（路18:9-14）
很不幸，今天故事中的法利塞人，是大部份天主教徒的寫照！因為他們不傳福音！
有些天主教徒是真心的領洗入教，並且熱心禮儀生活，每天參加彌撒、辦告解、領聖體、唸玫瑰經、慈悲串經、九日敬禮、明供聖體等，應有盡有。不但如此，他們在堂區內熱心服務，幫助建樹堂區大家庭；凡有退省、講座、靈修工作坊、朝聖團甚至宗教科學的學位課程，一定可以找到他們的蹤影，熱心投入。他們的確令人敬仰，無懈可擊，堪稱義人。你還可以找到他們任何破綻嗎？問題是，上述的熱心天主教徒，和福音所描述的，近乎完美的法利塞人，有甚麼分別呢？我看不到有！
有！這些熱心的天主教徒經常辦告解，承認自己的罪！法利塞人不承認自己的罪嘛！我認為這天主教徒倒像那個稅吏，回到家裡，成為義人！可惜，熱心天主教徒所告的罪之中，有沒有懺悔自己沒有履行最大誡命，把福音傳給近人呢？倘若他沒有告明，不認為拒絕傳福音是罪過，他像福音中的法利塞人，自以為是，自充為義人。倘若他有告明，但沒有改過，依然沒有傳福音。對不起，修和聖事被浪費了，耶穌基督的寶血被糟蹋了！
有些天主教徒是為了自己或自己親人的利益，領洗入教，獲取天主教徒的身份，享受教會所提供的利益和優惠。這是毫不掩飾的偽善，是真正的法利塞人。
聖父啊！求祢在我們心中洗淨一切自滿的念頭，認清自己的不足，渴慕祢的助祐。亞孟。
Hypocritical Catholics
(Luke 18:9-14)
Unfortunately, the Pharisee in the story today is a portrait of most Catholics! It is because they do not proclaim the gospel!
Some Catholics were genuinely baptized. They are pious in liturgy. Every day they go to mass, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, recite Rosary, Novenas and adore the Eucharist etc. Not only that, they help the parish enthusiastically build up the parish family. Whenever there are retreats, talks, spirituality workshops, pilgrimages and even degree courses in Religious Sciences, you will find their presence and fervent participation. They are truly respectable and impeccable. They can be called righteous. What flaw can you find in them? The problem is: Can you find any difference between them and the nearly perfect Pharisee described in the gospel? I can't see any.
Oh, there is! These pious Catholics always go into the confessional to confess their sins but the Pharisee does not! I think these Catholics are like the tax-collector who became justified when he returned home! Unfortunately, among the sins confessed, do these pious Catholics feel sorry that they have not observed the first Commandment to proclaim the gospel to their neighbour? If they skip this sin and do not think that refusing to evangelise is a sin, they are like the self-righteous Pharisee in the gospel. If they confess and do not change, continue not to evangelize, I am sorry, they have abused the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Jesus' precious blood is wasted!
Some Catholics receive baptism for the benefits of themselves or their relatives. Getting a Catholic identity allows them to enjoy the benefits and welfare provided by the Church. This is blatant hypocrisy and they are truly Pharisees.
Heavenly Father, cleanse us of all complacent thoughts in our hearts. Help us realize our inadequacy and desire Your help. Amen.
「熱心天主教徒所告的罪之中，有沒有懺悔自己沒有履行最大誡命，把福音傳給近人呢？」
ReplyDelete這句的前切是，所謂熱心天主教徒沒有傳福音。問題是，你又如何得知，這些熱心天主教徒沒有傳福音？若然他們在福傳上有所欠缺，那麼他們不悔改，自然是不該的。但我們又憑甚麼認定，他們必然沒有善盡福傳本份，因此應當悔改告明？
「倘若他有告明，但沒有改過，依然沒有傳福音。對不起，修和聖事被浪費了，耶穌基督的寶血被糟蹋了！」
懺悔聖事中，若懺悔者沒有改過的定志，赦罪是無效的。但即使有改過的定志，不等於必然全面成功。我們領洗時，不也定志棄絶撒殫麼？那麼我們領洗後，是否次次都不再犯罪，每每都大獲全勝呢？
軟弱與僞善是不同的；口講悔改但不是真心悔改的是僞善，誠心悔改但失足跌倒的是軟弱。若然一個人辦了告解，誠心懺悔決意定改，卻仍然犯罪，他不應逃避天主的恩寵，而更應求取更多恩寵，因爲他必須更努力、更仰賴天主，才能成功。