主題：耶穌要揭露你的私隱嗎？
經過差不多六十天的復活期慶典，我們又歸於平淡，回到綠色的常年期，可以深入領會主耶穌的內心世界了！今年選讀的是瑪竇福音，它有很清晰的結構，而且也有雄心壯志，把這部耶穌傳打造成一本「梅瑟五書」。在瑪竇福音裡，我們找到五大段「演說」，包括大家很熟悉，瑪5-7章又稱為「天國大憲章」的「山中聖訓」；瑪10章的「傳教法令」；瑪13章的「天國的比喻」；瑪18章的「教會生活」與及瑪24-25章的「末世言論」。今天我們選讀的福音，是「傳教法令」的一部份。明白了它的上文下理，就不會誤解經文的意義和耶穌的心意，當明天我們投入「街頭福傳」的時候，便更有信心了。
「沒有遮掩的事，將來不被揭露的；也沒有隱藏的事，將來不被知道的。」（瑪10:26）驟耳聽來，這句說話好像警告我們不可做違背良心的事，不可隱瞞一些不可告人的秘密！因為「若要人不知，除非己莫為」，連耶穌也警告我們不可做壞事云云，有些教派，甚至引用這段經文，命令教徒不可有任何私隱，把所有私人積蓄，全部奉獻給教會云云！可見解經時「斷章取義」的害處。
在太平盛世，人人過著安居樂業的生活，沒有人覺得需要天主的慈悲，天主的拯救。這個時候，向人宣講天主是愛，天主樂意與罪人和好，恐怕沒有人會領情。傳福音的第一個「怕」，是怕被拒絕。
在天水圍社區，我們既不是生活在太平盛世，又不是生活在宗教迫害之中。所以，我們少了兩個害怕！即是說，當我們向街坊傳福音的時候，我們不會成為殉道者，我們亦不會被拒絕，祗怕教錯人。
其實，耶穌已經保證了所有被遮掩的事，被隱藏的事，即使是教錯了的道理，天主聖神也會令聽眾明白天主的真理（10:26-27），我們還需要「害怕教錯別人」嗎？倘若時局變差，「一國兩制」失敗了，天主教香港教區要聽從「愛國教會」指揮的時候，我們也不用害怕殉道，因為肉身可以被殺害，但靈魂不會因殉道而受損。怕祗怕出賣了靈魂之後，仍然落得一個死無葬身之地的下場（10:28），那纔是值得害怕。倘若時局好轉，勞資雙方合作，建制派與泛民大和解，中央放手香港高度自治，達到太平盛世，人人安居樂業，人人再沒有半點憂愁，不再需要天主的憐憫。不要忘記，我們正享受著天主給我們數頭髮（10:30），別人拒絕我們的宣講，我們還需要顧慮我們的傳教業績嗎？
各位兄弟姊妹，我們祗是「徒弟」，我們沒有本事勝過師父的（10:24）。耶穌傳福音的時候，固然吸引了不少人，但亦有拒絕祂的經師，有殺死祂的比拉多。所以，明天，讓我們放下顧慮，不要斤斤計較成果地福傳去吧！
若我們從上下文來看，就知道耶穌不是要求門徒奉獻所有的金錢，而是告訴門徒不要害怕傳福音。其實，傳福音有甚麼可怕呢？
倘若生活在無神論的極權國家，動輒便拿基督徒做代罪羔羊，對教會的產業虎視眈眈，並進行宗教迫害來充公教會產業。這是一個教難的時代，傳福音祗會招來殺身之禍，成為殉道者。這是傳福音的第二個「怕」，怕喪失生命。
如今既非太平盛世，又不是宗教迫害的時代，很多教友會覺得自己對道理的認識不足，怕教錯別人。這是傳福音的第三個「怕」，怕誤人子弟。
事實上，我們低估了天水圍居民對福音的渴望。他們受著生活的壓迫，在外人眼中生活在所謂「悲情城市」，他們是渴望得到一份關懷、一線希望。讓我與大家分享兩個接觸居民的經驗。第一個是「天使的禮物」活動。堂區關社組的義工，帶著收集回來的禮物，包括口罩、手襪、蚊膏及潤手膏，探訪區內的外判清潔工人，表達聖葉理諾堂認同他們的貢獻及對他們的關懷。我們抱著戰戰兢兢的心情出發，一方面天氣並不理想，既悶熱，又好像快要下雨。另一方面未知清潔工人的反應，他們會否埋怨我們阻礙他們的工作，或者拒絕聽教徒說教呢？出發前果然下雨，祈禱出發時，雲端露出陽光，並吹來一襲清風。我們即時信心倍增，原來天主正陪伴著我們出發，把祂的慈悲帶給清潔工人。初接觸時，他們抱有戒心，保持距離是可以理解的，但並不如我們想像中的困難。應該是天主聖神的化工，當我們道明來意之後，他們亦放下抗拒，樂意傾訴他們在工作上遇到的困難和不禮貎的遭遇。第一次接觸亦沒有機會說教，祗是交過朋友，以後尚有很多機會介紹耶穌基督的福音。
第一個活動是有目標的，刻意的。第二個經驗是無心插柳的。話說聖雲先會，就是那個每月在第一個主日募捐的善會，去年聖誕節前往長者中心報佳音，與「老友記」們玩過遊戲後，回程時仍興高采烈，津津樂道剛才長者們的積極投入，一路上有一位好像是中心職員的男士同行，後來纔知道是一位「路人甲」，他因生活的關係很困擾，卻被我們的喜樂吸引了。當然我們沒有能力為他立刻解決問題，我們祗有送上一個聖牌和我們的祝福。這位「路人甲」深受感動，感染了我們的喜樂回去了。以後，就交給天主了。
天主保祐！
Twelfth Ordinary Sunday (Year A)
Theme: Does Jesus Want to Expose Your Privacy?
We have spent about sixty days celebrating the Easter Season. Now we return to the green Ordinary to explore the inner thoughts of our Lord Jesus! This year we read the gospel according to St. Matthew. Its structure is very clear and ambitious. This biography of Jesus wants to become another Pentateuch. We find five discourses in this gospel, including the all familiar Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Discourse on Missionary (10), Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven (13), on Life in the Church (18) and Eschatology (24-25). The passage today is taken from the Discourse on Missionary. Understanding the context, we will not miss the meanings and intention of Jesus. Tomorrow (June 25) when we go out to evangelize on the streets, we will be more confident.
In the naked ear, "For nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known." (10:26) sounds like a warning against doing wrong things with a guilty conscience or harbour some unspeakable secrets! If you don't want others to know, don't do it, and even Jesus warns us not to do bad things etc. Some cults even quote this passage to command members not to have privacy. Hand over all savings to the cults etc. How terrible it is to interpret texts out of context!
During good times, people have secure jobs and lead a comfortable life. God's mercy and salvation would be the last thing on their minds. When you tell them God's love, that God is happy to reconcile with sinners, I am afraid nobody would buy you. Thus, the first fear of evangelization is the fear of being rejected.
In our Tin Shui Wai community, we are living neither in good times nor times of tribulations. Thus, we have two fears less. That is to say, when we evangelize, we will not become martyrs, nor be rejected. We only fear misrepresentation.
Indeed, Jesus has guaranteed that the truth of all covered or hidden things, even articles of faith wrongly taught, would be made known by the Holy Spirit (10:26-27). Do we still fear of teaching people the wrong things? If times turned bad, "One Country Two Systems" failed and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong had to take orders from the "Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association", we would not be afraid of martyrdom because our bodies can be killed but our souls will not be harmed by martyrdom. Rather, we should only fear that after betraying our souls, we end up dying without a proper burial. (10:28) If times turn peaceful, employers and employees work together, the pro-establishment camp reconciles with the pan-democrats, the Central Government gives Hong Kong people a free hand to run the local government, everybody is secure and without a trace of worry and no longer in need of God's mercy. Don't forget, we are enjoying God's counting our hair (10:30). If people reject our proclamation, do we need to worry the achievements of our evangelization?
Brethren, we are only disciples. We are not above our Teacher (10:24). When Jesus evangelized, of course he had attracted a large number of followers. But scribes rejected him and Pilate killed him. Thus, tomorrow, we should put away our worries. Evangelize without counting the achievements!
If we read the text in context, we know that Jesus does not want the disciples to offer up all their money. He tells them not fear in mission. Well, what is so fearful about in evangelization?
If we live in an atheist totalitarian state which frequently victimizes Christians, makes them scapegoats, eyes their property, persecutes and confiscates their estates. This would be an era of persecutions. You might end up being killed for evangelization and become martyrs. Thus, the second fear of evangelization is the fear of martyrdom.
Now it is neither good times nor tribulation times. Many faithful think that their knowledge of the Bible or the Church is deficient. They are afraid of telling the wrong things to others. Thus the third fear of evangelization is the fear of misrepresentation.
In fact, we have underestimated the people's desire to know the gospel. They suffer under the burden of life. They live in a "pathetic city" in the eyes of outsiders. They desire compassion and a ray of hope. Let me share with you two occasions of meeting people here. The first one was the "Angel's Gifts". The Social Concern Group of the parish brought the gifts they collected, including masks, gloves, mosquito repellent and hand cream etc. to visit outsourced janitors in the community. We wanted to express our appreciation of their hard work and show our care. At first, we were hesitant because the weather was stuffy and about to rain. On the other hand, we did not know the reactions of the janitors. Would they find us obstructing their works or refuse to hear our preaching? Before we started, it rained. After prayer, the sun came out behind the clouds. We were greeted by a refreshing breeze. Our faith rekindled. God was accompanying us to bring His compassion to the janitors. During our first encounters, they were defensive naturally. It was understandable that they kept a distance. But it was not as difficult as we imagined. The Holy Spirit must have been working. After telling them our purposes, they put down their defence and were eager to tell us the difficulties and impoliteness they met in their works. We did not preach and just befriended them in this first meeting. We would have many opportunities to talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ in the future.
This first occasion was deliberate and had a target. But the second occasion was unintentional. Last Christmas, members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society went carolling in an elderly centre. Afterwards on our way home, we were still very eager talking about how enthusiastic the elderly were enjoying themselves. A gentleman who seemed to be a staff member of the centre was walking along with us. Later we knew that he was just a passer-by. He was depressed by the difficulties in work and at home but was attracted by our joy and cheers. Of course we were not capable of solving his difficulties. We could only give him a Marian medal and our blessing. This gentleman was deeply touched and returned home, cheered by our joy. We leave the rest to God.
God bless!
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