主題：「窄門」即是「慈悲」
讓我們繼續體會耶穌的心意。
「窄門」是指甚麼呢？福音之中曾提及過哪些門呢？注意，此門不是普通的門，而是城門，宮門，一般是闊大的，不是狹窄的。整部【瑪竇福音】祗用了兩次。第一次在同一個場合，是窄門與寬門作對比，窄門導入生命，寬門導入喪亡（瑪7:13-14）。第二次在立伯多祿為教會的磐石，是教會與陰間的門作對比，亦是生命與喪亡的對比（16:18）。所以，在瑪竇手中，「門」是生死攸關的。
那麼，為甚麼耶穌用「窄門」來比喻「慈悲」呢？
耶穌要求我們竭力行慈悲，即是說，不是有空，有多餘的錢財，所以行慈悲。這樣做是危險的，因為容易變成「施捨」，舉揚了自己，踐踏了對方。耶穌稱讚窮寡婦的捐獻，因為她不是從多餘的錢財中拿出奉獻，而是從不足之中作出奉獻。就是說，愛天主要愛到痛！對人慈悲要慈悲到痛！那一種慈悲最痛呢？行神哀矜比行形哀矜痛。神哀矜之中，「赦人侮辱」與「忍耐磨難」比為生者死者祈求痛。所謂錢財身外物，精神上的痛苦纔是真正修練。所以耶穌教訓我們要竭力進入窄門。相信大家已經掌握到進入天國的竅門，慈悲禧年尚有三個月。努力爭取行神形哀矜的的機會。
耶穌苦口婆心，一再提醒他的門徒，在邁向天國的路上，要不斷警醒，不要沉醉在安樂窩之中。今天，他運用另一個形象提醒我們，進入天國是需要付出努力的。所以他說：「你們竭力由窄門而入罷！」（路13:24）由窄門而入，固然不方便還要小心翼翼；不過我們應該注意的，是小心之餘，還要竭力，出盡全力。既然耶穌這樣說過，難道信徒還可以輕輕鬆鬆地進入天國嗎？
【路加福音】在三個場合用這個字。第一次是納因城的門，在那裡耶穌復活了寡婦的獨生子，是天主彰顯慈悲的門（路7:12）。第二次是討論窄門，路加並沒有把窄門與寬門作對比，卻說很多人想進入（13:24）。第三次是沒有幫助乞丐拉匝祿的富翁的家門，路加諷刺地把富翁描繪成富可敵國，他的家門有如城門、宮門，可惜一點兒的慈悲也沒有（16:20）。所以，在路加的手中，「門」的闊窄並不是重點，慈悲與否纔是重點。
看來，「慈悲」並不是一件容易的事，不是我們想慈悲就能夠慈悲，所以耶穌用「窄門」來描述慈悲。
首先，行慈悲會帶來不便，因為你要犧牲金錢、時間甚至情緒。例如你在探望病人和囚友的時候，你在情感上會分擔到他們的痛苦。所以慈悲可以是痛苦的。在慈善撒瑪黎雅人的故事中，司祭和肋未人沒有出手救助被劫受傷的同胞，似乎是考慮到諸多不便之處，例如受沾污、或者顧慮到是一個陷阱等。其次，行慈悲也要小心，因為有壞人會利用你的慈悲，欺騙你的錢財。縱然對方真的需要幫助，也要謹慎，以免好心做壞事。孔子曾說：「好仁不好學，其蔽也愚。」（論語．陽貨）沒有謹慎的慈悲，孔子認為是愚蠢，不是沒有理由的。最後，耶穌慨嘆世上有很多人想藉著慈悲，進入天國，卻不能進入。行慈悲沽名釣譽的人，固然不能進入天國。簡而言之，倘若把慈悲當作一個手段，這個慈悲已經變了質，不再是慈悲了。引用康德的術語，應把慈悲作為目的，為了慈悲而慈悲。如果太抽象的話，就是說：對人慈悲，是以人為目的，是出於愛天主和愛天主的肖像。慈悲的確不容易，要小心、真心和不怕麻煩。的確是一度窄門。
天主保祐。
Twenty First Ordinary Sunday (Year C)
Theme: Narrow Gate means Mercy
Let us continue to read Jesus' mind.
What does the "narrow gate" symbolize? Where in the gospels is "gate" mentioned? Pay attention that this is no ordinary door, but a city gate, a gate leading into the palace. It is usually wide and not narrow. The gospel of Matthew mentions "gate" twice. The first time is on the same occasion. Matthew contrasts the narrow gate with the wide. The narrow gate leads to life and the wide to destruction. (Matthew 7:13-14) In the second occasion, Jesus made Peter the Rock of the Church. It is a contrast between the Church and the Gate of Hell, also a contrast between life and destruction. (16:18) Therefore, in Matthew, "gate" is a matter of life and death.
Then, why does Jesus make use of the "narrow gate" to symbolize mercy? It seems that mercy is not an easy thing which you may will into existence. Therefore, Jesus uses the narrow gate to describe mercy.
Jesus demands us to strive for mercy. That is to say, we do not do mercy in our spare time and with our spare dimes. This is dangerous because it can easily become alms-giving. We exalt ourselves and tread on others. Jesus praises the poor widow because she did not offer out of her spare, but out of her poverty. That is to say, she loves God until it hurts. We should be merciful until it hurts! Which work of mercy hurts the most? Spiritual works of mercy hurt more than corporal works of mercy. Among the Spiritual works of mercy, "to forgive offences willingly" and "to bear wrongs patiently" hurt more than "to pray for the living and the dead". Money is something without. Spiritual agony is truly spiritual exercises. That is why Jesus urges us to strive to enter through the narrow gate. I believe we all have understood where the gate to the kingdom of heaven lies. There remains three months before the end of the Jubilee of Mercy. Strive to accomplish more spiritual and corporal works of mercy.
Jesus urges and reminds us earnestly that on our way to the kingdom of heaven, we have to stay alert and cannot be complacent by remaining in our comfort zone. Today, he makes use of a vivid imagery to exhort us that we must put up a hard effort in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. He says, "Strive to enter by the narrow gate." (Luke 13:24) Not only is it inconvenient to enter by the narrow gate, we need to be cautious as well. On top of that, we need to strive, to put up all our efforts. Since Jesus speaks in this manner, can his disciples expect to enter the kingdom of heaven in a relaxed manner?
The word "gate" appears three times in the gospel of Luke. The first time, it was at the gate of Nain where Jesus raised the only son of a widow. It is a gate where God manifests His mercy (Luke 7:12). The second time is the discussion of the narrow gate. Luke does not contrast the narrow gate with the wide, but simply say that many people will seek to enter it (13:24). The third time is the gate of the rich man who did not help Lazarus the beggar. Luke sarcastically paints the rich man like a king. The front door of his house was comparable to the city gate, palace gate but there was no compassion (16:20). Therefore, in Luke's hand, the width of the gate is not the focus. Mercy is.
Firstly, to do merciful works is inconvenient because you need to sacrifice your money, time and even emotions. For example, when you visit the sick or prisoners, you will share their agony. Therefore, mercy can be painful. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levi did not take the trouble to help a robbed and wounded countryman for many good reasons. For example, they might catch contamination or they worried that it might be a trap etc. Secondly, we need to be cautious in doing mercy because there are bad people taking advantage of your mercy to cheat you money. Even if they are really in need, we need to be prudent. Otherwise, the path of hell will be littered with good intentions. Confucius says, "Amare humanitatem sine amore discendi, hujus vitium inscitia." (Yangho. Analect) 1 It is not unreasonable for Confucius to opine that mercy without prudence is stupid. Lastly, Jesus feels sorry that many people want to use mercy as a means to enter the kingdom of heaven and fail. Of course, hypocrites who do charitable works to buy reputation cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Simply put, if we make mercy a means, mercy is no longer mercy. To use Kantian jargon, mercy should be an ends in itself. We should be merciful for mercy's sake. If it is too abstract, let me put it this way, we should be merciful to man who is the ends. Mercy should spring from the love of God and the love of His images. Mercy is really not easy. We have to be prudent, sincere and not afraid of taking the trouble. It is truly a narrow gate.
God bless.
Note:
1http://www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/languages/classical/latin/tchmat/pedagogy/latinitas/kung/k9.htm
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