主題：以世俗理由拒絕天主的邀請
讓我們認識一點福音中的地理。耶穌的傳教活動一直是在北方的加里肋亞省一帶。現在，耶穌帶領著一大伙滿懷希望的群眾，開始南下耶路撒冷。中途需要穿越撒瑪黎雅省。撒瑪撒雅人是甚麼人呢？福音中不是有一個「慈善撒瑪黎雅人」的比喻嗎？撒瑪黎雅人不是慈善的嗎？為甚麼他們對猶太人不友善呢？簡單地說，達味王和撒羅滿王有能力統一以色列十二支派，成為一個以色列國。撒羅滿王死後，國家分裂為二，十個支派組成北方的以色列，兩個支派組成南方的猶大。北方十個支派首先被亞述帝國征服，大部份人充軍亞述。亞述帝國把得來的土地劃定為撒瑪黎雅省，再遷徙其他民族到來與留下的遺民通婚，成為撒瑪黎雅混血兒。前車可鑒，猶大被巴比倫所滅，人民充軍巴比倫時，猶大國的人民為了保存自己血統的純正，拒絕與異族通婚，並編寫自己的經典，建立猶太教，保存自己的「天主選民」身份。回國後，他們當然歧視撒瑪黎雅人，因為他們的血統，不再是純正。撒瑪黎雅人也不甘示弱，處處與猶太人為敵。
到了今天的故事，我們又見到若望出於對主的愛護，幾乎又闖禍了。當撒瑪黎雅人不接待他們時，若望竟然想呼求天主，從天上降火，燒毀撒瑪黎雅人的村莊。若望雖然是耶穌最愛的門徒，但他們兩兄弟，同樣是性格剛烈，容易動怒，難怪耶穌給他們起名叫「雷霆之子」。幸好若望尚算謹慎，在探取行動之前，先請示耶穌。否則後果不堪設想。試想耶穌來到世上，拯救世人，何曾傷害過任何人呢？為了救人，耶穌頂多是犧牲二千隻豬，絕不損害任何人一條毛髮。若望這樣做，祗會陷耶穌於不義，給耶穌的救世工程，留下污點。
接著，路加福音記載了三個聖召的故事，讓讀者反省自己的聖召。天主邀請我們每一個人，分享祂的永恆生命，這就是「聖召」。生命若果停滯不前，就不是生命了。所以，領洗入教是第一個聖召，藉著聖洗聖事，我們的靈性生命誕生了。以後，我們的靈性生命，透過祈禱、讀經和領聖事，有機會發展開來。一部份人，藉著結婚，建立家庭，在家庭生活的苦與樂之中，成聖自己、成聖自己的配偶和其他家庭成員。為這些人，婚姻是他們的第二個聖召。這第二個聖召，使他們活得更像一個基督徒。另一些人蒙召成為神職人員，為天主子民，履行公務員的職務，施行聖事、牧養、教導、管理和聖化天主的子民。這第二個聖召，使他們活出耶穌基督的肖像。
福音中，第一個故事的主人翁，主動提出要跟隨耶穌。可能他的動機並不純正，他的真正目的可能是榮華富貴，金錢權力。我們結婚的動機，起初可能也並不純正。對方有錢？對方有事業？我們想做神職人員，起初的動機可能也並不純正。做神父有權威？在香港，由教區供養，生活有保障？耶穌並不為了他的動機不純而拒絕他，但提醒他不要奢望天主在今世，會即時賞賜他豐厚的金錢和權力。且看，耶穌不但連枕頭的地方也沒有（路9:58），連死後亦祗能葬在別人的墓穴裡。倘若故事的主人翁仍然肯跟隨耶穌，在日後，耶穌有充份的時間，改變他的眼光，看到真理。同樣，結婚或者做神父的原始動機未必純正，祗要我們與天主保持良好關係，日後，耶穌有充份的時間，使我們領悟婚姻生活，或者度修道生活的真正意義。路加喜歡把故事的結局保持開放。故事的主角，就是讀者自己。讀者最終有沒有跟隨耶穌呢？這個結局由讀者自己決定。
朋友，讓我們想一想，我們有沒有運用世俗生活的藉口，拒絕過耶穌的邀請呢？有沒有其他的理想，可以代替使我們的生命更豐盛的生命的主宰呢？請注意，不一定是聖召的邀請，可以是神哀矜、形哀矜的邀請，目的使我們的生命更豐盛。我們最常用的藉口是「對不起，我趕時間去埋葬父親…」各位，這個故事的結局，由你決定了。
在福音中的第二個故事，是耶穌主動召叫的。可惜，像大部份對聖召猶豫不決的人一樣，我們被一些世俗的事物蒙蔽了，看不清天主的聖召，帶來怎樣的恩寵。另一方面，難道盡孝道，埋葬父親是錯的嗎？埋葬父親當然是為人子者應盡的責任。錯祗錯在一個「先」字。這個人借「孝順父母」來拒絕耶穌的邀請。耶穌的答覆，看似不近人情，其實不然。試想想，生命的主宰邀請你去傳播生命的福音，宣揚天主的國，使更多的人，包括你自己，獲得生命。故今你拒絕了生命之主的邀請，你豈不是拒絕了生命的長進，最後變成行屍走肉的活死人，的確可惜。他日真是埋葬父親的時候，真的是「死人埋葬死人」了(9:60)。
福音的第三個聖召故事的主角，是自己主動提出，有條件地跟隨耶穌。他的要求並不過份，與舊約中，厄里叟跟隨厄里亞的故事，同出一轍，看來並沒有錯處。不過，厄里叟跟隨厄里亞，做他的弟子，將來繼承他當先知。但跟隨耶穌，做耶穌的弟子，可以當先知，但不能繼承耶穌，因為耶穌是天主子！厄里亞祗是一個凡人，跟隨他尚可以回頭；但耶穌基督是天主子，是全人類所歸向的終極對象。選擇了跟隨耶穌基督之後，人祗會全力以赴，朝著這個目標邁進，世間再沒有更高的理想可以取代的，何來回頭的理由呢？
天主保祐。
Thirteenth Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Decline God's invitation with secular reasons
Let us know something about the geography in the Gospel. So far, Jesus had confined his evangelization to the province of Galilee in the north. Now, Jesus was leading a huge crowd of expectant followers heading towards Jerusalem in the south. They had to go through the province of Samaria. Who were the Samaritans? Is there not a parable of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel? Were they not kindhearted? Why were they so hostile towards the Jews? Simply put, King David and his son King Solomon were able to unite the 12 tribes of Israel into a Kingdom. After the demise of King Solomon, the Kingdom was divided into two. Ten tribes formed the northern Kingdom of Israel while the remaining two the southern Kingdom of Judah. The northern Kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians and the ten tribes were exiled to Assyria. The Assyrian Empire created a province of Samaria out of the captured land. They also mobilized alien tribes into Samaria. Through mixed marriages, Samaritan "bastards" were born. Learning from this piece of history, after Judah was conquered by Babylon and the Judah people exiled, they tried to keep their blood pure by saying no to mixed marriages. Moreover, they began to put their own history into writing. They built up Judaism to maintain their identity as the Chosen People of God. After returning home, the Jews despised the Samaritans because of the impurity of their blood. The Samaritans retaliated by refusing to cooperate with the Jews.
When the story opens today, we read how out of his love for the Lord, John nearly got his Master into trouble again. When the Samaritans refused to extend hospitality, James and John wanted to call down fire from heavens to burn down the Samaritan villages. Although John was the beloved disciple of the Lord, the temper of his and his brother's was hot and they got angry easily. No wonder Jesus gave them a nickname "Sons of Thunder". Luckily, John was prudent enough to ask for Jesus' permission before he acted. Otherwise, the consequences would be disastrous. Just think about what Jesus' mission was. He came to save humanity. Had Jesus ever hurt anybody before? For the sake of a single man, Jesus was willing to sacrifice 2000 pigs. He would never hurt anybody. John's action would show Jesus in a bad light, leaving a damaging stain on Jesus' salvation project.
Then Luke put down three vocation stories to make readers think about their own vocation. God invites each one of us to share His eternal life. This is vocation. A stagnant life is no life at all. Therefore, our first vocation was to receive baptism to enter the Church. Our spiritual was born. After that, our spiritual life is nurtured through prayers, scripture readings and receiving sacraments. Some of us marry to build up families. Through the joys and pains of family life, we are sanctified together with our spouse and other family members. For this group of people, marriage is their second vocation which makes them lead a more Christian life. Some other people are called to be clergy to serve the People of God. They serve as ministers to administer sacraments, to pastor, to teach, to govern and to sanctify the People of God. This second vocation makes them live out the countenance of Jesus Christ.
The main character in the first gospel story today took the initiative to express his wish to follow Jesus. Perhaps his motive was not pure. He might want wealth and glory, power and money. Our motive of marriage might not be pure at first. Perhaps our potential spouse was rich, or had a promising career. Our initial motive to become a clergy might not be pure as well. Being a priest enjoys authority. In Hong Kong, a priest is taken care of by the Diocese. His living is well provided for. But Jesus did not reject the man because of his ulterior motives. Jesus simply reminded him not to expect God to reward him with huge wealth and power in this life. Look, Jesus "had nowhere to lay his head." (Luke 9:58) He would even be buried in somebody else's tomb. If the man insisted on following Jesus, Jesus would subsequently had time to correct him and make him see the truth. Similarly, the initial motives to get married or ordained might not be pure. As long as we maintain a healthy relationship with God, Jesus will subsequently have time to make us see the genuine meanings of married life or consecrated life. Luke likes to leave the endings open. The main character of the stories is the reader himself. In the end, will the reader follow Jesus? Let the reader decide the ending.
Dear friends, let us think about it. Do we make use of secular excuses to decline Jesus' invitations? Do we have other ideals to replace the Author of Life who can enrich our lives? Listen, the call may not necessarily be life-long vocations. It can be calls to corporal or spiritual works of mercy to make our life more abundant. Our usual excuses would be "Sorry, I am in a hurry to bury my father ..." Brethren, the ending of this story is decided by you.
In the second story, Jesus took the initiative to call the man. Regrettably, like most people who are hesitant to respond to God's call, we are blinded by secular things that we do not see how abundant God's graces amount to in His call. On the other hand, is it wrong to discharge our filial duty to bury our father? Of course it is right for a son to fulfil his filial duty to bury his father. What is wrong is to make use of the filial duty as an excuse to reject Jesus' invitation. Jesus' response seemed rude but it was not. Think about it. The Author of Life invites you to spread the gospel of life, to proclaim the Kingdom of God to make more people, including yourself, attain life. Now that you reject the invitation from the Author of Life, you refuse to grow in life and in the end, you might become a walking dead, a living zombie. What a pity! When you really bury your father in the future, it will really be "the dead to bury their own dead." (9:60)
The main character of the third story took the initiative to follow Jesus on conditions. His request seemed to be reasonable. It is in the same vein as the story of Elijah calling Elisha. You cannot find fault with it. However, Elijah called Elisha to be his disciple, to succeed him as a prophet. Yes, we follow Jesus to be his disciple, to partake in his prophetic ministry but we cannot succeed Jesus because he is the Son of God! Elijah was only human. Elisha could still turn his head back. But Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the ultimate goal for all humanity to turn to. After choosing to follow Jesus Christ, we have only one goal ahead to strain forward to. There is no other higher ideal to replace this. Where comes the reason to look back?
God bless.
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