主題：白冷之星
瑪竇寫福音的目的，是向猶太信徒証明耶穌就是默西亞。他的讀者對舊約的法律和先知，有所認識。所以，瑪竇的寫作策略，是把耶穌的言論和教訓，分成五個部份，講述天國的生活方式，一如梅瑟五書，講述舊約的法律。另一方面，在搜集發生在耶穌身上的事，或者耶穌所行的神蹟的時候，往往著重這些事件，如何應驗了先知的預言。例如有關耶穌出生的聖誕故事，瑪竇所採用的資料，應驗了五個先知的預言。今天所讀的福音便是其中一個。所以瑪竇的材料之中，沒有馬槽、沒有牧羊人、沒有西默盎、沒有十二齡講道。因為這些材料並沒有應驗甚麼先知的預言，對證明耶穌是默西亞，沒有幫助。
今天的福音，最矚目的要數「白冷之星」了。它是耶穌出生時，天上出現的一顆引領東方賢士來朝拜耶穌的星，二千年來吸引不少人的研究。現代人想用天文學的方法，用電腦模擬公元一年前後幾年的星空，尋找一些天文現象，例如彗星，超新星或者五星連珠等等去解釋，都是徒勞無功，因為他們的起步點是錯的！古代觀星，是占星術而不是天文學，科學化的天文學要到十六世紀纔脫離占星術。因此，「白冷之星」是占星術的現象而不是天文現象。要研究「白冷之星」，就要先認識當時的占星術如何推算帝王的命運。現代人會認為迷信，不科學，不值得研究。那麼，他們便永遠不會知道耶穌時代的人在想甚麼了。
由此推論，由東方來的賢士，本身可能是占星術士，或者在朝覲團中有占星術士隨團。為甚麼他們看見了那星會遠道而來呢？可能按占星術的推算，這剛出生的君王一定非同凡響。有必要在外交上做點功夫，刺探虛實，向他的父王獻禮，表示善意，甚至建立邦交等。從後來大黑落德要殺白冷兩歲或以下的嬰兒推測，如果新星的出現代表了降孕的時刻，而不是出生的時刻，東方賢士可能用了差不多兩年多的時間籌備物資和持續觀察星象纔出發。無論如何，能吸引到外國君主，如此工程浩大，遠道從東方而來，向猶太人的君王朝覲，從前除了撒羅滿王之外，再沒有第二個君王有如此威望了。瑪竇的目的十分清楚。他要告訴讀者，這裡有比撒羅滿更偉大的君王，他就是耶穌默西亞。
大黑落德聽到有新生的君王，但又不是自己的兒子，當然不高興。這表示自己的王位不保了，他的驚慌是可以理解的。但為甚麼全耶路撒冷會同他一起驚慌起來呢？我以為耶路撒冷的居民在驚慌不同的事，他們認識到大黑落德的狡猾和殘暴，今次他必會大開殺戒了，於是耶路撒冷，人人自危。幸好，後來得知默西亞是生在白冷，他們纔可以鬆一口氣。今次，輪到白冷不幸了！
福音的故事，今天為我們有何意義呢？聖誕故事一方面告訴我們天父的慈悲。祂憐愛世人的苦況，甘願降生成人，拯救世人，把他們從罪惡的勞役中解放出來。另一方面，耶穌的出生，令所有接觸到他的人，作出一個抉擇。就是接受他，或者拒絕他。再沒有中間路線了。
今天是主顯節，我們慶祝天主把祂的慈悲顯示給全人類。拒絕祂的，自取其咎；接受祂的，便可獲得慈悲救恩。作為教友，我們有責任成為一顆「白冷之星」，引導未信主的人，歸向慈悲的天主。讓我們把這個慈悲禧年作為起點，不但自己享受天主的慈悲，更應在我們的生活崗位上，發光發熱，宣講天主的慈悲，使接觸到我們的人得救。
大黑落德可以選擇迎接耶穌返回宮中撫養，讓祂在宮中長大，將來登上王位，建立一個天主所應許的永恆國度，何樂而不為？可惜他太自私短視，拒絕了耶穌。甚至為了斬草除根，殺害了不知多少無辜的嬰兒。真是罪孽深重。另一方面，東方賢士可以選擇按兵不動，待他日新王興起時再作打算，犯不著這麼早採取行動。但賢士始終是賢士，他們高瞻遠矚。倘若他日新王是個賢君，建交結盟亦有憑証。倘若是個暴君，這次朝覲足以警告他，賢士已一早監視著他了，小心不要來犯。但這次朝覲帶給他們的，不但是外交上的勝利，更是意外的恩寵，他們有幸成為第一批領受天主慈悲的外邦人。原來天主的慈悲並非局限給猶太人，而是沒有疆界的。為瑪竇福音的讀者，這是一個偉大的啟示。在瑪竇福音結束時，耶穌吩咐門徒往普天下去傳福音，使萬民成為門徒，與東方賢士前來朝覲，前後呼應。
天主保祐。
Theme: Star of Bethlehem
Matthew wrote for Jewish Christians to show them that Jesus was the Messiah. His intended readers knew something about the Torah and the Prophets. Therefore, Matthew wrote according to the following plan: He arranged Jesus' teachings about the way of life of the Kingdom of Heaven into 5 discourses, like the Pentateuch, the five books which talk about the Law in the Old Testament. On the other hand, Matthew collected the miracles and incidents of Jesus in order to show how these events fulfilled the prophecies. For example, in the Nativity story, Matthew collected materials which fulfilled five prophecies of the prophets. The story we read today is one of them. Therefore, among the materials which Matthew collected, there was no manger, no shepherd, no Simeon, no loss in the Temple because these materials do not fulfil any prophecy. They are not helpful in showing that Jesus was the Messiah.
The Star of Bethlehem was the most conspicuous object in the gospel today. It was a star that guided the Magi to search for and worship the newly born Jesus. For 2000 years, many people have been fascinated by it. Modern people want to make use of astronomy and computer simulations of the heaven several years before and after 1 A.D. to look for astronomical phenomena, such as comets, super novae and planet conjunctions, to explain the Star. Their efforts were futile because they started on the wrong foot. In ancient times, stargazing was astrology, not astronomy. Scientific astronomy had to wait until the 16th century to shake itself off from astrology. Therefore, the Star of Bethlehem was an astrological phenomenon, not an astronomical phenomenon. In order to study the Star of Bethlehem, we need to know how astrology calculates the life movements of kings and emperors. Modern people think this superstitious, unscientific, not worthy studying. Then, they will never be able to know what the contemporaries of Jesus thought about.
From the above discussion, we hypothesize that the Magi from the East were probably astrologists, or there were astrologists among the entourage. Why, seeing a star, did they take the trouble to come to visit Jesus? Perhaps according to their astrological calculations, this new born king was extraordinary. They wanted to do some diplomatic work, to validate their observations, to give gifts as a friendly gesture and might even establish alliance. From the subsequent decision of Herod the Great to massacre baby boys of two or under in Bethlehem, and if the new star appeared at the moment of conception rather than at birth, the Magi probably took about two years of preparation and further stargazing before embarking on the journey. No matter what, no Israel kings, except Solomon, had been able to command so much respect that foreign dignitaries could take so much trouble to come to worship him. The purpose of Matthew was clear. He wanted to tell the readers that here is a king greater than King Solomon. He is Jesus the Messiah.
The fear of Herod the Great was understandable when he heard of the new born king who was not his son. He was upset because his throne was under threat. But why was all Jerusalem troubled with him? I believe that people in Jerusalem were worried for a different reason. They knew well that Herod the Great was cunning and cruel. This time, he was sure to kill many people. Thus all the people in Jerusalem worried about their own lives. Luckily, later they learnt that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. They were relieved. But Bethlehem was doomed.
What relevance can we derive from the story today? On one hand, the Nativity story tells us how merciful the Father is. He has compassion for our plights and is willing to incarnate to redeem us, to liberate us from the bondage of sins. On the other hand, everybody has to make a choice when they get into contact with Jesus at his birth. Either they accept him or they reject him. There is no middle ground.
Herod the Great could have chosen to welcome Jesus into the palace, rear and raise him up there. In the future, Herod could give him the throne to build up an everlasting kingdom promised by God. Wouldn't it be perfect? Unfortunately, he was too selfish and shortsighted. He rejected Jesus. What was worse, in order to nip the 'evil' in the bud, Herod ordered the massacre of an unknown number of innocent infants. What a great evil it was! On the other hand, the Magi could have taken no action and played the Wait and See game until the new king rose up. It was not necessary to take any action too early. But Magi were Magi. They saw far and beyond. If in the future, the new king was a good one, the gifts would be evidence of alliance. If the new king turned out to be a tyrant, this visit could serve as a warning. The Magi were watching you closely. Don't ever dream of invasion. But this visit was more than a diplomatic victory. It was a surprise grace from God. The Magi became the first group of Gentiles to receive God's mercy! It turns out that God shows His mercy not to the Jews alone. God's mercy knows no boundary. For the intended readers of Matthew, this is a great revelation. At the end of the gospel of Matthew, Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach to all nations, to make disciples of all peoples. It forms an inclusio with the Magi's visit.
Today, we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany. We celebrate God's showing His mercy to all humanity. For those who reject His mercy, they can blame nobody. For those who accept Him, they will receive the merciful salvation of God. As Catholics, we have the responsibility to become a "Star of Bethlehem", to lead those who have not yet believed in God to approach the merciful God. Let the Jubilee of Mercy be the starting point. Not only do we enjoy God's mercy, but we should also proclaim God's mercy in our stations of life, making everybody we are in touch with receive salvation.
God bless.
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