認出復活的基督 RECOGNIZING THE RISEN CHRIST

認出復活的基督（路24:13-35）

我們不一定要在弱小的兄弟身上認出復活了的基督，其實，在我們經常參加的聚會中也可以。耶穌不是說過：「那裡有兩個或三個人，因我的名字聚在一起，我就在他們中間」嗎？（瑪18:20）前往厄瑪烏的兩個門徒的遭遇，正好說明這一點。

首先，「他們彼此談論所發生的一切事」（路24:14）甚麼事？「就是有關納匝肋人耶穌的事…」（24:19）他們在談論耶穌的事，不就是因耶穌的名字聚在一起嗎？看，就在他們談論耶穌的事的時候，耶穌就臨現在他們之中。

其次，認出耶穌的能力，各人都不同。往厄瑪烏的門徒要在擘餅的時候，看見似曾相識的動作纔認出；瑪達肋納在耶穌呼喚她的名字時認出；在提庇黎雅海邊，是耶穌所愛的門徒首先認出；但第一個縱身跳入海裡，游向復活的主的，是伯多祿。

我們的信仰不是單打獨鬥可以實踐的，我們一個人讀聖經的效益是有限的。因此，我們需要兩個或三個，奉復活的主耶穌基督的名，聚會分享，參與彌撒，參加善會，投入教會的服務等。這樣，我們便可以與復活的主相遇。倘若天主願意，或許祂會使我們的眼睛開了，認出祂來。（24:31a）
主耶穌基督，祢是不可見的天父，可見的面容。請向我們顯示祢的聖容，我們就能得救。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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RECOGNIZING THE RISEN CHRIST (Luke 24:13-35)

We don't need to recognize the risen Christ among the needy and disadvantaged. In fact, we may encounter him in the gatherings we frequently join. Hasn't Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them"? (Matthew 18:20) What happened to the two disciples who were returning to Emmaus illustrates just this.

Firstly, they were "talking with each other about all these things that had happened." (Luke 24:14). What things? "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth ..." (24:19). They were talking about Jesus, wasn't that a gathering in Jesus' name? Behold, just when they were talking about Jesus' things, Jesus became present between them.

Secondly, each person is different in their capability to recognize Jesus. The disciples returning to Emmaus recognized when Jesus broke the bread, an action they vaguely remembered that they had seen before. Mary Magdalene recognized when Jesus called out her name. On the sea-side of Lake Tiberias, it was the disciple whom Jesus loved first recognized, but the first one to jump into the water and swam towards the risen Lord was Peter.

We cannot practize our faith alone, in a solidary manner. The benefits of reading the Bible alone are limited. Therefore, we need two or three people, to gather together in the name of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, to share, to celebrate mass, to join the laity associations and to participate in Church services etc. In this way, we may encounter the risen Lord. If God so wish, perhaps He would open our eyes and recognize him (24:31a)
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the visible face of the invisible God. Reveal your countenance and we shall be saved. Amen.

克服我們的惰性 OVERCOMING OUR INERTIA

克服我們的惰性（若20:11-18）

人是一種慣性的動物，因為按習慣生活，不用費神；而且行之有效，犯不著改變現狀。對人的觀感也是一樣，名牌學校畢業的學生，氣質是不同的，不是一般公共屋邨學校的學生可以比擬的。雖然說「士別三日，刮目相看」，但世上有多少個呂蒙呢？

當初耶穌向門徒預告他死後三日復活，門徒接受不了。伯多祿曾制止耶穌，反遭耶穌斥責。在認知上，猶太人雖然相信復活，但真的發生在自己所認識的人身上，簡直是千載難逢。正如癌症一樣。癌症可以信，但一定不會發生在自己身上。同樣，耶穌的復活可以信，但我是沒有機會見到的。因此，當復活的主顯現給門徒時，他們不敢相信自己的眼睛。瑪達肋納是這樣，往厄瑪烏路上的兩個門徒是這樣，在提庇黎雅海邊，甚至曾見過耶穌顯現的門徒，對在岸上為他們預備早餐的主，也是這樣，對所見的半信半疑。

瑪達肋納真令人羨慕，她見到作證的天使，更是見到復活的主的第一個人。可是，我們真的沒有機會見到復活的主嗎？有！在哪？
不在光榮顯赫的成功人士之中，不在星光閃爍的藝人或運動員之中。光榮復活的主曾應許會臨現在被囚的人身上，在病人身上，在難民身上，在被人剝奪尊嚴的奴隸身上，在瘦骨嶙峋的饑民身上。不是你心目中的復活光榮嗎？再看清楚吧！
復活的主，在這慈悲禧年，請開啟我們的心目，賞賜我們能看見祢在弱小兄弟身上的光榮，好能更積極地事奉祢。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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OVERCOMING OUR INERTIA (John 20:11-18)

Man is an animal of inertia because we don't have to spend much energy to lead a habitual life. It has been effective, why bother changing the status quo? The impression of people follows the same pattern. Students coming from elite schools have a different temperament which students from public housing schools cannot attain. Though we say, "After parting for three days, we need a new pair of glasses in order to look at a marshal", how many Lü Meng 呂蒙are there in this world?

At first when Jesus foretold his resurrection three days after his death, his disciples could not accept it. Peter had tried to stop Jesus and consequently rebuked by Jesus. Although contemporary Jews believed in resurrection in their heads, when it really happened to somebody they knew, it was an event of a lifetime. Just like cancer which is credible but it must not happen on us. Similarly, the resurrection of Jesus is credible, but we do not have the opportunity to witness it. Therefore, when Jesus appeared before his disciples, they could not believe their eyes. Mary Magdalene could not. The two disciples returning to Emmaus could not. On the seaside of Tiberias, although Jesus had already appeared to them several times before, the disciples did not dare to believe the identity of the person who prepared breakfast for them on the shore.

What happened to Mary Magdalene was admirable. She saw angels which bore witness. She was even the first disciple to see the risen Lord. But, do we not have the opportunity to see the risen Lord? We have! But where?
Not among the fabulously successful people, not among the stars-stunned artists or athletes. The gloriously risen Lord has promised to be present among prisoners, the sick, refugees, slaves whose dignity is stripped and the bony hungry. Is it not the kind of risen glory you have in mind? Stare again!
Dear risen Lord, open up our eyes in this Jubilee of Mercy. Grant that we are able to recognize your glory aong the needy so that we may serve you in a more active manner. Amen.

主耶穌基督復活了 LORD JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN

主耶穌基督復活了（瑪28:8-15）

亞肋路亞，主耶穌基督復活了！

基督的復活，有甚麼值得我們如此高興呢？
其中一個原因，就是耶穌基督把我們當作他的兄弟。在復活以前，耶穌與門徒的關係是師徒關係。耶穌基督是師父，我們是徒弟。他曾教導說：「沒有徒弟勝過師父的…徒弟能如他的師父一樣…也就夠了。」（瑪10:24-25）他甚至強調，我們的師父祗有一位，我們眾人都是兄弟（23:8）因此，耶穌基督的師父地位，是無可置疑的。但復活後的第一句說話，便告訴熱心的婦女，去「報告我的兄弟，叫他們往加利肋亞去…」（28:10）耶穌基督的門徒，升級成為了他的兄弟。

做耶穌基督的兄弟，有甚麼值得我們如此高興呢？
聖經的第一對兄弟，即加音和亞伯爾，骨肉相殘，兄弟鬩墻，加音出於嫉妒，殺了亞伯爾。這是人類的第一宗謀殺案。當天主詢問加音亞伯爾的下落時，加音反問：「難道我是看守我弟弟的人？」（創4:9）結果加音被放逐，一生過著漂泊的生活。由此可見，兄弟有互相守護的責任。所以，有耶穌基督作我們的兄長，守護著我們，並且與他一起，成為天國的繼承人（羅8:17），是一件多麼幸福的事…可是，我們有資格做基督的兄弟嗎？有！

耶穌說：「不拘誰遵行我在天之父的意旨，他就是我的兄弟，姊妹和母親。」（瑪12:50）聖母瑪利亞堪稱耶穌基督的母親，不但因為是她誕生耶穌，更重要是她遵行天父的意旨。天父的意旨是甚麼呢？前面已經說過了，希望你沒有忘記。
慈悲的天父，請啟示給我們祢的意旨，並賜給我們所需的恩寵，好能承行祢的意旨。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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LORD JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN (Matthew 28:8-15)

Alleluia, Lord Jesus Christ is risen!

What is so worth joyous about the resurrection of Christ?
One of the reasons is that Jesus Christ treats us as his brethren. Before resurrection, disciples were disciples and Jesus Christ was the Master. Once he had taught, "A disciple is not above his teacher ... it is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher ..." (Matthew 10:24-25) He even emphasized, "... you have one teacher, and you are all brethren." (23:8) Therefore, the Master status of Jesus Christ is indisputable. But the first sentence he spoke to the women after resurrection was, "... go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee ..." (28:10). The disciples of Jesus were elevated to become his brethren. Then, what is so worth joyous to be the brethren of Jesus Christ?

The first pair of brothers in the Bible, Cain and Abel, were characters in a fratricide. Out of jealousy, Cain killed Abel. This was the first murder case in human history. When God asked Cain about his brother Abel, Cain retorted, "... am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9). Consequently, Cain was exiled and led a fugitive life. From this, we see that brothers have the responsibility of being keepers of each other. Now we have Jesus Christ as our brother to keep us, to be with him and become the heirs of God. (Romans 8:17) How happy it is ... But, are we qualified to be brethren of Christ? Yes, we are!

Jesus said, "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Matthew 12:50) The BVM is truly the mother of Jesus Christ. Not only did she give birth to Jesus, more importantly, she followed the will of the heavenly Father. What is the will of our heavenly Father? I mentioned it before. Hope that you still remember.
Merciful Father, reveal us your will and give us the necessary grace to carry it out. Amen.

2016 EASTER GREETING

HAPPY EASTER

May the Risen Lord Jesus Christ
Chase away the Darkness in our Hearts with
His boundless Mercy
in this Jubilee of Mercy
AMEN
ALLELUIA

Yours in the Merciful Lord
Deacon Alex Kwok

相信復活有多難？ Is believing in resurrection that difficult?

復活主日
主題：相信復活有多難？

相對耶穌的門徒，我們的信仰經驗可能沒那麼深刻。不是因為我們沒有同耶穌生活過，或者沒有親眼見過耶穌所行過的神蹟；而是我們「事後孔明」，明知耶穌會三日後復活，所以他經歷的受難變得不那麼痛、門徒在耶穌死後的三天不需要那麼徬徨、相信耶穌的復活有多難？祂的復活是理所當然的。殊不知這得來容易的信仰，失去亦容易。

今天選讀的福音，我不會默想瑪利亞瑪達肋納的部份。可能我是個比較理性的人，很難明白瑪達肋納祗見到堵住墓門的石頭滾開了，根本未進入墳墓，憑甚麼說耶穌的屍體被人搬走了呢？希望各位女仕在默想福音的這一部份的時候，若有甚麼得著，請不吝賜教，我真的沒有這個恩寵，去明白聖女瑪達肋納的思想。

今天我想和大家分享另外兩個門徒的經驗。請大家注意，凡是在若望福音提到的若望，總是若翰洗者，沒有例外。那麼，十二宗徒之中的若望呢？福音用了另一個稱號，就是「主所愛的門徒」。在宗徒大事錄的記載中，初期教會，特別是新成立的耶路撒冷教會的事蹟之中，經常把伯多祿與若望，相提並論。參考過宗徒大事錄之後，我們可以作出以下的結論：那個在若望福音所記載的「主所愛的門徒」是指若望。
耶穌被釘死，被埋葬，已是第三天了。安息日過了，門徒們躲藏著，有如驚弓之鳥，恐怕公議會會探取行動，剷除耶穌的餘黨。大清早，忽然瑪達肋納跑來說耶穌的屍體被人搬走了，他們當然半信半疑，要去墳墓看過究竟。若望比較年青，跑得比伯多祿快，先到了耶穌的墳墓，這是很合理的。不過，除了年齡之外，還有另一個理由解釋為何若望先到墳墓，就是因為若望深愛耶穌，或者說，若望比伯多祿更愛耶穌。他的心是多麼想念耶穌，多麼渴望再次見到耶穌的臉。
另一方面，伯多祿是一個行動型的人，非常衝動，且看他如何在耶穌被捕時拒捕，拔劍砍下大司祭僕人的耳朵，可見一班。伯多祿一定很希望事件可以儘快得到澄清，因為耶穌已經死了，倘若耶穌的屍首失了蹤，大司祭就會指控他們偷了屍，然後散播謠言…那就更麻煩了。兩種心情，同一個行動，結果是愛耶穌的先到達墳墓，相解決問題的，反而遲來。各位兄弟姊妹，我們應該自我檢討，我們親近耶穌，是出於熱愛耶穌，想望耶穌而去親近他；還是為了想解決問題而去親近耶穌呢？請注意，我不是說伯多祿的心情或者動機是錯誤的，相反，是必要的。為甚麼是必要的呢？因為我們沒有經歷那三天失去耶穌的痛苦。所以我們必要經歷伯多祿的掙扎，纔能有若望的境界。

一如我在開始時提及過，我們都是「事後孔明」，已經知道耶穌復活了。這信仰得來太容易了！讓我挑戰大家。你憑甚麼相信耶穌復活了呢？你見過復活了的耶穌基督嗎？各位兄弟姊妹，我大膽地說，耶穌是真的，而且耶穌是認真的。倘若你要我拿出客觀的証據，對不起，欠奉。我是在領職前的七天退省中，每天跪在聖體櫃前九個小時，默想指導神師指派的聖經章節，受到耶穌基督的感動，連續七天都痛哭流涕。耶穌，祢是真實的；祢的呼召是認真的。

且看福音的記載。若望到了墳墓，俯身看到了殮布，卻沒有進去。伯多祿剛好相反，他到了，進入了墳墓，看到了殮布和汗巾。當若望進入墳墓，一看便相信了（若20:8）。相信了甚麼？若望一看到殮布和汗巾，就相信主耶穌基督復活了。用今天的法証要求，這樣的所謂証據，又怎能排除其他的可能性，例如有人盜墓呢？若望相信是因為他熱愛耶穌，這空的墳墓，這曾包裹耶穌的殮布已足夠了。另一方面，福音卻沒有記載伯多祿看見後相信了。可能在伯多祿的心中，暗叫不妙，對於猶太宗教領袖或羅馬政府的指控，肯定百辭莫辯。兩種心情，看見相同的物件；結果是一個相信了，一個仍然很煩惱。

各位兄弟姊妹，大家曾經領洗，可以獲得天主的恩寵，分享祂的永恆生命。可是，大家洗禮前有的病，今天還有；從前有的壞習慣，今天仍未戒除；以前坐輪椅，今天仍要坐輪椅…為甚麼領了洗，我仍會犯罪，仍然有病呢？所以我說，我們必須經歷伯多祿的掙扎，努力行動，實踐耶穌的誡命，履行神形哀矜，並且勤力讀經祈禱，在生活中，在弱勢社群中，重新發現復活了的耶穌基督，並且愛慕祂，達到若望的境界。那時，我們可以快快樂樂地坐在輪椅上，享受我們的病、我們的惡習，因為一切都已成了新的。說不定，慈悲的天主會命令我們離開輪椅，去為祂的復活，為祂的慈悲做見証。
天主保祐。

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Easter Sunday
Theme: Is believing in resurrection that difficult?

Compared to the disciples of Jesus, our religious experience is probably not so profound. It is not because we have not lived with Jesus, or seen his miracles. Rather, it is because we are too familiar with the resurrection of Jesus. We know that Jesus came back to life on the third day. Therefore, his Passion becomes less painful. His disciples need not to be so desperate within those three fateful days. What makes it so difficult to believe in Jesus' resurrection? His resurrection is taken for granted. But it turns out that what comes easily goes easily as well.

I will not meditate on the Mary Magdalene part of the gospel today. Perhaps I am a rather rational person. It is difficult for me to understand how Magdalene, who had only seen the stone rolled aside and had not entered the tomb, could jump to the conclusion that someone had taken Jesus' corpse away. I hope the ladies in the audience could share with me what you get after you have meditated on this part of the gospel. Frankly speaking, I do not have the grace to fathom the thought of St. Mary Magdalene.

Today, I want to share with you the experience of two other disciples. Take note that whenever "John" is mentioned in the gospel of John, it is always without exception John the Baptist. What about the John of the Twelve? The gospel makes use of another title, "the disciple whom the Lord loves". In the narration of the early Church in the Acts of the Apostles, in particular the Church of Jerusalem, Peter and John were always mentioned together. From Acts, we can draw the following conclusion: John was the disciple whom the Lord loved.
It was already the third day after Jesus' crucifixion and burial. Sabbath was over and the disciples were hiding like sitting ducks. They feared that the Sanhedrin would take action to wipe out the accomplices of Jesus. Early in the morning, Magdalene suddenly came to tell them that the body of Jesus was stolen. Of course they would not totally believe her. They needed to find out. John was younger and ran faster than Peter. He arrived at the tomb first. It was reasonable. But besides age, there is one more factor that explains why John arrived first. John loved Jesus deeply, or put it in another way, John loved Jesus more than Peter did. How much John missed Jesus! How much John desired to see Jesus again!
On the other hand, Peter was a man of action. He was impulsive too. Look at how he drew a sword to resist arrest and cut off an ear of a servant of the High Priest. Peter must have wished to clear up the mess as quickly as possible because Jesus had already died. If his corpse went missing, the High Priest would accuse them of stealing the corpse and spreading rumour ... That would become more troublesome. Here, we have two different frames of mind but the same action. In the end, the one who loved Jesus arrived first while the one who wanted to clean up the mess came later. Brethren, we should examine ourselves. When we want to come closer to Jesus, do we do it out of love or do we want to solve our problems? Be careful, I did not say that Peter's mind or motivation were wrong. On the contrary, they were necessary. Why? It is because we have not experienced the pains of losing Jesus for three days. Therefore, we need to experience the struggles of Peter before we can attain John's state of mind.

Just as what I have mentioned earlier, we are familiar with the resurrection of Jesus. This faith comes too easily. Let me challenge you. By what do you believe in Jesus' resurrection? Have you seen the risen Jesus Christ? Dear Brethren, I boldly claim that Jesus is real and he is for real. If you ask me for objective proofs, sorry there is none. During my pre-ordination 7-day retreat, I knelt before the tabernacle for nine hours a day, meditating the scriptures assigned by my spiritual director. I was touched and wailed for seven days. Jesus, you are real. Your call is for real.

Take a look at the narrative in the gospel. When John came to the tomb, he stooped to look in and saw the linen cloths lying there. He did not enter. Peter was just the opposite. He arrived, entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths and the napkin. When John then entered, he saw and believed (John 20:8). What did he believe? John saw that linen cloths and napkin. Then he believed that Jesus Christ had risen. Following the standard of forensic science today, how can this so called evidence exclude other possibilities such as tomb raiding? John believed because he loved Jesus. This empty tomb and the linen cloths which had wrapped up the corpse of Jesus were enough. On the other hand, the gospel does not tell us whether Peter believed after seeing. Perhaps in Peter's mind, he became more uneasy. There would be no defence against the accusations of the Jewish authority or the Roman government. Seeing the same objects, but with two different frames of mind, one believed and the other was troubled.

Brethren, you were baptized and are able to receive God's grace and partake in His eternal life. But the illness you had before baptism, you still have today. The bad habits you had, you still cannot kick them. You sat on wheelchair before and today you are still sitting on it... Why, after baptism, do we still commit sins and are still sick? That is why I said we need to undergo Peter's struggle, act hard, put Jesus' commandments into practice, perform spiritual and corporal works of mercy, study the scripture earnestly and pray hard etc. in order to rediscover the risen Jesus Christ and love him in our daily life and among the disadvantaged. By then, we may sit happily on our wheelchairs; enjoy our illnesses and bad habits because he has made all things anew. Perhaps the merciful God may command us to get up from our wheelchairs to bear witness for His resurrection and mercy.
God bless.

為傷害您的人祈禱 To pray for those who hurt you

聖枝主日（丙年）
主題：為傷害您的人祈禱

路加是一本祈禱默想的福音，一本以慈悲為主題的福音。 耶穌受難是一個不爭的事實。聖經以外的歷史書也有記載。福音的作者從各種各樣的材料中，選擇了一些他覺得重要的細節，譜寫出一篇「耶穌基督的受難曲」。今天我們聽的，是路加版的「受難曲」。路加邀請基督徒，默想天父的慈悲，如何在耶穌基督的受難中表達出來；天主的愛，如何在耶穌基督的受難中實現。

教宗方濟各為慈悲禧年編寫的禱文，列舉了很多耶穌基督以慈悲的眼神，感動罪人悔改的例子，例如：召叫瑪竇、稅吏匝凱、罪婦、在伯多祿三次否認他之後，十字架上的右盜等等，這些例子，都是出於路加的記載。所以這本在丙年所誦讀和默想的福音，為基督徒的靈修和成長，是非常有益的。

今天，讓我們來默想其中的一個片段。耶穌被捕的時候，有門徒拔劍拒捕，並砍下大司祭僕人的耳朵。所有福音都記載了，是不爭的事實。但接著來如何處理，就各有不同了。若望清楚記載是伯多祿拔劍削了大司祭僕人瑪耳曷的右耳。其他三本對觀福音沒有寫是伯多祿，因為他仍在世。若望寫的時候，伯多祿已死了大約三十年。所以，福音上的記載，難免會有所出入。且看路加如何把故事發展下去。當其他福音沒有關懷那些來捉拿耶穌的人的時候，祗有路加記載耶穌治好了那來逮捕他的人。

試想一想，你是瑪耳曷，縱使你是同情耶穌的人，你不得不奉命行事。當然，你可以在後方吶喊助威，不必跑在前面，首當其衝被伯多祿砍到。或者你有上進心，又或者你在混亂中被其他人推到前面。耶穌並不計較，耶穌治療你皮肉的傷，也治療你心靈的傷，相信日後你一定成為了教會的一份子，你的名字，留傳千古。

另一方面，想像你是伯多祿，你拔劍拒捕，並且傷人。為甚麼呢？是出於恐懼，出於自保。你可能出於忠心，想保護師父；你也有可能不願看見三年來放棄一切來跟隨耶穌所創的一番事業，毀於一旦。耶穌並不計較，治療了你所傷害的人，減輕了你傷害無辜者之罪。

相信大家對油蔴地碧街七十一便利店事件，亦略有所聞。三十八歲的店主於三月八日星期二被刺傷，在醫院救治，延至三月十四日星期一不治，遺下寡婦和個多月大的孤兒。三十二歲加拿大籍的越南疑凶，由意圖謀殺改控為謀殺。三月十六日起，七十一便利店發起捐助，八小時內已籌得一百六十萬！香港人的愛心和慈悲，令人讚嘆。請問在座之中，有沒有為受傷然後不治的店主，及他的孤兒寡婦祈禱呢？有。好，執事再挑戰大家，各位有沒有為疑凶祈禱呢？

基督徒的慈悲，不應停留在捐錢給孤兒寡婦上。這樣做是非常好，但非基督徒也一樣會做，而且絕不遜色，甚至比基督徒做得更好。基督徒就是跟隨耶穌基督的榜樣去生活的人。在今天的福音裡，耶穌治療傷害祂的人、耶穌憐憫並堅強因害怕而否認他的伯多祿、耶穌求天父寬恕釘他的羅馬兵，耶穌接納悔改的右盜…所以，基督徒的慈悲，就在於為傷害你的人祈禱，寬恕一切傷害你的人。這樣做，我們纔算得上是基督徒。在耶穌基督的眼中，那疑凶是個可憐的人。所謂「一失足成千古恨」，相信這事件，會改寫他的一生。香港沒有死刑，終身監禁亦有出獄的一天。幾十年之後的世界，恐怕他不但感到陌生，而且已沒有能力適應。請為這個錯手殺人的凶徒祈禱吧！
天主保祐

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Palm Sunday (Year C)
Theme: To pray for those who hurt you

Luke is a prayerful, meditative gospel. Mercy is its theme.
The Passion of Jesus was an incontestable fact. Extra-biblical sources also testify to it. The Evangelists selected materials from all sorts of things which they considered significant to write up the "Passion of Christ". Today, we hear the Passion according to Luke who invites all Christians to meditate how the mercy of the Father was made manifest in the Passion of Jesus Christ, how God's love materialized in Jesus' Passion.

When Pope Francis wrote the prayer for the Jubilee of Mercy, he listed many examples in which Jesus Christ touched the sinners with his merciful gaze to move them into repentance. E.g. the call of Matthew, Zacchaeus the chief tax-collector, the sinful woman, after Peter's third denial and the good thief on the cross etc. These examples are taken from Luke. Therefore, this gospel for Year C which we read and meditate is good for the spirituality and growth of Christians.

Today, let us meditate on one of the many sections. While a band of Temple officers and others tried to arrest Jesus, one of the disciples drew a sword to resist and cut off the ear of a slave of the High Priest. All gospels agree on this fact but the Evangelists handled what happened next in different manners. John explicitly wrote that Peter drew the sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus, a slave of the High Priest. The Synoptic gospels did not say that it was Peter because he was still alive. When John wrote his gospel, Peter was already dead for about three decades. Therefore, it is inevitable that there are differences in the gospel narratives. Let us see how Luke developed the story. While all other gospels did not care about what happened to those who came to arrest Jesus, only Luke told us that Jesus healed the man who came to arrest him.

Imagine you were Malchus. Even if you were sympathetic to Jesus, you had no choice but to carry out orders. Of course, you could have stayed behind to yell war cries and did not need to go to the forefront to be struck by Peter. Or perhaps you were ambitious, or even you were pushed ahead by others in the chaos. Jesus did not care. He healed the wounds in your body as well as your soul. To be sure, you must have become a member of the Church in the future and your name would be mentioned in ages to come.

On the other hand, imagine you were Peter. You drew the sword to resist and assaulted somebody. Why? You must have acted out of fear to protect yourself. Perhaps you were loyal to your master. Or perhaps you did not want the career which you had built up by forsaking everything to follow the Messiah to be vapourized instantly. Jesus did not care. He healed the one you had injured, to lessen your guilt of doing harm to an innocent person.

I am sure all of you must have heard what had happened in the 7-11 convenient store at Pitt Road, Yaumati. On March 8, the 38-year-old shop owner was stabbed and hospitalized. He died subsequently on March 14, leaving behind a widow and a one-month-old baby. The 32-year-old Canadian Vietnamese suspect was charged from attempted murder to murder. On March 16, the 7-11 chains started a donation campaign. Within 8 hours, 1.6 million were received. The charity and mercy of Hong Kong people are truly amazing and praiseworthy. Let me ask you, have you prayed for the injured but later deceased shop owner and his widow and orphan? You have. Good. Let me challenge you. Have you prayed for the suspect?

Christian mercy should not stop short at donation for the widow and orphan. Doing so is already very good but even non-Christians do the same, and even more generous than Christians. Christians are people who follow the example of Jesus. In the gospel today, Jesus healed someone who hurt him. He showed mercy and strengthened Peter who denied him out of fear. He prayed to the Father to forgive the Roman soldiers who crucified him. He accepted the repentant thief on the cross ... Therefore, Christian mercy is to pray for those who hurt you, to forgive all who do you harm. Only then are we true Christians. In the eyes of Jesus, the suspect is pitiful. Take one false step and you are finished. This incident would definitely change his whole life. There is no capital punishment in Hong Kong. Even prisoners serving life-sentence would come out of prison one day. By the time he came out several decades later, he would find the world alien and would not find the ability to adapt to it. Please pray for this accidental murderer.
God bless.

為義而受迫害 PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE

為義而受迫害
今天讓我們來默想按耶穌基督的教訓行善卻仍受人迫害的事件。 三月十五日，星期二，教宗方濟各在樞機會議上，宣佈五位真福，最早將於今年六月，最遲十個宣聖。其中包括德蘭修女。梵蒂崗將於九月四日（主日），就是德蘭修女的逝世前夕，為她舉行宣聖彌撒。

在慈悲禧年為德蘭修女宣聖，是最恰當不過的了，因為她是慈悲的化身。她一生蒙受兩次聖召。第一次，在十八歲的時候加入洛雷托Loreto女修會，十九歲奉派往印度教書。三十六歲那一年，感受到更深刻的召叫，要在最貧窮的人身上服事耶穌基督。三十八歲，她開始脫去修女的會衣，換上一襲白色滾藍邊的傳統印度服飾sari。白色代表純潔，藍色代表聖母瑪利亞。她由一個從事教育工作約二十年的修女，開始了為最窮的人服務。她每日非常具體地實踐神形哀矜。她的慈悲行動，比世上最優秀的布道家，還要感化了更多的人。她在世時，很多人已把她當代二十世紀的活聖人。

可是，樹大招風，有很多人會攻擊她、利用她。
固然，有人與出於嫉妒而攻擊她，但不要以為攻擊她的人，一定是壞人。要知道，她是梵二之前長大的天主教徒，在信仰上、誡律上是保守和嚴謹的。她經常唸玫瑰經，反對避孕及墮胎。甚至在接受諾貝爾和平獎的演說上，亦毫不掩飾她酷愛生命，反對墮胎的立場。這些言論，當然與致力改善貧窮的有志之士，南轅北轍，因為很多人相信印度的貧窮，是出於人口過剩。亦有很多善心人士，擔心她心地良善，容易被人偶像化，受人利用。所以，她也受到善心人士的攻擊和反對。

固然，利用她的名譽和善心的，大有人在，而且德蘭修女，心地善良，不會怕被利用而不接受富有的人的捐助，亦不會因為被人利用了而仇視富有的人。受攻擊、受委屈，她的心靈是痛苦的，但她仍願意為奉行耶穌基督的旨意，為一切的人祈禱，包括攻擊她，利用她的人。

耶穌基督在世的時候，何嘗不是做善事而受到攻擊，受到迫害，甚至死在十字架上嗎？作為耶穌基督的跟隨者，不但要按照基督的教訓行善，亦要跟隨基督的榜樣，跟隨他行人生的苦路，默默地忍耐行善所招致的迫害。天主保祐。

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PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE

  This evening, let us meditate the persecution we receive when we follow Jesus' command to do good.
Last Tuesday, March 15, Pope Francis announced the canonization of five Blessed's during an ordinary public consistory, including Blessed Mother Teresa. The earliest will take place in June and latest in October. Vatican will celebrate her canonization mass on September 4, the vigil of the anniversary of her death.

To canonize Blessed Mother Teresa during the Jubilee of Mercy is the most appropriate of all because she was a personification of mercy. She experienced two calls in her life. Firstly, when she was 18, she entered the Sisters of Loreto. At 19, she was sent to teach in India. She experienced a deeper call when she was 36 to serve Christ among the poorest. At 38, she took off her Loreto habits and put on a traditional white sari with blue border. White symbolizes purity and blue the BVM. After teaching for nearly 20 years, she started serving the poorest. Daily she concretely performed corporal as well as spiritual works of mercy. Her works of mercy touched the hearts of more people than the most effective evangelists and preachers. Many people have already regarded her as a living saint of the twentieth century.

Of course, her fame had brought her attacks and manipulations.
There were people who attacked her out of jealousy. But do not think that all who attacked Mother Teresa were bad guys. We have to understand that she was raised a pre-Vatican II Catholic. Her faith and the precepts she kept were conservative and strict. She always recited the Rosary and opposed contraception and abortion. Even in her Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, she did not shy away from telling the audience her intense love of life and her opposition to abortion. These stances went against people of good will who wanted to eradicate poverty because many people believed that over population was the root cause of poverty in India. There were also people who worried about her being taken advantaged of or being idolized because of her simple kind-heartedness. Therefore, even good people attacked and opposed her.

Of course, there were not a few people who had manipulated her fame and kindness. She was meek but would not refuse the donations from the rich out of fear of being taken advantage of. Nor would she hate the rich after they manipulated her kindness. Being attacked and misunderstood was spiritually painful. Yet, she was still willing to perform the will of Jesus Christ and to pray for all people, including those who attacked her as well as took advantage of her.

Wasn't Jesus Christ attacked, persecuted and even died on the cross for doing good? As followers of Christ, not only do we follow Jesus' command to do good, but we should also follow his example to go through the stations of the cross in our daily life, quietly enduring persecutions for doing good.
God bless.

真福德蘭修女在3月15日封聖的假聞

幾天前，多次收到有關真福德蘭修女於三月十五日封聖的訊息。封聖的禮儀，起碼也要幾個月的預備。但本地【公教報】或者梵蒂崗靜如深海。所以作假的成份居多。不過，仍有同學覺得學習德蘭修女的生活態度，也是一件好事，所以傳出去也不是問題。可惜讀起來錯誤犯駁太多，恐怕連修女的駭骨，也會在墳墓裡打滾！
姑且分析如下，以慰修女在天之靈。

YOU MAY CALL ME A BIGOT

Post war life has been unduly lengthened. People has enjoyed prosperity for too long. We are facing a different level of "making the ends meet". In order to meet the living standards, both parents have to work and neglect their children. We have bred a generation of children who cannot take care of themselves; who do not possess necessary savvy to survive.

On the other hand, we have bred a generation of egoistic people who claim human rights for their own benefits but refuse to sacrifice for the sake of the general public. It is true that we need human rights to defend citizens from tyrants. It all started with three human rights of life, liberty and private property some two hundred years ago. In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed by 48 nations in UN. That was three years after WWII. 70 years after WWII, more people want more human rights.

Freedom to travel and to work are respected. Freedom of thoughts, speech and assembly are respected too. So is sexual orientation today. Sexual orientation is a matter of private life and as long as you are not practising it in public, it is not offending. However, public morality is eroding when sex and marriage divorce.
No argument can refute the biological reality that sex is for procreation. It is immoral to enjoy sexual gratification while evading the duty of procreation. Furthermore, the social institution of marriage is for procreation and legal inheritance and marriage is for the good of the individuals and the stability of the society as a whole. Unfortunately, LGBT activists piggyback the human rights movement to demand a marriage which cannot procreate. They demand the right to marriage and the mass media love sensationalization. Such a demand is illogical. Prove me wrong.

Lord Jesus, may Your light illuminate us and drive away the darkness that blinds us. Amen.

Church Invasion, SCMP

我是拉匝祿 I AM LAZARUS

四旬期第五主日（甲年）
主題：我是拉匝祿
**舉行考核禮，選用甲年讀經。

四部福音之中，若望福音成書最晚，距離耶穌基督的復活升天事件，超過半過世紀。當時，三部對觀福音，即馬爾谷、路加和瑪竇已經流傳了大約二十年以上。所以除了一些重大事件，如若翰洗者的見証、醫治瞎子、癱子、五餅二魚、復活死人和受難復活等等之外，若望沒有重複其他福音的記載。他經過半過世紀的反省，領會到耶穌是降生成人的天主聖言。從這個角度出發，耶穌的一切言行，有了很超越的幅度。所以，若望福音是一部很深奧，但又必須閱讀反省的福音。

「復活拉匝祿」的故事，內容非常豐富，足以作為七日退省的默想材料。所以今天祗選讀短式，並默想其中部份片段。請大家在這個星期內，在家中誦讀並默想故事的全部。
整個故事是非常簡單的。耶穌來到伯達尼傳福音的時候，這一家人，包括瑪爾大、瑪利亞和拉匝祿，接待了耶穌，成為耶穌的好朋友。耶穌每次經過的時候，都會逗留在他們的家中。這個瑪利亞，就是曾經以香液傅抹耶穌，並以自己的頭髮擦乾耶穌的腳的婦人。今次，弟弟拉匝祿病了，耶穌過了幾天纔去探望他。結果，耶穌來遲了，拉匝祿已經死了。為了周圍的人的得救，耶穌決定到墳墓那裡，復活他的好朋友拉匝祿。結果，很多素來不接受耶穌的猶太人，也相信了耶穌。

故事的主角，除了耶穌之外，應該是拉匝祿了。在希伯來文，「拉匝祿」是「上主是救援」的意思。他的際遇，的確表達了天主的救援。不過，在整個故事中，甚至在所有的福音中，他並沒有說過一句話。他過著一般猶太人的生活，在他生前，沒有發生過有如他的姊妹瑪利亞那麼戲劇化的事件。他祗是默默地生活，默默地患病，默默地死去。雖然他祗是個最平凡不過的人，但令他的生命突出的，是他的兩個姊妹。我們不知道拉匝祿患的是甚麼病，但他患病時，他的姊妹便派人找耶穌，因此他的病並不輕。也正是瑪爾大和瑪利亞的信德，令拉匝祿得以復活，令許多猶太人也相信了耶穌。各位兄弟姊妹，做天主教徒並不一定要做轟轟烈烈的殉道者，或者做一個有如真福德蘭修女一樣聖德超著的聖人。就算是平凡有如拉匝祿的人，祗要配合天主的慈悲，一樣能令周圍的人，相信耶穌基督，接受耶穌基督為救主。

拉匝祿的遭遇與我們沒有分別：他有姊妹，他患病，他死去；我們一樣有自己的親人，也會患病，也會死去。不要以為信了耶穌便一帆風順，人見人愛，無災無難。作為耶穌的好朋友，耶穌所愛的人，也一樣會病，一樣會死。難道耶穌會願意看見他的好朋友受苦嗎？對不起！耶穌會！所以準備在復活節領洗的候洗者，請三思。作為耶穌的好朋友，拉匝祿和我們要也忍耐。倘若沒有耐性，也要學習忍耐罷！天主有祂的時間表，有祂的計劃。時機未成熟卻輕舉妄動，祗能落得失敗收場。所以，與耶穌做朋友，除了認識他，相信他，愛慕他之外，更要鍛鍊耐性。這就是我們經常說的「望德」了。望德就是在困難中所表現出的忍耐。

故事中，瑪爾大與耶穌的一段對話，非常微妙。首先，她埋怨耶穌來遲了。原來我們是可以埋怨天主的！而且耶穌並沒有因此而生氣。所謂「不如意事十常八九。」遇到病苦，遇到挫折失敗，遇到惡人當道等等，埋怨天主是可以的。天主是體諒的，祂不會因此而生氣。瑪爾大的埋怨始終掩蓋不了她的渴望。請注意瑪爾大祈求的方法，她的祈求是正確的，因為她並沒有指定天主要為她做甚麼。很多時候，當我們所關心的人病了，我們自然會求天主使他們痊癒。當我們看見惡人橫行霸道，我們自然會祈求天主鏟除他們等等。這樣的祈禱是錯誤的，因為我們這樣祈禱，是在吩咐天主怎樣做，這是試探而不是祈禱。我們應該求天主，賜力量予病者及家人，共渡難關；求天主給了惡人悔改的機會，造福市民。這個病、這個社會環境，是一個獲得天主恩寵，天主慈悲的機遇。
瑪爾大祈求了，於是耶穌提示她，她是可以祈求她弟弟的復活。瑪爾大是相信復活的，但她以為復活是末日的事。於是耶穌糾正她，復活也是現世的事。耶穌說了一句很重要的道理，是整個事件的核心。耶穌說：「我就是復活，就是生命。」（若11:25）等一等，耶穌是一個人，復活卻是一個事件，一個過程，二者如何等同呢？其實，耶穌說這句話，旨在要我們注意到我們與祂的關係。耶穌基督是生命的主宰，生命的根源。如果我們快要死，甚至好像拉匝祿一樣死了，憑著我們與祂的關係，祂會令我們出死入生；如果我們生活著，憑著我們與祂的關係，祂會令我們的生命更豐富。當然，倘若我們犯罪，我們背叛祂，破壞了與祂的關係，我們的生命便會出現危機了，甚至埋沒良心，喪失生命。

各位兄弟姊妹，「復活拉匝祿」的事蹟，提醒我們要與耶穌基督，建立並保持良好的關係。信從祂，渴望愛慕祂，在艱難困苦之中保持忍耐。在日常生活中這樣實踐信望愛三德，我們現在及在末日，便能享受天主源源不絕的永恆生命。各位候洗者，「復活拉匝祿」的事蹟，向您們保証了耶穌基督是生命的主宰。請您們忍耐，並恆心祈求，不久，耶穌基督要從黑暗之中，墳墓之中，解放您們。
天主保祐。

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The Fifth Lent Sunday (Year A)
Theme: I AM LAZARUS

John was written last among the 4 canonical gospels, more than half a century from the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. At that time, the three Synoptic gospels, Mark, Luke and Matthew had been circulating for more than two decades. Except for some important incidents, such as the witness of John the Baptist, healing of the blind, the paralyzed, five loaves and two fish, raising the dead and the Passion/Resurrection narratives etc., John does not repeat what the Synoptic have written. After half a century of reflection, John realized that Jesus is the Word of God incarnate. From this perspective, the words and deeds of Jesus have assumed a transcendental dimension. Thus, John is a deep, but a must-read gospel.

The story of the "Raising of Lazarus" is rich in contents, enough for meditation in a 7-day retreat. So we read the short version and meditate a tiny section of it today. I ask you all to read and meditate the whole story within this week at home. The story is very simple. When Jesus preached the gospel in Bethany, this family which consisted of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, received him and became Jesus' acquaintance. Every time Jesus came around, he would stay in their house. This Mary was the woman who anointed Jesus and wiped his feet dry with her hair. This time, their brother Lazarus fell sick and Jesus visited them only after he had tarried for a few more days. Consequently, Jesus arrived late and Lazarus had already died. For the sake of the people around, Jesus decided to go to the tomb to raise his good friend Lazarus. In the end, many Jews who had rejected Jesus before believed in him.

Besides Jesus, the main character in this story should be Lazarus. In Hebrew, Lazarus means "God has helped". What happened to Lazarus illustrates this name well. But throughout the whole story, even in all gospels, Lazarus did not say a single word. He led an ordinary life as a Jew. During his life time, nothing dramatic happened to him like Mary, his sister. He lived quietly, fell sick quietly and died quietly. His life was nothing but ordinary. What made his life extraordinary were his two sisters. We do not know of what illness he fell sick. But when he did, his sisters sent for Jesus. So, it must have been a serious illness. And because of the faith of Martha and Mary, Lazarus was raised, making a lot of Jews believe in Jesus. Brethren, it is not necessary for a Catholic to die martyrdom, nor to lead a saintly life like Blessed Mother Teresa. Even if we are as ordinary as Lazarus, working together with God's mercy, we can also convert our neighbour to believe in Jesus, to accept him as our Saviour.

What happens in our lives may not be radically different from that of Lazarus: he had sisters, fell sick and died. We too have our relatives. We do fall sick. We die. Do not think that after believing in Jesus, your life would become smooth, you would be liked by everybody and no harm would fall upon you. As a good friend of Jesus, a man whom Jesus loves, you fall sick and die like any other people do. But could Jesus want to see his good friend suffer? Sorry. Jesus could! Therefore those of you who are prepared to be baptised this Easter, think thrice! As a good friend of Jesus, Lazarus and we have to learn the virtue of patience. If you are short-tempered, learn to be patient! God has His own schedule. When the times were not right, any action would be futile. So, in order to befriend Jesus, besides knowing him, trusting in him and loving him, we need to beef up our patience. We usually call this the virtue of hope. Hope is the patience shown in times of difficulties.

The exchange between Martha and Jesus was subtle in the story. At first, Martha blamed Jesus for coming late. What? We may blame God and Jesus does not mind at all? We have more down's than up's in our life. When we fall sick, are frustrated or suffer unfairly under some bad guys, it is alright to blame God. God will understand. He will not be offended. Martha's frustration could not cover up her desires. Pay attention to how Martha prayed. The way she prayed was correct because she did not tell God what to do for her. Very often, when our loved ones fall sick, we pray to God for their recovery. When we meet bad guys harming the innocent, we pray to God to neutralize them. Praying in this way is wrong because we are telling God what to do. This is temptation rather than prayer. Instead, we should pray God to give strength to the patient and his family members to go through it; pray God to give the bad guys opportunities to repent to do good for the citizens. This illness, this social situation is an opportunity to receive God's grace, God's mercy.
Martha had prayed and Jesus prompted her to pray for the resurrection of her brother. Martha believed in resurrection but she thought that it would happen on the last day. So, Jesus corrected her. Resurrection is a contemporary event. Jesus declared an important dogma which is the core of the whole story. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life." (John 11:25) Wait a minute. Jesus is a person and resurrection is an event, a process. How could the two be identical? In fact, Jesus wanted to draw our attention to our relationship with him. Jesus Christ is the author of life, the source of life. If we are dying or like Lazarus, dead, with our relationship with him, Jesus can bring us through death to come out alive. If we are living, with our relationship with him, Jesus can make our life more fulfilled. Of course, if we commit sins, rebel against him or compromise our relationship, we put our lives at risks. We even bury our conscience and lose our life.

Brethren, the story of "Raising Lazarus" reminds us to keep a good relation with Jesus Christ. Trust in him, desire and love him, keep our patience in times of difficulties. When we practise these theological virtues, we can enjoy the inexhaustible eternal life of God, now and at the hour of our death. Baptizees, the story of Lazarus guarantees you that Jesus Christ is the author of life. Be patient and pray unceasingly. Very soon, Jesus will liberate you from the darkness of your tomb.
God bless.

DEFENDING JESUS

Prejudice or hardness of heart, or whatever you may call it, men are always able to find a reason to reject you.
In John 7:27, the Jews claimed that when the Christ appeared, no one knew where he came from. Not long after, another group of Jews were sure that Christ was the descendant of David and thus came from Bethlehem, the village of David (7:42). Both groups of Jews knew that Jesus had come from Galilee. Obviously, the latter group of Jews had prejudice against Galileans. They claimed that no prophet was to rise from Galilee (7:52). You were not even a prophet. How could you be the Christ? The logic seems impeccable. So, it is clear that there was no consensus among the Jews about the origin of the Christ. But I don't think it was a matter of knowledge, that some had access to Scriptures while others had not. It can never be a matter of knowledge, but a matter of love. How did I come to this conclusion? I think the life of Blessed Mother Teresa speaks volume. She did not convince people with theology. She performed works of charity and mercy. That's all. Every spiritual person must have gone through spiritual desolation, not just once. She must have, but she did not hesitate to love Jesus among the poorest.

In love, there is no fear (1 John 4:18). When we are afraid to defend Jesus, we do not love Jesus enough. In the gospel of John, there was a Nicodemus who visited Jesus at night lest his colleagues would accuse him of siding with their enemy. Now he tried to speak for Jesus but he was shouted down by his fellow Pharisees. Jesus had become a sign that is spoken against (Luke 2:34). As his followers, are we able to defend Jesus properly? Have we done enough to equip ourselves to defend him? If we are not able to and have not done enough, do we feel ashamed of failing to defend him?

Perhaps you may say that Jesus does not need us to defend him. He can defend himself. Unfortunately, such hardness of heart will only harm oneself. Rejecting others will lock ourselves up inside our comfort zone, while not actively involved in building up our relation with Jesus will seal our fate.

Merciful Lord, I would like to defend you. Yet, you come to protect me instead. I thank you. Amen.

WE THINK WE KNOW

Jesus lamented the ignorance of the Jews, and by inference, the ignorance of most people. It is paradoxical that the greatest ignorance is shown by those who know the most.

Jesus was a Jew. His contemporaries should have known him the most, the best. Yet, the greater their knowledge was, the more they rejected him! Isn't it paradoxical? Once again, it demonstrates that knowledge alone does not help foster our relationship with other persons, including God. Of course, we can defend the Jews because their so called knowledge was actually a prejudice. They thought that "when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from." (John 7:27) and yet, they knew where Jesus came from. So, Jesus could not be the Christ they had been expecting.
To a certain extent, the Jews were right. God is a mystery and if God does not reveal Himself to us, He remains a mystery beyond our understanding. However, if we stick to this thinking, we have no way to know God, to know where the Christ comes from. However, if we allow ourselves to be more receptive, to be more open to God's love, why can't we accept the fact that God Himself would take up human flesh to live like a man and to die on the cross for us and leave behind His body in the form of a piece of wafer etc.? It is because WE THINK WE KNOW God enough! God would not do this and that! WE WANT TO BELIEVE that God is almighty and shall kill all the bad guys for us, that God is merciful and shall exempt us from suffering etc. I am sorry. God is not our invention. God has a mind of His own! When we think we know God enough, He remains a mystery beyond our understanding!

Merciful Father, Your love knows no bounds. You love until it hurts. I am not worthy to receive You in my heart because I am not courageous enough to suffer to please You. Strengthen me, my Lord. Amen.

DO WE HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD WITHIN US?

The Jews were and are very intelligent people. Their performance and achievements have been very outstanding among humanity. Despite all kinds of hardship, they manage to strive and survive and thrive. However, in the eye of Christianity, they fail miserably before they rejected Jesus Christ.

In the gospel reading today (John 5:31-47), we find Jesus' negative comments on their performance. All these are summarized into one sentence, "But I know that you have not the love of God within you." (5:42) That was devastating! Of course, that was not final. Humanity is capable of change and transform. I am sure that devastating sentence does not apply to all Jews. After all, the first disciples of Jesus were all Jews.

I still admire the Jews. They are path-finders. The mistakes they made and which cost their lives are treasures for us all. They set up counter-examples, warning us what pitfalls humanity might fall into when they seek God. The key issue is: do we have the love of God within us? No wonder John kept on speaking about love and concluded that God is love (1 John 4:8). In short, if we do not have love in our hearts, do not have God in our hearts, we fail to go to Jesus and have no life. God is watching over us with a pair of loving eyes. Most of the time, we turn our sight away from Him and commit sins. We are not responding to His love.

Heavenly Father, fill our hearts with Your love so that we may have life. Amen.

THE FATHER IS NOT THE SON

The Blessed Trinity is a Christian mystery in the sense that nobody is able to explain it in any satisfactory way. One false step and you will become a heretic! For example, only the Son died on the cross to redeem humanity. The Father did not die on the cross though the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one and the same God! In ancient times, bishops and theologians made use of images to convey what they wanted to say. It was safer because images are inexact and whenever you try to be exact, you end up being a heretic. So long as you do not mix up the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and acknowledge all three Persons as one God, you are safe.

Nowadays, theologians tend to explain the Trinity is a more relational manner. Instead of talking about the nature, essence of the three Persons, now they talk more about their relationships. Such an approach is more dynamic and in fact is closer to the Scripture. Of course it is because the ideas of Persons and  Nature/Essence are Greek philosophical jargon Christian theologians borrowed to explain the concept in an acceptable way to the non-believers. The Bible speaks a different language.

The gospel reading today (John 5:17-30) is a typical exposition of part of the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. Though the Holy Spirit was not mentioned, it must be hovering in the background. In the text, Jesus illustrated many times the sameness of the Father and the Son: both of them are working (5:17), they do the same things (v.19) and they give life (v.21) etc. But the Father is NOT the Son.  This is obvious even in human relationships. In isolation, the Son cannot do anything of his own accord (v.19). However, there is at least one thing the Father does not do but let the Son do: to pass judgment (v.22, 27). But even here, sameness is found because the judgment of the Son is the same as the Father (v.30)! Why not? If their judgments were different, they would be schizophrenic! After so many centuries of using Greek jargon, it is refreshing to explain this mystery in a different paradigm. Since no man is an island. A relational approach is a right path to take.

May the Three in One be blessed, forever and ever. Amen.

DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALED?

You will be amazed how much people DON'T want to be healed! In particular, patients of chronic illnesses have adopted a life style in the years. Given long enough time, patients are able to adapt themselves to their health conditions. The illness only degenerates into a kind of inconvenience similar to short-sightedness. It doesn't hurt much. It is only inconvenient. The patients have learned to "live with" the illness. They have no problem keeping the status quo. Furthermore, other people show greater kindness to patients of whatever sicknesses. Therefore, there is no incentive for them to be healed. On the other hand, acute illnesses are sharp and short. You want to get rid of them as soon as possible. You are willing to take drastic actions to relieve yourselves.

In the gospel reading today, the man had been paralyzed for 38 years. What Jesus spoke to him later suggests that the cause of his paralysis was his sin (John 5:14). So, this man had been staying in a sinful state spiritually and been paralyzed physically for a very long time. After 38 years, he might have lost his faith and hope in God already. He might not eagerly want to be healed. Superficially, he explained how, as a paralyzed man, disadvantaged he was in securing a cure. I suspect that he was not determined enough to get cured for reasons mentioned above but Jesus' question (5:6)was an invitation. His question rekindled a ray of faith and hope in the paralyzed man. His question was also an eviction. Jesus forced the paralyzed man out of his comfort zone. Get out. Let God love you and forgive your sins.

Let us give the benefit of the doubt to the Jews. Even though Jesus was wrong because his instruction had really violated Sabbath, that did not forfeit the mercy of God. Be careful, I am not justifying an "illegal" action with its good consequences. I am saying that the mercy of God overwrites legal technicalities. Given that Jesus' instruction was "illegal", we should keep our minds open. Jesus may have to resort to extreme measures to kick us out of our comfort zones.

Merciful Lord, I want to be healed. Instruct me and I will follow. Amen.

UNLESS YOU SEE SIGNS

It is a common mistake, though with good intention, to pray for the recovery of cancer patients! Pardon me for sounding callous. We believe in God. We love our neighbour and are taught to help the needy. They are suffering from cancers. Isn't it logical to pray to God for the good of the patients? It demonstrates our faith in God. Moreover, we admit our incompetence before cancers and turn to God. We cannot find fault with faith and charity. However, suffering is truly a mystery. We are not able to fathom what God wants to do with the cancer.
On the personal level, many people are able to defeat cancer with their will-power. Then, we interpret this illness in these people is an opportunity to draw out their previously untapped resources. On an interpersonal level, this illness draws family members closer together; reveal which ones are true friends and may even provide a reconciliation opportunity among enemies. In the end, it is God who decides the outcome.

My ex-colleague is lying in bed in a hospital ward. I do not know much about his conditions and it seems that his situation is terminal. I thank the Lord when we held hands together after administering Holy Communion to him. He closed his eyes and was peaceful. I am grateful for the Lord to allow me to touch Him and feel His bony physique. I dare not pray for the recovery of my ex-colleague. I can only pray that the merciful Lord gave him enough strength to carry this cross.

Lord, I do not need to see signs to believe in you (John 4:48). Heal me and have mercy on us. Amen.

悔改的喜樂 The Joy of Repentance

四旬期第四主日（丙年）
主題：悔改的喜樂

大家不要奇怪，為甚麼在應該穿著紫色的四旬期內，今天執事穿著的聖帶，竟是鮮艷的玫瑰紅色呢？其實，不但四旬期，還有穿紫色的將臨期，神職人員穿著的禮儀服飾，在指定的某一天可以穿著玫瑰紅色，表示「喜樂」的意思。在四旬期的第四主日和將臨期的第三主日，都稱為「喜樂主日」（分別稱為Lætare/Gaudete Sunday），標誌著要齋戒的四旬期或將臨期已過了一半。而且在彌撒的經文中，強調喜樂的主題。例如，四旬期第四主日，倘若不舉行候洗者考核禮，進堂詠是這樣唸：『凡愛慕耶路撒冷的，都應與她一同喜樂；』在拉丁文，「喜樂」是進堂詠的第一個字。倘若舉行考核禮，也在「集禱經」中提到求天主以『屬神的喜樂，充滿教會』。那麼，在四旬期第四主日，有甚麼值得喜樂呢？真的因為齋期已過了一半嗎？當然不是。答案就在今天的福音裡。

今天我們選讀路加福音第十五章，膾炙人口的「蕩子比喻」。在路加福音第十五章，耶穌回應法利塞人和經師的質疑，說了三個比喻。為甚麼法利塞人和經師質疑耶穌的言行呢？除了因為耶穌的教訓，動搖了他們在群眾心中的地位外，更重要的是，在他們的眼中，耶穌離經背道，太自由放任了。例如，中國的【詩經】，記載了孔子所搜集的三百篇詩歌，擔任著教化群眾的任務。同樣，舊約的一百五十篇【聖詠集】，也擔任著類似的教化任務。【聖詠集】的第一篇就教訓以色列人，不可與罪人為伍，否則會落得慘淡收場。因此，作為一個受人敬重的師傅，耶穌與稅吏罪人混在一起，不但對自己無好處，更在其他人面前立下壞榜樣。於是耶穌講了三個比喻，表達出天主慈悲的胸襟。

第一個「亡羊的比喻」，瑪竇福音第十八章也有記載，重點在於天父不願意看見罪人的喪亡。但路加卻說，「對於一個罪人悔改，在天上所有的歡樂，甚於對那九十九個無須悔改的義人。」（路15:7）在這裡，耶穌在間接批評那些自以為義的法利塞人和經師。縱使法利塞人真是義人，無可指摘，所以天父不用替他們操心了。但令天父每日為他們操心的罪人，假若他們能悔改，他們帶給天父的歡樂，必能比較不用操心的義人為大。其實，在天父面前，因為「原罪」的遺禍，沒有人能合乎天父心目中的要求，所有人都不達標。因此，法利塞人歧視稅吏，祗是「五十步笑百步」，法利塞人也同樣需要悔改。可惜，他們自以為是，不知悔改而已。
第二個「失錢的比喻」是路加獨有的，內容和第一個「亡羊的比喻」相似，祗不過一個在戶外，一個在室內；一個是男性的，一個是女性的。但主題仍是一樣，罪人的悔改，在天主的使者前，也是這樣歡樂（15:10）。 倘若法利塞人仍然心腸僵硬，聽不出第一和第二個比喻的絃外之音，路加便以高超的文學手法，寫出第三個「蕩子的比喻」，把「所有人都需要悔改，並且悔改帶來喜樂」的主題，發揮得淋漓盡致。
故事中的長子象徵那些自以為是的法利塞人。小兒子象徵罪人。請注意，要求分家產的是小兒子，但結果，長子也分到他的一份。在過程中，長子有沒有盡長兄的責任，規勸弟弟不要分家呢？福音沒有記載，可能有，可能沒有。無論有或者沒有，長子已因為弟弟的不肖而成了受益人。
好境不常，小兒子受苦了，纔想起父親家中的溫飽。大部份人都會安於現況，甚至抱著「今朝有酒今朝醉」的心態生活，非迫不得已都不會改變，走出自己的「安樂窩」。「居安思危」是罕有的德行。而「受苦」原來也是有益的事，它迫使我們反省，引導我們回頭改過，信靠天主。
故事中的父親象徵誰呢？當然是天主喇，但更準確的是耶穌。小兒子把田地房屋變賣了，纔可以遠走他方。他回來，一定不會被鄉親父老所接納。所以，作為父親的，老遠看見小兒子回家，便要跑出去為他護航，甚至要宰殺一隻牛犢，宴請全村的父老，向他們陪不是。試問一家人又何能吃掉一條牛呢？在長子不願與小兒子和解，並指摘父親偏心時，父親親自出來勸解。他並沒有偏袒任何一個，兩個兒子，他都親自跑出來。為罪人做那麼多功夫的，除了耶穌，還有誰呢？
故事的結局是開放的，長子可能受感動，跟父親一起進入家中，與小兒子和解，大團圓結局；他有可能執迷不悟，拒絕和解，留在天堂的門外。耶穌並不會強迫法利塞人悔改，他把悔改的主動權，把進入天國的主動權，交給法利塞人，交給自以為是的罪人。

各位主內的兄弟姊妹，請珍惜耶穌的邀請。當我們犯了罪，他仍不離不棄；當我們悔改時，他願意陪伴我們進入告解亭，領受修和聖事，享受獲得罪赦的喜樂。不要執著，把自己關在天堂的門外，趁四旬期妥當告解吧。
天主保祐。

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Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year C)
Theme: The Joy of Repentance

Don't be puzzled. Why do the clergy who should be wearing purple during Lent, wear this brightly rosy red today? In fact, not only in Lent, but also in Advent when the clergy are supposed to be wearing purple, do they wear rose red on a certain date to express joy. The 3^rd Advent Sunday and 4^th Lent Sunday are called Gaudete Sunday and Lætare Sunday respectively to signify that we have reached halfway in the abstinence season. Moreover, the prayers in Mass emphasize the theme of joy. For example, on the 4^th Lent Sunday, if the Rite of Scrutiny is not held, the Introit reads "Rejoice, O Jerusalem; and come together all you that love her ..." In Lain, "Lætare Jerusalem ..." are the first words of the Introit. If the Rite of Scrutiny is held, the Collect reads, "Almighty ever-living God, give to your Church an increase in spiritual joy ..." So, what is worth rejoicing on the 4^th Sunday of Lent? Is it because we are halfway through fasting? Of course we are not. The answer is found in the gospel reading today.

Today, we read the popular parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Here, Jesus told three parables in response to the challenges of the Pharisees and Scribes. Why did the Pharisees and Scribes challenge Jesus? Besides the fact that Jesus was putting their status among the people in jeopardy with his teachings, Jesus was heretical and too liberal in their eyes. For example, Confucius collected 300 songs in the Classic of Poems to teach and cultivate the morality of the general public. Similarly, there are 150 songs in the book of Psalms to do likewise. The very first psalm teaches the Israelites not to join the company of sinners. Otherwise, they would end up miserably. Therefore, as a respectable Rabbi, it did Jesus no good to mix with tax collectors and sinners. Worse, he was setting a bad example in front of people. Therefore, Jesus told three parables to illustrate the mercy of God.

The first parable is that of the Lost Sheep which is also found in Matthew 18. Matthew stresses that our heavenly Father does not want to see sinners perish. But Luke said, "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7) Here, Jesus indirectly criticized those self-righteous Pharisees. Suppose Pharisees were genuinely just and impeccable so that our heavenly Father did not have to worry about them. If sinners whom our heavenly Father had to worry all the time repented, of course the resultant joy must be greater than those righteous people whom God did not have to worry about. But in fact, in front of our heavenly Father, none of us meets God's requirements. None of us is able to attain God's target because of Original Sin. Therefore, when the Pharisees despised the tax collectors, it was only pot calling the kettle black. The Pharisees needed repentance all the same. Unfortunately, they refused to repent because of self-righteousness.
The second parable of the Lost Coin is exclusively Luke's. The content is similar to that of the Lost Sheep. One is outdoor, another indoor; one is masculine, the other feminine. The theme is the same: there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (15:10)
If the hearts of the Pharisees were so hardened that they were unable to read between the lines, Luke wrote a high-calibre parable of the Prodigal Son to press home the point that "all men need repentance and repentance brings great joy".
The elder son in the story symbolizes those self-righteous Pharisees, the younger son sinners. Bear in mind that it was the young son who demanded his own share of property. Consequently, the elder brother got his share as well. In the process, did the elder brother do his duty to dissuade the younger brother from sharing the property? The gospel is silent. Perhaps yes, perhaps no. No matter what, he became a beneficiary of his brother's unworthiness.
Good days last short. The young son began to suffer. Then he remembered the good old days in his father's house. Most people prefer to keep the status quo. Some even lead a life as if there is no tomorrow. Unless they are forced, they shall not change and emerge from their comfort zones. In peaceful time, vigilance to impending disasters is a rare virtue. Suffering turns out to be a good thing. It forces us to reflect, lead us to repentance and trust in God.
What does the father in the parable symbolize? Of course he is God. To be precise, he is Jesus. The young son sold the property, turned it into cash so that he would go to a far off place. When he returned, the elders in the village definitely would not accept him. Therefore, when the father saw him while he was yet at a distance, the father rushed out to escort him back. The father even killed a calf to treat the elders of the village to apologize. Think about it, how could one family consume the whole calf? The elder brother did not want to reconcile with the younger brother, complaining about the favouritism of the father who came out to persuade him back. The father did not take side. He took the initiative to reach out to both sons. Who else but Jesus has done so much for sinners?
The story is open ended. The elder brother could be moved and followed the father to return to the house and reconciled with the younger brother. It will be a happy ending! But he could also refuse to reconcile and stayed outside heaven. Jesus would not force the Pharisees to repent. He handed over the initiative to repent, the initiative to enter the kingdom of heaven to the Pharisees as well as those self-righteous sinners.

Brethren, cherish the invitation of Jesus. When we commit sins, Jesus does not forsake us. When we repent, he is willing to accomplish us to enter the confessional to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, to enjoy the joy of forgiveness. Do not be stubborn and lock yourself outside of heaven. Do confession while it is still Lent.
God bless.

五十步笑百步 POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK

五十步笑百步（路18:9-14）

相信大家都聽過孟子給梁惠王說的「五十步笑百步」比喻吧。梁惠王好戰，孟子就用戰爭做比喻的材料，說服他不要自以為是。比喻大概是這樣的：在戰場上打敗仗的時候，有士兵逃跑了一百步纔停下來，有些跑了五十步便停了。跑了五十步的取笑跑了一百步的。對嗎？【孟子‧梁惠王上】

當然不對！大家都是逃兵，你有甚麼資格取笑其他逃兵呢？耶穌今天說的比喻，也有異曲同工之妙。在天父前，大家都是罪人，我們有啥資格在天父前，踐踏別人，自我炫耀呢？

跑了一百步的，意識到戰情的凶險，距離敵人遠一些，存活的機會自然高一些。祗跑了五十步的，可能被短暫的成就，衝昏了頭腦，低估了敵人的戰鬥力。敵人再度來犯，恐怕命不久矣。同樣，稅吏意識到自己罪孽深重，便悔改回頭，得到慈悲天父的接納。回到家裡，成為真正的「義人」（路18:14）。那虔誠的法利塞人，毫無疑問已做足了法律所要求的一切。而且，他看見其他人未能滿全到法律上的要求，便沾沾自喜。真可惜，他被自己這微不足道的「成就」，衝昏了頭腦，忘記了倘若沒有天主的意願，他根本沒有能力完成法律上的規定。這所謂的「成就」，根本是天賜的恩寵。罪惡再出現時，自視過高的他，自恃一己之力，忘記了謙卑地求天主幫助，恐怕他會成了第一個犯罪跌倒的可憐蟲。
天父啊，可憐我吧，不要讓我成為可憐蟲。亞孟。

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POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK (Luke 18:9-14)

I am sure all of you must have heard of the parable of "50-step laughing at 100-step" which Mencius told King Hui of Liang. King Hui loved fighting wars so Mencius made use of military materials to tell him this parable so as not to think too highly of oneself. The parable goes like this: When one side lost in a battle, some deserters ran 100 steps and stopped. Some stopped after running 50 steps. Those who had run 50 steps laughed at those who had run 100 steps. Were they right?

Of course, they were not. All of them were deserters. Who made you a judge over the others? The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican told by Jesus rings the same truth. We are all sinners before God. What qualifies us to trample upon others, to show ourselves off in front of our heavenly Father?

Those who had run 100 steps sensed the danger of war and kept the enemy away at a longer distance. They might have a better chance of survival. If you had only run 50 steps, you might be misled by your own achievement and underestimated the combat power of your enemy. If they attacked again, you might be the first to fall! In the same way, the tax collector sensed that his sins were many. He repented and was accepted by the merciful heavenly Father. "He went down home justified" (Luke 18:14). On the other hand, I am sure the pious Pharisee had not left out any law undone. He might congratulate himself when he saw others failing to fulfill the requirements of the law. What a pity, he was fooled by those little achievements and forgot that without God's blessing, he could never fulfill the law. These so called "achievements" were actually God's blessing. When temptation arose, this over-confident Pharisee would rely on his own strength and forgot to seek God's help humbly. He might become the first despicable person to fall.
Heavenly Father, have pity on me. Do not allow me to become despicable. Amen.

http://fll.cc/inspire/loser-laugh/

您的心放到哪？ WHERE WILL YOU PUT YOUR HEART?

您的心放到哪？（谷12:28b-34）

有哪個基督徒不知道，他應全心、全靈、全意、全力愛天主；並且應愛人如己呢？可惜，知易行難，要實踐上述十誡的總綱，實非易事。我們很容易找到千個百個理由，解釋為甚麼實踐這總綱是如此困難。總結起來，不外乎以下兩個原因。

首先，「心不在焉」。日常的生活，有太多事物要處理，全部的注意力，已集中在自己身上，集中在手上要應付的事物上。哪有空間關心身邊的人呢？連身邊的人也無暇關心，何況遠在天上的天主呢？ 其次，「力不從心嘛」。到想起身邊的人的時候，已經筋疲力盡，哪來力量照顧他們，愛護他們呢？天主呢？祂是全能力，用不著我去關心祂吧！

你覺得上述的生活，幸福快樂嗎？這種本末倒置的生活，何來幸福可言？這種被牽著鼻子走的生活，何來快樂之有呢？

本末倒置，因為天主是我們存在的根本。追求根本，我們可以吸取無窮的力量，源源不絕的能量，何來力不從心呢？把天主邊緣化，我們只能訴諸自己有限的力量，很快便油盡燈枯，當然力不從心了。

耶穌說：「你的財寶也在那裡，你的心也必在那裡。」（瑪6:21）那麼，你會把你的心放在哪？心不在天主，祗憑己力，不久便油盡燈枯。心在天主，天主就成了我們的財寶，是用之不竭的財寶，無限的財寶。這麼簡單的算術，難道你不懂嗎？
慈悲的天父，我把我的心，交在祢的手中。亞孟。

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WHERE WILL YOU PUT YOUR HEART? (Mark 12:28b-34)

Which Christian does not know that he should love God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind and with all his strength, and love his neighbour as himself? Unfortunately, it is easier said than done. It is not at all easy to put this summary of the Ten Commandments into practice. It is very easy to put up hundreds and even thousands of reasons to explain why it is so difficult to practise. But in reality, there are no more than the following two.

Firstly, the heart is not there. There are too many things to handle in our daily life. We pay all our attention to ourselves, to tackle all the jobs in hand. Where can we find the attention span to care about people around us? If we cannot afford to care about people near us, how can we care about God who resides in heavens?

Secondly, though we have the heart, we don't have the strength! By the time we remember the people around us, we are already exhausted. Where does the strength come from to take care of them, to love them? What about God? Well, isn't He almighty? He doesn't need us to care about Him!

Do you think the way of life described above is a happy one? How can an upside down life be happy? When you are being led by the nose, where does happiness come from?

This kind of life is upside down because God is the root of our existence. When we seek God, we will obtain infinite amount of inexhaustible energy. How then can we be exhausted? But when we marginalize God and resort to the finite amount of energy of our own, we will burn out very quickly. Of course, we are exhausted.

Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:21) So, where will you put your heart? If your heart is not in God and you rely only on yourself, you will soon burn out. If your heart is in God, He will become your treasure, an inexhaustible treasure, an infinite treasure. This is simple arithmetic. Don't you know that?
Merciful Father in heaven, into thy hands I commit my heart. Amen.

http://fll.cc/inspire/how-to-love/

天主的手指 THE FINGER OF GOD

天主的手指（路11:14-23）

天主降下第三個災難懲罰埃及時，吩咐亞郎用他的棍杖，拍打埃及地上的塵土，變成蚊蚋。埃及的巫師認為這是「天主的手指」（出8:19）後來，天主在西乃山上，用手指在兩塊石版之上，寫下十誡（出31:18，申9:10）。這就是「天主的手指」在舊約的記載。它既表示天主的能力，又指導著人應如何生活。耶穌以天主的手指驅魔，不但展示了天主的大能，更指導了我們如何生活。

人的心魔有許多，有些是外來的，更有不少是源於自我。人是按天主的肖像所做，有著無限的命運。世間的有限事物，很難給予完全的滿足。但在追求無限和超越的過程中，為了走捷徑，我們會很容易誤入歧途，例如濫用藥物，或招魂惹鬼，不能自拔。結果，除了天主的慈悲之外，哪裡還有救贖呢？倘若執迷不悟，固執起來，拒絕天主的慈悲，又哪裡能逃脫地獄的永火呢？那些譭謗耶穌的人，恐怕祗有自取滅亡的下場了。

四旬期正是天父大發慈悲的日子，「慈悲禧年」更是天主廣施慈悲的時期。「趁上主可找到的時候，你們應尋找祂；趁祂在近處的時候，你們應呼求祂。」（依55:6）讓我們聽從教宗的規勸，履行神形哀矜，禁食，施捨並祈禱，軟化冥頑的心靈，尋求天父的慈悲，回歸父家。亞孟。

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THE FINGER OF GOD (Luke 11:14-23)

When God sent the third plague to punish the Egyptians, He instructed Aaron to strike the dust of the earth with his rod. The dust became gnats. The Egyptian magicians could not duplicate the miracle and they told Pharaoh that that was the finger of God (Exodus 8:19). Later, on Mount Sinai, God wrote the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets with His finger (Exodus 31:18, Deuteronomy 9:10). Only these three passages contain the "finger of God" in the Old Testament. They show the power of God as well as the right way to lead our life. Jesus exorcized with the "finger of God". Not only did he show God's glory, but he also showed us the right way of life.

We have many obsessions in our hearts. Some comes from without while many more originate from within. Men were created in the image of God. We have an infinite destiny. Worldly finite things can hardly satisfy our desires completely. But when we seek after infinity and transcendence, we may cut corners and go astray, such as substance abuses and mediumship so much so that we are unable to kick the practices off. In the end, where comes redemption except from the mercy of God? If the practitioners remain unrepentant and reject God's mercy, where else can they go but the eternal fire of hell? I am afraid those who blasphemed Jesus had chosen calamity for themselves.

The season of Lent is a time of mercy of the Father, in particular when Lent coincides with the Jubilee of Mercy. "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6). Let us follow the exhortation of the Pope, perform spiritual as well as corporal works of mercy, fast, give alms and pray so as to soften our hardened hearts. Seek the mercy of the Father and come home. Amen.

http://fll.cc/inspire/gods-finger/

成全法律 FULFILLING THE LAW

成全法律（瑪5:17-19）
「破舊立新」是一場革命。但立新不一定要破舊，改革一樣可以立新，可以找到新的出路，不一定要革命。

毫無疑問，耶穌所提出的言論，在當代人的耳中，是相當革命性的。守安息日，休妻，不與罪人來往、行割損禮等等，都是理所當然的事。遵守這些規矩法律，都是得救的途徑。耶穌違反安息日的禁令去治病、反對休妻、與罪人共席，他的門徒後來甚至放寬行割損禮的規定…在當代人看來，當然大逆不道。但以今天的道德標準來看，安息日工作、結集的自由、不行割損禮等，並沒有甚麼大不了，所以耶穌的言論並沒有甚麼大不了。反而在禁止離婚方面，耶穌未免太保守，沒有考慮到女性的權益了。

因此，耶穌根本不需要推翻或廢除法律和先知。隨著時代的推移，法律會日趨完善，先知的預言會陸續應驗。所以耶穌的任務不是推倒重來，反而是來使法律完滿，來應驗先知的預言。

反過來說，容許離婚、墮胎合法化、同性婚姻等，真的對婦女或對同性戀者的權益，提供了保障嗎？不是傷害了他們的身體，麻痺了他們的良心，踐踏了兒童的權益和整個社會的未來嗎？舊約的法律雖然不是完善的，但總有其偉大和對人類文明有建樹之處。耶穌曾警告過，廢除或鼓吹違反這些法律的，容許並立法離婚、墮胎、同性婚姻的人，在天國中是最小的（瑪5:19）。請注意，離婚者、墮胎者、同性戀者和那些立法者，在天國中雖然是最小，但仍在天國之內，並沒有被拒諸門外。天父的慈悲真令人詫異。

天父啊，請把真理之神，賜給呼求祢的人。亞孟。

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FULFILLING THE LAW (Matthew 5:17-19)

"Abolishing the old to establish the new" is a revolution. But it is not necessary to abolish the old in order to establish the new. Reform is also a way capable of establishing the new, of breaking new path. Revolution is not necessary.

Doubtless, in the ears of Jesus' contemporaries, his speeches were revolutionary. The Jews had taken for granted the observance of Sabbath, divorce, circumcision and avoiding sinners etc. Observing these precepts was a sure way to salvation. Jesus did not observe the Sabbath to heal the sick. He objected to divorce, dining with sinners and his disciples even did away with circumcision ... in the eyes of holy men, this was blasphemy. But from the moral stance nowadays, it is no big deal to work on Sabbath, to enjoy the freedom of association and not to circumcize. Therefore, Jesus' teachings are not that revolutionary after all. Rather, forbidding divorce, Jesus was too conservative and had not taken women's rights into consideration.

Thus, it was not necessary for Jesus to abolish the laws and the prophets. With the progress of time, the laws would become more nearly perfect and the prophets' prophecies would come true. Therefore, Jesus' mission was not to abolish the laws, but to make them fulfilled, to make the prophecies come true.

On the contrary, do permission of divorce, legalization of abortion and same-sex marriages truly protect the human rights of women and homosexuals? Do these practices not harm their bodies, numb their conscience and trample upon children rights as well as the future of the whole society? Although the OT laws are not perfect, they are still great and contribute to the building up of human civilization. Jesus had warned that people who relax these commandments, permitting and legislating divorce, abortion and same-sex marriage shall be called least in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 5:19). Attention, although people involved in divorce, abortions and same-sex marriages and the legislators are called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven, they are still inside and have not been kicked out. God's mercy is truly amazing.
Heavenly Father, give the spirit of truth to those who invoke Your name. Amen.

http://fll.cc/inspire/i-come-to-fulfill-the-law/

如何數算？ HOW TO CALCULATE?

如何數算？（瑪18:21-35）

我喜歡計數，今天的福音給了我一度很刺激的數學題。
按【思高聖經】附錄五，乙部「新約時代」的希臘制貨幣計算，一個「塔冷通」是20.5公斤的銀子。一萬「塔冷通」即20.5萬公斤的銀子，若以493.6美元一公斤計算（二月二十日蘇黎世銀價），故事中，國王的僕人欠國王10,112萬美元、約合7.8億港元。

一個香港的大學畢業生，安份守己，21歲開始工作，月薪領18000元，18年後拿頂薪66800元，餘下的21年，按通脹2.6%調整拿頂薪，退休那一年，每月領100000元。他用了39年的時間，一分錢也不消費，共賺得了2780萬，接近一次「六合彩」的頭獎上限。如果僕人有橫財命，不用工作，祗中「六合彩」的話。他欠的債，相當於208次「六合彩」的頭獎上限！如果每星期有兩次攪珠，而這個僕人每次都中頭獎並領得頭獎上限，也要兩年時間纔可以籌到足夠的錢，還清欠國王的債。耶穌所設的比喻，實在誇張。如果現實一點又如何呢？

一個「德納」是3.85公分銀子，一百個「德納」是0.385公斤銀子，即190美元，約合1483港元。相對之下(二十萬公斤對0.4公斤)，是僕人欠國王的532,468份之一。一個「德納」同時亦是一個工人一日的工資。倘若僕人替國王工作還債，也要做53,200,000日。假設僕人一生可以工作80年，他也要1,800世為奴，方可還請欠債！當然，如果您有幸大學畢業，一生工作39年，您祗要做28.5世，便可以還清一世的欠債。可是，其餘27世的欠債，又怎樣還呢？
天父啊！我欠祢的，實在太多了。可是，我仍與人斤斤計較，我知錯了。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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HOW TO CALCULATE? (Matthew 18:21-35)

I enjoy doing calculations. The gospel reading today gives me an exciting sum to do. According to Appendix V of the Studium Biblicum Version, Section B, "N.T. Currencies", one talent was 20.5 kg of silver. 10,000 talents would be 205,000 kg of silver. Let 1 kg of silver be USD 493.6 (price of silver in Zurich on 20 February), the servant owed the king 10.112 million USD, roughly 78 million HKD.

Suppose a university graduate in Hong Kong starts working at 21 in a steady job at a salary of HKD 18,000. After 18 years, his salary caps at HKD 66,800. For the remaining 21 years, he receives the maximum salary, adjusted according to an inflation rate of 2.6%. When he retires, he will be receiving HKD 100,000 a month. Throughout his life not spending one cent, he makes 27.8 million HKD, nearly the maximum of a Mark Six first prize. If this servant did not have to work, and simply won all Mark Six first prizes. His debt would roughly be the equivalence of 208 maximum Mark Six first prizes. Suppose Mark Six is drawn twice a week. It would take him nearly two years of winning maximum Mark Six first prizes to repay the debt he owed the king. Jesus' parables are really hyperbolic. Let's get more realistic.

A denarius was 3.85 gm of silver. 100 denarii were 0.385 kg of silver, i.e. USD 190, roughly HKD 1,483. In comparison (200,000 kg vs. 0.4 kg), that was one 532,468th of the debt the servant owed the king. Moreover, one denarius was also the daily wage of a worker. If the servant worked for the king as a slave to repay, he needed to work 53.2 million days. Suppose a servant could work for 80 years throughout his life, he needed to work as a slave, life after life for 1,800 lives! Of course, if he were a university graduate and worked 39 years throughout his life, he still needed to work for 28.5 lives to repay the debt of this life. The question is, how were he to repay the debts of the remaining 27 lives?
Heavenly Father, I owe you too much. Yet, I am still so calculating towards others. I am sorry. Amen.

REJECTING GOD'S MERCY

When Jesus returned to the town where he had been raised, he expected to bring them good news, which is Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah was fulfilled in their hearing (Luke 4:21). He, the Messiah, had come. He would cure their blindness and release their captivity. His kinsmen were only amazed by his gracious words but rejected his claim. In the end, they rejected him and even tried to kill him (4:29), thus rejecting God's mercy.

What else can we say? God cannot be seen. We are literally blind to Him, unless we are able to see Him. But no learning is adequate in order to see Him, unless our spiritual blindness is healed. Whom can we trust to cure our blindness? It takes faith in Jesus Christ whom God sent. He has come but we lack faith in Jesus Christ. Then, we come to a dead end. Will there be any breakthrough?

Jesus has already shown us the way. Perform corporal works of mercy and meet Jesus among the little ones, the needy. Pray quietly to encounter Jesus, to seek enlightenment from him. Perhaps we should fast to do penance for our sins, to soften our numbed conscience. Perhaps we should even go to confession to pour out our sins ...

Lord, I am exhausted. Give me peace. Amen.