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!