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Monday 22 August 2016

不傳福音與法利塞人無異 Pharisees in the Making

八月廿二日 聖母元后 (瑪23:13-22
「你們給人封閉了天國:你們不進去,也不讓願意進去的人進去。」(瑪23:13

每個人的心裡都有一個偽善的法利塞人。它存在我們的內心,是有心理衛生價值的。一個人如果自我形像低,會做出自殘或者傷害他人的行為。他必需在內心感覺到自己是一個好人,一個有用的人。所以,大部份的人願意在人前做好人,滿足內心被認可的需要;很少有人願意做「醜人」,做不受歡迎的人物,這也是很自然的事。
所以,當耶穌看見自己的門徒犯錯的時候,他顧及門徒的心理健康,並不直接指摘他們。耶穌以「指桑罵槐」的手法,表面上批評法利塞人的錯,暗地裡教訓門徒不要犯法利塞人的毛病。耶穌不是曾經警告過門徒,要提防「法利塞人的酵母」嗎(瑪16:6)?

很多教友,以為領了洗,便畢業了,功德完滿了。殊不知洗禮祗不過是一個開始,加入得救者的行列,享受聖事的滋養,並且把天國傳給得救的人。言下之意,一個人是進不了天國的。可惜,很多教友並不熱衷傳福音,祗是自己一個人唸經祈禱,享受聖事的滋潤。他們不傳福音,豈不是把未認識福音的人,封閉天國門外嗎?他們既入了門,卻停滯在門外,因為主人要求他帶領外人進入內堂,他辦不到。他自己不進去,也不讓渴望進去的人進去。這不是法利塞人的寫照嗎?不是,是很多懶傳福音的天主教徒的寫照。
聖父啊,請賜我們悲天憫人的心,樂意與人分享天國的福音。亞孟。

生命恩泉


The Queenship of Our Lady
"You shut the kingdom of heaven against men; you neither enter yourselves, nor allow those who would enter to go in." (Matthew 23:13)

In each man's heart, there is a hypocritical Pharisee. It exists in our hearts for therapeutic purposes. If the self-image of a person is low, he will harm himself or others. He needs to feel good, to feel useful. Thus, most people want to play the good guy to satisfy their need of recognition. It is only natural that very few people want to play the bad guy, the Mr. Unpopular. When Jesus saw his disciples make mistakes, he was concerned about their mental health and did not criticize them at point blank. Instead, Jesus criticized them indirectly. On the surface, he scolded the Pharisees. But implicitly, he warned his disciples not to make the same mistakes the Pharisees committed. Hadn't Jesus warned his disciples to beware of the yeast of Pharisees (Matthew 16:6)?

Many Catholics see baptism as a graduation, the destiny of the journey. They don't realize that baptism is only a beginning. Through baptism, they join the community of saints; enjoy the nourishment of sacraments and to pass on the kingdom of heaven to those who are being saved. In other words, one cannot be saved alone. Unfortunately, many Catholics are not eager in evangelization. They pray alone, enjoy the nourishment of sacraments alone. They do not spread the good news. Isn't it shutting the kingdom of heaven against those who have not heard the gospel? They have crossed the threshold, but tarry about the door because they fail to follow the Lord's instruction to bring outsiders in. They themselves do not enter, nor do they allow others to enter. Isn't this a portrayal of Pharisees? No. It is a portrayal of many Catholics who are lazy in evangelization.
Heavenly Father, give me a compassionate heart to share eagerly the gospel of the kingdom of heaven with others. Amen.

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