聖雲先會聖葉理諾堂協會二十周年 20th Anniversary of the St. Jerome's Parish Conference, St. Vincent de Paul Society

常年期第十五主日（甲年）
暨聖雲先會聖聖葉理諾堂協會二十周年
主題：結常存的果實

在三部對觀福音之中，都可以找到「撒種的比喻」，但惟有【瑪竇福音】把它編排作耶穌說的第一個比喻。這個比喻可以說是瞭解其他比喻的鎖匙，所以耶穌作出了詳細的解釋。二千年後，我們能進一步解釋的空間已不多了。
所謂「人心之不同，如其面焉。」對於天主願意與罪人和好的福音，不是人人都樂意接受的！有人乾脆不相信世上有這樣便宜的事，拒絕了福音的邀請去悔改；有人相信，但缺乏實踐，使這信仰紮根，故此經不起了考驗；有人相信，但認為人生有比皈依天主更重要的事，他們把福音塵封在聖經裡，結果毫無得益。惟有那些聽了，相信了，並付諸實踐的人，終能獲得參與天主的永恆生命。為我來說，能成就三十倍的收獲，已心滿意足！

教會幫助信友爭取這永恆的福樂，教會內歷代的聖人，把他們親近天主的經驗，建立了不同的靈修傳統，幫助我們在塵世生活中，找到天主。靈修的傳統粗略可分為隱居的默觀與入世的傳教兩種。前者可以達到神魂的超拔，榮福直觀，看見天主的光榮；後者可以轟轟烈烈地殉道，使信仰的種子開花結果。當然，在此兩極之間，有不同程度的默觀與福傳的組合，亦是成聖之道。因為愛德的實踐，更能彰顯福音的真理。
教區及堂區生活中有不少的善會組織，幫助不同性格需要的教友親近天主。有些是禮儀性的，注重以祈禱行動，在靈性上與天主契合；有些是服務性的，注重以愛德行動，為天主的愛作見証。聖雲先會屬於後者，他們作為耶穌基督的大使，服務區內被忽視的社群。當然，他們亦有深厚的愛德靈修，以祈禱的精神配合他們的愛德服務。作為協會神師，我最欣賞的，就是聖雲先會所提出「愛德網絡」的觀念，和給予會員實踐七端真福的機會。

第一，所謂「孤掌難鳴」，任何崇高的理想，都不是一個人可以「白手興家」的，必須團結眾人的力量，方可完成。我們認識到自己的不足，我們的貧乏，所以我們自己必須謙卑，纔可以團結其他人，建立這個「愛德網絡」。這就是「神貧的人是有福的」的意義。第二，在探望貧苦者的時候，雖然我們會盡力為他們解困，但現實是殘酷的，面對很多處境，我們是無能為力的，我們祗能與「哭泣者一同哭泣」。這就是「哀慟的人是有福的」的意義。第三，我們抱著尊重的態度而不是施捨的態度，探訪和安慰貧困者，不會強加我們的意欲到他們身上。這就履行了「溫良的人是有福的」。第四，我們明白到很多貧困者所承受的精神困擾或經濟困難，都是來自所謂「結構性的罪惡，制度上的不公義」。因此，聖雲先會的會員是多麼渴望公義得以伸張。這就是「飢渴慕義的人是有福的」的意義。我們憐憫他人的不幸，一心一意追求天主的旨意，把平安帶給我們服務的人。各位會員，大家已實踐了七端真福了！倘若天主慈悲，讓聖雲先會會員為義而受迫害，這將會是何等完滿的福氣！

感激各位今天出席我們二十周年的慶祝，感激各位前任神師的支持和栽培，感謝各位前輩會員為本會在天水圍區打下堅實的基礎。願天主降福各位，讓我們可以一起在成聖的路上邁進，讓更多人分沾福音的喜樂，結出更多常存的果實，同聲讚美上主我們的天主。
天主保祐！

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Fifteenth Ordinary Sunday (Year A) cum
20^th Anniversary of the St. Jerome's Parish Conference, St. Vincent de Paul Society
Theme: To Bear Eternal Fruits

The Parable of the Sower is found among all three Synoptic Gospels, but only Matthew makes it the first parable told by Jesus. This parable is the key to the understanding of all other parables. So Jesus explains it in detail. After two millennia, there is not much room for further interpretation.
As the idiom goes, "Human hearts are different like faces!" People may not be eager to receive the good news that God wants to reconcile with sinners. Some simply dare not to believe that there is such a good fortune on earth. They flatly reject the gospel's invitation to repentance. Some believe but do not practise to make the faith take root. Their faith collapses upon challenges. Some believe but think that there are more important things to do than returning to God. The gospel message gathers dust inside the Bible and does them no benefit. Only those who hear, believe and put into practice are able to partake in the eternal life of God. As for me, I shall be satisfied with achieving thirtyfold of harvest!

The Catholic Church helps the laity achieve this eternal bliss. Throughout the ages, saints of the Catholic Church compile their fruits of encounter with God and build up different spirituality traditions to help us find God in our secular life. Spirituality traditions can roughly be divided into two types: mystic contemplative ones and active evangelical ones. The former may achieve ecstasy and beatific vision, thus seeing the glory of God directly. The latter may die a glorious martyrdom, spreading the seeds of faith. Of course, between these two poles, there is a wide spectrum of sanctification comprising different degrees of contemplation and evangelization. Corporal works of charity can best manifest the truth of gospel teachings.
In the parishes and the diocese, there are different laity associations to cater for the spiritual needs of people with different temperaments. Some associations are liturgical. They focus more on prayers and spiritual union with God. Others are more service-oriented. They focus more on charity and bearing witness to God's love. St. Vincent de Paul Society belongs to the latter category. As ambassadors of Jesus Christ, St. Vincent de Paul members serve the disadvantaged in the neighbourhood. Of course, they have deep charity spirituality, combining prayers with charitable works. As the spiritual director of a conference, I like its concept of a "network of charity" and the opportunities it offers members to achieve seven Beatitudes.

First of all, "it takes two to tango". One cannot achieve any noble cause singlehandedly. One needs to work with others. We need to know our limitations, our poverty. Thus, we humble ourselves to work with others to build up this "network of charity". This is the meaning of "Blessed are the poor in spirit". Secondly, the reality is when we visit the poor there are always depravations which we cannot overcome no matter how hard we try. We can only "weep with those who weep". This is the meaning of "Blessed are the mournful". Thirdly, we respect the dignity of people we visit. We do not treat them as lower than us. We do not impose our wishes on them. We put "Blessed are the meek" into practice. Fourthly, we understand that the mental sufferings and financial depravations of the poor are the results of structural sins and institutional injustice. Thus members of St. Vincent de Paul hunger and thirst for justice. We are merciful to the unfortunate. We pursue the will of God with a single mind. We bring peace to the people we serve. Dear members, we have already achieved seven Beatitudes. If God's mercy permits, let us be persecuted for the sake of justice. How perfectly blessed we are! I thank you all for coming to join us this 20^th Anniversary celebration. I thank all previous spiritual directors for their support and guidance. I thank all past and present members to build up a solid foundation for our service in Tin Shui Wai. May the good Lord bless you all. Let us proceed steadily on the path of sanctification. May more people share the joy of the gospel, bear more fruits and praise the Lord our God in one voice.
God bless!