教導世人敬畏天主 Teaching People to Fear God

教導世人敬畏天主
（路1:39-56）

【聖母讚主曲】提醒我們要信賴天主，祗有天主纔能使世界更合符公義。因為聖母所歌頌的天主，是一個喜歡鋤強扶弱的天主，一個伸張正義的天主。

一般的婦女，頂多渴望嫁給君王，為他生個孩子，自己將來可以母憑子貴，貴為君王的母親。聖母出身卑微，造夢也不敢嫁入豪門。但天主卻從創世之初，揀選了她成為天主子之母。出於祂的神聖，天主賜予瑪利亞特殊的恩寵，讓天主聖子「提前」救贖了她，使她始胎無染原罪。貴為天主之母，當然「萬世萬代都要稱我有福。」（路1:48）天主在聖母身上所行的，確是偉大的事（1:49），令天使與人類，讚嘆不已。

既然天主喜歡鋤強扶弱，「使饑餓者飽饗美物，反使那富有者空手而去。」（1:53）為何過了這麼多世紀，貧貴懸殊的情況，日益嚴重呢？難道基督徒忘記了為世界的公義，祈求天父嗎？不一定。
聖母說：「祂的仁慈世世代代於無窮世，賜於敬畏祂的人。」（1:50）即是說，無論貧富，祗要是敬畏天主的，天主必仁慈對待他們。可惜現代科學昌明，人類變得高傲自大，沒有把天主放在眼內，又何來懂得「敬畏天主」呢？所以基督徒除了為更公義的世界祈求外，還有責任教導世人敬畏天主。

勸勉高傲的人，敬畏天主是一件非常困難的事。不過，不是沒有可能的。而且「敬畏天主」是聖神七恩之一。因此，教導世人敬畏天主，離不開教導世人認識聖神。但聖神有如風一樣，很難捉摸。所以，我們惟有祈求天父賜下聖神了。
聖父啊！我們奉耶穌基督，我們的主之名，求祢沛降聖神，使大地更新，我們也因而蒙受再生之恩。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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Teaching People to Fear God
(Luke 1:39-56)

The Magnificat reminds us to rely on God. Only God can make this world fairer. It is because the God to whom the BVM sings praises is a God who defeats the proud but defend the humble, a God who sees justice done.

At most, a common woman could only dream of marrying a king, giving birth to heir so that she would be the mother of a king. The BVM came from a lowly class. She could not even dream of marrying into a rich family. But before Genesis, God had chosen her to be the Mother of the Son of God. Out of His holiness, God gave Mary special graces, allowing the Son of God to redeem her beforehand so that she was conceived without the Original Sin. As the Mother of God, "henceforth all generations will call me blessed." (Luke 1:48) What God has done on her was really great (1:49) so great that all angels and men marvel.

If God likes to defeat the proud and defend the humble and "has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich has sent empty away." (1:53), why after so many centuries, the wealth gap between the rich and the poor has widened so much. Have Christians forgotten to pray to the Father for justice in the world? Not necessarily.
The BVM says, "His mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation." (1:50) That is to say, no matter you are rich or poor, as long as you fear Him, God will be merciful to them. Unfortunately, with the advancement of science and technology, men become haughty so that there is no place of God in their equations! How would they fear God? Therefore, besides praying for more justice in the world, Christians have the duty to teach humanity to fear God.

No doubt, it is extremely difficult to persuade haughty people to fear God. But it is not impossible. "Fear of God" is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, teaching people to know the Holy Spirit is indispensable to teaching people to fear the Lord. But like wind, the Holy Spirit is so unpredictable. Therefore, we can only beg the Father to grant us the Holy Spirit.
Holy Father! We implore in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord that You grant us the Holy Spirit to renew the creature so that we may live again. Amen.

基督徒是世界之福 Christians are blessings of the World

基督徒是世界之福
（若17:1-11a）

這一篇不單祗是耶穌基督的臨別贈言，更是祂的臨別祈禱。
在這一段祈禱中，耶穌基督特別為留在世上的教會而祈禱。雖然祂說：「我為他們祈求，不為世界祈求，祗為祢賜給我的人祈求…」（若17:9）好像基督不關心世界，不為世界祈求。但是，這是一個錯覺。

第一，耶穌基督跟著說：「從今以後，我不在世界上了，但他們仍在世界上…」（17:11）即是說，耶穌基督為我們祈求（17:9），而我們仍在世界上。因此，蒙受了耶穌基督的祈禱所祝福的我們，有責任把所領受的祝福，帶給世界。我們在世上成了其他人的福源。所以耶穌基督不必為世界祈求了，為世界祈求的責任已落在我們身上了。

第二，雖然在若望福音中，「世界」是反對耶穌基督的猶太宗教領袖的代號，但是，倘若我們把「不為世界祈求」解釋為「耶穌不為反對祂的猶太宗教領袖祈求」，是沒有根據的。難道天主願意看見罪人喪亡嗎（則18:23，伯後3:9）？因此，胸襟廣闊的耶穌基督沒有理由不關心世界，因為祂關心祂門徒的安危、祂教會的安危。

作為耶穌基督在世的見証人，基督徒有責任為世界的需要祈求。這個世界缺乏資源嗎？不是，而是缺乏符合公義的分配。即使世界缺乏資源，我們也不怕，怕祗怕分配不均。我們有能力令分配符合公義嗎？基督徒沒有這種權力。所以我們要為世界向天父祈求資源獲得公平的分配。這個世界缺乏建樹人的關係，很多人沒有別人關心，更有很多人生活在受剝削的關係之中。真理使人自由，愛使人充滿生命。基督徒擁有真理和愛，所以他們是世界的福源。讓我們為世界祈求。
父啊！我願意跟隨耶穌基督的榜樣，獻上我微不足道的生命，讓這世界變得更公義、更自由和更有生命力。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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Christians are blessings of the World
(John 17:1-11a)

This piece of text is not simply a farewell speech. It is also a parting prayer. In this prayer, Jesus Christ prays in particular for the Church on earth. Although he says, "I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom thou hast given me ..." (John 17:9) It seems that Jesus does not bother with the world, does not pray for it. However, it is an illusion.

First of all, Jesus continues, "And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world ..." (17:11) That is to say, Jesus Christ prays for us (17:9) and we are still in the world. Thus, we who are blessed by the prayer of Jesus Christ have the responsibility to carry this blessing and give it to the world. We become a source of blessing for the other people on earth. Therefore, it is not necessary for Jesus Christ to pray for the world. Praying for the world has become our responsibility.

Secondly, although in the gospel of John, "the world" is synonymous with those Jewish religious leaders who opposed Jesus, it would be groundless for us to interpret "I am not praying for the world" to mean "Jesus does not pray for the Jewish religious leaders". Does God find pleasure in the death of sinners (Ezekiel 18:23, 2 Peter 3:9)? Thus, Jesus who has a big heart has no reason not to care about the world because He cares about the safety of His disciples, the security of His Church.

Being the witnesses of Jesus Christ on earth, Christians have the duty to pray for the needs of the world. Is there a scarcity of resources on earth? No. The world lacks a fair way of distribution. Even if the world lacked resources, we would not fear. What we fear is an unfair distribution. Do we have the capability to make distribution fair? Christians lack the authority. So, we pray to the Father for the world to seek a fair way to distribute resources. Actually, this world lacks edifying relationships. Many people are marginalized and many more are living in exploitative relations. The truth shall make us free. Love shall make us full of life. Christians possess both truth and love. They are truly a source of blessing for the world. Let us pray for the world.
Father! We are willing to follow the example of Jesus Christ to offer up our negligible lives to make the world fairer, freer and fuller of life. Amen.

邁向信仰的成熟 Towards Maturity in Faith

邁向信仰的成熟
（若16:29-33）

雖然耶穌基督已經升天，但祂並沒有撇下我們，撇下祂的反而是我們。
撇下耶穌基督獨自一個，何止是門徒，又何止發生在當年呢？今時今日的我們，何嘗不是一樣，撇下耶穌基督一個在聖體櫃內，而我們卻各自忙碌於工作，甚至沉溺在享受中嗎？

作為天主教徒，我們有幸可以在失足犯罪，違反了領洗時的承諾之後，尚可領受告解聖事，改過自新，與自己和好，與教會和好，與天主和好。可是，總有一件令我們煩惱的事，就是我們多次告解後，仍多次失足，多次犯同一個罪，多次撇下耶穌基督獨自一個！

我們因為軟弱而跌倒犯罪，固然是撇下了耶穌基督。可是，今天連美德也會誘惑人撇下耶穌基督獨自一個。從前，勤力工作是美德。今天，我們認識到祗顧工作，忘記了自己的健康、忘記了維繫家庭的關係，忘記了身邊的人及社區的問題，忘記了天父的存在。這樣生活，對任何人，包括自己，都沒有好處，因為我們撇下了耶穌基督。從前，虔誠地唸經祈禱是美德。今天，祗躲在聖堂裡為世界和平、為聖召、為聖教廣傳而唸經祈禱，卻看不見社區內獨居的長者、被遺棄在醫院裡的病人、受剝削的工人和遭受歧視的小數族裔等，撇下在他們身上的耶穌基督，我們同樣是犯了罪（瑪25:41-45）！

耶穌基督對我們的愛，就在這裡表露無遺了。祂體諒門徒的軟弱，並沒有怪責他們，反而明明白白地告訴他們將要發生的事，給他們心理上做好準備，為的「是要你們在我內得到平安。」（若16:33）同樣，耶穌基督並沒有怪責我們信仰上的不成熟和我們行為上的自我中心，為的是想鼓勵我們不要因軟弱而氣餒，反而拿出對天父和對耶穌基督的信賴，屬敗屬戰，向成熟的信仰邁進。
主耶穌，感激祢對我們的大愛。請以祢的神聖復活，賜我們成長的力量。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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Towards Maturity in Faith
(John 16:29-33)

Although Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven, He has not deserted us. Rather, it is we who desert Him.
Were the disciples the only ones who abandoned Jesus two thousand years ago? Today, do we not busy ourselves in work and obsess ourselves in enjoyment, leaving Jesus Christ alone in the Tabernacle?

As Catholics, we are lucky to have the Sacrament of Reconciliation to repent, to reconcile with ourselves, with the Church and with God when we fall and breach our baptismal vows. However, one thing is always nagging us at the back of our minds, which is that despite making many confessions, we still fall, committing the same sin over and over again, abandoning Jesus Christ over and over again.

It is true that when we fall and commit sins, we abandon Jesus Christ. But today, even virtues trick us into abandoning Jesus Christ. Diligence used to be a virtue. Today, we focus only in our work at the expense of our health, of family relationships, of our neighbours, of problems in the neighbourhood and even of the existence of God. Such a life is bad for everybody, including us because we have abandoned Jesus. Saying prayers used to be a virtue. Today, saying prayers in the Church for world peace, for vocation and for evangelization etc. but fail to see in our community those senior citizens who live alone, those patients who are abandoned in the hospitals, the exploited workers and discriminated ethnic minorities, we are abandoning Jesus Christ. We too have committed sins (Matthew 25:41-45)

Jesus' love for us is manifested here. He understands our weaknesses but he does not blame us. On the contrary, he told them what was about to happen to prepare them psychologically. The reason is "that in me you may have peace." (John 16:33) Similarly, Jesus Christ has not blamed us for immaturity in faith and for being egocentric in behaviours. It is because He wants to cheer us up, not to be discouraged when we fall. On the contrary, take out our faith in the Father and in Jesus Christ and stand up where we fall. Proceed ahead to maturity of faith.
Lord Jesus, Thank you for Your great love for us. Grant us the strength to grow with your holy resurrection. Amen.

善用資訊科技傳福音 Make good use of IT to evangelize

耶穌升天節（甲年）
主題：善用資訊科技傳福音

今天我們慶祝耶穌升天節，這事蹟有甚麼值得慶祝呢？
首先，耶穌基督升天，與我們有甚麼關係呢？
今天的集禱經告訴我們，主耶穌基督的升天，「預示了我們的歸程」。因為祂是我們的頭，我們都是祂奧體的肢體。祂怎樣升天，將來我們也怎樣升天。

這個「天」是否指外太空呢？不是。「天」是指天主的居處。所以，集禱經說是一個「境界」。天主創造了我們，到末日，耶穌基督將會重臨，帶領我們回歸天主的懷抱。
其次，耶穌基督為甚麼祗顯現給祂所揀選的人，而不是向全人類顯現呢？第一，我們都是祂的肢體，所以耶穌基督所做的事，我們也應該做。再者，在耶穌基督以後的世代，還有億萬人民尚未出現，他們有待後世的我們作出努力，引領他們加入耶穌基督的奧體。倘若耶穌基督繼續存留在世上，他們便沒有選擇的餘地，不得不加入了。

今天我們選讀瑪竇福音，它非常注重教會的生活。首先，如何加入教會這個基督的奧體呢？是透過洗禮。但在教會的初期，洗體的形式並未統一，有些以宗徒的名義洗禮，有些以耶穌基督的名義洗禮。自從瑪竇福音提出以天主聖三的名義洗禮之後，教會的洗禮形式統一了。耶穌基督升天，坐在天主聖父的右邊，享有最尊貴的地位。但祂並沒有完全脫離這個世界。祂升天前許下，「我與你們天天在一起，直到今世的終結。」（瑪28:20）。耶穌基督在升天後，仍然在教會內與世人在一起。所以，世人加入教會，便有如亡羊回歸羊棧，與善牧基督天天在一起，直到世界的終結。

作為耶穌基督奧體的肢體，教會的成員，我們在世有甚麼任務呢？主基督說：「你們要去使萬民成為門徒…教訓他們遵守我所吩咐你們的一切。」（28:19-20）所以，我們的任務是給世人一個與天主和好的機會，就是把耶穌基督的教訓，告訴他們，讓他們選擇，加入基督的奧體。這就是教會存在的目的，就是耶穌基督升天離去，讓我們參與拯救世界的原因。

今天互聯網發達，大部份人都可以享受互聯網的方便，人人都可以發表意見，發放消息已經不再是政府或大財團的專利。言論更加自由，資訊可以更快速，更廣泛地散播。這本來是基督徒一個傳福音的黃金時代，因為福音也可以更快捷，更廣泛地傳揚。可惜，假消息，謠言也同樣更快捷更廣泛地在Facebook, WhatsApp散播！讓我舉一個近期發生在印度的例子。香港的媒體沒有報導，因為這事件與香港市民沒有直接的關係，沒有新聞價值。不過，有了互聯網，足不出戶而知天下事，不再是奢侈了。
事緣在五月初，有一個「拐帶兒童」的謠言，透過WhatsApp廣泛地散播。結果，從五月十二日至十八日，在印度東部的賈坎德邦，發生了三宗群眾濫用私刑事件，一共毆斃了九個人。即便警察到場，亦因寡不敵眾，祗能袖手旁觀。

這件事與我們有甚麼關係呢？
相信大家也是WhatsApp的用戶。很多時候朋友傳來的短訊，尤其是一些貼上名人，例如教宗方濟各、或者聖德蘭修女名字的短訊，都不假思索地轉發出去。我們這樣做是不負責任，並且有違耶穌基督的教訓。當我們收到訊息時，我們有沒有核實資訊的真偽呢？如果資訊是假，我們便成了散播謠言的幫兇！貼上了教宗的名字，就真是教宗所說的話嗎？我們可以在網上可靠的、正式的媒體，核對資訊的真偽。教宗的言論，有梵蒂岡的電台和新聞網頁可以核對，有其他天主教華語的網站翻譯成中文。香港教區在公教報、教區網頁、教區視聽中心等確實。文字可以做假，圖片一樣可以移花接木，迷惑讀者。曾收過不 少連鎖信，利用我們的善心，要求轉發，幫助附圖中可憐的兒童。幸好Google可以根據圖片作出搜尋，幫助我們確定圖片曾在那裡出現過。

散播謠言，嚴重的可以傷害人命，可以給政府一個藉口，封殺社交媒界，限制言論自由。縱使好像沒有殺傷力的資訊，亦會令讀者真假難辨，失去信心。試問在劣質消息泛濫的情況下，真正需要幫助的人，如何求救；正義的訴求，如何獲得群眾的支持呢？

過去兩個主日所讀的若望福音，告訴我們耶穌基督要求我們彼此相愛，如同祂愛了我們一樣。（若13:34）又因為好心會做壞事，所以耶穌基督許下賜予我們天主聖神，祂是真理之神（14:17），愛德之神，祂會保証我們在真理中實踐愛德，不會好心做壞事。

讓我們祈求聖神，幫助我們明辨明非，不要輕率地轉發短訊，妥善地運用資訊科技，傳揚福音。
天主保祐！

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Solemnity of Ascension (Year A)
Theme: Make good use of IT to evangelize

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Ascension. What are we celebrating?
First of all, what has Jesus' ascension to do with us?
In the Collect today, we are told that Jesus' ascension "is our exaltation". It is because He is our head and we are members of His Mystical Body. We will ascend to heavens the way he ascended.
Does "heavens" mean the outer space? No. Heavens means the abode of God. God created us. When the end of the world comes, Jesus Christ will come again to bring us back to the bosom of God. Secondly, why did Jesus appear to the chosen ones and not to all humanity? Firstly, we are members of His Body. What Jesus did, we should do too. Moreover, billions of souls have not appeared in the future generations. They need our efforts to bring them into the Mystical Body of Christ. Had Jesus Christ continued to stay on earth, they would have had no choice but to believe in Him.

Today, we choose a passage from the gospel of Matthew which emphasizes life in the Church. First of all, how do people enter into this Mystical Body of Christ? It is through baptism. But during the time of the early church, the forms of baptism varied. Some baptized in the name of the apostles while other in the name of Jesus Christ. Since the gospel of Matthew promoted baptism in the name of the Blessed Trinity, the form of baptism was standardized.

Jesus ascended into heavens and seated at the right hand of the Father to enjoy the supreme position. But He has not completely cut Himself off from the world. Before ascension, He promised, "I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matthew 28:20) Thus, after ascension, Jesus still accompanies humanity in the Church. Thus, when people join the Church, they are like lost sheep returning to the fold to stay with Christ the Good Shepherd to the end of the world.

As members of the Mystical Body of Christ, what is our mission on earth? Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations ... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (28:19-20) Thus, our mission is to provide an opportunity for humanity to reconcile with God. That is to say, we tell them Jesus' teachings. Let them choose to join the Mystical Body of Christ. This is the raison d'être of the Church. This is the reason why Jesus ascended into heaven, allowing us to participate in the redemption of the world.

Today, most people are enjoying the convenience of the Internet. Everyone can express their views. Broadcasting news is no longer the monopoly of governments or cartels. Speech enjoys greater freedom. Information can be spread faster and more extensively. Regrettably, fake news and rumours also spread faster and more extensively on Facebook and WhatsApp. Let me take an example recently happened in India. Media in Hong Kong do not cover it because this incident is not directly related to Hongkongers. It is not newsworthy. But with the Internet, knowing what is happening around the globe is no longer a luxury.
Early in May, a children trafficking rumour spread through WhatsApp in Jharkhand, eastern India. Consequently, from May 12 to 18, nine people were killed in three instances of lynching. Even when the police had arrived, they were outnumbered and could take no action.

What has these lynchings to do with us?
I trust all of us are WhatsApp users. Many times when we receive messages from friends, especially those attached with names of celebrities such as Pope Francis or St. Mother Teresa, we forward them without giving it a thought. In so doing, we are irresponsible and go against the teachings of Jesus Christ! When we receive messages, do we verify their truthfulness? What if the information is fake, we become accomplice in spreading rumours. When the Pope's name is attached, is it really the Pope's? We have reliable and official media on the Internet to verify the truthfulness of the information. There are Vatican Radio and news feeds to verify. There are Chinese Catholic websites which follow and translate the Pope's messages. We have Kung Kau Po, Diocesan webpage and the Diocesan Audio Visual Centre to check in the Hong Kong Diocese. Texts can be hoax. Pictures can be transplanted to cheat. I have received many chain-letters which take advantage of my charity with pictures of pitiful children requesting me to forward them. Luckily, Google can search by pictures, helping us to determine when and where these pictures have appeared.

Spreading rumours can kill and give the government an excuse to ban social media and to restrict the freedom of speech. Even for innocent looking information, it confuses the readers and erodes their confidence. When poor quality information becomes overwhelming, how can genuinely needy people seek help and how can righteous causes gain popular support?

During the past two weeks, we read the gospel of John. It tells us that Jesus commands us to love each other even as he has loved us (John 13:34). But the path to hell is littered with good intentions. So Jesus promises to grant us the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of truth (14:17), the Spirit of love. He will guarantee us to practise charity in truth so that we will not do evil with good intentions.

Let us pray to the Holy Spirit to help us know right from wrong, not to forward messages without a thought, to make good use of Information Technology to evangelize.
God bless!

有求必應 Always Grants Our Wishes

有求必應
（若16:23b-28）

中國人是一個很務實的民族，連鬼神也可以驅使。他們心目中理想的神佛，必會是「有求必應」的。在香港的中國人心目中，黃大仙（AD 328-386）成了「有求必應」的代名詞。我想，黃大仙不一定說過他自己是「有求必應」，這句話可能是香港人一厢情願強加在他身上。不過，他的「有求必應」是有條件的，必須是「普濟廣施」¹的 。即是說，救人急難，例如贈醫施藥，施粥送飯，施棺助殮，贈送棉衣等等。黃大仙的教訓，竟然與耶穌所教導的「形哀矜」如此相似，直叫人讚嘆天主創世贖世之奧妙！

原來耶穌基督纔是「有求必應」，而且是無條件的。「你們因我的名無論向父求甚麼，祂必賜給你們。」（若16：23）是「無論」，是無條件的！且看，天父對我們是多麼慷慨！祂這樣做，為的是「使你們的喜樂得以圓滿。」（16：24）

你會因耶穌之名求甚麼呢？求用之不盡的金錢嗎？
擁有用之不盡的金錢，我們會是安心的，快樂的。但我們的喜樂未必可以圓滿，因為金錢祗能換來物質的事物，而我們卻是按天主的肖像所造，我們的靈魂，無論用多少的物質，也不能完全滿足。
不如求絕對的權力吧。擁有無上的權力，我們可以隨心所欲，為所欲為，滿足我們的大志，控制所有的人。但我們的喜樂一樣不能圓滿。試問為了維持絕對的權力，經常鉤心鬥角，何來喜樂呢？十九世紀英國政治家亞頓爵士（Lord Acton）曾說：「權力令人腐敗，絕對權力絕對腐敗人！」可見權力不能令人喜樂。
那麼，奉耶穌之名，可以求甚麼呢？
天父啊！願祢的旨意奉行在人間，如同在天上。亞孟。

¹https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/黃初平

生命恩泉

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Always Grants Our Wishes
(John 16:23b-28)

The Chinese are a pragmatic people. They are able even to command spirits and fairies. In their minds, an ideal deity must be one which always grants our wishes. For Chinese in Hong Kong, Wong Tai Sin (AD 328-386) is synonymous with "always grants our wishes". I don't think Wong Tai Sin has made such a promise. It is just wishful thinking of Hongkongers. However, even if he has, his promise is conditional. It must be "relieving needs extensively". That is to say, the wish must be helping the needy such as giving medical care free of charge, free lunches, providing free funerals and clothing etc. It is surprising to see the similarity between the teaching of corporal works of mercy of Jesus and that of Wong Tai Sin. May God be praised for the mystery of salvation!

In fact, Jesus and only Jesus always grants our wishes and it is unconditional! "If you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name." (John 16:23) It is "anything". It is unconditional! Look how generous the Father is to us! He does that so that "[y]our joy may be full." (16:24)

What will you ask in Jesus' name? Will it be an inexhaustible amount of money?
We will feel secured and happy by possessing an inexhaustible amount of money. But our joy may not be full because money can buy only material things. But we were created in the image of God. Our soul will not be fully satisfied with however much amount of materials.
What about possessing absolute authority? When we have absolute authority, we can do whatever we want, to make our dreams come true and to command all people. Once again, our joy will not be full. Just imagine, in order to maintain absolute authority, we will be involved in endless power struggles. Whence comes the joy? Lord Acton, a 19th century British politician once said, "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely!" Thus authority does not bring joy.
Then, what shall we pray for in Jesus' name?
Heavenly Father! May Your will be done one earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

真正的喜樂並非自欺 True Joy is not a Self-Delusion

真正的喜樂並非自欺
（若16:20-23a）

人得意會忘形；而另一方面，突如其來的困難痛苦亦會令人失去方寸。基督徒也是人，所以不能在困難痛苦前，強顏歡笑！面對痛苦，哭泣哀號可以幫助舒緩情緒，卻無助解決困難。若能參透苦難的奧秘，人纔能得到解放，化憂愁為喜樂。正如前面所說，客觀事實沒有改變，改變的是眼光。當我們掌握了有關苦難的真理，我們便不再憂愁，我們的心裡必要喜樂。（若16:22）

改變眼光使自己從憂愁變成喜樂，豈不是「亞Q精神」嗎？不是！因為亞Q並沒有掌握了真理，他祗是自我安慰。所以他的喜樂，是虛假的、短暫的喜樂。當殘酷的現實揮之不去的時候，亞Q的喜樂，將會打回原形，變回痛苦。

基督徒與所有的人，同樣要面對困難痛苦。當基督徒陷於誘惑，未能以信德的眼光看到困難所帶來的生機，他們與其他的人一樣感到憂愁悲哀。但當他們以信德的眼光，看見天主的旨意，找到了真理的時候；即是說，當我們改變眼光而看見到真理的時候，看到耶穌所說：「因為一個人已生在世上了。」（16:21）的時候，我們的眼光不再停留在苦楚上，而是放在「生命轉化」所帶來的超越上，我們那有不喜樂呢？正如一位運動員，經過艱苦的訓練，在比賽時打破以往的紀錄，那有不喜樂之理？而這份喜樂，決不是自我安慰，而是真實的、持久的喜樂，是「誰也不能從你們奪去」的喜樂（16:22）。
父啊！請賜下真理之神，讓我們可以多看見真理─我們的主耶穌基督，我們便心滿意足，不再憂愁了。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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True Joy is not a Self-Delusion
(John 16:20-23a)

Men can easily be carried away by successes. On the other hand, when disasters strike suddenly, people can easily lose directions. Christians are human. Thus, they cannot wear a smile in face of sufferings and pains. Weeping and wailing can relieve painful emotions but do not solve problems. If we can see through the mystery of suffering, we will be liberated, be able to turn sorrow into joy. Just as what I said on the previous day, the objective reality has not changed. Our perspective has. When we appreciate the truth of sufferings, we will no longer be sorrowful. Our hearts will be joyful. (John 16:22)

Would it be an Ah-Q self-delusion to change our perspective so as to turn sorrow into joy? No! It is because Ah-Q did not grasp the truth. He was deceiving himself. His joy was delusionary and temporary. Finally when he could not sweep away the cruel reality, the joy of Ah-Q would become sorrow again.

Like all other people, Christians are not exempted from difficulties and pains. When temptation comes and when they fail to perceive the opportunity of growth in these difficulties, Christians will suffer the same sorrow like all the others. But when we see with faith, see the will of God and find truth, that is to say, when we change our perspective to see the truth and see what Jesus says, "that a child is born into the world," (16:21) we do not set our sight on the pains, but on the transcendence brought about by the transformation of life, how can we not be joyful? Like an athlete who has gone through painful coaching and smashed all previous records, how can he not be joyful? This joy is not a self-delusion. It is a genuine and persistent joy, a joy which "no one will take ... from you." (16:22)
Father! Grant us the Spirit of truth. Let us see the truth --- our Lord Jesus Christ more. We will be satisfied and be sorrowful no more. Amen.

用甚麼眼光看世界 What Perspective to Adopt

用甚麼眼光看世界
（若16:16-20）

每個人的際遇，不盡相同。有些人一生一帆風順，好像從來沒有遇上過甚麼困難。另一些人卻一生顛沛流離，朝不保夕，英年早逝。真的嗎？「好命」的人，真是從來沒有遇上過甚麼困難嗎？抑或是從來沒有被困難難倒過呢？「劣命」的人，真是從來未嘗安樂的日子？抑或是從來沒有安樂地享受每一天呢？人世間，真是「不如意事十常八九」嗎？我看未必！主觀上如何看待客觀的事件，決定了世事是不如意居多，抑或順利居多。

在吃過最後晚餐之後，只有片時，門徒們就看不見耶穌了。（若16:16）為甚麼呢？因為門徒們為了自保，掉下耶穌逃跑了。倘若他們有信德、有勇氣留下，目睹耶穌被捕、釘十字架、目睹耶穌斷氣、被埋葬，他們又怎會看不見耶穌呢？倘若他們以信德的眼光看耶穌的受難，是天父拯救世界的旨意，他們怎會看不見贖世的真理─耶穌基督呢？

門徒們要痛哭，哀號（16:20），不是因為耶穌基督為他們的罪死了，而是因為他們對耶穌基督為他們復國的期望幻滅了。世界卻要歡樂（16:20），這裡，「世界」是指針對耶穌的宗教權貴。他們之所以歡樂，不是因為他們有虐待狂，而是因為耶穌基督對他們的威脅，已經解除了。

再過片時，門徒們的情緒平伏之後，不再哀號，祗是憂愁，最後甚至變為喜樂。可見他們領會到，耶穌基督的受難是天父拯救世界的旨意。他們看見了真理，又要看見了耶穌基督（14:6）。客觀事實並沒有改變，改變的是眼光。人世間不如意事，不是十常八九，而是十常二三！
父啊！請賜下真理之神，讓我們可以多看見真理─我們的主耶穌基督，不如意事便會煙消雲散了。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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What Perspective to Adopt
(John 16:16-20)

The fate of everybody is not identical. Some people sail smoothly across life and do not seem to have met any difficulty. Some other people lead a fugitive life and even die young. Is it really true that people born with a silver spoon in their mouths have never met any difficulty? Or rather no difficulty is too big for them? Is it really true that poor people have never enjoyed comfortable days? Or rather they have never comfortably live their days? Is it really true that 90% of life is filled with frustrations? I disagree! It is the manner with which we subjectively perceive the objective events that decides whether life is full of frustrations or successes.

A little while after the Last Supper, the disciples would see Jesus no more. (John 16:16) Why? It was because the disciples wanted to save their skins and abandoned Jesus. Had they had faith and courage to stay, to witness Jesus' arrest, crucifixion, last breath and burial, how would they not have seen Jesus? Had they seen with faith God's will to save the world with Jesus' passion, how would they not have seen the redemptive truth --- Jesus Christ?

The disciples would weep and lament (16:20), not because Jesus Christ had died for their sins, but because their Messianic expectation --- the restoration of Israel --- had been shattered. But the world would rejoice (16:20). Here, "the world" refers to the religious authority who were hostile to Jesus. They rejoiced not because they were sadists but because the threat Jesus posed was neutralized.

After a while, the emotion of the disciples was stabilized. They lamented no more. They were sorrowful but in the end, their sorrow would turn into joy. It showed that they had understood that Jesus' passion was God's will to save the world. They had seen the truth and Jesus Christ who is the truth (14:6). The objective reality had not changed. What was changed was the way they perceived the events. Frustrations occupy not 90% of life but 20%!
Father, grant us the Spirit of truth. Let us see more the Truth --- Jesus Christ our Lord. Then frustrations in life shall vanish. Amen.

WhatsApp 流言導致九人死亡 WhatsApp Hoax results in 9 deaths in India

五月十二日至今，在印度已有九個人因一個在 WhatsApp 流傳的「拐帶兒童」謠言，被村民濫用私刑毆斃。雖然有警察在場，但因寡不敵眾而袖手旁觀！下圖是五月十八日，其中一個受害人，Mohammed Naeem 臨死前求情的照片。

圖片來源：hindustantimes.com, 五月廿二日
我可以說甚麼呢？

1. 「民智未開，不宜使用 WhatsApp」？
   無可否認，科技是雙刃的劍，有益亦有害。可是，誰令它變成有害呢？當我們享受科技帶來的方便，使更多人可以自由發言的時候，我們有沒有負責任地發言呢？今天，散播謠言已更大規模、更迅速。我們有沒有核實資訊的來源和真實性後，纔轉發出去呢？我們是否做了幫兇呢？
2. 死者是一個回教徒，回教徒佔印度人口14%。宗教因素亦可能是他被殺的原因之一。可是，互聯網科技，不是用來促進人與人之間的溝通和諧嗎？抑或是一個聚集同聲同氣者的平台，互相加強集體的偏見，對抗異己呢？
3. 警察袖手旁觀，沒有保護無辜市民的生命財產，的確可怕。更可怕的，是貪污無能的政府，把人民困在無知的處境，方便執政者管治，殘民以自肥。
4. 協助散播謠言，祗會自毀長城，蠶食珍貴的「言論自由」。無能的政府不投資提高人民的知識， 有大條道理走捷徑，下令禁制互聯網或社交平台，封殺言論！

試問你下次轉發訊息時，能不三思？

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Since May 12, nine people in India were lynched by angry villagers because of a WhatsApp "children trafficking" hoax. Although police had arrived, they were outnumbered and could only watch the victims being beaten to death. In the photograph above, Mohammed Naeem was begging for mercy moments before he was beaten to death.
Source: hindustantimes.com, May 22
What can I say?

1. "The people are IT illiterate. They should not use WhatsApp"
   Undeniably, technology is a double-edge sword. It saves and it kills. But who make it harmful? When we enjoy the convenience brought by technology, when technology gives more freedom for people to express their views, do we speak in a responsible manner? Today, rumours can reach out more extensively and spreading them is faster. Do we verify the source and truthfulness before we forward a message? Have we been an accomplice?
2. The victim was a Muslim which takes up 14% of Indian population. He might be murdered for religious reasons. However, is not Information Technology supposed to promote interpersonal communication and harmony? Or does it provide a platform for like-minded people to reinforce each other's prejudice, to join force and battle against dissidents?
3. In these incidents, police just stood by without protecting the lives and property of innocent citizens. It was horrible. More horrible would be a corrupt and incompetent government which keeps her subjects in ignorance so that it is easier to govern, harming people in order to fatten the officials.
4. Helping spread hoaxes destroys the basis of our freedom of speech. Instead of investing resources in raising the awareness of people, incompetent governments would cut corners to ban internet access or social media, thus silencing dissidents.

Next time, when you forward a message, would you not think thrice?

Sources:

May 22
"Lynching in Jharkhand Over Social Media Rumours"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U6X9WDTanY

"Jharkhand lynching: When a WhatsApp message turned tribals into killer mobs"
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/a-whatsapp-message-claimed-nine-lives-in-jharkhand-in-a-week/story-xZsIlwFawf82o5WTs8nhVL.html

"Man Pleads for Life"
https://www.facebook.com/ajplusenglish/videos/965473300260844/

May 23
"How WhatsApp Rumours, Mob Vigilantism & Police Inaction Shaped The Jharkhand Lynching"
https://www.scoopwhoop.com/how-whatsapp-rumour-mob-vigilantism-and-police-inaction-shaped-the-jharkhand-lynching

聖神時代 The Era of the Holy Spirit

聖神時代
（若16:12-15）

雖然有些喜歡懷舊，追求甚麼「集體回憶」，不竟歷史的巨輪永遠是向前滾動，朝著末世的新天新地前進。雖然我們未能「聽見過，親眼看見過，瞻仰過，以及親手摸過」耶穌基督（若一1:1），但是我們有幸生活在「聖神時代」，獲得了很多連十二宗徒也沒有掌握到的真理。正如主耶穌基督所說：「我本來還有許多事要告訴你們，然而你們現在不能擔負。」（若16:12）當時，聖神尚未降臨，宗徒們還是冥頑不靈，甚至在耶穌基督升天的一刻，仍把祂所宣講的天國看作是以色列國的復興。（宗1:6）

例如：在信理方面，天主是「三位一體」和耶穌基督的「兩性一位」的真理，都不是宗徒們拍板定奪，而是後世的主教們，在聖神的引領之下，經過一番爭論纔獲得的成果。在靈修方面，宗徒們祗懂「天主經」；但在「聖神時代」的今天，我們有多姿多彩，適合不同人氣質的各種靈修傳統。在倫理方面，真是很難想像耶穌基督給十二宗徒分析，使用幹細胞治病、變性人或者全球一體化的倫理爭議！而這一切都是邁向新天新地的路上所必經的挑戰，「懷舊」恐怕祗是逃避現實而已。

誠然，聖神如風，我們很難捉摸。祂正好提醒我們天主纔是真正的主宰，我們是不能操控祂，指揮祂的。所以，我們不能預測祂下一步會做甚麼。我們祗可以放下自己的能力和意志，完全交託，任憑差遣。
父啊！我把我的靈魂，交託在祢手中。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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The Era of the Holy Spirit
(John 16:12-15)

Even though some people are nostalgic, craving for "collective memory", history keeps moving ahead towards the eschatological new heaven and new earth. Even though we are not able to "have heard, have seen with our eyes, have looked upon and touched with our hands" Jesus Christ (1 John 1:1), we are lucky to be living in the "Era of the Holy Spirit", knowing the truth which even the Twelve were not able to handle. Just as what Jesus says, "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." (John 16:12) At that time, the Holy Spirit had not yet descended. The apostles were still so stubborn that even at the moment of Jesus' ascension they still thought that the Kingdom of Heaven which they proclaimed was the restoration of Israel. (Acts 1:6)

For example, in the realm of dogmas, the Blessed Trinity and the "Two natures in One Person" of Jesus Christ were not decided by the Apostles. These were the conclusions of heated debates of bishops led by the Holy Spirit in subsequent ages. In the realm of spirituality, the Apostles only knew the Lord's Prayer. But today in this Era of the Holy Spirit, we have a variety of spiritual traditions which suit people of different temperaments. In the realm of ethics, it is difficult to imagine Jesus analyzing the controversies over therapeutic uses of stem cells, transgender people and globalization! All these are inevitable challenges we have to confront on our way to the new heaven and the earth. Being nostalgic may just be running away from the reality.

Frankly speaking, the Holy Spirit is like wind. It is difficult for us to get hold of Him. The Holy Spirit properly reminds us that our God is truly our Lord. We cannot control Him, command Him. Therefore, we cannot predict His next move. We can only let go of our strength and our will. Submit to Him completely.
Father! Into thy hand I surrender my spirit. Amen.

基督宗教的特殊地位 The Privileged Status of Christianity

基督宗教的特殊地位
（若16:5-11）

純粹從哲學角度看，耶穌基督的教訓，與孔子、與佛祖、與其他偉大的思想家的學說，享有同等的地位。大家都在提倡寬容、慈悲和忠恕之道，沒有一個享有甚麼超然地位。從多元社會注重彼此尊重，鼓吹交談的現況看，信奉任何一套教訓都是等價，沒有甚麼不對之處。那麼，基督徒憑甚麼說不信從耶穌基督是罪惡呢（若16:9）？

是的。純粹從哲學，憑邏輯，祗能判斷「對」與「錯」，祗能判斷人有沒有觸犯法律，卻不能判斷人是否犯了罪。因為「罪惡」不是一個哲學概念，而是一個宗教概念。所以，耶穌基督說：「當祂（聖神）來到時，就要指證世界關於罪惡、正義和審判所犯的錯誤。」（16:8）聖神是基督宗教的元素，是神學的範疇，不是哲學所能完全處理的。

從神學角度，「罪惡」是未能達到天主心目中的指標，即保祿宗徒所說的「失掉了天主的光榮。」（羅3:23）從消極的定義看，「罪惡」就是喪失了天主的恩寵、天主的光榮，一如「黑暗」就是「沒有光明」一樣。殺人放火固然是「罪惡」，是狹義的罪惡。當我們做事不達標，失去了應得的光榮，這就是廣義的「罪惡」了。在這裡，耶穌基督擔任了一個關鍵的角色，因為祂是天父所派遣到世上的「道路、真理和生命，除非經過我，誰也不能到父那裡去。」（若14:6）

藉著聖神的默感，我們接受耶穌基督為救主，我們便可以與天父和好（羅5:1），不但擺脫罪惡的奴役，更把身份提昇為天父的子女，參予天父永恆的生命。倘若我們拒絕聖神，拒絕耶穌基督，認為祂的教訓與孔子佛祖的教訓無異，可信可不信，便錯過了踏上回歸父家的道路，不能到達目的地，錯過了無限的恩寵。這不就是聖保祿宗徒所說的「罪惡」嗎？
父啊！請賜下聖神，好讓我們承認耶穌基督是我們的救主。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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The Privileged Status of Christianity
(John 16:5-11)

From a purely philosophical perspective, the teachings of Jesus Christ, of Confucius, of Buddha and of other great thinkers enjoy the same status. All of them advocate tolerance, mercy, authenticity and empathy. None of them enjoys any privileged position. In a pluralistic society which stresses mutual respect and dialogues, embracing any set of teachings is equivalent and is not wrong. Then, by what criteria can Christians say that not believing in Jesus Christ is a sin? (John 16:9)

True. In the realm of philosophy and logic, we can only pass judgment on right and wrong, can only decide whether somebody has committed a crime, but not a sin. It is because "sin" is not a philosophical concept but a religious concept. Therefore, Jesus says, "And when he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:" (16:8) The Holy Spirit is an element of Christianity. It belongs to the realm of theology. Philosophy is inadequate in handling it.

From a theological perspective, "sin" falls short of God’s expectation. That is what Paul the Apostle means by "fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Defining in a negative manner, "sin" loses the grace of God, the glory of God. It is like defining "darkness" as a "lack of light". Murder and arson are sins in a narrow sense. Missing the mark and losing the expected glory would be sins in a general sense. Here, Jesus Christ takes up a crucial role because he was sent to the world to be "the road, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

With the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour. "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) No only do we shake off the bondage of sins, but our status is also raised to that of adopted children of the Father and we can partake in His eternal life. If we reject the Holy Spirit, reject Jesus Christ and think that His teachings are not different from the teachings of Confucius or Buddha, i.e. we choose not to believe in him, then we miss the way to return to the Father. We cannot arrive at our destination and lose infinite grace. Is this not what St. Paul the Apostle meant by sin?
Father! Grant us the Holy Spirit. Let us acknowledge Jesus Christ to be our Saviour. Amen.

奉主之名迫害異見人士 Persecuting dissidents in the name of God

五月廿二日
奉主之名迫害異見人士（若15:26-16:4a）
人類天生有一種捍衛真理的正義感，喜歡糾正別人的錯處。小規模的，頂多是指指點點，不過是「人之患」而已。可是，大規模的話，就會做成政治迫害，宗教戰爭，很多無辜者的血，便白流了。
第一、二代的基督徒，大部份都是猶太人。猶太教篤信一個真神，基督徒卻奉耶穌基督為天主子，在猶太人眼中，當然是離經背道，人人得而誅之，這就是掃祿歸化前的經驗。正如福音所說，「凡殺害你們的，還以為是盡恭敬天主的義務。」（若16:2）。時移世易，當基督徒內部產生了分裂，互相成為對方的迫害者時，無論是追殺女巫抑或是宗教審裁，有誰不是「以為是盡恭敬天主的義務」呢？殊不知他們「沒有認識父，也沒有認識我」（16:3）他們沒有認識父，因為他們迫害按天父肖像所造成的弟兄（創1:26，瑪6:9）；他們沒有認識耶穌基督，因為他們沒有彼此相愛，為對方的益處，捨棄自己，如同基督愛了他們一樣。（若13:34）
難道我們不應捍衛真理嗎？絕對應該。不過，首先我們必須肯定自己擁有聖神。祂是真理之神，祂必定為耶穌基督作證，使我們認識耶穌基督，認識祂的教訓。（15:26）耶穌基督就是真理的化身（14:6）所以，我們要捍衛的真理，不是抽像的、放諸四海皆準的哲學論述，例如「物有本末、事有終始。故必先有父，然後有子。」而是耶穌基督所代表的，不可見的天父的慈悲。故此，聖神不但是真理之神，更是愛德之神。
父啊！願聖神熾熱我們愛慕耶穌基督的心，讓我們以彼此相愛，為真理作見証。亞孟。

圖片來源：http://ucs.nd.edu/rome-conference/

生命恩泉

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Persecuting dissidents in the name of God
(John 15:26-16:4a) There is an innate sense of justice in human beings. They like to correct other people's mistakes. On a small scale, they are at most too eager to teach others. However, on a large scale, it would become political persecutions and religious wars. Much innocent blood would be spilt.
Most of the first and second generation Christians were Jews and Jews believed in one true God. However, Christians believed Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. In the eyes of Jews, Christians were heretics and deserved to be neutralized. This was the experience of Saul before his conversion. As the gospel text reads, "The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God." (John 16:2) Time has changed. When Christians split among themselves, persecuting each other in witch hunting or Inquisition, who did not think "he is offering service to God"? In fact, "they have not known the Father, nor me." (16:3) They have not known the Father because they persecuted their brothers who were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 6:9). They have not known Jesus Christ because they did not love each other, did not renounce themselves for the good of the others like the way Christ has loved us. (John 13:34)
Are we not supposed to defend the truth? Absolutely we are! But first of all we must be certain that we have the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of truth and He will bear witness for Jesus Christ, help us know him and his teachings. (15:26) Jesus embodies the truth (14:6). Therefore, the truth we defend is not some universal abstract philosophical expressions such as "Things have roots and branches while events have beginning and end. Therefore, we must firstly have the Father, before we have the Son." Rather, it is the mercy of the invisible Father whom Jesus Christ represents. Thus, the Holy Spirit is not only the Spirit of truth, but also the Spirit of love.
Father, may the Holy Spirit enkindle our heart to love Jesus Christ. Let us love each other and bear witness to the truth. Amen.

真理就是愛 Truth is Love

復活期第六主日（甲年）
主題：真理就是愛

今天的福音，給我們一個機會，默想「真理」和「愛」的關係。
耶穌說：「如果你們愛我，就要遵守我的命令。」（若14:15）耶穌的命令是甚麼？有很多人誤會了「全心、全靈、全意愛天主」和「愛人如己」是耶穌的教訓，耶穌的命令。對不起！這些不是耶穌基督的教訓。
話說有法學士挑戰耶穌，要祂從梅瑟所頒佈的613條法律中，找出最大的誡命。耶穌基督不慌不忙地，分別引述了記載在【申命紀】及【肋未紀】中上述的法律。所以，這些都是舊約時代梅瑟的教訓，在耶穌出生前1250年的事了。當然，耶穌基督把舊約的教訓完善了。例如，肋未紀中的「愛近人如愛你自己」的誡命，祗涵蓋同胞，不包括外人。但耶穌曾講述「慈善撒瑪黎雅人」的比喻，把這「愛人如己」的誡命，恢復到不分種族國籍，天主的本意。

那麼，甚麼是耶穌的命令呢？耶穌在最後晚餐為門徒洗腳後說：「我給你們一條新命令：你們該彼此相愛；如同我愛了你們，你們也該照樣彼此相愛。」（13:34）這命令與梅瑟的誡命相比，有何超越之處呢？「彼此相愛」和「愛人如己」不是一樣嗎？的確是一樣。然而，它的超越之處，是在於「如同我愛了你們」。耶穌怎樣愛了我們呢？祂為了救贖我們，死在十字架上。祂愛我們愛到痛。如今，耶穌命令我們───注意，不是邀請，而是命令！───為了大眾的益處，基督徒要愛到痛，要慷慨地犧牲！

「愛到痛」違反人性的自然傾向，是合理的嗎？
為甚麼要求我們遵守祂的命令之後，耶穌基督應許賜下聖神呢？聖神如何幫助我們遵守祂的命令呢？
有一次，孔子向他的學生子由解釋，在沒有真理的指導之下，美德會變成弊病。他說：「好仁不好學，其蔽也愚。」【論語‧陽貨】仁愛是美德，但不學習真理，結果好心做壞事，害己害人，愚不可及！的確，怪獸家長溺愛子女，反而窒息了子女的健康成長，便是一個現代貼身的例子。孔子還列舉其他五種德行，在沒有真理指導下所犯的錯處。為了保障門徒不會犯錯，耶穌許下聖神，真理之神，保証我們「愛到痛」的行動是真實的愛，而不是害己害人的愚昧。

榮休教宗本篤十六世在2009年發表了他任內的第三份通諭【在真理中實踐愛德】，指出愛德必須按真理行事。基督宗教的核心教訓是愛德，而愛德幫助人作出全人的發展。人是按天主的肖像所造，內心充滿著對真實的愛的渴望，因為天主是愛。可惜人性被原罪敗壞了，以致所作所為，建造了一個貶低人性尊嚴，窒息人性發展的制度。且看今天的社會，地產發展商得到政府的幫助，不但把樓價托高到青年人無法負擔，更把單位越建越細，祗能容納一個人居住，而不能一個家庭居住。試問下一代還有成家立室，生存發展的空間嗎？二千年前，聖子降生成人，以耶穌基督的身份受難復活，給予門徒新生命和力量，以真理和愛，把貶抑人性尊嚴的制度，改革為幫助人性發展的制度。

本篤十六世指出，真理必須以愛去表達；沒有出於愛的行動，真理祗是空談。另一方面，真理幫助我們明白甚麼是真實的愛；沒有真理，愛祗淪為一種感覺，流於操控對方的自私行為。明白真理幫助我們放下執著，讓彼此可以溝通交談，從而合作建造一些符合人性尊嚴，符合天主旨意，讓人性得以充份發展的關係和制度。

雖然天主聖神被稱為「真理之神」（若14:17），但祂所做的一切，處處表達出真實的愛。
首先，是天主聖神發揮祂的能力，庇蔭童貞瑪利亞，讓她懷孕天主子（路1:35）。跟著，耶穌在約旦河受洗時，天主聖神降臨到祂身上，為祂傅油，確立祂為默西亞，開始祂救世的工程；洗禮後，聖神催促耶穌進入曠野，與撒殫作初步的交鋒，訓練祂應對未來三年的挑戰。耶穌復活升天後，聖神降臨在門徒身上，不但能說各國語說，讓世人聽到得救的福音；更在擘餅禮中降臨，祝聖麵餅和葡萄酒成為耶穌基督所留下的聖體聖血，滋養信徒的生命。聖神感動信徒的愛心，把全部財物捐歸公用，幫助貧窮的弟兄；聖神賜予信徒熱心和勇氣，不惜殉道，為耶穌基督的福音作証。如此種種，可見天主聖神，不單是真理之神，更是愛德之神。

各位兄弟姊妹，為了避免犯孔子所說的「好仁不好學，其蔽也愚」的錯誤，讓我們祈求聖神的光照，讓我們明白真理，領會天主的旨意；更求天主聖神炙熱我們冰冷的心，熱愛真理，愛主愛人，不怕犧牲，無懼「愛到痛」，讓眾人得到全人的發展，讓天主的肖像恢復光芒。
天主保祐！
2014 Reflection

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Sixth Easter Sunday (Year A)
Theme: Truth is Love

The gospel passage today gives us an opportunity to meditate the relation between Truth and Love. Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15) What are the commandments of Jesus? Many people think that "Love our God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our strength" and "Love your neighbour as yourself" are the teachings, the commandments of Jesus. Sorry, they are not!

It so happened that a teacher of the Law challenged Jesus, asking him to name the greatest commandment among the 613 Mosaic laws. Without hesitation, Jesus quoted the two laws from Deuteronomy and Leviticus. Thus, these were the teachings of Moses, more than 1250 years before Christ was born. Of course, Jesus came to fulfil the teachings of the Old Testament. For example, the "Love your neighbour as yourself" commandment from Leviticus applies to one's countrymen only. Gentiles were not included. But when Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan, he restored God's original intention in the commandment, namely, to include people of all nationalities and ethnicities.

So, what is Jesus' commandment? After washing his disciples' feet at the Last Supper, Jesus told them, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (13:34) Comparing this with Mosaic laws, how does it surpass Moses' commandments? Are not "loving one another" and "loving your neighbour as yourself" the same? Indeed, they are. However, Jesus' commandment surpasses Mosaic laws in "even as I have loved you". How did Jesus love us? In order to redeem us, he died on the cross. He loved us until it hurt. Now, Jesus commands us --- note that it was not an invitation but a commandment! --- for the benefits of the people, Christians should love until it hurts, should generously sacrifice!

Love until it hurts goes against natural human inclination. Is it reasonable?
Why did Jesus Christ promise to give us the Holy Spirit after he demanded our keeping his commandments? How does the Holy Spirit help us keep his commandments?
Once, Confucius explained to his disciple Yeou that without the guidance of Truth, virtues could turn into vices. He said, "Amare humanitatem sine amore discendi, hujus vitium, inscitia." (Analect 17:8) Charity is a virtue. But if we do not study truth, we end up doing evil with good intention, hurting ourselves and others. How stupid it is! Truly, that monster parents spoil their children, choking their healthy developments is a modern typical example. Confucius further elaborated five other virtues and their vices when a person was not guided by the truth. In order to prevent his disciples from making this mistake, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth to guarantee that loving others until it hurts is genuine and is not a stupidity that hurts everybody.

In 2009, the then Pope Benedict XVI issued his third encyclical, Caritas in Veritate to tell us that charity must be practiced in truth. The core teaching of Christianity is charity which helps people develop holistically. Men were created in the image of God. Their hearts are filled with the desire for genuine love because God is love. Regrettably, human nature was damaged by the Original Sin so that their efforts turned out to be building institutions that humiliate human dignity and smother human development. Take a look at the Hong Kong society today. Supported by the government, developers not only push up house prices beyond the ability of young people to afford, but also build tiny units only suitable for single persons to live, but cannot accommodate a family. How can our next generation get married, live and develop? Two thousand years ago, the Son of God incarnated in the person of Jesus Christ to die and to rise again so as to give his followers new life and strength to reform with truth and charity, the dehumanizing institutions into ones which are conducive to human development.

Pope Benedict XVI points out that truth must be expressed in charity. Without charitable actions, truth is empty talk. On the other hand, truth helps us understand what genuine love is. Without truth, love is only a feeling, a selfish behaviour which manipulates the other party. Understanding truth helps us let go so that we can communicate and engage in dialogue. Thus we can cooperate to build up relations and institutions which honour human dignity, follow God's will and allow human nature to develop fully.

Though the Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of truth" (John 14:17), whatever He does shows that He is genuine love.
First of all, the Holy Spirit used His power to overshadow the BVM so that she was pregnant with the Son of God (Luke 1:35). When Jesus was baptized in River Jordan, the Holy Spirit came down to anoint him the Messiah to begin his salvation mission. After baptism, the Holy Spirit urged Jesus into the wilderness to preliminarily engage with Satan, training him to deal with challenges in the coming three years. After his ascension, the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples. Not only were they able to speak different languages so that different peoples might hear the gospel of salvation, but the Holy Spirit also came upon the liturgy of breaking bread, turning bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ to nourish the life of the disciples. The Holy Spirit also moved the hearts of the disciples so that they handed over all their property for public use to help the needy brethren. The Holy Spirit also gave the disciples courage and fervent hearts to bear witness to Jesus' gospel even unto martyrdom. From all these, we can see that the Holy Spirit is not only the Spirit of Truth, but is also the Spirit of Love.

Brethren, in order to avoid making the mistake mentioned by Confucius, i.e. It is stupid to desire charity but learn not the truth. Let us pray for the illumination of the Holy Spirit so that we may know the truth and understand the will of God. Furthermore, we should pray to the Holy Spirit to heat up our icy hearts so that we may desire the truth, love God and men and are not afraid to sacrifice, to love until it hurts so that all men may fully develop, and that the image of God may shine forth again.
God bless!

耶穌教我們平安 Jesus teaches us Peace

復活期第五主日（甲年）
主題：耶穌教我們平安

兩日前，讀夜神的舊同學打電話向我哭訴。事緣她的女兒星期六將會飛往加拿大結婚。但她到聖堂為女兒領取領洗紙時，很不順利。堂區秘書說：「對不起，電腦沒有令嬡的領堅振紀錄，請妳通知她領堅振的聖堂，麻煩他們輸入資料吧。」跑到女兒領堅振的聖堂，堂區秘書跟堂區神父朝聖去了，下星期五纔返港，當值的義工不敢自作主張，建議她跑去主教座堂，找陳志明副主教幫忙…
生活中，有不少事物會令人煩亂，沒有平安。例如以上的情況，在你趕時間的時候，對方偏偏慢條斯理。或者我們在健康上出了毛病，睡得不好，導致日間心情煩燥；或者在經濟上失了預算，突然需要大筆金錢應急；或者在工作上遇到不合作的同事、受老闆的氣、捲入辦公室政治鬥爭等；或者在關係上與女朋友／配偶冷戰，又或者您所關心的人生病／遠行，令你牽腸掛肚…遇到這些事情，你會怎麼辦呢？

耶穌在福音中說：「你們心裡不要煩亂；你們要信賴天主，也要信賴我。」（若14:1）我們心裡煩亂，因為我們把焦點放在自己身上。雖然表面上我們要呈現一個堅強的模樣，但是內裡是多麼軟弱，多麼需要有人呵護。難怪我們時常被外界事物和內裡的情緒，令自己心裡煩亂，失去方寸。耶穌教訓我們信賴天主，以天主的眼光看世界，以天主的旨意作為生命的依歸。以天主為後盾，還有甚麼可以動搖我們，亂了我們的陣腳，使我們的心煩亂呢？

我的同學心煩意亂，原來她想趕快辦妥，讓女兒帶著領洗紙登機，做母親的便可以心安理得。為甚麼不可以拿到領洗紙後，寄往加拿大呢？她恐怕會寄失…這樣想，合理嗎？她的心太煩亂了，忘記了事物的緩急輕重。
有病應該要求醫，但很奇怪，很多人不知為了甚麼原因，總是諱疾忌醫，拖延時間，結果錯過治病的黃金機會，健康反而惡化。若以天主的眼光看自己，自己是按天主的肖像所造，我們有責任保養好這個身體，為天主服務，光榮天主。 治病可能對家人造成沉重的經濟負擔。難道信賴天主，天主會從天上掉下金錢給你治病嗎？會。天主會藉著我們的親友恩人，接濟我們。問題是我們能否放下自我，謙遜地接受朋友的幫助，抑或祗願意接受全能天主的幫助呢？
我們放棄治療，可能是因為經濟負擔，又或者所患的是不治之症，試過了最新最貴的藥，也不見效。這時候，我們可能會怪責天主不好好照顧我們。既然這樣，信賴天主又有甚麼用處呢？有！我們可以運用這病苦，做有意義的事。

1. 把痛苦奉獻給天主，與基督的苦難結合，拯救世界。
2. 出於對基督的愛，喜樂地忍受病苦，在親友、醫護人員面前見証基督的愛，希望他們也能皈依耶穌基督。

在人際關係方面，無論在工作上、在家庭裡，著眼在自己身上，永遠是產生問題的根源。基督宗教的核心教訓在於愛，在於關懷他人的需要。天主願意我們把眼光，從自我轉移到別人身上；不是在別人身上找出缺點來提高自己的地位，而是找出別人的需要，伸出援手，助人解困。這樣做，我們還有時間心裡煩亂嗎？或者你會投訴，我們的疾病、我們的經濟困難、我們的人際關係問題，誰來為我們解決呢？

小心，很多人樂意幫助他人，甚至是忘我地幫助別人，可能他們是在逃避現實，不願面對家中的親人和配偶，不願與同事和好，甚至不願意寬恕自己，以做善事來懲罰自己。這是多麼可憐啊！因為所做的一切，缺乏了愛。缺乏了對自己的愛、對家人的愛和對天主的愛。保祿宗徒在格林多前書第十三章，細說愛的特徵之前，首先指出，如果沒有愛，一切都是無益的。他說：「我若能說人間的語言，和能說天使的語言，但我若沒有愛，我就成了個發聲的鑼，或發響的鈸。我若有先知之恩，又明白一切奧秘和各種知識；我若有全備的信心，甚至能移山，但我若沒有愛，我甚麼也不算。我若把我所有的財產全施捨了，我若捨身投火被焚；但我若沒有愛，為我毫無益處。」（格前13:1-3）

耶穌基督教訓我們信賴天主，因為天主是愛。所以我們要信賴愛，信賴天父對我們無微不至的愛。我們要信賴耶穌基督，因為祂具體地愛我們，甚至為赦免我們的罪而自作犧牲，指示出回歸父家的道路，顯現出天父愛我們的真理。最後，祂留下聖體聖事，並以自己的復活，賜給我們生命。試問世上還有甚麼事物，還可以令我們心煩意亂呢？

主內的兄弟姊妹，讓我們仰望復活的基督，信賴祂的受難復活，祈求祂賜予平安，在生活中像祂一樣去愛，去為天主的光榮作見證。
天主保祐！

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The Fifth Easter Sunday (Year A)
Theme: Jesus teaches us Peace

Two days ago on Friday, a Religious Sciences classmate of mine called and grumbled. Her daughter would fly to Canada to get married on Saturday. But it was all hell when she went to the church to get the baptismal certificate of her daughter. The Parish Secretary told her, "I am sorry. The computer has no record of her Confirmation. Would you inform the parish where she was confirmed to enter the data?" Then my classmate rushed to the said parish, only to find that the Parish Secretary and the Parish Priest went pilgrimage. The volunteer on duty dared not to take the responsibility and suggested her going to the Cathedral to seek the help of the Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Dominic Chan etc.
There are many such things in our daily life which trouble our hearts, leaving us no peace. For the example above, when you are in a hurry, the other side proceeds like a tortoise! Or perhaps you toss and turn the whole night because of illness, making you irritable the next day; or suddenly you are badly in need of cash beyond your budget; or you have started a cold-war with your girlfriend/spouse; or you have terrible butterflies in your stomach because the one you care falls sick or goes abroad etc. In such situations, what would you do?

Jesus says, "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1) Our hearts are troubled because we focus on ourselves! Although superficially we need to put up a brave face, we are weak inside and in need of care. No wonder we are easily troubled by external events or internal moods and lose directions. Jesus teaches us to believe in God, use the gaze of God to see the world, and make God's will the core of our life. With God as our shield and our rock, can there be things that are able to shake our ground, trouble our hearts?

My classmate was troubled because she wanted to get things done quickly so that her daughter could board the plane with the baptismal certificate. Then the mother would find peace in her heart. Why would she not mail the certificate to Canada later? She worried that it would be lost ... Was this reasonable? She had lost orientation and priorities because her heart was troubled.
We should consult physicians when we get sick. But curiously for some unknown reasons, many people are reluctant to seek medical help. Procrastination costs them to miss the golden opportunity to get cured. Consequently their health deteriorates. If we look at ourselves in God's gaze, we see that we were created in the image of God. We have the responsibility to take good care of our body to serve God, to glorify Him.
Treating diseases may put heavy financial burdens on our family members. Would God drop money from heavens if we believed in Him? Affirmative! God would send us relief through our relatives, friends and even benefactors. The problem is whether we are able to let go our pride, humbly accept others' help or insist on accepting help only from our Almighty God?
Perhaps financial burden is one reason to give up treatment. Or perhaps the disease is incurable even after trying the most expensive and the latest drug. At that moment, we might blame God for not taking good care of us. Then, what's the point of believing in God anymore? Affirmative! We may make good use of the suffering to do meaningful things.

1. To offer up our pains to God, combine with Christ's Passion to deliver the world.
2. To suffer pains joyfully for the love of Christ. Thus we may bear witness to the love of Christ before our relatives, friends and medical staff, hoping that they may convert and believe in Jesus Christ.

Focusing on ourselves is always the source of troubles in relations, whether it be work or family. The core of Christianity is love, is the care of others' deficiency. God wants us to direct our sight away from ourselves to others, not to find faults with them to elevate our station but to discover their needs, to extend a helping hand. In doing so, do we have the time and the mood to be troubled? Perhaps you may complain, "Who will solve our health, finance and relationship problems?"

Beware, many people are happy to help others, even selflessly. Perhaps they are running away from reality, from their family members and spouses, from reconciliation with their colleagues. They may even be reluctant to forgive themselves, punishing themselves by doing a lot of good works. How pitiful because there is no love in all these endeavours! There is a lack of love for oneself, for his family members and for God. Before describing the characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul points out that without love, one gains nothing. He says, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Jesus Christ teaches us to believe in God because God is love. Thus, we should believe in love, believe in the meticulous love the Father has for us. We should believe in Jesus Christ because He loves us concretely, even to sacrifice himself on the cross to forgive our sins. He shows us the Way home to the Father, manifests the Truth of the Father's love for us. Lastly, he leaves behind the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and he came back to life to give us Life. What on earth can trouble our hearts anymore?

Brethren, let us look up to the Risen Christ, believe in His Passion and Resurrection, beseech Him to grant us peace so that we may love like Him and bear witness to God's glory in our daily life.
God bless!

回應聖召 To Answer God's Call

復活期第四主日（甲年）
主題：回應聖召

跟隨著時代的步伐，天主教香港教區也有運用互聯網，以中文及英文，向世界展示香港教區的現況。可喜的是，2017年換了一個在視覺上比以前更吸引的版面，值得大家細心瀏覽。當中，我找到一些有意義的教務統計數字，這些數字是以每年八月三十一日為準的。

首先，截至去年八月三十一日，香港永久居民當中，約有389,000教友，非永久居民的，約有202,000教友，分佈在港九新界52個堂區之中。他們由4位主教管理，288位神父及29位執事牧養。執事之中，4位是過渡性執事，如無意外，在未來一兩年內晉鐸。聖神修院提供的七年神父培育課程，目前有24位修生供讀，計香港教區5位，其中兩位是來自本堂區的！所以湯漢樞機將會在五月廿一日，蒞臨本堂主持聖召彌撒。其他教區有2位，修會有17位。即是說，全港591,000教友，由321位神職人員牧養，平均每位神職人員要照顧1,840人。倘若神職人員每天工作8小時，每月工作26天的話，每位教友祗分到每個月約7分鐘的靈性照顧！老實說，每個月得7分鐘的照顧，又怎樣做到耶穌基督的要求，「他按著名字呼喚自己的羊」（若10:3）呢？又如何帶領羊群「找著草場」（10:9）呢？

近年來，香港教區每年復活節前夕約有3,000人領洗，但全年領洗的總人數，卻是多達6,600人。倘若每年以這個數字增長，未來七年，將有46,200人加入教會。即使全數24位修生可以晉鐸，亦祗照顧到44,200人。況且，今年已有好幾位神父相繼去世。上述的統計數字，並沒有披露神職人員的平均年齡！所以，香港教區所面臨的教務困難，可想而知。神職人員的聖召對香港教區，顯得非常重要。
以上的數字，我是刻意沒有提到修女的，以突顯出每個月7分鐘靈性照顧的不足。倘若香港沒有了修女，香港教區的教務不可能有今天的成績。可幸香港有469位修女，分擔了321位神職人員的其他工作，纔能維持到今天的服務。因此，修女的聖召，對香港教區同樣重要。（http://catholic.org.hk/香港教區教務統計-2/）

這些數字讓我聯想起近來公演的一齣宗教電影【沉默】的一些劇情。十七世紀的日本天主教徒遇上教難，沒有神職人員為他們主持彌撒，聽告解。在這段艱難的歲月中，他們祗能施行洗禮、祈禱、唱聖詠和把教義口耳相傳，直到有耶穌會的神父偷渡來到。他們將那份久旱逢甘露的喜樂，表露無遺，令觀眾感動，刺激天主教徒反省自己的幸福。但幸福不是必然的。因為當權者可以出於自私，以暴力剝削千千萬萬天主教徒敬拜天主的權利，以酷刑對待教友，逼使神父背教，以消滅基督宗教對日本、對自己的國家的影響，斷絕教友的靈性生命。最諷刺的，就是對天主教會進行迫害的日本官員，竟是曾接受天主教神父一手教育出來的學生。他們憑天主教教育飛黃騰達，卻反過來鏟除天主教在日本生長的根。不要以為這是四百年前日本的事，其實今天我們正捱受類似的教難。這要由在香港辦學的修會學校說起。它們在十九世紀中開始來港服務，為香港社會訓練出優秀的中產階級，貢獻了香港社會。可惜，很少甚至沒有學生回應聖召，加入培育他們的修會團體。他們辦學成功，卻沒有為修會帶來聖召，以到今天不少修會學校，要由平信徒，甚至不是基督徒，擔任校長一職，真教人唏噓不已。

其實，當權者的自私，固然造成教會的迫害。可是，教友本身為了自己著想，何嘗不會造成對教會另類的迫害呢？
是甚麼因素，導到今天聖召不振呢？是天主沒有向青年人招手嗎？這是沒有可能的。如果天主沒有停止聖召，又是甚麼因素，令青年男女不回應天主的呼召呢？是富裕的生活嗎？文天祥的【正氣歌】有云：「時窮節乃現，一一垂丹青。」莫非在經濟貧乏，甚至遇上教難時，纔會有蓬勃的聖召嗎？

我個人認為，不是天主的沉默，也不是社會的富裕，令聖召不振。問題的核心在於青年人對天主的信德不足。在今天的社會，大多數的家庭是「核心家庭」，夫妻倆育有一至兩個孩子，甚至不生育。另一方面，青年人目睹香港人口老化加劇，供養父母，以盡孝道，祗能落在一兩個兄弟姊妹身上。這樣沉重的壓力，叫他們何來信心回應聖召呢？這是信心的問題，因為在理智上，我們肯定天主上智的安排，一定比我們個人有限能力的安排更妥善。但我們仍不放心，仍把持著想自己親自照顧年邁的雙親。這份情意結，若沒有天主特別的護祐，的確不易克服。

各位兄弟姊妹，今天是「善牧主日」，又是「聖召主日」。讓我們向耶穌基督祈求，賜予青年人更大的信心，把自己託付在天父的旨意中，使天主的羊，找到草場，健壯成長。 天主保祐！

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Fourth Easter Sunday (Year A)
Theme: To Answer God's Call

Following the footstep of this generation, the Catholic Hong Kong Diocese makes use of the Internet to display the present situation of the Diocese both in Chinese and English. In 2017, it is delightful to see a facelift of the official webpage and is worth browsing. There, I unearth some meaningful statistics of the Diocese as of August 31, 2016.

First of all, among the local residents, the Catholic population was about 389,000. Amongst the non-residents, it was about 202,000. They live among 52 parishes, are governed by 4 bishops, taken care of by 288 priests and 29 deacons. Among the deacons, 4 are transitory. They are expected to be ordained within one to two years. The Holy Spirit Seminary offers a 7-year priestly formation program which is attended by 24 seminarians. 5 of them came from the Hong Kong Diocese. Amongst the five, two came from our Parish. That is why His Excellency Cardinal John Tong will come to celebrate a Vocation Mass on May 21. The rest of the seminarians came from other dioceses and religious orders. In short, 321 clergy take care of 591,000 parishioners. That is 1,840 parishioners per clergy. If each clergy works 8 hours a day, 26 days a month, each parishioner can share 7 minutes of spiritual care per month! Frankly speaking, how can 7 minutes per month meet Jesus' demand to "call his own sheep by name" (John 10:3)? And how can the clergy lead the parishioners out to "find pasture" (10:9)?

In recent years, about 3,000 people were baptized each year during Easter Vigil. But actually, the total number of people baptized throughout the year was 6,600. If the figure continues in the next 7 years, some 46,200 people will be baptized into the Church. Even if all 24 seminarians were ordained, they would only take care of 44,200 parishioners. Worse still, a few priests have recently passed away. The figures above did not reveal the average age of the clergy! Thus, one can imagine the acuteness of the problem. Priestly vocation is obviously very essential for the Hong Kong Diocese.
I deliberately withheld the number of nuns to highlight the insufficiency of spiritual care of 7 minutes per month. If there were no nuns in Hong Kong, the Diocese would not have functioned properly. Luckily, there are 469 nuns sharing the other works of the 321 clergy to maintain the ministry today. Thus, vocation for consecrated life is as important for the Catholic Hong Kong Diocese. (http://catholic.org.hk/en/香港教區教務統計-2/)

These numbers remind me of the story of a recently released religious movie, SILENCE. The Japanese Catholics in the 17^th Century suffered persecution. There was no priest to celebrate mass or hear confession for them. In these difficult times, they could only baptize, pray, sing hymns and pass on their faith orally until some Jesuits illegally landed. The joy, which was like receiving rain during an extended drought, was touching and stimulated Catholic viewers to reflect on the freedom they have been enjoying. But we cannot take freedom for granted. Out of selfishness, people in power would violently deprive tens of thousands of Catholics of their rights to worship God. They would torture the laity to force the priests to apostate. The irony was that these mandarins were taught by Catholic priests. They flew high with the Catholic education they had received and yet turned around to bite the hands that fed them. Do not think that it happened only in Japan 400 years ago. Today, we are suffering from a similar persecution. The story began with religious schools offering Catholic education to Hong Kong beginning in mid-19^th century. They successfully bred an outstanding middle class, contributing to the prosperity of Hong Kong. Sadly, very few and even none of their students responded to vocation to join the religious orders that had reared them. These religious orders had been successful in running schools but had failed to cultivate vocation. Today, it is sad to see some of their schools headed by laity or even non-Catholic principals!

The selfishness of people in power could cause the persecution of the Church. However, when the laity thinks too much for themselves, would it not be another form of persecution?
What causes the withering of vocation? Does God stop calling young people? That is impossible. If God does not stop calling, what other factors prevent young people from answering God's call? Is it affluence? There is such a line in a Chinese poem, "Guts manifest in tribulations. History remembers their names." Do we need an economic recession or a religious persecution to boost vocation?

Personally, I think that it is neither the silence of God nor the affluence of a society that smothers vocation. Rather the lack of faith among young people is the gist of the problem. Nowadays many families are nuclear. Couples raise one or two children and some even none. On the other hand, young people see the rapid ageing of the population. The burden to support aged parents falls on the shoulders of one or two siblings. With such a heavy burden, where comes the faith to answer vocation? It is a crisis of faith because in our mind, we are sure that God's superb arrangement far surpasses our arrangements with limited capabilities. But we still cannot let go. We insist on taking care of our aged parents with our pair of hands. Indeed, this psychological complex cannot be easily overcome without God's special blessing.

Brethren, today is the Sunday of the Good Shepherd. It is also the Vocation Sunday. Let us pray to Jesus Christ to give young people a greater faith. Submit themselves to the will of God so that God's sheep may find the pasture and grow strong.
God bless!