（若13:16-20）
人在俗世追求權力，可以是為了自私地滿足自己的「操縱慾」，也可以運用手上已有的權力，建設一個烏托邦。可惜，兩者都沒有好收場。前者永遠得不到滿足，因為當你行使權力時，表示別人放棄了部份自由。沒有人會願意完全喪失自由，任由其他人完全操控自己的。過了他的底線，他會拒絕合作。所以想滿足操縱慾，完全操縱別人的人，是不會得到百份百的控制。所得到的，虛假的成份居多。
為甚麼那些追求權力，用來救國救民的人，也會失敗呢？因為當你追求理想的時候，一定會遇上阻力。當你目前的權力不足以克服障礙，而克服不了障礙，就不能達到理想。惟一的辦法，就是追求更大的權力，掃除障礙，排除異己！到時，權力由手段變成了目的，救國救民的初心也忘掉了。最後，阻礙自己追求權力的，就是自己的良心。於是，連「真我」也要消滅…，太可怕了！
權力真是這樣可怕的嗎？
耶穌基督在最後晚餐時，為門徒洗腳，並吩咐他們要「彼此洗腳」（若13:14），這就是今天福音的上文。在那裡，耶穌基督教訓門徒，行使權力的真正意義：權力並不是為了剝削別人的自由，反而是為了服務弟兄姊妹，造就他們，令他們享受到更大的幸福。耶穌基督為我們立下了為主子、為師傅的為比自己低下的門徒洗腳的榜樣。我們能照樣做，便是有福的（13:17）。耶穌基督派遣祂的神職人員：主教、神父、執事為天主子民服務。凡接待他們，服從他們，就是接待耶穌基督，這樣做可以得到永生，因此是有福的（13:20）。同樣，耶穌基督派遣祂的門徒往俗世裡去傳揚福音，凡接受福音教訓的，便成了有福的人。基督徒啊！你怎能自私地獨享幸福呢？
天父啊！請幫助我們去除自我滿足的私心，把耶穌基督的福音，與人分享，造就他人。亞孟。
To Evangelize Is To Edify
(John 13:16-20)
People pursue power in the secular world to selfishly satisfy their own desire for control. They may also exercise their power in hand to build up a utopia. Unfortunately, both groups of people do not end happily. The former will never obtain satisfaction because when they exercise their authority, others will lose some of their freedom. Nobody is willing to lose his freedom completely and to allow others to take total control over him. When things go beyond their baseline, they shall refuse to cooperate. Therefore, for those who want to control others completely to satisfy their desire for control, they will never achieve 100% control. What they get shall mostly be fake!
Why are those who exercise power to save their country and their countrymen doomed to fail? It is because when they pursue their ideal, they will surely meet oppositions. When their authority at the moment is not enough to overcome obstacles, they will not be able to attain their ideal. The only option is to seek greater authority to remove obstacles and dissidents. By then, authority is changed from a means to the end. The original intention is buried. The last obstacle which hinders the amassing of authority is their conscience. The last enemy to destroy is one's true self ... How terrible!
Is authority that horrible?
During the Last Supper, Jesus Christ washed the feet of the disciples and told them to "wash one another's feet" (John 13:14). This is the context of the gospel reading today. There, Jesus Christ teaches the disciples the true meaning of authority: Authority is not used to exploit others' freedom but to serve them, to edify them and help them enjoy greater happiness. Jesus Christ sets us an exemplar of a master washing the feet of disciples. We are blessed when we do the same (13:17). Jesus Christ sends his clergy: bishops, priests and deacons to serve the People of God. When we receive and obey the clergy, we receive Jesus Christ. In doing so, we obtain eternal life. Thus we are blessed (13:20). Similarly, Jesus Christ sends His disciples to evangelize the secular world. Whoever receives the teachings of the gospel, he becomes blessed. Christians, how can you be so selfish as to enjoy this blessedness alone?
Heavenly Father, help us remove the selfishness to satisfy our desires. Help us share the gospel of Jesus Christ to edify others. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment