Drive Out Unclean Spirits in Us 把內在的邪魔驅逐

Fourth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Drive Out Unclean Spirits in Us

Modern people seldom believe in miracles and exorcism. They prefer believing in physical sciences. If you believe in anything spiritual, you are superstitious.
However, we are human beings. We need to make sense of the world we are living in. Otherwise, we feel uncomfortable. The world we live in seems to be more than what we can see, hear, feel and touch through our senses. We are rational beings. We feel restless if we cannot find meanings and purposes in our life. Now, there simply are too many unfair things going on in the society. Our society seems to be sick in many ways! We don't feel comfortable with such things because we believe in fairness. We believe in a righteous God who will finally bring justice. When we believe in God, we also believe in an invisible, spiritual world where God, angels, devils and other spiritual beings reside.

The Bible tells us that Satan exists and it is a liar. Its best trick is to make people think that it does not exist. Unfortunately, Satan has been very successful and many people think that when most of the things we see can be explained with science, there is no place for God and for Satan. The second best thing Satan does is to gain possession of our souls. We were created in God's image. We are precious in the eyes of God. Now Satan needs ammunition to fight against God. What better ammunition there are than human souls! Therefore, Satan and its demons would do whatever they could to possess human beings in order to build up an arsenal to war against God.

What happen when a person is possessed by demons?
Simply put, when a person can no longer take control over himself for an extended period of time, when he does harmful things to himself and to others and finally when some supernatural phenomena happen around him, that person is being possessed. Truly, a mental patient cannot take control over himself for an extended period of time. He harms himself and even others. But he is not necessarily a possessed person unless some supernatural phenomena happened around him. Therefore, the Church must ascertain whether a person suffers mental illness or possession before sending in an exorcist to drive the demon away. In fact, a demon cannot possess any human being unless that human person opens himself up to invite possession. How? Curiosity can be a rather harmful tendency that invites possession. Secondly, when the moral integrity of a person is breaking down because of substance abuses and continual unrepentant sinning, that person will also easily become a target of possession.

When human beings make advancements in science and technology, Satan also evolves with us. Nowadays, Satan has many more inroads to gain possession of our souls. In ancient times, a person might find satisfaction and excitement in money, in honour, in glory and in sex. Nowadays, there are many more ways to make ourselves happy and be obsessed! We have many kinds of entertainment drugs. We can easily flip through pornographic webpages on our mobile phones and get connected with strangers through dating apps etc. What we eat makes us what we are. This is also true in a psychological and spiritual way. What we read makes us what we are. When we are unable to put our mobile phones away, when we feel restless without our mobile phones around, we are addicted. We are semi-possessed. Other than mobile phones, we can be addicted to other things such as drug abuses, gambling, shopping, sex and even work! There are workaholics who simply collapse in their work place! Isn't it tragic?

Unfortunately, God does not call us in an attractive manner. He speaks in "a still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12). On the other hand, there are far too many distractive obstacles which prevent us from responding to God's call. In a way, we have lost control over ourselves. We are possessed by our work, by maintaining relationship through sex, filling up our inner emptiness with shopping, looking for excitement through gambling and drug abuses etc. We are unable to shake off those chains with our own efforts. Who can deliver us from all these evils? The gospel reading today gives us the hope of deliverance. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is God himself. When the unclean spirit met Jesus Christ, instead of running away, it presented itself before Jesus. Why? It is because Jesus was its source of existence. It knew that there was no escape because cutting itself away from Jesus meant annihilation. Even demons know that they have to return to the Lord of life. Similarly, we need to return to Jesus, our source of life.
Thus, it is imperative for us to clean ourselves of our own addictions. Daily examination is an essential habit. Be humble to acknowledge our weaknesses. Reflect on how intimate our relationship with Jesus is. Like the possessed man in the gospel, present ourselves before Christ to acknowledge his Lordship. Say to Jesus, "Have mercy on me, Lord!"

The gospel does not say what happened to the possessed person after exorcism. In another occasion, the possessed person wanted to follow Jesus. Probably he wanted to ensure his own safety. He wanted Jesus to protect him for the rest of his life. But Jesus told him to go home to tell his friends how much good God had done him. (Mark 5:19) Similarly, be brave to answer God's call. He heals us and He wants other people to receive His blessings through us.
God bless!
2015 Reflection

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常年期第四主日（乙年）
主題：把內在的邪魔驅逐

很少現代人相信神蹟和驅魔，他們寧可相信科學。倘若你相信任何屬靈的事物，你便是個迷信的人。
可是，我們是人，我們希望明白我們處身的世界，否則，我們會感到不安。這個世界好像不祗是五官所察覺到的世界。我們是有理性的。倘若我們找不到生命的意義和目的，我們便寢食難安。我們生活的社會裡，有太多不公平的事。在很多方面，我們的社會病了！我們覺得不妥，因為我們相信公義，我們相信一位正義的天主最後會帶來公義。當我們相信有天主的時候，我們便會相信靈界的存在，天主，天使，魔鬼和所有靈體，都在那裡活動。

聖經告訴我們撒殫是真實存在的，而且牠是一個撒謊者。牠最狡猾的奸計是令人以為牠並不存在。不幸，撒殫很成功。很多人認為當科學能解釋一切可見的事物時，我們不再需要天主和撒殫。撒殫另一項專長是令人類出賣自己的靈魂。我們是按天主肖像所創造的。在天主眼中，我們是珍貴的。撒殫需要軍火與天主作戰。有甚麼兵器比人類的靈魂更有效對付天主呢？因此，撒殫和牠的使者會不惜一切俘虜人類的靈魂，建立牠的軍火庫，與天主作戰。

附魔的人會怎麼樣？
簡單地說，當一個人在相當長的一段時間內，不能自我控制，傷害自己，傷害身邊的人，最後甚至有超自然的現象發生時，這個人就附魔了。誠言，精神病人一樣不能自我控制，而且傷害自己，傷害身邊的人。他不一定附了魔，除非發生了超自然的現象。因此，教會必先確定患者是精神病抑或是附魔，纔派遣驅魔人把邪魔趕走。但邪魔不能隨便令人著魔，除非是人主動「邀請」牠。怎樣「邀請」呢？好奇是一個相當危險的傾向，令人容易著魔。其次，當一個人因為濫藥或屢屢犯罪而不願悔改而導致道德崩潰時，這人便很容易成為附魔的對象。

當人類的科技日新月異時，撒殫亦隨著進化。今天，撒殫有更多的途徑俘虜我們的靈魂。在古時，一個人可以從金錢，榮譽，性愛尋求滿足和興奮；今天，我們有更多事物令自己快樂著迷。我們有不同類型的軟性毒品，我們在手機上很容易瀏覽到色情網頁，有很多交友程式接觸到陌生人等。 西諺有云：「我們吃甚麼，就成為甚麼。」同理，「我們瀏覽甚麼，就變成甚麼。」當我們不能放下手機，當手上沒有智能電話便坐立不安時，我們已經上了癮，我們已陷入「半附魔」。除了手機外，我們也會沾染其他的癮，例如濫藥、賭博、購物，性甚到工作！君不見有人在工作間猝死嗎？多麼可悲！

可惜，天主並不用吸引的方式來召喚我們，祂以「輕微細弱的風聲」對我們說話。（列上19:12）另一方面，四周有實在太多的事物障礙我們聆聽天主的召喚。我們已經迷失了。我們被工作所佔據，以性來維系關係，以購物來填滿空虛的心靈，以賭博和濫藥來尋求刺激等。我們不能自拔，誰可救我們脫免這些凶惡呢？今天的福音帶給我們喜訊。耶穌基督是天主子，是天主本身。當邪魔遇見耶穌基督時，牠沒有逃跑，反而來到耶穌跟前。何解會這樣？因為耶穌是牠存在的根源。牠知道無路可逃，因為離開耶穌，牠祗會灰飛煙滅。連邪魔也懂得返回生命的主宰，我們怎不轉向耶穌，我們的生命之源呢？
因此，我們必須戒除我們的癮。每天反省是重要的習慣。謙虛自己，在主前承認自己的軟弱。反省我們與耶穌的關係有多少親密。好像那附魔的人一樣，臣服在耶穌基督前，對祂說：「主！憐憫我吧！」

福音沒有告訴我們驅魔後，那附魔者去了哪。在另一個驅魔事件中，附魔者事後想跟隨耶穌。可能他為了自身的安全，想得到耶穌終身的保護。但耶穌吩咐他「回家，到你的親那裡，給他們傳述上主為你作了何等大事，怎樣憐憫了你。」（谷5:19）同樣，勇敢地回應天主的召喚。祂要治癒我們並希望透過我們，把恩寵帶給其他人。
天主保祐！

女校畢業明白男生需要

彩虹邨天主教英文中學校長
女校畢業明白男生需要

王嵐 校長訪談 | 2018年1月22日

「我是這裏第一個女校長」，彩虹邨天主教英文中學（下稱彩天）何家欣校長笑說：「之前3位都是男校長，所以當時我一來到，他們都覺得比較特別。」學校沒有女生，男同學習慣在學校打球至汗流浹背時，拉起衣衫透風，當何校長走過，他們會馬上拉好。這種不張揚的禮貌，正是彩天學生的一大特色。 女校畢業的何校長，來到男校，發現兩者之間的共通點：「同學的感情都好好，而且因為所有事情都要做，反而學到更多。」因為沒有了男女分工，即使是講求心思細密的手工勞作，男同學同樣要學習。 

「學校地方細，比較逼，但亦因為這樣，我們的感情都很好。」何校長指出：「我們的校舍是一個井字形的結構，四周的班房、特別室包圍着地下的操場，可以一眼望晒。」緊密的建築結構，令彩天的同學及老師之間的感情加倍地凝聚起來。 

「每一年，Form 6的同學在last day那一天，會在小息或午飯前的時間，圍在走廊上一起唱校歌。」何校長回憶起4年前，初來學校看到這一幕時的情景：「其他年級的同學會出來一起聽，場面好感動、好溫馨。」 

除卻天主教教區的五大核心價值，彩天亦有一個校本的教育重心，「我們的校訓是『望、救』，演繹為『懷着希望，迎接救贖；培育同學，救援他人。』」其中「救」字出現了兩次，何校長直言，服務學習是學校甚關注的一環。「追求夢想亦是我們看重的教育理念，因為人本身要有希望，才能有力量去幫助他人，而透過幫助別人、發揚愛，自己亦會得到力量。」 

關於服務學習，學校有一項名為「生命馬拉松」的計劃，按不同年級、能力去實踐服務。校內有各種服務團隊如義工服務團，亦有全年級的活動，「如我們有一個『大節日小幫忙』的活動，會帶中三的同學到社區探訪老人家、送物資、幫忙做清潔，以及聊聊天等。」
計劃名為馬拉松，有延綿不斷之意，「始終學校在彩虹邨，和社區本來就很緊密。同學在探訪活動中幫忙的長者，平日在學校附近、社區中亦會遇見。」這讓彩天的學生服務不會局限在一次或數次之內，而是融入日常生活中。「所以他們會更容易知道長者需要什麼幫忙。」

聆聽樹木學習生死
幫助他人重要，幫助自身固然亦不能忽略，對此，何校長認為：「因為我們不能只有output，而沒有input。」所以，彩天將服務學習與靈性培育互相配合，其中更有一項結合了環境、社區的活動。「彩虹邨其實有好幾棵古樹，而我們學校正門口亦剛好有一棵古樹。」何校長講「古」，是為了介紹學校一個「聆聽樹木」的活動。「我們有一些接觸大自然的活動，其中一個就是帶同學去聆聽樹木的聲音。」同學們一起伏在樹幹上，學習感受大自然的生命力量，領悟生命與死亡的關係。 

中學時讀的是女校，畢業後的第一份教職是在一所男女校。當年面試時被問的問題，何校長仍記得，「佢哋問我：『你咁乖，你讀嘅學校又咁乖，你教唔教到男女校㗎？』」她當時覺得不會有什麼大問題，後來邊教邊學，雖然遇到不少衝擊，但同時亦有不少得着。「這麼多年後回看，教女校或男校，其實沒什麼分別。但也發現女同學和男同學分別具有的特點，然後再根據這些特點去配合。」

如在推廣閱讀方面，何校長正是按着男同學的特點去制訂適合的計劃。她坦言，學校的圖書館空間不算大，但亦因此更着力於圖書的藏量，「因為細細間，放不了太多舊書，所以我們的圖書更新就會更密。」如此一來，圖書的選擇變得更豐富，也更與時並進。何家欣校長發現，單純以口號去鼓勵男同學多看書，效果不大，而且男同學的出行習慣更與傳統的閱讀模式背道而馳。 

「我發現男仔出街永遠不會看見他們有背囊或袋，他們只有三寶﹗」何校長邊笑邊數：「電話、鎖匙、銀包」。她和同事們討論時也認為，同學普遍是這種輕裝上陣的風格，實在很難鼓動他們隨身帶一本書。「很多時和同學出外活動，你會見到他們把所有東西都塞進衫褲的袋，有些比較乖的就帶多支筆。」 

誘導男生手機閱讀
學校希望同學可以有多一個選擇，無論他們是在等人、等車、坐車的時候，除了玩電子遊戲外，還可以看書。「電話不是只有玩遊戲的功能。所以我們的電子圖書館從前年計劃籌備，去年開始推行，讓同學可以在手機下載，在手機上閱讀。」
電子圖書館藏有800多本書，分門別類，方便同學借閱。而有別於一般實體圖書館，電子化更加添了相互之間的交流。「點選書本後，可以看到簡單的介紹，而且可以留言，直接在網上作簡單的分享。」 

早在電子圖書館出現前，何校長已在校內舉辦讀書會，在午飯時間向學生推介書本。「今年我就約了一位學生，一起讀一本書，然後在讀書會上和其他同學一起討論、交流。」男同學在課外活動方面普遍傾向參加運動類，對文藝方面的參與相對較被動。學校遂在配套上加倍用心，希望從多方面入手，推動同學多閱讀。 

來到彩天已有4年，她回想2014年剛到任的時候，開學不久便遇上影響力席捲全港的雨傘運動。「當時我覺得很感動，同學的表現很成熟，他們向老師表達自己的訴求。」何校長很欣賞同學關心社會議題，也目睹他們對事件有自己的分析和判斷，過程中既有年輕人的熱忱，同時亦不忘保持理性的討論。運動結束後，她緊接着要準備遷校的申請，「因為要在一個月的時間內提交計劃書，便要在短時間內去深入認識學校。」完成申請後，她馬上又要籌備學校50周年的事宜。 

何校長笑言那3個月馬不停蹄的工作固然辛苦，但卻充實且受用無窮，「首先是認識了學生，然後了解學校，後來則更進一步去認識學校的舊生校友。」 

一所數百人的中學，從學生至學校本身，要好好認識至了解，不花一兩年也難以做到。但藉着機遇，她在數月內便超額完成了任務。「這真的幫了我很多，因為在第二三年，我便可以很順利地推展不同計劃，因為已有一定認識。」 

受教宗感召執教鞭
大學畢業便當老師的何校長，原來曾經渴望當一名記者，「之前學生也有訪問我，我告訴他們我本來想做記者，不過考不到傳理系。後來我在大學讀地理，因為也很喜歡。」她笑着說後來決心做老師的契機：「大學二年級時，我參加了一個在法國舉行的普世青年節活動，當時教宗在那裏召集所有天主教青年。」活動令她感受到教育的重要，「當時的主題用了耶穌的說話『你們來看看吧』！我醒悟到每個人都可以是別人的榜樣，可作為導師。」 

當時的感悟，令她改變主意，要成為一位老師。大學畢業後，馬上投遞履歷，然後開始教書生涯。「我在那間中學一做便做了15年。」何校長笑言自己一開始其實有點糊裏糊塗，「我讀書時的學校是女校，同學都很乖，到我做老師，去到男女校，才發現原來做老師、教育，和我從前認知的完全不同。」學生欠交功課、課堂上沒有秩序等，其實是學校的尋常寫照，但當時她是頭一回遇上這些事。 

「剛做老師時，沒有什麼教育理念，就是邊教邊學，累積經驗。」從不懂得教，到慢慢懂得如何讓學生愉快學習，是學生的成長，也是她自身的成長。「我在教書的生涯中有很大得着，也從中找到自我，也因此更喜愛教學工作。」

何家欣小檔案

• 家庭狀況：已婚
• 學歷：香港浸會大學文學士（榮譽）、香港中文大學學位教師教育文憑、香港中文大學文學碩士
• 執教科目：地理、宗教倫理、通識教育
• 興趣：看電影、繪畫及下廚
• 喜愛書籍：《牧羊少年奇幻之旅》、《人生最重要的問題》

彩虹邨天主教英文中學

• 成立年份：1965、學生性別：男
• 類型：資助、宗教背景：天主教
• 校訓：望、救：懷着希望，迎接救贖；培育同學，救援他人
• 學校佔地面積：約3040方米
• 地址：九龍彩虹邨紫葳路1號

撰文：王嵐
sarahwang@hkej.com

超越舊我 Transcending the Old Self

常年期第三主日（乙年）
主題：超越舊我

進入乙年，是從頭閱讀馬爾谷福音的好機會。
馬爾谷是伯多祿的徒弟，當伯多祿逃離黑落德的追殺，在羅馬傳福音的時候，馬爾谷成為了他的秘書，他的翻譯員。馬爾谷福音的資料來源出自伯多祿，因此，馬爾谷福音可以說是「伯多祿福音」。
那 麼，為甚麼伯多祿不親自寫下耶穌基督的生平呢？是否他祗是一個漁夫，教育水平低；甚至不懂希臘文或拉丁文，需要由馬爾谷代為翻譯，代為書寫呢？這個教育水平低的解釋並不令人滿意。因為新約的27部書之中，就收集了伯多祿的兩封書信。 即使有些聖經學者懷疑這兩封書信的作者，可能是託伯多祿的名義而寫，也不能否定在路加所寫的【宗徒大事錄】中，聖神降臨後的伯多祿，如何成為了一個脫胎換骨的人。所以教育水平低的解釋不成立。

另一個可能性是伯多祿正在訓練馬爾谷，培養他成為教會的領袖。耶穌基督以祂的死亡和復活，已拯救了這個世界。但祂卻建立教會，把未完成的救世工程，交給我們手中，然後離我們升天而去。耶穌基督願意我們有機會參與自己的救贖工程，藉此把潛藏在我們身上的天主肖像，發揮到盡善盡美！同樣，伯多祿跟隨他師傅的榜樣，不會獨攬所有的工作，而是與其他宗徒合作，並扶植後進。福音就讓馬爾谷寫了。

馬爾谷福音的資料既然來自伯多祿，因此，伯多祿沒有提及的事件，很大機會馬爾谷就沒有記載在他的福音裡。最明顯的例子就是有關伯多祿步行水面的記載。在五餅二魚神蹟後，耶穌打發門徒往對岸，自己獨自上山祈禱到深夜，然後步行水面，趕上門徒的船。瑪竇福音記載了十二宗徒中，祗有伯多祿跳入水中，跑向耶穌（瑪14:28）。馬爾谷福音卻沒有記載。又例如當伯多祿明認耶穌是默西亞，是天主子的時候，瑪竇福音記載了耶穌立伯多祿為教會的磐石，給他天國的鎖匙，赦罪的權柄，然後首次預言受難（16:16-21）。馬爾谷又沒有記載立伯多祿為磐石的片段而直接記載首次預言受難。為甚麼會這樣呢？請大家牢記在心，我們所傳的福音，主角是耶穌基督而不是我們。倘若大吹大擂自己的豐功偉蹟，我們便不是傳福音而是在自我宣傳。這是驕傲自大，而不是基督徒應有的態度。

今天我們所讀到的耶穌召叫首批門徒的描述，可謂輕描淡寫，把回應聖召的內心掙扎，輕輕略過。就憑耶穌的一句「來跟隨我！我要使你們成為漁人的漁夫」（谷1:17），安德肋和伯多祿竟然立刻丟下一切，好像想也不用想，便跟隨了耶穌。請記著，是「立刻」！雅各伯和若望兩兄弟也是一樣，的確令人難以置信，耶穌好像是一個邪教教主，催眠了他們一樣！幸好我們有其他的福音，可作參考。的確，路加福音引入了一個捕漁的神蹟，解決了伯多祿跟隨耶穌的猶豫。上星期所讀的若望福音，更告訴我們，耶穌的首批門徒，都是經過若翰洗者和親兄弟的作證，自己親自接觸耶穌基督，並且與他一起生活過，纔皈依耶穌。因此，今天所讀輕描淡寫的描述，其實是經過之前一段時間的內心掙扎和辨明之後的成果。

這個故事帶給我們三個教訓。

1. 天主的聖召不是一次過的，而是一生一世的。我們都是按天主的肖像所創造， 但我們卻生活在世俗之中，種種的世俗因素阻礙我們把這個獨一無二的肖像，發揮得淋漓盡致。因此，我們不應停留在舒適的舊我之中，而是抱開放的態度，細心聆聽並回應天主的召叫，領受天主為我們預備了很豐富的恩寵。
2. 天主不斷地召叫我們，為了使我們完滿。約納素來對外邦人，尤其是尼尼微人，懷有偏見。天主偏偏派約納向尼尼微人，宣講悔改，藉此讓約納有悔改的機會。伯多祿可能安於做加里肋亞湖上一個寂寂無名的漁夫，但天主卻要提昇他成為「漁人的漁夫」，宗徒之長，教會的磐石，基督在世的代表。所以，我們應給自己，給天主提昇我們的機會。
3. 我們必須與耶穌基督同在，藉祈禱、讀經、領聖事與祂接觸，看看祂住的地方，與祂建立密切的關係。祂是「道路、真理和生命」（若14:6），藉著對祂開放，我們更認清自我，更有力量回應天主的聖召，獲得提昇，更有力地履行教友的使命，成為「地上的鹽、世界的光。」（瑪5:13-14），甚至天主子民的牧羊人。

天主保祐！

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Third Ordinary Sunday (Year B)
Theme: Transcending the Old Self

It is Year B. It is high time we started reading the gospel according to Mark.
Mark was a disciple of Peter. When Peter had escaped from Herod's murderous attempts and proclaimed the gospel in Rome, Mark was his secretary, his interpreter. The gospel's source of information came from Peter. Thus the gospel according to Mark can be said to be the gospel according to Peter.
Then, why didn't Peter write the biography of Jesus Christ himself? Was it because he was only a fisherman, had not received any education; or that he was illiterate in Greek or Latin and thus in need of Mark's interpretation and penning the gospel for him? This explanation was not satisfactory. It is because among the 27 books in the New Testament, there are two epistles written by Peter. Even though some biblical scholars question the authorship, maintain that some other people wrote in Peter's name, it is undeniable that the Peter described in the Acts of the Apostles was a transformed person after the descent of the Holy Spirit. Thus low education level does not explain.

Another possibility was that Peter was training Mark up to be a Church leader. Jesus Christ has redeemed the world through his Passion and Resurrection. But he established the Church to continue his salvation project. He left the unfinished work in our hands and ascended to heavens. Jesus Christ wants to give us the opportunity to participate in our salvation in order to manifest to its fullness the image of God hidden in us. Similarly, Peter followed the example of his Master. He did not take everything in his own hands. Rather, he cooperated with his fellow Apostles and built up the followers. Thus Mark wrote the gospel.

Since the materials of the gospel came from Peter, what Peter did not say would most likely not appear in Mark's gospel. The most obvious example was Peter's walking on the water. After the Five Loaves and Two Fish miracle, Jesus sent his disciples to the other side of the lake and went up the hill to pray beyond midnight. Then he walked on the water past the boat of the disciples. According to the gospel of Matthew, only Peter among the Twelve jumped onto the water and ran towards Jesus (Matthew 14:28). Mark did not cover this story. Again after Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, we find in Matthew that Jesus made Peter the Rock of the Church and gave him keys to the Kingdom of Heavens, the power to forgive sins. Then Jesus foretold for the first time his upcoming Passion. (16:16-21). Mark left out making Peter the Rock of the Church and went directly to the first prediction of Passion. Why is it so? Please bear in mind, Jesus Christ is the focus of the gospel we proclaim, not us. If we boast of our achievements, we are not doing evangelization but self-promotion. This is pride and arrogance, not a proper attitude of any Christian.

The calling of the first disciples we hear today is only a summary and has skipped the inner struggle the disciples experienced in answering the call. With one sentence spoken by Jesus, "Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men" (Mark 1:17), Andrew and Peter, without thinking, immediately left everything behind and followed Jesus. Remember, it is "immediately"! The same happened to the brothers James and John. This is hard to believe. Jesus worked like a cult leader, hypnotizing them! Luckily we have other gospels to refer to. Indeed, the gospel of Luke moves in a miraculous catch to resolve Peter's hesitation to follow Jesus. The gospel of John we read last Sunday tells us that the first batch of disciples followed Jesus only after hearing the witnesses of John the Baptist and their siblings, getting in contact with Jesus themselves and living with Jesus. Thus the sketchy narrative we read today is in fact the fruit of a previous period of inner struggles and discernment.

This story today teaches us three morals.

1. God's call is not a one-off event but a life-long one. We were created in the image of God. But we live in a secular world. Many secular factors prevent this unique image from full manifestation. Thus, we should not stay within our comfortable old selves. We should keep an open attitude, listen attentively to God's call and respond accordingly to receive the abundant graces God has prepared for us.
2. For our perfection, God keeps on calling us. Jonah harboured prejudice against Gentiles, especially people of Nineveh. God deliberately sent Jonah to proclaim repentance to people of Nineveh in order to give Jonah an opportunity to repent. Peter probably felt comfortable to be an ordinary fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. But God wanted to elevate him to be a fisher of men, the Prince of the Apostles, the Rock of the Church, the Vicar of Christ on earth. Thus, we should give ourselves and God an opportunity to upgrade us.
3. We need to live with Jesus Christ through prayers, bible studies and receiving the sacraments to see where He stays, to build up an intimate relation with him. He is "the Way, and the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6). When we open ourselves to him, we know ourselves better, gain greater strength to answer God's call and be elevated. We become more capable to discharge our mission as Catholics, to be "the salt of the earth and the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13-14) and even shepherds of the People of God.

God bless!

辨明聖召 Vocational Discernment

常年期第二主日（乙年）
主題：辨明聖召

喜歡看武俠小說，或者看改編自武俠小說的電影電視的人，讀今天福音的時候，總會覺得有點兒不舒服。因為這些小說，除了宣揚「君子報仇，十年未晚」的觀念之外，更灌輸一些「一日為師，終身為師」的尊師重道思想。這些思想不是錯的，但在某些場合，就應該放下。武俠小說的讀者會為若翰洗者不值，又或者覺得那兩個門徒，即安德肋和若望自己，拜師另一個門派，雖然未至「欺師滅祖」，但總是對若翰洗者不敬，不適合中國的國情，不適合做中國信徒的榜樣！

首先，基督徒不主張報仇，因為報仇是天主的專利（申32:35；羅12:19）。基督徒應互相寬恕，相親相愛。
其次，瑪竇福音告訴我們，我們的師傅，我們的導師，祗有一個，就是默西亞，就是耶穌基督。而我們現世的老師學生關係，亦祗不過是兄弟的關係，「師兄弟」的關係。（瑪23:8-10）因此，即使安德肋和若望，接受了若翰洗者的洗禮，做了他的門徒，他們與若翰洗者，亦祗不過是「師兄弟」的關係。將來真正的師傅出現時，若翰洗者必定會率領他的門徒，投奔到耶穌的門下；那時，這個師兄弟的關係將會清楚地表現出來。根據瑪竇福音的記載，耶穌到約旦接受若翰洗者洗禮的時候，若翰曾阻止耶穌，並且說他本來需要接受耶穌的洗禮。（3:14）若翰洗者知道自己不是「真命天子」，他知道聖神降在誰身上，誰就是這位等待了很久的默西亞。他一定這樣教導自己的門徒。後來，若翰洗者作証，指出耶穌基督就是「天主的羔羊」，就是拯求世人的默西亞的時候，兩個門徒改投耶穌門下，應該是若翰洗者的指示！因此，安德肋和若望並非背叛師門。所有武俠小說的觀念，並不適合福音的語境。

即使我們純粹從福音出發，今天的故事，亦會遇上解釋上的困難。這個耶穌召選首批門徒的記載，對觀福音與若望福音的記載出現了很大的分別。在對觀福音，開宗明義首批門徒都是漁夫。耶穌在海邊召叫他們，他們就立即放下一切，跟隨了耶穌。但今天的故事卻完全是兩回事，這裡沒有海，沒有召叫，沒有拋棄一切，而且人物的組合不一樣。在對觀福音中，耶穌首先召叫安德肋和伯多祿兩兄弟，然後召叫雅各伯和若望兩兄弟。在若望福音，耶穌沒有召叫安德肋和若望，而是他們的師傅指導他們去跟隨耶穌。我們應怎樣處理這些分別呢？

倘若祗有對觀福音而沒有若望福音，這個耶穌召選首批門徒的故事， 的確令人難以信服。那有可能第一次聽到耶穌的召叫，就好像被催眠一樣，拋棄所有來跟隨耶穌呢？難道耶穌是邪教的教主嗎？路加福音嘗試把過程合理化一點，加插了一個網了很多魚的神蹟，把伯多祿的內心掙扎展示出來（路5:4-10）。所以，若望福音的記載，是門徒的心路歷程，補充了對觀福音的不足，多於描述現實世界所發生的事！

即是說，安德肋和若望接受了若翰的洗禮，做他的門徒，聽從若翰的教導。當耶穌出現的時候，若翰認出耶穌是默西亞，並且進一步看到耶穌基督以自己的死亡拯救這世界，所以向門徒作證耶穌是「天主的羔羊」。安德肋和若望開始注意耶穌，遠距離觀察耶穌，然後近距離與耶穌接觸，交談。和所有的猶太人一樣，他們正期待默西亞的出現，當耶穌問他們找甚麼的時候，為甚麼他們不答「找默西亞」，反而問看來毫無關係的「你住在那裡？」（若1:38）其實，這樣問是正確的，因為他們想確定是否值得委身跟隨耶穌這個人。當耶穌邀請他們去看看時，他們接受邀請，與耶穌基督一起生活過，建立了更深刻的關係，並決定跟隨耶穌。請注意，耶穌邀請他們去看看的地方，不一定是一個現實的地方，也可以是一個心靈內的空間！後來，他們向自己的兄弟作證，並引領他們認識耶穌基督。另一方面，他們仍然是生活在現實的世界之中，繼續捕魚為生。最後，對觀福音所描述的，是一段內心經過掙扎後所作的行動，是可見的成果。若望福音所描述的，是他們內心接納耶穌成為默西亞的歷程。

這個事蹟給我們很豐富的反省。門徒首先跟隨若翰洗者，然後跟隨耶穌基督。這裡反映出天主的召喚並不是一次過的，而是在我們一生中，不斷地向我們招手，不斷找機會，把恩寵賜予我們。天主很少直接顯現或報夢，召喚我們，而是藉其他的人地事物，向我們招手。所以我們應抱一個敏銳的態度，辨認天主的召喚，不要怕放棄熟識的安樂窩，不要以為改變舊的信念便是「欺師滅祖」。
另一方面，我們作為天主教徒，便有責任好像若翰洗者，或者第一篇讀經中的厄里一樣，幫助其他人辨認天主的聲音，指導幫助他們回應天主的呼召。所以我們有責任宣講耶穌基督，而不是吹噓自己。正如若翰洗者說：「祂應該興盛，我卻應該衰微。」( 3:30)
天主保祐！
2015年反省

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Second Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Vocational Discernment

People who like reading martial art novels or movies or TV series will find reading the gospel story today uncomfortable. It is because besides advocating vengeance, martial art novels also promote the concept of life-long respect for one's Master, despite being a Master for only one day. These ideas are not wrong but should not be upheld in certain situations. Martial art novel enthusiasts would be sympathetic towards John the Baptist or that the two disciples, Andrew and John were wrong for abandoning their Master to follow Jesus. Even though such act was not as inglorious as killing one's Master, it was very disrespectful of them. It went against Chinese sentiments and they could not be exemplars for Chinese believers!

Firstly, Christians do not advocate vengeance which is God's privilege (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19). Christians should forgive each other, love each other.
Secondly, Matthew tells us that we have only one teacher, one master who is the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Our teacher-students relationships on earth are only brotherhood. (Matthew 23:8-10) Thus, even though Andrew and John were baptized by the Baptist and became his disciples, they and the Baptist were only brothers. When the true Master appears, the Baptist would lead his disciples to follow Jesus. By then, this brotherhood would be clearly visible. According to Matthew, when Jesus came down to River Jordan to be baptized by the Baptist, the Baptist tried to prevent him, saying that he needed to be baptized by Jesus (3:14). The Baptist knew that he was not the Anointed One. He also knew that on whomsoever the Holy Spirit descended, that person would be the long awaited Messiah. He must have taught his disciples such. Later, the Baptist bore witness and pointed to Jesus as the "Lamb of God" who came to save the world, the two disciples must have followed the Baptist's instructions to follow Jesus. Thus, Andrew and John had not deserted their master. The ideas of martial art novels do not work in this context.

Even if we confine ourselves to the gospel context, we encounter harmonization problems in today's story. This is a narrative of Jesus' calling his first disciples. The difference between the Synoptic gospels and John's gospel is huge. In the Synoptic, the first disciples were fishermen. Jesus called them at the seashore and immediately they abandoned everything to follow Jesus. Today's story is totally different. There was no sea, no call, no abandonment of everything and the grouping of disciples was different too. In the Synoptic, Jesus called Andrew and his brother Peter first, then James and his brother John. In today's story, Jesus did not call Andrew and John. They followed Jesus after their master the Baptist instructed them to do so. How shall we harmonize these differences?

Had there been only the Synoptic without John, the story of the call of the first disciples would have been unconvincing! How could it be possible for the disciples to abandon everything to follow Jesus the first time they heard him, like being hypnotized. Would that Jesus was actually a cult leader? The gospel of Luke tries to make the process more reasonable by inserting a miraculous catch to highlight the inner struggles of Peter (Luke 5:4-10). Thus, the gospel of John is more a description of the inner journey of the disciples to supplement the inadequacy of the Synoptic than a narrative of what was actually happening in the real world!

That is to say, Andrew and John were baptized and became disciples of the Baptist and followed his instructions. When Jesus appeared, the Baptist identified him to be the Messiah. Furthermore, he saw that Jesus Christ would deliver the world with his death. Thus the Baptist said that Jesus was "the Lamb of God". Andrew and John began to pay attention to Jesus, observing him from a distance. Then they drew near to come in contact and dialogue with Jesus. Like all other Jews, they were expecting the Messiah. When Jesus asked them what they sought, why didn't they answer, "The Messiah", but instead asked a rather irrelevant question, "Where do you stay?" (John 1:38) Indeed, this question was absolutely right because they needed to find out whether it was worthwhile to commit their lives to this Jesus. When Jesus invited them to go and see, they accepted the invitation and stayed with Jesus to build up a deeper relation. They decided to follow Jesus. Pay attention, Jesus invited them to go and take a look. It is not necessary to be a physical place. It could be an inner space in our hearts! Later, they bore witness to their brothers and led them to know Jesus Christ. On the other hand, they were still living in the physical world, making a living with fishing. At last, what the Synoptic tells was the visible fruit of an invisible inner journey of struggle. What the gospel of John tells is the journey of an inner acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah.

This incident is a treasure trove for spiritual reflections. The disciples followed the Baptist first and then Jesus Christ. It shows that the call of God is not a one-off event. God keeps beckoning us throughout our life, looking for opportunities to grant us grace. God seldom physically appears to us or speaks to us in dreams. Rather, He prefers to beckon us through other people, things, events and places. Thus, we need to stay alert to discern the vocation of God. We should not be afraid to abandon our comfort zone, not to uphold that changing old habitual way of thinking is killing the master.
On the other hand, we are Catholics. We have taken up the responsibility of a Baptist or an Eli in the first reading, to help others discern the voice of God, to help them answer God's call. Thus we have the duty to proclaim Jesus, but not to boast ourselves. Just as what the Baptist says, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (3:30)
God bless!

回應天主的召叫 Answering God's Call

主顯節
主題：回應天主的召叫

聖經收錄了不少「聖召」的故事，有些主角成功地回應了天主，結果留芳百世；有些人的回應未如理想，最後甚至與耶穌基督為敵，結果遺臭萬年。今天我們重溫「賢士」從東方前來朝拜耶穌聖嬰的故事，是一個信仰反省的好材料。故事告訴我們，天主以我們熟悉的事物向我們招手，邀請我們超越自我，接受更多更大的恩寵。

從聖經裡，我們很容易找到一些非常戲劇化的情節，描述天主如何召叫一個人。例如，天主在焚燒的荊棘之中召叫了梅瑟（出3），祂四次在睡夢中呼叫撒慕爾的名字（撒上3），後來派遣了總領天使向聖母瑪利亞傳話（路1）等等。
如果你以為今天的故事，可以歸類到戲劇化的啟示，你便大錯特錯了。執事，這話怎說？難道耶穌降生，天上出現異星，不是戲劇化嗎？我們的祖先，也相信帝皇將相的生與死，在天上都有星宿配合。例如，在「三國演義」之中，諸葛亮在五丈原與司馬懿決戰之時，甚至以「七星燈」的方術，增強自己的壽命。所以，古今中外的人，對占星術是非常著迷的。

的確，現代人曾嘗試從天文學的角度解釋這顆「白冷之星」，即耶穌出生時出現的星，有人說是「掃帚星」，有的說是「超新星爆炸」，眾說紛紜，可惜並不成功。近年來，科學家纔猛然想起耶穌時代還沒有天文學，祗有占星術。故此，重新出發，並運用電腦計算當年當地的星空圖，果然發現在公元前六年的四月十七日，太陽系幾顆肉眼可見的行星，都聚集在白羊座。運用占星術，可以解釋為在猶大地方出現了一位新生的君王。公元前六年是對的，因為屠殺無辜白冷嬰兒的大黑落德是在公元前四年去世的。而四月份比十二月更適合牧羊人在戶看守羊群。另一方面， 希臘文原文中的「賢士μάγοι Magi」除了解作有學問的人之外，亦可解作術士、祭司等的人。如果大家往郊外露營，看到滿天星斗時，你可認得出哪顆是火星、哪顆是土星呢、白羊座在哪呢？所以，祗有懂得占星術的人纔能看得懂這些星象，而不是一般人可以容易明白的，或者有興趣研究的。因此，「白冷之星」的出現並不像電影那樣戲劇化，而是受過訓練的眼睛纔看得見的。

天主教不是禁止信徒占卜算命的嗎？對，這樣做是缺乏信德的表現。當年，以色列的君王，阿哈齊雅從樓上的欄杆上跌下病了，便派人往厄刻龍向巴耳則步神問卜，看看自己甚 麼時候康復。先知厄里亞斥責他說：「你派人去求問巴耳則步，難道在以色列沒有天主嗎？」結果阿哈齊雅一病不起死了（列下1）。可見天主是非常厭惡偶像和拜偶像的人，反對占卜算命！可是，今天天主竟然運用奇異的天像，吸引懂得占星術的術士的注意力；然後，把全人類的救主，啟示給這些外邦人，真是奇怪！

這個故事給我兩個思想。首先，要知道瑪竇福音是寫給有猶太教背景的基督徒。猶太人素來以「天主的選民」自居，瞧不起外邦人，用今天的術語，就是「種族歧視」。所以，這個運用奇異的天像，向外邦人啟示的故事，其實也是為了打破猶太信徒的狹隘思想，告訴他們天主接納普世萬民。到了福音的最後一章，復活了的耶穌基督，更派遣宗徒去使萬民成為門徒，給他們授洗，教訓他們遵守耶穌所吩咐的一切。（瑪28:19-20）可謂首尾呼應。

其次，即使我們還是迷失的時候，還是把我們的精力放錯了地方的時候，還是背棄了天主，甚至犯罪的時候，天主對我們仍是不離不棄。祂的慈愛是何等偉大！另一方面，祂的智慧是何等不可思議，當我們廢寢忘餐地做自己喜歡的事物的時候，天主就在那裡向我們招手，一如天主以奇異的星像，向術士們招手一樣。我相信他們不會是惟一看見奇異星像的術士，其他的術士可能因為種種原因，沒有回應。可能他們的功力不及福音中的賢士，推算不到這星像的重要性，所以沒有來尋求真相。可能他們有能力推算到，但不願意離開目前的「安樂窩」，不願冒險，來不了朝覲救世主。又可能他們缺乏資金，付不起沉重的代價。要知道攀山涉水，跨越沙漠，經歷一年半載的時間，是一個非常昂貴的旅程。一年半載？因為大黑落德下命屠殺兩歲以下的嬰兒。同樣，做了耶穌的門徒之後，要按「真福八端」的態度來生活，是非常具挑戰性，甚至要為信仰而遭受迫害。我們願意付出這代價嗎？

各位兄弟姊妹，當初天主召叫我們，領洗入教，享受作為天主子女的恩寵。我們如何報答天主這份大愛呢？天主有沒有進一步召叫我們，在日常生活中，服務有需要的人，為天主的慈愛作見證呢？更進一步，天主有沒有召叫我們，放棄現在的舒適生活，作為教會的聖職人員，拓展天國，令更多的人得救呢？請大家在這個星期反省這些問題，在我們喜歡做的事物當中，細心耹聽觀察，看看天主有沒有向你招手，準備送給你更多的恩寵。
天主保祐！

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Solemnity of Epiphany
Theme: Answering God's Call

The Bible can be said to be a collection of Vocation stories. Many heroes responded to God successfully and became famous. Others did not respond so well, or even became enemies of Jesus Christ, and turned infamous. Today, we read again the story of the Magi from the East which is good food for reflection. The narrative tells us that God beckons us in ways we are familiar with. He invites us to transcend ourselves to receive more and greater grace from Him.

We are able to find in the Bible dramatic narratives of how God called people. For example, God called Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3). Four times He called Samuel in dreams (1 Samuel 3) and lastly, He sent an archangel to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Luke 1) etc.
If you think that today's story is another dramatic incident, you are totally wrong. Deacon, how could it be? Wasn't the appearance of a Wonder Star at the birth of Jesus dramatic enough? Our Chinese ancestors also believed that the births and demises of kings, generals and heroes were reflected by the stars in heavens. For example, during the confrontation between Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi at Wuzhang Plains, Zhuge even made use of the magic of "Septa-Stellar Lamps" to extend his life. Thus, peoples throughout the world and ages have been fascinated with astrology.

Surely, modern people tried to explain the "Star of Bethlehem" from an astronomical approach. Some proposed a comet, others a supernova explosion. None has been satisfactory. Recently, scientists suddenly recalled that there was no astronomy during Jesus' time, only astrology. Thus, scientists took a different approach and made use of planetarium software to map the distribution of stars at a particular time and location. Thus, they discovered that on April 17, 6 BC, our solar planets which could be seen with naked eyes all came together in the constellation of Aries. Interpreted in an astrological way, it means a new king was born in Judaea. 6 BC is right because Herod the Great who ordered the massacre of innocent infants in Bethlehem died in 4 BC. Moreover, was not April a more reasonable month for shepherds to keep watch by night in the field than December? Furthermore, the Greek word for Magi μάγοι not only means wise men, but also magicians and priests etc. If you go camping in the wild and look up the starry heavens, are you able to recognize which star Mars is, which Saturn is and where Aries is? Thus, only astrologists could understand these celestial phenomena, not common folks like us. Thus, the Star of Bethlehem, unlike what have been depicted dramatically in movies, could only be perceived by trained eyes.

Isn't fortune-telling forbidden for Catholics? Yes, it is! It indicates a lack of faith! When Ahaziah, king of Israel fell from his upper chamber in Samaria and lay sick, he sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron whether he would recover. Elijah the prophet scolded him, "Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron?" (2 Kings 1) We see that God hates idols and their worshippers. He objected to fortune telling! But today, God made use of wondrous heavenly signs to attract the attention of astrologists. Then He revealed to them the Saviour of mankind. How bizarre it is!

This story strikes me at two fronts. First of all, we should know that Matthew wrote for Christians with a Jewish background. Jews were always proud to be "The Chosen People of God" and despised Gentiles. In today's jargon, it was racial discrimination. Thus, this narrative of using wondrous heavenly signs to reveal the Messiah to Gentiles aims at smashing the prejudice of Jewish Christians, telling them that God accepts all peoples. At the end of the gospel, the risen Christ instructed the Apostles to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe all that he had commanded them. (Matthew 28:19-20). What an inclusio.

Secondly, even when we are lost, when we have misplaced most of our energies, when we betray God and even commit sins, still God does not forsake us. How great His mercy is! On the other hand, His wisdom is ineffable. When we spend all our time doing things we desire, there God beckons us like what He did with the wise men from the East. We believe that they were not the only ones who were able to see the signs. But the other astrologists did not respond for various reasons. Probably they were not as skilful as those wise men in the Gospel and were unable to calculate the significance of the signs and seek the truth. Or they had the ability but were not willing to leave their Comfort Zone. They did not want to risk and thus failed to meet the Saviour. Or perhaps they lacked the resources or were unwilling to pay the heavy price. You should understand that it was a very costly journey, climbing mountains, wading rivers and traversing deserts. It took nine months or more. Why? It was because Herod the Great ordered to have infants two years old or under in Bethlehem to be butchered. Similarly, when one becomes a Christian and leads his life according to the Beatitudes, it is very challenging and even being persecuted. Are we ready to pay the price?

Brethren, God called us to be baptized, to become a member of the Church to enjoy the grace of being the children of God. How do we repay His great love? Does God continue to call us to serve the needy, to be a witness of His mercy in our daily life? Furthermore, does He call us to abandon our comfort zone to become a member of the clergy to expand the Kingdom of Heaven, saving more people? Let us reflect on these questions in this week. Listen and observe carefully what we desire to do most and see if God beckons us to receive more graces He has prepared for us.
God bless!