四旬期第三主日（丙年）
主題：天主的慈悲有限期嗎？
在默想今天的比喻之前，讓我們認識一點上文下理。今天所讀的福音，是第十二章至第十四章的一個片段。路加福音的第十二至十四章，講述的是進入天國的條件。在消極方面，包括了不可貪婪、不可掛慮世俗事物。這些生活態度，會阻礙我們進入天國，獲得永生。在積極方面，包括做人真誠、審慎、保持醒寤和主動悔改。今天的比喻，勸說我們趁早悔改。
路加在勸說我們悔改的重要性之前，首先處理一個有關「報應」的錯誤觀念。相信各位在網上，可能觀賞過一段三分鐘的短片。一位關小姐在立法會福利事務委員會有關全民退休保障的特別會議上發言，道出很多市民的怨氣所在。兩日內點擊率超過三十萬，大快人心。在結束前，關小姐說：「呢個世界有樣嘢叫『報應』。」可想而知，「報應」的觀念，深入人心。讓我們來分析，耶穌基督相信有「報應」嗎？
人性本善，而且人單獨生活不好，必須在群體中生活成長。與別人相處，公平和公義是美善的，是合理的。公義就好像是一種與生俱來的感覺，雖然不好解釋，但大部份的人，仍然相信有「公義」是好的。可是，現實世界的社會生活中，我們的確見到很多不公義的事情發生了。從信仰的角度看，天主是美善的，而且祂也是公義的。祂是宇宙萬物和世人的主宰。為甚麼祂會容許惡人享福呢？於是「報應」的概念出現了，即是所謂「善惡到頭終有報。」又「若然未報，時辰未到。」一方面，「報應」解決了在現世惡人享福的不公義現象；更重要的，「報應」撫平群眾心中的不忿。
雖然說「人同此心，心同此理」，古今中外的人都相信有報應。不過，二千年前福音所記載的猶太人，卻把問題反轉過來問：「遇難的人，是否因為他們犯了罪呢？」原來古代的猶太人，素來很簡單地相信天主賞罰分明。善人受到祝福，兒女成群，豐衣足食。壞人會愛到天主的懲罰，不是死無葬身之地，就是疾病纏身。很明顯，這邏輯是錯的。假設「犯了罪，遲早一定會受到應得的懲罰」是正確，反轉過來說，即是「橫遭劫難，必定是因為犯了罪。」就不一定正確了。在舊約的【約伯傳】之中，來安慰約伯的其中一個朋友，就曾運用過這種錯誤的邏輯。如果這「遇難表示犯了罪，受到天主懲罰」是錯誤的邏輯，這就意味著，好人和壞人，一同會遇難。例如在空難之中，死了二百多人。難道所有的乘客都是壞人，死有餘辜嗎？但耶穌並沒有停留在邏輯爭辯之中，他藉著這個機會，進一步警告那些自以為是，沒有危機意識的人：「不要以為眼前的死難者，比較其他人更有罪，更死有餘辜，纔會遭此禍殃。不對。假如你們不悔改，你們都要同樣喪亡。」正如保祿宗徒曾說過，「眾人都犯了罪，破壞了天主的光榮。」所以當法利塞人瞧不起稅吏的時候，是「五十步笑百步」。大家在天主前都不達標，都是罪人。所以歧視他人，便罪加一等，多一條歧視他人之罪！
現在，我們可以反省今天福音中的比喻了。比喻中的無花果樹，祗吸取養份，從來也沒有結果實，沒有達標，在這個比喻中，無花果樹象徵了罪人。園主當然象徵了天主聖父。祂認識我們，知道我們每個人能做到些甚麼，有甚麼做不了。祂悉心栽培我們，有如栽種各種各樣的葡萄樹、無花果樹，給我們發展，提昇我們的人性，好能將來可以在天國，分享祂的天主性。如果我們做不到天主對我們的期望，我們的確在「荒廢土地」。福音中的園丁象徵了耶穌基督。他為我們向天父求情，不要立刻懲罰我們，繼續給我們悔改的機會，「再容他這一年罷！」。這就是天主的慈悲。天主的慈悲就在於對悔改的人，不斷地給予機會，給予寬恕。所以，壞人仍然可以享福。但原來天主的慈悲是有限期的。第四年過後，倘若他仍然執迷不悟，讓享福麻木了自己的心，不知回頭改過：不施捨，改善窮人的困境；不守齋，體驗窮人的苦處和補贖自己的罪過；不祈禱，回頭歸向天父。結果，他們會受到天主公義的判決，可能是現眼報，可能在死的時候，亦可能要到世界末日之時。這個「第四年」有多久，由天主決定。在我們眼中，這就是「報應」了。
其實天主既是公義，又是慈悲的。祂的公義和祂的慈悲，並沒有矛盾。從時間上看，天主好像先慈悲，後公義。但天主是不受時間限制的。所以祂在慈悲的時候，同時是公義的。我們犯罪，可能出於無知，出於軟弱。天主出於公義，容忍我們，給我們改過的機會，表現了祂的慈悲。祂在行公義的時候，同時是慈悲的。祂給予壞人些小懲罰，旨在提醒他們改過遷善。天主出於慈悲，給予小懲大戒。因此，祂的公義是慈悲的。不過，耶穌在這個比喻中，提醒我們，人的夀命有限度，所以天主的慈悲也受到了限制。所謂蓋棺定論。人死後再也沒有回頭的機會了。這是合乎情理的，並不是天主的無能。
各位兄弟姊妹，四旬期，特別是在慈悲禧年的四旬期，我們應趁天主還是慈悲的時候，祈禱守齋，行各樣神形哀矜，轉化麻木了的心靈，悔改，妥當告解，領全大赦，好能重投天父的懷抱。
天主保祐。
為甚麼在葡萄園種無花果樹？
Why Plants a Fig-tree in a Vineyard?
Third Lenten Sunday (Year C)
Theme: Does God's mercy have a due date?
Let us clarify the context of the gospel reading today (Luke 13:1-9). The passage today is taken among Luke chapters 12 to 14. This section talks about the requirements for entering the Kingdom of God. On the negative side, we should not be greedy, should not worry about worldly things. These attitudes in life will block us from entering the Kingdom of God, from obtaining eternal life. On the positive side, we should be sincere and prudent, be alert and take the initiative to repent. The parable today teaches us to repent as soon as possible.
Before handling the importance of repentance, Luke deals with a wrong concept related to Karma. I believe many of you must have watched the 3-minute video on the social media. A Miss Kwan spoke out the grievances of many citizens during a special Legislative Council meeting about retirement protection. Within two days, the video received a hit rate of more than 300,000. Near the end of the tirade, Ms. Kwan said, "There is something in this world called Karma!" Obviously, the concept of Karma has deeply been carved into our psyche. Let us analyze and see if Jesus buys the idea of Karma.
Human nature is basically good and it is not good for man to be alone. He must live and grow in a group. When we live with other people, fairness is good and reasonable. Fairness seems to be inborn and it is not easy to explain. Still, most people believe that justice is good. However, in the real world, we see a lot of unfair things. From a religious point of view, God is good and God is just. He is the master of the whole universe and mankind. Why then does He allow evil people to enjoy a good life? The concept of Karma appears. In the end, God will award everybody his due. Put it in another way, sooner or later God will act. So on one hand, the concept of Karma solves the problem of apparent unfairness, but more importantly, the concept soothes people's grumblings.
All mankind share the same humanity. The concept of Karma transcends space and time. But 2000 years ago, the Jews turned the question around and asked, "People suffer disasters. Is it due to their sins?" Ancient Jews believed in God's justice in a simplistic way. God blessed good people with many children and wealth. He punished bad people with death without a proper burial or with chronic illnesses. Obviously, this logic is flawed. Assuming that the statement "If you commit a sin, sooner or later, you will be punished" is correct, conversely, "When someone suffers disasters, he must have committed a sin" is not logically correct. In the book of Job, one of Job's friends who came to console him committed this fallacy. If the logic is wrong, it implies that both good people and bad people will meet disasters. For example, in an air crash in which more than 200 people died, it is impossible for all passengers to be sinners who deserve such a violent death. But Jesus was not content with logical arguments. He took this opportunity to warn those self-righteous people who do not have a sense of crisis: "Do not think that those who suffer a violent death were worse sinners than other people and that they deserved to die a violent death. No, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Just as what St. Paul has taught, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". So, when the Pharisees despised the tax-collectors, it is "the pot calling the kettle black". All of them fail to meet the target God sets for them and thus are sinners all the same. Therefore, despising others is committing yet one more sin of prejudice.
Now, we can do our reflection on the parable. The fig tree only absorbs nutrients and never bears any fruits. It does not achieve its target. It symbolizes sinners. Of course the owner of the vineyard represents the Father. He knows us through and through, what we can do and what we cannot do. He cultivates us like all kinds of vine and fig trees. He helps us develop, elevates our human nature so that we may enter the Kingdom of God to partake His divinity. If we do not meet His expectation, we have truly "used up the ground". The vinedresser represents Jesus Christ. He pledges the Father for us, not to punish us immediately, to continue giving us more opportunities to repent, "let it alone this year also". This is the mercy of God. The mercy of God is to forgive repentant people continually. That is why bad people can still enjoy a good life. However, God's mercy has a due date. After the "4th year", if a sinner persists in his evil and allows riches to numb his heart and refuses to repent: does not give alms to relieve the plights of the poor; does not fast to experience the hunger of the poor and to do penance for his sins; does not pray and turn to the Father. In the end, he will receive the just judgment of God, perhaps an immediate punishment, or at his death, or even at the end of the world. God decides the duration of this "4th year". In our eyes, there is Karma, God's vengeance.
In fact, God is both just and merciful. There is no contradiction between His justice and mercy. Chronologically, God's mercy precedes His justice but God transcends time. Therefore, His justice and mercy go hand in hand. We commit sins out of ignorance or weaknesses. Out of His justice, God tolerates us and gives us opportunity to repent, thus manifesting His mercy. When God metes out His justice, He is merciful at the same time. He punishes bad people to chastise them and remind them of repentance. Out of mercy, God gives them a little punishment to teach them a big lesson. Therefore, God's justice is merciful. But Jesus' parable reminds us that our life span is limited and thus, confines God's mercy. After death, a person can no long turn to God. This is reasonable and God is not impotent.
Brethren, in Lent, especially the Lent in this Jubilee of Mercy, we should, while God is still merciful, pray, fast and perform spiritual and as well as corporal works of mercy to transformed our numbed hearts, repent, do confession and receive plenary indulgence so as to return to the bosom of the Father.
God bless.
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