主題：真福
一年之計在於春，在此新春佳節，正是訂下新一年高尚目標的好時機。就讓我們以剛才所聽到的「真福八端」作為參考吧。瑪竇福音第五章所記載的「真福八端」稱為「天國大憲章」，是所有生活在世俗之中的基督徒必須遵守的規範。世俗有很多生活態度，是天國的障礙。所以我們必須認清這些相反的態度，加以提防。簡單地說，世俗的態度，以自我為中心。基督徒的態度，應以天主為中心。世俗追求自身的利益，自己的主意，個人的成功。基督徒追求的，是天主經所教導的「天國的來臨，天主的旨意承行於地」，從而達到全人類的利益，全人類的得救。
在實踐時，當世人追求榮華富貴，基督徒追求精神貧窮；當世人追求快樂，基督徒哀慟罪惡的肆虐；世人喜歡控制一切，基督徒追求溫良和善；世人恃才傲物，基督徒尋求天主的旨意，天主的正義；世人為了自保便推卸責任，指摘他人，基督徒卻憐憫別人的困難；世人買保險，為自己留後路，基督徒一心一意追隨天主便滿足了；世人搬弄是非，從中取利，基督徒締造和平；當世人明哲保身的時候，基督徒願意為義而受逼害。的確，做基督徒是困難的，不過，仰賴天主聖神的助祐，一切都變得輕鬆了，並且充滿天主的聖神，天主的恩寵。這樣，不就是真正的幸福嗎？
既然人類是按天主的肖像所造，所以，每個人做齊八端真福並不難，祗要憑著聖神，以天主作為生活的中心就可能了。教會以不同的方式，推動和幫助我們實踐這些真福。例如所有神職人員和修會，都生活出「神貧、貞潔和渴慕正義」的精神；很多的傳教士更樂意本著為義而受迫害的殉道精神，遠赴重洋，四出傳教；去年頒布的「慈悲禧年」，整個天主教會提供了不同的活動，幫助我們實踐「哀慟、溫良和憐憫」達到締造和平，就是與天主、與世人、與大自然修好。所以我們的教會，的確是一個真福的教會。作為個人，我們可以每年挑選一兩端，作為全年的生活指標。今年，為了延續「慈悲禧年」的精神，教區以「婚姻、家庭和生命」作為全年的牧民重點。讓我們反省「慈悲禧年」的三端真福的態度，看看如何在家庭生活中實踐。
教宗方濟各在去年三月十九日頒布的【愛的喜樂】宗座勸諭中，指出現代家庭面對著很多的衝擊，但不要害怕。教宗說：「家庭呈現的不是問題，而是呈現契機。」（AL#7）他又說：「沒有一個家庭是完美的，也沒有一個家庭從一開始就已是完備的；反之，家庭具備的愛的能力應逐漸成長。」（AL#325）愛不是空談的，具體踐起來，必會表現出「哀慟、溫良和憐憫」的精神。所以，用愛去處理家庭生活中的痛苦，就是以「哀慟、溫良和憐憫」三端真福，去處理家庭問題。
首先，「憐憫」是甚麼？前面提到，世俗的人傾向推卸責任，基督徒出於愛，要體諒他人的困難，憐憫他人的軟弱，從而寬恕他們的過失。這種推己及人的心態，就是「憐憫」的精神。家庭生活是一個團體的生活，理論上父慈子孝，兄友弟恭，各司其職。父親賺錢，母親造飯，飯後子女洗碗。但是，家庭是一個商業機構，可以如此界限分明嗎？ 出了事，可以互相推卸責任嗎？當然不可。家人應彼此體諒憐憫。可是，家人之間如果缺乏溝通，又怎能了解他們的困難軟弱呢？所以，「溝通」是具體的第一步。知道了困難還要願意分擔責任。因此，「彼此擔待」是第二步。
其次是「溫良」。前面提到，世俗的人有「控制慾」，喜歡強加自己的意願在別人身上。基督徒出於愛，要溫良地承行天父的旨意。在【愛的喜樂】中，教宗說：「溫柔是一種愛的表現──使人擺脫自私的占有慾望。溫柔使我們戰戰兢兢地靠近別人，懷著極深的尊重，恐怕會傷害他人，或是剝奪他人的自由。」（AL#127）具體地，出於愛，不任性，自我約束，尊重其他人的自由，為其他人的益處著想，就是建立喜樂家庭的元素。在家庭生活中，任意運用強權暴力，就沒有溫柔。沒有彼此的尊重就會產生紛爭。家庭成員自私，遲早這個家會分裂，成員各散東西！所以「溫柔」是建立喜樂家庭的第一步。跟著就是「彼此尊重」。
從以上的分析，我們看到「憐憫」和「溫良」是維持一個喜樂家庭的元素。但面對不幸和痛苦的時候，就要依靠「哀慟」了。甚麼是「哀慟」？就是「出於愛心，為自己和別人的罪惡及罪惡的後果而悲傷。」追求快樂，逃避痛苦是世俗人很自然的反應。作為基督徒應該是快樂的，但遇上無論是自己或者是別人的過錯所帶來的痛苦時，就不應逃避它，而是面對它，為它悲傷；但並不停留在悲傷的階段，而是化悲傷為力量，處理它，尋求修和。生病嘛，不應諱疾忌醫，隱瞞和逃避，應看醫生了；家中的長者衰老退化了，帶給家中的成員沉重的負擔，但很多人會否定問題的存在，認為尋求安老服務是不孝。這樣做不符合「哀慟」的精神。當初山盟海誓而結合，日漸夫妻的關係惡化甚至破裂，能同甘但不能共苦，或者能共苦而不能同甘。這絕對是逃避現實，不能以「哀慟」的精神處理夫妻間的矛盾所導致的後果。結果離婚告終。但離婚真的可以一了百了嗎？
所謂「家家有本難唸的經」。基督徒出於愛，本著「哀慟、溫良和憐憫」的精神，具體地實行溝通、彼此擔待，溫柔行事、彼此尊重，不逃避痛苦，倚靠天主的助祐，我們一定可以跨越困難，家人可以在愛的喜樂中成長，成聖。
天主保祐！
Lunar New Year Sunday
Theme: Beatitudes
Spring is the right time to make our annual plan. Thus, it is a good opportunity to lay down some noble targets for the coming year in the Lunar New Year Holidays. Let us make use of the Beatitudes which we have just heard as a starting reference. The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 are called the Magna Carta of the Kingdom of Heaven. They are norms for Christians living in a secular world. Many secular attitudes are obstacles to the Kingdom of Heaven. We should know them and beware of their bad influences. Simply put, secular attitudes are egoistic while Christian ones make us gravitate towards God. People in the secular world seek self-interests, assert their own views and aim at personal successes. Christians seek "the coming of God's Kingdom, the doing of God's will" taught in the Lord's Prayer. Then they will be able to promote the interests of all humanity, the salvation of all mankind.
In practice, when secular people pursue wealth, might and happiness, Christians pursue spiritual poverty. People pursue happiness but Christians mourn the rampage of sins. People like to take control but Christians are mild and tender. People are proud of their own capabilities. Christians are happy to obey God's will. To save their skin, people blame others. Christians are merciful and compassionate about people's plights. People buy insurance and prepare contingency plans. Christians are satisfied to follow their God. People stir up troubles to gain benefits. Christians make peace. When people want to stay away from troubles, Christians are willing to be persecuted for the sake of justice. Truly, it is difficult to be Christians but with the help of the Holy Spirit, everything becomes lightened. We are filled with the Holy Spirit and the grace of God. Then, isn't it true happiness?
Since men were created in the image of God, therefore it is not difficult for us to attain all eight Beatitudes. We only need to lead a God-centred life with the support of the Holy Spirit. The Church promotes and helps us act on these Beatitudes in different ways. For example, all clergy and religious lead a life of "Poverty, Chastity and Obedience to God". Many missionaries are eager to suffer persecutions and even martyrdom in order to proclaim the gospel to people who don't know Christ. Last year, the Pope proclaimed a Jubilee of Mercy. The whole Church was mobilized to provide activities to help us practise to be "mournful, meek and merciful" in order to make peace with God, with men and with Mother Nature. Thus, our Church is genuinely a Blessed Church. As individuals, we can choose one or two Beatitudes and make them life targets for next year. In order to carry on the spirit of the Jubilee of Mercy, the Diocese makes "Marriage, Family and Life" the pastoral focus this year. Let us reflect how these three attitudes may be put into practice in our family life.
On March 19, 2016 Pope Francis issued the Apostolic Exhortation "Amoris Lætitia" and pointed out that modern families are meeting many challenges. But there is no need to fear. The Pope says, "Families are not a problem; they are first and foremost an opportunity." (AL#7) Furthermore, he says, "No family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families need constantly to grow and mature in the ability to love." (AL#325) Love is not empty talk. Concretely, love will reveal itself as "mournful, meek and merciful" spirits. Thus to deal with pains in family life with love is to deal with family problems with the "mournful, meek and merciful" beatitudes.
First of all, what is "mercy"? Earlier I said that in order to save their skin, people blame others. But based on love, Christians empathize the plights of others, feel compassion for their weaknesses and thus forgive their faults. This empathy is the spirit of mercy. Family life is a community life. Ideally, fathers should be kind and children obedient. Siblings respect and support each other. Everybody plays their roles. Fathers earn money and mothers cook. Children wash dishes after meals ... But are families commercial organizations such that jobs and duties are clearly demarcated? When things happen, can they blame each other? Of course not. Family members should be understanding and compassionate towards each other. But if they do not communicate, how can they understand the plights and difficulties of the others? Therefore, communication is a concrete first step. After knowing the difficulties, they should be willing to share the burden. Thus, forbearing each other is the second step.
Next comes meekness. Earlier I said that people like to take control and to impose their own will on others. Based on love, Christians meekly act on the will of God. In Amoris Lætitia, the Pope says, "Tenderness ... is a sign of love free of selfish possessiveness. It makes us approach another person with immense respect and a certain dread of causing them harm or taking away their freedom." (AL#127) Concretely, out of love, we restrain ourselves from being capricious. We respect the freedom of others and always think of the benefits of others. These are elements to build up a happy family. In family life, where there is violence and tyranny, there is no tenderness. Where there is no respect, there will be a lot of infightings. When family members are selfish, sooner or later, this family will be broken and members dispersed. Thus, tenderness is the first step to build up a happy family. It is followed by mutual respect.
From the analysis above, we see that mercy and meekness maintain a happy family. However, to handle misfortunes and sufferings, we need "mourning". What is "mourning"? Out of love, we feel sad over the sufferings arising from our sins or others' sins. This is mourning. Seeking happiness and avoiding pains are natural inclinations of humanity. Christians are intrinsically happy. However, when they meet sufferings and pains arising from their own or others' sins, they do not run away but to face them and feel sad. But they should not remain in sadness. They turn sadness into a driving force to deal with sufferings and seek reconciliation. If you fall sick, there is no need to hide the secret or run away from the illness. Consult the doctor. When the deterioration of the body and mind of senior members of the family quickens, it brings heavy burden to other members. Many people deny the existence of the problem. They think that it is against filial piety to send them to institutions. This way of dealing with the problem does not follow the spirit of mourning. At first, the couple vowed solemnly and married. Gradually, the relationship between the man and wife worsens and even breaks down. They were able to bear burden together but fail to enjoy together or vice versa. This is absolutely the consequence of not handling the conflict between man and wife with the spirit of mourning. It ended up in divorce, but does divorce solve all the problems?
"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Out of love, in the spirit of "mourning, meekness and mercy", Christians concretely build up communication, forbear each other, interact with tenderness, respect each other and run not away from sufferings and pains. Relying on the support of God, we are confident to overcome difficulties. Family members can grow and sanctify in the joy of love.
God bless!
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