主題：考試制度
考試，在中國人社會長大的人，可謂身經百戰；相信大家對考試並不陌生。有人甚至說考試制度是中國人最先發明的，讓我們溫習一點中國歷史，看看是否真是如此。
從漢朝開始，便有舉薦制度，推舉一些有名的孝子為官。這種制度多少也受裙帶關係的影響。而且，到了隋唐朝代，社會發展得更複雜了，有德行的人也未必有能力管理發展複雜了的社會，便出現科舉制度，提拔有能力人多於有親戚關係的人。這種科舉制度，亦即今天的考試制度。祗憑實力而不是憑裙帶關係去提拔人才，對個人對社會都是一件好事。不過，我想提醒大家，考試制度並非中國人最先發明，而是基督徒。
今天是新禮儀年度的開始，教會用四個星期的時間，讓教友預備好自己的心靈，迎接耶穌基督的再度來臨。耶穌的再度來臨，表示這個世界的結束，萬有歸於基督普世君王的權下。雖然天主願意所有人得救，但天主尊重人的自由意志，不會強迫人進入天國。怎樣挑選有資格進入天國的人呢？耶穌在瑪竇福音第廿五章，事先張揚了考試的六條題目，或者說六個考試範圍，就是有名的「形哀矜」。這是一個憑實力考取功名的科舉制度，不是憑血統、憑裙帶關係來得到職位的舉薦制度。耶穌比唐朝早六百年。所以考試制度不是中國人最先發明的。
人生的確可以看做一個試場。我們過五關，斬六將，克服一個又一個的關卡，到達我們理想中的目的地。從一出生，這場考場就開始，「贏在起跑線」嘛！嬰孩時代，我們的父母替我們考試。我們漸漸長大，自己考試的部份漸漸增多，直到自己成家立室，為人父母。所以在座各位，正在考試之中。你們知道考試題目嗎？知道「形哀矜」是甚麼嗎？
「饑者食之，渴者飲之」：把剩餘的食物分給饑餓的人，送水為人解渴，很好的愛德，因為是救人一命。倘若你從自己的不足之中，與窮寡婦分享自己的生命，這是很崇高的愛德。
這個最早、最原始的考試制度與今天的考試有兩個的分別。第一個分別就是沒有重考的必要，因為這考試不是一試定生死，而是一生累積平時分。第二個分別是：這個考試的收卷時間，沒有人知道。沒有人知道自己甚麼時候死，亦沒有人知道這個世界甚麼時候結束。惟一肯定的，就是考試的時間是有限的。遇到這樣的情況，作為考生的我們，有甚麼策略，可以在有限的時間內，爭取到最好的成績呢？有。就是盡用每分每秒！有人做到了。這些教會內的聖人，一生獻身於祈禱和傳教。他們是傑出的十優狀元。我們是平凡的人，但也應該為自己在天主面前，爭取一席位，能站立在人子面前。
教宗方濟各宣佈從十二月八日到明年十一月二十日為等殊慈悲禧年，鼓勵全球教友以朝聖、實行神形哀矜，辦告解，不但領受天主的慈悲，更活出天主的慈悲。請大家盡用每分每秒，活上天主慈悲的面容。
在【禮記‧禮運】篇對大同的理想世界有以下的描述：「大道之行也，天下為公。選賢與能，講信修睦。」在這個大同世界，人人以天下的利益為依歸，挑選有德行，有才幹的人，管理這世界。人與人的來往講信用，並致力促進和平。這是儒家的政治理想。但如何實現這理念，怎樣「選賢與能」呢？
「裸者衣之」：不但給捱冷的人衣服保暖，在現代更有新的意義。今天的社會不但色情泛濫，更樂於揭人私隱。所以，「裸者衣之」還包括維護別人的尊嚴。
「收留旅人」：就是接待無家可歸者，與及難民。我們不能因為有小數恐佈份子混入難民之中，就拒絕接受所有難民的。
能「照顧病人，探訪囚友」，其實是天主的恩賜，在過程中，不少人治療了自己內心的病苦和束縛。
此外，教會因應當代社會的需要，加入第七個形哀矜。例如中世紀戰爭連年，黑死病猖獗。教會鼓勵教友「埋葬死者 」的愛德工作。在十字軍東征的時代，「贖回戰俘」也曾一時榜上有名。
在希伯來人書中，保祿宗徒用亞巴郎慷慨接待三個旅客而接待了三個天使的例子，鼓勵信徒收留無家可歸的人。瑪竇更進一步，不但收留露宿者，更擴大範圍到當時社會上的邊緣人。不但接待了天使，更擴展到接待了耶穌，來鼓勵基督徒實踐愛德。與其說是一生人的考試，倒不如說是一生人儲存積分。
天主保祐。
First Week of Advent (Year C)
Theme: Examination System People brought up in Chinese societies are familiar with examinations because they have gone through tens and even hundreds of them. Some even claim that examination was first invented by Chinese. So, let us do a little revision on Chinse history.
A passage from an ancient classic text, Li yun in Li ji, describes the ideal Da Tong world as such, "When the Way prevails, all the peoples work for the common good of the world. Select virtuous and capable people to run the world. Everybody deals with each other with integrity and build up harmony." This is the political ideal of Confucianism. The question is, how do we achieve this ideal, how do we select virtuous and capable people to run the world?
Beginning in Han dynasty, the court set up a Recommendation System in which people well known for their virtue of filial piety were recommended to take up government posts. This system was flawed with nepotism. Furthermore, the society had already evolved into a more complex one in Sui/Tang times which virtuous people might not have the capability to manage. Then, an Examination System was developed to choose capable people rather than favourite people to take up government jobs. This practice is good both for individuals and the society at large. But I have to remind you that examination was not first invented by Chinese, but by Christians.
Today is the beginning of the liturgical year. The Church reserves four weeks for us to prepare our souls for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus' return signifies the end of the world when everything is subject to the dominion of Christ the King. Although God wants everyone to be saved, He respects our free will and will not force us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Then, how does God select people into His Kingdom? In Matthew 25, Jesus ‘leaked' the examination questions which are the famous Corporal Works of Mercy. This is a test of capability, not a test of blood line or favouritism. Jesus preceded Tang by more than 600 years. Therefore, examination was not first invented by Chinese.
Life can be interpreted as an examination. We go through and overcome many tests in order to achieve our ideals. Tests already begin at birth (Isn't it a cliché today to say that people win at the starting line?) When we were children, our parents took the examination for us. During our growing up, we took up more and more parts of the test until we established our own families and became parents ourselves. So, brothers and sisters, you are sitting for an examination at the moment. Do you know the examination questions, the Corporal Works of Mercy?
"Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty." When we give spare food to the hungry, give water to quench the thirst of others, we are doing well charity works because we are saving lives. If out of our insufficiency, we share our food and life with the poor widow, our charity is even greater.
"Clothe the naked." Nowadays, it is more than providing warmth for people shivering in the chill. It acquires a new meaning in the modern society. Today, our society is flooded with pornography and paparazzi. Therefore, "clothing the naked" includes protecting the dignity of the others.
"Welcome the stranger." Jesus told us to welcome the homeless including refugees. A handful of terrorists found hidden among refugees should not be an excuse to reject all refugees.
"Heal the sick, visit the imprisoned." In fact, this is a grace from God. Many times, people heal the wounds and bondage in their hearts through these visits.
"Bury the dead." In response to the needs of the society, the Church sometimes adds the 7th corporal work of mercy. For example, during war torn and Black Death rampant Middle Ages, the Church encouraged the faithful to give the dead a decent burial. During the Crusades, "ransom the captive" was also one of the corporal works of mercy.
In the Hebrews, Paul made use of the story of generous Abraham who entertained three travelers who turned out to be three messengers from the Lord, to encourage readers to shelter the homeless. Matthew went one step further to urge Christians to perform charity among, not just the homeless but all those marginalized by the society. Then, Christians would not only have received angels but Lord Jesus Christ himself. It would be more appropriate to think of life, not as an examination, but as an accumulation of credits.
There are two major differences between this earliest, most primitive examination system and ours today. First of all, there is no need to retake this examination because your fate is not decided in one sitting of writing examination, but an accumulation of "credits" throughout your life. Secondly, nobody knows when the examination finishes. Nobody knows when he will die and nobody knows when the world will come to an end. The only certainty is that time is limited. In this situation, what is the best strategy to score the best results within a limited amount of time? To make full use of every moment! Some people have done it. There are saints in the Church who devoted their whole life praying and preaching. They are 10 A's examination candidates. We are only ordinary people but we should work hard to secure a place and "are able to stand before the Son of Man".
Pope Francis proclaims an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy which will begin on December 8 and finish on November 20, 2016. He encourages us to obtain the mercy of God, to live out the mercy of God through pilgrimages, performing corporal and spiritual works of mercy and receiving the sacrament of reconciliation. Let us make full use of every moment to live out the merciful countenance of God.
God bless.
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