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。
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。
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。
天主保祐。
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 3rd Advent Sunday and 4th 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 4th 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 4th 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.
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.
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.
God bless.
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