家庭是戰地醫院

聖家節，丙年
主題：家庭是戰地醫院

今天我們慶祝「聖家節」，聖家由耶穌、若瑟和瑪利亞所組成。與世上所有的家庭一樣，聖家也有它「難唸的經」。
在聖母領報以前，瑪利亞已許配給若瑟，但尚未過門（路1:27）。領報之後，瑪利亞趕往探訪依撒伯爾（1:39）；回來後，她便要面對未婚懷孕的危機。瑪利亞謙卑地服從天主，便要面對後果。但若瑟不一定會認同她，與她配合。於是，天主出手干預，差遣天使報夢給若瑟（瑪1:20-24）。從此，若瑟成了瑪利亞的助手，照顧並保護著她和將要誕生的天主子。

耶穌準備出生時，全國正進行人口調查。若瑟便帶著懷孕的瑪利亞，南下回到家鄉白冷登記（路2:4-6）。突然湧現的回鄉人士，使白冷的客棧，不勝負荷。結果，瑪利亞要狼狽地在馬棚產下聖嬰（2:7）。不久，有牧羊人得到天使的指示，前來朝拜（2:17-18）。這一切告訴聖家，並告訴我們，天主在家庭遇上困難時，一直陪伴左右，一切都是那樣出乎意料。取潔禮時遇上西默盎和亞納，為瑪利亞日後要遇到的困難，作了心理準備（2:28-38）；幾個月後更遇到前來朝拜的賢士，令瑪利亞認識到她帶來世上的這個嬰孩，非同凡響（瑪2:11）！不久，聖家便要躲避大黑落德的追殺，逃難往埃及（2:14）。這天主子連累到祂在世的父母，捱受難民的生活。但瑪利亞和若瑟，並沒有埋怨。她們與聖子建立了感情，願意為祂接受天主安排的所有禮物和艱辛！
回國後，因政局的問題，祇有遷回北方的納匝肋隱居（2:22-23）。十二歲的耶穌，已被接納在會堂內讀經。隨父母到耶路撒冷過逾越節，按捺不住的天主性爆發了。少年耶穌在沒有知會父母的情況下，獨自留在聖殿三日三夜，苦害了祂的父母，為祂擔憂（路2:48）。這是青少年反叛獨立的必經之路，為人父母的十字架！這一切都是福音所記載的聖家之苦，與現代家庭所受的苦，不能同日而語。

現代社會再找不到延伸的大家庭，核心家庭裡的成員遇到困難時，很難在家庭外找到支援。所以我看見努力賺錢的父母，以金錢物質補償子女失去了的父母之愛；我看見未準備好結婚育兒的男女，疏忽照顧，甚至在家中虐待幼小的子女，令他們受傷；我看見年紀老邁的父親，盡心盡力照顧弱智及不能自我料理的兒子；我看見獨居的傷殘天主教徒，失救死在家中，得不到合乎身份的天主教殯葬；我看見步入老年的長者，再沒有能力照顧九十多歲的雙親，又申請不到安老院舍；我看見青少年及兒童，承受不了父母給予學業上的壓力，自尋短見，或者以濫藥來逃避；我看見父母離婚後留下的子女，受著抑鬱或其他的負面情緒所折磨等等。這些都是現代家庭的病，納匝肋聖家可以使它們成為教宗方濟各所說的「戰地醫院」，可以治療成員們的創傷嗎？

聖家是一個核心家庭，與現代家庭無異。聖家以天主為中心，一切便迎刃而解。現代的家庭能否以天主為中心，來面對生活的挑戰呢？夫妻能否以天主作為他們婚姻生活的後盾，互相扶持終老，永不離異呢？能不嫉妒配偶的成就嗎？能不強加自己的意願到配偶身上嗎？受到配偶的背叛或傷害，能投靠天主的慈悲，拿出勇氣來寬恕嗎？父母可否看到自己的子女，是按天主的肖像所創造，是獨特和富有潛質，展現天主所預定的計劃，而不是為了滿足自己的願望呢？好像瑪利亞面對十二歲的耶穌，父母能否付出多一點忍耐，聆聽少年人的夢想和困擾呢？這樣做，即使不能製造出無敵的考試機器，最少也不會製造出不成熟的夫妻，或者虐待親生子女的父母。能否不與鄰人比較入息、樓房、汽車和如何渡假嗎？能選擇事奉天主，輕視金錢，把更多有質素的時間投放到子女身上嗎？至於安老和照顧傷殘弱智和獨居人士方面，政府和社區，難辭其責。但我們有沒有為政府官員的工作，祈求上主的祝福呢？

雖然聖家並不是所有問題的即時解藥，但聖家始終是我們的榜樣，我們的希望。讓我們的家庭，生活出保祿宗徒的「愛的頌歌」（格前13:4-7），成為一所祈禱的晚餐廳，一所戰地的醫院，護理受傷的成員。亞孟。
天主保祐！

A Good News of Great Joy 一個大喜訊

2018 Midnight Mass
Theme: A Good News of Great Joy

First of all, before we begin meditating on the Christmas messages, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a blessed and peaceful Christmas as well as a fruitful New Year ahead. May God continue to give us, opportunity after opportunity to love Him and serve Him in return for the grace He has been generously showering upon us.

Our God is the master of human history. When time comes, He shall intervene to deliver us, His Chosen People, from all sorts of troubles and difficulties. The Israelites had suffered from more than 400 years of slavery in Egypt. God raised a Moses to liberate them. When Judah was conquered and the people were exiled to Babylon for about 70 years, God raised Cyrus, the Persian King to liberate them. For the next 500 years, the Jews were ruled by succesive colonial empires and finally, the time came, the Son of God was born to a virgin. He is Messiah and Lord (Luke 2:11).

Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ which is truly a good news of great joy (2:10). Why? Previously, God only sent human saviours to liberate a nation. But finally, God takes matters into His own hand. He came down and "became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). He became a man in order to liberate us. He became one of us, became visible. He does not liberate just one nation, but the whole human race from the bondage of sins. The angel told the shepherds that this infant, this Saviour is both Messiah and Lord, "Messiah" because he is a human person. "Lord" because he is God himself. Here, divinity and humanity meet in one person. Miraculously, God does something beyond human understanding. By becoming flesh, by combining divinity and humanity into one person, God elevates human nature to a high level so that we are able to partake in His eternal life! Death is no longer our destiny. Eternal life is! Isn't this truly a good news of great joy?

If it is truly a good news of great joy, why then did He choose to be born in such a lowly situation? Born and laid in a manger does not look like anything promising to celebrate about! Jesus would have been born in the house of the richest man in the world. That seems to be promising for an economic saviour. No. Jesus had not. It was because money hardens human hearts. Redistribution of wealth and resources is not the way to save the world. Or, Jesus would have been born in the court of the Roman Caesar who commanded absolute obedience and authority from his subjects. That seems to be promising for a political saviour. No. Jesus had not. It was because authority corrupts. Military might or political reforms are meant for personal ambition to conquer the world but not to save it. Or, Jesus would have been born the greatest wizard in the world, some sort of Harry Potter. No. Jesus had not. It was because magic turns people away from God. It is a long road to salvation which cannot be achieved by waving a magic wand. Jesus chose to be born in such a lowly situation in order to show us the truth of salvation, the way to return to our Heavenly Father. How? Here is the answer.

This Christmas, our Bishop Michael Yeung gives a very simple message: a message of hope and joy for all the people, young and old alike. He says, "Many people in Hong Kong, especially the young and the elderly are faced with grave hardship and challenges. The Church must accompany them in their practical ordinary living ... Everyone is called to holiness, to be saints, in the very ordinariness of daily life. So, despise all the daily frustrations and sufferings, we must learn to offer to God heartfelt gratitude, rejoice and be glad! Be lovingly attentive to the needs of others, especially the most vulnerable."

His message expresses the true meaning of Christmas. The birth of Christ invites all of us to holiness, to become saints. We should be grateful and joyful because God has prepared for us a high level of life, eternal life. In order to achieve sanctification, we must extend our hearts and our hands to the poor and the needy in the society, people who are wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. So, make an effort to reach out to a person or a family in need this Christmas and see what you can do to help relieve their sufferings. Have a blessed Christmas!
God bless!

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2018年子夜彌撒
主題：一個大喜訊

首先，在默想聖誕訊息之前，謹祝各位一個有福平安的聖誕，與及來年豐盛。願上主不斷賜予愛祂和服事祂的機會，回報祂賞給我們滿溢的恩寵。

我們的天主是人類歷史的主宰。時期一滿，祂會干預歷史，拯救祂的選民脫離一切危難。以色列人曾在埃及為奴超過四百年，天主遂興起一個梅瑟，解放他們。當猶大被征服，人民充軍巴比倫約七十年，天主差遣波斯王居魯士，解放他們。跟著的五個世紀，猶太人先後淪為各個帝國的殖民地。最後，時期一滿，天主子由童貞女誕生，「他是主默西亞。」（路2:11）

聖誕節慶祝一個大喜訊（2:10），是慶祝基督的誕生。有甚麼值得慶祝呢? 從前，天主派遣一個人作為救世者，解放一個國家民族。但最後，天主親自出馬，祂降來「成了血肉，寄居在我們中間。」（若1:14）為了拯救我們，祂變成了一個人。祂成為我們的一份子，有形可見。祂不但解放一個國家民族，祂要把全人類從罪惡的奴役出解放出來。天使告訴牧羊人，這個嬰兒，這個救世者是「主默西亞」。「默西亞」指他是一個人，「主」指出他是上主天主。在祂身上，人性與神性結合成為一個位格。天主奇妙地做了一些超乎人能理解的事。當祂成了血肉時，把人性與神性合而為一時，天主把人性提昇到一個足以分享祂永恆生命的高層次！死亡不再是人的宿命，永生是！這豈不是一個大喜訊嗎？

倘若真是一個大喜訊，為何祂選擇降生在如此低賤的地方呢？生下的嬰兒竟要放在馬槽，何來慶祝的理由哩！耶穌原可以選擇出生在世上最富有的人家裡，這樣看來很適合一個經濟的救世主。可是耶穌沒有。因為財富令人心硬，重新分配財富及資源不是救世的方法。或者耶穌應該出生在羅馬凱撒的宮中，這樣看來，很適合一個政治的救世主。可是耶穌沒有。因為權力令人腐敗，軍事力量或者政治改革祇為滿足個人征服世界的慾望，而不是拯救世界。又或者耶穌應該生而成為最偉大的術士，如哈利波特。可是耶穌沒有。因為魔法令人遠離天主。得救的道路相當邁長，不是把魔法棒一揮，便可以成功的。耶穌選擇降生在如此貧寒的光景，為了顯示得救的真理，指示回歸天父家鄉的道路。怎樣做？這裡就是答案。

這個聖誕節，我們的楊鳴章主教發表了一篇簡單的賀辭：「一則為『全民族』，特別是青年和長者，關於希望與喜樂的信息。在香港，很多人要面對種種艱辛和挑戰，特別是青年和長者。在他們的日常生活中，教會常應伴隨…眾人都蒙召，在平凡的日常生活中，度聖潔的生活，成為聖人。雖然在日常生活中有著種種挫折甚或痛苦，我們要學習以感恩、歡欣和喜樂的心奉獻給天主。當懷著愛去專注於別人的需要，特別是最脆弱者的需要。」

楊主教的賀辭表達出聖誕的真正意義。基督的降生邀請們成聖。我們應感恩和喜樂，因為天主為我們預備了高層次的生命，永生。邁向成聖，我們必須向社會上有需要的人，那些「裹著襁褓，臥在馬槽」的人，敞開心靈，伸出援手。「讓我們嘗試接觸最少一位有需要的人士或一個家庭，看看可以怎樣實際地幫助他們。」祝大家有一個福樂的聖誕！
天主保祐！

相信就足夠了嗎？ Is Faith Enough?

將臨期第四主日，丙年
主題：相信就足夠了嗎？

今天的故事，是玫瑰經，歡喜五端的第二端，有很豐富的默想材料。而且，非常容易把自己設身處地在故事中，感受故事主人翁的心境。讓我們鎖定背景，進入默想之中。

按習俗，當時的瑪利亞，祇是一個十多歲的適婚少女。從她與總領天使加俾額爾的對話當中，我們可以推測，瑪利亞的志願是以守貞的方式，服事天主。她對天使說：「這事怎能成就？因為我不認識男人。」（路1:34）但她的父母，當時已經把她許配給若瑟，為若瑟生孩子是遲早的事。所以這句話是表達瑪利亞的主觀志願，多於表達一些客觀事實。瑪利亞的問題，反映出她內心的困擾。一方面是自己的志願，另一方面是父母之命。當天使顯現給瑪利亞的時候，相信瑪利亞正在祈禱，尋求天主的旨意，看看她的志願是否一個錯誤的選擇。天使帶來的訊息，好像告訴她，守貞服事天主雖然是一個高尚的志願，但不適合她，因為天主另有安排！瑪利亞謙卑地接受了，並說出了人類救恩史中，永垂不朽的名句：「看，上主的婢女，願照你的話成就於我吧！」（1:38）這將會是2019年世界青年節的主題！
剛纔我說「好像」是刻意的，因為天主的威能，的確令人讚嘆不已。「因為在天主前是沒有不能的事。」（1:37）生孩子與守童貞不一定互相排斥，天主是可以兩全其美的！天主護守著瑪利亞的童貞，使瑪利亞得償所願。聖母瑪利亞既是「天主之母」，誕下天主子耶穌基督；她又是「卒世童貞」，在生育的過程前後，毫不損壞瑪利亞的童貞。全能者的確在聖母身上行了偉大的事（1:49）！

聽了天使的說話之後，瑪利亞的前途是清楚的，她要為天主生下一個「被稱為天主子」的聖者（1:35）。但接著的下一步該怎樣走呢？瑪利亞並不知道。她可以向誰求教呢？和自己的「閨密」商量嗎？她們可能會妒忌。向自己的母親透露嗎？她可能不明白， 認為這是懷春少女的夢話。幸好天使加俾額爾留給瑪利亞一條「求助熱線」，就是她的表姊依撒伯爾。最低限度，依撒伯爾比瑪利亞多六個月的經驗。甚麼經驗呢？就是獲得天主的眷顧，消除恥辱的經驗，不是人人都能擁有的。是那些神貧的人，溫良的人、飢渴慕義和心裡潔淨的人，纔適合擁有的。不出數天，瑪利亞便起程，「急速往山區去，到了猶大的一座城」（1:39）。有甚麼值得瑪利亞「急速」探訪依撒伯爾呢？瑪利亞需要找依撒伯爾「驗証」天使的說話嗎？用不著！自己懷孕與否，過一段時間便會知曉；而且，多等三個月，依撒伯爾產子與否，便可判斷天使的話是真是假。所以，瑪利亞「急速」的探訪，必定另有原因！

很多人認為是瑪利亞的愛心，是她對別人的關心，促使她「急速」地探訪依撒伯爾，因為依撒伯爾已經身懷六甲。為一個年老的女士，肯定是辛苦的，所以瑪利亞第一時間，前往服事依撒伯爾。瑪利亞將來也會在耶穌所行的第一個神蹟之中，顯示出她對別人無微不至的關懷（若2:3）。這關懷可以說是她的「註冊商標」，是她作為「天主之母」、「教會之母」，實實在在的展現，亦解釋了為甚麼她在後世，多次在世界各地不同地點，顯現給耶穌基督交託她照顧的子女（19:26）。

我覺得另一個使瑪利亞「急速」的原因是聖神，聖神已臨於瑪利亞身上，是聖神催促她去找依撒伯爾的。作為至高者的能力（路1:35），聖神經常催促人做事。例如，耶穌受洗後，是聖神催促祂進入曠野，四十天受撒殫的試探（谷1:12-13），是聖神催促教會向外邦人傳福音（宗13:2），是聖神催促瑪利亞探訪依撒伯爾，祝福她的胎兒若翰洗者，成為救主的前驅。瑪利亞所攜帶著的聖神，感染到依撒伯爾腹中的若翰洗者，令他雀躍，又令到依撒伯爾充滿聖神，說出天主的話：「那信了由上主傳於她的話必要完成的，是有福的。」（路1:45）

首先，我們都是領了堅振聖事的人，好像瑪利亞一樣，帶著聖神四出接觸人。當然，不是每一個我們接觸的人，都有福氣領受天主聖神。但我們亦要自問，我們感受到聖神的催促，去祝福其他人嗎？如果感受不到這份催促，恐怕我們要反省檢討，我們有沒有遺失了聖神。如果有，就是一件嚴重的事，要想辦法補救了。
其次，真是「相信」便有福嗎？很明顯，有很多不顯眼的事，正在進行中，「祇憑相信」是不足夠的。第一，對別人關愛，是一件美善的事。能持之以恆，變成一種習慣，一種不需要刻意做作的，是德行。愛心就是這樣煉成愛德的。聖母的愛德，就是這樣不經意地表現出來；而她愛德的力度，就在她的急速中表達了。第二是謙遜。謙遜更難察覺，但在天主眼中，一目了然。依撒伯爾說得好：「吾主的母親駕臨我這裡，這是我那裡得來的呢？（1:43）。瑪利亞並沒有把持不捨，自己是天主聖者之母的身份，卻貶抑自己，好像婢女一樣（斐2:6-8），急速趕去服事年老的表姊，並謙遜地向她請安（路1:44）。聖母把愛德與謙遜，完美地展示出來。因此，「惟獨信德」是不足以蒙福，不足以獲得拯救的。

各位兄弟姊妹。這的確是一端喜樂的奧跡。讓我們在生活中，效法聖母，以聖神為動力，以愛德與謙遜在生活中實踐，朝著成聖之路邁進。
天主保祐！

2015年講道

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Fourth Sunday in Advent, Year C
Theme: Is Faith Enough?

The gospel story today is the Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. There are a lot of meditation materials. Moreover, it is easy to put yourselves into the story to feel what the characters feel. Let us lock into the situation and enter meditation.

According to Jewish customs, Mary was in her teens and marriageable. From her dialogue with Archangel Gabriel, we may deduce that Mary's intention was to serve the Lord in celibacy. She says to the Angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" (Luke 1:34) But she was already betrothed to Joseph. Giving birth to children was a matter of time. Therefore, her statement expresses more her intention than objective reality of her situation. Her question reveals the trouble she experienced in her heart. On the one hand, it was her ambition. On the other, it was parental arrangement. When the Angel visited her, Mary must have been praying to seek God's will to discern whether her intention was a wrong choice. The Angel's message "seemed" to tell Mary that even though celibacy was a noble ambition, it was not hers because God had other plans for her! Mary humbly obeyed and uttered an immortal saying in salvation history, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word" (1:38). This will also be the theme of the World Youth Day 2019.
Just then I deliberately said "seemed" because God's might is stunning. "For nothing will be impossible for God." (1:37) Giving birth to a child and celibacy are not mutually exclusive. For God is able to accomplish both at the same time! God is able to protect the virginity of Mary to make her wish come true. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of God who gives us Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Her virginity is also perpetual. Before, during and after giving birth, Mary is always a virgin. The Mighty One has done great things for her (1:49)!

After Annunciation, the future of Mary became clear. She would give birth to the holy Son of God (1:35). But what was the next step to be taken? Mary had no idea. To whom should she turn? To her girly friends? They might be jealous! To her mother? She might not understand and dismiss it as girly dreams. Luckily, Gabriel left Mary a "hotline", Elizabeth who was six months more experienced than Mary. What experience? That of God's patronage and of the removal from shame. Not everybody could enjoy this experience. It is reserved for those who are spiritually poor, meek, hunger and thirst for God's righteousness and pure in heart to be blessed to possess this experience. "During those days, Mary set out and travelled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah." (1:39) Why did Mary travel in haste to visit Elizabeth? To verify the Angel's words? It was not necessary! After a while, Mary would know whether she was pregnant. And after three months, when Elizabeth gave birth to a boy, she would know whether Gabriel was speaking the truth. Therefore, there must be other reasons why Mary travelled in haste to visit Elizabeth!

Many people attribute her haste to Mary's charity, her care and concern for the others. Elizabeth was old and you can imagine how difficult it would be for an old lady to be pregnant. Thus, Mary took the first opportunity to help her. In the future, Mary would show again her concerns for the needs of the others in Jesus' first miracle (John 2:3). Showing concerns for the needs of the others seems to be her trademark, an expression of her being the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church. That also explains why in subsequent ages, Mary has appeared many times in different locations to the children Jesus Christ entrusted to her on the cross (19:26).

I am of the opinion that Mary's haste is due to the Holy Spirit which has overshadowed her. The Holy Spirit drove her to visit Elizabeth. As the "Power of the Most High" (Luke 1:35), the Holy Spirit always drives people into action. For example, immediately after Jesus' baptism, the Holy Spirit drove him out into the desert where he remained for forty days to be tempted by Satan (Mark 1:12-13). It was the Holy Spirit which drove the Church to evangelize the Gentiles (Acts 13:2). Thus, it was the Holy Spirit which drove Mary to visit Elizabeth to bless the fetus, the future John the Baptist to be the precursor of the Saviour. Mary carried the Holy Spirit to enliven the fetus which leapt in its mother's womb. Mary also made Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit to speak out God's word, "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." (Luke 1:45)

First of all, all of us have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Like Mary, we carry the Holy Spirit and come into contact with people. Of course, not everyone we meet is blessed enough to receive the Holy Spirit. But we need to ask ourselves, do we feel the urge of the Holy Spirit to bless other people? If we do not feel such an urge, we need to ask ourselves. Have we lost the Holy Spirit? If we have, it is a grave matter and remedy has to be taken.
Secondly, is it enough to believe to become blessed? Obviously, something unassuming is going on. It is not enough to believe alone to be blessed! For one thing, it is good to care about the others. If we persevere, it becomes a habit and a virtue without the need of deliberation. This is how loving care becomes charity. The charity of Mary came so naturally. The intensity of her charity was expressed in her haste to visit Elizabeth. For another, it is humility which is more difficult to detect but in the eyes of God, it is crystal clear. Well said Elizabeth, "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (1:43) Mary did not regard her identity as the Mother of God something to be grasped. Rather, she emptied herself, taking the form of a handmaid (Philippians 2:6-8) and humbled herself to serve and greeted Elizabeth (Luke 1:44). The charity and humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary are clearly displayed. Thus, "Sola Fidei" is not enough to be blessed, to be saved.

Brethren! This is truly a Joyful Mystery. Let us follow the exemplar of the BVM and allow the Holy Spirit to be our driving force, practise charity as well as humility in our daily life; and march onwards to sanctification.
God bless!

What Should We Do? 我們該作甚麼呢？

Gaudete Sunday, Year C
Theme: What Should We Do?

Today is the midway through the season of Advent. The liturgical colour is not purple which is penitential but rose-colour which is joyful. Like the season of Lent which prepares us for the resurrection of the Lord, the season of Advent prepares us for the incarnation of the Lord. St. John the Evangelist says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." (John 3:16) God loves us and does not abandon us even though we are sinners and have disappointed Him. Advent celebrates the coming of the Saviour. But our Saviour has already come and has been living among us for more than two millenia. Then, what's the point of spending four weeks every year in anticipation for His coming? Perhaps the story of John the Baptist might enlighten us on this point.

The Saviour had already arrived but people did not recognize him. St. Luke the Evangelist tells us that Jesus was born "and laid in a manger because there was no room for the Holy Family in the inn." (Luke 2:7) Similarly, when John the Baptist pointed out to his disciples that Jesus was "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), at that time, Jesus was no more than a carpenter who came from Galilee in the north. Therefore, even though Jesus Christ has been staying with us for more than two millenia, the world needs many many John the Baptist's to bear witness to his presence, to bear witness to this visible mercy of God the Father. All of us who were baptized Catholics are these John the Baptist's. Our mission is to bear witness to the mercy and righteousness of the Father. Read carefully and learn from what John the Baptist told the people to do in today's gospel passage.

The crowds asked John the Baptist what they had to do. The Baptist says, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise." (Luke 3:11) I have two. You have none. John the Baptist told me that I should give you one. The world is full of injustice for many different reasons. Some people are rich while others are poor. There are many causes resulting in such a situation. For example, some people were born to arid and unproductive land. They are poor and there is not much they can do to improve their life situation. The Baptist's advice is simple justice. It doesn't do much. It will not change the situation overnight. Yet, it is the first step to make the world a better place. Notice that the key word is "share". It involves some sacrifices on our part. Without love, such sacrifices are meaningless.

Sometimes poverty and injustice are caused by greed and exploitation. For example, in the New Testament, tax-collectors were despised by the Jews not only because they collected tax for the colonial government, but also because they were greedy and were "collecting more than what is prescribed" to make themselves rich and fat (3:13). Soldiers were deployed by the Roman Empire. They stationed in Judeae to ensure that tax-collectors were able to collect enough tax. Moreover, the local governments had to feed them and pay them. Most of the time, the soldiers were not satisfied with their wages and because they had weapons, they would have no reservation in using them. That is why the Baptist says, "Do not practise extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages." (3:14) Truly, in preparation for the coming of the Saviour, the Baptist tried to make straight crooked paths, tried to make the world a better place, a place where righteousness might reign.

In a similar manner, we Catholics should not only prepare ourselves to receive the Saviour, but we should also prepare the world as well for the coming of the Saviour. Beginning with ourselves, we should follow the advice of the Baptist to make this world a better place, a place where righteousness reigns. Whose righteousness? Of course, it is God's righteousness. But God's righteousness demands more than just equal sharing of resources, or following the laws of the land and not using violence. More than that! God wants all of us to be holy like Him. "Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy." (Leviticus 19:2, 1 Peter 1:16) What should we do in order to be holy? Pope Francis has given us a piece of practicable advice.

On March 19, 2018 the Feast of St. Joseph the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our beloved Pope gave us his third Apostolic Exhortation, "Gaudete et Exsultate: On the call to holiness in today's world". Joy is a trademark of Pope Francis. The titles of his three Apostolic Exhortations are all about joy: Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) 2013, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) 2016 and this one, Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and be Glad) 2018. He doesn't want Christians who have just come back from a funeral (EG#10). He wants us all to wear a smile always. In this latest Exhortation, he tells us that the Beatitudes is the ID card of Christians (GE#63). That is to say, we should lead a life according to the teachings of the Beatitudes. Be poor in spirit, be mornful, be meek, be merciful, hunger and thirst for God's righteousness, be pure of heart, be peacemakers and be ready to suffer persecutions for the sake of the good news. This is the sure path to holiness. It is not easy because all these beatitudes go against the current secular mentality. The governments may even find the behaviour of Christians unsettling to their rules. Therefore, they do not hesitate to persecute us. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, we shall be able to accomplish it.

Brethren! Be joyful because God created us in His image. Be joyful because God has sent Jesus Christ to redeem our sins. Be joyful because God has chosen us and called us to be holy like Him. This is our destiny. Let's work towards our sanctification and live up to the promises of the Beatitudes.
God bless!

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喜樂主日，丙年
主題：我們該作甚麼呢？

今天，將臨期已過了一半，禮儀的顏色不是懺悔的紫色，而是喜樂的玫瑰紅色。我們在四旬期，預備主的復活。同樣，我們在將臨期，預備迎接主的降生。聖史若望說：「天主竟這樣愛了世界，甚至賜下了自己的獨生子，使凡信祂的人不至喪亡，反而獲得永生。」（若3:16）天主愛我們，縱使我們是罪人，令祂失望，祂並沒有放棄我們。將臨期慶祝主快要來臨。但我們的救主二千年前已降生，並生活在我們當中，有二千年之久了。那麼，每年用四個星期去期待祂的來臨，有甚麼意義呢？或者若翰洗者的事蹟，可以給我們一點啟發。

救世主已經來臨，但世人卻沒有認出祂來。聖史路加告訴我們，耶穌出生了，「放在馬槽裡，因為在客棧中為他們沒有地方。」（路2:7）同樣，當若翰洗者向門徒指出耶穌就是「天主的羔羊，除免世罪者！」（若1:29）時，耶穌祇不過是個來自北方加里肋亞的一個木匠。所以，雖然耶穌基督已經和我們在一起超過二千年，世界仍然需要很多的若翰洗者，為基督的臨在作見証，為天父可見的慈悲作見証。我們領洗成為天主教徒的，人人都是若翰洗者。我們的使命，是為天父的慈悲和公義作見証。讓我們細心閱讀今天的福音，並學習 若翰洗者對群眾的教誨。

群眾問若翰他們該作甚麼？若翰說：「有兩件內衣的，要分給那沒有的；有食物的，也應照樣作。」（路3:11）我有兩件，你沒有。若翰洗者教訓我要分一件給你。有很多不同的原因造成世上的不公義。一部份人富有，其他人赤貧。很多原因造成這種情況。例如：有些人生於乾旱貧瘠的土地上，無論他們如何努力，亦不能改善他們貧窮的境況。洗者的教訓是簡單的公義。它的成效不大，它亦不能一夜之間改變了環境。但最少，它是令世界變得更美好的第一步。請注意那個「分」字。我們是要作出犧牲的，沒有愛，這些犧牲是沒有意義的。

有時，貧窮與不公義是出於貪婪和剝削。例如在新約中，猶太人十分鄙視稅吏。不但因為他們為殖民地政府服務，而且他們貪婪，多徵收所規定的以自肥（3:13）。羅馬帝國步署士兵在猶大境內，保証稅吏能徵收到充足的稅款。同時，地方政府要負責供養這些士兵。當士兵不滿糧餉不足的時候，他們會毫不猶豫使用手上的武器。所以洗者說：「不要勒索人，也不要敲詐；對你們的糧餉應當知足！」（3:14）真的，為了預備救主的來臨，洗者試圖修直崎嶇的途徑，令這世界變得更美好，一個公義得到伸張的地方。

同樣，作為天主教徒，我們不但要預備自己去迎接救主，並且要預備這個世界，好去迎接主的來臨。從我們自己開始，我們應跟隨洗者的忠告，令世界變得更美好，令公義得到伸張。誰的公義？當然是天主的公義！但天主的公義所要求的，比「平均分配資源，奉公守法甚至不探用暴力」更高！天主希望我們像祂一樣神聖：「你們應該是聖的，因為我，上主，你們的天主是聖的。」（肋19:2，伯前1:16）我們該作甚麼來成聖呢？教宗方濟各給了我們很實用的忠告。

今年三月十九日，大聖若瑟，聖母之淨配瞻禮，我們可愛的教宗發表他任內第三份宗座勸諭《你們要歡喜踴躍─論於當代世界成聖的召叫》。「喜樂」是教宗方濟各的「註冊商標」。他發表的三份宗座勸諭的名稱，全部與喜樂相關：《2013福音的喜樂》、《2016愛的喜樂》與這一份《2018你們要歡喜踴躍》。他不願意基督徒看似「剛奔喪回來般的樣貎。」（EG#10）他希望我們經常把微笑掛在嘴邊。在最新的勸諭裡，他告訴我們真福八端是基督徒的身份証（GE#63）。即是說，我們應按真福八端的教導生活。神貧、哀慟、溫良、饑渴慕義、慈悲、心裡潔淨、締造和平與及願意為義而受迫害。這是成聖的不二法門。是不容易的，因為真福的取向，與世俗的智慧，背道而馳。政府感到基督徒的行徑，動搖她們的管治，會毫不猶豫地迫害他們。但是藉著聖神的扶持，我們是可以成功的。

各位弟兄姊妹！喜樂吧，因為天主按祂的肖像創造了我們。喜樂吧，因為天主派遣了耶穌基督救贖了我們。喜樂吧，因為天主擇選了我們，召叫我們成聖，有如祂一樣。這是我們的命運。讓我們朝著成聖之路邁進，生活出真福的許諾。
天主保祐！

積極的期待 Active Anticipation

將臨期第二主日，丙年
主題：積極的期待

與各位默想今天的福音之前，必需澄清經文中的一些人物。
耶穌基督出生時的猶太人，是由大黑落德這個羅馬帝國所委派的傀儡所統治的。他死後，羅馬帝國把猶大分割成幾份，分別由大黑落德的幾個兒子統治，他們就是經文中所說的「分封侯」。大黑落德有兩個名為斐理伯的兒子，一個沒有做分封侯，不是出現在今天福音中的依突勒雅分封侯。斐理伯的妻子覺得他沒有出息，便拋棄了他，帶著女兒改嫁給加里肋亞的分封侯，名叫安提帕的黑落德。就是這個黑落德，後來殺死若翰洗者的。

言歸正傳，正因為沒有人知道末日何時降臨，祇知道它是在最不為人所預期的日子，突然出現。所以，我們惟一的對策，就是上一個星期，福音中的教訓：「應當謹慎，不被人生的掛慮所累…，應當時時醒寤祈禱…立於人子之前。」（路21:34-36）正如楊鳴章主教所發表的2018年將臨期牧函所說：這段福音，「就是要求我們做得更多，而不祇是被動地等待。這是一個召叫，呼喚我們要祈禱和行動，按聖言來實行，不要祇聽。」所以，我們的期待，不是被動的期待，而是積極的，有實際行動的期待，纔合乎福音的教訓。

首先，讓我們認識清楚，我們蒙召成為天主教徒，有甚麼意義，有甚麼福氣？大家不可不知，我們蒙召加入教會，成為天主教徒，在末日，我們可以分享天父的永恆生命。是否領洗入教，便百份百保證我們一定可以在末日，享受天父的永生呢？在末日，義人上「天堂」，罪人落「地獄」，是天經地義的事。但不要忘記，一個人一日未死，不能蓋棺定論。縱使一個天主教徒，因為現在所做的事，被社會大眾所唾棄，我們亦不能判斷她一定要下地獄。同樣，一個被社會大眾歌功頌德的人物，沒有人能夠肯定他在天堂上已留有一席位。所以，成為了天主教徒，並不保證可以在末日，得享永生。不過，天主教徒，是知道如何獲得永生的秘訣。

這永生的秘訣是甚麼？耶穌基督曾表示，祂就是「道路、真理和生命。」（若14:6）即是說，祂就是永生。祇要我們和耶穌基督建立了良好的關係，我們就可以得到永生。怎樣與祂建立良好的關係呢？我們必需先認識一個人，纔能和他建立關係。所以，我們必需認識耶穌基督，纔能和祂建立關係。我們知道，並且承認祂是天主子，是不可見的天父，可見的慈悲。這就是「真理」。不是一般的科學定律，而是天主的本體真像，我們賴以得救的真理。祂還說過：「不是凡向我說『主啊！主啊！』的人，就能進天國；而是那承行我在天之父旨意的人，纔能進天國。」（瑪7:21）。即是說，不是終日祈禱，終日呼喊主啊主啊的人，可以得到永生；而是有如楊主教所說的，我們必需跟隨耶穌基督的指示，跟隨福音的教訓去生活，就可以與祂建立一份良好的關係。持之以恆，在末日，就可以享受永生了。
那麼，我們有甚麼福音的教訓，積極實際的行動，配合世界末日的來臨呢？是不是從現在起，開始儲備糧食和清水、能過濾毒氣的面罩、防止輻射的衣物和用來交換必需品的黃金呢？上述的一切物資，在發生戰爭時可能有用，但應付末日的災難，根本不敷應用！讓我們在今天的福音中，尋找一些啟發！

今天的福音這樣記載：「在荒野中有天主的話，傳給匝加利亞的兒子若翰。」（路3:2）今天，我們不必到荒野裡，也一樣可以接收到天主的話，因為在聖經中，尤其在福音裡，我們可以領受天主的話。不過，「荒野」是有意義的！荒涼的野外，沒有城市生活的繁囂，是一個寧靜的環境，讓人更能接收天主的訊息。所以，即使隨手可以帶到一本聖經，我們也要尋找，甚至要建立一個神聖的空間，在那裡遠離世俗的繁囂，聆聽天父的旨意！天父的旨意是甚麼呢？若翰洗者聽了天主的說話而做出來的，不就是天父的旨意嗎？

福音說：「他遂走遍約但河一帶地方，宣講悔改的洗禮，為得罪之赦。」（3:3）若翰洗者是耶穌基督的先驅，他向猶太人宣講悔改的洗禮，預備好他們的心靈，迎接救世主的出現。我們是天主教徒，我們全部都是若翰洗者，是耶穌基督的先驅。若翰洗者並沒有跑到中國去宣講，祇在他生活的附近宣講。同樣道理，我們不必跑到海外，跑去落後的地方傳福音。有如若翰洗者一樣，在我們生活的附近，在天水圍區宣講就可以了。

本堂將於下星期日，十二月十六日，在天悅邨天悅廣場，舉辦名為「繽紛喜樂迎聖誕、福樂平安天水圍」的「福傳嘉年華」，是一個以表演節目及攤位遊戲的形式進行的福傳活動，向天水圍區內的居民，宣講福音的喜樂。是的，天主為世人預備了值得慶幸的解放，使人不再被罪惡所奴役；福音的確是令人歡喜踴躍的。今次，我們以一個令人容易接受的方式，把得救的訊息，在天水圍區內傳揚。我們參加義工的行列，就是跟隨若翰洗者的榜樣，為耶穌基督，預備天水圍的街坊，接受救主的來臨，過一個有意義的聖誕節。這的確是一個為耶穌基督服務，與祂建立良好關係的好機會。為我們在末日能否享受永生，事關重大。相信大家可以選擇當日親身當義工、或者邀請朋友出席、又或者為嘉年華的順利進行，祈求天主的助祐。這是天主送給天水圍區的一份大禮，請大家幫手派禮物！
天主保祐！
2015年講道

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The Second Advent Sunday, Year C
Theme: Active Anticipation

Before we meditate on today's gospel message, let us clarify the identities of some people in the passage.
At the birth of Jesus Christ, the Jews were ruled by a puppet king controlled by the Roman Empire. He was Herod the Great. After his death, the sovereignty of the land was shared by his sons who were known as "tetrarch" in the passage. Herod the Great fathered two Philip's. One of them was not the tetrarch of the region of Ituraea. The wife of this Philip felt that he was not ambitious enough and so abandoned him. She brought along her daughter and married Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee. It was this Herod who later killed John the Baptist.

Let us return to the passage today. Since nobody knows when the world ends and we only know that it will come at the most unexpected time, our only strategy is to follow the gospel teaching of last Sunday, "Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from ... the anxieties of daily life ... Be vigilant at all time and pray ... and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:34-36) In his Pastoral Letter for Advent 2018, Bishop Michael Yeung says, "We are expected to do more than just passively wait. It is a call to prayer and action, to be doers and not just hearers of the Word." Thus, in order to live up to the gospel teaching, our anticipation is not a passive waiting but an active anticipation with concrete actions.

First of all, let us know without doubt what meanings and what blessings we have when we are called to become Catholics? We cannot be ignorant to the fact that entering the Catholic Church, we may enjoy the eternal life of the Father at the end of the world. But do we enjoy a 100% guarantee that by becoming a Catholic, we shall inherit for sure the eternal life of the Father at the end? It is fair that righteous people go to heaven and sinners go to hell at the end. But don't forget, we cannot pass judgment before a person dies. Even though a Catholic is cursed by everybody in the society for what she has done, we cannot judge that she will definitely be condemned to hell. Similarly, even if a person is highly regarded and praised by all members of the society, nobody can be sure that a room in heaven has been reserved for him. Thus, being baptized a Catholic is no guarantee of eternal life at the end. However, we Catholics do know the secret door which opens to eternal life.

What is this secret door? Once Jesus Christ says, "I am the way and the truth and the life." (John 14:6) That is to say, He is eternal life. If only we can establish a good relationship with Jesus Christ, we shall attain eternal life. How do we establish such a good relationship? We must know a person before we can establish a relationship. Thus, we must know Jesus Christ before we can establish this relationship. We know and confess that He is the Son of God, the visible mercy of the invisible Father. This is the truth. It is not some scientific laws, but the very being of God, the truth on which our salvation rests. Jesus also says, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) That is to say, not everyone who prays all day crying Lord, Lord will attain eternal life. Rather, like what Bishop Yeung says, we need to lead our life according to the instructions of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the gospel in order to build up a good relationship with Him. When we persevere to the end, we will inherit eternal life.

Then, what gospel teachings and what concrete actions shall we do in preparation for the end? Shall we, from now on, stockpile food and fresh water, gas masks, anti-radiation jackets and even gold bars to barter necessities? All these commodities might perhaps be essential when wars erupt. However, they are useless to cater for the end. Let us find out what is revealed in the gospel passage today!

The gospel passage says, "The word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah in the desert." (Luke 3:2) Nowadays, we don't need to go to the desert in order to hear the word of God because we can find it in the Bible, especially in the gospels. But "the desert" is meaningful! There are no urban hassles and hustles. It is a tranquil environment conducive to the reception of God's word. Thus even if a bible is easily accessible, we still need to find, even to set up a sacred space to get away from secular hassles and hustles in order to listen to the will of the Father! What is the will of the Father? Didn't what John the Baptist did after hearing the word of God show the will of the Father?

The gospel says, "He went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (3:3) John the Baptist was the precursor of Jesus Christ to proclaim a baptism of repentance. He prepared the hearts of the Jews to receive the Saviour. All of us Catholics are John the Baptist's, precursors of Jesus Christ. If John the Baptist did not go to China to preach but proclaimed his messages nearby, we too do not need to go overseas, to undeveloped countries to evangelize. Like John the Baptist, we evangelize nearby in the neighbourhood of Tin Shui Wai.

Next Sunday, December 16, we will organize an Evangelization Carnival at Tin Yuet Estate. Our slogan is "Extravagant Joy to welcome Christmas, Beatitude and Peace to Tin Shui Wai". With performances and stall games, we bring the joy of the gospel to the citizens of Tin Shui Wai in the Carnival. Indeed, God has prepared for us a joyful liberation from the bondage of sins. The gospel is truly jubilant and rejoicing. This time, we make use of easily acceptable ways to spread the message of salvation in Tin Shui Wai. By becoming volunteers, we follow the example of John Baptist to prepare the people in Tin Shui Wai to receive the coming of the Saviour and to make this Christmas a meaningful one. This is indeed a good opportunity to serve Christ and to establish a good relationship with him. It matters a lot for our eternal life. I believe you can join us as volunteers on that day, or invite your friends to attend or even pray for God's grace so that this programme will run smoothly. This is a huge gift which God bestows on Tin Shui Wai. Please help deliver this gift!
God bless!