主題：成了耶穌基督的絆腳石
瑪竇福音給我們一個比較全面的圖像。且看，教會的磐石，今天竟然成了耶穌基督的「絆腳石」！這是甚麼道理呢？讓我們默想其中的意義！
首先，我們感謝天主父，祂揀選了西滿伯多祿作為教會的磐石，並不是因為伯多祿的能力，或者他超越的聖德。從往後所發生的事蹟可見，伯多祿和我們沒有多大分別，他有著各種人性的軟弱。例如他曾為了抬舉自己而貶低其他的門徒，在最後晚餐時，耶穌透露門徒們會為了自保而捨棄他的時候，伯多祿搶先表示忠心說：「即使眾人都為你的緣故跌倒，我決不會跌倒。」（瑪26:33）；他為人衝動，耶穌在山園被捕時，是伯多祿拔劍拒捕，砍下大司祭僕人的右耳（26:51）；後來在大司祭庭院內，因恐懼而三次否認耶穌（26:69-75）；縱使後來聖神降臨後，他曾改變過來，變得勇敢和明智，但在「安提約基雅事件」中，保祿宗徒曾狠狠批評伯多祿的表現，有違福音的精神。（迦2:11-21）那些反對天主教的基督教派，很喜歡引用這事件來批評「教宗」的制度。最後，傳說在尼祿凱撒大舉迫害在羅馬的教友時，教友們力勸伯多祿逃走。伯多祿「順從民意」走了。在城外遇見耶穌，伯多祿問耶穌「您往哪 Quo Vadis？」耶穌說，「我要去羅馬再被釘Romam eo iterum crucifigi！」伯多祿醒悟過來，並獲得勇氣，返回羅馬城的崗位，在那裡殉道。今天羅馬城外，就在傳說中伯多祿遇到耶穌的地方，建築了一座小教堂，內裡有一塊印了耶穌腳印的雲石。倘若這樣軟弱而且這樣多缺點的一個伯多祿也可以成為教會的磐石，您和我也可以了！誠然，這是天主的工程，不是我們的功勞。
其次，我們很自然會問，是甚麼令一塊教會磐石變成耶穌基督的「絆腳石」呢？耶穌解釋說：「因為你所體會的不是天主的事，而是人的事。」（瑪16:23）原來伯多祿勸諫耶穌不要受難是錯的。是人的事，而不是天主的旨意。甚麼是人的事呢？例如，看見惡人當道，為非作歹，忠良受害而不能通過合法的途徑去解決的時候，我們很容易抱怨天主為甚麼不消滅這些壞人。甚麼是天主的旨意呢？耶穌進一步說明：「誰若願意跟隨我，該棄絕自己，背著自己的十字架來跟隨我，因為誰若願意救自己的性命，必要喪失性命；但誰若為我的原故，喪失自己的性命，必要獲得性命。」（16:24-25）背著十字架受苦，有用嗎？說甚麼「置諸死地而後生」，聽起來有點玄妙，於事無補。保祿宗徒也曾提及「絆腳石」和「十字架」，他有這樣的意見：「猶太人要求的是神蹟，希臘人尋求的是智慧，而我們所宣講的，卻是被釘在十字架上的基督：這為猶太人固然是絆腳石，為外邦人是愚妄，但為那些蒙召的，不拘是猶太人或希臘人，基督卻是天主的德能和天主的智慧。」（格前1:22-24）那麼，「天主的德能」和「天主的智慧」又是甚麼呢？
原來，被釘在十字架上的基督，告訴我們天父的慈悲。天父不用解釋為甚麼全能的天主沒有消滅惡人、罪惡和痛苦，反而默默地在十字架上承擔著人世間，古往今來的罪惡，和罪惡所帶來的痛苦。你和我所犯的罪過，天父以聖子在十字架上的死亡，予以一筆鈎銷。天主與人類，得以重歸於好。這就是天父的慈悲。這就是保祿宗徒所說的「天主的德能」。天父不與人辯論，祗默默地說：「看！我自己也受苦！我擁抱著你的痛苦。」我們還有甚麼反駁的餘地呢？這就是保祿宗徒所說的「天主的智慧」。這就是我們要宣講的耶穌基督。
各位主內的兄弟姊妹，所以我們的十字架，保留了耶穌基督的苦像。當我們仰望它的時候，它讓我們默想天父的慈悲。我們聖堂十字架，又為甚麼沒有苦像呢？因為它展示的是受難復活的耶穌基督。它是前瞻性的，強調天國的完滿，基督在末日重臨，審判萬民（瑪16:27）。因此，我們有責任提防「人的事」，多留意「天主的事」，不要做耶穌基督的「絆腳石」，而是做一塊建築屬神殿宇的「活石」（伯前2:5），在生活中合力建設天國。
天主保祐！
Twenty Second Ordinary Sunday (Year A)
Theme: Becoming a Hindrance to Jesus Christ
Matthew paints us a more comprehensive picture. Behold, the Rock of the Church has become a hindrance to Jesus Christ! What happened? Let us meditate its meaning!
First of all, we thank the Father to have chosen Simon Peter to be the Rock of the Church, not because of his capabilities or his virtues. From what has transpired, we see that Peter was not much different from us. He had all kinds of human weaknesses. For example, he had exalted himself at the expense of the other disciples. During the Last Supper, Jesus revealed that the disciples would abandon him to save their own lives. Without delay, Peter declared, "Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away." (Matthew 26:33). He was impulsive. When Jesus was arrested in the Garden, it was Peter who drew a sword to resist and cut off the ear of a servant of the High Priest (26:51). Then in the courtyard of the High Priest, out of fear he denied Jesus three times (26:69-75). Though he had become courageous and prudent after the Descent of the Holy Spirit, Peter was harshly criticized by Paul in the "Antioch incident" because he was "not straightforward about the truth of the gospel." (Galatians 2:11-21) Protestant sects which oppose the Catholic Church frequently quote this incident to criticize our papal institution. Lastly, during the Nero persecution, the Christians living in Rome urged Peter to flee. Peter complied. Outside the city of Rome, Peter met Jesus and asked "Quo vadis?" and Jesus replied, "Romam eo iterum crucifigi!" Peter came to his senses and regained his courage to return to his ministry in Rome. There he died martyrdom. Today, a small church was built where Peter was supposed to have met Jesus. Inside the church, there is a marble on which Jesus' footprint was engraved. If such a weak Peter who was full of faults could be the Rock of the Church, you and I can! Of course, this is the work of God, not our merits.
Secondly, we will naturally ask what turned the Rock of the Church into a hindrance to Jesus Christ. Jesus explained, "For you are not on the side of God, but of men." (Matthew 16:23) It was wrong for Peter to rebuke Jesus because his motive was "on the side of men", not of God. What then is "on the side of men"? Let me give an example. When we see evil people take control, torturing the good but we cannot solve the problems in a legal way, we will easily complain why God does not eliminate the evil. Then what is "on the side of God"? Jesus continues to explain, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (16:24-25) Taking up his cross to suffer, will it work? This "Phoenix rising from the ashes" philosophy sounds mythical and does not help. It so happens that St. Paul also talks about "a stumbling block/hindrance" and the cross. Here is his opinion, "For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:22-24) So what are the "power of God" and "wisdom of God"?
Indeed, the Christ crucified tells us the mercy of the Father who needs not to explain why the almighty God does not eliminate the evil, sins and sufferings, but silently bears all the sins and sufferings on the cross. With the death of the Son on the cross, the Father wipes out all our sins of the past, present and future. God and men reconciled. This is the mercy of the Father, the "power of God" mentioned by St. Paul. The Father does not argue with us. He simply whispers, "Look, I am suffering too! I embrace your sufferings." Do we have any more to say in return? This is what St. Paul meant by the "wisdom of God". This is the Christ crucified we proclaim.
Brethren! That is why the Catholic cross is a crucifix. When we look up and see the Christ crucified, let us meditate the mercy of the Father. Why is our Christ not crucified on the crucifix of our Church? It is because ours is the glorious, resurrected Christ. It is proactive. It points to the fulfillment of the Kingdom of Heaven. At the end of the world, Christ shall come to judge all peoples (Matthew 16:27). Thus, we have the duty to beware of which side we are on and pay more attention to stay "on the side of God". Let us not become a hindrance to Jesus Christ, but "living stones" that "built into a spiritual house". (1 Peter 2:5). Let us work together to build up the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
God bless!
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