（若10:1-10）
很多人善意地期望梵蒂崗與中國進行交談，希望能改善彼此的關係，使福音能自由地在大陸傳揚，使更多炎黃子孫，得享天主的救恩。可惜在一些基本原則上，存在著不能跨越的洪溝（路16:26）：梵蒂崗緊守「主教必須與教宗共融」的原則，中國政府卻堅持「三自」的原則，誰也沒有讓步的台階。今天的福音說得非常清楚，我們不要心存幻想了。
耶穌基督是羊的門（若10:7），「由門進去的，才是羊的牧人」（10:2）。因為耶穌基督給了伯多祿天國的鑰匙（瑪16:19），所以，伯多祿和他的承繼人就是看門的人，就是看守羊棧之門和天國之門的人。因此，拒絕與教宗共融的人，教宗又怎能「給他開門」呢（若10:3）？「由別處爬進去的牧者」，就是得不到教宗認可的主教，耶穌基督是怎樣稱呼他們呢？因此，梵蒂崗與中國政府商討的，不是建交問題，而是如何把「由別處爬進去的牧者」，帶出羊棧之外，由羊的門從新進入的問題。即是說，把以往不與教宗共融的主教，經一定程序與教宗恢復共融，成為合法的主教，並使將來的主教，能以正常程序按立。
主教的重要性，不在於他的權力，而在於他帶給羊群的影響。他的任務是帶領羊群，進羊棧休息，出羊棧到草場覓食（10:9），使羊群獲得生命，獲得更豐富的生命（10:10）。主教的使命，就是幫助教友，與耶穌基督建立密切的關係，得到永生。倘若主教為世俗的政權服務，與耶穌基督的真理背道而馳，試問這些主教，帶給教友們怎樣豐富的生命呢？
阿爸！父啊！一切為祢都可能。求祢啟示我們應走的道路，並賜下聖神，賦予我們承行祢旨意的力量。亞孟。
Peter and his Successors are Gate-Keepers
(John 10:1-10)
With good intentions, many people wish Vatican and Communist China engaged in dialogue to improve their relationship so that gospel might be freely spread in the mainland, allowing more descendants of Huángdi to enjoy God’s salvation. However, on some fundamental principles, there exists an unsurpassable chasm (Luke 16:26) . Vatican abides by the principle of "full episcopal communion with the Pope" whereas the Chinese government insists on the "Three-Self" principle. Neither side is able to concede. The gospel today is crystal clear. We should not entertain any fantasy.
Jesus is the Door of the Sheep (John 10:7) and "he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep." (10:2) Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to Peter (Matthew 16:19). Thus, Peter and his successors are gate-keepers of the sheepfold and the Kingdom of Heaven. Thus, how can the Pope open the door to those who refuse to be in full communion with him (10:3)? Those "who do not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way" do not receive the mandate from the Pope. What does Jesus call them? Thus at the moment, the discussion between the Vatican and the Chinese government is NOT about establishing diplomatic relation, but how to bring those "who do not enter the sheepfold by the door" out of the fold and re-enter the fold through the Door. That is to say, through certain procedures, make those bishops who are not in communion with the Pope become legitimate bishops and normalize the proper consecration of bishops in the future.
The importance of bishops is not their authority but their influence on the flock. His mission is to lead the flock into the fold to rest and out of the fold to find pasture (10:9) so that the flock "may have life, and have it abundantly" (10:10). The mission of bishops is to help the congregation to build up intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and attain eternal life. If bishops serve secular powers and stray from the truth of Jesus Christ, what kind of abundant life can these bishops give the congregation?
Aba, Father! All things are possible for you. Show us the way we should tread and give us the Holy Spirit to empower us to do Your will. Amen.
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