主題：看不見天主
今天的福音，有兩個問題需要處理。
我相信問題在於耶穌基督突然變成了一個陌生的人，所以納匝肋的鄉親父老對耶穌起了反感！耶穌離開納匝肋一段時間後回來，已經不再是他們心目中昔日的木匠了。有一群門徒跟著他，好不威風！他說起話來很有智慧，不再說木匠的話了。雖然他的智慧足以取代納匝肋的會堂長，但對納匝肋沒有實際的幫助！而且，聽說他能赦罪、治病、驅魔、平息風浪，還能復活死人等等，完全不是一個木匠所能做，所應該做的事！納匝肋實在微不足道了，恐怕沒有癩病人、附魔的人、更沒有大湖和死人，讓這位師傅一展身手。老實說，他們寧可多一個木匠，總比多一個宣揚「天國」道理，打破他們傳統安寧生活的辣彼好。納匝肋真的容不下這位「貴客」！
第二個問題是為甚麼「耶穌在那裡不能行甚麼奇能」呢（6:5）？
另一方面，在沒有信德的光照下，神蹟祇會導致迷信和異端。沒有信德，耶穌基督祇是一個神醫，而不是一個靈魂的解放者；沒有信德，耶穌基督的受難是個失敗的革命；祂的復活，祇是一場惡作劇，而不是一個引領罪人回歸天父懷抱的救贖工程。因為納匝肋的鄉親父老沒有信德，倘若耶穌基督行更大的神蹟，既不能激發他們的信德，更可能導致更深的誤會和迷信。所以耶穌在納匝肋沒有行甚麼神蹟。
今天的福音對我們有甚麼啟發呢？
其次，是甚麼東西障礙了我們，使我們不能體會到天主的臨在呢？
跳出安樂窩，需要很大的決心；走出社區，需要很大的勇氣。這一切都有賴天主聖神的助祐。但這一切都是值得的，因為在我們的安樂窩，好像舊的皮囊，容不了天主的新酒（谷2:22），天主為我們所預備了的豐富恩寵。各位兄弟姊妹，讓我們祈求聖神，賜予我們信德和決心，跳出慣性的生活態度，擁抱天主的召叫，有勇氣地作出回應，領受更豐盛的恩寵。
首先，耶穌基督的鄉親父老很奇怪，他們既然驚訝耶穌的智慧和他所行的奇能，為甚麼會對耶穌起了反感呢？（谷6:2-3）
因為他是木匠，出身卑微嗎？不會！與大城市，例如京城耶路撒冷不同，相信位於北方內陸的納匝肋並不會是一個很富裕的地方，大家的收入和地位，應該相差不大。所以，不會因為耶穌是木匠而對他反感。倘若要歧視他，便應該從他的父親若瑟開始，便歧視他們，對他們反感！
因為太熟悉他，又認識他的家人，看著他長大。知道他是木匠的兒子，後來繼承父業做木匠等等，所以對他反感嗎？不會！我們不都是喜歡與熟悉的人來往，與陌生的人保持距離嗎？但為甚麼熟悉耶穌會產生反感呢？
上個主日的福音提及血漏病的婦人，她因著信德而獲得治癒。難道真是「信則有，不信則無」嗎？不可能！事實的存在與否，怎可能由人主觀決定的呢？即使地球上所有物種，包括人類都消失了，祇要地球仍然存在，仍然轉動，明天，太陽依然會從東方升起，不會因為再沒有人類，再沒有人相信，太陽就不存在！身為天主子的耶穌，當然有行奇蹟的能力。這能力絕對不會由其他人主觀決定的！例如，耶穌基督驅逐魔鬼、平息風浪和五餅二魚神蹟等，完全與當事人或者在場群眾的信德無關。請注意，耶穌基督感到詫異的，不是自己不能行神蹟，而是自己的鄉親父老的無信（6:6）！
其實，耶穌基督的心情，是天主素來的心情。天主滿以為祂一手解放，一手栽培的以色列民族會感恩圖報，會守誡命，履行公義。到頭來他們卻拜偶像和貪污腐敗（依5:7）！耶穌基督滿以為在自己成長的地方，鄉親父老們在熟悉的人手上，會更容易領受福音；到頭來因為利益的問題，拒絕了福音。後來，聖保祿宗徒在傳教的時候，他首先也是向猶太人傳福音的。但招來的卻是嫉妒和迫害，所以他纔向外邦人傳福音（宗13:44-46）。
首先，天主是絕對自由的，所以祂給我們自由，並且尊重我們的自由，不強迫我們信靠祂。天主既然把以色列人從埃及的奴役中解放出來，當然不會把以色列人變成奴隸，否則天主祇不過是一個更強大的奴隸主，從埃及搶走以色列民族，據為己有而已！所以，在日常生活中，天主是隱然不可見的，否則我們便被迫相信祂的存在，祂的威能！但祂在我們的周圍，留下蛛絲馬跡，讓我們發現祂的臨在，祂的慈愛。
是惰性。出於惰性，我們的靈性生命停滯不前。好像納匝肋的鄉親父老的想法一樣，目前不是很好嗎？為甚麼要改變呢？我們習慣了既定的生活模式，同樣感覺不到有改善的必要。我們從來沒有考慮過，祇是主日參加彌撒、領聖體是不足夠的。我們有必要每天有系統地讀經祈禱，深化耶穌基督與我們的關係。有必要每天讀經祈禱嗎？有！所謂「逆水行舟，不進則退。」同樣，我們與耶穌基督的關係，一樣是不進則退。在組織堂區活動時，我們因循地重覆往年的活動，沒有考慮過為聖堂以外，社區內的市民服務，沒有認識這個社區的需要。我們有必要服務社區內的市民，要認識這個社區嗎？有！這就是耶穌基督的教訓，祂臨現在最小的兄弟中（瑪25:40）。正如剛纔所提及過，天主在我們周圍，留下蛛絲馬跡。祂臨現在社區內被遺忘、請剝削的人身上，好讓我們在服務他們時，能發現祂的臨在，祂的慈愛。
天主保祐！
Fourteenth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Unable to see God
We need to handle two issues today.
I believe that the people in Nazareth took offence at him because Jesus Christ had become a total stranger to them! Jesus had left Nazareth and returned after a while. He was no longer the carpenter they had been familiar with. A band of disciples followed him. How glamourous! He spoke in wisdom and no longer carpenter's talks. Although his wisdom would enable him to replace the ruler of the synagogue, it did not benefit Nazareth in any practical way! Furthermore, they heard that he was able to forgive sins, cure diseases, exorcize, calm the waves and even raise the dead etc. These were NOT things a carpenter could do and should do! Nazareth was too insignificant. There were no lepers, NO possessed, not even a lake and no dead people for this master to flex his muscles. Frankly, they would rather have one more carpenter than a Rabbi to proclaim news of the Kingdom of Heaven which would disrupt their traditional and peaceful life. There was no room for this VIP!
The second issue was why Jesus "was unable to perform any mighty deed there" (6:5)?
On the other hand, without the illumination of faith, miracles can lead to superstitions and heresies. Without faith, Jesus Christ was only a faith-healer and not a liberator of the soul. Without faith, Jesus' Passion was a lost cause, his resurrection a hoax and not a salvation project to bring sinners back to the bosom of the heavenly Father. Since the folk at Nazareth lacked faith, had Jesus Christ worked mighty deeds, he would not have triggered their faith and probably would have induced deeper superstitions and misunderstanding instead. Thus Jesus did not work miracles in Nazareth.
What have we learned in the gospel passage today?
Secondly, what is hindering us from detecting the presence of God?
Jumping out of our comfort zone needs great determination. Going out into the community needs great courage. All these rely on the help of the Holy Spirit. But it is worthwhile to do so because our comfort zone is like the old wineskin which is unable to contain the new wine of God (Mark 2:22), the abundant grace which God has prepared for us. Brethren, let us pray to the Holy Spirit to ask for faith and determination to jump out of our routine attitudes of life. Embrace God's call and respond with courage to receive more abundant grace.
Firstly, weren't the folk of Jesus Christ behaving strangely? They were astonished by his wisdom and mighty deeds. Yet, they took offence at him (Mark 6:2-3). Why?
Was it because of his lowly status as a carpenter? No way! Unlike big cities such as Jerusalem, Nazareth in the northern inland could not be very prosperous. The incomes and status of the people would be similar. Thus, they should not take offence at Jesus because he was a carpenter. Had they despised him, they would have begun with his father Joseph first!
Was it because of familiarity? They knew his family members, saw him grow up, knew that he was the son of a carpenter and himself a carpenter after his father etc. Therefore, familiarity breeds contempt? No way! Don't we enjoy mixing with familiar people and avoid strangers? Why then familiarity with Jesus would breed offence?
Last week, we read about the bleeding woman, who was cured because of her faith. Is it really true that "things exist because we believe and don't if we don't"? Impossible! How can facts be determined by our subjective decisions? Even if all living species, including humanity, cease to exist, as long as the Earth continues to exist and keeps rotating, the sun shall rise in the East tomorrow. The sun would not cease to exist when man no longer exist to believe in the sun's existence! As the Son of God, Jesus has the power to perform miracles. This power is not determined by the subjective decisions of other people! For example, Jesus Christ exorcized, calmed the waves and multiplied the loaves independent of the faith of the people on the spot. Pay attention. Jesus was amazed at, not his inability to perform miracles, but their lack of faith (6:6)!
Indeed, the feeling of Jesus Christ has always been the feeling of God. God thought that the Israelites whom He liberated and raised would be grateful, would keep the Commandments and practise righteousness. In the end, they were idolatrous and corrupt (Isaiah 5:7)! Jesus Christ thought that in his native place, folks would be more receptive to the gospel from somebody they were familiar. In the end, for their own interests, they rejected the good news. Later, when St. Paul evangelized, he firstly preached to Jews. Because of jealousy and persecutions from his own people, Paul had to turn to the Gentiles (Acts 13:44-46).
Firstly, God is absolutely free. He gave us freedom and respects our freedom. He does not force us to believe in Him. God delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Of course, He did not turn the Israelites into slaves again. Otherwise, God was only a stronger slave master, snatched the Israelites from the Egyptians only to possess them! Thus, God is invisible in our daily life. Otherwise, we are forced to believe in His existence and might! But He leaves us traces of His presence and mercy to be discovered.
It is inertia. Because of inertia, our spiritual life does not grow. Like the mind-set of the folk in Nazareth, isn't the moment alright? Why bother upgrading? We get used to our present ways of life and do not feel the need to improve. We have never thought that it is inadequate to join mass and receive communion on Sundays. Is it really necessary to study the Bible and pray on it every day? Yes, it is! We are rowing upstream. Advance or retreat! Similarly, our relationship with Jesus Christ will either advance or retreat. There is no middle way. When we organize activities in the parish, we routinely do what have previously been done. We do not consider serving citizens outside our church building and know what this neighbour needs. Do we need to serve them and know about the community? Yes, we need to! It is the teaching of Jesus Christ that He is present among the least of the brethren (Matthew 25:40). Just as what I have previously mentioned, God leaves us traces of His presence among the forgotten and the exploited in the neighbourhood so that we may discover His presence and mercy when we serve the needy.
God bless!
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