全民退休保障計劃 Universal Retirement Protection Scheme

聖體聖血節（丙年）
主題：全民退休保障計劃

今天，教會慶祝聖體聖血節，所讀的福音是有關「五餅二魚」的神蹟，四部福音也有記載此事。請大家注意耶穌的工作次序，耶穌是先講論天國的道理，治好急需治療的人的病（路9:11），纔行「五餅二魚」的神蹟。很清楚，耶穌率先照顧天父與世人的關係，給群眾講論天父與人和好的福音，繼而修補罪人缺陷，與天父和好；然後賜與日用的食糧。同樣，在彌撒中，我們首先悔罪，聆聽天主的聖言，纔舉行聖祭，分享聖體聖事，天賜的神糧。這神糧比舊約時代的「瑪納」和神蹟中的「五餅二魚」更寶貴，因為它是耶穌基督的體血。聖體聖事就是標記著這份毫無保留的愛情。耶穌為世人贖罪而死在十字架上，固然是耶穌對人類偉大的愛的表現。不過，耶穌在聖體聖事中的真實臨現，把自己變成信徒的食糧，豈不是更奇妙、更偉大的愛情嗎？在聖體櫃中，耶穌是多麼渴望有人能到聖體櫃前祈禱，和祂談心，是多麼渴望有人領聖體，在彌撒後，帶祂到外面的世界，去祝福這個世界，醫治這個世界。

這個世界受到罪惡的污染，耶穌基督以自己的死亡和復活，保証了基督徒與罪惡的鬥爭，會獲得最後勝利。但這場與罪惡的周旋，仍需要每一世代的基督徒，勇敢地在自己的生活崗位上，堅守基督的立場；或者團結在同一戰線上，與世俗的錯謬搏鬥。我們領洗時，領受了耶穌基督的三重職務，即君王、先知和司祭。這一刻我們在聖堂祈禱參加彌撒，我們正在履行司祭職。在彌撒後，當我們離開聖堂，在社會上捍衛耶穌的教訓，斥責世俗的錯謬時，我們正在履行君王職和先知職。我們不能永遠躲在聖堂裡，祗履行司祭職。俗世的政治會找我們麻煩，或者傷害我們身邊的人。因此，我們不得不履行君王的職務，拓展天國，替天行道；不得不履行先知的職務，代表天主發言，教導愚蒙。

香港現時面對「人口急劇老化」的問題，不是一朝一夕產生的，而是以往的政府，一直在逃避責任所遺留下來的問題。自從上世紀六十年代起，已有社會工作系的學者，向政府提出「中央公積金」的建議，不了了之。二十五年前，陳志明副主教又加入了教會的聲音，履行教會的先知角色。當時的港英政府因為九七回歸，並不熱衷「全民退休保障」。特區政府成立之後，纔於2000年12月推出由私人機構營運的「強積金」計劃，太遲、太少了，祗是聊勝於無。再加上商界以「長期服務金／遣散費」與「強積金」對沖，削弱了「強積金」的退休保障能力。
另一方面，社會福利署為長者，提供了一些保障。計有俗稱「生果金」的「高齡津貼」，每月$1235。65至69歲，要通過資產審查纔能領取。年滿70就不用審查了。另一個是「長者生活津貼」，每月$2390。65歲或以上人士，一律要經過資產查纔可領取。最後是為長者的綜援。上述三種長者的社會福利，是不能同時領取的。生活在香港的長者，就祗有靠自己的積蓄、退休金、強積金；子女的供養和社會福利署的長者生活津貼，去度過晚年的歲月。可以安心嗎？可以有尊嚴地生活嗎？

今天的香港社會，充滿著自私自利的氣氛。那些既得利益者，到處散播錯誤的思想，目的在於保護自己的利益。今天的主流思想是「功利主義」，祗看成本效益，而妄顧公義和道德。為了保障自己的利益，甚麼禮義廉恥也可以不顧。
天主教會秉承聖經的教導，倡議不設資產審查的「全民退休保障」。姑且稱它為「養老金」，大約每月$3600，由政府、大企業、僱主和僱員一同供款。這個方案的優點，在於「全民退保」可以立刻出爐，不像「強積金」要等三四十年纔見效。而且是可以持續發展的。

你自然會問，「不設資產審查」豈不是違反公義嗎？把派給富長者的養老金，分給窮長者，不是令更多窮長者得更大的利益嗎？這種「功利主義」的論調，與猶達斯同一咀臉（若12:4-6）。為甚麼教會支持的方案，會不設資產審查，篩走不需要養老金的富長者呢？
首先，資產審查增加了運作的成本。節省下來的少許金錢，卻浪費在行政費用上，得不償失。
其次，資產審查設下了障礙，反而使真正有需要人得不到幫助。「綜援」的實施就是一個明顯的例子。很多有困難的人，寧願自食其力，節衣縮食，亦不願被「綜援」標籤。香港的確有貪小便宜的人，但亦有很多有骨氣的人。
最後，政府所有的房屋、教育、醫療、福利等的支出，不像金融的投資，大部份是回流到香港的經濟體系。例如建築工人、教師、醫生的薪金、長者和傷殘人的津貼。他們拿這些薪金、養老金，在衣食住行上消費。無論你是富有抑或貧窮，祗要你在本港消費，這些政府的福利支出，仍然在香港的經濟體系之內流通。因此，篩去富長者，結果祗會少了資金流入市場，與公義完全扯不上關係。

讓我們從宏觀的角度看看，且看澳門的例子，我們認為她的經濟不健康，因為大部份的資金投放在賭業，其他的行業和服務，得不到應有的資源。香港的投資模式也並不健康。很多的資金，都流向和凍結在賺快錢的股票和樓宇買賣的市場內。不健康是因為這些股票或樓宇的增值，祗是一個投機炒賣得來的表面增值，是賭博的假象而不是真正的增值。另一方面，回報率小而慢的，例如醫療、教育、福利、體育藝術和宗教等，改善生活質素的領域，祗能靠政府和教會慈善事工作，投放資源，能力有限。所以政府由牽頭，加上大企業的參予，推行「全民退休保障」，是針對「人口急激老化」的合時政策，因為它把來自政府的盈餘和企業的資金投入市場，開發安老事業，增加就業機會。有生意做、有入息，僱主與僱員可以繼續供款，使整個投資，朝健康的方向，持續地開展下去。

各位兄弟姊妹，雖然香港教區全力支持「全民退休保障」，但是大家是有自由不同意這個立場或其中的細節。不過，駝鳥政策已不再是選擇了。請大家多關注，多認識。教區屬下的組織，正聯同社會上各界關心退休保障的人士，收集簽名，計劃在六月刋登報紙，要求政府推行「全民退休保障」，履行基督徒的先知職。彌撒後，歡迎大家到大堂簽名。
天主保祐。

---

Feast of Corpus Christi (Year C)
Theme: Universal Retirement Protection Scheme

The Church celebrates the Feast of Corpus Christi today. Gospel readings of all three cycles talk about the miracle of five loaves and two fish. I would like to draw your attention to the sequence of Jesus' actions. First of all, he spoke to them about the Kingdom God, and cured those who had need of healing (Luke 9:11). Only after that did he perform the miracle. It was very clear that Jesus gave the relation between the Father and humanity the first priority. He told them the gospel of reconciliation, mended the shortcomings of sinners to help them reconcile with the Father. Only then did he give the people their daily bread. Similarly, in masses, we begin with the rite of penitence, then listen to the Word of God and after that, we celebrate the Eucharistic sacrifice, share the Holy Communion, the angelic food from heavens. This food is more precious than the manna in the Old Testament and the five loaves and two fish in the miracle because it is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This sacrament is the sign of an unreserved love. His death on the cross to repay our debts was indeed a great love for humanity. But isn't his real presence in the sacrament, making himself the food of the faithful an even greater and more miraculous expression of his love? Inside the tabernacle, before which, how much does Jesus desire for somebody praying and to engage in a dialogue with that person, how much more does he want somebody to receive him, and after mass, brings him out to the world to bless it, to heal it?

This world has been contaminated by sins. Jesus' death and resurrection guarantee us the final victory over sins. But this struggle requires Christians of all generations to stand firm in their daily stations on the stance of Christ; or to form a united front to fight against the fallacies of the secular world. When we were baptized, we shared the threefold ministry of Jesus Christ: kingship, prophethood and priesthood. At this moment, we are praying and celebrating mass in the Church. We are discharging our priestly obligations. After mass when we go out, we defend Jesus' teachings in the society and refute secular fallacies, we are discharging our kingly and prophetic obligations. We can never hide ourselves inside the sanctuary of the Church to perform our priestly duties only. Secular politics would knock at our doors to give us troubles or to harm our beloved ones. Therefore, we cannot but to discharge our kingly duties to extend the Kingdom of Heaven and to perform God's will; our prophetic duties to speak God's words and teach the ignorant.

Hong Kong is facing the problem of a rapidly aging population. This problem does not appear overnight. It is the result of persistent procrastination on the part of the government for decades. In the sixties of the last century, scholars submitted proposals of "Centralized Provident Fund" to the government to no avail. A quarter of a century ago, Fr. Dominic Chan weighed in with the voice of the Church to perform her prophetic duty. At that time, the government was more concerned about the Handover in 1997 and less enthusiastic about a comprehensive retirement protection scheme. After the establishment of the HKSAR, the government implemented a privately run "Mandatory Provident Fund" scheme in December 2000, a scheme which was too late and too little but better than nothing. Moreover, employers offset the effectiveness of MPF with Long Service Payments/Severance, thus reducing its capacity to protect retirement.
On the other hand, the Social Welfare Department offers some allowances for senior citizens. An Old Age Allowance of $1235 is given to citizens aging 70 or above; or aging 65 to 69 who pass the means test. An Old Age Living Allowance of $2390 is given to citizens aging 65 or above who pass the means test. The last one is Comprehensive Social Security Allowance for needy elderly. People can only get one of these three. Thus senior citizens living in Hong Kong have to rely on their own savings, retirement gratuity, MPF, their children and the SWD allowance to live out their remaining days. Can they feel secured? Can they lead a decently dignified life?

Today, Hong Kong is saturated with a selfish atmosphere. Those who want to retain the state quo spread fallacies to protect their self-interests. Utilitarianism is the mainstream philosophy. People only look at utility and ignore justice and moral. Morality becomes dispensable when it comes to the protection of self-interests.
The Catholic Church follows the teachings of the Bible and advocates a universal retirement protection scheme without means test. Let's call this $3600 per month "Senior Allowance" which is contributed by the Government, corporations, employers and employees. The merit of this scheme is that, unlike MPF which takes three to four decades to be effective, it can be immediately effective and is sustainable.

Naturally, you will ask whether it is fair not to ask applicants to pass the means test. Giving this Senior Allowance due rich old men to poor old men will benefit more poor old men. This utilitarian approach is a blatant Judas mentality (John 12:4-6)! Why then does the Church support a scheme which does not sieve away the rich old men who do not need Senior Allowance?
First of all, means test increases the costs of implementation. The money saved is offset by administrative costs. We spend more than we save.
Secondly, means test is an obstacle for those who are truly in need to come forth and seek help. The example of CSSA is a crystal clear. Many needy people prefer hard-earning a living and eating less to being labelled by CSSA. While there are some who are keen on gaining petty advantages, there are far more people who have backbone.
Lastly, unlike financial investments, government expenditures on housing, education, medicine and social welfare etc. will flow back into the Hong Kong economy. For example, the salaries of construction workers, teachers, doctors and allowances for senior citizens and physically disabled will be spent in local consumptions such as clothing, food, rent and transportation. Whether you are rich or poor, so long as you spend in Hong Kong, the social welfare expenditures of the government will circulate in the Hong Kong economy. Therefore, sieving away the rich will result in less capital injecting into the market. There is nothing to do with justice.

From a macro level, let's take a look at the Macau case. We opine that the Macau economy is unhealthy because most of the capital is invested in gambling so much so that other services do not get resources they deserve. The investment model in Hong Kong is no better. Much of the capital is invested and frozen in stock and property speculations whose return is fast. It is unhealthy because the value added is an illusion of speculation rather than an actual increase in value. On the other hand, those areas where returns are small and slow such as medicine, education, sports, arts and religions which aim at improving the quality of life, receive deprived attention which mainly comes from the government and religious charities. The resources and capacity are limited. Therefore, it is appropriate for the government to take the lead and encourage the corporations to participate in a universal retirement protection scheme to handle the problems of a rapidly aging population. Capital from government surplus and corporation is injected into the market to develop services for the aging and increase employment. Where there is business, there is income. Employers and employees may continue to contribute. The whole investment is able to sustain and develop in a healthy direction.

Brethren, although the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong fully supports a universal retirement protection scheme, you are free to disagree with the stance or its details. But burying your head in the sand is no longer an option. Pay more attention and know more about the issue. Several diocesan commissions and bureaux work with other people of good will in the society to collect signatures and plan to publish a declaration in a newspaper to urge the government to implement universal retirement protection in June. We are discharging our prophetic obligations. Please sign up after mass.
God bless.

天主聖三的奧秘 The Mystery of the Blessed Trinity

聖三主日（丙年）
主題：天主聖三的奧秘

我中學時代住在公共屋邨，中四纔領洗入教。當年還是念【要理問答】的年代，由校長親自教授。洗禮後不足一年，還有一點兒心火。有一天，一個自稱是基督教的人拍門，推銷聖經刋物。言談間，他開始引用【迦拉達書】有關保祿當眾斥責伯多祿的例子，質疑天主教有關「教宗不能錯」的當信道理；後來更質疑「三位一體」奧跡。怎可能「1 + 1 + 1 = 1」？

首先，他在我面前滾瓜爛熟地引經據典，令我汗顏，當時的我簡直全無招架之功。但我反而要感激他，是他激發我，做一個天主教徒必須認識聖經，更深入地認識自己的信仰，不再安逸地停留在唸經領聖事的階段，可以與天主建立更深厚的關係。
其次，雖然他引用聖經，但並不表示他是正統的基督徒。我們每個主日在彌撒中所唸的「信經」，是公元325年，基督徒在羅馬帝國獲得宗教自由後，從地下教會變成官方認可的教會後，主教們處理各種信仰上的爭議時，所達到的共識。這是所有基督徒作為基督徒的最基本的信條，不接受這些信條就不算是基督徒。基督徒的信條包括天主是唯一的，並且是三位一體的。教會是由宗徒傳下來的，洗禮是不可缺少的。所以，雖然拿著聖經，但不接受天主是三位一體的，不算是基督徒。雖然拿著聖經，但不能追溯回到十二宗徒的，不配稱為教會。問題是，怎樣合理地解釋「三位一體」的奧跡，怎樣說明「1 + 1 + 1 = 1」呢？

天主聖三，是天主的本體。人間的語言又怎能充份地講述呢？所以，古代的神學家，在用盡當代的哲學語言之後，祗能用圖像或比喻去幫助群眾理解。例如：三葉草、用三個半圓形構成的三角形、蠟燭，光，熱、聖奧思定有名的比喻（充滿愛的人、被愛之物、那份愛情，我存在、我意識到我存在、我喜愛我的存在…等）這些哲學推論或圖像，始終是時代的產物，能滿足當代當地的需要，卻未能滿足後世的渴求。其實，隨著時代的進步，每一世代的人，需要尋找更令當代的人容易接受的描述。請注意：教會是不能修改真理，遷就群眾。而是用更合適的語言，來描述真理。

到了現代，科學和知識上的進步，其實已把部份的困難解決了。「1 + 1 + 1 = 1」的答案，其實十分簡單。因為天主是無限的。無限加任何東西，結果都是無限。所以無限的聖父，加無限的聖子，再加無限的聖神，結果當然是一個無限的天主喇！這樣就証明「1 + 1 + 1 = 1」了。後來，因為興趣，讀一些數學和科學的普及書藉，發現在數學中和科學中，一樣可以找到天主。例如，若望福音有一些很難理解的章節，用數學中的無限概念，就能迎刃而解了。耶穌說：「我與父原是一體。」（若10:30），卻又說：「父比我大。」（14:28）這兩段看似矛盾的經文，如何調和呢？有興趣的話，彌撒後用數學解釋給大家聽。

我們生活在三度空間之中。生活在一條線上，例如一條隧道，祗有一個方向的活動空間，是一度空間的例子。生活在一個平面上，例如一個桌面，與桌面上的玻璃之間的空間，有一隻螞蟻在爬行，它有兩個方向的自由空間，是兩度空間的例子。自從發明了飛機之後，戰爭就正式變成了三度空間的遊戲。我們通常說時間是第四度空間，在這維度之中，我們沒有自由，不由自主地朝一個方向走。天主在第四度空間卻有自由的。例如，梅瑟和厄里亞是公元前的人，分別生活在耶穌出生前1300年和公元前800年。但在耶穌顯聖容的時候，他們同時出現在耶穌身邊。即是說，梅瑟和厄里亞離開這個世界之後，在時間的維度上是自由的了。間接地說，是天主在時間上是自由的，不受時間的約束。或許這就是「永恆」吧。

一八八四年，在英個有一位校長寫了一部小說，名為「平面國：一個多維空間的浪漫故事」。表面上教導他的學生「維度」的概念，實際上是諷刺當時英國社會的封閉和對女性的歧視。小說在諷刺時弊上並不成功，但對數學普及卻是成功了。
大家不妨想像祗有兩度空間的「平面國」會是怎樣的呢？在那生活的人並不會感到不方便，世界原本就是這樣的。不過有一天，一個來自三維空間的物體，一個球體，經過「平面國」。那裡的人見到甚麼呢？請注意，三維空間的物體祗能經過，卻不能存在「平面國」，因為「平面國」沒有足夠的維度承接它。讓我們回到「平面國」的群眾，他們首先見到一點，這個點膨脹成為一個圓形，一個在「平面國」裡大家熟悉的人物。不過這圓形繼續膨脹，之後收縮回一點，最後消失了。這個概念大家一定不會陌生，在醫院做磁力共振也是為了獲得器官的橫切面影像。現在，讓我們想像一個通心的doughnut 垂直經過「平面國」，那裡的國民會見到甚麼呢？有一段時間，他們見到一個漸大的橢圓形，分身為兩個小橢圓形，然後又聚合回一個大橢圓形。有多少個doughnut呢？一個。但「平面國」的人民見到的是兩個橢圓形，因為他們的世界裡，容納不了球體，容納不了doughnut。

現在，大家意會到我在甚樣解釋「三位一體」嗎？人類生活的「立體國」，容納不了生活在高維度的天主。當天主經過、進入人類的世界時，人類祗能認識到祂是惟一的天主，並且是一個「三位一體」的天主。物理學家告訴我們，這個宇宙除了我們熟悉的四維時空之外，一共有十一度空間。人類祗在三維空間有自由，其餘的八個維度，連想像也有困難，如何談得上自由呢？執事想告訴大家，科學和數學，並不與宗教信仰對立，而且科學能幫助我們欣賞天主的美妙。不過，科學不是全能的。科學不能解釋天主對人的慈悲，天主為甚麼要死在十字架上等等的問題。這是信仰的問題。你相信三位一體的惟一天主愛你嗎？你相信天主聖父出於愛，為你創造了這個宇宙嗎？你相信天主聖子為你死，並為你復活嗎？你相信天主聖神，並願意與祂配合，讓三位一體的天主，生活在你的心中嗎？你會如何報答天主呢？這是不能用科學去回答的，是用我們每一天的生活去回答的。
天主保祐。

---

Trinity Sunday (Year C)
Theme: The Mystery of the Blessed Trinity

I lived in a public housing estate during my secondary school years. I was baptized in S4. It was the era of Baltimore Catechism taught by the Principal. One year after baptism, there was still a flicker of religious passion in my heart. One day, somebody who claimed to be a Christian knocked at the door to sell biblical magazines. Soon after we entered into a friendly conversation, he began to quote the incident in the Letter to the Galatians in which Paul publicly rebuked Peter to challenge the dogma of "Papal infallibility". Later, he even questioned the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. How could "1+1+1=1"?

First of all, I was humbled by his fluency in quoting the Bible. At that time, I simply had no defence. But I am grateful because it was he who stimulated me to study the Bible seriously, to know more about my faith as a Catholic. I could no longer be complacent with reciting set prayers and receiving sacraments. I wanted to build up a deep relationship with God.
Secondly, even though he quoted the Bible, it didn't mean he was an orthodox Christian. The Creed we recite on Sunday was laid down in 325 A.D. when Christianity was officially sanctioned by the Roman Empire. Bishops gathered to sort out dogmatic controversies and came to this consensus, the Nicaean Creed. This is a collection of the articles of Christian faith. Whoever embrace them are Christians. Otherwise, they are not. These articles include: God is one. God is trinite. The Church is handed down by the Apostles and Baptism is indispensable etc. Therefore, although you quote the Bible, if you don't believe that God is three-in-one, you are not a Christian. Although you wave the Bible, if your community cannot be traced all the way back to the Apostles, your community is not a Christian Church. The problem then is how can we explain the Mystery of Trinity reasonably? How do we explain "1+1+1=1"?

The Blessed Trinity is the essence of Godhead. How are human languages able to describe it adequately? Therefore, after the ancient theologians had exhausted their philosophical languages, they could only use images and analogies to help people understand. For example, shamrock; a triangle formed by 3 semi-circular arcs; candle + light + heat; and the famous analogies of St. Augustine (lover + loved object + the love itself; my existence + the consciousness of my existence + the love of my existence etc.) After all, these philosophical arguments and images were contemporary products. They were able to meet the needs of the contemporaries but not the needs of future generations. In fact, with the advance of time, each generation has to find a language most acceptable to the contemporaries. Note: The Church cannot modify the truth to suit the crowd. Rather, she should find the most appropriate language to describe the truth.

With the advance of science and other fields of knowledge, part of the problem has been solved. The answer to "1+1+1=1" is actually very simple because God is infinite. Anything added to infinity will result in infinity. Therefore, the infinite Father, plus the infinite Son and plus the infinite Holy Spirit will result in one infinite God. Q.E.D.
Out of interest, I continue reading science and mathematics popularizers and find that God can be discovered in them. For example, there are some difficult passages in the gospel of John which can be handled with the concept of infinity. Jesus said, "I and the Father are one." (John 10:30) but then he said, "the Father is greater than I." (14:28) These two passages sound contradictory. How can we harmonize them? If you are interested, see me after Mass and I will explain them in Mathematics.

We live in a three dimensional world. Life along a line, e.g. a tunnel, has only the space along one direction. It is an example of a one dimensional world. An ant crawling in the space between my desktop and the glass covering the desktop is an example of a two dimensional world. After the invention of airplanes, wars have become a 3-D game. Time is usually referred to as the fourth dimension in which we have no freedom. We are forced to move in one direction only. God enjoys freedom in this dimension. For example, Moses and Elijah lived in about 1300 B.C. and 800 B.C. respectively. But during Transfiguration, both of them appeared beside Jesus at the same time. That is to say, after their departure from this world, they became free in the time dimension. Indirectly speaking, God is free in the time dimension. He is not confined by time. Perhaps this is "eternity".

In 1884, a schoolmaster wrote the novel "Flatland: a Romance of Many Dimensions". Superficially, it taught his students the concept of dimensions. In reality, the book criticized the closeness of the English society and its prejudice against women. The novel failed to satisfactorily criticize the society but it was successful as a mathematics popularizer.

Let us imagine what life would be like in Flatland? Her civilians would not feel inconvenient because life had always been like that. But one day, a 3-D object, say a sphere, passed through Flatland. What would the inhabitants of Flatland see? Note: the 3-D object could only pass through but not stay in Flatland because there were not enough dimensions in Flatland to accommodate it. Let us return to the citizens of Flatland. Firstly, they saw a dot which expanded in a circle, a familiar figure in Flatland. But this circle continued to expand and then shrink back into a dot and vanished. You will not find it unfamiliar because this is what we do in MRI. Now, let us imagine what happened when a doughnut passed through Flatland vertically. What would the inhabitants see? For a while, they would see an expanding ellipse which splits into two smaller ellipses and then back into a shrinking ellipse and vanished. How many doughnuts are there? One. But the inhabitants of Flatland would see two ellipses. It is because their world cannot contain spheres nor doughnuts.

Now, do you see how I explain Trinity? Human beings live in a "3-D Land" which cannot accommodate God who lives in higher dimensions. When God passes through our world, we experience Him as one and as trinite. Physicists tell us that other than the four dimensional space-time we are familiar with, there are in total eleven dimensions. Humanity has freedom in only three dimensions and the remaining eight, which we have difficulty in imagining, not to mention enjoying freedom, does not move freely. I just want to tell you that science and mathematics do not contradict religion. They help us see God's wonders. But science is not almighty. Science cannot explain questions such as why God shows mercy towards men and why God is willing to die for men etc. These are religious questions. Do you believe the one trinite God loves you? Do you believe that out of love, God created the universe for you? Do you believe that the Son died for you and came back to life for you? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit and are willing to cooperate with Him, to make room for God in your heart? How do you want to repay God who loves you so much? These cannot be answered by science. These can only be answered by our everyday life.
God bless.

認識聖神 To know the Holy Spirit

聖神降臨（丙年）
主題：認識聖神

舊約時代有逾越節，紀念天主把以色列人，從埃及的奴役中解放出來。天主宣佈在埃及境內降下「殺長子」的災難。那些依照梅瑟吩咐的人，宰殺了一隻羔羊，把羊血塗在門框及門楣上。當晚天主經過時，見到羊血，便過其門而不入，故稱為「逾越節」（出12:13）。耶穌選擇了在逾越節這個猶太人的大節日受難，目的在指出，祂纔是真正的逾越節羔羊。他犧牲自己，以自己的血保護了信徒，並從罪惡的奴役中解放了他們。
耶穌復活後四十日升天，帶著人性的軀體，返回天父的家；標誌著在末日，全人類，無論好人壞人，都會一律復活升天，接受天主父的審判。這就是我們天主教信仰中，有關末日的信念。
耶穌復活後的第五十日，是猶太人的五旬節，剛好又是一個大節日。天主喜歡在這些猶太人的大節日發出啟示，因為所有的猶太成年人，每年必須在猶太人的三大節日之一─即逾越節、五旬節和帳棚節─到耶路撒冷朝聖。按【宗徒大事錄】的記載，就在五旬節這一天，聖神降臨到當時全部120名信徒身上。他們開始說世界各地的語言，使來自世界各地的朝聖者，能聽到有人用自己的母語，為耶穌的受難復活作見證。當天一日之內，有三千人相信了門徒的作證，接受了洗禮。這一個五旬節，可以說是教會的生日，我們改稱這一天為「聖神降臨節」。

大部份的教友對三位一體的天父和聖子耶穌都有所認識。我們對聖神的理解，實有不足。可能因為聖父和聖子的形象清晰，比較容易掌握，聖神就有如若望福音所載，好像風一樣，很難捕捉得到。我們可以看到風吹過所留下的痕跡，卻不能看到風本身。同樣，我們可以看到聖神工作的成果，卻看不到聖神本身。讓我們重溫一下，聖神在新約聖經所留下的蛛絲馬跡，從而加深對聖神的認識和信靠。

首先，聖神降臨到童貞女瑪利亞身上，使她懷孕聖子耶穌。總領天使加俾額爾這樣解釋說：「聖神要臨於妳，至高者的能力要庇廕妳；因此，那要誕生的聖者，將稱為天主的兒子。」（路1:35）在天使的說話當中，我們所能夠理解的，就是聖神是「至高者的能力」。聖神就是天主的能力，一種無所不能的能量。若全能的天主願意，又有甚麼事辦不到的呢？且看舊約的眾多例子和新約匝加利亞的妻子依撒伯爾，她們都是過了更年期，在老年懷孕的。連已經不能生育的婦女，天主也有能力使她們懷孕，要保存聖母瑪利亞的童貞，又有何難呢？今天，我們在彌撒中呼求聖神降臨在祭台上的麵餅和葡萄酒，使它們成為耶穌基督的聖體聖血。所以，相信耶穌基督親臨在聖體聖事內，與相信耶穌基督由童貞女瑪利亞所生，兩件事都是出於聖神的能力，都是同出一轍。因此，我們不能既想享受聖體聖事的神益，但同時又想否認瑪利亞是天主之母的地位，不願意給予聖母應有的尊重。這是自相矛盾的，而且是對三位一體聖神的否定。

其次，根據【若望福音】的記載，耶穌在最後晚餐時，告訴門徒，他離開世界之後，會請求聖父賜給他們另一位「護慰者」，永遠與他們同在（若14:16）。耶穌稱這「護慰者」為「真理之神」，祂要教訓門徒一切，也要使他們想起耶穌曾說過的話（14:26）。這「護慰者」甚至要為耶穌作證（15:26）。不過，聖神喜歡透過信徒作證，多於自己親自出馬。聖神使門徒說多國語言；使沒有接受過正式教育的伯多祿，在不同場合，雄辯滔滔地為耶穌的復活宣講和答辯；聖神並賜給門徒驅魔、治病、復活死人和行其他神跡的能力。聖保祿宗徒曾在他的書信中，提到天主聖神賜了門徒的不同恩寵，「有的蒙受了信心，有的蒙受了治病的奇恩，有些能行神蹟，有的能說先知話，有的能辨別神恩，有的能說各種語言，有的能解釋語言」（格前12:9-10）保祿認為這些恩寵雖然不同，但目的祗有一個，就是為了建設教會團體，保祿把這個教會團體，比喻成耶穌基督的身體。看，我們又回到耶穌的「聖體聖事」了。

最後，聖神不但是「真理之神」，更是「愛德之神」。就算門徒在理智上，記得耶穌教訓過他們要彼此相愛，理智上知道不等如會實踐。所以，是聖神燃起耶路撒冷教會的門徒，心中的愛火，把所有的財產變賣，把所得的金錢全數交給宗徒，任由宗徒分配，照顧窮人；是聖神引發歷代聖人聖女和殉道者，對耶穌的熱愛，這份火熱的愛，驅散了他們心中的害怕，使他們能從容就義，獲得榮冠。是聖神燃起傳教士對拯救靈魂的熱心，促使他們慷慨地回應聖召，飄洋過海，為遠方人民的得救，貢獻一世。這一切數之不盡的愛德行動，全都是源於聖神所引發的愛。

讓我們作一個小結。從聖經，我們獲得了一個印象，聖神就是「天主的力量。」第二：祂是「真理之神」，祂會幫助我們明瞭耶穌的教訓。最後，聖神是「愛德之神」，祂燃起世人對天主和對人的熱愛，把信仰生活出來。
祈禱是基督徒靈性生命的補給線，一個不祈禱的基督徒，很快便會乾枯了。保祿宗徒在羅馬書提醒我們，當我們不知如何祈禱的時候，聖神會以祂不可言喻的歎息，代我們轉求。（羅8:26）所以，讓我們多認識聖神，呼求祂充滿我們的心，催促我們踏出一步，放心大膽地宣講耶穌，親近有困難的兄弟姊姐，從而在他們身上，體會天主的臨在，天父的慈悲。
天主保祐。

---

The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Year C)
Theme: To know the Holy Spirit

In the Old Testament, the Feast of Passover remembered how God delivered the Israelites from the bondage of Egyptians. God declared a final plague of killing the first-borns. Those who listened to Moses killed a lamb, smeared its blood on the door posts and lintel of the house. That night, when God saw the blood, He would pass over and spare the house. That explains the name "Passover" (Exodus 12:13). Jesus chose to die on this big Jewish feast of Passover to teach that he is the true Paschal lamb. He sacrificed himself to protect believers with his own blood and to liberate them from the bondage of sin.
Forty days after resurrection, Jesus returned to the dwelling place of the heavenly Father, bringing along with him his humanity. This indicates that on the Last Day, all men, both the righteous and sinners, would come back to life, ascend into heaven to receive the judgment of the Father. This is our Catholic faith on the Last Day.
Fifty days after resurrection, it was the Jewish feast of Pentecost, another big feast. God likes to reveal His glory on big Jewish feasts because every Jewish adult had to visit Jerusalem in one of the three big feasts: Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. According to the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit descended on the 120 believers on Pentecost. They began to speak in different languages of the world. The pilgrims were amazed to hear them proclaim the passion and resurrection of Jesus in their mother tongues. On that day, three thousand people believed in the testimony of the disciples and received baptism. This Pentecost could be called the birthday of the Church. We rename it to "the Descent of the Holy Spirit".

Most of us know the Father and the Son of the Blessed Trinity better but as for the Holy Spirit, our knowledge is shaky. Probably the Father and the Son have a clear image and are easier to imagine. But the Holy Spirit is difficult to catch like the wind described in the gospel of John. We can see the signs left behind by the wind but we cannot see the wind itself. Similarly, we are able to see the fruits of the work of the Holy Spirit, but we cannot see the Holy Spirit itself. So, let us revise what fingerprints the Holy Spirit has left behind in the New Testament so as to deepen our knowledge and trust in Him.

First of all, the Holy Spirit came upon the BVM to make her pregnant with Jesus, the Son of God. The archangel Gabriel explained in this way, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God." (Luke 1:35) From the words of the angel, we may understand the Holy Spirit to be "the power of the Most High". He is the power of God, a kind of almighty energy. If the Almighty God wishes, what can stop it? Take a look at the many examples in the Old Testament and Elizabeth, the wife of Zachariah in the New Testament. All of them were beyond menopause, and yet got pregnant. God's power could even make barren women pregnant. What would be so impossible for God to retain Mary's virginity as a mother? Today during mass, we invoke the Holy Spirit to descend on the bread and wine on the altar to turn them into the body and blood of Jesus. Therefore, our belief in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Eucharist, and our belief in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ are based on the power of the Holy Spirit. The belief is the same. Therefore, we cannot enjoy the spiritual benefit of the Eucharist while at the same time deny the status of the BVM as the Mother of God, and the dignity she deserves. This is contradictory and is a denial of the Holy Spirit in the Blessed Trinity.

Secondly, according to the gospel of John, during the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples that after he left the world, he would pray the Father to send another Counsellor to be with them forever (John 14:16). The Counsellor is the "Spirit of Truth" who would teach them all things and bright to their remembrance all that Jesus had taught them (14:26). The Counsellor would bear witness to Jesus (15:26). But the Holy Spirit prefers bearing witness through the disciples to doing it Himself. He enabled the disciples to speak in different languages; made the illiterate Peter to proclaim and defend the resurrection of Jesus eloquently in different occasions; gave power to disciples to exorcise, to cure, to raise the dead and to work miracles. In his letter, Paul wrote about the different graces the Holy Spirit gave to different people, "to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:9-10) Paul taught that though the graces were different, there was only one purpose, to build up the Church community to which Paul applied the metaphor of the Mystical Body of Christ. See, we come back to Jesus' Sacrament of Eucharist again.

Lastly, the Holy Spirit is not only the "Spirit of Truth", but is also the "Spirit of Charity". Even if the disciples intellectually remember Jesus' teaching that they should love one another, they might not put it into practice. Thus, the Holy Spirit inflamed the charity in the hearts of the believers of the Jerusalem Church. They sold their property, laid all the money before the feet of the Apostles for them to distribute among the needy. It was the Holy Spirit who torched the love of Jesus among the saints and martyrs of every generation. This love chased away the fear in their hearts. They embraced the tortures and obtained the glorious crown. It is the Holy Spirit who inflamed the desire of the missionaries to save souls and responded generously to God's vocation. It was the Holy Spirit who drove them across the seas to spend their whole life for the salvation of the far away peoples. All of these countless incidents of charity come from the love ignited by the Holy Spirit.

In conclusion, from the Bible, we obtain an impression of the Holy Spirit as the power of God. He is the Spirit of Truth who helps us understand Jesus' teachings. Lastly, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Charity who ignites our love towards God and towards our fellow neighbour, to live out our faith.
Prayer is the lifeline of the spiritual life of Christians. A Christian who does not pray withers very quickly. Paul reminds us in the letter to the Romans that when we do not know how to pray, "the Holy Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." (Romans 8:26) Therefore, let us know more about the Holy Spirit and invoke Him to fill up our hearts, to drive us to take the first step to proclaim Jesus boldly, to come close to brethren in need and in them, experience the presence of God, the mercy of the Father.
God bless.

天上家鄉，福傳的訊息 Evangelization message, "The Above is Our True Home"

耶穌升天節（丙年）
主題：天上家鄉，福傳的訊息

現代人接受科學的教育，對宇宙認識多了，對事物的來龍去脈，要求科學化的解釋。因此，對古老的書籍，包括聖經，所描繪的事蹟，經常抱懷疑，甚至不屑的態度。這種對科學的迷信，完全疏忽了科學本身的限制。
小時候很喜歡閱讀一套科學普及的讀物，名叫『十萬個為甚麼』，是1934年從蘇聯的一本科普作品翻譯過來的，以後不斷增修。這套書以淺易的文字，解釋了很多大自然的現象，對提升人民科學化的思維，貢獻良多。其實，書名是有點兒誤導的。第一：並沒有「十萬個」問題。第一版有九百個，2013年第六版共十八卷亦祗有三千多個，連一萬個也沒有，何來十萬呢。第二：從前的答案是肯定的標準答案，但隨著科學的發展，從前以為是對的，現在已經証實是錯了。所以第六版的寫作筆觸，已不再是肯定的，而是開放的了。第三：科學的確可以解釋已有的現象如何運作，並按科學的理論推測事情的發展。例如，已經存在的日月如何運行，並且可以推測何時何日會發生日蝕和月蝕；或者發現了一具無頭無手的浮屍，我們可以運用科學鑒証，証明某某就是殺人凶手。不過，科學不能說明日月為了甚麼目的存在；法庭也不能正確無誤地証明某某為了甚麼目的殺人，須要疑犯親口承認。科學可以說明「如何、怎樣發生」，卻不能說明「為甚麼發生」。從以上三點，所以我說書名有點誤導，它應該稱為『十萬個怎麼樣』！

另一方面，很多人嫌棄【創世紀】不科學，是迷信。殊不知【創世紀】是在歌頌天主，因為祂以大能，發出了命令，天地和世間的萬物便形成了。【創世紀】並沒有詳細地、科學化地說明天主用甚麼材料、甚麼設計藍圖、甚麼步驟，造成天地。這一切細節，就留待科學家去填補吧。

執事並不是怪責『十萬個為甚麼』，或者說科學不好，祗是說宗教與科學是有著不用的社會功能，不應混為一談，引起不必要的爭論。倘若天主讓人類由大猩猩進化而來，難道我們就可以推論出人類就沒有天主的尊嚴，人類就不是天主的肖像嗎？不過要小心，科學化的思維，間中亦會妨礙了我們對天主的認識。例如我們今天慶祝耶穌升天。「天」是指甚麼呢？

接受過科學教育洗禮的人，對所謂「天」，當然是指大氣層之外的太空了。太空的近處有我們的太陽系，而太陽亦祗不過是銀河系外圍的一顆普通的恆星，而銀河系也祗不過是億億萬萬個星團的其中一個…科學家在整個外太空的任何方向，都測量到「大爆炸」一刻所殘留的紅外線背景輻射，相信這就是整個宇宙的邊緣了，這個邊緣，正以光速向外擴展。那麼，耶穌升天，是升到那裡呢？正如若望福音所記載，斐理伯在最後晚餐時，問耶穌祂要去那裡。耶穌總應該留下一些蛛絲馬跡給我們，讓我們知道，祂在我們所認識的宇宙的那一點。又倘若耶穌以光速飛行，升到天上，祂現今距離地球，祗不過是二千光年，和整個宇宙的138億光年半徑規模比較，實在微不足道，用普通的天文望遠鏡也可以觀察得到。科學家之中有不少虔誠的基督徒，不過，並沒有科學家發現耶穌升到宇宙的那一點。因為我們找錯了地方。
二千年或更早之前的人類所說的「天」，並不是指外太空，而是指天主和一眾天使居住的地方。所以，耶穌升天，不一定是指耶穌飛到外太空的某一點，而是表示耶穌返回天主的居所。天主聖三為了拯救世人，第二位天主子降生成為耶穌基督，完成任務之後，返回天上。祂出於愛，從天而降，現在重返天上。這是我們的信仰，我們的宗教，不是科學所能夠証明，所能夠清楚說明的。因為我們在宣講天主對人類的愛，解釋為甚麼耶穌要為我們受難。科學祗能解釋釘十字架如何能置人於死地，但解釋不到天主子死在十字架上的動機。另一方面，科學祗能說明138億光年範圍的宇宙空間的物理現象，但解釋不了耶穌為甚麼要帶著人性的身軀，返回天上，這樣做，包含了甚麼意義。

執事嘗試揣測耶穌帶著人性的軀體升天的意義。在起初，天主創造人類的時候，人類是生活在地上的。人類是按天主的肖像，用地上的塵土所造。天主看得出人類終非池中物，他日必定一飛沖天。所以，天主有意提升他的層次，讓他脫去身上的泥土，把他帶回天上。因此，縱使亞當沒有違背天主的禁令，天主仍計劃由聖三的第二位聖子，降生成人，然後帶領人類，升到天上。魔鬼出於嫉妒，引誘人類犯罪，背叛天主，離間天主與人類的關係，加重了天主幫助人類升到天上的成本。的確，魔鬼是頗為成功的。很多人太忙碌，沒有時間讀經祈禱；有些人迷戀世俗的榮華富貴，權力和名譽。他們以為人類的真正歸宿就在世上，因此他們努力屯積世上的財富和權勢。所以，耶穌帶著人的軀體升天，在於提醒大家，上天纔是我們真正的歸宿。

可是，我們不像那些科幻片，乘太空船離開即將毀滅的地球。這是錯誤的。倘若人心沒有改變，人祗會帶著罪惡，去繼續污染和毀滅下一站，火星。然後下一站，再下一站。因此，我們必須把福音傳開，必須做個慈悲的使者，幫助世人與天父修和，獲得天父的寬恕，罪過的赦免。這就是今天所讀的路加福音的思想。我們必需以慈悲的態度去生活，解決全球的饑餓和貧窮的問題，使「老有所終，壯有所用，幼有所長，矜寡孤獨廢疾者，皆有所養」；使大地得到保育。這樣，我們就不再需要移民火星了。
天主保祐

---

  Ascension (Year C)
Theme: Evangelization message, "The Above is Our True Home"

Modern people receive science education. They know more about the universe and they demand scientific explanations for everything. Thus, they are always sceptical about stories told in ancient books, including the Bible. This superstition on science forgets the limitations of science itself.
When I was young, I loved reading a science populariser called "100,000 Why's" which was translated from Soviet Union in 1934. It has undergone many updates. The authors use simple languages to explain natural phenomena. The series have contributed to the bringing up of scientific reasoning of the population. However, the title of the series is rather misleading. First of all, you will not find answers to one hundred thousand questions in the series. There were about 900 questions in the first edition. In the 18 volumes of the 6^th edition published in 2013, there are some 3000 questions, not even ten thousands. Thus, how can it be called "100,000 Why's"? Secondly, in the earlier editions, the series provided standard model answers to the questions. However, with the advances of science, what used to be correct was proved to be wrong nowadays. Therefore, the tone of the languages becomes less certain and more open. Thirdly, science can indeed explain how things work, and by applying scientific theories, science can predict the course of events. For example, science is able to explain how the sun and the moon move. Science can even predict when solar/lunar eclipses will happen. Or after discovering a headless, limbless corpse floating in the harbour, we may make use of forensic sciences to prove who has done it. However, science cannot explain the purposes, the why's. Science cannot explain why the sun and the moon exist; the court cannot prove beyond doubts the motive of a murderer. The court needs confession from the suspect. Science can explain the how's, but not the why's. Therefore, the book had better be called "100,000 how's"!

On the other hand, people complain that Genesis is unscientific. It is superstitious. They don't know that Genesis is actually singing praises to God because with His might, God gave the command, heavens and earth and all the things within were created. Genesis does not tell us what materials God used, what blueprints and procedures He followed to create heavens and earth. Genesis leaves all these details for scientists to fill up.

I have no intention to blame "100,000 Why's" or science. I am trying to say that religion and science serve different social purposes. They should not overstep to stir up unnecessary arguments. If God allows chimpanzees to evolve into human beings, can be deduce that human beings do not possess the dignity of God, that human beings are not images of God? Be careful, scientific mentality can somehow hinder our knowing of God. For example, we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord today. What does "the heaven" mean?

For those who were brought up in science education, "heaven" means the space beyond the atmosphere. The space near us is occupied by the solar system. The sun is only an ordinary star in the outskirt of the Milky Way and the Milky Way is only one of the billions of galaxies … In whichever direction we observe, we are able to detect a background radiation which is what remains of the Big Bang. Scientists believe that this is the edge of the universe which is expanding at the speed of light. Thus, to where did Jesus ascend? Just as what is written in the gospel of John, at the Last Supper, Philip asked Jesus where he was going. Jesus should have left us some clues of his whereabouts in the universe. Suppose Jesus travelled at the speed of light during his ascension. At this moment, he would only be two thousand light-years away. Comparing to the magnitude of a radius of 13.8 billion light years, Jesus' distance is insignificant. We might even be able to observe this distance with an ordinary astronomical telescope. There are many pious Christians among scientists but none has discovered the whereabouts of Jesus in the universe, because they would be looking into the wrong places.
Two thousand years ago or even earlier, "heavens" did not mean the outer space, but the dwelling place of God and the angels. So, Jesus might not have ascended to a certain point in the universe. Rather, his ascension means he returns to the dwelling place of God. To redeem humanity, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity took up flesh to become Jesus Christ. After accomplishing his mission, he returned to heaven. Out of love, he descended from heaven. Now he ascended and returned to heaven. This is our faith, our religion which science cannot explain satisfactorily. It is because we proclaim God's love towards humanity. We explain why Jesus died for us. Science can only explain how crucifixion kills but cannot explain why the Son of God died on the cross for us. Furthermore, science can explain the physical phenomena within the radius of 13.8 billion light-years but cannot explain why Jesus carried with him humanity during his ascension. What does it mean?

Let me speculate what it means for Jesus to ascend with human nature. In the beginning, God created men and put them on earth. Men were created in the image of God with the dust of the earth. God saw that in the end, humanity will not be confined to earth. One day, they will soar high. Therefore, God intended to raise their level, allow them to shed their earthly nature and bring them to heavens. That is to say, even if Adam had not disobeyed God, the Second Person would have incarnated the same to bring humanity to heavens. But out of jealousy, Satan tempted humanity to rebel against God and to pitch humanity against God, thus increasing the cost, which God bears, of bringing humanity to heavens. Indeed, Satan has been quite successful. Many people are too busy to read the scriptures and to pray. Some desire riches, authority and fame. They think that earth is our final destiny. Thus, they work hard to hoard riches and authority. Therefore, when Jesus ascended in human flesh, he tried to remind us that the above is our true home.

However, unlike science fiction movies, we are not leaving behind a doomed planet. This mentality is wrong. If human hearts remain unchanged, men will only carry sins to contaminate and destroy our next station, Mars, and the next station and the next. Therefore, we need to evangelize, to become an ambassador of mercy to help fellow men reconcile with the Father, to obtain His mercy and receive the forgiveness of sins. This is the theme of the gospel we read today. We lead a life of mercy and solve the global problems of hunger and poverty. We make "the elderly have a good end, the strong find themselves useful, the young grow and the widowers, widows, orphans, lonely seniors, crippled and sick find support". We conserve the Mother Nature. Then, we don't have to migrate to Mars.
God bless.

耶穌基督的平安 The Peace of Jesus Christ

復活期第六主日（丙年）
主題：耶穌基督的平安

今天，讓我們默想主耶穌基督的平安。
我們都是平凡的人，世俗的人，每天都要應付和處理生活中林林總總的事。所謂「人無遠慮，必有近憂」。言下之意，人生在世，要面對煩惱，是無可避免的。做學生有做學生的煩惱：生暗瘡、選科考試、結交朋友等。上班一族有上班一族的煩惱：達標、供樓，還有辦公室政治等。無論是瑣碎的柴米油鹽，抑或是擇業結婚等人生大事，總不能永遠假手於人，由媽媽幫你決定一切。生活就是充滿那麼多煩惱；平安，即心境的平靜，又如何達到呢？

有人會選擇努力賺錢，並加以儲蓄。所謂「積穀防饑」，「無後顧之憂」。可惜在現實的世界中，貧富懸殊極度嚴重，祗有一少撮人，瓜分了全球十份之九的財富，您和我祗能艱苦經營，從那剩下的十分一財富，分一杯羹，恐怕連通貨膨脹也跑不贏。因此，賺錢儲蓄以求心中的平安，恐怕會令你心力交瘁，適得其反。

對於那些已經成功瓜分了全球十份之九財富的人，他們可以安心了嗎？絕對不能，他們距離安心尚遠，因為金錢令他們加添了煩惱。他們的煩惱就在於如何保障那些財富，不會被對手侵佔；除了必要的消費之外，辛苦積來的財富，怎樣能永遠保存在自己的手裡，並交到自己的後代子孫手上呢？在目前的社會制度之下，祗有一個辦法：就是運用賺到的財富，建立人際網絡，養一群政客，甚至自己參政。他們需要鞏固自己的勢力，製造一個有利自己賺錢的制度。最後，甚至要排除異己，消滅競爭對手，到達極權的地步。試問涉足於這樣一個爾虞我詐，鉤心鬥角的生活圈子，又如何能平安呢？

另一方面，那些對生活無奈，任人魚肉的百姓，很多人惟有選擇求神拜佛，祈求神靈保祐，風調雨順，出入平安。於是有很多「神棍」便應運而生，吹噓自己，神化自己，能替人消災解難，起死回生。其實最終的目的，祗是影響百姓，心甘情願獻上金錢，甚或滿足一己之私慾。

當然，世上亦有人追求合乎道德的生活，以獲得心安理得。很多的哲學家，倫理學家，甚至宗教家，提出了很多做人處世的意見，倡議一些幸福人生的目標。教人淡薄名利，樂天知命，安份守己等等。誠然，這些都是很好的智慧，減少了人生所遇到不如意事，對身心的傷害。但世上有多少人能按著這些智慧去生活呢？那麼，耶穌的教導，與其他倫理學家或其他宗教人士的意見，有多大分別，足以令耶穌說：「我所賜給你們的平安，不像世界所賜的一樣」（若14:27）？

首先我們必須承認，平安不是我們憑個人努力，便可以爭取到的。你住在火山口旁邊，又沒有辨法搬遷，日夜提心吊膽，沒有平安，但你能做甚麼呢？你暫時有一份正職，住在一個按揭的物業單位之中。對於公司的人事調動，或者按揭利息的變化，你又能做甚麼呢？因此，我們必須明白，無論你賺多少錢，無論控制了多少政府官員，無論你如何淡薄名利，無論你崇拜多少個神佛等等，平安真的不是我們可以憑一己的努力，可以獲得的。平安是天主所賞賜的。

猶太人相信憑一己的努力，嚴格遵守天主全部的誡命，例如行割損禮，守安息日等等，就能得救。因此，正如今天第一篇讀經所記載一樣，初期教會內，就有一些猶太信徒，教訓非猶太背景的基督徒，必須像他們一樣割損、一樣守安息日，否則不能得救。看，連相信天主的猶太教徒，也輕易捨本逐末，陷入法律主義的錯謬，相信憑一己的努力，就能獲得救恩。

天父的慈悲，天父對人的愛，纔是人類平安的保証。不過，所有關係都是雙向的，縱使天主願意賜予我們平安，也要我們願意接受，我們纔能得到天主的平安。關鍵在於我們有沒有天主的聖神。在我們的信仰中，我們對聖神比較陌生。一般我們把聖神理解成為天主的力量，真理之神。例如今天的福音，就提及到天主聖神會教訓我們一切，使我們記起耶穌的一切教訓。可能大家忽略了聖神其實是愛心之神。是天主聖神燃起我們對耶穌基督的愛，因著這份愛，我們樂意遵守耶穌督的話。倘若我們沒有聖神，缺乏了對耶穌基督的愛，我們那會遵守耶穌基督的話，得到天父所賜予的平安呢？

我們愛耶穌基督有多少，表現在我們遵守耶穌基督的話有多少。耶穌三番四次教導我們要信靠天父，把一切交託在天父的手中，相信天父為我們作了最好的安排。耶穌基督教訓我們，天父知道我們真正需要甚麼，在我們開始祈禱之前，已知道我們祈求甚麼。因為祂連我們的頭髮，也一一數過。耶穌基督教訓我們祗需要求天父賜給今天的食糧便足夠，不必為明天憂慮。我們有遵守耶穌基督的話嗎？抑或是努力賺錢，積穀防饑呢？耶穌基督曾讚美窮寡婦在聖殿裡捐獻了兩個銅錢，因為她從自己的不足之中，仍然全心全意愛慕天主。我們做得到嗎？抑或想辦法增加手中持有的資金，準備投資高回報率的樓盤呢？

請記住，平安不是個人努力就可以爭取到的，平安是天主所賞賜的。祗有當我們心中充滿聖神，熱愛耶穌，遵守耶穌基督的話，全心依賴天父的安排，慈悲的天父，又怎會不理會我們這些信靠祂的人，又怎會不賞賜我們人世間所沒有的平安呢？
天主保祐。

---

Sixth Easter Sunday (Year C)
Theme: The Peace of Jesus Christ

Today, let us meditate on the peace of Jesus Christ. We are ordinary people, secular people. We need to deal with all sorts of chores every day. As the idiom goes, "Even if you have no long term uncertainties, there must be short term concerns". That is to say, worries are inevitable in life. Students have students' share of worries: e.g. acnes, exams, course registration and peers etc. Office workers have their share of worries: quotas, mortgage and office politics etc. Whether it be trivial daily necessities or crucial decisions such as careers or mates, we cannot always rely on others and let mummy decide them all for us. Life is full of worries. How do we attain inner peace? Some decide to work hard to earn enough money and save a portion, so called "save for a rainy day" or "stockpile grains to avoid famine". Unfortunately, polarization of incomes is serious in real world. Nine tenths of the global wealth is controlled by a handful of individuals while you and me have to work really hard to make ends meet from the remaining one tenth, perhaps unable to catch up with inflation. Therefore, gaining inner peace by making and saving money probably will exhaust you physically as well as mentally, resulting in the very opposite state.

For those few people who have successfully controlled the nine tenths of global wealth, can they attain a peace of mind? Categorically negative. It is because money adds up to their worries. They have to worry about how to protect their wealth from their rivals. Besides necessary spendings, how can they keep their hard earned wealth forever and to hand it down to their offspring? Under the present social system, there is only one solution: to make use of their wealth to build up personal networks, to buy a bunch of politicians and even to play politics themselves. They need to consolidate their position, to create a system favourable for them to make money. At last, they may even have to oust dissidents, to eliminate their rivals completely and become totalitarian. Living in such a dog eat dog environment, how can you attain inner peace?

On the other hand, many of those helpless crowds who are at the mercy of the powerful can only resort to religion. They pray to deities for good fortune and security. Such a situation will breed many false messiahs, boasting and mystifying their abilities to avert misfortunes and raising the dead. Their aim is to make the crowds offer them gold willingly or even to satisfy their lust.

Of course, some people will lead a moral life to gain inner peace. Many philosophers, moralists and even religious people offer different targets for a good life such as slighting fame and wealth, being contented or staying within your confines etc. Truly, these are good advice and wisdom, reducing the harm done to the body and mind when disasters strike. But how many people are able to lead their lives according to these guidelines? Then, what makes Jesus' teachings differ from those moralists' or religious so that Jesus can say, "... not as the world gives do I give to you." (John 14:27)?

We have to admit that inner peace cannot be attained with personal efforts. You live next to a live volcano and you cannot move away. Day and night you are worried and have no peace. But what can you do? At the moment, you have a steady job and live in a mortgaged flat. What can you do to influence the personnel mobility in your office or the mortgage rate? Therefore, we have to understand that no matter how much money you earn, how many government officials you control, how carefree you are with fame and wealth or how many deities you worship, inner peace cannot be attained with your effort. Inner peace is a gift from God.

Jews always believed that they would be saved if they somehow managed to observe all the commandments of God, e.g. circumcision and keeping Sabbaths etc. Thus, in the first reading today, we find some Jewish disciples in the early Church teaching Gentile disciples to follow them to circumcise and observe Sabbaths in order to be saved. Look, even Jews who believed in God could put the cart before the horse and fell into the fallacy of legalism, thinking that they could attain salvation through personal effort.

In truth, the guarantee of inner peace comes from the mercy of the Father who loves humanity. But all relations are bidirectional. Even if God is willing to give us peace, we must be willing to accept it so that we can receive the peace of God. The Holy Spirit holds the key. Many of us are rather unfamiliar with the Holy Spirit. We usually take Him as God's power, as the Spirit of truth. For example, in the gospel reading today, it mentions that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things, and bring to our remembrance all that Jesus has said to us. Perhaps we have forgotten that the Holy Spirit is in fact the Spirit of Love. It is the Holy Spirit who inflames our love of Jesus Christ. With this love, we are willing to keep the word of Jesus. If the Holy Spirit is not in us, we lack this love of Jesus. Then how can we keep the word of Jesus and receive the peace from the Father?

How much we love Jesus is shown by how much we keep his word. Jesus teaches us many times that we should trust in the Father and leave everything in His hand, believing that the Father has the best arrangement for us. Jesus teaches us that the Father knows what the best for us is. Before we pray, He already knows what we ask for because even the hairs of our head are all numbered. Jesus teaches us that it is enough for us to ask the Father for our daily bread. There is no need to worry about tomorrow. Have we kept Jesus' word? Or do we work hard to stockpile grains to avoid famine? Once Jesus praised a poor widow who offered up two brass coins in the Temple treasury because out of her poverty, she offered up all she had to love God with all her heart and soul. Can we do the same? Or do we increase our cash in hand to invest on apartments of high returns?

Remember, inner peace cannot be attained through personal efforts. It is a gift of God. When our heart is filled with the Holy Spirit, when we love Jesus fervently, keep his word and completely rely on the Father's arrangement, how can the merciful Father fail to care for those who trust in Him and how can He not grant us peace which the world cannot give?
God bless.