from all over the world. Having meals is more than filling up our bellies. It is more a celebration, a socializing. We do not just socialize with people who are sharing the same table with us at this moment, but we also socialize with people all over the world! We share with others good stuff good information and what we cherish. Similarly, when we have enjoyed a lingering cup of coffee in a cafe, or have just watched a good movie or even known of promotion sales in some shopping malls, we would inform our friends in no time. Such is the natural expression of our human nature. Since sharing good things with the others is such a natural inclination, let us see what light it sheds on the spirit of “Ite, missa est”.
Missa means “mission”. From this meaning, “Ite” carries a sense of going forth, being sent or commissioned and not “return”. “The mass is ended” is only the end of the rites and not the end of the mission. The clergy represents Jesus Christ to send the congregation forth to complete the mission in their daily life. What is the mission? Being the disciples of Jesus, we have an evangelization mission. This is the mission of prophets mentioned in the homily of Fr. Joseph Ng last week. We acquired this mission when we were baptized to partake in the threefold ministry of Jesus. If you are a Christian, you have this prophetic mission.
Hearing the word “evangelization”, your immediate reaction would most likely be “I do not know how to do it since I have not studied theology. It would be sufficient for the clergy, nuns and seminarians to carry this out. I can only donate money or pray for vocation.” Donation is necessary. Praying for vocation is necessary but participation in evangelization is even more important. Actually, the main reason why we are afraid to evangelize and to preach is that we are afraid to be rejected. In fact, we don’t need to be afraid because many people wish to become Christians. It is a pity that they do not know how. Why?
Human beings have similar psychology. When you see that the kids of your neighbour are polite, well-versed and able to speak fluently, you might want to know in which secondary schools they study. When you see the radiant face of a certain lady, you might want to ask her some beauty tips, what cosmetics she uses, what diet she is on or where she does yoga. Similarly, many people see the good quality of students studying in Catholic schools, the charities done by the Catholic Church in Hong Kong and the witness they bear in the fighting for social justice. They admire and long to join these like-minded people. What they need is a sponsor. Are you this sponsor? Can you be this sponsor?
If we recommend coffee of lasting aroma, entertaining movies, and cut-throat shopping bargains or sharing pictures of yummy food on the Internet because these are good things, good information, shouldn’t we recommend our Catholic faith too? If you think your faith is not good enough, wouldn’t it be a waste of time to join mass, to say prayers and to meditate the scripture? When you come here, you must have a sense of belonging, a home feeling and a feeling that you may develop your potential; and think you can attain heaven. But while you are enjoying these home feelings, how can you not care about those brothers and sisters who are still wandering to find a home?
In the gospel reading today, we read of how Jesus sent out the Twelve, what instructions they should follow. Two thousand years ago, they took nothing for their journey except a staff and did not put on two tunics. (Mark 6:8-9) Today, do we take a staff when we evangelize? Two thousand years ago, they took no bread, no money and lived on the alms from folks of good will and relied on God’s providence. Does it work today? Without money, can we shoot videos, upload to Youtube and even produce religious movies and TV series, set up a Social Communication Office or a Catholic TV station to evangelize? It is obvious that understanding the spirit of the text is more important than following the letters. So, what are the way and the spirit of evangelization? Let us read the passage once more.
Jesus sent the Twelve out two by two (Mark 6:7). This is a Christian characteristic. Have you ever seen 2 Buddhist monks begging alms together? None. It is because Buddhism is more individualistic. Settled in a cave permeated with a spiritual ether, a monk can attain enlightenment and nirvana after meditating for 20 years or more. This is impossible for Christianity. Jesus taught his disciples to love one another. How can one single man love one another? A ‘high monk’ is a powerful individual. Christians are sinners. Each one of them is a flawed sinner. They have to be sanctified in the Church, redeemed in a community. Therefore, evangelization cannot be done alone. It needs mutual support.
Why did Jesus not group them two by two and not by three or by four? Groups of four cannot last long unless you play mahjong together. Very soon, it will break up into 2 groups of two. Though there must a teacher among a threesome, very easily two of them would gang together to isolate and ostracize the third. In a duo, there are only you and me. No matter how difficult it is for us to live together, we need to put down our ego, accept our partner, grow together and cooperate together to accomplish the mission. No matter how efficient and smart a person is, it achieves less utility than a pair working together. Your ability might surpass those of 100 people putting together, but it is difficult for a single person to make progress. When two people interact together in mutual love and understanding, both of them can grow together. This is the wisdom of Jesus.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus choose us to be prophets not because of our capabilities. Amos, like Simon Peter, was uneducated. God could make him an established prophet known to all future generations. Let us be bold, work hand in hand with other parishioners. Go forth into the Tin Shui Wai community. Tell the people the great love of God. Bring them to share the eternal life of our God.
May God bless you.
No comments:
Post a Comment