主題：向若翰洗者學習
若翰洗者的確是一個富於傳奇的人物。
按福音記載，這位若翰並沒有繼承父業，卻跑到曠野裡做先知。他宣講悔改，為人施洗赦罪，並吸引了一群信徒跟隨他，當中包括了耶穌的首批門徒。當代的人以為他就是默西亞，若翰否認了。並且為這位將臨的默西亞作證，他要以聖神給信徒付洗。（谷1:8）耶穌來到接受若翰的洗禮後，有幾個若翰洗者的門徒，開始投靠耶穌。後來，若翰洗者因為批評黑落德的婚姻，被捕入獄，並死在獄中。從此，他的門徒四散，被其他教派所吸納，在歷史中消失了。的確，若翰洗者擔任了新舊約的交接。他繼承了舊約先知的精神，作為天主的代言人，在猶太人中間宣講悔改，準備他們的心靈迎接默西亞，迎接新約的時代。
若翰洗者的言行，今天仍蠻有意義。
耶穌復活後顯現給前往厄瑪烏的兩個門徒時，曾向他們解釋舊約法律和先知的意義。（路24:27）耶穌基督的言行，往往是為了應驗舊約的法律和先知。從另一角度看，舊約的法律和先知，其實是為默西亞，為耶穌基督作見證。若翰也為耶穌基督作見證，他勸群眾悔改，為他們施洗，並預言那個賜給信徒聖神的，就是默西亞、救世主。當耶穌接受他的洗禮時，洗者若翰向群眾指出耶穌就是那「除免世罪的天主羔羊。」（若1:29）
在將臨期的第一主日，福音教訓我們應該「醒寤」。醒寤固然是對的，但不足夠。有如飼養熱帶魚，魚缸中的溫度計可以告訴我們水溫是否過低，溫度計就是養魚的「醒寤」。但祗有溫度針可以保護熱帶魚不會凍僵嗎？當然不會。我們需要暖管。同樣，祗有醒寤也是不足夠的，所以今天的福音告訴我們要「悔改」，要放棄心中所迷戀的世俗事物，回心轉意，歸向天主。我們應全心全靈愛天主，不是全心、全靈、全意、全力地「愛」打機、考試和投資等等。「悔改」是一生的功夫，既是領洗前，也是領洗後必須要做的事。
若翰的父親是一位司祭，是一位遵守梅瑟法律的義人。可惜妻子素來不育，二人老來膝下猶虛。不知何故，妻子竟然老蚌生珠，而且在懷孕期間，這位司祭父親成了啞巴，直到孩子出生為此。發生了這樣神奇的事，令人相信此子必然非同凡響，將來必成大業。
首先，雖然先知是天主的代言人，但舊約中的先知卻有很多種類，因為他們在不同的處境履行天主代言人的任務。有在王宮中向君王傳達天主旨意的謀臣諫官，例如達味王身邊的納堂先知。有著書立說，聚集學徒，形成一個學派的，例如依撒意亞先知。亦有獨來獨往，批評時弊，卻充滿神恩，可以行神蹟的，例如厄里亞先知。若翰洗者是第二、第三類的合體。他蒙召在曠野中生活，親近天主，聽取天主的旨意。他的言行吸引了一群有理想的人跟隨他；他清貧的生活方式，與當代的宗教領袖的生活方式成了強烈的對比，甚至是對他們的一種指控。
作為基督徒，我們不需要擁有若翰洗者傳奇的生平，領洗時已分擔了耶穌基督的先知職務。我們除了在言論上向世人傳達天主的價值外，我們的生活方式也應符合天主的價值。我們不但宣揚「神貧、溫良、饑渴慕義」等等的價值，我們更要身體力行。當然，我們不需要像若翰洗者一樣穿「駱駝毛的衣服，腰間束皮帶，吃蝗蟲與野蜜」。（1:6）但我們也應該有澹泊生活的意識，不追求「名牌炫耀」，或者揮霍奢侈的生活。
作為基督徒，我們為耶穌基督作見證，便最能履行我們的先知職務了。我們在待人接物方面溫良慈悲，做就他人，不怕吃虧；寬恕別人，給他們七十個七次的改過機會。能這樣按福音的教訓生活，便活出耶穌基督的面貎，有如一眾先知和若翰洗者一樣，為耶穌基督作見證。
各位兄弟姊妹，距離聖誕節尚有兩個星期。大家有沒有預備好聖誕咭、聖誕禮物、聖誕大餐等等？請緊記，聖誕是慶祝天主子降生成人的日子。倘若我們的心中仍充塞著不少的世俗事物，那裡有空間迎接天主呢？心中沒有天主子的聖誕，又怎能稱為聖誕呢？
天主保祐！
The Second Sunday of Advent, (Year B)
Theme: Learn from John the Baptist
John the Baptist was legendary.
According to the gospels, this John did not succeed his father as a priest. Instead, he went into the wilderness to become a prophet. He preached repentance and baptized people to forgive sins. He was able to attract a significant number of followers, including some who later became the first disciples of Jesus. Contemporary Jews thought that he was the Messiah. John denied and bore witness to the coming Messiah who would baptize believers with the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1:8) After Jesus was baptized by John, some followers of John's began to follow Jesus. Later, John the Baptist was arrested for criticizing the marriage of Herod Antipas and subsequently died in custody. His followers were dispersed, absorbed by other sects and vanished from history. Indeed, John the Baptist bridges the Old and the New Testaments. He acted as the spokesman of God in the spirit of Old Testament prophets. He preached repentance among the Jews to prepare their spirit to welcome the Messiah, the dawn of the New Testament age.
The words of deeds of the Baptist are still relevant today.
After resurrection, Jesus appeared to two disciples going to Emmaus. He explained to them the meanings of laws and prophets. (Luke 24:27) Jesus' words and deeds mostly fulfilled laws and prophets of the Old Testament. From another perspective, the laws and prophets of the Old Testament bore witnesses to the Messiah, to Jesus Christ. The Baptist also bore witness to Jesus Christ. He persuaded the Jewish people to repent, baptized them and foretold the one who gave the Holy Spirit would be the Messiah, the Saviour. When Jesus came to be baptized by him, John the Baptist pointed out to the people that Jesus is "the Lamb of God". (John 1:29)
On the First Advent Sunday, the gospel taught us to Watch Out. Being alert is of course right, but not sufficient. For example, you keep an aquarium of tropical fish. The thermometer can tell you if the water temperature is too low. The thermometer in the aquarium is the "Watch Out". But can the thermometer protect the fish from freezing? Of course not! We need a heater. Similarly, being watchful is not sufficient. Thus the gospel message today tells us to repent. We need to forsake our obsession with worldly things. We need to turn to God. We need to love God with all our hearts and souls, not love studies, mobile games and investment etc. with all our hearts with all our souls, with all our strength and with all our minds. Repentance is a life-long exercise, something we must do before and after baptism.
John's father was a priest, a righteous man that kept the Mosaic laws. Unfortunately, his wife was barren. They did not have children in their old age. Then for some unknown causes, his wife was able to give birth to a son and during her pregnancy this priestly father of John's had become a mute until the birth of the child. Armed with such wonderful events in his portfolio, this child was believed to be extraordinary and would become a great person in the future.
First of all, although prophets are God's spokesmen, there were different kinds of prophets because they discharged their ministry in different contexts. There were those who passed on God's will to kings in the palace. For example, prophet Nathan at the side of King David. There were those who wrote and had set up a school of thoughts of their own. For example, prophet Isaiah. There were those lone wolves who criticized social evils but they were full of charisma and worked miracles. For example, prophet Elijah. John the Baptist was an amalgamation of the second and third types. He was called to live in the wilderness to come into close contact with God and listen to His will. His words and deeds had attracted a crowd of idealistic followers. His poverty contrasted deeply with the life styles of contemporary religious authorities. His was even an accusation of those religious leaders.
As Catholics, we do not need a legendary life like that of John's. At baptism, we partook in the prophetic ministry of Jesus Christ. Besides speaking up God's values to humanity, our life style should also be compatible with these values. Not only do we advocate such values as "poverty in spirit, meekness, hunger and thirst for righteousness" etc, but we also put them into practice. Of course, we do not need to dress up like the Baptist, "clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather belt girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey." (1:6) But we should have the mentality to lead a simple life, not to show off with brands and lead an extravagant life.
As Catholics, bearing witness to Jesus Christ is the best way to discharge our prophetic ministry. In interacting with people, we are meek and merciful. We build up others and not afraid to be taken advantages of. We forgive others, giving them seventy times seven chances to turn a new leaf. When we lead our life in the spirit of the Gospel, we are showing people the countenance of Jesus Christ. Like all the prophets and John the Baptist, we are bearing witness to Jesus Christ.
Brethren, there are two weeks to go before Christmas. Have you got your Christmas cards, Christmas gifts and even Christmas parties ready? Bear in mind, we celebrate the incarnation of the Son of God in Christmas. If our hearts are stuffed with worldly things, where comes the room to welcome God? How can we call a Christmas without the Son of God in our hearts Christmas?
God bless!
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