主題：與天主合作
聖經雖然是由七十三本書所組成的一個小型圖書館，但整體來說，聖經是一本歷史書，一本記載了有關天主拯救人類的歷史書。書中描述了不同的人物角色，如何和天主合作，拯救這個被罪惡染污了的世界。其實，天主並不需要人的合作；而且，在沒有人參與的情況下，救贖的工程可能更有效率地完成；有了人的參與，情況變得不穩定，甚至要付上更沉重的代價。但天主決定了人有份參與這個救世工程，使在人類之內的「天主肖像」，得到更完滿的表達。
從聖經我們可以看到，天主所召叫與祂合作的人物，並不是完美無瑕的，他們或多或少地抗拒天主的邀請。例如梅瑟，當天主在燃燒的荊棘中召叫這位八十歲，落難的埃及王子，前往埃及去解放以色列人時，梅瑟五次推辭，直到天主發怒纔無奈地答應（出3）。又例如在大魚肚內度過三日三夜的約納先知，他何嘗樂意與天主合作，向那些他不喜歡的尼尼微人宣講悔改呢？結果他被大魚吞了，送到尼尼微城纔吐他出來。可見，與天主合作的確是一件苦差，因為人普遍不想改變現況，離開自己的「安樂窩」！這樣，祗會令天主的肖像黯然失色！
今天的第一篇讀經，記載了達味王一生中最顛峰的故事。達味是以色列國的第二任君王，是他團結了以色列十二支派成為統一的王國。在以色列第一任君王自作主張，喪失了對天主的信靠後，「天主另找一位隨祂心意的人，立他為百姓的首領。」（撒上13:14）當時這個人還是一個少年牧童，天主協助他擊敗了巨人哥肋雅，並用了二十多年的時間訓練這個少年，使他成為日後統一以色列的君王。達味自幼熱愛天主，經常以詩歌舞蹈表達自己對天主的孝愛之情。【聖詠集】收錄了的詩歌，大部份都是達味的作品。當他迎接約櫃進入「達味城」，即耶路撒冷城時，當抬約櫃的人每行六步，他便祭獻一頭牛和一隻肥羊。他束著「厄弗得」在上主前盡力跳舞，（撒下6:13-14）可見達味如何熱愛天主，是一個符合天主心意的君王。
今天的第一篇讀經，是有名的「納堂神諭」。達味看見天下大定，四境和平，於是計劃為天主興建聖殿，安放供奉約櫃，因為約櫃是天主臨在的標記。天主喜歡達味對他的虔敬，但正如依撒意亞先知所說，「上天是我的寶座，下地是我的腳凳，你們還能在那裡給我造殿宇，建我休息的地方呢？」（依66:1）因此，天主反而應許達味，他的王權，將會永垂不朽。「你的家室和王權，在我面前永遠存在，你的王位也永遠堅定不移。」（撒下7:16）達味對天主的熱誠，為他贏得了成為耶穌基督祖先的榮譽。猶太人所期待的默西亞，必然是達味的後裔，並將會復興以色列，為猶太人吐氣揚眉。
縱觀聖經中的風雲人物，英雄豪傑，很多都被自己的成就所拖累，未能好好地與天主合作。反觀聖經中的女性，在古代父系社會經常受到不公平的對待，但她們的憑著謙遜和對天主的信賴，卻能順利地配合了天主拯救世界的計劃。例如在瑪竇福音所記載的耶穌族譜之中，我們就找到了四位這樣的女性。她們是受欺負的寡婦塔瑪爾、妓女辣哈布、外邦女子盧德和烏齊雅的妻子，連她的名字也沒有記載在耶穌的族譜中！倘若沒有她們，耶穌就得不到達味之子的法律地位！
今天的福音，告訴我們童貞聖母瑪利亞的芳表，她謙遜的一句「願照你的話成就於我吧！」（路1:38）便展開了拯救世界的序幕。但祗是序幕，瑪利亞往後的一生，總是靜默地在耶穌的身後，尋求天主的旨意，並盡力配合實踐。耶穌升天後，仍陪伴著初生的教會，直到她離世被提升天。她是我們每一個基督徒的榜樣。
各位兄弟姊妹，讓我們效法聖母的榜樣，以謙遜和信德與天主合作，把耶穌基督帶到不認識祂的世界去，活出聖誕節的真正意義。
後來，達味被安逸的生活腐化了，犯下姦淫殺人的罪。雖然他懺悔並得到天主的寬恕，但亦遭受到相應的懲罰，被自己所疼愛的兒子謀朝篡位。雖然最後王位得保，但心愛之子卻死了。達味的一生並非完美無瑕，他的功過自有公論。但可以肯定說，天主為達味所安排的計劃，是圓滿地完成了。
天主保祐！
2014年講道
Fourth Advent Sunday (Year B)
Theme: To Work with God
Although the Bible is a mini-library made up of 73 books, on the whole, it is a history book which tells us how God redeems humanity. This book describes how different people have worked with God to save a world contaminated by sins. In fact, God does not need the cooperation of men. Moreover, without men's participation, the redemption project might have been more efficiently done. With human factors, the situation becomes very unstable and a heavier price has to be paid. But God decided to get men involved in this redemption project so that the image of God within each man can be more fully expressed.
From the Bible, we find that most of the people God invited to cooperate were not perfect. They more or less rejected God's invitation. For example, when God called from the burning bush the 80-year-old fugitive prince of Egypt to liberate the Israelites, Moses declined five times until God lost His patience. Moses reluctantly accepted the mission (Exodus 3). Another example was the prophet Jonah who had spent three days and three nights in the belly of a big fish. Could he ever be willing to work with God to tell his despised citizens of Nineveh to repent? Consequently, he was swallowed by a big fish, only to be spitted out at Nineveh. It is not a comfortable job to work with God because people generally don't want to change the status quo or to leave their comfort zones. In this way, God's image would rust.
The first reading tells the story of King David at the zenith of his career. David was the second king of Israel. He was able to unite the 12 tribes into a kingdom. After the first Israel king had ignored God's commands and lost trust in God, "the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart; and the Lord has appointed him to be prince over His people." (1 Samuel 13:14) At that time, this man was only a teen shepherd. God helped him defeat Goliath and spent more than two decades to train this lad to become the king to unify Israel. David had loved God passionately since young. He always sang and danced to express his love of God. Most of the psalms collected were penned by him. When he brought the Ark into the City of David, i.e. Jerusalem, whenever "those who bore the Ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod." (2 Samuel 6:13-14) We can see how David loved God and was a king after God's own heart.
The first reading today is the famous "Nathan Oracle". Seeing that the kingdom was settled and at peace, David decided to build a Temple to house the Ark because it was a sign of the presence of God. God approved of David's piety but as it was written in Isaiah, "Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house which you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?" (Isaiah 66:1) Thus, on the contrary, God promised David that his dominion would last forever. "And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever." (2 Samuel 7:16) David's piety towards God has earned him the honour to be the ancestor of Jesus Christ. The Messiah the Jews had expected must be a descendant of David. He would restore Israel for the Jews to stand tall.
Many heroes and men of repute in the Bible were hindered by their achievements so that they could not work well with God. On the contrary, many Biblical women, who have been unfairly treated in ancient patriarchal societies, were able to work smoothly with God for the redemption project through their humility and trust in God. For example, we can find four such women in the Matthean genealogy of Jesus. They are the unfairly treated widow Tamar, Rahab the prostitute, Ruth the Moabite and the wife of Uriah whose name is even not recorded in Jesus' genealogy! Without them, Jesus could not acquire the legal status to be the son of David!
The gospel today tells us the exemplar of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose "Let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38) raised the curtain of the redemption of the world. But it was only the opening. Since then, Mary had been walking quietly behind Jesus to seek God's will and worked hard to actualize it. After Jesus' ascension, she accompanied the new born Church until she was assumed into heaven. She is the exemplar of each and every Christian.
Brethren, let us follow the example of the BVM. Work with God in humility and faith. Bring Jesus to where he is not known to live out the true meaning of Christmas.
Later, David was corrupted by a complacent life. He committed adultery and murder. Although he repented and received God's forgiveness, a due punishment descended on him. His beloved son usurped his throne. Although in the end his throne was secured, his beloved son was killed. David's life was not flawless. There is consensus on his merits and demerits. But one thing is certain. God's plan for David has fulfilled.
God bless!
No comments:
Post a Comment