主題：領聖體的挑戰，就是為別人而生活
今年讀的是馬爾谷福音，但這幾個星期是連續讀聖若望福音有關五餅二魚神蹟的記載。第一個星期讀的五餅二魚神蹟，教訓我們面對棘手的難題時，要記得把我們僅有的資源，交託給耶穌，祂是慈悲的，祂自會為我們增餅，解決我們的困難。故事結束的時候，群眾想擁立耶穌為王。上星期的福音告訴我們，雖然耶穌提醒猶太人要相信他是天父派遣來的默西亞，但他們因著根深柢固的成見，不接受五餅二魚是神蹟，反而要求耶穌再行一個來自天上的神蹟來証明他是默西亞。這段事蹟教訓我們要放下偏見，好能在生活中看見神蹟，看見天主。現在讓我們來默想耶穌隨後所說的一番話，今天對我們有甚麼意義。
嘗試設身處地，想像您是耶穌，您是從天降生成人的聖子，您自己本身就是一個從天而降的神蹟。可惜，四周的人祗能從本性的角度，祗認識到您是若瑟的兒子，他們祗認識您在世的父母，而不認識祢是天主子，因為他們不認識他們歷代所崇拜的「亞巴郎的天主、依撒格的天主和雅各伯的天主」是三位一體的天主。在創造世界之前，您已存在，您與聖父一起創造這個適合人類居住的宇宙。站在他們面前的您是天主聖子的事實是超出他們的理解能力，好像幼稚園學生學習微積分一樣。對著這一群不能以超性眼光接受您的人群，您有甚麼感覺？您會失望，您會氣餒嗎？您會怎樣說服他們相信您呢？
其實，要說服他人，特別是那些已先入為主，對您已經有偏見的人，怎樣說也是沒有用的。耶穌沒有行過神蹟嗎？當然有。但不符合他們的要求。因為梅瑟是解放以色列人的第一個默西亞，他曾從天上降下「瑪納」。所以，猶太人錯誤地認為將要出現的默西亞，一定可以行一個來自天上的神蹟。治病、驅魔和增餅算不了甚麼，一定要來自天上的神蹟纔合格。想像您是耶穌，祢當然不會奉陪，按他們的標準行事，因為他們這樣做，是在試探天主。
作為基督徒，復活是一個理所當然的事實。但在耶穌時代，因為種種不同的文化因素，復活並不是人人都接受的道理。例如當代的撒杜塞黨人，曾經就復活的問題，設下一個七兄弟的故事，向耶穌提出挑戰（谷12）。又例如聖保祿宗徒亦曾向格林多教會費了不少唇舌解釋復活的道理（格前15）。復活永生真是這麼難接受的道理嗎？
因為罪惡入侵了世界，死亡就出現了，破壞了天主美好的創造。作為基督徒，我們相信耶穌基督，實在是一件非常幸福的事。耶穌賜給我們兩件美好的寶物，保証了我們的復活永生。第一，祂賜給我們聖神，作為我們在末日復活的保証。正如今天的第二篇讀經，聖保祿宗徒致厄弗所人書所說，聖神就是我們在末日得救的印証（弗4:30）。第二，祂賜給我們聖體聖事，在這人世的旅途上，不斷滋養我們，陪伴我們走人生的道路，直到我們離開這個世界，返回創造我們的天父的那一天。我們領了洗的教友都是堪當領受聖體聖事的。可是，我們預備好了嗎？我們預備好和耶穌基督合作，發揮到聖體聖事的功效嗎？
聖保祿宗徒在第二篇讀經繼續教訓我們如何發揮聖體聖事的功效。首先，是甚麼令在我們身上的聖神憂鬱呢？就是所有與基督徒身份不相稱的行為和態度：「一切毒辣、怨恨、憤怒、爭吵、毀謗，以及一切邪惡。」(v. 31) 甚麼是與基督徒身份相稱的行為和態度，令在我們身上的聖神不再憂鬱呢？就是「以良善、仁慈相待，且要互相寬恕，在愛德中生活。」(v.32)
如果我們領聖體，仍然祗為自己而生活，沒有理會需要幫助的兄弟姊妹，把傳福音的工作推給神父、執事，修女的話，聖體聖事並未能發揮到最大的效益。各位兄弟姊妹，您們預備好領受聖體，接受領聖體所帶來的挑戰，為他人而生活，為基督傳揚福音嗎？
無論如何，因為別人的偏見，別人不接受您的說話，難道您便放棄講述真理嗎？因為恐怕別人不信，難道您便放棄向世人傳福音嗎？耶穌沒有放棄，我們也不應放棄。可能當中有一個會接受，接受之後，這個世界就多一個人認識到真理了，這不是一件好事嗎？而且，接受福音是生死攸關的大是大非問題，是不容輕言放棄的。所以耶穌苦口婆心地向他們說，「到我這裡來吧，信從我吧，在末日我要使他復活，必得永生。」可惜，他們好像對復活永生沒有多大興趣。
其次，「耶穌基督為愛我們，把自己交出，獻於天主，作為馨香的供物和祭品。」(5:2)我們是耶穌的門徒，就應該效法我們的師父。這是甚麼意思呢？作為天主教徒，莫非個個都要做神父修女嗎？差不多。「交出自己」是教訓我們不再為自己而生活。因為為自己生活是自私的，並會製造出上述的怨恨，憤怒等邪惡的事。反之，不再為自己而生活，而是為基督而生活。怎樣為基督生活呢？就是為其他人，特別是那些有需要的人而生活。正如耶穌基督在瑪竇福音第廿五章的教導，去服事有需要的兄弟姊妹，就是服事臨現在他們身上的耶穌基督。這態度不但是高尚的，而且是獲得永生的不二法門。
天主保祐。
Nineteenth Ordinary Sunday (Year B)
Theme: The Challenge of receiving the Holy Communion is to live for the others
In Year B, we are reading the gospel of Mark. But these few weeks, we read the miracle of 5 loaves and 2 fish reported in the gospel of John. In the first week, the miracle taught us that when we encounter difficulties, we should lay down before Jesus whatever resources available to us. Out of his mercy, Jesus would multiply our resources to solve our problems. At the end of the story, the crowd wanted to make Jesus king. In the gospel reading last week, although Jesus had told the Jews to believe in his Messianic identity, due to their deep seated prejudice, they insisted on Jesus’ working yet another miracle from heaven. They did not accept the multiplication of loaves as a proof that he was the Messiah. This incident teaches us that in order to be able to see miracles, to see God in our daily life, we need to put away our preconceived prejudice. Now, let us continue to meditate the words of Jesus in today’s reading, to find out their relevance to our daily life today.
Put yourself in Jesus’ shoe. Imagine you are Jesus. You are the Son of God Incarnate. You are already a miracle from heaven. Unfortunately, the Jews around you only know you from the natural perspective. They only know your parents and that you are the son of Joseph rather than that you are the Son of God. They fail to understand that the God they have worshipped for generations, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” is a Trinite God. Before the Creation, you already existed. You worked with the Father to create a universe suitable for human beings to inhabit. Standing in front of them, you are unintelligible, like forcing calculus down the throat of kindergarteners. What would you feel about this group of people who are not able to accept you with a supernatural perspective? Would you be disappointed or discouraged? How would you convince them?
In fact, there is nothing you can do to convince people who are already prejudiced against you. Had Jesus not worked miracles before? Of course he had but they did not meet the criteria of the Jews. Moses was the first Messiah who liberated the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. He had rained manna down from heaven. So, the Jews wrongly expected the Messiah who would come would also work a miracle from heaven. Healing, exorcism and even multiplication of loaves did not count. It had to be a miracle from heaven in order to meet the requirement. Imagine you are Jesus. Surely you will not give in to their demand because that is a blatant temptation of God.
As Christians, we take resurrection for granted. However, in Jesus’ time, not everyone accepted the idea of resurrection due to different cultural factors. For example, the Sadducees had challenged Jesus on the question of resurrection with a story of seven brothers (Mark 12). And St. Paul had to spend a lot of ink to defend the concept of resurrection in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 15). Is it really so difficult to accept this resurrection doctrine?
Sin invaded the world. Death appeared and spoilt the beautiful creation of God. As Christians, it is a blessing indeed for us to believe in Jesus Christ. Jesus gives us two treasures to ensure our resurrection and eternal life. Firstly, he gives us the Holy Spirit as a down payment for our resurrection on the Judgment Day, testified by St. Paul in the letter he wrote to the Ephesians in the second reading we have heard today, “you were sealed in the Holy Spirit of God for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30) Secondly, Jesus gives us the Sacrament of the Holy Communion which continuously nourishes us in our earthly pilgrimage until the day we return to our heavenly Father. We are worthy to receive the Sacrament because we were baptized. However, are we ready? Are we ready to cooperate with Jesus to make this sacrament effective?
In the second reading today, St. Paul continues to teach us how to make receiving the Holy Communion effective. Firstly, what grieve the Holy Spirit given us? They are the behaviours and attitudes which are incompatible with the Christian identity: “bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander and all malice.” (v. 31) Then what are the behaviours and attitudes compatible with our Christian identity, and grieve the Holy Spirit within us no more? They are, “being kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.” (v.32)
If we receive the Holy Communion but live only for ourselves, not caring any needy brethren and leaving evangelization to the clergy and nuns, then the effectiveness of the sacrament of Holy Communion has not been fully developed. Brothers and sisters, are you ready to receive the Holy Communion and its challenges, to live for others and to spread the gospel for Christ?
No matter what, would you give up telling the truth because other people do not listen to you out of prejudice? Would you give up preaching the gospel because you expect other people not to believe? Jesus did not give up. We shouldn’t either. Perhaps one of them will accept. Then one more person in the world knows the truth. Is it not a good thing? Furthermore, accepting the gospel is a matter of life and death. We cannot give up that easily. See how Jesus patiently and kindly advised them, “all who come to me and believe, I will raise them up on the last day and they will have eternal life.” Unfortunately, they did not show any interest in resurrection and eternal life. Why?
Secondly, “Jesus Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (5:2) We are followers of Christ. We should imitate our Master. What does it mean? Are all of us then supposed to become priests and nuns? Almost! “To give ourselves up” means we no longer live for ourselves because living for ourselves is selfish and creates the bitterness, wrath and malice mentioned above. On the contrary, not living for ourselves is to live for Christ. How do we live for Christ? To live for others, in particular, to help the needy such as what Jesus Christ teaches us in Matthew 25. When we serve the needy, we serve Jesus Christ present in them. Not only is this a noble attitude, but it is also the only way to attain salvation.
God bless.
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