主題：貧窮─一種生活風格
在接近禮儀年的尾聲，彌撒的讀經會選用一些有關世界末日的聖經章節，提醒我們要醒寤，準備迎接耶穌基督的第二次來臨。今天的福音，提醒我們善用天賦的才幹，不要埋沒天主賜給我們各人的「塔冷通」。
作為基督徒，我們相信死後有審判，審判後有天堂的永生或地獄的永罰。因此，最佳的投資，當然是增加進入天堂的資本，與此同時，還要減少進入地獄的負債！減少進入地獄的負債，當然是不要犯罪，犯了罪就儘快與天主修好，領受修和聖事。至於如何增加進入天堂的資本，福音非常直接地說明怎樣把現世的財富轉賬到天上。例如：「但該在天上為自己積蓄財寶。」（6：20），「你們不能事奉天主而又事奉錢財。」（6：24）耶穌對尋求永生的少年這樣說：「你若願意是成全的，去！變賣你所有的，施捨給窮人，你必有寶藏在天上；然後來跟隨我。」（19：21）因此，運用天賦「塔冷通」，幫助貧困的人，便可以積財於天。這就是基督徒的理財哲學，是最有效的投資！
去年年底，在慈悲禧年結束的時候，教宗方濟各宣佈，把以後的常年期第33主日，定為「世界窮人日」，用來迎接禮儀年的最後一個主日，就是「基督普世君王節」。這個「世界窮人日」要提醒我們，天主教素來所倡議的「以窮人為先」的社會訓導。那麼，讓我們默想「貧窮」有甚麼益處！
舊約時代，以色列人把一切事物都歸功或者歸咎天主。例如是天主使法郎心硬，不肯放走以色列人，讓天主有機會在埃及大發神威，降下十個災難！同樣，素來不育的亞納在誕下撒慕爾之後，曾歌頌天主說：「上主使人窮，也使人富；貶抑人，也舉揚人；」（撒上2：7）原來你富有，並不是因為你聰明勤力；他貧窮，並不是因為他愚蠢懶惰。一切事物都潛藏著天主的計劃，是天主的恩賜。因此，梅瑟的法律要求人民善待窮人，例如：「既然在這地上總少不了窮人，為此我吩咐你說：對你地區內困苦貧窮兄弟，你應大方地伸出援助之手。」（申15：11）又說：「貧苦可憐的傭工…你不應欺壓他，應在當天，交給他工錢，不要等到日落；因為他貧苦，他急需工錢用，免得他對你不滿而呼求上主，你就不免有罪了。」（24：14-15）且看，剋扣或拖欠工資、工傷賠償，甚至把強積金對沖了，在天主眼中是罪過！今天的商業化社會，竟然不及舊約時代的道德操守，真是可悲！
到了新約時代，耶穌基督革命性地推翻世俗的社會價值。在真福八端的第一端，已開宗明義地定出進入永生的條件，就是貧窮：「神貧的人是有福的，因為天國是他們的。」（瑪5：3）在今天的塔冷通的比喻之後，耶穌講述「最後審判」的情境時，教導我們善用天賦的塔冷通，履行六種「形哀矜」，以獲得天國。就是「饑者食之，渴者飲之，裸者衣之，收留旅人，照顧病人與及探望囚者。」（25：35-36）教宗方濟各在第一屆「世界窮人日」文告中指出，我們實行形哀矜，「把窮人當作我們偶爾擔任義工時的受惠者，或者只想到那些使我們良心平安而隨意在他們身上所實踐的善行。」是不足夠的。這些愛德服務，「應該引導我們去和窮人真正的遇和分享，並成為一種生活風格。」（文告#3）那麼，貧窮有甚麼價值？且看在「富翁和乞丐拉匝祿」的比喻中 ，耶穌指出乞丐拉匝祿並不是因為做了甚麼好事、善事，所以得享永生：「亞巴郎（對富翁）說 ：孩子，你應記得你活著的時候，已享盡了你的福，而拉匝祿同樣也受盡了苦。現在，他在這裡受安慰，而你應受苦了。」（路16：25）原來貧窮受苦是有價值的。價值在哪？
用社會主義角度分析，馬克思認為資本家鉤結有權勢的人，設計了不公義的制度，去剝削農民和工人，使自己富裕。這就是所謂「殘民以自肥」的意思。這種社會分析，比較消極，並造成社會階段的矛盾。用耶穌基督的教訓看，祂告訴我們，祂不但臨現在聖體聖事之中，更臨現在被邊緣化了的人當中。在講述最後審判的時候，耶穌基督事先張揚了要臨在饑渴，失去尊嚴，失去居所，患病和坐牢的人當中。「凡你們對我這些最小兄弟中的一個所做的，就是對我做的。」（瑪25：40）即是說，耶穌基督喜歡臨在於貧困的人身上。教宗在文告中說「貧窮首先是一份召叫：去跟隨貧窮的耶穌，走在祂後面，與他同行。」（文告#4）即是分擔基督的救贖工程。當我們服務窮人的時候，我們「親手觸摸基督的肉身。」（文告#3）亦即是說，教宗方濟各在文告中所說的「貧困生活風格」，也就是「神貧的人是有福」的積極意義。
各位兄弟姊妹，教宗方濟各邀請我們坐言起行，實踐福音的教訓。「我們愛，不可祗用言語，而要用行動。」（若一3：18）讓我們在離開聖堂，返回天水圍社區的時候，去親手觸摸基督的肉身。
「塔冷通」是古代世界各地的重量和貨幣單位，包括巴比倫和希臘。到了新約時代，羅馬帝國亦沿用。如果沒有說明，一個「塔冷通」就是58.9千克的銀，約值廿六萬港元。我們不知道故事中第一、二個僕人用甚麼方法做買賣，可以賺到一倍的利潤。但可以肯定，不會是主人對第三個僕人所說的方法，即是把錢交到錢莊，收取利息。（瑪25：27）那麼，有甚麼投資是這樣理想的呢？
天主保祐！
First World Day of the Poor
Theme: Poverty, a Way of Life
We are approaching the end of the Liturgical Year. We choose readings about the end of the world, to remind ourselves to be alert to welcome the Parousia of Jesus Christ. The gospel today reminds us to make good use of God-bestowed talents. Don't bury them.
"Talanton" was an ancient measure of weights as well as a unit of currency in Babylon and Greece. The Roman Empire made use of it during New Testament times. Without specification, a talent is 58.9 kg of silver, worth about HK$260,000 today. We are not sure what kind of trades the first and second servants did such that they were able to double the principals. But we are sure that it would not be the method the master told the third servant, i.e. to "have put the money to the exchangers in order to earn usury." (Matthew 25:27) Then, what sorts of investment can be that ideal?
As Christians, we believe in the Judgment Day. After that, there shall be eternal life in heaven or eternal damnation in hell. Thus, the best investments are those which increase our capital to enter heaven and at the same time, to reduce those liabilities to enter hell. To reduce liabilities, we should not commit any sins, or after we have sinned, we should reconcile with God as soon as possible, i.e. to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As for how to increase the capital to enter heaven, the gospel is very direct in telling us how to transfer our wealth on earth to heaven. For example, the gospel advises us "to lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven." (6:20) and "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (6:24). Jesus told the young man who sought eternal life, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (19:21) Thus, making use of our talents to help the poor and needy is a sure way to accumulate treasure in heaven. This is the Christian philosophy of financial management, the most effective investment!
At the closing of the Jubilee of Mercy last year, Pope Francis announced to make the 33rd Ordinary Sunday each year to be the "World Day of the Poor" to prepare for the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year, the Feast of Christ the Universal King. This World Day of the Poor will remind us of "option for the poor", one of the social teachings advocated by the Catholic Church. Now, let us meditate what the benefits of poverty are.
In Old Testament times, the Israelites attributed everything to the Lord. For example, God hardened the heart of Pharaoh so that he refused to let the Israelites go, thus giving God the opportunity to show off His might with 10 Plagues. Similarly, after giving birth to Samuel, the barren Hannah praised the Lord, "The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts." (1 Samuel 2:7) Indeed, you are rich not because you are smart and diligent. He is poor not because he is stupid and lazy. God has a hidden plan for everything. It is all God's blessings. Thus, Mosaic laws demand people to treat the poor well. For example, "For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you. You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor in the land." (Deuteronomy 15:11) Moreover, "You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy … you shall give him his hire on the day he earns it, before the sun goes down (for he is poor, and sets his heart upon it); lest he cry against you to the Lord, and it be sin in you." (24:14-15) Thus, unreasonable deduction or delay in paying wages, compensation of injury and even offsetting of MPF are sins in the eyes of the Lord! The morality of commercial society today is worse than Old Testament times. How deplorable!
In New Testament times, Jesus Christ overthrew the secular social values in a revolutionary manner. Take a look at the First Beatitude. Poverty is the first and foremost qualification to enter eternal life, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3) Immediately after telling the Parable of Talents, Jesus continues to tell us the scene of the Last Judgment in which he taught us to make good use of our talents to do "Corporal Works of Mercy" in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. That is, "Feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and the imprisoned." (25:35-36) In his message on the First World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis says that when we do charity, it is not enough to "think of the poor simply as the beneficiaries of our occasional volunteer work, or of impromptu acts of generosity that appease our conscience." These works of mercy "ought to lead to a true encounter with the poor and a sharing that becomes a way of life." (Message #3) Then, what is the value of poverty?
From a Socialist perspective, Marx explains that the rich collude with people in power to set up unfair institutions to exploit farmers and workers to make themselves rich. The rich enrich themselves at the expenses of the poor. This kind of analysis is negative and promotes class struggles. Jesus teaches otherwise. He tells us that not only is he present in the Sacrament of Eucharist, but he is also present in marginalized people. When he talked about the Last Judgment, Jesus Christ says that you will find him among the hungry and the thirsty, among those who have lost their dignity or shelter, among those who are sick or imprisoned. "When you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:40) That is to say, Jesus Christ loves to be present among the needy. "For Christ's disciples, poverty is above all a call to follow Jesus in his own poverty. It means walking behind him and beside him." (Message #4) That is to say, we partake in the redemptive work of Christ. When we serve the needy, "we touch with our own hands the flesh of Christ." (Message #3) That is to say, "poverty as a way of life" mentioned in the Pope's message is the positive meaning of "Blessed are those poor in spirit"
Brethren! Pope Francis invites us to act, to practise the teachings of the gospel. "Let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18) When you leave the Church and return to the community, make sure you touch the flesh of Christ.
God bless!
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