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。
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。
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！
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。
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！
天主保祐！
2015年講道
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.
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!
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.
God bless!
No comments:
Post a Comment