主題：人子受光榮
「光榮」一般是指卓越的成就所帶來眾人的讚賞。所以，光榮包含了三個元素，就是成就，人數和稱讚。有些成就是剎那即時的光輝，有些卻經得起時間的侵蝕。除了時間之外，成就的偉大渺小，還要看有多少人受惠。當然，一兩個有地位的人物，例如國家元首、傑出的科學家和藝術家等，他們的讚賞也會帶來光榮。
心理學家在研究如何令員工發奮工作時，提出人有不同層次的需要。祇要滿足到僱員的需要，他們便會發奮工作了。最基本的當然是生理上的需要，試問沒有足夠的溫飽和休息，怎叫工人發奮工作呢？所以奴隸制度不但野蠻，而且沒有效率。其次是安全感。不能安居，又如何樂業呢？祇有散工合約工，又怎教工人全心全意為僱主賣力呢？第三是歸屬感。對一份沒有感情的工作，消耗青春，的確是一件苦差。第四是別人的讚賞！原來人的慾望真是無限的，滿足了上述三層需要之後，人便會渴望幹一番事業，有所成就，可以獲得別人的肯定和讚賞，甚至永垂不朽。原來追求光榮，是非常吸引人的一回事，好像與生俱來一樣。這可能因為人是按天主的肖象所造成吧！天主是光榮的，祂的肖像自然會被光榮所吸引。那麼，天主的光榮又如何呢？
天主的力量和成就是無可比擬的，既是影響深遠的，又是覆蓋萬物的。且看天主的傑作，即祂所創造的宇宙，處處表現出天主的大能。大自然中舉目所見的一切，哈勃太空望遠鏡傳回來，宇宙深處的影像，處處令人讚嘆不已。正如聖詠所說：「高天陳述天主的光榮，穹蒼宣揚祂手的化工。」（詠19:2）天主是不需要人類的讚賞，天主的成就亦不需要世人的肯定。所以天主是否光榮，是不用投票選舉的！的確，祂所做的一切，在我們眼中，全部都是光榮的。
以色列人由梅瑟帶領離開埃及的時候，曾親眼看見過天主驚天動地的光榮，看見天主如何以十個災禍打擊埃及國，如何分開紅海讓以色列人安然渡過，之後淹沒了追趕的戰車和步兵等。的確，在舊約所記載的故事中，經常出現的主題是天主藉祂的大能，鋤強扶弱。例如在民長基德紅的故事中，天主從三萬以色列士兵之中，挑選了三百人，擊敗了三十萬米德揚大軍（民7）；又例如天主藉一個小小的牧童達味，便擊殺了七呎勇士哥肋雅（撒上17）。這些都是彪炳的戰蹟，但死了很多人！到了新約時代，聖史若望，更好說是耶穌基督，教導我們體會天父另一面的光榮。
在瑪竇福音中，「光榮」一辭出現過6次，一次是群眾看了耶穌基督的神蹟後，光榮天主，其餘就是有關末日的言論。馬爾谷福音提了4次光榮，一次是神蹟，三次是有關末日。路加福音提了14次，七次是神蹟，其餘是末日。若望福音用了「光榮」一辭共42次！有5次是用在三個神蹟之中，其餘的都是環繞著天主子的受難和復活！若望是親眼見証耶穌基督顯聖容的三個宗徒之一，而且若望福音成書最晚。所以若望深深認識到耶穌基督的苦難與復活的光榮，是一個不能分割的逾越奧蹟。在三部對觀福音所記載的受難始末，耶穌基督是沉默的代罪羔羊，受盡不公義和殘酷的對待。但在若望福音的記載之中，耶穌基督在受難過程中，操控大局。例如在山園祈禱被捕時，耶穌表露身份，兵士便倒退跌在地上（若18:6）。受比拉多審判時，耶穌並不沉默，並且與比拉多針鋒相對（18:33-38, 19:9-11）。被判死刑後沒有被鞭打虐待，沒有西滿為祂背十字架，沒有脫光衣服的恥辱；耶穌被埋葬時，更用上一百斤的沉香和沒藥，包裹屍體，簡直是帝王的待遇（19:39）。請記住，沒有記載並不表示沒有發生。但即使有發生，即使耶穌曾遭受不公義和殘酷的虐待，在若望的眼中，都是耶穌基督的光榮。這血淋淋的慘況，被顯聖容的光輝，被復活的光輝所掩蓋。所以耶穌說：「至於我，當我從地上被舉起來時，便要吸引眾人來歸向我。」（12:32）這樹立在天地之間的十字架，有異於旁邊兩個死囚的十字架。它不是刑具，而是接通天地，回歸天父的天梯，耶穌基督就是掛在木架上的銅蛇。它展示出天父的慈悲，徹底地摧毀了罪惡和死亡，比舊約的戰蹟，更驚天動地！但天主子必須像麥子一樣，先置諸死地，纔產生更豐盛的生命（12:24）。
各位兄弟姊妹，再過一個星期，我們便慶祝耶穌基督的受難。下星期五拜苦路的時候，讓我們跟隨若望宗徒一樣默想，耶穌基督在山園被捕、在總督府被不公義地判處死刑、肩膀被十字架壓著、在路上跌倒、在加爾瓦略山被釘和被埋葬，全部都是耶穌基督，天主子的光榮。祂的吸引之處，就在於這一切苦難所帶來的豐盛生命。
天主保祐。
The Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year B
Theme: The Son of Man is Glorified There are 50 verses in John 12. "Glory" appears 8 times. In the 14-verse excerpt we read today, it appears 4 times. Therefore, "glory" is a good theme for meditation.
"Glory" means praises of people brought about by excellent achievements. There are three elements: achievement, number of people and praises. Some achievements are transient brilliance while some can endure the passage of time. Other than time, the greatness of an achievement also depends on the number of people benefited. Of course, the praises of one or two dignitaries such as state leaders, famous scientists or artists are enough to bring glory.
When psychologists studied how to motivate employees to work hard, they proposed a hierarchy of needs. To motivate people, we have to meet their needs. The most fundamental ones are physiological needs. Just think about it, how can workers work hard if they are not adequately fed? Therefore, not only is slavery barbaric, but it is also an inefficient institution. Next comes security. When workers are not properly housed, how can they work well? Will temporary or contracted workers devote themselves to serve the boss? The third is a sense of belonging. Wasting away one's youth on a job that lacks love is a torture! The fourth is recognition. Human desires are truly infinite. After satisfying the previous three levels of needs, men desire to earn people's praises, recognition and even a status of immortality. Chasing glory is such an attractive endeavour that something must have ingrained in our DNA. Probably it is because men were created in the image of God. God is majestic. His images will naturally gravitate towards Him. Then, what about the glory of God?
God's power and achievement is unsurpassed. It is long lasting and comprehensive. Take a look at His masterpiece, the universe which He has created. Everywhere you will find the manifestation of His potency. Wherever you lay your eyes on the Mother Nature or images of deep space sent back by the Hubble Space Telescope, they are simply stunning. Just as what the Palmist says, "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1) God does not need our praises or His achievements our recognition. God's glory needs no popular poll! Indeed, whatever He does is glorious in our eyes.
When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they saw with their own eyes the earth-shaking glory of God: how He struck the Egyptians with Ten Plagues, how He separated the Red Sea for the Israelites to walk safely through and subsequently drowned all the chasing chariots and soldiers. Indeed, with His might, God helps the weak to defeat the powerful is a recurring theme found in the Old Testament. For example, in the story of Gideon, God chose 300 men from 30000 Israelite soldiers to defeat a 300000 Midian army (Judges 7). Again, He helped the tiny shepherd boy David kill the gigantic Goliath (1 Samuel 17). These are colourful war records but much blood was shed! In New Testament times, John the Evangelist, or better Jesus Christ, teaches us another aspect of the Father's glory.
In Matthew, "glory" appears 6 times. It appears once when people glorified God after seeing Jesus' healing miracle. The rest are found in eschatology. Mark mentions "glory" 4 times. It appears once in healing and the remaining in eschatology. Luke mentions 14 times, 7 of which in miracles and the rest eschatology. But John uses 42 times! It is used 5 times in three miracles. The rest are about the passion and resurrection of the Son of God. John was one of the three Apostles who witnessed Jesus' Transfiguration. The gospel of John was the last to complete. Thus John deeply understood that the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ form an inseparable Passover Mystery. In the Passion Narrative of the three Synoptic gospels, Jesus Christ was a silent scapegoat, quietly suffering injustice and cruelty. But in the gospel of John, Jesus Christ took control over the whole process! For example, when he was arrested in Gethsemane, soldiers drew back and fell to the ground when he identified himself (John 18:6). When judged by Pilate, Jesus did not remain silent and crossed swords with Pilate (18:33-38, 19:9-11). There was no whipping after condemnation, no Simon to carry his cross, no humiliation of being stripped naked. When he was buried, he was embalmed with 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes like kings (19:39). Remember, absence of written records does not mean it didn't happen. But even if it happened, even if Jesus was unfairly condemned and cruelly abused, these were glories in John's eyes. These bloody incidents were illuminated by Transfiguration and covered by the glory of Resurrection. Thus, Jesus says, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself" (12:32). This cross which stood between heaven and earth was different from the crosses of the other two thieves. It is not a torture rack but a staircase that connects heaven and earth, a way leading us back to the Father. Jesus Christ was the Bronze Serpent hung on the wood. This demonstrates how the mercy of the Father completely annihilates sins and death. Compared with the war records in the Old Testament, this is more earth shaking. But like a grain of wheat, the Son of Man must die first in order to bear more abundant life (12:24).
Brethren, in one more week we will be celebrating the Passion of Jesus Christ. When you come to take part in the Stations of the Cross the coming Friday, follow the meditations of Apostle John. The arrest of Jesus Christ in Gethsemane, the unfair condemnation at the prætorium, the weight of the cross on the shoulder, the fallings on the way, the crucifixion at Calvary and the burial etc. are the glory of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The attraction of His Passion lies in the abundant life it brings.
God bless!
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