(若14:7-14)
耶穌基督不愧是善牧(若10:11,14)。祂並不追求自己的成就,而是造就那些信仰祂的人,祂的羊群,做更偉大的事業(14:12)。試問做父母的,做師傅的,哪有不願意看到門徒子女的成就,青出於藍呢?看來,耶穌基督亦不外如是,並不像傳說中那麼革命性。
耶穌基督的確是革命性的,祂的教訓,可以顛覆政權。當年的大司祭蓋法,正確地判斷到耶穌對建制派的威脅,於是先發制人,提出「叫一個人替百姓死,以免全民族滅亡;這為你們多麼有利。」(11:50),於是公議會便聽從他的意見,把耶穌交給比拉多處決。
耶穌基督把祂的革命性思想,即天國,植入了這個世界,有待時光的流逝,讓種子生長,開花和結果。所以,天國的開始是微不足道的。耶穌基督開始了的工作,祂的門徒仍要繼續做,而且隨著時日的推移,會做得更大規模,更專業。從社會進化的角度看,統治者所鼓吹的意識型態,越來越廣闊和深刻:政治上從封建主義到自由主義到帝國主義到極權主義;經濟上從農業化到工業化到自動化到全球化。統治者對人民的奴役和控制,越來越全面,對人性的踐踏,越來越肆無忌憚!耶穌基督教訓的革命性,在於不斷地挑戰統治者用來奴役人民的各種意識型態,維護天主肖像的尊嚴。
在不同的世代,代表耶穌基督的牧者們所面對的哥肋雅化身,越來越凶殘。牧者們按耶穌基督的教訓,無畏更凶狠的霸權,做出更偉大的事業。
天父啊!主教、神父或者執事不竟是人,跳出個人榮辱是相當困難的。倘若他們做了自私的決定,忘記了造就託付給他們的羊群時,請幫助他們悔改補贖。亞孟。
Jesus Edifies His Flock
(John 14:7-14)
Jesus Christ is truly the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14). He does not seek His own achievements but edifies those who believe in Him, His flock to do greater works (14:12). Which parents and teachers do not want to see their children and their disciples achieve more? Then, Jesus Christ is yet another teacher, not as revolutionary as legends go.
But Jesus Christ is truly revolutionary. His teachings can be seditious. At His times, Caiaphas was the High Priest who correctly evaluated the threats Jesus posed the religious establishment. So, he took the initiative and persuaded the people, "It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish." (11:50) Thus, the Sanhedrin listened to his advice and handed Jesus over to be condemned by Pilate.
Jesus Christ planted his revolutionary idea, the Kingdom of Heaven, in this world and allowed it to grow, to bloom and to bear fruits. Thus, the beginning of the Kingdom of Heaven was trivial. The work Jesus Christ has begun has to be continued by His disciples. With the passage of time, it shall become bigger and more professional. From the perspective of social evolution, the ideologies of rulers become more pervasive and incisive: politically, it evolved from feudalism to liberalism to imperialism and totalitarianism; economically from agricultralism to industrialization to automation to globalization. Rulers impose more comprehensive slavery and control over the people, trample on their dignity with less restrains. Jesus’ teachings are revolutionary in that they continuously challenge the ideologies rulers deploy to enslave the people and to protect the dignity of the images of God.
Throughout different ages, the shepherds that represent Jesus Christ confront more and more ferocious incarnations of Goliath. These shepherds follow the teaching of Jesus Christ to do greater works, not fearing those more brutal regimes.
Heavenly Father! After all, bishops, priests and deacons are human. It is difficult for them to jump out of the box of personal honours. If they make selfish decisions, forgetting the flock You have entrusted them, help them repent and do penance. Amen.
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