主題：耶穌基督是我們的護慰者
天主的創造，樣樣都很好。（創1:4，8，10，12，18，22，25，31）那麼， 人自然會問：「魔鬼是從那裡來的呢？」
若望寫信給他的團體，勸勉他們不要犯罪。但他明白人的軟弱，所以若望鼓勵他們即使犯了罪，決不可灰心絕望，好像猶達斯一樣。猶達斯絕望了，沒有給自己一個悔改的機會，沒有給天主一個寬赦他的機會。於是人類損失了一個「聖猶達斯」，一個「線人的主保」。相反，伯多祿痛哭悔改，捱過40個最黑暗的小時，等到耶穌基督的復活，獲得罪赦。於是教會可以由罪人所組成，並且是建築在一塊軟弱的磐石之上。我們應讚頌天主，因為祂的計劃，真是神妙莫測。
我們憑甚麼可以不灰心絕望呢？若望說：「我們在父那裡，有正義的耶穌基督作護慰者。他自己就是贖罪祭，贖我們的罪過。不但贖我們的，而且也贖全世界的罪過。」（若一2:1b-2）這裡需要一些解釋。
作為一個基督徒，向別人傳福音時，經常會遇到同一個困難，就是如何解釋二千年前死在十字架上的耶穌，與今天的我們有甚麼關係？的確，要現代人接受自己是罪人，是非常困難的。即使他們認識到自己是軟弱的，有不足之處的，有犯錯而傷害過別人的，我們還要費一番唇舌，解釋耶穌基督的死，如何贖全人類的罪。這些好像是超出一般教友的能力水準，是不可能做到的。請大家緊記，不要像猶達斯一樣絕望，請不要輕言放棄，請給對方一個機會，與耶穌基督建立關係，請給天主聖神工作的機會，開啟他們的明悟，明白耶穌基督的死亡和復活，如何贖全人類的罪，並且給予信徒永生！
的確，福音所記載的復活情節，處處表現出耶穌基督是如何慈悲，如何有耐性地遷就門徒的程度。對傷心的瑪利亞瑪達肋納，耶穌顯現安慰她，並派遣她作宗徒們的宗徒，向宗徒傳達耶穌基督復活的消息（若20：17）。在厄瑪烏路上的兩個門徒失望了，耶穌基督與他們同行，耐心地解釋法律和先知，有關默西亞必須受苦的預言（路24：27）；事事講究真憑實據的多默，要求親自驗證耶穌的傷痕，耶穌基督便當眾顯現，並且邀請多默伸手驗傷（若20：27）；今天的福音，記載了耶督證明往厄瑪烏的兩個門徒的證言，並且在他們面前吃烤魚，安慰那些信德不足的門徒（路24：42-43）。可見天主子耶穌基督，是何等慈悲，如何為了我們的益處而遷就我們哩。為了遷就我們，祂降生成人而不是成為天使，因為天使是不死的。可是，物質世界和人類社會，始終要求以死亡賠償罪過。而且，祂是以天主子的身份死，祂一個人的死，足以賠償古今中外，古往今來全人類的罪過！所以，兩千年前死在十字架上的耶穌基督，已經為未來千千萬萬年的人類，包括我們，還清一切罪債。惟一的要求，就是我們向祂「登記」，信靠祂，在人前承認祂是救主天主！
人啊！試問我們何德何能，天主竟然如此遷就我們，賞識我們呢？的確，雖然我們是按天主的肖像所造，但我們沒有天使的德能，沒有甚麼值得炫耀的地方。無論我們如何墮落，天父仍然珍惜自己的傑作。祇要我們回頭悔改，轉向祂，信靠祂，祂必定能使我們發揮祂賜給我們的潛能，成為祂光榮的子女。「悔改」是天主非常樂意看見的態度。正如耶穌說：「對於一個罪人悔改，在天上所有的歡樂，甚於對九十九個無須悔改的義人。」（15：7）
為甚麼天主的創造是好的呢？因為祂的創造是有秩序，有等級的。例如，人比動物高級，動物比植物高級，植物比死物高級等等。傳統的解釋，是天主聖父吩咐天主聖子降生成人，而不是降生成為天使，並且吩咐天使朝拜降生成人的天主子。天使與天主一樣是靈體，比人類高級。因此，部份天使不願意朝拜人類，是合理的。結果，他們出於驕傲嫉妒而變成了魔鬼，被懲罰往地獄去，真是可惜！但魔鬼並不甘心，它要人類陪葬，所以引誘原祖及其後裔犯罪，並且時時刻刻在天父面前，控訴我們。
天主是公義的，所以人類社會也應該是公義的，但可惜人類有能力做出他賠償不起的破壞。欠債還錢加利息固然可以補償債主的損失，但血債可以血償嗎？殺人又如何填命呢？殺死一個凶手，真的能賠償死者家屬和整個社會的損失嗎？一命可以賠一命嗎？那麼，殺死成千上萬人民的暴君，要賠上萬世纔會符合公義了！雖然「殺人者死」不是最公義的做法，但為了彰顯公義，死刑始終是比較符合公義的做法。既然人沒有能力補償自己所犯的罪過，於是，天主子耶穌基督降生成人，成為贖罪祭，贖我們的罪過。
天主保祐！
2015年講道
Third Easter Sunday, Year B
Theme: Jesus Christ is Our Advocate
Everything God created is good. (Genesis 1:4, 8, 10, 12, 18, 22, 25, 31) Then naturally people will ask, "Where did the Devil come from?"
John wrote letters to his community to exhort them not to commit sins. But he understood the weaknesses of men. Thus, he encouraged them not to despair like Judas even if they fell. Judas despaired and did not give himself a chance to repent and did not give God the opportunity to forgive him. Thus, humanity loses a "St. Judas", a patron saint for informants. On the contrary, Peter wept and repented. He survived the darkest 40 plus hours and was able to persevere until the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was forgiven. Thus a Church was built upon a fragile rock which is able to embrace sinners. We should praise God for His plan is ineffable!
What enables us not to despair? John says, "We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1b-2) We need some explanation.
As a Christian, we always encounter the same difficulty when we try to preach the gospel, viz., how the death of Jesus two millennia ago is related to us today. Indeed, it is extremely difficult for modern people to accept that they are sinners. Even if they realize their weaknesses, inadequacies and harms they inflict upon others, we need to spend a lot of persuasion in order to explain how the death of Jesus Christ redeems all the sins of humanity. It seems to surpass the capability of ordinary laity, to be impossible. Please bear in mind not to give up easily like Judas. Give people an opportunity to build up a relationship with Jesus Christ. Give the Holy Spirit a chance to open up their understanding how the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ redeem all the sins of humanity and give the believers eternal life!
From the Resurrection Narratives in the gospels, we see how merciful Jesus Christ was and how he patiently catered for the states of the disciples. For the sorrowful Mary Magdalene, Jesus appeared and consoled her. Then he made her the Apostle of the Apostles by sending her to announce to the Apostles his resurrection. (John 20:17) On the way to Emmaus, the two disciples were disillusioned. Jesus Christ walked with them, patiently explaining to them what the Law and Prophets had prophesized about the suffering of the Messiah. (Luke 24:27) For Thomas who wanted hard evidence, Jesus appeared to him and invited him to examine His holy wounds with his hands. (John 20:27) In the gospel passage today, Jesus appeared in order to support the testimony of the two disciples returning from Emmaus and He ate a piece of broiled fish in front of them to strengthen the disciples who lacked faith. (Luke 24:42-43) We see how merciful the Son of God Jesus Christ is, how he caters for our lowly states of life for our benefits. For our good, he incarnated not as an angel but as a man because angels are immortal. But the material world and human society demand death as a redemption. Moreover, he died in the capacity of the Son of God. His death is sufficient to redeem the sins of all humanity throughout all ages! Thus, his death on the cross two millennia ago has already wiped out all the debts of thousands of generations of humanity, including us. The only requirement is that we need to "register". We need to have faith in him, to acknowledge him to be our Saviour and our God in front of men!
Men! What good are we that God caters for our lowliness and sees our potentials? Indeed, though we were created in the image of God, we are not as capable as angels. There is nothing we can be proud of. But no matter how hard we have fallen, the Father cherishes his masterpieces. We only need to repent, to turn around and to trust in Him, He will help us manifest the potentials He has given us to become His glorious children. God loves to see this attitude of repentance in us. Just as what Jesus says, "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (15:7)
Why is God's creation good? It is because God's creation is ordered. There is a hierarchy. For example, men are higher than animals. Animals are higher than plants and plants are higher than dead things etc. Traditionally, we explain the existence of the Devil in this way. The Father told the Son to incarnate, not as an angel but as a man. Furthermore, He told the angels to worship this incarnate Son of God. Angels and God are spiritual being, higher than men. Thus, it is reasonable for some angels to reject bowing to a man. Consequently, they became devils and were sent to Hell for their pride and jealousy. What a pity! Of course the Devil felt undeserved and decided to grasp hold of as many mortuary trophies as possible. Thus, the Devil tricked our first parents and their descendants to commit sins. Furthermore, the Devil accuses us all the time before the Father.
God is righteous. Thus there must be justice in the human society. But unfortunately, men are able to destroy more than they can compensate. We can repay debts with interests to debtees. But can blood be repaid with blood? How do people repay murders? Does killing a murderer enough to repay the losses of the victim's family and the society as a whole? Is "a life for a life" fair enough? Then a tyrant who kills thousands of his subjects has to repay with thousands of his generations in order to be fair! Though death penalty is not the fairest way, in order to manifest justice, it is the second best way. Since men are unable to compensate their crimes and sins, the Son of God became a man to offer Himself as our expiation, to repay our sins.
God bless!
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