習非為是 Getting Used to Accepting Wrongs Right

八月三十日（路4:31-37）
「這是甚麼事？他用權柄和能力命令邪魔，而他們竟出去了！」（路4:36）
其實，邪魔服從天主，是最自然不過的事，有甚麼值得驚奇呢？是小見多怪罷了！
從前做小販，交保護費，是理所當然的。因為要生存，要繼續謀生，沒有其他辦法。習慣了，就不會覺得被剝削。從前做警察，每天拉開抽屜，就見到一個厚厚塞滿紙幣的信封。要和其他同袍出生入死，沒有其他辦法。習慣了，就不會覺得不公義。
常言道，「謊言說了一千遍，就變成真理！」明知是人云亦云，沒有根據。但既然人人都是這樣說，不會是沒有道理的。人變得「習非為是」。犯了罪，做錯了事，第一次總覺得非常內疚。幾次之後，連良心都埋沒了。習慣了，並不覺得不道德；並不覺得違反了天主的誡命，有甚麼大不了。
在耶穌的時代，守安息日是常態，耶穌在安息日治病，反而是錯的。痲瘋病人和附魔人都是罪人，罪有應得，患病附魔是常態。耶穌竟然治好他們，解放他們，的確有點不正常。人死不能復生是常態，耶穌竟復活死人，是謠言而已。領兵進佔耶路撒冷，驅逐羅馬人，是復國的正常手段。耶穌竟然去耶路撒冷釘十字架，真的後悔跟隨了他。在聖殿交易買賣，欺詐朝聖者是常態。耶穌竟然衝擊聖殿，搗亂社會秩序，煽動暴亂，想必是要推翻政權了…
原來當人習非為是，泥足深陷，而遇上真理時，竟然可以否認真理，甚至想消滅真理。真是可怕。
天父啊！不要讓我們陷於誘惑，但救我們免於凶惡。亞孟。


生命恩泉

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"What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." (Luke 4:36) Just think about it, why was it amazing for demons to obey the commands of God? It was the most logical of all. You have not seen enough.
In previous generations, it was taken for granted that hawkers should hand over protection fees. It was not an option if you wanted to survive, to continue earning a living. After a while, you would not feel being exploited. In previous generations, cops expected to find a thick bundle of banknotes inside an envelope every morning when they opened their drawers. It was not an option if you wanted to work with other colleagues in action. After a while, you would not feel being unjust.
It is said that a lie will become a truth when it is told a thousand times. Knowing that it is only a groundless urban legend, but when everybody is talking about it, there must be some truth in it. Men get used to accepting wrongs as right. The first time you commit a sin, make a mistake, you feel extremely guilty about it. After a few times, your conscience is buried. After getting used to it, you do not feel that it is immoral. Instead, it is not a big deal to go against God's commandments.
In Jesus' time, it was a norm to observe Sabbath whereas it was wrong for Jesus to cure diseases on Sabbath. Lepers and the possessed were sinners. They deserved God's punishment. Sickness and possession were norms whereas it was abnormal for Jesus to cure them, to liberate them. Death was a norm whereas it had to be a rumour that Jesus raised the dead. Leading an army into Jerusalem to drive out the Romans was the most logical step to restore Israel whereas it was regretful to follow Jesus into Jerusalem only to be crucified. Trading in the Temple, cheating the pilgrims were norms whereas it was subversive for Jesus to cleanse the Temple, to disrupt social stability and to instigate rebellion. He must be conspiring to overthrow the state ...
When men get deeply entangled in falsehood, they will deny truth when they encounter it and even want to eliminate it. How terrible!
Heavenly Father, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.