主題：在生活中看見主
今天福音所記載的故事，其實每天都發生在我們身上。就是說，耶穌每天都與我們同行，這是祂在瑪竇福音的應許。祂說：「看！我同你們天天在一起，直到今世的終結。」（瑪28:20）耶穌身為天主子，是信實的。祂必會想辦法實踐祂的許諾。所以我有信心說，耶穌每天都與我們同行，有如發生在前往厄瑪烏路上的兩個門徒一樣。請注意，是兩個門徒。而且，耶穌的許諾是「你們」。因此，耶穌的許諾不是無條件的。祂的許諾必需在團體中實現，即是說，耶穌並沒有應許每天與你一個人在一起。可能會，但不一定會。歷代不少的聖人聖女，都有神魂超拔的神秘經驗，証明耶穌是會與一個人在一起的。但不要忘記，更多的聖人聖女都有「神枯」的經歷。例如，聖德蘭修女透露，在其一生中，曾有長達四十多年感受到靈性上的黑暗，完全感受不到耶穌在身邊。
我們自然會問，為甚麼那兩個門徒在起初不能認出耶穌？當然，耶穌是在祂升天時許下諾言，難怪那兩個門徒不能認出耶穌。但我們是耶穌升天後的人，既然耶穌已許諾與我們同行，為甚麼我們不能在日常生活中認出耶穌呢？從厄瑪烏兩個門徒的經驗中，我們找到一些線索。
首先，他們被一些不合理的「默西亞期望」所蒙蔽了。他們說：「我們原指望他就是那要拯救以色列的。」（路24:21）因為祂的宣講和所行的神蹟，耶穌成為了群眾心中來驅逐羅馬人，解放以色列的默西亞。可惜，耶穌是死在十字架上，驅逐死亡，從罪惡中解放全人類的默西亞。這與他們所期待的默西亞相去太遠，以至他們不能認出復活了的基督。
第二，為了開啟他們的心目，首先，耶穌「於是從梅瑟及眾先知開始，把全部經書論及他的話，都給他們解釋了。」（路24:27）。可見，倘若想在生活中認清耶穌基督，必須認識聖經，不單祗是福音，而是整部聖經。正如我們堂區的主保聖葉理諾所說：「不認識聖經，就不認識基督。」所以，今天彌撒的結構，都有兩個部份：聖道禮儀和聖祭禮儀。參予彌撒不單是為了領聖體，我們也要聆聽天主聖言，辨別天主的聖意，這樣做便更能發揮所領受的聖體聖事的功效了。
第三，門徒是在耶穌擘餅時，他們的眼睛開了。（24:30-31）他們未必有出席「最後晚餐」，但肯定耶穌行「五餅二魚」神蹟時，他們在現場，因此他們憑耶穌所做的動作，認出耶穌來。我們在參予彌撒，在神父成聖體的部份時，可有這「眼睛開了」的體驗呢？雖然說是「信德的奧蹟」，說甚麼「五官之力有所不及，應由信德來補充。」始終，聖體聖事是耶穌基督對我們所表達最偉大的愛。而愛又不是理智所能完全說明，祗能以心領神會的。所以，惟有以愛的眼光看這個世界，纔有機會認出耶穌基督。
最後，我想恭喜所有教友夫妻，因為他們倆已是一個團體，耶穌基督的許諾必會實踐在他們身上，他們可以享受天天與耶穌基督在一起的平安和喜樂！當然，生活在團體之中的修士、修女和神父主教等神職人員，同樣有主耶穌的同在。讓我們勤讀聖言，百折不朽地尋求聖父的旨意，勤領聖事，在生活中認出與我們同行的耶穌基督。
我們何嘗不是對耶穌基督懷有不合理的期望嗎？我們可有祈求天主使我們生活安穩，而不是求天主使我們長進成熟呢？我們曾否指望耶穌基督為我們解決一切困難，令我們生活一帆風順呢？我們可有期望上主消滅一切惡人，一切不公平，令正義在世上彰顯呢？我們忘記了依撒意亞先知的教訓。「因為我的思念不是你們的思念，你們的行徑不是我的行徑：上主的斷語。」（依55:8）天主為我們的安排，無論順逆，為我們總是最好，最有益的。倘若我們尋求的是天主的旨意，而不是我們自己的主張，在生活中認出耶穌基督又有何難呢？
天主保祐！
Third Easter Sunday (Year A)
Theme: Seeing the Lord in Daily Life
The gospel story today is actually happening to all of us everyday. That is to say, everyday Jesus walks with us. This is the promise he made in Matthew. He said, "Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matthew 28:20) Jesus is the Son of God who is faithful. He will do whatever it takes to fulfil his promise. That is why I am confident to say that everyday Jesus walks with us like what had happened to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus. Pay attention. There were two disciples. Furthermore, the "you" Jesus' promise refers to is plural. Thus, Jesus' promise is not unconditional. His promise must be fulfilled in a group, a community. That is to say, Jesus did not promise to stay with you alone everyday. He may probably do but not necessarily. Throughout ages, many saints experience ecstasy. This proves that Jesus may stay with a person. But don't forget, many more saints have experienced "spiritual desolation". For example, St. Mother Teresa told us that she had experienced more than four decades of "darkness", feeling completely cut off from Jesus.
We will naturally ask why the two disciples failed to recognize Jesus at the beginning. Of course, Jesus made his promise at his Ascension. No wonder the two disciples did not recognize Jesus. But we are post-Ascension Christians. Jesus has already made the promise. But why can't we recognize Jesus in our daily life? The experience of the two disciples going to Emmaus may throw lights on this puzzle.
First of all, they were kept from recognizing Jesus because of some unreasonable Messianic Expectations. They said, "We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel." (Luke 24:21) Because of his proclamation and the miracles he worked, Jesus had become in people's mind the anticipated Messiah who would drive out the Romans to liberate Israel. Unfortunately, Jesus died on the cross to drive out death, to liberate all humanity from sins. This Messiah was too different from the expected one so much so that they failed to recognize the risen Christ.
Secondly, in order to open up their spiritual eyes, first of all, "And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27) Thus, if we what to recognize Jesus Christ in our daily life, we need to know the Bible, not just the gospels but the whole Bible. Just as what the patron saint of our parish, St. Jerome had said, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." (Prologue of the commentary on Isaiah Nn. 1.2: CCL 73, 1-3) Thus, the mass we celebrate today consists of two sections: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We do not join mass simply to receive the Holy Communion. We also listen to the Word of God, discern God's will. Then, the Holy Communion we receive would be more effective.
Thirdly, when Jesus broke the bread, the eyes of disciples were open. (Luke 24:30-31) They might not be present at the Last Supper, but surely when Jesus performed the miracle of Five Loaves and Two Fish, they were there so that they were now able to recognize Jesus from his actions. When the priest consecrates the Holy Eucharist in the mass we join, do we have this "eye-opening" experience? Yes, it is a "mysterium fidei" and a "præstet fides supplementum sensuum defectui". After all, the Holy Eucharist is an expression of the greatest love Jesus Christ has for us. Love cannot be completely described with rationality. It can only be felt with our heart and spirit. Thus, only with a gaze of love at this world can we have the chance to recognize Jesus Christ.
Lastly, I would like to congratulate Catholic couples. Since you two are already a community, Jesus' promise will definitely be fulfilled in you. You can enjoy the peace and joy of staying with Jesus Christ everyday! Of course, Jesus also stays with brothers, nuns as well as all the clergy who live in a community. Let us study hard the scriptures, seek undeterred the will of the Father and diligently receive the sacraments. Then we will be able to recognize Jesus Christ in our daily life.
Have we not harboured unreasonable expectations on Jesus Christ? Have we not prayed to God for a stable life and not for growth and maturity? Have we not expected Jesus Christ to solve all our difficulties so that we may lead a smooth life? Have we not desired God to eliminate all evil people, all unfairness so that justice may manifest on earth? We have forgotten the message of Isaiah. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8) Whatever God arranges for us, be it good or bad, it is always for our good and for our benefits. If we seek the will of God and not ours, what difficulty is there to recognize Jesus in our life?
God bless!
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