主題：休息的重要
相信大家都喜歡閱讀武俠小說，或者欣賞武俠片。因為我們喜歡把自己投射到故事中的主角身上。他們武藝高強，而行俠仗義的時候，通常不需要飲食，上廁和睡眠，腰間總有用不盡的金錢。我們的耶穌基督卻不同，祂會感覺到疲倦而在船上睡著了（谷4:38）；祂會感到口渴而問井旁的撒瑪黎婦人要點水喝（若4:7），祂會感到饑餓，門徒要進入城中為他購買食物（4:8）。與那些大俠不同，耶穌基督就是如此真實的。讓我們默想這位「貼地」的，和我們一起呼吸的耶穌基督，在今天的福音中，有甚麼訊息教訓我們。
今天的福音，承接上個主日，耶穌派遣門徒，兩個兩個外出傳教。他們回來，向耶穌「述職」。然後，耶穌便與他們「到荒野的地方去休息一會兒！」（谷6:31）這樣做是很有意思的。休息是十誡中第三誡的精粹。以色列人有「守安息日」的法律，在安息日停止不必要的勞動。基督徒繼承猶太人的傳統，奉耶穌復活的日子為「主的日子」，簡稱「主日」，並視之為神聖的日子。基督徒在主日，也停止了日常的工作。那麼，猶太人為甚麼在安息日，停止日常的工作呢？
按出谷紀的解釋，守安息日是為了紀念天主六日創造，在第七天休息，所以他們也在第七天休息（出20:11）。這個理由並不合理，因為全宇宙的存在，有賴天主的支撐。倘若天主停止活動，我們的存在便岌岌可危了。天父一直在工作，沒有停下來，這是耶穌基督的證言。（若5:17）因此，天主在創造天地後休息，祇是為休息找個藉口。以色列人在埃及為奴不知多少年代，如今得到梅瑟的解放，不再為奴，而奴隸是沒有休息權利的。所以，休息成了自由人的記號。申命紀的解釋，一語中的。守安息日，是為紀念天主把他們從埃及的奴役出，解放出來（申5:15）。無論哪一個解釋，表面上是以天主為中心，但實際上是為了慶祝以色列人不再是奴隸。同樣，基督徒在主日，不做日常的工作來舉行彌撒，也是為了慶祝自己不再是罪惡的奴隸。所以主日不能返聖堂參予彌撒的人，表示他們仍然被奴役。
但耶穌的門徒外出傳福音，是一種服務，而不是一種奴役。既然不是奴役，還有休息的必要嗎？有的。傳福音也必需與靈修配合，便會事半功倍。
例如，當門徒買了食物回來時，耶穌基督卻說，他的食物，就是承行天父的旨意，完成祂的工程；就是傳福音，在地上建立天國（4:34）。這是甚麼意思呢？原來耶穌基督的食物，即祂的滿足感不是來自飲食，累積財富，建立人際網絡，或者名譽地位；祂的滿足感是來自拯救人靈，來自服從天父的旨意。這樣，便刺激到門徒們和我們，自我反省，我們在甚麼地方找到滿足感呢？是飲食嗎？是金錢嗎？是人際關係嗎？還是名譽地位呢？這些東西有助我們，與天父建立更密切的關係或是更疏離嗎？為這些東西努力，是奉行天父的旨意，還是傷害自己，傷害別人嗎？
各位兄弟姊妹，休息是重要的。休息不但恢復我們的體力，更能給予我們時間和空間，反省自己有沒有盡力，有沒有浪費努力，有沒有在正確的方向努力。得到充份休息之後，我們可以再出發，開拓新的領域。各位，我們可曾在福傳方面，找到滿足感呢？倘若沒有，我們要加把勁休息吧！
首先，讓我們嘗試想像門徒報告傳福音結果時，他們的心情是怎樣的？
從前，他們看見耶穌治病驅魔；今天，他們看見自己能夠治病驅魔，他們的心情是何等興奮；連邪魔也要服從他們，門徒們是何等得意忘形！耶穌卻非常冷靜，明白門徒的狀態，所以，耶穌基督帶他們到荒野的地方，去休息一會，反省這些能力帶來甚麼責任；在行使這些能力時，如何承行天父的旨意。因為歷史上，很多人和國家，因為濫用了天父所賜予的能力或權力，結果招至殺身之禍！
再者，耶穌亦會在休息時，與門徒分享自己傳福音的經驗，教訓他們傳福音時應注意的事項。例如，上面提到他們經過一座撒瑪黎雅城市的時候，門徒去了買食物，耶穌基督獨自一人留下，在井旁與一個撒瑪黎雅婦人交談後，結果全城都相信了耶穌基督就是他們所期待的默西亞（若4）。門徒如何得知發生了甚麼事呢？相信就是他們在休息的時候，耶穌基督把這次使全城皈依天父的心得，與他們分享。
天主保祐！
Sixteenth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: The Importance of Rest
I trust everybody loves reading martial art novels or movies. It is enjoyable because we can project ourselves onto those heroes. Their fighting skills are superb and when they right wrongs, they don't seem to need any eating, going to the toilet or any sleep. They have inexhaustible reserves of money in their purses. Our Jesus Christ is different. He felt tired and fell asleep on a boat (Mark 4:38); he felt thirsty and asked for a drink from a Samaritan woman by the side of a well (John 4:7); he felt hungry so that his disciples entered the city to buy him food (4:8). Unlike those martial art heroes, Jesus Christ is so authentic. Let us meditate what this realistic Jesus Christ, who is breathing with us today, wants to teach us.
The story today is a continuation of what we heard last Sunday when Jesus sent his disciples, two by two, to evangelize. They reported back what they had done and taught. Then Jesus told them to "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." (Mark 6:31) This action is very meaningful. Rest is the essence of the Third Commandment. The Israelites observe the law to keep Sabbath holy. They stop doing unnecessary labour on Sabbaths. Christians inherit this Jewish tradition. They observe the day of Jesus' resurrection, Sunday and call it the Lord's Day and keep it holy. On Sundays, Christians also stop doing unnecessary labour. Then why did the Jews observe Sabbath and stop doing what they usually do?
According to Exodus, in six days God created the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested. Thus, they too should rest on the seventh day (Exodus 20:11). This reason is not reasonable because the existence of the universe needs God's support. If God were to stop His works, our existence would be jeopardized. Jesus testifies that the Father is at work until now (John 5:17) Thus, that God rests after the Creation is only an excuse for taking a break. The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for God knows many generations. Now they were liberated by Moses and were no longer slaves who have no right to rest. Thus, "Rest" is a symbol for men of freedom. On the other hand, the explanation given by Deuteronomy hits the bull. Keeping the Sabbath is a remembrance of their delivery from Egyptian bondage by God (Deuteronomy 5:15). Whichever the explanation, this Commandment seems to focus on God but in reality, it is a celebration of freedom from slavery for the Israelites. Similarly, on Sundays, we Christians stop doing work and come together to offer mass to celebrate that we are no longer slaves of sins. Thus, those who cannot come back to Church to celebrate mass are somehow suffering slavery.
But when Jesus' disciples went out to evangelize, it was not slavery but a ministry. If it is not slavery, is it necessary to rest? Yes it is for a deeper reason. Evangelization must go hand in hand with spirituality in order to be effective.
For example, when the disciples came back with food, Jesus said that "his food" was to do the will of the Father and to finish His work, viz. to evangelize and to build up the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. (4:34). What does "his food" mean? Well, it means Jesus Christ did not find his satisfaction on food and drinks, on accumulating wealth, on building social supports or on fame and status. His satisfaction comes from the salvation of souls and the obedience to the Father's will. Then, it would stimulate the disciples and us to reflect. Where does our satisfaction come from? Food and drinks? Money? Relationships? Or power and fame? Do these things promote a more intimate relationship with the Father or greater alienation? Does working on these things fulfil the Father's will or harm ourselves and others?
Brethren, rest is important. Not only does rest restore our strength, but it also give us time and space to reflect on whether we have tried our best, whether we are wasting our energies and whether we are heading towards the right direction. With enough rest, we can go ahead to extend new frontiers. Brethren, have you found satisfaction in evangelization? If not, rest more!
First of all, let us imagine what the disciples felt when they reported back after evangelization. Before their evangelization, they saw Jesus heal and exorcize. Now, they were excited to see that they were able to heal and exorcize. They must have been elated when even demons obeyed them. But Jesus was sober to see the states of mind of his disciples. Thus Jesus Christ brought them to a deserted place to rest, to reflect on what responsibilities these powers entail and how to exercise these powers to do the Father's will. Throughout history, many people and countries were destroyed by the abuse of power or authority granted them by the Father.
Furthermore, during rest, Jesus would also share his experience of evangelization with the disciples, teaching them what to watch out for during evangelization. For example, once they arrived at a Samaritan city, the disciples went to buy food, leaving Jesus behind alone at a well where he had a conversation with a Samaritan woman. In the end, the whole city believed that Jesus Christ was the Messiah they had been waiting for (John 4). How did the disciples know what had happened? I think it was during their "rest" that Jesus shared with them how the whole city was converted to the Father.
God bless!
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