甚麼是真理？ What is Truth?

基督普世君王節，乙年
主題：甚麼是真理？

我們天主教徒相信聖經是天主的說話，所以我們按照聖經的教訓生活。但世人不一定接受聖經的權威。例如，最近立法會某位議員提出研究如何制訂政策，承認「同性結合」的議案，結果遭到否決。在辯論的過程中，一位信奉基督教的議員提出要維護傳統的「一男一女，一夫一妻」的婚姻制度，立刻受到另一位信奉基督教的議員，引用終審法院的判詞反駁，說「一男一女，一夫一妻」的婚姻制度，從來不是香港原本的婚姻制度，而是1972年從英國，一個基督教國家引入的制度，不值得支持。固然，這位議員有斷章取義，歪曲了終審法院判詞的嫌疑。另一方面，她這樣說，言下之意，「一男一女，一夫一妻」是基督宗教的婚姻制度，中國人不信耶穌，所以不必遵守這些從西洋引入，強加在我們頭上的制度。這當然是歪理。為甚麼？當年明朝的曆法，推算日食失敗；而耶穌會利瑪竇神父引進西洋曆法，準確地預測到日食的時間。倘若你是當時明朝的皇帝，你會否說：「這是從西洋引入，強加在我們頭上的制度。我們拒絕使用西洋曆法！」呢？當然，來自外國的東西，不一定全是好東西。祇顧崇洋，當然不妥。同樣，凡是外來的東西，都會對本土構成不利。這種排外的思想，同樣不可取。詩經有云：「他山之石，可以攻玉。」所以在真理面前，倘若執迷不悟，損失的祇有自己！可惜，在香港的議會內，就是充斥著這麼多說歪理的議員，的確令人失望！

今天的世界，崇尚民主、自由和人權。教會慶祝「基督普世君王節」，好像和世界唱反調。教會真的是反潮流嗎？
首先，為甚麼人類社會，會出現君王制度呢？人類比其他物種更優勝的地方，就是他們的組織能力強，有本事造出大型的工程如萬里長城，有組織地改變他們的生活環境，有系統地消滅對手。在這幾方面，君王制度，是成功的制度。人民祇要付出小許的代價，飼養一個君王，便可以安居樂業，何樂而不為？可惜，人類的歷史中，昏君暴君多，賢君少。昏庸殘暴的個體，濫用了君王制度，殘民以自肥，以致民不聊生，官迫民反。「人權」的概念，就是出自反抗暴君的濫權。人民為了保障自己的生命和辛苦累積得到的財產，惟有發動革命，推翻暴政，要求君王承認人民有生存權，有私產權；要求君王也要受法律約束，不得胡作非為。在法律面前，人人平等。天子犯法，與庶民同罪。為的是希望自己的生命財產，得到保障。其實，發動革命，付出的代價是沉重的。這些最基本的人權，就是流血流汗爭取回來的。

可惜，不但君王制度被濫用，連「人權」的概念亦漸漸被濫用了。出於自私，部份有權有勢的人，要求一些他們不應該擁有的權利，並美其名為「平權」；或者通過法例，強迫大部份人接納一小撮人享受自私的利益！這種種做法，實在是不公義和不合理的。由此可見，背棄了「真理」，連表面上好像有價值，有意義的行為事物，都變成了傷害和剝削他人的制度。

今天的福音的下一句，是比拉多問耶穌：「甚麼是真理？」（若18:38）可能在比拉多的心目中，強權就是真理，法律就是真理。可能比拉多根本沒有興趣知道真理是甚麼。不過，耶穌基督在最後晚餐時，回覆多默宗徒的疑問時曾說過：「我是道路、真理、生命。除非經過我，誰也不能到父那裡去。」（14:6）
耶穌基督是天主子，是不可見的天父，可見的慈悲。祂降生成人，展示回歸父家的途徑。祂是真理的化身，祂賜給世人生命。「天主是愛」（若一4:8）就是真理。出於愛，天父創造一個適合人類居住的宇宙；出於愛，天主按自己的肖像造了人類；出於愛，天父沒有放棄犯罪的人類，反而派遣聖子降生救贖人類，以真理解放人類，以聖子的血償還人類的罪債。出於愛，天主派遣聖神作為護慰者，陪伴教會成長，直到聖子耶穌基督在末日重臨，君臨宇宙，審判生者死者！所以，耶穌基督是君王，一個「以正義審訊微賤者，以公理判斷世上的謙卑者，以口中的棍杖打擊暴戾者，以唇邊的氣息誅殺邪惡者」的君王。（依11:4）

各位兄弟姊妹，雖然耶穌基督對比拉多說：「我的國不屬於這世界。」（若18:36）但祂不是降生成人，為我們釘十字架贖罪嗎？所以耶穌基督的國，不是政治性、世俗性的國度，而是靈性的國度。我們對抗的是魔鬼，這是一場在世界上進行的靈性戰爭。既然我們接受耶穌基督作為我們的君王，即使世人不接納聖經的教訓，我們也有責任，以言以行，向世人展示耶穌基督教訓的超越性，讓他們作出明智自由的選擇。請大家繼續以真福八端的教訓，作為我們生活的指標。一方面努力成聖，另一方面，幫助他人成聖，並聖化這個世界，成為耶穌基督的國度。
天主保祐！

2015年講道

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Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Year B
Theme: What is Truth?

We Catholics believe that the Bible is the word of God. Thus, we live according to the teachings of the Bible. However, people in the secular world do not necessarily accept the authority of the Bible. For example, recently a legislator tabled a motion to study the formulation of policies to recognize "same-sex union" which was subsequently vetoed. During the debate, a legislator with Christian background wanted to add a clause to respect the family values cherished in the existing marriage institution based on "one man and one woman". Immediately, another legislator with Christian background hit back, quoting the verdict of the top court that "one man and one woman" is a Christian marriage ideology introduced to Hong Kong in 1972. It has never been our original marriage institution. We have no obligation to uphold it. To be frank, this legislator might be guilty of quoting the verdict out of context. Moreover, she was suggesting that "one man and one woman" is a Christian ideology and since most Chinese do not believe in Christ, there is no obligation to obey such an ideology imposed on us from the West. Of course this reasoning is blatantly wrong. During Ming Dynasty, the court failed to predict solar eclipses, using the Ming Calendar. Matteo Ricci, a Jesuit priest made use of Western Calendar and correctly predicted solar eclipses! If you were the Ming Emperor at that time, would you say, "This Calendar came from the West and is an institution imposed upon us. We refuse to use Western Calendar"? Surely, not all things from the West is good. Xenophilia is wrong. Similarly, all alien things are harmful to local system. Such a xenophobic mentality is also wrong! The Classic of Poetry says, "Rocks from other mountains are able to polish jade." If your stubbornly reject the Truth, at the end of the day, you shall only be a loser! Unfortunately, the legislative chamber is made up of so many illogical legislators. How disappointing!

In the world today, people uphold democracy, freedom and human rights. The Church seems to be going against the flow by celebrating the Solemnity of Christ the King. Is the Church going against the current?
First of all, why did kings appear in human society? Humanity is superior over other species on world because their ability to organize is strong. They are able to build mega projects such as the Great Wall, to modify deliberately their living environment and systematically annihilate their rivals! On all these fronts, the institution of kings is a successful institution. People only have to pay a little price to keep a king. Then they are able to live and work peacefully. Why not? Unfortunately, human history is full of foolish rulers and tyrants while good kings are few to come by. Many foolish and brutal individuals abuse the kingship institution. They feed on the subjects and oppress them so much so that people are forced to rebel. The idea of human rights came from fighting back against abusive tyrants. People want to protect their own lives and their hard earned estates. They could only set off revolutions to overthrow tyrany. They demand kings to recognize the right to life and the right to private property of the people. All should be equal before the law. They demand kings not to be above the law but to refrain from abusing their authority. People only want to protect their lives and their private property. Indeed, people pay a heavy price to start revolutions. These basic human rights came from sweat and blood.

Unfortunately, not only is the institution of kings abused. Even the concept of human rights is also gradually abused. Out of selfishness, some people in power demand to enjoy rights which they are not entitled and embellish it as "equality of rights". Or they pass laws to force most people to accept the selfish benefits of a handful of people. Such actions are unjust and unreasonable. Thus, we see that without the "Truth", all those superficially valuable and meaningful actions and things shall become a harmful and exploitative institution.

The verse immediately after today's gospel is: Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). Perhaps in Pilate's mind, might was right or law was truth. Perhaps Pilate was not even interested in knowing the truth at all. However, during the Last Supper, when answering Thomas' question, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (14:6)
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the visible mercy of the invisible Father. He incarnated to show us the Way to return to the Father. He embodies the Truth and gives Life to men. The truth is "God is love." (1 John 4:8) Out of love, the Father created a cosmo suitable for men to live. Out of love, God created men in His own image. Out of love, the Father did not abandon the fallen men. On the contrary, He sent the Son to redeem humanity, liberate them with the Truth and repay our debts with the blood of the Son. Out of love, God sends the Holy Spirit to be the Advocate to accompany the Church to develop until the Son, Jesus Christ comes again in glory at the end of the world to judge the living and the dead. Thus Jesus Christ is king who "shall judge the poor with justice, and decide fairly for the land's afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked." (Isaiah 11:4)

Brethren, although Jesus Christ told Pilate, "My kingdom does not belong to this world." (John 18:36), didn't He become flesh to be crucified to repay our sins? Thus, the kingdom of Jesus Christ is not a political secular kingdom. It is a spiritual kingdom. We are fighting against Satan. It is a spiritual battle whose battlefield is the world. Since we accept Jesus Christ to be our King, even though people do not accept the teachings of the Bible, we have the responsibility to demonstrate the superiority of Christ's teachings to the world with our words and deeds. Let them make a wise and free choice. Let us continue to make the teachings of the Beatitudes as our guiding principles in life. On one hand, we work hard towards sanctification. On the other, we help others sanctify and together sanctify the world to become the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
God bless!

窮人向我們福傳 The Poor Evangelize Us

常年期第三十三主日（世界窮人日），乙年
主題：窮人向我們福傳

今天最觸目的福音句子，莫過於「至於那日子和那時刻，除了父以外，誰也不知道。連天上的天使和子都不知道。」（谷13:32）。

香港社會的家長，非常急功近利。她們希望子女們將來有好前途，便鼓勵甚至勉強他們選讀某些學科，例如物理化學，經濟會計，資訊科技等。至於那些英國文學，中國歷史，倫理宗教科，想也不要想。殊不知，人除了物質的需要之外，還有靈性上的需要。缺乏文化及倫理的訓練，結果培養出賺錢能力高但心靈脆弱的人，遇上逆境便不堪一擊！
天水圍銀座附近，有很多非正統的基督教徒出沒，專向青少年宣揚「世界末日」，恐嚇他們，游說他們加入教會。這種傳教方法，害人不淺。為了保護我的學生，無論他們有沒有信仰，我必須傳授他們「宗教自衛術」！我會教導我的學生，背誦上述金句。當遇上那些非正統的基督教徒時，拿出來自衛，指出他們的錯謬。

耶穌教訓我們，面對「世界末日」應有的態度，就是要「時常警醒」（13:33），保持「以天主為生命的中心」，即按「真福八端」的態度來生活，邁向成聖。既有天主在我們的心中，我們何懼世界末日呢？
遇上喜歡突擊測驗的老師，或者突擊檢查的老闆，除了保持時常警醒外，還有其他方法嗎？即使我們可以賄賂老闆身邊的知情人士，或者老師心目中的愛徒，獲得預先通風報信。但天主的身邊，有誰可以賄賂呢？連天使和天主子也不知情。難道真是完全沒有辦法嗎？那又未必！

讓我們做一個幻想的實驗。大家都是革命份子，打算行刺獨裁者。我們知道他一定會經過某個地方，但他經過的時間是絕對的機密，祇有他一個人知道。作為革命份子，我們可以如何行刺他呢？一個雖然愚蠢，但絕對有效的辦法，就是「守株待兔」！一年365日，每日24小時，守在他必經之路。當他出現時，便可以下手了！
同樣道理，雖然沒有人知道世界末日的日期和時間，但是，祇要我們守候在耶穌基督必定出沒的地方，在末日時，我們便會成為第一批迎接基督君王的人了。當年，耶穌死在十字架上，十一個宗徒為了自保，都躲藏起來。惟有熱愛耶穌的婦女，不畏強權，冒著生命危險，在安息日過後，到墳墓去傅抹耶穌的遺體。結果，瑪利亞瑪達肋納，成為了第一個遇上復活了的耶穌基督的人；並且成為了「宗徒的宗徒」，奉耶穌基督的差遣，通知宗徒們耶穌復活了！所以，我再說一遍，在耶穌基督必定出沒的地方守候，便有機會成為第一批迎接基督君王的人。問題是，升了天的耶穌基督，今天必定會在甚麼地方出沒呢？

相信大家亦已心裡有數。

1. 耶穌基督告訴我們，祂在聖體聖事之內（14:22）。祇要我們守候在聖體櫃前祈禱，或者參加每月首星期四晚的明供聖體，參加主日彌撒等。在末日，我們便有機會在聖堂裡，迎接再度來臨的耶穌基督了。但不是人人都可以24小時守候在聖堂內，在聖體櫃前祈禱的。難道我們不用上班工作，養妻活兒嗎？
2. 耶穌基督又告訴我們，那裡有兩個或三個人，因祂的名字聚在一起，耶穌基督就在他們中間（瑪18:20）。所以，祇要我們參加彌撒，參加堂區的善會活動，甚至在家中與家人一起祈禱等等；在末日，我們在團體聚會中，會有機會迎接到再度來臨的耶穌基督了。
3. 最後，耶穌基督以「山羊和綿羊」的比喻，講述「最後審判」的時候，明明白白地告訴我們，可以在飢餓、口渴、衣不蔽體、無家可歸、患病和在囚人士之中找到祂（25:31-40）。2016年，教會舉行「慈悲禧年」，宣佈大赦，使生活不同境況的兄弟姊妹，例如勞工、青少年、長者、病患者、傷殘人士、在囚人士等等，獲享天主的恩寵與慈悲。教宗方濟各更在「慈悲禧年」閉幕時，宣佈訂定每年普世基督君王瞻禮前一個主日，為「世界窮人日」，彰顯出關懷窮人與末世的密切關係。今年是第二屆。

今年的「世界窮人日」，教宗以聖詠三十四篇的一句說話作為主題：「卑微貧困的人一呼號，上主立即俯允。」（詠34:7）。在默想這句子的時候，教宗指出「卑微貧困的人」是那些「經歷著各種不同的痛苦和被邊緣化的人…他們的心靈因悲傷、孤獨和被遺棄而破碎…他們的尊嚴被踐踏。」不過，他們「卻仍有勇氣舉目望天，領受光明與慰藉。」（2018 年第二屆世界窮人日文告#1）「不幸的是…窮人們所聽到的，都是斥責的聲音，要求他們不要作聲，要忍耐…他們被視為帶來社會不安和不穩定的元素，必須予以拒絕及遠離。」（#5），殊不知，「貧窮的人是第一批有能力認識天主臨在的人，並在他們的生活中，見證他們與天主的親近。」（#6）所以，不要以為我們在幫助貧窮的人，反而，是他們正在向我們，向全世界，宣講福音！我們聽到窮人的呼聲嗎？教宗呼籲大家檢討良心，為甚麼貧窮人「這種呼號能上達到天主台前，卻怎麼無法進入我們的耳朵，我們甚至漠不關心，冷酷無情？」（#2）「這冷漠是因為我們的生活觀過於急功近利所致。」（#9）讓我們少說話，多聆聽。依照聖保祿宗徒對基督徒聖召的教訓生活，就是：你們「應與喜樂的一同喜樂，與哭泣的一同哭泣。彼此要同心合意，不可心高妄想，卻要俯就卑微的人。」（羅12:15-16）

各位兄弟姊妹，教宗希望「教會對窮人的呼聲所作的回應，變得可以觸摸，使這世界窮人日，成為新福傳的特殊時刻。貧窮的人向我們作福傳，同時每日幫助我們了解福音之美。我們不要糟蹋這一個恩寵機會。」（#10）
天主保祐！

第一屆世界窮人日
圖片鳴謝：crimagnet.com

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Thirty Third Ordinary Sunday, World Day of the Poor, Year B
Theme: The Poor Evangelize Us

No text in today's gospel is more eye-catching than this one, "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mark 13:32)

Many parents in Hong Kong are very utilitarian. They want their children to have "a good future". So they encourage and even force them to choose subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Principles of Account and Information Technology etc. They won't consider subjects such as English Literature, Chinese History, Ethics and Religion. Unbeknown to them, besides material needs, human beings also have spiri
tual needs. Without cultural and ethical trainings, schools can produce spiritually fragile people who have high earning capabilities. When adversities strike, they fall miserably! Many unorthodox Christians hang around near Ginza, Tin Shui Wai. They target young people and sell them the end of the world is near. They scare them and persuade them to join their church. This is a questionable practice. In order to protect my students, whether they believe in God or not, I taught them "religious self-defence". I told my students to memorize the text above. When they meet those unorthodox Christians, my students could quote the text to point out their fallacy.

Jesus teaches us the proper attitude towards the end of the world. We must "Be Watchful! Be Alert!" (13:33) Make "God the centre of our life", i.e. lead our life according to the teachings of the Beatitudes. This is sanctification. When we have God in our hearts, shall we have any fear of the end of the world?
How do you deal with a teacher who likes to give impromptu tests or a boss who inspects unannounced? Besides being vigilant all the time, is there any other counter measure? Even if we are able to bribe an informant close to the boss or the teacher's favourite student in order to set up an early warning system, but on God's side, who can we bribe? Even angels and the Son do not know. Is there really no way out? Not necessarily!

Let's do a thought experiment. All of us are revolutionaries. We plan to assassinate a tyrant. We know that he will definitely pass through a certain location but the moment is an absolute secret. Only he knows. As revolutionaries, how can we assassinate him? A stupid but workable method is to wait for him at the location 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When he arrives, we act!
Similarly, although nobody knows the day and the time of the end, if we wait patiently at where Jesus Christ will surely appear, at the end of the world, we shall become the first group of people to welcome Christ the Universal King! Two thousand years ago, when Jesus died on the cross, the eleven apostles hid themselves to save their skins. Only those women who loved Jesus were not afraid of the authority. They risked their lives to balm Jesus' corpse after Sabbath. Consequently, Mary Magdalene became the first person to meet the risen Christ. Moreover, she became the "Apostle of the Apostles" when Jesus sent her to inform the apostles his resurrection! Thus, let me repeat once more. Wait where Jesus must appear and we shall have the opportunity to become the first ones to welcome Christ the King. The question is, after His Ascension, where shall Jesus Christ definitely appear?

I believe all of you have the answers.

1. Jesus Christ told us that He stays in the Sacrament of the Eucharist (14:22). If we keep praying before the tabernacle, or join the monthly Eucharistic Adoration on first Thursday evening or Sunday masses etc., at the end of the world, we shall have the opportunity to meet the Second Coming Christ in Church. But not everybody is able to stay in the Church 24 hours a day to pray before the tabernacle. We have to work and feed our family, don't we?
2. Jesus also told us, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Thus, when we celebrate mass, join the laity associations in the parish and even pray together in the family etc., at the end of the world, in our praying community, we have the opportunity to welcome the second coming of Christ.
3. Lastly, when Jesus uses the Parable of Sheep and Goats to talk about the Last Judgment, He tells us plainly that we can meet him among the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the homeless, the sick and the imprisoned. (25:31-40) In 2016, the Catholic Church celebrated the Jubilee of Mercy and granted indulgences. Activities were organized for people in different stations, such as workers, youngsters, the aged, the sick and inmates in prisons etc. so that they might receive God's grace and mercy. At the closing of the Jubilee, Pope Francis announced that the Church would celebrate a World Day of the Poor on the Sunday before the Solemnity of Christ the King to manifest the close relationship between the care for the poor and end times. Today is the Second World Day of the Poor.

The Pope makes use of a verse from the Psalms to be the theme of this World Day of the Poor. "The poor man cried, and the Lord heard him." (Psalm 34:6) In meditating on this verse, the Pope points out that "the poor" are people experiencing "the different conditions of suffering and marginalization ... whose hearts are broken by sadness, loneliness and exclusion ... trampled in their dignity." But they "still find the strength to look up to him for light and comfort." (Message on the Second World Day of the Poor, #1) "Sadly ... the poor hear voices scolding them, telling them to be quiet and to put up with their lot ... were considered a source of insecurity and unrest ... and needing to be rejected and kept afar." (#5) Unbeknown to us, "The poor are the first to recognize God's presence and to testify to his closeness in their lives." (#6) Thus, don't ever think that we are helping the poor. On the contrary, the poor are proclaiming the gospel to us and to the world! Do you hear their voices? The Pope appeals for an examination of conscience. "How their plea, which rises to the presence of God, can fail to reach our own ears, or leave us cold and indifferent." (#2) "Our indifference is "born of a worldly and narrow view of life." (#9) Let us speak less and listen more. Follow the teaching of St. Paul on Christian sanctification, i.e. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation." (Romans 12:15-16)

Brethren! The Pope wishes all of us to "make tangible the Church's response to the cry of the poor, to experience this World Day as a privileged moment of new evangelization. The poor evangelize us and help us each day to discover the beauty of the Gospel. Let us not squander this grace-filled opportunity." (#10)
God bless!

祈禱是望德之源 Prayers Sustain Us Till the End

祈禱是望德之源（路18:1-8）

雖然「真福八端」指出「為義而受迫害的人是有福的」，因為天主應許他們得到天國！（瑪5:10）可是，對於長期遭受無理迫害的人，有甚麼東西可以支持他們，堅持到底呢？當他們「日夜呼籲天主」替他們伸冤（路18:7），可是直到死的一天，仍然不得平反；迫害他們的人，反而升官發財！天主的諾言落空了嗎？難道義人要等到末日在天上，纔可以領受到應得的安慰嗎？

這個比喻，可以給我們安慰嗎？一個天不怕，地不怕的判官；既不敬畏天主，也不敬重人（18:2），他會因為寡婦不斷糾纏而為她出頭嗎？當然不會。他不是一而再，再而三，「多時不肯」（18:4）為她出頭嗎？何況，在福音的其他地方，耶穌不是教訓過，祈禱不用多言，因為天父在我們祈禱之前，已經知道我們需要甚麼嗎（瑪6:7-8）？既然求天主之前，祂已經知道我們的需要，知道我們正遭受迫害，祈禱又有甚麼作用呢？不斷祈禱有甚麼益處呢？

其實，判官肯為寡婦出頭，一方面是因為寡婦鍥而不捨的毅力，與判官建立了一份良好的私人關係！另一方面，寡婦不斷地糾纏判官，是因為她再沒有別的方法了，難道她可以賄賂判官嗎？可以做的，她已做了。雖然結果未必如願，但她問心無愧了，內心平安了。

這個「不義判官和寡婦」的比喻，告訴我們，判官是因為一份人與人之間的關係，對寡婦多了一份關懷，所以願意替她出頭；而寡婦亦在糾纏的過程中，獲得心安理得。祈禱，就是與天主建立關係的途徑，而祈禱本身就是一份安慰，一份平安。在遭受無理迫害的過程中，祈禱就是安慰我們、支持我們不要灰心的良藥。能經歷長時間消磨壯志，而能堅持到底的人，纔是有福的！（谷13:13）

生命恩泉

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Prayers Sustain Us Till the End (Luke 18:1-8)

Although the Beatitudes point out that "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness" because God promises them the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:10), what can support those who suffer unreasonable persecutions for a long time to persevere till the end? While the causes of these "chosen ones call out to Him day and night" (Luke 18:7) are not rectified even after their death and those persecutors are elevated, does God's promise come to null? Shall the righteous receive their consolation only at the end of the world?

Can this parable give us some consolation? Here is a dishonest judge who neither feared God nor respected any human being (18:2). Would he render a favourable decision for this widow because of her persistence? Of course not! Wasn't he for a long time unwilling? (18:4) Moreover, elsewhere in other gospels, doesn't Jesus teach that we should not be wordy in our prayers because our Father knows our needs even before we pray (Matthew 6:7-8)? Well, since God already knows our needs before we pray and knows that we are suffering persecution, what is the point of prayers? What benefits can persistent prayers bring?

Indeed, the judge decided to help the widow because on one hand, out of her persistence, the widow had built up a good relationship with the judge! On the other hand, the widow persisted because there was no other option. Could she bribe the judge? If she could, she would have done so. Although the outcome might not be favourable, she had no regret. Her heart was peaceful.

This parable tells us that the dishonest judge decided in favour for the widow because of a personal relationship. He cared about the widow. In the process of persistent bothering, the widow obtained a peaceful mind. Prayer is a way to build up relationship with God and prayer itself is a consolation and a peace. In the process of unreasonable persecutions, prayer is an antidote which consoles us and supports us not to lose heart. "But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved." (Mark 13:13)

等候人子 A Rendezvous With the Son of Man

等候人子（路17:26-37）

既然天主是一個奧秘，不是我們有能力完全理解的；所以祂想甚麼時候結束這個宇宙，我們也是沒有把握可以準確預測到的。
很奇怪，當耶穌基督講論「人子顯現的日子」是在人不知不覺的情況下來臨時，（路17:30），祂明明在講論時間，但門徒竟然問：「主，在那裡呢？」（17:36）他們不問日子時間，卻問地點位置！他們的智力水平不是這麼低嘛！

並不低！因為耶穌基督也不斷地說地點和位置：屋頂、田地（17:31）、床上（17:34）、磨房（17:35）。因此，門徒問耶穌地點和位置，並沒有錯。試想想，你約朋友相聚，倘若忘記了時間，又沒有辦法聯絡到他，惟有到相約的地點等候他吧！同樣道理，既然不知末日的時間，知道人子出現的地點，在那裡守候，亦是辦法。所以耶穌的門徒並不笨！可惜，耶穌基督的答案依然是難以捉摸！在那裡有老鷹聚集呢？死屍又是甚麼呢（17:36）？

其實，並不難捉摸！教宗方濟各在《你們要歡喜踴躍》宗座勸諭中說：「天主的肖像臨現在我們每一個兄弟姊妹身上，尤其是最微小、軟弱、無助和有需要的兄弟姊妹。」（GE#61）他祇不過重覆耶穌基督有關最後審判的教訓：「凡你們對我這些最小兄弟中的一個所做的，就是對我做的。」（瑪25:40）即是說，當我們守候在那些最小兄弟的身邊時，我們會等候到末日再來的人子！

「吃喝婚嫁…吃喝買賣，種植建造」（路17:27-28）並不是壞事，是正當的事。祗要我們能在做這些事之餘，能隨時放下，「不要下來取」（17:31），卻不忘守候在微小、軟弱、無助和有需要的兄弟姊妹的身邊。在主耶穌基督再度降臨時，我們將會成為第一時間迎接祂的人！
天主保祐！

生命恩泉

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A Rendezvous With the Son of Man (Luke 17:26-37)

Since God is a mystery which we are unable to fathom, we have no way to accurately predict when He wants to end the universe.
Strangely, when Jesus was saying that "the day the Son of Man is revealed" will come when nobody notices it (Luke 17:30), he was talking about time. But the disciples asked, "Where, Lord?" They did not ask about the day or time but location! Their IQ should not be that low, should theirs?

Not at all! It was because Jesus kept talking about locations: housetop, field (17:31), bed (17:34) and grinding mill (17:35). Thus it was not wrong for the disciples to ask about locations. Just think about it, you have an appointment with a friend. If you forget the time and there is no way to contact him, the only way to meet him is to wait for him at the rendezvous! Similarly, since we don't know the day and time of the end of the world, wait for him where He shall appear is an option. Thus, the disciples of Jesus were not stupid after all! Unfortunately, Jesus Christ's answer was still ambiguous! Where shall the vultures gather? What does "body" mean? (17:36)

In fact, it is not ambiguous! Pope Francis says in "Gaudete et Exsultate", "For in every one of our brothers and sisters, especially the least, the most vulnerable, the defenceless and those in need, God's very image is found." (GE#61) Our Pope was repeating what Jesus Christ teaches about the Last Judgment, "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40) That is to say, when we keep serving the least brothers, we shall be able to meet the Son of Man at his Second Coming!

"Eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, buying, selling, planting and building" (Luke 17:27-28) are not bad. They are perfectly legal. Let us be prepared to put all these things down at any moment. "Do not go down to get them" (17:31) Just don't forget to keep serving the least, the weak, the helpless and the needy brethren. When Lord Jesus Christ comes again, we shall be the first to welcome Him!
God bless!

謙遜地降服在奧秘前 Humbly Surrender Before Mysteries

謙遜地降服在奧秘前（路17:20-25）

教宗方濟各在《你們要喜歡踴躍》宗座勸諭中，指出「玄識論」者的毛病。他們「認為他們提出的解說，可以使整個信仰和整個福音成為可予理解的」（GE#39）；他們「將基督信仰的經驗看作一套思考論述」（#46）。他們有本領，非常理性地解釋聖經中的所有道理，以致天主再不是一個奧秘，按天主的肖像所造的人，再也不是一個奧秘。這些玄識論者，總有一個在附近，甚至是你自己。

法利塞人與玄識論者一樣，非常理性，希望把世上一切事物，掌握操控在手中。我們也與法利塞人相似，對未知之事感到不安。法利塞人問耶穌，天主的國何時要來，好讓他們安心準備。這樣做雖然是人之常情，但是卻否定了天主是一個奧秘。

在福音的另一處，耶穌承認連祂自己也不知道末日的時間，祇有天父纔知道（谷13:32）。聽起來有點不合理，三位一體的成員之一，耶穌基督怎可能會不知道末日的日子呢？又或者，耶穌基督用了一些含糊的說話來描述天主的國，「不在這裡，不在那裡，在你們中間。」（路17:21）在末日，不要在這裡，也不要在那裡去找人子，因為祂要橫跨整個天下。（17:23-24）我相信耶穌基督這樣做，是要我們接受，我們是面對著一個不可理解，不可操控的奧秘─天主！正因為面對耶穌基督，法利塞人感到不安，猶太權貴感受到威脅，所以人子「被這一代所擯棄。」（17:25）當人類面對不能理解的奧秘時，仍堅持以理性的手段處理，而不是謙遜地降服時，他們便會拿出手術刀，嘗試分析解剖這個奧秘。結果，他們殺死了這個奧秘！
人啊！你幾時纔肯謙遜地降服在這神妙莫測的奧秘之前呢？

生命恩泉

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Humbly Surrender Before Mysteries (Luke 17:20-25)

Pope Francis points out the flaws of Gnostics in his apostolic exhortation "Gaudete et Exsultate". Gnostics think that "their explanations can make the entirety of the faith and the Gospel perfectly comprehensible." (GE#39) They "turn the Christian experience into a set of intellectual exercises." (#46) They have the capability to explain biblical truth in a very rational manner so that God is no longer a mystery. Men who were created in the image of God are no longer a mystery too. Gnostics are everywhere. You may be one.

Both the Pharisees and the Gnostics were very rational. They hoped that everything in the world could be under their control. In a certain way, we are similar to those Pharisees. Confronted by uncertainties, we are anxious. The Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come so that they could prepare beforehand. Although it is natural for human beings to behave like this, it denies the mystery of God.

Elsewhere in the gospel, Jesus admits that even the Son of Man does not know the time of the end of the world. Only the Father knows (Mark 13:32). It doesn't sound reasonable. How can Jesus Christ, who is a member of the Trinity, not know the date and time of the end? Furthermore, Jesus Christ likes to describe the Kingdom of God in ambiguous terms such as, "And no one will announce, 'Look, here it is,' or, 'There it is.' For behold, the kingdom of God is among you." (Luke 17:21) At the end of the world, don't seek the Son of Man here or there because He would transcend all the space (17:23-24). I believe that Jesus Christ makes such a claim to teach us to accept the fact that we are facing an incomprehensible and uncontrollable mystery --- God! Confronted by Jesus Christ, the Pharisees felt uneasy and the religious authorities felt threatened. Thus the Son of Man "must be rejected by this generation." (17:25) When humanity is facing an incomprehensible mystery and insists on handling it with rationality and refuses to surrender humbly, they would take a scalpel trying to dissect and analyse the mystery. Consequently, they kill that mystery!
Man! When are you willing to humbly surrender in front of this ineffable mystery?

如何變成無望的人 How to Become Hopeless

如何變成無望的人（路17:11-19）

教宗方濟各，在《你們要歡喜踴躍》宗座勸諭中，提及到「沉溺於自己的軟弱」是一種誘惑(#15)。最明顯的例子，就是天主教徒以聖經/教理知識不足為理由，不去履行傳福音的使命。他們沉溺在一份信仰的無力感之中，不思進取！

福音中的十個癩病人，比今天不思改進的天主教徒幸福得多。他們受到癩病的折磨，有動機尋求治療！天主教徒不傳福音，感受不到有多大的痛苦，沒有動機尋求改進。癩病人懂得向耶穌基督尋求醫治，不願傳教的天主教徒還有甚麼可以求耶穌基督呢？ 今天故事的焦點，集中到感恩的撒瑪黎雅癩病人身上，是恰當的。放心，主耶穌的氣量比任何人大，祂決不會因為那九個癩病人不感恩，而收回治療的恩寵。因為從一開始，主耶穌已經知道他們不會感恩。為甚麼主仍會治療不感恩的人呢？祂鼓勵我們不用感恩嗎？當然不是！無論人類感恩與否，他們都是天主的肖像。主耶穌祇會造就他們，讓他們得到充份的發展，而不會向他們斤斤計較！

倘若感恩與否是沒有分別，那麼，感恩又有甚麼意義呢？從獲得治療的角度看，感恩好像沒有作用。但是，祇要細心一想，感恩與否的分別，就很明顯了。懂得感恩，既是愛的表現，因為痊癒不是理所當然的；更是信德的表現，因為你相信是創造你的天主，而不是如來佛祖使你痊癒的。所以主耶穌說：「起來，去罷！你的信德救了你。」（路17:19）不懂得感恩，顯得信德和愛德，並不成熟！小心，這兩種超性德行，是不進則退的。倘若不悉心栽培，恐怕有朝一日，會變成一個鐵石心腸，無信無愛，然後無望的人！

同樣道理，不傳福音的人，終日沉溺在信仰乏力的狀態中，不思改進，是缺乏了感恩之心。有朝一日，他們可能會好像那九個癩病人一樣，變成無愛的人，不理會別人靈性的生死；變成一個無信的人，最終成為無望的人。
因此，不傳福音的人啊！「起來，去罷！」天主保祐你！

生命恩泉

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How to Become Hopeless (Luke 17:11-19)

Pope Francis mentions "the temptation to dwell on your own weakness" (GE#15) in his latest apostolic exhortation "Gaudete et Exsultate". The most obvious example is Catholics who are reluctant to discharge the duty to evangelize with the excuse of a lack of biblical and catechetical knowledge. They indulge themselves in a religious impotence and do not try to improve themselves!

The ten lepers mentioned in the gospel passage today were more blessed than those slothful Catholics. Suffering from the pains of leprosy, the ten lepers had the motivation to seek cure! Not evangelizing, Catholics do not feel any pain. They have no motivation to improve. Those lepers sought Jesus Christ for healing. What would motivate Catholics who are reluctant to evangelize to seek Jesus Christ? It is appropriate that the focus of the gospel passage falls on the grateful leper. Don't worry. Lord Jesus has a large heart. He would not take away the grace of healing from the nine ungrateful lepers. It was because from the beginning, Lord Jesus already knew that they would be ungrateful. Why then did the Lord still heal those ungrateful people? Did He encourage us not to be grateful? Of course not! No matter humanity is grateful or not, they are images of God. Lord Jesus would only edify them and help them fully develop. He shall not haggle over every ounce with them!

If being grateful or not makes no difference, why bother being grateful? From the perspective of healing, being grateful does not count. But think deeper and the difference becomes obvious. Being grateful is an expression of love because healing cannot be taken for granted. Moreover, it is an expression of faith because you believe that your healing comes from your Creator and not from Buddha. Thus Jesus says, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you." (Luke 17:19) Being ungrateful shows that your faith and love are not mature! Beware! These two theological virtues will wither if they make no progress. If we do not tender them with care, one day, our hearts would be so hardened that we become faithless, loveless and finally hopeless!

In a similar manner, people who are reluctant to evangelize indulge themselves all days long in a state of religious impotence. They have no motivation to improve because they lack gratitude. One day, they probably would become, like those nine lepers, loveless and do not care about the life and death of others; become faithless and finally hopeless.
Therefore, people who don't evangelize, "Stand up and go!" God bless you!

基督徒憑甚麼得主稱讚？ How Can Christians Expect to be Praised by the Lord?

基督徒憑甚麼得主稱讚？（路17:7-10）

【愛是不保留】是一首膾炙人口的崇拜詩歌，可惜歌詞有一點瑕疵，令動人的旋律失色！問題出現在最後一句：「我已決定今生再沒所求，惟望得主稱讚已足夠！」雖然歌詞與旋律配合得很好，但明顯地與今天的福音教訓，「僕人做了吩咐的事，主人豈要向他道謝？」（路17:9）大相逕庭！

「奉上生命全歸主所有，要將一切盡獻於我主的手。」是基督徒絕對正確的意願和態度！希望不要淪為口號而已。我們的生命源於天主，無論是肉身的生命還是靈性的生命，我們祇不過是這生命的管家。無論我們願意與否，天主擁有我們的生命。我們既然是管家，就應該履行管家的任務，運用所管有的資產，按主人的旨意，賺取最大的利潤！但不要忘記，資產和運用資產的機會，全是主人所賜予的！所以，我們「既做吩咐你們的一切，仍然要說：我們是無用的僕人，我們不過做了我們應做的事。」（17:10）

可惜，很多天主教徒連應做的事也沒有做好！你們說，甚麼是天主教徒應做的事？參加主日彌撒，領聖體、每年最少辦告解一次、守大小齋、守十誡、盡力幫助教會經費。不是嗎？是！這是「聖教四規」，是做天主教徒的最低要求。可是，你會滿足老闆支付「最低工資」給你嗎？你不想改善你的收入，讓你他日在天堂，有更豐厚的寶藏嗎？
天主教徒應做的事，還有讀經祈禱、行愛德，幫助貧困弱小、以真福八端的態度生活、追求社會公義、不怕為義而受迫害。每個天主教徒按他們的生活處境，秉承福音的教訓生活，展示天父慈愛的面貎，這就是傳福音的實際行動。

天主教徒，雖然我們都是無用的僕人，但始終這是我們應做的事！豈能期望獲得主的稱讚呢？

生命恩泉

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How Can Christians Expect to be Praised by the Lord? (Luke 17:7-10)

"The Unreserved Love" is a popular worship hymn. Unfortunately, a flaw in the last line of the Chinese lyrics casts a shadow over the touching melody. The Chinese version reads, "I have decided not to pray for anything else but am satisfied with the Lord's praise!" Although it fits the melody perfectly well, obviously it is contrary to the gospel teaching today, "Is the Master grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?" (Luke 17:9)

"Make my life a fragrant offering I pray, Help me Lord to serve you truly every day" is an absolutely correct wish and attitude of Christians. Hope that it is not just a slogan. Our life came from God. We are only stewards of our physical and spiritual life. Whether we like it or not, God possesses our life. We are stewards and in order to discharge the duties of stewards, we should manage and earn the greatest rewards according to the will of the Master! Don't forget, the property and even the opportunities to make use of the property are given by the Master. Therefore, "When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'" (17:10)

Unfortunately, many Catholics are not even able to do what they are obliged to do. What things are Catholics obliged to do? Joining Sunday mass; receiving the sacraments of Holy Communion and Reconciliation at least once a year; fasting; observing the Ten Commandments and providing for the expenditures of the Church etc. Aren't they? They are the Precepts of the Church, the minimum requirements of Catholics. But are you happy if your boss pays you the minimum wages only? Don't you want to increase your incomes so that when you go to heaven, you will find an abundant treasure?
Catholics should also study the Bible; pray; do works of charity; help the needy; live up to the teachings of the Beatitudes; seek social justice and are not afraid of persecution for the sake of righteousness. Every Catholic should, each in his own way, lead a life according to the teachings of the Beatitudes in order to show the merciful countenance of the Father. This is evangelization.

Catholics, although we are unprofitable servants, those are our obligations. How can we expect the Lord to praise us?

如何不令小子跌倒 How NOT to Cause Little Ones to Fall

如何不令小子跌倒（路17:1-6）

大部份的天主教徒都不願意傳福音，他們藉口自己對聖經和教理的知識有限，怕教錯別人，所以不想向身邊的人傳教。但是，所謂「校學相長」，指導別人，受教者固然得益；指導者在教授不同人的過程中，亦可不斷提昇自己的技巧，和澄清一些知識上的破綻。所以指導者不需要在自己的知識完全沒有破綻時，纔去施教，因為在教導別人的過程中，自己也有長進。神父和主教的聖經和教理知識，並不是完全沒有破綻的！

澄清自己的信仰，是一項終身的任務。不傳福音，我們失去了「教而後知困」的機會。讓信仰塵封，不認識耶穌基督的生平言行，不知道基督徒的倫理準則，跟世俗隨波逐流而不感覺到有問題，是大部份天主教徒的寫照。為甚麼？因為不傳福音，信仰沒有被挑戰過而依然塵封；沒有嘗試過遭人拒絕的滋味，所以不覺得信靠天主的可貴；何來下定決心去進修，去加強個人靈修的動機呢？更諷刺的，在這個資訊泛濫，假新聞充斥的社交媒體世界裡，很多天主教徒很樂意把一些來歷不明，似是而非，包裝得很有人生哲理的短訊，不假思索地轉發給群組內的朋友，滿足了傳福音的責任！殊不知他們正犯了第八誡，對真理不負責任！對不起，言重了。

主耶穌基督說得好：「引人跌倒的事是免不了的。」（路17：1）世俗充滿了爭奪和謬論，是免不了的。讓我們不要成為，令信德薄弱者跌倒的人。最好的辦法，就是向外人，宣講耶穌基督的生平言行，讓他們能分沾天主的救恩，而我們自己亦能有所長進，不致陷於世俗的誘惑。亞孟！

生命恩泉

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How NOT to Cause Little Ones to Fall (Luke 17:1-6)

Most Catholics are reluctant to evangelize. The lack of biblical and catechetical knowledge is a common excuse. They "fear" that they would teach the wrong things to others. However, when teaching others, the recipients will of course benefit. But in the course of teaching different people, the teachers themselves will continue to upgrade their skills and clarify some blind spots in their knowledge. Thus, it is not necessary for the knowledge to be bulletproof in order to evangelize because catechists also improve in the process. After all, the biblical and catechetical knowledge of priests and bishops is not airtight!

To upgrade one's faith is a life-long assignment. We will lose the motivation to improve when we do not evangelize and meet difficulties. Allowing their faith to gather dust; not knowing the words and deeds of Jesus Christ, or Christian moral principles; going with the flow and do not find it problematic is a rather accurate description of most Catholics. Why? It is because when they do not evangelize, their faith is never challenged and gather dust. They have never been rejected and will not have the chance to feel the goodness of God's consolation. Then from where comes the motivation to study and strengthen their spirituality? Paradoxically, indulging in the world of social media which is flooded with fake news, many Catholics are eager to forward short questionable messages packaged in high sounding philosophical memes to their friends and groups without a thought, perhaps to satisfy their evangelization duty! They have committed the eighth Commandment, being irresponsible towards the truth!

Lord Jesus Christ says it well, "Things that cause sin will inevitably occur." (Luke 17:1) It is inevitable for the secular world to be filled with cheatings and fallacies. Let us not become the cause of the fall of those little ones in faith. The best way is to proclaim the words and deeds of Jesus Christ to others so that they may share God's salvation. Then we too will improve and do not fall into temptations of the secular world. Amen.

如何報答天主的愛？ How to Return God's Love

常年期第三十二主日，乙年
主題：如何報答天主的愛？

按創世紀的記載，人類是按天主的肖像所造，並且，天主委派人類去管理萬物（創1:26）。人類憑甚麼去管理比自己跑得更快，爪牙比人類更鋒利的猛獸呢？相信當初天主一定賜予人類特殊的恩寵，有能力統領萬物。可惜，原祖父母犯了罪，失去了這份原始的恩寵。整個世界受到罪惡的污染，人類的後代子孫從出生開始，便在一個失去了恩寵，受罪惡污染了的環境成長和生活。
天主是愛，出於愛祂創造了天地給人類居住、生活和成長。人類是天主的傑作，天主又怎會捨棄人類不顧呢？天主是自由的，不受束縛的。所以，按祂肖像所造的人類，亦享有自由，連天主也要尊重人類的自由，不能強迫他們接受祂的拯救！所以，天主按部就班，以建立盟約的方法，邀請人類透過履行盟約，恢復天主肖像原有的光彩。

梅瑟解放以色列人離開埃及，到達西乃山，與天主立約。天主賜下法律，教導以色列人成聖。天主說：「你們為我應成為司祭的國家，聖潔的國民。」（出19:6）天主賜下的法律共有613條，散佈在【梅瑟五書】之中。其中最有名的，就是「十誡」和上星期在福音中所記載的，舊約中最大的誡命，即是：「你當全心、全靈、全力，愛雅威你的天主。」（申6:5）和「應愛人如己。」（肋19:18）可惜，以色列人依照這些法律生活的時候，流於形式化，祇著重法律的條文，而忽略了法律的精神。這一切，天主是知道的。所以時期一滿，天主聖子降生成人，一方面澄清和教導法律的精神；另一方面，奉獻自己成為贖罪祭，償還一切罪債，建立新的盟約。梅瑟所建立的舊約，使以色列人成為司祭的國家，聖潔的國民。耶穌基督所建立的新約，更進一步，要使全人類成為天主的子女。這就是洗禮入教，成為天主教徒的意義。

在今天的福音故事裡，耶穌稱讚窮寡婦，說：「這個窮寡婦比所有向銀庫投錢的人，投的更多。」（谷12:43）請不要誤會，耶穌並不是給猶太人上一課數學堂，教授比例的概念。你月薪兩萬元，每星期捐二十元，是收入的百份之0.4。那窮寡婦祇有一文銅錢的四份之一，卻全部捐獻了，是百份之100。所以按比例，窮寡婦投的，比你投的更多！這樣解釋表面上是正確，其實是錯誤的，因為沒有留心經文！耶穌說：「眾人都拿他們所餘的來投」（12:44），是「所餘的」，是可有可無的。試問，在眾人的心目中，天主究竟有多重要？天主祇值得接受他們捐獻多餘的東西嗎？當年，天主沒有惠顧加音的祭品，是因為加音沒有做得好，他祇把多餘的東西，而不是他最珍惜的東西奉獻給天主（創4:5-7）！

另一方面，耶穌讚賞窮寡婦，因為耶穌竟然能在世上，找到一個做到了「全心、全靈、全力」地愛天主，做到了最大誡命的人！或者大家會替窮寡婦擔心，她把所有的都捐獻了，以後她如何生活呢？不用擔心，天主自會照料（22:8）！當年，天主考驗亞巴郎，要他祭獻他最珍惜的兒子。依撒格是他惟一的兒子，是亞巴郎將來能否成為萬民之父的惟一希望。雖然當時還沒有誡命，未有舊約，但是亞巴郎仍然按照吩咐做了，表達出他的確能「全心、全靈、全力」地愛天主，做到了最大的誡命。天主知道了亞巴郎的心意便心滿意足了，並不需要殺死依撒格來祭獻。結果亞巴郎繁華昌盛，兒孫滿堂，成為一個國家民族。所以，我們不用替窮寡婦擔心她以後的生活有甚麼著落！

從這幾個聖經人物的例子中，我們得到以下的教訓。

1. 每一個人都蒙天主召叫成聖，因為我們都是按神聖的天主的肖像所造。其實成聖，就是為了回應報答天主的愛。我們成聖的程度，反映出我們愛天主有多真心。
2. 每一個人成聖的道路不一樣。加音是農夫，亞伯爾是牧羊人；亞巴郎是富甲一方的族長，伯多祿是漁夫，瑪竇是稅吏，路加是醫生，而窮寡婦就是窮寡婦。所以教宗方濟各在他最新的宗座勸諭《你們要歡喜踴躍》中，指醒我們歷代聖人的榜樣，固然有助鼓舞人心，激勵我們前進，但我們沒有必要有樣學樣，不要耗費精力，模仿那些並非為我們而設的成聖方法（GE#11）。窮寡婦沒有一個好像亞巴郎的獨生子，可以奉獻給天主；瑪竇亦沒有自己放牧的羊群，可以選最肥美又是首生的羊，祭獻天主。各人祇可在自己的生活崗位中，設法履行全心、全靈、全力地愛天主的誡命。
3. 教宗方濟各指出，真福八端是基督徒的身份證。每個人都必須按各自的方式，實踐耶穌有關真福八端的教導。（#63）教宗在默想每個真福的時候，總說做到了一端，就是一個聖德。且看這個窮寡婦，她神貧嗎？她不但做到「神貧」，而是做到路加福音所要求的貧窮。她受社會制度的剝削，沒有法學士為她出頭，她哀慟了。她有反抗剝削的制度嗎？沒有，反而按規矩，連僅有的銅錢也投到銀庫裡去，她做到了「溫良」。她渴望天主的拯救嗎？一定渴望，她已做到了「飢渴慕義」。她一心一意信靠天主嗎？她已做到了「心裡潔淨」。她最少已滿全了五端真福，在成聖的道路上，已取得了最少五個聖德！

各位兄弟姊妹，窮寡婦的確是一個成聖的好榜樣，但我們不必耗費精力模仿她。讓我們按自己的生活中所提供的處境和機遇，依照真福八端的教導，活出全心、全靈、全力地愛天主的誡命。
天主保祐！

2015年講道

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Thirty Second Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: How to Return God's Love

According to Genesis, men were created in the image of God. Furthermore, they were assigned to manage the Creation (Genesis 1:26). But how then could men manage beasts whose teeth and crawl are sharp and which run faster than men? I believe that God must have given men special graces at the beginning so that they were able to become stewards. Unfortunately, our First Parents committed sin and lost those Original Graces. The whole world was contaminated by sin. Offspring of humanity were born without those Original Graces. They lived and grew up in a world contaminated by sins. God is love. Out of love, He created a world suitable for humanity to live and grow. We are the master piece of God. How would He abandon us? God is free and unrestrained. Thus, we who were created in the image of God enjoy freedom as well, so much so that even God has to respect our freedom. He would not force us to accept His salvation! Step by step, God made covenants with humanity, inviting us to restore the glory of the image of God through observing the covenants. Moses liberated the Israelites, left Egypt and established covenant with God at Mount Sinai. God gave them laws to teach them to be holy. God said, "You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation." (Exodus 19:6). Scattered among the Pentateuch are 613 laws which God gave the Israelites. The most famous ones are the Ten Commandments and the greatest commandment we read last Sunday, i.e. "You shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being and with your whole strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5) and "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." (Leviticus 19:18) Unfortunately, when the Israelites observed these laws, they paid attention to the letters only and forgot the spirit. God knew it all. So, when the time came, the Son of God incarnated to clarify and taught the spirit of the law on one hand and on the other, offered Himself as a redemptive sacrifice to establish a new covenant. The Old Testament established by Moses made the Israelites a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The New Testament established by Jesus Christ takes us higher. All humanity is to become sons and daughters of God. This is the meaning of being baptised Catholics. In the gospel story today, Jesus praised the poor widow, "This poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury." (Mark 12:43) Don't be mistaken. Jesus did not give the Jews an arithmetic lesson, teaching them proportion. You offer $20 per week while your monthly income is $20,000. That makes 0.4%. The poor widow had two small coins worth a few cents and she gave all. That was 100%. By proportion, the poor widow put in more! This explanation looks correct by is actually wrong because it does not pay attention to the scripture! Jesus said, "They have all contributed from their surplus wealth." (12:44). It is surplus, spare and dispensable. Think about it, in the hearts of those people, how important is God? Does God deserve dispensable offerings? In Genesis, God did not look with favour the offering of Cain because Cain did not act rightly. Perhaps he offered up spare dispensable vegetables and not the most precious things to God (Genesis 4:5-7). On the other hand, Jesus praised the poor widow because Jesus was able to find on earth somebody who could love God "with all her heart, and with all her being and all her strength". She had done the greatest commandment! Perhaps you might worry about the future of the poor widow. How would she survive after offering all? Don't worry, "God will provide" (22:8). In Genesis, God tested Abraham, asking him to offer his beloved son. Isaac was the only son and only hope to make Abraham the father of many nations. Although at that time, there was no commandment, no Old Testament, Abraham did as instructed. It showed that he was able to love God with all his heart, all his being and all his strength. God was satisfied that Abraham obeyed. He did not need Isaac to be killed. Consequently, Abraham became fruitful and his descendants became a people, a nation. Thus we don't need to worry about the poor widow! From these biblical figures, we learn the following lessons: First of all, God calls each and every one of us to be sanctified because we were made in the image of God who is holy. To be sanctified is to return God's love. How well we are sanctified indicates how genuinely we love God. Secondly, our ways of sanctification are different. Cain was a farmer, Abel a shepherd. Abraham was a wealthy patriarch. Peter was a fisherman, Matthew a tax-collector and Luke a physician. The poor widow was a poor widow. Thus, in his latest apostolic exhortation "Gaudete & Exsultate", Pope Francis reminds us that the exemplar of saints may prove helpful and inspiring, but we are not meant to copy because that could lead us astray from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for us. (GE#11) The poor widow did not have a son like Abraham's to offer. Matthew did not have a flock of sheep to choose the best and first born to offer God. Each one of us can only observe the commandment to love God with all our heart, and with all our being and all our strength in our own way. Thirdly, Pope Francis pointed out that the Beatitudes are like a Christian's identity card. We have to do, each in our own way, what Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount. (#63) After meditating on each beatitude, the Pope concludes with "That is holiness". Look at the poor widow, was she poor in spirit? Not only was she poor in spirit, she was poor according to the demand of the gospel of Luke! She was exploited by the social system. No scribe helped her get what she deserved. She was mournful. Did she resist the institution? No, she followed the requirement to contribute her only two coins to the treasury. She was meek. Did she hunger for God's salvation? Of course she did. Did she seek God alone? She did and her heart was pure. She had at least achieved five beatitudes. On her way to sanctification, she had attained five strains of holiness! Brethren, the poor widow was truly an exemplar of sanctification. But we do not need to copy her. Let us follow the teaching of the Beatitudes, each in our own situation and opportunities, to live up the commandment to love God with all our hearts, and with all our being and with all our strength. God bless.

為甚麼要守法律？ Why Should We Obey Commandments?

常年期第三十一主日，乙年
主題：為甚麼要守法律？

請問大家可否記得「聖教會四規」呢？
對！就是：

1. 凡主日及一總停工瞻禮之日，該望全彌撒。
2. 遵守聖教所定的大小齋期。
3. 該妥當告解，並善領聖體，至少每年一次。
4. 當盡力幫助聖教會的經費。」（【要理問答】#163）

以上的四個規則，可以說是作為一個天主教徒的最低要求。例如第四規祇要求天主教徒「盡力幫助」教會，而沒有像一般基督教派一樣，硬性規定捐獻收入的十分之一。又例如第三規要求「妥當告解，善領聖體，至少每年一次」，更清楚明白顯示出，這些規條都是做天主教徒的最低要求！既然教會定的規條是最低要求，即是有很大的空間，可以做得更好！

說起基督徒的規條，大家一定會想到「十誡」。
對！當梅瑟解放了以色列人，離開埃及，到達西乃山，在那裡與天主訂立盟約時，是以「十誡」作為盟約的標記。天主高高在上，為甚麼要與祂所創造的受造物，先後多次訂立盟約呢？例如洪水滅世之後，天主與諾厄立約，以彩虹為標記，許諾以後不再以洪水，毀滅大地。（創9:12-16）後來與亞巴郎立約，以割損禮為標記，立亞巴郎為萬民之父，藉著他和他的後裔，使人類得到天主的祝福。（17:4-8）

天主之所以與人類立約，因為第一，人類是按天主的肖像所造（1:26），祇有人類纔有資格與天主立約。第二，天主與人類，強弱懸殊。一個強大的國家，為尊重一個弱小國家的自主，幫助它發展的最好辦法，就是訂立盟約。大國給小國很多的恩惠，展示自己的偉大；小國祇需做一些象徵式的行為，表示臣服就可以了。天主與人類立約，與此相類似。因此，以色列人奉「十誡」作為生活的指導，表示對天主的臣服。另一方面，「十誡」幫助了這群好像一盤散沙的埃及奴隸，成為了一個國家民族。從前，十二支派在埃及各地，信奉不同的神。今天，大家在同一個神的領導之下，團結合一，成為一個民族，一個國家。從前，他們是奴隸，沒有休息。今天，大家可以在安息日休息，慶祝自己是個自由人。其餘的誡命，指導以色列人孝敬父母，慎終追遠；尊重生命，保障家庭，尊重私有產權和維護真理。可見「十誡」實在是難能可貴的道德指標，指出做人應有的操守。

「十誡」是大原則，落實到生活上，便會因應不同的處境個案，引申出不同的規條。散見在「梅瑟五書」之中，一共有613條法律。今天的福音，記載了一個經師向耶穌基督的挑戰。耶穌基督從容不迫地，引述【申命紀】和【肋未紀】來回應，令經師口服心服。所以，「愛天主在萬有之上及愛人如己」，並不是耶穌基督教導的，而是祂引述梅瑟的教導。其實守誡命，祇不過做到舊約的要求而已。耶穌說，他來不是為廢除法律，而是去成全它（瑪5:17）。耶穌要求我們作為基督徒的，要做得更好！耶穌是這樣說的：「所以你們應當是成全的，如同你們的天父是成全的一樣。」（5:48）

「如同天父一樣成全」是甚麼意思呢？讓我們看看其他人是怎樣演繹的。聖史路加這樣記載：「你們應當慈悲，就像你們的父那樣慈悲。」（路6:36）聖保祿是路加的師傅，他從前是一個法利塞人，非常熟悉「梅瑟五書」。他一定銘記【肋未紀】的教訓：「你們應該是聖的，因為我，上主，你們的天主是聖的。」（肋19:2）所以，當保祿寫信給羅馬教會及格林多教會的時候，開宗明義地說：「我保祿，致書與一切住在羅馬，為天主所鍾愛，並蒙召為聖徒的人。」（羅1:7，格後1:1）因此，在聖保祿的心目中，領洗入教，就是被天主所鍾愛，召選成聖。可見，回應天主的召叫成聖，既滿全舊約的要求，更是新約的目標。因此，作為一個天主教徒，不應該甘心停留在做到規條的最低要求，祇奉行聖教會四規便滿足，這些都是舊約的態度。我們應該進取，追求成聖。問題是，基督徒如何成聖呢？

教宗方濟各在今年三月十九日，大聖若瑟瞻禮，頒布了《你們要歡喜踴躍》宗座勸諭，講論天主在當代世界，召叫基督徒成聖。他說：「真福八端就像基督徒的身分證…每個人都必須按各自的方式，實踐耶穌有關真福八端的教導。」（GE#63）大家可能覺得「真福八端」實在是太高超的理想，不是我們一般凡夫俗子，可以做到的。不用愁，做事應該按部就班。首先遵守誡命，養成良好習慣，作為日後建立德行的基礎。同時，學習真福八端的教訓，並付諸實行，邁向成聖。且看富少年的例子，富少年有高超的理想，尋求獲得永生的途徑；耶穌卻先問他有沒有守誡命，可見守誡命是獲得永生的基本功。今天福音中的經師，他所擁有的是知識，他所欠缺的，是把他所認知的付諸實踐。可見能遵守誡命，縱使尚未成聖，亦離天國不遠！

各位兄弟姊妹，守誡命是舊約的態度，也是必須的，因為它是邁向永生路上的基本功，不可荒廢！但我們也不應安於做到最低要求，應該進取，按各人自己的處境和生活方式，實踐真福八端的教導，走出新約成聖之路。
天主保祐！
2012年反省

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Thirty First Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Why Should We Obey Commandments?

Do you remember the Precepts of the Church?
Yes! They are:

1. You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligations.
2. You shall confess you sins and receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least once a year.
3. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church
4. You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church.

The above precepts can be regarded as the minimum requirements to be a Catholic. For example, the fourth precept asks Catholics to provide for the needs of the Church but does not stipulate a tithe. And the second precept requires Catholics to confess sins and receive the Holy Communion at least once a year. This clearly shows that it is a minimum requirement on Catholics. Since they are minimum requirements, there is a large room for improvement!

Talking about Christian laws and regulations brings to mind the Ten Commandments.
Right! After Moses had liberated the Israelites from the slavery in Egypt, he brought them to Mount Sinai to enter into a covenant with God. The Ten Commandments are a symbol of covenant. You may wonder why the lofty God should enter into a covenant with lowly creatures. For example, after the Great Deluge, God established a covenant with Noah, using the rainbow as a symbol to pledge that there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth (Genesis 9:12-16). Later, God established another covenant with Abraham, using circumcision as a symbol to make him the father of a multitude of nations. Through his descendants, humanity will be blessed. (17:4-8)

God establishes covenants with humanity because firstly, men were created in the image of God (1:26). Among all creatures, men alone are qualified to establish covenants with God. Secondly, God is too strong for men. The best strategy for a strong nation to respect the autonomy of a small nation and help it develop is to establish covenants. The strong nation showers the small nation with a lot of favours to demonstrate its strength while the small nation performs some symbolic ceremonies to show her submission. The covenants between God and men are similar. Thus, the Israelites followed the Ten Commandments as guidelines of their daily life to express their submission to God. On the other hand, the Ten Commandments help these Egyptian slaves unite into a people and a nation. Previously, the twelves tribes worshipped different deities in different locations of Egypt. Now, they were united and led by one God to form one people, one nation. Previously, they were slaves and had no rest. Now, they could rest on Sabbath to celebrate their identity as a free man. The rest of the Commandments teach them to honour their parents, to respect life, to safeguard families, to enforce the right to private property and defend the truth. Thus the Ten Commandments are excellent moral guideposts, setting norms for human interactions.

The Ten Commandments are high level principles. When they are applied to concrete daily situations and cases, new regulations are developed. In total, 613 laws can be isolated among the Pentateuch. In the gospel passage today, a scribe challenged Jesus Christ who in a leisurely manner answered the challenge by quoting the Deuteronomy and Leviticus. The scribe surrendered in awe. Therefore, "loving God above all and loving one's neighbour as oneself" was not invented by Jesus who only quoted from the teachings of Moses. Indeed, obeying the Commandments fulfils the demands of the Old Testament only. Jesus once said that He did not come to abolish the laws but to fulfil them (Matthew 5:17). Jesus demands us Christians to do better! Jesus says in this way, "So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (5:48)

What does it mean "to be perfect as the heavenly Father"? Let us see how the other people interpret this. St. Luke the Evangelist says, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36) St. Paul was the teacher of St. Luke. He had been a Pharisee and was very familiar with the Torah. He must know by heart the teaching of Leviticus which says, "Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy." (Leviticus 19:2) Thus, when Paul wrote to the churches of Rome and Corinth, he wrote at the beginning, "To all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy." (Romans 1:7, 2 Corinthians 1:1). Thus, in the mind of St. Paul, when a believer was baptized, he was the beloved of God and was called to be holy. Answering God's call to be holy fulfils not only the demands of the Old Testament, but also the target of the New Testament. Thus, as Catholics, we should not be contented with doing the minimum requirements and be satisfied with fulfilling the 4 precepts of the Church. This is an Old Testament mentality. We should be more ambitious to excel in sanctification. The question is, how do Christians become sanctified?

On March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, Pope Francis promulgated the latest apostolic exhortation "Gaudete et Exsultate" to speak about the call to holiness in today's world. He says, "The Beatitudes are like a Christian's identity card ... We have to do, each in our own way, what Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount." (GE#63) Perhaps you may feel that it is impossible for us, common mortals, to put into practice the Beatitudes which are too idealistic for us. Don't worry, we can take one step at a time. First of all, obey the commandments to build up good habits which shall become the basis of virtues we cultivate later. At the same time, we study the teachings of the Beatitudes and put them into practice to attain sanctification. Take a look at the case of the Rich Young Man. He was idealistic and sought ways to inherit eternal life. However, Jesus asked him first whether he had observed the Commandments. Thus, we see that observing the Commandments is the foundamental exercise of inheriting eternal life. Take another look at the scribe mentioned in today's gospel. What he had was knowledge and what he lacked was practice. Thus, we see that obeying the Commandment, even if we have not achieved sanctification, puts us not far away from the Kingdom of Heaven!

Brethren, although obeying the Commandments is an Old Testament mentality, it is essential because it is the foundamental exercise to attain eternal life. It should not be abolished! However, we should not be contented with minium requirements. We should aim higher, each in our own ways, to put the Beatitudes into practice to walk the way of New Testament sanctification.
God bless!