主題：如何在窮人身上看見基督
1925年，教宗庇護十一世訂於每年十月最後的主日，教會慶祝「基督君王瞻禮」，抗衡日益猖獗的世俗主義。1969年，真福教宗保祿六世更清楚表達出基督君臨天下的末世意義，把慶日移到常年期的最後一個主日，並改名為「耶穌基督普世君王節」。
但為甚麼天主教會仍然這麼落伍，擁護帝制呢？民主選舉制度，不是一個更進步的制度嗎？對不起，耶穌基督不是我們投票選出來為我們釘十字架的；而是祂服從天主聖父的派遣，來到世上為我們贖罪的。所以，即使民主選舉制度如何美好，亦不適用於耶穌基督的情況。那麼，我們在選教宗，在委任主教的程序上也沒有民主，祗是小圈子選舉。甚至有人因此認為天主教沒有資格在民主的議題上，發表意見！
其實，民主選舉制度並不如想像中那麼完美。相信各位在過去幾屆選舉的經驗中，可以見到群眾是如何盲目、如何容易為了少許的利益而受人操控。當大家選出一些青年人加人議會，滿以為可以給議會帶來一番新氣象時，結果就不用多說了。現代的選舉制度的優點，祗有一個，就是不流血。在古代，成王敗寇，領導者的地位通常是透過戰爭淘汰出來的。所謂「一將功成萬骨枯」，人命的代價是沉重的。所以社會國家在從農業社會進化到工業社會的過程中，便產生君主世襲制度進化出君主立憲制和後來的民主選舉制度。但所有的制度總有破綻，不能完全適用於任何的處境。
讓我們回頭反省為甚麼耶穌基督是普世的君王。
問題又來了，為甚麼我們需要一個君王呢？這裡牽涉到公義的問題。每個人總會覺得自己是對的，自己是吃了虧的一個。公說公有理，婆說婆有理，惟有由第三者來判斷了。這個不偏不倚的第三者，就是司法制度。祗作判斷而沒有能力執行判決結果是沒有益處的，所以還要有執法者。君王集司法與執法於一身。俗世的君王擺脫不了人性的軟弱，結果未能伸張正義。惟有那曾為賠償人類的罪而死去的耶穌基督，纔是最令人信服，最公正的判官；而且由祂執法，我們更有信心，因為祂曾經歷我們種種的苦楚。因此，耶穌基督作為普世君王，是最恰當不過了。
作為君王，祂的王宮在哪？
你有沒有實踐過耶穌基督的教訓呢？有沒有探病、探安老院、或者探監的經驗呢？倘若沒有，應當趁末日之前實踐，好能在末日審判時，有所交代！倘若有，恭喜你。但執事想再進一步挑戰你。你可有在你探望或幫助的人身上，看到耶穌基督呢？
聖濟利祿的解釋非常清楚：「耶穌基督與聖父同性同體，一切受造物，包括天使與人類，應當臣服在耶穌基督之下。祂是我們的救主，我們已不再屬於自己，因為是祂以高價把我們贖回的。因此我們是屬於祂的。」天主是永恆地存在的，沒有進化的。所以耶穌基督普世君王，是不會進化成民選的耶穌基督普世總統的。
首先，祂的寶座在哪？耶穌基督選擇了十字架做祂的寶座。相信沒有人會奪取祂的王位了。這個寶座，讓我們看到耶穌基督的謙卑服從。其實，從祂開始傳教的時候，這份謙卑已表現出來。祂本是無罪的，卻甘心與罪人為伍，接受若翰的洗禮（瑪3:15）。當祂與魔鬼決戰的時候，祂選擇死在十字架上。現在祂復活了，升了天，回到聖父的身邊。但祂卻許下天天與我們在一起，直到末日（28:20）。固然祂留在教會內，留在聖體聖事內，與我們天天在一起。但今天的福音告訴我們，耶穌基督臨現在窮人身上。那些餓寒交迫、無家可歸、患病或被囚的人，就是祂的宮殿。當我們服事這些最小的兄弟時，我們服事那臨現在他們身上的耶穌基督。
那些患病而清醒的，終日捱受疾病的折磨，愁眉苦面地呻吟，你能夠看到耶穌基督的面容嗎？那些患病吃了藥，終日活像植物人一樣，或者語無倫次的，你又看到耶穌基督嗎？在那些背負貪污、殺人、強姦、販毒者的眼睛裡，你可接觸到耶穌基督的眼光嗎？的確是很困難，但不用氣餒。讓執事給你一個錦囊，我們所接觸的人都是一面鏡子，向我們反映出我們的本性。
倘若你是一個有禮貌的人，對方總會回禮給你。倘若你是一個驕傲的人，對方會反映一個驕傲的你。倘若你是一個狡猾的人，對方會更狡猾！因此，倘若你渴望有窮人身上看到耶穌基督，既然他們是一面鏡子，就讓我們每天肖似基督，在所接觸的人面前展現基督的面貎。那時，他們便反映出基督的面貎給我們了。
天主保祐！
Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Theme: How to See Christ among the Poor
In 1925, Pope Pius XI instituted the last Sunday of October to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King to counter the raging secularism. In 1969, the Blessed Pope Paul VI showed more clearly the eschatological meaning of the Kingship of Christ by moving the celebration to the last Sunday of the liturgical year and renamed it "Solemnity of Jesus Christ King of the Universe".
Why is the Catholic Church so regressive as to support monarchy? Isn't universal suffrage a more progressive institution? Pardon me. It is not we who voted Jesus Christ to die on the cross for us. Rather it is out of his own obedience to the will of the Father that he came to redeem our sins. Thus, however wonderful universal suffrage is, it does not apply in the case of Jesus Christ. Well then, the papal conclave or the appointment of bishops is not democratic. It is only a small-circle election. Some people even claim that the Catholic Church is not qualified to express her views on democracy because she has no democracy!
Indeed, universal suffrage is not that perfect as promised. I trust you have experienced enough in the last few elections. You can see how the crowd could be manipulated with a morsel of advantages. When we expected a new era to dawn by sending a few young people into the legislation chamber … I need not elaborate. There is only one single advantage in the modern election institution. It is not so bloody. In ancient times, winners took all. Access to the throne was through elimination in bloody wars. The price was heavy. A king had to tread on the corpses of thousands in order to ascend the throne. Thus when a society evolved from agricultural to industrial, inherited monarchy evolved into constitutional monarchy and latter universal suffrage. But no institution is flawless. An institution cannot meet the demands of all situations.
Let us reflect on why Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe.
But why do we need a king after all? This is a question of justice. Everybody thinks he is right, he is the victim. Everybody has his own reasons and causes. We need a third party to resolve the conflict. This impartial third party is the judiciary. It would be fruitless if a judgment cannot be executed. We need a law enforcer. A king combines the role of a judge and an executioner. However, secular kings cannot shake off the weaknesses of humanity. Justice is not seen done! Only Jesus Christ who has died to redeem our iniquities is convincing, is the fairest judge. We have greater confidence in his execution of judgments because he has gone through all our pains. Thus Jesus Christ is the best candidate for the King of the Universe.
As a king, where is his palace?
Have you put this teaching of Jesus Christ's into practice? Have you visited the sick, the aged or the imprisoned? If not, you had better do before the Judgment Day so that you would still have something to answer the King! If your answer is affirmative, congratulations! But I want to challenge you further. When you visit or help those needy, do you see Jesus Christ in them?
St. Cyril explained clearly, "Jesus Christ is consubstantial with the Father. All creatures, including angels and men, should be subjected to him. He is our Redeemer. We can no longer claim ownership of ourselves because we were bought back with a huge ransom. Thus, we belong to him." God exists eternally. There is no evolution in Him. Thus, Jesus Christ, King of the Universe will never evolve into a popularly elected Jesus Christ, President of the Universe!
First of all, where is his throne? Jesus Christ chose the cross to be his throne. I believe nobody would want to overthrow him to sit on his throne! This throne allows us to see the humility and obedience of Jesus Christ. In fact, since the beginning of his public ministry, he has shown this humility. He was innocent. Yet he was willing to be in the company of sinners and received the baptism of John (Matthew 3:15). In the mortal combat with Satan, he chose to die on the cross. Now that he has risen, ascended into heaven and returned to the Father, he made a promise to stay with us daily till the end of time (28:20). Of course he is present in the Church and in the Sacrament of Eucharist daily. But the gospel passage today tells us that Jesus Christ is also present among the poor. Those hungry, naked, homeless, sick and imprisoned are the palaces of Jesus Christ. When we serve the least of these brothers, we are serving the Jesus Christ present among them.
Those who are sick and conscious moan under the torture of illness all day long. Do you see the face of Jesus Christ? Those under medication slur or are half-conscious. Do you see Jesus Christ in their vegetative bodies? In the eyes of those corrupt officials, murderers, rapists and drug traffickers, are you able to come into contact with the gaze of Jesus Christ? It is truly difficult but don't give up. Let me drop you a little hint. Everybody we meet is a mirror which reflects our nature.
If you are polite, the other party will be polite in return. If you are proud, the other party will show you an arrogant you. If you are cunning, the other party will outwit you! Thus, if we desire to see Jesus Christ among the poor which is a mirror, let us live like Christ every day and manifest the countenance of Christ before them. Then, they will reflect back to us the countenance of Christ.
God bless!
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