主題：認識自己的十字架
在默想今天的福音之前，讓我們追回一些落後了很多的片段。
的確，從世俗的眼光看，耶穌的成就，如日中天。吃過耶穌所增加的餅的人，認識到耶穌並不是那些教人無奈地忍耐痛苦的神棍，而是真正有能力解決人民困苦的救世主、默西亞。跟隨耶穌，衣食無憂，百利而無一害。耶穌所擁有的動員群眾能力，是所有參與政治的人，夢寐以求的能力。倘若耶穌願意，他是可以組織起這群污合之眾，成為一支為他賣命的軍隊，與羅馬兵團，一決雌雄。但耶穌並沒有這樣做。耶穌被誤解了。他要滿足的，不是人的肚皮，而是人的心靈；他要驅逐的，並不是所向披靡的羅馬兵團，而是看不見而又無處不在的魔鬼勢力。因此，耶穌從群眾中挑選了十二宗徒，與他們一起生活三年，訓練他們，啟示他們天國的真理，希望藉著他們，令更多人認識天主的慈悲，獲得天主的救贖。
當耶穌的成就好像達到最高峰的時候，這是一個非常關鍵的時刻。耶穌擔心十二宗徒走錯方向，跌入世俗的陷阱，所做了一個簡單的民意調查，問「眾人說我是誰？」（路9:18）群眾認為耶穌是若翰洗者，因為耶穌大義凛然，不畏權貴，批評他們的過錯；認為耶穌是厄里亞，因為耶穌曾復活寡婦的兒子；而且耶穌的言行，令古代先知所說的話，變得有意義。以上的答案表面上是對的，但在路加福音中，這些竟然是殺死若翰洗者的黑落德的答案！所以，我們不能掉以輕心。
耶穌在自己的事業如日方中的時候，向門徒揭示天父的救世計劃，第一次預言他的受難復活。就是天主聖三親自降臨人間，替人類贖罪犧牲，並提昇人的層次，好能分享天主永恆而神聖的生命。方法祗有一個，就是「置諸死地而後生」(9:24)。當然，作為信徒的我們，不一定要跟隨耶穌做殉道者，而是以殉道精神，度日常的生活。這就是耶穌對每個信徒的要求。的確，耶穌已完成祂的任務，死在十字架上，替古今中外的人類，還清所有已犯未犯的罪債。現在是我們去兌現這張支票的時候了。兌現的方法，就是「棄絕自己，天天背著自己的十字架跟隨我。」（9:23）
讓我們認識自己的十字架。在默想之前，有兩件事要注意。（一）以下是執事個人的意見，祗供參考，不能視為標準答案。（二）你自己有自己獨特的十字架，不可與別人的十字架比較，或抱怨天主，別人的十字架比你的十字架輕鬆！
兩個主日之前，我們讀過耶穌在納因城復活了寡婦的獨生子，恢復了寡婦的希望，使她的下半生有寄託，有依靠。上一個主日，我們讀過耶穌在法利塞人西滿的家中，赦免了一個妓女的罪，恢復了這個妓女對生命的希望，使她可以重新做人了。之後，耶穌繼續傳福音，行神蹟，帶給猶太人希望。包括驅逐一軍旅魔鬼到二千隻豬身上，令二千隻「笨豬」跳崖淹死，解放了一個附魔的人；再復活了會堂長雅依洛的十二歲女兒；派十二宗徒兩個兩個，代表他出外傳福音；然後行「五餅二魚」的神蹟，令五千人吃飽。耶穌的成就，可說是達到了最高峰，纔來到今天福音的事蹟。所以，大家要努力，追回上述的片段了。
耶穌跟著問的問題纔是重點，「但你們說我是誰呢？」（9:20）慕道班導師、執事、神父、主教甚至教宗對耶穌的意見，是他們的意見，不是你自己的意見。你可以拿來作為參考，作為尋求真理的指導，但不能代替你自己的信念。同樣，教會中歷代的聖人，他們是成功人仕，他們在世與耶穌建立了密切的關係，這些是他們與耶穌的關係，不是你與耶穌的關係。因此，伯多祿在福音中的答案，祗能是我們的參考，不能是標準答案，非達標不可。無論你的答案是甚麼，祗要你決定跟隨耶穌，願意接受祂為你的救主，相信祂可以帶領你回歸父家，我們便可以繼續默想天父的啟示，體會耶穌內心的愛意。
我們的十字架有甚麼特徵呢？耶穌說「天天背著」，所以不要以為是突發事件，你英雄地挺身而出，替人頂罪，便是「背十字架」。對不起，除非你是是長期病患者 ，或者每天都做「代罪羔羊」，你的工作是接投訴電話或者在酷熱天氣之下，穿著上大熊貓的衣服，在鬧市中派傳單，宣傳環保。否則，這不是你的十字架。
十字架是不舒服的，痛苦的，是那些在日常生活中你不想做的事。人的本性，總是趨吉避凶，捨難行易的。在我們的日常生活中，我們為自己建立了一些令自己舒服的習慣，建立起自己的安樂窩。耶穌吩咐我們走出這些安樂窩，兌現天主的支票。十字架上的橫木，代表了人與人的關係，豎木代表了天主與人的關係。
所以，當你習慣了把責任、過錯推卸到別人身上，永遠是別人犯錯，別人的責任，不是自己的責任、自己錯的時候，你應該知道，你要背起十字架，跟隨耶穌。當你享受使用你的手機煲劇、玩網絡遊戲，以充塞心中的空虛、舒緩心中的無聊困擾，但一抬頭纔發現過了站，或者身邊的人，尤其是你的親人已經不存在的話，你應該知道怎樣跳出你的安樂窩，背起你的十字架，獲得心靈的自由，重建失去了的人際關係。當你以為多勞可以多得，努力工作，以致忘記了天主，忘記了身邊的人，甚至傷害了身邊的同事和親人的時候，你應該知道，你努力建築的安樂窩，其實是一個無形的監獄。所以你要背起你的十字架，跟隨耶穌，愛你身邊的人，愛你的天主，跳出這監獄。
大家默想一下，你的安樂窩是甚麼，你的十字架又是甚麼？
讓我們祈求天主聖神賜予我們愛心和力量，背起自己的十字架，跟隨耶穌，跳出自己的安樂窩。
天主保祐。
The Twelfth Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Know Your Own Cross
Before we meditate on the gospel today, let us catch up with what we have missed.
Two weeks before, we read about how Jesus raised the only son of the widow of Nain, restoring her hope so that she would be taken care of in her old age. Last Sunday, we read about how Jesus forgave a sinful woman, restoring her hope in life so that she might turn a new leaf in life. After that, Jesus continued to spread the gospel and worked miracles to give the Jews hope. That included driving a legion of demons into 2000 pigs which jumped over the cliff and were drowned, thus liberating a possessed man. Jesus then raised the 12-year-old daughter of Jairus, the ruler of a synagogue. He sent out the Twelve to preach and then multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 5000. Jesus' career had reached its zenith. Then we arrived at the story today. So, study hard to catch up these stories.
Indeed, Jesus' achievement had peaked from a secular point of view. People who had eaten from Jesus knew that he was no charlatan that persuaded people to endure suffering patiently. He was a saviour, a messiah who could actually relieve the sufferings of the people. Following him, one had no worry for necessities. One lost nothing but gained a lot in doing so. Furthermore, Jesus possessed a great power to mobilize people which all politicians could only dream of. Had Jesus willed it, he would have been able to transform this crowd into a fearless army to pit battle against the Roman legions. But Jesus did not do that. He was misunderstood. He came to fill, not the belly but the human hearts. He came to drive away, not the mighty Roman legions, but the invisible and yet ubiquitous influence of the Devil. Thus, Jesus chose the Twelve to live with him for three years, to train them, reveal the truth of the Kingdom to them, hoping that through them, more people might know the mercy of God, might obtain the salvation of God.
It was a critical moment when Jesus' popularity reached the zenith. Jesus was worried lest the Twelve might fall prey to a secular mentality. Thus, he conducted a simple opinion poll, "Who do the people say that I am?" (Luke 9:18) Some thought that Jesus was John the Baptist because Jesus was full of justice, fearless of the powerful and criticized their mistakes. Some said Jesus was Elijah because he raised the dead son of a widow. Some thought that Jesus was one of the old prophets because his words and deeds made their oracles meaningful. The answers above seemed to be correct. But in the gospel of Luke, these answers came from the lips of Herod who had killed John the Baptist. We cannot afford not to be careful!
When Jesus' career reached the zenith, he revealed the salvation plan of the Father to his disciples, foretelling his passion and resurrection for the first time. The Blessed Trinity came down in person to sacrifice and redeem men, to raise their level so that they might partake in the eternal and sacred life of God. There is only one way, "whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it." (9:24) Of course, Jesus did not ask every one of us to die a martyr like him. Instead, we should live our daily life in a spirit of martyrdom. This is what Jesus demands of every believer. Indeed, Jesus has already accomplished his mission. He has died on the cross for all humanity to repay the debts of all the sins in the past, the present and the future. Now is the time we cashed this cheque. The way to cash it is "to deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (9:23)
Let us know our own crosses. Before we meditate, pay attention to the following two points. (1) The following is my opinion for your reference only. It is not a model answer. (2) Your cross is unique and you should not compare and complain to God that others' crosses are lighter!
The next question Jesus asked was the key point, "But who do you say that I am?" (9:20) The opinions of catechists, of deacons, priests, bishops or even the Pope's about Jesus are theirs, not yours. You may refer to them as a reference, as a guide to seek the truth but they cannot replace your own conviction. Similarly, many saints, those successful people of the Church throughout the ages, have established a close relationship with Jesus Christ during their life time. But it was their relationship with Jesus, not yours. Therefore, the answer Peter gave could only be our reference. It cannot be a model answer any deviation from which would be wrong. Whatever your answer, so long as you decide to follow Jesus, are willing to accept Jesus as your personal Saviour, believing that he is able to bring you back to our heavenly home, we may continue to meditate on the revelation of the Father and to experience the love within Jesus' heart.
What are the characteristics of our crosses? Jesus says, "take up his cross daily". Therefore, it cannot be something that arises out of a sudden. You bravely stand out to bear the blame/brunt for the others. Sorry, unless you suffer from chronic diseases, or are a scapegoat day in day out, say, your job is to answer complaint phone calls, or donning a panda costume to distribute environmental protection pamphlets in the afternoon heat of summer. Otherwise, it cannot be your cross.
Crosses are uncomfortable, painful, something you don't want to do in your daily life. It is human nature to take the easy way out. In our daily life, we establish habits to make our life comfortable. We build up comfort zones. Jesus tells us to get out of our comfort zones to cash in God's cheques. The horizontal bar on the cross represents interpersonal relationships and the vertical bar the relationship between God and you.
So, when we are used to blaming others or pushing the responsibilities on others; when it is always the others' faults not ours, you should know that it is time for you to carry your cross and follow Jesus. When you enjoy using your mobile to watch drama series, to play online games to fill up your lonely hearts, to relieve daily frustrations, but when you look up from your phone and find that you have missed the station you should get off, or everybody, including your family members who are close to you, are all gone, you should know it is high time you jumped out of your comfort zones, carried your cross in order to obtain the freedom of your heart, to restore the lost relationships. When you think that harder work will gain greater rewards so much so that you forget about God, about people around you and even hurt your colleagues or kinsmen, you should know that the comfort zone you work so hard to build up is actually an invisible prison. Therefore, you should carry your cross and follow Jesus. Love those around you. Love God and break out of this prison.
Let us meditate. What is your comfort zone? What is your cross?
Let us pray to God, asking for the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love and power, to carry our daily cross, to follow Jesus and jump out of our comfort zone.
God bless.
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