主題：不一樣的新生命
在耶穌的受難復活逾越奧蹟的整個過程中，耶穌並不是一個人唱獨腳戲的。每一個接觸過耶穌的人，都擔任了一個或大或小的角色：最親近耶穌的十二宗徒，與耶穌吃完最後晚餐之後，叛徒猶達斯帶領兵士拘捕耶穌，忠心的伯多祿拔劍拒捕，之後卻三次否認耶穌。老謀深算的大司祭蓋法操控猶太人的公議會，判耶穌該死；驕傲的羅馬總督比拉多沒有秉持法治精神，屈服在群眾的壓力下，交耶穌給猶太人釘死。盲目的群眾起初滿懷期望，歡迎耶穌進入聖城，解放他們。同一班群眾，幾天後受慫恿，要求釘死他們的默西亞！在耶穌背十字架出城外受死的時候，偶然路過的基乃訥人西滿被迫替他背負最後一程；凶殘的士兵戲弄耶穌，並動手釘死耶穌，但他們的百夫長看見耶穌斷氣時的景象，相信了耶穌是天主子。十一宗徒祗剩下若望在十字架下陪伴耶穌，並接受救主的寄託，照顧聖母瑪利亞。耶穌斷氣後，有專業的士兵用長槍刺透耶穌的肋旁，保証耶穌一定死去。耶穌死後，阿黎瑪特雅人若瑟來收殮他的遺體。三日後，耶穌復活了，顯現給婦女和門徒。在世逗留了四十天後，升天去了。
名字能夠出現在福音的人，在初期教會內，一定有相當的地位。 十二宗徒的地位，固然不用多說了。且看在耶路撒冷猶太公議會中佔小數，但支持耶穌的法利塞人如尼苛德摩，阿黎瑪特雅的若瑟。不在議會內，但耶穌對他們有恩的法利塞人，如患痲瘋的西滿，耶穌曾復活他女兒的雅依洛等。這些人在耶穌復活之後，一定加入了教會，成為初期教會的中堅份子，得以名垂千古。耶穌的復活，帶給了他們甚麼改變，是值得我們默想的。今天，讓我們大家一起默想阿黎瑪特雅人若瑟的角色。
綜合四部福音的記載，阿黎瑪特雅人若瑟是富有的（瑪27:57），是一位議員（谷15:43，路23:50），是耶穌的門徒（瑪27:57，若19:38）。他期待天國（谷15:3，路23:51），不贊同其他人的計謀（同上），但害怕他們的勢力（若19:38）。這些描述，非常符合當今生活在香港社會的天主教徒的寫照。
在香港，大部份的天主教徒是中產階級或以上，是香港社會的既得利益者。小時候入讀神父修女主辦的名校，接受有理想的教育，期待天國。長大後做一份有穩定收入的工作，爬到社會的中上階層。因此，雖然他們有理想，有能力看見社會上不公義的制度和行為，但是他們不會積極投入改革，挺身而出，為耶穌辯護。他們不會像伯多祿一樣衝動，拔劍為耶穌拒捕，因為他們不是殉道者的材料。他們祗會做一些慈善工作，幫助有急難的不幸人，正如若瑟拿為自己預備好的墓穴，埋葬耶穌一樣（瑪27:60）。福音沒有清楚記載耶穌在復活後曾顯現過給阿黎瑪特雅人若瑟，他不一定在那120個曾見過復活的主的門徒之中（宗1:15）。這樣並不重要，反正我們沒有一個曾見過復活了的主一樣。但我相信，空了的墳墓對若瑟有一定的衝擊。
讓我們想想若瑟用自己的墳墓埋葬耶穌的意義。
我認為若瑟為了耶穌而放棄了自己未來的安樂窩，很有意義。他固然有能力另覓新墳，而且他一定不會用別人用過的墳墓。但耶穌復活了，離開了若瑟的安樂窩，為他帶來意想不到的衝擊。第一，耶穌的屍體是在他的墳墓內遺失了的，所以公議會一定會找若瑟麻煩，把他拘查。從前他 沒有勇氣為耶穌辯護，今次他要為自己洗脫罪名了。我相信這個時候，耶穌基督是不會棄他不顧的，復活的主一定會派遣聖神指導他說話，令公議會折服（瑪10:19-20，谷13:11，路12:11-12）。這個答辯的經歷，會令若瑟認識到，信仰耶穌基督不是生命的附屬品，而是與他的生命息息相關，是他生命的核心所在。
第二，有誰不希望安枕無憂呢？但逃避痛苦，躲進安樂窩裡會窒息我們的成長，因為成長必須克服困難，必會帶來痛苦。不長進祗會步向死亡。安樂窩祗適宜暫時停留，否則，我們祗會在裡面腐爛。空了的墳墓令若瑟意識到，安樂窩不是永遠的歸宿。從前努力經營的安樂窩不再是必要的。信靠大能的天主，就不必為自己留有後路了。
主內的諸位，阿黎瑪特雅人若瑟未必親眼看見過復活的主，他未必成為一位殉道者。但耶穌的復活肯定改變了他的生命。您呢？
在任何時代，若瑟算得上是個成功人士。他富有，又是議員，有財有勢。而且，他還可以為自己和自己的家人預備一座新墳墓。看來，他不但可以安居樂業，而且在自己的安樂窩內，可以安枕無憂了。認識耶穌後，他加深了對天國的渴望。但對制度上出現的不公義，他仍感無能為力，所以沒有為耶穌辯護。耶穌死後，不知從那裡來的膽量，他竟跑去比拉多要求收殮耶穌的遺體（瑪27:58，谷15:43，路23:52，若19:38），並與尼苛德摩合作，一個捐出墳墓，一個捐出香料（若19:39），埋葬了耶穌。
天主保祐！
Easter Sunday (Year A)
Theme: A Different New Life
In the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus, the mystery of Passover, Jesus did not sing solo. Everyone in contact with him played a role, be it big or small. The 12 Apostles who were closest to Jesus ate the Last Supper with him. After that, Judas the traitor brought soldiers to arrest him. The loyal Peter resisted the arrest with his sword but later denied Jesus three times. The calculated High Priest Caiaphas manipulated the Sanhedrin to condemn Jesus. The arrogant Pilate did not uphold the rule of the law and handed Jesus over to be crucified. Burning with Messianic expectations, the mob welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem only to be persuaded to demand his crucifixion a few days later. The cruel soldiers mocked Jesus and crucified him. But their Centurion acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God after seeing the signs at his death. Among the Apostles, only John stayed with Jesus at the cross and took care of the BVM at the request of the Lord. When time was almost through, a soldier pierced Jesus' side in a professional manner to ensure his demise. Afterwards, Joseph of Arimathea came to bury his corpse. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead, appeared to women and disciples. He stayed for forty days and ascended to heavens.
Someone must be important enough in the early Church for their names to appear in the gospels. Of course, there is no need to dispute about the 12 apostles. There were the few Pharisees in the Sanhedrin who supported Jesus, such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. Those who were not in the Sanhedrin but owed Jesus a favour such as Simon the leper and Jairus whose daughter Jesus had raised from the dead. They must have joined the Church and become important members after Jesus' resurrection such that their names became immortalized. It is worth reflecting what changes Jesus' resurrection has imparted on their lives. Today, let us meditate the role of Joseph of Arimathea.
Combining the information of the four canonical gospels, we know that Joseph of Arimathea was rich (Matthew 27:57), a member of the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:43, Luke 23:50), a disciple of Jesus (Matthew 27:57, John 19:38). He was looking for the Kingdom of Heaven (Mark 15:43, Luke 23:51) and had not consented to the purpose and deed of the others (ditto) but he was afraid of the Jews (John 19:38). These descriptions match the profile of Catholics living in Hong Kong today. In Hong Kong, most Catholics belong to the upper middle class. They are part of the status quo. When they were small, they attended religious schools run by priest and nuns and learned of the utopia. When they grew up, they got well paid jobs and climbed to the upper stratum of the society. Thus, although they cherish ideals and have the ability to see the unfair structure and deeds in the society, they will not actively reform them. Nor will they stand up to defend Jesus. They would not be as impulsive as Peter to take up the sword to resist arrest for Jesus because they are not trained to be martyrs. They would only do some trivial charity works to help the unlucky just like Joseph who gave up his own tomb to bury Jesus. (Matthew 27:60) The gospels do not mention explicitly that Jesus had appeared to him. He might not be among the 120 who had seen the resurrected Jesus. (Acts 1:15) This is immaterial. After all, who among us has seen the risen Christ? But I believe the empty tomb must have had a great impact on Joseph.
Let us think about what it means for Joseph to give his own tomb to bury Jesus.
Secondly, who does not want to be carefree? But to run away from pain, to hide out in our comfort zone will smother our growth. It is because in order to grow, we need to overcome difficulties and this will definitely bring pains. Stagnation will surely bring death. The comfort zone is suitable for a short stay only. Otherwise, we will rot inside. The Empty Tomb made Joseph aware that the comfort zone was not our final resting place. Previous efforts to build up our comfort zone are unnecessary. Trusting in the almighty God makes contingency plans unnecessary.
Brethren, Joseph of Arimathea might not have seen the Risen Lord. He might not be a martyr. But surely Jesus' resurrection has transformed his life. What about yours?
By all standards, Joseph was a successful man. He was rich and was a member of the Sanhedrin. He had both money and power. Moreover, he was capable of preparing a new tomb for himself and his family. So, his life was more than stable. He did not have any worries in his comfort zone. After meeting Jesus, he deepened his anticipation of the Kingdom of Heaven. But he still felt helpless in view of structural injustice. He had not defended Jesus in the Sanhedrin. After the death of Jesus, out of nowhere he mustered his courage to ask Pilate for the corpse of Jesus (Matthew 27:58, Mark 15:43, Luke 23:52, John 19:38). Together with Nicodemus, he offered his tomb and Nicodemus the myrrh to bury Jesus. (19:39)
I think it is very meaningful for Joseph to abandon his future comfort zone for Jesus. Of course he had the money to build another tomb and he would not use a tomb which somebody had used. But Jesus came back to life, leaving behind the comfort zone of Joseph. This brought about an unexpected impact on Joseph. Firstly, the corpse of Jesus disappeared in his tomb. The Sanhedrin must have given him troubles, arrested and interrogated him. Before the resurrection, Joseph did not have the guts to defend Jesus. Now, he had to defend himself. I believe that Jesus Christ would not abandon him at this moment. The Risen Lord must have sent the Holy Spirit to inspire him what to say and defeated the Sanhedrin (Matthew 10:19-20, Mark 13:11, Luke 12:11-12). This interrogation experience must have made him understand that belief in Jesus Christ is not an accessory in life, but is closely related to his life. It is the core of his life.
God bless!
No comments:
Post a Comment