主題：談中國人的過年習俗
年少時的歲晚，祗見母親十分忙碌預備新年的習俗，不明所以。今天人長大了，漸漸覺得這些習俗頗有意義。
首先，年廿三「謝灶」。「灶君」是駐守廚房的神明，而廚房在家庭生活中佔據了一個極其重要的位置。除了煮食之外，廚房是主要的資訊交換中心。在那裡，灶君可以聽到這個家庭的喜樂和困難，每個家庭成員對其他成員的說三道四。可想而知，祂會收集到很多有關這個家庭的情報。每年農曆年廿三，他會返回天宮，向玉皇大帝報告。中國人是相當務實的，我們知道我們無論如何努力向善，總有未如理想的成果。所以，最後一步必須做，而且應該做的，就是「賄賂」這個欽差大臣，在玉帝面前為我們美言幾句。「謝灶」的習俗，就是造一些甜點，黏著灶君的口，令祂不會在玉帝前說我們的壞話，而且開口時說的，全都是甜美的話。
在基督信仰之中有灶君嗎？有！瑪竇福音告訴我們，每個人，無論是成人抑或是兒童，都有一個「護守天使」（瑪18:10）。固然他與灶君不盡相同。灶君是一家人的灶君，護守天使的任務比較個人化，而且他不祗是收集情報，向天父報告，還更時時刻刻盡力保護我們靈魂的安全。中國人每年有「謝灶」的習俗，基督徒可有多謝我們的護守天使呢？固然他們是不受賄賂的，但我們應養成良好習慣，與我們的護守天使多溝通，建立良好的關係。在我們回歸天父的旅途上，獲得很大的幫助。
年廿三之後就是年廿五的「蒸年糕」，取其「年年高昇」的兆頭。這提醒我們應為來年訂立高尚的目標，朝著它努力邁進。作為基督徒，我們有甚麼高尚的目標呢？賺第一桶金？升職？結婚？買樓抑或是移民呢？這些都是有意義的目標，不過不是基督徒的目標。今天的福音告訴我們要「尋求天父的國」（路12:31）天國不是一步到位的，首先要明白天父的旨意，然後再付諸實行。祗有透過讀經和祈禱，纔能明白天父的旨意。所以，不妨訂立讀聖經的目標，例如今年每天用十分鐘讀一段瑪竇福音，或者每天早晚用十五分鐘唸日課。如果你已明白天父的旨意，就每天祈求天父，賜予我們機會和恩寵，去服務身邊的，社區裡的需要幫助的弱勢社群，在天水圍建立天父的國。這些都是非常高尚務實的「年糕」嘛！
到年廿八「洗邋遢」了。過新年固然穿新衣，登新鞋，但總不能每年建築一幢新樓房，所以每年要大掃除一次。這每年年廿八「洗邋遢」的習俗，提醒我們「聖教四規」之中的「每年最少要妥善告解一次。」我們有幸成為天主教徒，保留了修和聖事，幫助我們在未能履行對天主的承諾的時候，獲得天父的寬恕和不斷更新。所以，為了自己靈魂的益處，每年妥當辦一次「總告解」，做一次「靈魂大掃除」是恰當的。即是說，可能大家平日已有辦告解的好習慣，為個別的過失求天主寬恕。顧名思義，「總告解」是全面反省和檢討過去一年，我們做基督徒的取向和人生抉擇，在信理上和道德上進步了多少，有甚麼需要改進等。我執著自己的旨意，還是開放自己，接受天主的旨意呢？我做每件事的出發點，是為滿足自我，還是為別人的益處呢？我待人接物，是真誠的謙卑，歸光榮於天主嗎？要清洗這些積了一整年的邋遢，並不容易，但總不能把它們帶往明年吧！
最後，年三十晚除了「接財神」之外，還有「賣懶」。懶惰不是勤力的相反，勤力但因循的人，同樣是懶惰。一個人不思進取，固步自封，沒有按環境的改變，或自己的不足之處，作出改良，跳出過去所建築的「安樂窩」一樣是懶惰。「賣懶」是「賣到年三十晚」的。即是說，我們天天要除去惰性，把舊有的束縛革去，日新又新。所以「賣懶」是非常好的習俗。
各位，過了年廿三，多謝了你的護守天使否？過了年廿五，定了來年的目標否？過了年廿八，辦了總告解否？今晚是年三十了，剷除了您的安樂窩否？過新年了！感謝天主一年來對我們的忍耐，願天父明年繼續與我們同行。
從前年三十晚有「接財神」的習俗。小朋友拿著寫上「財神」二字的紅色紙張，挨戶叫「財神到」，成年人接過「財神」，打賞一角五分遣散這些街童。這習俗與西方社會十月三十一日的「萬聖節」習俗相似。小朋友可以很安全地在街上玩耍，又可賺取幾分零用錢。「接財神」這習俗，今天落在陳德雄神父手上，變成了「接聖神」。陳神父運用他機靈的頭腦，把中國習俗基督化，頗有一手。今晚除夕大家已吃過團年飯，讓我們來看看一些過年習俗，可有基督徒的宗教意義？有沒有基督化的可能？
天主保祐！
Lunar New Year Eve
Theme: On Chinese New Year customs
In my boyhood, I only saw my mother busy herself preparing for New Year customs and knew little about them. Today, I am older and begin to feel that they are very meaningful.
Firstly, on the 23rd of the last moon of the year, Chinese "Thank the Stove Lord". The Stove Lord is a deity who stations in the kitchen which occupies a very important position in family life. Besides cooking dishes, the kitchen is the major centre of information exchanges. There, the Stove Lord hears all the happiness and difficulties of this family, gossips each family member says about each other. It is understandable that he is able to collect a lot of information about this family. On the 23rd, he would return to the Heavenly Court and report to the Jade Emperor. Chinese are very pragmatic. They know very well that no matter how hard they work for the good, there must be some inadequacy. Therefore, the last necessary step which should be done is "to bribe" this envoy to say good things about us before the Jade Emperor. The custom of "Thank the Stove Lord" is to make some sweet pastry to smear the lips of the Stove Lord so that he would not badmouth us in front of the Jade Emperor. Even if he spoke, he would only say sweet things.
In Christianity, do we have a Stove Lord? Affirmative! The gospel of Matthew tells us that each one of us, whether adults or children, has a guardian angel (Matthew 18:10). Of course the guardian angel is not identical to the Stove Lord. The Stove Lord supervises the whole family while the mission of the guardian angel is more personal. Not only does he collect information to report to our Heavenly Father, more often, he also protects the safety of our souls. Every year, the Chinese perform "Thanks the Stove Lord" custom. Do Christians thank their guardian angels? Of course, we cannot "bribe" our guardian angels, but we should build up a good habit to communicate with them, to mend a good relationship. On our journey home to our Heavenly Father, we will receive a lot of support.
After 23rd, we come to "Steam Lunar Pastry" on the 25th to mimic the good omen of rising yearly. This reminds us of setting noble targets every year and working towards them. As Christians, what noble targets do we have? Earn the first million? Get promoted or married? Buy a flat or migrate? These are meaningful targets but not Christian ones. Today, the gospel tells us "to seek the kingdom of the Father" (Luke 12:31). The Kingdom of Heaven does not break in overnight. Firstly, we need to know the Father's will. Then we put it into action. Only through reading the Scriptures and praying do we know the Father's will. Thus, why not set up targets of Bible study, such as spending ten minutes a day this year to read a passage from the gospel of Matthew, or spending fifteen minutes in the mornings and evenings to pray the Liturgy of Hours? If you already know the will of the Father, then pray every day to the Father to give you opportunities and grace to serve the underprivileged in our community, to build the Kingdom of the Father in Tin Shui Wai. These are noble and pragmatic Lunar Pastries!
It comes to "Clean the Dirt" on the 28th. Of course we wear new clothes and new shoes in the New Year. But we cannot build a new flat each year. So, every year we need to wash away the dirt. This "Clean the Dirt" custom reminds us of one of the Church precepts which is "to confess our sins at least once a year". We are lucky to be Catholics. We still keep the Sacrament of Reconciliation to help us when we fail to fulfil our promises to God. We may receive the forgiveness of the Father and renew continually. Thus, for the welfare of our souls, it is appropriate for us to do a "General Confession", to clean up our souls once a year. That is to say, perhaps you already have a good habit of doing confessions to obtain forgiveness of our faults. A "General Confession" is a complete reflection and evaluation of our orientations and decisions as Christians over the past year. How much progress have we made in faith and morality? What is to be improved? Do I insist on my will or open ourselves up to follow the will of God? Do we do good to satisfy our ego or for the sake of others? Am I sincerely humble in interacting with others and give praises to God? It is not easy to wash away the dirt accumulated thorough the whole year. But it should not be carried forward to the next, should it?
Lastly on New Year Eve, besides "Receive the Mammon" there is a "Sloth Sale". Sloth is not the opposite of diligence. Diligent but complacent is identical to being slothful. When a person does not want to improve, keeping the status quo, does not make improvements to jump out of his "comfort zone" when the situation has changed or self-inadequacy is found, this person is slothful. "Sloth Sale lasts until New Year Eve". That is to say, we need to remove our inertia daily, get loose from old bondage and renew ourselves every day. "Sloth Sale" is a good custom!
Brethren, 23rd has passed, have you thanked your guardian angels? 25th has passed, have you set your targets for the coming year? 28th has passed, have you made your General Confession? Tonight is the New Year Eve. Have you demolished your comfort zone? We are entering a new year. Thank God for being patient with us for the whole year. May our Heavenly Father continue to walk with us next year.
In those days, on the New Year Eve, there was a custom of "Receive the Mammon". Children carried a pile of red paper on which the word Mammon was written. They went about houses calling out "Mammon comes". Adults received the piece of red paper and gave them 5 cents or 10 cents to send them away. This custom is similar to the "Treat or Trick" in Halloween in the west. Children may roam around and earn some pocket money. Today, in the hands of Fr. Philip Chan, he changes this "Receive the Mammon" custom into "Receive the Holy Spirit". Christianizing this Chinese custom, Fr. Philip Chan is truly very witty. Tonight after eating the Reunion Dinner, let us take a look at some of these New Year customs and see if we may find some Christian meanings and if we may Christianize them.
God bless.
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