主題：殉道的價值
馬爾谷的寫作手法，有點兒特別。他為了強調一些事蹟的教訓，便把兩個相關的故事放在一起。不但如此，他更把故事造成一份三治，來加強傳意的力度。今天的兩個神蹟，就是用了這種寫作手段。
雅依洛是會堂長，很可能是一個法利塞人。他的女兒病重了，便放下與主敵對的立場，求耶穌基督救他的女兒。雅依洛這樣做，可能會受到其他的法利塞人杯葛，甚至懲罰。但為了女兒的生命健康，雅依洛已不會計較自己的名譽和地位了。耶穌基督當然不會和他計較，亦樂意多結交一個朋友。正當他們前往雅依洛的家的時候，就發生了治好血漏病婦人的故事，結果延誤了行程，雅依洛的小女兒死了！
治好血漏病的故事，教訓所有在場的人，信德是啟動神蹟的鎖匙。在場的人，難道祇有這位女仕有病嗎？當然還有其他人。但從耶穌基督身上流出來的力量，祇往血漏病女人身上流，為甚麼呢？因為她有信德，她的信德開啟了耶穌基督身上的治療力量。其他人可能祗抱著湊熱鬧的心態，所以錯失了一個恢復健康的機會。
雅依洛看見了這個神蹟，當然喜出望外，信心倍增。可是，當我們以為很有把握的時候，往往更大的挑戰便接踵而來，等候對付我們！噩耗傳來，女兒死了，這纔是雅依洛要面對的真正挑戰。這個耶穌的確曾治病驅魔，但他能起死回生嗎？除非是厄里亞，或者厄里叟，歷史上記載了他們曾復活死人。但現在到那裡去找厄里亞呢？難道耶穌是厄里亞嗎？最後，耶穌基督復活了雅依洛的女兒，展示出祂是生命的主宰！耶穌基督不是厄里亞，而是比厄里亞更偉大的天主子。這就是馬爾谷福音的寫作目的！
倘若我們再深入默想，便會發現，原來耶穌基督復活了兩個人：除了雅依洛的女兒外，耶穌基督還復活了血漏病婦人！或許你會投訴：這個婦人並沒有死去嘛，耶穌怎樣復活一個活生生的人呢？你有所不知了，這個患血漏病的婦人，不但被法律定為不潔，而且十二年來不能生育！倘若未嫁，沒有人會娶她；倘若已嫁，又不能替丈夫生育，她真是生不如死了。如今她康復了，恢復了失去的生育能力，可以重新做回一個女人了，這不是復活是甚麼？
你對耶穌基督是生命的主宰，有甚麼態度呢？
今天的第二篇讀經，給我們另一個殉道的意義。聖保祿說：「在現今的時候，你們的富裕彌補了他們的缺乏，好使他們的富裕也彌補你們的缺乏，這樣就有了均勻。」（格後8:14）就是說，因著聖徒的彼此相通，殉道者的犧牲，彌補了教會內其他兄弟姊妹的罪過，使教會雖然是罪人的教會，仍保持她的神聖性。聖保祿在另一封書信這樣說：「如今我在為你們受苦，反覺高興，因為這樣我可在我的肉身上，為基督的身體──教會，補充基督苦難所欠缺的；」（哥1:24）第一次接觸這句經文時，覺得有點奇怪，為甚麼基督的苦難，會有所欠缺呢？不是「他祇藉一次奉獻，就永遠使被聖化的人得以成全」（希10:12）嗎？真的，耶穌基督祇需要在十字架上犧牲一次，就足以永遠聖化人，成全人。但祂的淨配，祂的身體──教會，仍然需要「以水洗，藉言語，來潔淨她，聖化她。」（弗5:26）在厄弗所書沒有說，在哥羅森書，保祿進一步補充說明。當信徒為教會而遭受迫害時，他們應該高興，因為他們在做著耶穌基督聖化教會的工作，在補充基督苦難的欠缺，在彌補其他兄弟姊妹靈性上的缺乏！
從血漏婦人的復活例子，我們可以看到耶穌基督解放人的能力。相信耶穌基督的人，可以獲得真正的自由。因此，幫助別人認識耶穌基督，從而獲得自由，即使是殉道，無論是流血與否，都是值得的。
對於不肯相信的，他們已有既定立場，恐怕非三言兩語可以說服，以後有機會再想辦法解釋。
人生在世，若為錢而死，太不值了。為心愛的人死，一個換一個，也許值得。我相信那些殉道者，可能是出於對耶穌基督的愛，所以願意以殉道來表達對耶穌基督的愛和對耶穌的信德。因為那些殉道者，相信耶穌基督是生命的主宰。能為祂殉道，即使死了，便立刻進入永生。何樂而不為？倘若不死，好像金東周神父昨天提到的「綠色殉道」或者「白色殉道」，那些不流血的殉道者，他們以自己的生命，活出耶穌基督愛的教訓，必定能獲得生命主宰的讚賞，死後必得永生的賞報！
天主保祐！
Thirteenth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: The Value of Martyrdom
Mark wrote in a special way. In order to emphasize a message, he puts two related stories together to stress his point. Not only that but he also makes a "sandwich" to increase the intensity of his message. The two miracles we read today are arranged in such a way.
Jairus was the ruler of a synagogue. He was most likely a Pharisee. His little daughter was very ill. So, he put down his antagonistic stance against the Lord and begged Jesus to cure his daughter. Probably he would be boycotted by his fellow Pharisees and even be punished. But for the sake of his daughter, Jairus did not care anymore about his fame or his status. Of course Jesus held no grudge against him and was willing to make one more friend. While they were on their way to Jairus' house, the cure of the bleeding woman took place. It disrupted the schedule to save Jairus' daughter and consequently, she died!
Curing the bleeding woman taught an important lesson: faith is the key to trigger miracles. On the spot, was the bleeding woman the only sick person? Of course there were others. But the power of Jesus Christ only flowed to her. Why? It was because she had faith. Her faith opened up the curing power of Jesus Christ. Other people probably just crowded together out of curiosity. That was why they lost an opportunity to recover.
After seeing this miracle, Jairus must be very excited and his faith must have increased. However, just when we think we are competent and confident, greater challenges are waiting to attack us. Bad news arrived. Jairus' daughter was dead. This was the real challenge Jairus had to combat. This Jesus was able to cure diseases and drive out demons. But was he able to restore life? Historically, only Elijah or Elisha had brought the dead to life. Now, where could they find Elijah? Was Jesus Elijah? In the end, Jesus Christ raised Jairus' daughter, showing that He is the Author of Life. Jesus Christ is not Eljah but is greater than Elijah. He is the Son of God. This is the aim Mark wanted to achieve with his gospel.
If we meditate deeper, we shall discover that Jesus Christ has in fact raised two people: besides Jairus' daughter, Jesus brought the bleeding woman to life! Perhaps you would complain that the bleeding woman was not dead. How could Jesus bring a living person back to life! Perhaps you do not know, not only was the bleeding woman deemed unclean by the Law, for twelve years she could not bear a child! If she was not married, no man would marry her. If she was married, she could not bear her husband any children. She was more dead than alive. Now that she was cured, her fertility was restored. She could lead a woman's life again. If this is not resurrection, what is?
What does "Jesus Christ is the Author of Life" mean to you?
The second reading today gives us another hint of the meaning of martyrdom. St. Paul says, "That now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their wat, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want, that there may be equalitie." (2 Corinthians 8:14) That is to say, because of the communion of saints, the sacrifice of martyrs "supply for the want" of brethren in the Church. In another epistle, Paul writes, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church." (Colossians 1:24) The first time I read this verse, I was puzzled. Why are Christ's afflictions incomplete? Isn't it true that "For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14)? Truly, Jesus Christ only needs to sacrifice once on the cross to sanctify all and to perfect all. But as for the Church, Christ still needs to "sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word." (Ephesians 5:26). What he does not say in the Ephesians, Paul makes it clear in the Colossians. When believers are persecuted for the sake of the Church, they should rejoice because they are doing the works of Jesus Christ to sanctify the Church, to complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions and to supply for the spiritual wants of the brethren.
From the "resurrection" case of the bleeding woman, we see that Jesus Christ has the authority to liberate us. Those who believe in Jesus Christ will enjoy true freedom. Thus, helping others to know Christ and attain freedom, even at the price of martyrdom, bloody or not, worths the while.
For those who refuse to believe, they already have a stance. I am afraid they cannot be convinced in a few words. I will explain in the future when occasion arises.
It is unworthy to die for money. To die for a loved one, one for one, perhaps worth the while. I think the martyrs were willing to die for Jesus Christ, perhaps out of love. Thus, they were willing to express their love for and faith in Jeus Christ with martyrdom. Since these martyrs believed that Jesus Christ is the Author of Life, it was worthwhile for them to die for the Author of Life and enter eternal life immediately. Why not? If they do not die, they are like what Fr. Kim told us about "green martyrdom" and "white martyrdom" in which the believers do not have to shed their blood. If they lead a life to live up to Jesus Christ's teaching of love, the Author of Life shall surely reward them after death!
God bless!
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