度充滿聖神的生活 Lead A Spirit-filled Life

常年期第三主日，丙年
主題：度充滿聖神的生活

在禮儀年丙年的主日，教會主要選讀第三部福音。正如今天的開場白所說，路加醫生並不是第一個，或者惟一的一個寫「耶穌傳」的人。他的求真精神，優美的文筆和慈悲的主題，令他的作品得以收錄在新約之中，給予後世的信徒，一本祈禱默想主耶穌基督，如何展現天主聖三慈悲的面貎的福音。有關天主聖父及天主聖子，我們認識的比較多；但有關天主聖神，我們很陌生，對祂的印象很模糊。感激路加醫生，他還寫了【宗徒大事錄】，講述了天主聖神如何在宗徒們和初期教會內，推動他們把得救的福音，開始傳遍普世。經過了二十個世紀，教會傳福音的目標，並未達到。雖然遇上重重艱難迫害，但感謝天主聖神，她仍沒有放棄。

【路加福音】把耶穌基督的言行，緊扣到天主聖神身上。惟獨路加福音記載了「聖母領報」的事蹟，宣示了天主聖子，因聖神降孕於童貞女的奧蹟（路1:35）。懷孕著天主聖子的童貞聖母瑪利亞，充滿的不單是聖寵，更是聖神！她趕往探訪表姐依撒伯爾時，令表姐腹中的洗者若翰雀躍，且令表姐充滿了聖神（1:41）。耶穌基督受洗後，充滿了聖神，由聖神引領他到荒野裡去，憑聖神的力量，四十天功夫受魔鬼的試探（4:1-2）。今天所讀的福音告訴我們，耶穌基督受試探後，充滿聖神的能力，從荒野回到加里肋亞，沿途在會堂施教。祂的名聲傳遍了加里肋亞一帶（4:14-15）。今天的目的地，是自己成長的地方─納匝肋。是衣錦還鄉嗎？絕對不是，耶穌基督的任務，尚未全面開展。祂傳福音的顛峰是五餅二魚神蹟，當時有上萬人聚集，聽祂講道，並且希望得到治療。回到家鄉宣講的目的，借用今天的術語，就是建立「班底」，發表政綱！

耶穌基督的政綱，是以聖神為基礎，將來所要做的一切，是靠聖神完成的。「傅了油」便成為了「默西亞」，「解放者」。不過，耶穌基督不是猶太人所期望的，把他們從羅馬帝國殖民統治解放出來的「默西亞」。耶穌基督要解放的，是所有貧窮的人。既是生活在羅馬帝國下的，也有未來世代，世界各地的窮人。在物質上貧乏的人，比較容易看見；但更多的人是在知識上、關係上及靈性上貧乏的。知識上貧乏的人，未能分辨真偽，明辨是非，尤其是對「真理」缺乏興趣和認識，且看今天在社交媒體上廣大用戶的盲目行為，可見一班。關係上貧乏的人不懂得愛，尤其是不了解對方的真正需要，不懂得尊重對方的尊嚴，把自己的好惡，強加在對方身上。結果夫妻反目，兄弟鬩牆，眾叛親離。靈性上貧乏的人，找不到生命的意義和生存的目的，祇能短視於世俗，未能與超越本性局限的天主建立關係。

耶穌基督要向所有貧窮的人，宣佈天主願意照顧他們一切的需要，在物質上、知識上、關係上和靈性上的所有需要。這不是就是喜訊嗎？耶穌基督怎樣照顧眾人的需要呢？祂承諾賜予他們聖神。這聖神就是真理之神（若16:13），聖神賜予我們「聰敏」，看透世情中隱藏的啟示，保護我們不受世間紛亂的訊息所迷惑；聖神賜予我們「超見」，讓我們能明辨是非，有能力作出正確的抉擇，避免犯罪。聖神這樣保障我們，使我們不會把有限的人生資源，我們的「塔冷通」：健康、金錢、時間和精力，投資在錯誤的「產品」之上，一番心血，付諸流水。這樣，無論在物質上，知識上，關係上和靈性上，我們都成了富有豐盛的。

戰爭歷來是為了爭奪資源，所以戰勝的一方，不會浪費資源，供養沒有生產能力的傷殘老弱；對於有生產能力的，會留下他們做奴隸。耶穌基督要釋放的俘虜，今天多的是。很多人除了糊口之外，追求一個更舒適的生活水準，結果成為了工作的俘虜。除了失去自由之外，更賠上了健康和與家人的關係。有些人為了討好眾人的歡喜，不惜扮演小丑，或者放棄做人處事的原則，甘心成為別人利用的工具，出賣了自己的靈魂；有些人渴求浪漫的愛情生活，結果成了「女神」的俘虜，甘心做女神的觀音兵。有些人追求名譽權勢，卻成了權力鬥爭中的一隻棋子！

耶穌基督所賜予的聖神，給我們「剛毅」，有足夠勇氣，不怕困難迫害；聖神賜我們「明達」，有能力明白耶穌基督的真理及教會的社會訓導，並憑「剛毅」，付諸實踐。聖神賜予「孝愛」，令我們謙遜地信靠耶穌基督和祂的教會。最後，聖神賜我們一顆「敬畏天主」的心，約束自己不任意妄為，以天父的旨意為依歸。「敬畏上主是智慧的肇基。」（箴9:10）祂給予我們「上智」，使我們愛慕天上的事，多於愛慕地上的事，渴望認識天主，認識真理，在天主內找到真正及永恆的滿足。

各位兄弟姊妹，作為教會的成員，耶穌基督奧體的一份子，我們領受了堅振聖事，聖神已為我們傅了油，賜給我們「聖神七恩」，成為了默西亞，解放者。耶穌基督今天在會堂中，選讀了依撒意亞先知書第六十一章，來宣佈祂的政綱；而「聖神七恩」，是出自依撒意亞先知書的第十一章，確是絕非偶然！「聰敏」和「超見」，在理智上，幫助我們找到投資我們「塔冷通」的方向。我們不會貧窮，亦有能力向我們身邊，各式各樣的窮人傳喜訊。「剛毅」與「明達」，在意志上給予我們實踐福音精神和天主教社會訓導的力量，解放社會上各種類型的俘虜。最後，「孝愛」、「敬畏上主」與「上智」，滋養我們靈性的心，使聖神的恩賜，從我們靈魂深處，有如活水，源源不絕。
天主保祐！

2016年講道

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Third Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Lead A Spirit-filled Life

On Sundays in the Liturgical Year C, the Church mainly reads the third gospel. As explained in the Prolog, Luke the Physician was not the first, or the only person to write biographies of Jesus. His meticulousness in searching for the truth, his elegance in writing style and the theme of mercy earn his opus a place in the New Testament, giving believers in subsequent ages a gospel for meditating how Lord Jesus Christ manifests the mercy of the Blessed Trinity. We know more about the Father and the Son. As for the Holy Spirit, we are rather unfamiliar and the impression is hazy. We should be grateful to Luke the Physician for writing the Acts of the Apostles, telling us how the Holy Spirit animated the Apostles and the early Church to start preaching the gospel of salvation to the whole world. After two millennia, the evangelization target of the Church has not yet achieved. Although she meets many difficulties and persecutions, thanks to the Holy Spirit, she has not given up.

The gospel of Luke couples the words and deeds of Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit. Only the gospel of Luke mentions the Annunciation, proclaiming the mystery of Incarnation, how the Son of God was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin (Luke 1:35). Carrying the Son of God in her womb, the Blessed Virgin Mary was not just full of grace, but also the Holy Spirit! She hurried to visit her cousin Elizabeth, making John the Baptist leap in Elizabeth's womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit (1:41). After baptism, Jesus Christ was filled with the Holy Spirit who led him into the desert. With the strength of the Holy Spirit, for forty days Jesus Christ was tempted by the Devil (4:1-2). The gospel we read today tells us that after the temptation, "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region." (4:14-15) Today, His destination was Nazareth where he had grown up. Did Jesus Christ come back in triumph? No! His ministry had barely started. The zenith of His public ministry was the Five Loaves and Two Fish miracle when more than ten thousand people were gathered around Him, listening to His preaching and anticipating His cures. Using modern jargon, the purpose of returning to Nazareth was to build up His team and read out His King's Speech!

The Agenda of Jesus Christ is based on the Holy Spirit through whom whatever Jesus does in the future is accomplished. Being anointed makes a person the Messiah, the Liberator. But Jesus Christ was not the sort of anticipated Jewish Messiah who would liberate the Jews from the colonial rule of the Romans. Jesus Christ wants to liberate all the poor, those living under the Roman Empire and the poor all over the world in the future generations as well. Material poverty is easier to discover but more people are intellectually, relationally and spiritually poor. For those who are poor in intelligence, they are not able to tell the genuine from the fake, the right from the wrong. Moreover, they lack interest and knowledge of the Truth. Take a look at the behaviour of users of the social media today and you will see. People who are poor in relations do not know love. In particular, they do not understand the other party's needs, do not respect the other party's dignity and impose their own likes and dislikes unpon the others. Consequently, husbands and wives split, siblings kill each other and comrades become rivals. People who are spiritually deficient do not find life meaningful and the purpose of living. They can only set their eyes to the secular world and cannot establish relationship with our transcendental God.

Jesus Christ declares to all the poor that God is willing to provide for all their needs, material, intellectual, relational as well as spiritual. Isn't this a good news? How does Jesus Christ take care of the needs of all the people? He promises them the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit gives us Understanding, to grasp the hidden revelations in worldly events and to protect us from the confusions caused by worldly ideas. The Holy Spirit gives us Counsel to discern the truth and enables us to make the right choices, to evade from sins. In this way, the Holy Spirit prevents us from investing our finite resources, our Talentum: health, money, time and energy in the wrong kind of products and pour our efforts into the sea. In this way, we become rich and abundant in material, in knowledge, in relations and in spirit.

Throughout history, wars are waged to compete for resources. The victorious would not waste resources to feed the unproductive captives, the injured, the aged and the weak. Those productive ones would become slaves. Jesus Christ comes to declare liberty to captives. There are plenty today. Many people seek not just to feed their families but to earn a more comfortable living standard. Consequently, they become captives of work. Besides losing freedom, they pay a huge price with their health and relations with family members. Some people seek to please all so much so that they play clowns or abandon their principles, willing to become expendables and betray their own souls. Some seek romances and become captives of divas. Some seek honour as well as glory and are willing to become pawns in a power game!

The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ gives us Fortitude which infuses us with courage to confront difficulties and persecutions. The Holy Spirit gives us Knowledge so that we have the capability to know the truth taught by Christ and the Catholic Social Teachings. Together with Fortitude, we can put them into practice. The Holy Spirit gives us Piety to trust humbly in Jesus Christ and His Church. The Holy Spirit gives us the Fear of the Lord to restrain us from doing vainglory but to follow God's will. Lastly, "The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord." (Proverbs 9:10) The Holy Spirit gives us Wisdom which makes us desire the things above more than secular things, desire to know God and to know the Truth that in God we find genuine and eternal satisfaction.

Brethren, being members of the Church, the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, we have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Holy Spirit has anointed us, given us the seven Gifts. We become messiahs and liberators. Today, Jesus Christ delivers His King's Speech, reading from Isaiah 61 in the synagogue. The seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit is found in Isaiah 11. This is no coincidence! Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel help us intellectually find the right path to invest our Talentum. We will no longer be poor and have the ability to preach the good news to all sorts of poor people around us. Fortitude and Knowledge give us the will power to put the spirit of gospel and the Catholic Social Teachings into practice, to liberate captives of all sorts. Lastly, Piety, Fear of the Lord and Wisdom enrich our hearts so that the graces of the Holy Spirit outflow like living waters from the depths of our souls.
God bless!

傳教士是解放者 MISSIONARIES ARE LIBERATORS

傳教士是解放者（路10:1-9）

作為外來人，傳教士必會帶給當地居民不安。例如，來自東方的賢士，前往耶路撒冷，尋覓新生的猶太人君王，結果引起全城恐慌（瑪2:1-3）。東方賢士把觀測到、領受到的真理，帶給耶路撒冷的居民，他們可算是傳教士。可惜，東方賢士不明白猶大當時的政治氣候，他們帶來的真理，卻動搖了現存的體制。新生王不是大黑落德的兒子，卻要取代他成為猶太人未來的君王，哪有不恐慌的道理！同樣，後世的傳教士，把福音的價值觀傳授給本地人的時候，既得利益者會覺得福音太革命性，當權者認為福音反動，受壓迫者覺得福音是解放他們、改善他們生活的一線曙光！整個社會何來和平呢？難怪耶穌基督說：「那裡如有和平之子，你們的和平就要停留在他身上；否則，仍歸於你們。」（路10:6）難道福音真的不能帶來和平嗎？

俗世的建制所營造的和平，祇是為了保存建制內，一少撮既得利益者的利益，其中的不公義，有目共睹，所以那表面的和平是不穩定的。當四周的環境改變了，現存的制度也要適應新環境，配合改變，否則便會被淘汰。耶穌基督是天主子，惟有祂所傳授的福音，纔會帶來永恆的和平。哪一種和平是好的呢？不證自明！ 世上有甚麼人，有能力成為「和平之子」，領受到福音所帶來的和平呢？是那些良善心謙的人（瑪5:3-10），他們在弱肉強食的建制之内，通常是受壓迫者。他們渴求這永恆的和平，他們容易接納福音的價值觀，所以他們是新皮囊，可以把福音新酒裝進去（谷2:22）。「那傳報福音者的腳步，在山上是多麼美麗啊！」（依52:7）
主基督，讓我們在福音中找到和平，再把這和平傳開去。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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MISSIONARIES ARE LIBERATORS (Luke 10:1-9)

As foreigners, missionaries will bring unrest to local people. For example, the Magi from the East came to Jerusalem to look for the Jewish new born king. Consequently all Jerusalem was greatly troubled together with Herod the Great (Matthew 2:1-3). The Magi had discovered and accepted the truth which they brought to the people of Jerusalem. They could be called missionaries. Unfortunately, the Magi did not understand the political climate of the Jews at that time. They brought the truth which shook the existing establishment. The new born king was not the son of Herod the Great. But the baby would one day replace him to become the king of the Jews. How could people not be alarmed! In the same way, missionaries in subsequent ages brought to the local people a gospel which the establishment deemed too revolutionary, the people in power deemed it counter-revolutionary while the oppressed would see it as liberation, a ray of hope to improve their life. How could the whole society be peaceful? No wonder Jesus Christ says, "If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you." (Luke 10:6) Can the gospel bring us genuine peace?

The peace enforced by secular establishment is to protect the interests of a minority. The injustice is crystal clear. This superficial peace is unstable. When new circumstances arise, the establishment needs to adapt to the new environment and make changes. Otherwise, it will be overturned. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Only the peace He teaches in His gospel can bring eternal peace. Which peace is better is obvious!

What kind of people on earth can be "a peaceful person" who can receive the peace brought by the gospel? The meek and humble (Matthew 5:3-10). They are usually the oppressed inside the establishment which is ruled by the law of the jungle. The meek and humble desire eternal peace. They are more receptive to the values of the gospel. They are fresh wineskins into which the new wine of the gospel can be poured (Mark 2:22). "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news!" (Isaiah 52:7)
Lord Jesus Christ! Let us find peace in the gospel and spread it. Amen.

放下成見說新語言 PUT DOWN PREJUDICE TO SPEAK NEW LANGUAGES

放下成見說新語言（谷16:15-18）

耶穌基督在最後晚餐時，曾告訴門徒，他們必會遭受迫害：「人要把你們逐出會堂；並且時候必到，凡殺害你們的，還以為是盡恭敬天主的義務。」（若16:2）殺人竟是盡恭敬天主的義務，聽來的確諷刺！但為宗教狂熱之徒，這是寫照。掃祿就是為了捍衛一神信仰的純正，便狂熱地掃蕩「異端邪說」，四出迫害初期教會的信徒，因為他們把一個木匠拉彼，當作神一般敬拜！中世紀的道明會士及方濟會士，在宗教裁判所，也曾心安理得地大開殺戒！

今天的福音告訴我們，「信的人必有這些奇蹟隨著他們…說新語言…」（谷16:17）看，有史以來的傳教士們，努力學習，並說得一口流利的當地語言，向人民傳福音，成績斐然。大家可曾想過，第一個接觸土著的傳教士，是怎樣與他們溝通呢？身體語言足夠嗎？我相信一定有聖神的助佑，使雙方共同努力，放下對錯的成見，在不斷嘗試、犯錯、再嘗試的努力下，建築了一條方便後世溝通的橋樑。另一方面，有些傳教士或許認為當地的習俗是迷信，應該剷除。他們認為自己擁有絕對的真理，原始部落的文化是落後的。這樣是一面倒的說教，結果原始部落的文化被消滅了！傳教士心安理得，覺得自己是「盡恭敬天主的義務」！殊不知這是文化侵略滅絕。

「說新語言」不單是靠模仿和不斷練習能練成的，也必要聖神的恩寵，放下從前的習慣，對陌生的事物開放。這樣不但減少破壞迫害，更是傳福音的契機！掃祿經過耶穌基督的干預之後，搖身一變，成了一位偉大的傳教士，聖保祿宗徒。
主基督，請賜下聖神，更新我們的心志，學習聆聽新的語言，新的事物。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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PUT DOWN PREJUDICE TO SPEAK NEW LANGUAGES (Mark 16:15-18)

During the Last Supper, Jesus Christ told the disciples that they would be persecuted. "They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God." (John 16:2) How sarcastic it is to worship God by killing people! But this is a portrayal of fanatics. In order to defend the purity of monotheism, Saul went about routing "heretics", persecuting members of the early Church because they worshipped a carpenter rabbi like God! During the Middle Age, Franciscans and Dominicans killed with a clear conscience in the Holy Inquisition!

The gospel passage today tells us, "These signs will accompany those who believe … they will speak new languages." (Mark 16:17) Behold, throughout history, missionaries have studied hard to preach fluently in local languages. They have been very successful. Have you ever imagined how a missionary and an aborigine communicated in their first encounter? Was body language adequate? I believe the Holy Spirit must have helped both sides put away the prejudice of right and wrong, build a bridge of communication for the generations to come through many trials and errors. On the other hand, perhaps some missionaries thought that the local customs were superstitious and needed to be uprooted. The missionaries thought that they possessed the absolute truth and the culture of local savages was backward and primitive. This was lopsided preaching and in the end, primitive tribal cultures were annihilated! With a clear conscience, those missionaries felt that they were offering worship to God! Unbeknown to them, it was cultural intrusion and annihilation.

"Speaking new languages" cannot be achieved with rote learning and imitation alone. We need the grace of the Holy Spirit to down away what we have learnt and to open ourselves up to unfamiliar things. Not only will such an attitude reduce destructive persecutions, but it is also an opportunity of evangelization! After Jesus Christ's intervention, Saul was converted into an outstanding missionary, St. Paul the Apostle.
Lord Jesus Christ! Grant us the Holy Spirit to renew our hearts and wills to learn listening to new languages and new things. Amen.

耶穌基督善待眾生 JESUS CHRIST LOVES ALL

耶穌基督善待眾生（谷3:7-12）

有深厚的學歷，優美的文筆，卻能以自制、省察和克己，控制到自己的易怒和急躁；並且能以愛心，溫良地教化眾多加爾文主義者，親切地接待無禮的乞丐、和善地對待多言的婦女及仇視他的人，聖方濟各沙雷氏，的確充份地把耶穌基督的面容，彰顯在我們的面前。尊稱他為「天主之愛的聖師」，他當之無愧。

雖然今天的讀經，祇是一段「過門」的連接文字，卻處處反映出主耶穌基督對人的關懷。「同自己的門徒退到海邊去。」（谷3:7）是海邊，而不是曠野。因此他們並不是去休息，而是準備舉行「佈道大會」！

耶穌基督有先見之明，預料有很多群眾會出現，所以他準備離岸講道，利用海岸線為界，控制人數，減低意外的發生！海邊又有漁獲，可以解決食物供應的問題。那麼飲用水呢？福音裡的海不是海，而是湖。湖必然有河流灌注，可以解決食水供應的問題。
除了應付到群眾的物質需要外，耶穌基督更治療他們的病苦，並把他們從邪魔手中，解放出來，照顧他們肉體上及靈性上的需要。可見耶穌基督是何等細心體諒。耶穌基督是我們的「善牧」，他當之無愧。

那麼，耶穌基督一定不會善待邪魔了，看他怎樣「嚴厲責斥他們，不要把他顯露出來。」（3:12）此言差矣！對於人類而言，「心裡相信，可使人成義；口裡承認，可使人獲得救恩。」（羅10:10）雖然相信和承認主對人有益，但對邪魔就不一樣了。牠們信天主，且怕得打顫（雅2:19）卻不會使牠們成義；牠們口裡承認，卻不會使牠們獲得救恩。所以耶穌基督制止牠們，不要白費心機，混淆視聽！
主基督，請加強我們的愛德，領會別人的需要，並善待他們。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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JESUS CHRIST LOVES ALL (Mark 3:7-12)

Exceedingly learned, gifted with elegance to articulate his ideas but was capable of restraining his haste and anger with temperance, reflections and abstinence; converting many Calvinists with charity and meekness, embracing impolite beggars, treating gossipy women and enemies with kindness, St. Francis de Sales was truly able to manifest the countenance of Jesus Christ before us all. Calling him the Doctor of Charity is no flattery.

Although the pericope today is a piece of connective, it shows how Lord Jesus Christ cares for all. "Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples." (Mark 3:7) It was towards the sea and not the wilderness. Thus, they did not go for a rest, but to prepare for an evangelization event!

Jesus Christ predicted correctly that a large crowd would gather. So, he decided to speak offshore, making use of the coastline to control the crowd and minimize accident! There was fish, thus food supply from the sea. What about water? The sea in the gospel was not actually a sea but a lake which must be fed by rivers. Water supply was no longer a problem.
Besides meeting the physical needs of the crowd, Jesus Christ healed their infirmities and liberated them from demons, thus taking care of their bodily and spiritual needs. We can see how considerate Jesus Christ is. He is irrefutably our Good Shepherd.

Then, Jesus Christ must be unkind to demons. See how "He warned them sternly not to make him known." (3:12) That is not quite right! For us human beings, "For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved," (Romans 10:10) believing and confessing are beneficent but not for demons. They believe in God and tremble (James 2:19), but that does not justify them. They confess but that does not save them. Thus, Jesus Christ stopped them so as not to waste their breath and to confuse us!
Lord Jesus Christ. Increase our charity to understand other people's needs and treat them well. Amen.

耶穌基督動怒了 Jesus Christ Was Angered

耶穌基督動怒了（谷3:1-6）

耶穌基督素來給我們善良慈悲的形象，祂處處維護反對和攻擊祂的人，甚至連祂被釘在十字架上的時候，祂還祈求天父寬恕那些殘害祂的人（路23:34）。所以很難想像耶穌基督是怎樣發怒的。但祂的確曾經動怒，但不是失控的那種發怒！

一般人發怒時，情緒容易失控，繼而動武，做出令自己後悔的事。加音沒有聽從天主的忠告，管理好自己的妒忌和忿怒（創4:7），結果謀殺了自己的兄弟，從此變成了一個沒有生產力，並且是流離失所的人（4:12）！可見讓忿怒失控的後果，是非常嚴重的！

是甚麼人引起耶穌基督的忿怒呢？是那些法利塞人（谷6:3），猶太人的導師和領袖。他們為了自己的地位和利益，便運用自己在法律上的專業知識，企圖製造耶穌基督觸犯法律的証據！耶穌基督尊重他們是知識份子，是猶太人的領袖，願意跟他們理性地討論（6:4），澄清守安息日的精神。可惜他們冥頑不靈，不願認錯，無意悔改。耶穌動怒了！

耶穌怎樣表達祂的忿怒呢？「耶穌遂含怒環視他們，見他們的心硬而悲傷！」（3:5）耶穌祇以眼神表達祂的忿怒，而祂的忿怒竟然是悲傷的，哀慟的（瑪5:4）。耶穌基督始終是慈悲的，祂憐憫法利塞人被自己的知識所束縛（5:7）。緊隨著忿怒，並不是可怕的暴力，竟然是治療（谷3:5）！主耶穌基督，教我如何不敬佩祢呢！
主基督，請賜予我們一顆哀慟憐憫的心，愛護故意攻擊我們的人。亞孟！

生命恩泉

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Jesus Christ Was Angered (Mark 3:1-6)

Jesus Christ gives us a merciful impression. He always defends those who oppose and attack him. When he was crucified on the cross, he even asked the Father to forgive them all (Luke 23:34). Therefore, it is very difficult to imagine how Jesus Christ could be angered. He was angered indeed but not the type of unrestrained fury!

In general, when people are infuriated, their emotion flares up and they turn aggressive, doing things which they would later regret. Cain did not heed God's advice to manage his jealousy and fury (Genesis 4:7). Consequently he murdered his brother. From then on, he became an unproductive fugitive (4:12)! Thus, we can see the seriousness of unrestrained fury!

Who had angered Jesus Christ? The Pharisees who were teachers and leaders of the Jews had done it (Mark 6:3). For their own status and interests, they made use of their professional legal knowledge and attempted to create criminal evidences of Jesus Christ. Out of respect for their being Jewish intelligentsia and leaders, Jesus Christ was willing to discuss rationally with them to clarify the spirit of observing the Sabbath (6:4). Unfortunately, they were stubborn and refused to admit their errors and to repent. Jesus was angered!

How did Jesus express his anger? "Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart" (3:5), Jesus expresses his anger only with his stare and his anger was grievous and mournful (Matthew 5:4). After all, Jesus Christ is merciful. He felt sorry for the Pharisees who were enslaved by their own knowledge (5:7). Immediately following his anger was not violence but healing (Mark 3:5)! Lord Jesus Christ, how can I not admire you!
Lord Jesus Christ, grant us a mournful and merciful heart to love those who deliberately attack us. Amen.

教導愚蒙 INSTRUCTING THE IGNORANT

教導愚蒙（谷2:23-28）

守法律有錯嗎？當然沒有錯。
但當我們忘記了立法的原意，是為了人的益處的時候，「安息日是為了人立的」（谷2:27），守法律也是白費心機。即是說，盲目地守法，沒有意識地守法，是守法，但沒有增加大眾的益處！如果運用法律來陷害人，更是罪加一等！法利塞人當面直斥耶穌，沒有好好管教自己的門徒，任由門徒「做安息日不許做的事」（2:24），他們正是運用法律來陷害耶穌，是何等的凶狠！

我們的師傅是體諒的。他明白僵化地遵守法律的人，思想容易變得狹窄，把自己困在一個漸漸縮小的銅牆鐵壁之內，身心疲憊，需要解放。怎樣解救他們呢？
既然他們守舊，我們的師傅便「從他們的寶庫裡，提出新的和舊的東西。」（瑪13:52）對！就跟他們說歷史吧！守舊的人喜歡「以史為鑒」。但願投其所好，能教導他們遵守法律的精神所在。法津固然尋求公義，但天主的公義就是愛，是慈悲，是拯救。所以法律的精神不單是公義，還要有慈悲！守安息日、禁食、行割損禮等等，都是為人的益處而立！守安息日，不是為了紀念上主解放為奴的以色列人嗎？（申5:15）那麼，在安息日解除人的困境，不是履行上主天主的旨意嗎？雖然達味違反了法律的條文，但是他實踐了法律的精神，法利塞人也不敢說達味做錯了。如果能引而申之，我們的師傅也沒有錯。可惜，法利塞人好像不懂引申的道理！耶穌也再沒辦法幫助他們了。
主基督，我們願意學習祢，從對方的處境著想，教導愚蒙。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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INSTRUCTING THE IGNORANT (Mark 2:23-28)

Is it wrong to observe the law? Of course not!
But when we forget the intention of legislation, which is for the benefit of men, "The Sabbath was made for men." (Mark 2:27), observing the law is futile. That is to say, observing the law blindly or unconsciously is observing the law, but it benefits nobody! It would be a worse crime to make use of the law to harm people. When the Pharisees accused Jesus for not instructing his disciples properly, letting them do "what is unlawful on the Sabbath" (2:24), they were using the law to harm Jesus. How wicked they were!

Our Master is very understanding. He understands that it is easy for people who observe the law rigidly to trap themselves inside a contracting iron cell. Their hearts and minds are exhausted and in need of liberation. How do we liberate them?
Since they are conservative, our Master "brings from their storeroom both the new and the old." (Matthew 13:52) Right! Tell them history! Conservative people enjoy taking lessons from history. Hopeful, hitting on their likes would teach them the spirit of observing the law. The law seeks righteousness. But God's righteousness is love, mercy and salvation. Thus, the spirit of the law is not only righteousness but also mercy. Keeping the Sabbath, fasting and circumcision etc. are made for the good of men! Is keeping the Sabbath not to remember how God liberated the Israelites from slavery (Deuteronomy 5:15)? Then, isn't relieving people from difficulty on Sabbath doing God's will? Although David broke the letters of the law, he was actually practising the spirit of the law. The Pharisees dared not to accuse David of doing wrong. By extrapolation, our Master was not doing wrong too. Unfortunately, the Pharisees did not seem to understand the concept of extrapolation. Jesus could help them no more.
Lord Jesus Christ, we are willing to learn from you, to consider from the others' point of view and to instruct the ignorant. Amen.

忍耐磨難 BEARING WRONGS PATIENTLY

忍耐磨難（谷2:18-22）

當你信靠天主，做事問心無愧，卻有人在你面前，或在你背後，甚至背著你，向你的上司說三道四，投訴你的不是的時候，基督徒，你應如何自處呢？向你的師傅學習吧！

首先，你的師傅經常祈禱，尋求天父的旨意。所以，第一步是自我檢討，我有沒有犯了錯而不知道；又或者，我有沒有暫時忘記了天主，所以天主找個投訴人來提醒我呢？

誠然，如果投訴人在你背後批評你，你是沒有解釋的機會，他也沒有明白事實的機會。你沒有甚麼可以做了，難道窮追猛打，找他出來澄清嗎？於事無補！倘若他想明白事實，他就不會匿名投訴。所以，惟有為他祈禱，希望他有明白的一天。

如果他當面向你投訴，表示他想明白事理。但在你回答之前，也應停下來想一想，你的師傅是何等的體諒：「新酒應裝在新皮囊裡！」（谷2:22）因為投訴的人沒有你的修維，也未必明白、喜歡你新穎的做事方式。他「喝著陳酒，不願意喝新酒，因為他說：還是舊的好。」（路5:39）這時候，出於愛德，為了他的尊嚴，你嘗試用比喻向他解釋吧，不要據理力爭，傷及兄弟情誼！但比喻有效嗎？天曉得！恐怕若翰的門徒和法利塞人，聽完「新郎伴郎」的比喻之後，到最後一刻也沒有接受你師傅的解釋！軟比喻與硬道理之間，還是軟的好！

基督徒，愛那批評你的人啊！你的師傅也是這樣做的！「忍耐磨難」是神哀矜！
主基督，請增加我們的愛德，多行神哀矜，特別是忍耐磨難。亞孟。 生命恩泉

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BEARING WRONGS PATIENTLY (Mark 2:18-22)

When you trust in the Lord and work conscientiously, somebody speaks ill of you before you or behind your back; and even accuse you before your boss without letting you know. Christians, what should you do? Learn from your Master!

For of all, your Master always prays to seek the Father's will. Thus, the first step you should take is to evaluate whether you have done anything wrong without knowing it. Or perhaps have you forgotten God temporarily so that He sends a complainant to wake you up? Frankly, if the complainant criticizes you behind your back, you have no opportunity to explain and he has no opportunity to know the truth. There is nothing you can you. Dig him up to clarify? It won't work! If he wants to know the truth, he won't make anonymous complaints. So, you can only pray for him, hoping that he will understand one day.

If he confronts and complains you, it shows that he wants to know the truth. But even before you explain, you should also stop to think. How understanding your Master is! "New wine is poured into fresh wineskins." (Mark 2:22) The complainant does not have your experiences. He may not understand or appreciate your new style of working. "No one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.'"(Luke 5:39) At this moment, out of charity and for his dignity, try to explain yourself in parables. Don't argue with reasons and injure fraternity! Would parables work? God knows! I am afraid after hearing the parable of the bridegroom and wedding guests, the disciples of John the Baptist and Pharisees would never accept your Master's explanation even on the day they died! Between soft parables and hard reasons, I prefer soft ones!

Christians! Love those who criticize you! Your Master did it! Bearing wrongs patiently is a spiritual work of mercy!
Lord Jesus Christ, increase our charity to do more spiritual works of mercy, in particular, bearing wrongs patiently. Amen.

我的時刻尚未來到 My Hour Has Not Yet Come

常年期第二主日，丙年
主題：我的時刻尚未來到

天主教的社會訓導，強調教會的君王角色，替天行道，「以貧為先」，服侍社會上貧窮的人。社會訓導亦強調教會的先知角色，向世人宣講天主的公義，並且為受壓迫者發聲。不過，有些對天主教社會訓導稍有認識的人，會反過來批評香港教區，過份攀附權貴，在一些他們認為不公義的情況下，教區不敢為受壓迫者出頭等等。慈母聖教會對這些批評，雖然不會反感，但亦不會置之不理。希望「青年年」是一個好的場合，聆聽並交換意見，促進彼此間的諒解。

事實上，關顧窮人和與權貴來往，彼此互不排斥，除非我們在關顧窮人的同時，歧視富貴和有權勢的人！耶穌基督有歧視富有的人嗎？沒有！且看今天的福音，耶穌基督和他的門徒應邀出席加納的婚宴。家中有僕人在婚宴上工作，不足為奇；但有六口取潔禮用的石缸（若2:6），恐怕這家是一個大宅門吧。而且有司席試酒（2:8），滿意後纔拿出去奉客，怎可能是一般平民百姓，窮等人家呢？除此之外，耶穌基督主動提出到稅吏長匝凱的家中成為座上客（路19:5）；不介意幫助羅馬百夫長，治好他僕人的病（7:9）。最後，是一個顯貴的議員，阿黎瑪特雅人若瑟埋葬耶穌基督的（谷15:43）。可見，耶穌基督一視同仁，絕不歧視權貴或者嫌棄窮人和外人。在祂慈悲的眼中，有需要幫助的人，是沒有貧窮和富貴，受壓迫和有權勢的分別！

但是，為甚麼當聖母瑪利亞向耶穌基督，提出主人家的困窘時，耶穌基督的反應，「女人，這於我和妳有甚麼關係？ 我的時刻尚未來到。」（若2:4），是如此冷漠呢？耶穌基督不是樂意幫助有困難的人嗎？為甚麼祂覺得主人家缺酒，與祂沒有關係呢？兩母子一起生活了三十年，雖然未到心有靈犀的境界，但聖母熱心助人，關顧別人的需要，是基督徒的好榜樣，耶穌基督是欣賞的。那麼，二話不說，直接行個神蹟，解決了當前的困難，不是很好嗎？最後，祂不是行了第一個神蹟，把水變成了酒，解決了主人家的困難嗎？耶穌基督對聖母的答覆，豈不是多此一舉嗎？所以，耶穌基督的答覆，必定別具意義，值得我們默想！

耶穌基督在若望福音中，很喜歡運用「時刻」或者 「時辰」一辭，共10節；另外，若望也說了兩次，猶太人想捉拿耶穌基督，但沒有成功，「因為他的時辰還沒有到。」（7:30；8:20）可見，在若望福音所說「耶穌基督的時刻」，是指祂公開傳福音直到在十字架上受難和往後的復活。當時，耶穌基督祇是應邀出席婚宴，尚未公開傳道，所以祂的時刻尚未來到。這種解釋，未免太迂腐了！婚宴不也是一個傳福音很好的場合嗎？耶穌基督曾運用「婚宴」來比喻「天國」，那麼，在婚宴上宣講天國的道理，不是最貼切嗎？所以，耶穌基督這樣「冷漠」地回覆聖母瑪利亞，好像嫌棄她麻煩，必定有所教訓。

是的。一切都在天主的掌握之中。在聖母指出主人家缺酒之前，難道耶穌基督不知道嗎？需要聖母提示嗎？祂一定知道，並且心裡有數，在適當的時候，祂將會出手做一些事，例如把剩下的酒，好像五餅二魚一樣增多。聖母瑪利亞以母親的身份，向耶穌基督指出主人家缺酒，是愛德的表現；作為兒子的耶穌基督，是非常明白的。不過，在這裡，耶穌基督卻以天主子的身份回應聖母瑪利亞，提醒聖母，「事事有時節」，而祂的時刻尚未來到！作為一個人，聖母焦急，是可以理解的。作為天主，耶穌基督心裡有數，要對祂的安排有信心！聖母並沒有令耶穌基督失望，她滿懷信心地吩咐僕人，依照耶穌基督的指示做事（2:5）！

的確，「事事有時節…生有時，死有時。」（訓3:1-2）
在楊主教病危時，雖然教區在上午發出訊息，請大家為楊主教的康復祈禱，但不出三小時，楊主教便息勞歸主，令教區措手不及。祈禱沒有用嗎？不是所有的人都像聖母瑪利亞一樣有福，聖母向耶穌基督求甚麼，都得蒙應允。我們呢？是我們的信德不夠嗎？對，我們的信德很脆弱！因為我們堅持要求我們所渴望的事物，沒有讓天主在適當的時候，做適當的事！在梵蒂岡與中國簽署任命主教的臨時協議前，我們不肯相信教會與無神論政權打交道；簽署後，很多人感到失望，因為結果並不符合他們的意願，他們懷疑教廷出賣中國教會。楊主教去世，很多人希望夏主教執掌教務，結果湯樞機被委任處理過渡期的教務，又令很多教友不滿，覺得教廷向無神主義政權屈服等等。請問，倘若耶穌基督拒絕了聖母瑪利亞的請求，拒絕在加納婚宴上行水變酒的神蹟，大家會失望嗎？

請大家不要依賴神蹟來解決困難，這是一個動搖信德的誘惑！魔鬼不是曾誘惑耶穌基督從聖殿頂跳下嗎？群眾不是嘲弄耶穌基督，要祂從十字架上下來便相信祂嗎？即使在神蹟面前，有些人仍然是不明就裡，神蹟對他們根本起不了甚麼作用。司席和新郎就是一個例子了。請大家記住，神蹟是用來表達天主對人的愛護，藉神蹟讓人得到更豐盛的生命。其實，耶穌基督絕對有自由，可以拒絕為新郎新娘錦上添花，送給他們最好的美酒。但耶穌基督願意人類領受福音，使貧乏如水的生命，變得好像美酒一樣，更喜樂更豐盛。所以，即使祂的時刻尚未來到，即使祂尚未公開傳道，祂仍樂意使我們的生命更喜樂更豐盛。

神蹟後，司席和新郎仍然不明就裡，但僕人們卻是知道的。這些卑微的人，會有甚麼反應呢？他們後來跟隨了耶穌基督，亦未可知！聖母瑪利亞把一切看在眼裡，必定默存心裡，反覆思量。三年後在十字架下，聽到耶穌基督再稱呼她一次「女人」（若19:26），她終於明白一切了！門徒們，包括寫福音的若望，看見了天主聖子的光榮，就信從了祂（2:11），日後獲得信仰上的榮冠。
各位兄弟姊妹，我們在祈禱的時候，是強加自己的意願到天主身上呢？還是尋求天父的旨意，讓天父按祂的時辰，開展祂的計劃呢？我們真的要看到神蹟，纔相信天主嗎？
天主保祐！

2016講道

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Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
Theme: My Hour Has Not Yet Come

The Catholic Social Teachings stress the kingship role of the Church to work on behalf of God to opt for the poor and to serve the poor in the society. CST also stress the prophetic role of the Church to proclaim the righteousness of God and speak up for the oppressed. However, some who know a bit about CST turn around to criticize the Hong Kong Diocese for their amiable relationship with the rich and powerful. In some unfair situations in their eyes, the Diocese have not stood up for the oppressed etc. Although the motherly Church is not offended, she will not ignore such criticisms. We hope that this Year of the Youth can be a good occasion to exchange opinions and to promote mutual understanding.

Indeed, option for the poor and maintaining an amiable relationship with the rich and powerful is not mutually exclusive, unless you prejudice against the rich and powerful while you serve the poor! Did Jesus prejudice against the rich? No! Take a look at the gospel today. Jesus and his disciples were invited to a wedding in Cana. Servants serving in a wedding were no surprise, but the six stone water jars for ceremonial washings (John 2:6) show that the house must be a big one. There was even a headwaiter to taste the wine before serving (2:8). How could it be a house of commoners? Besides, Jesus Christ took the initiative to stay at the house of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:5); did not mind healing the servant of a Roman centurion (7:9). Lastly, it was Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished member of the council, who buried Jesus Christ (Mark 15:43). Thus, Jesus Christ does not prejudice against the rich, the powerful, the poor and the aliens. In His merciful gaze, there is no difference between people in need, be they poor or rich, oppressed or powerful!

But why was Jesus' answer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, when she mentioned the embarrassment of the host, so indifferent? "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." (John 2:4) Isn't Jesus Christ happy to help the needy? Why isn't he bothered when the host has no more wine? Mother and son have been living together for thirty years. Though their minds have not yet become one, Jesus Christ should appreciate the BVM's eagerness to help the needy which is a good Christian exemplar. Then wouldn't it be good to work a miracle immediately without much ado to solve the host's problem? Wasn't Jesus Christ's answer to the BVM a bit superfluous? Thus, there must be deeper meanings in the Jesus Christ's answer which is worth meditating!

In the gospel of John, Jesus Christ uses the word "hour" in more than 10 verses. Besides, John also says twice "His hour has not yet come" (7:30, 8:20) when the Jews tried to arrest Jesus and failed. Thus, in the gospel of John, "the hour of Jesus Christ" means his public ministry up to his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. At that time, Jesus Christ was only a guest at a wedding. He had not begun his public evangelization. Thus his hour has not yet come. This explanation is a bit too narrow-minded. Isn't a wedding banquet not a good evangelization occasion? Jesus Christ makes use of wedding banquets to symbolize the Kingdom of Heaven. Then isn't it the more appropriate to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven at a wedding banquet? Thus, the "indifferent" manner with which Jesus Christ answered the BVM, seemingly rejecting her intervention must have some special teachings.

Indeed, God has everything under His control. Didn't Jesus Christ know before the BVM told him that the host had no wine? Did he need the BVM's reminder? He must have known and planned to act when the time comes, such as multiplying the remaining wine, like five loaves and two fish. The BVM spoke to her son that the host had no wine. It was charity which as a son must be familiar. But here, Jesus Christ answered the BVM as the Son of God, reminding her that "There is an appointed time for everything." His hour has not come yet. The eagerness of BVM as a human being is understandable. As God, Jesus Christ knows it all. We have to put our trust fully in Him! The BVM did not disappoint Jesus Christ. Full of faith, she told the servants to do whatever he told them. (2:5)

Indeed, "There is an appointed time for everything ... a time to give birth, and a time to die." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)
When the late Bishop Michael Yeung was on his deathbed, although the Diocese appealed the faithful to pray for the recovery of the Bishop, less than three hours later, the Bishop passed away. The Diocese was taken by surprise. Is prayer useless? Not everybody is as blessed as the BVM. Whatever she requests from Jesus Christ, it is granted her. What about us? Is our faith too weak? Yes, our faith is too fragile! It is because we insist on what we desire and have not allowed God time to act! Before the Vatican signs a temporary agreement on the appointment of bishops with People's Republic of China, we refused to believe that the Church had any dealing with an atheist regime. After signing the agreement, many people are disappointed because the outcome doesn't follow their wishes. They suspect that the Church in China has been betrayed by the Roman Curia. After the death of Bishop Michael Yeung, many people want Bishop Ha to take over. It turns out that the Roman Curia appointed Cardinal John Tong to be the Apostolic Administrator to handle the transition. Again, this disappoints many faithful who feel that the Curia bent her knees to the atheist regime etc. Let's think about it. Had Jesus Christ refused the request of the BVM, refused to turn water into wine in Cana, would you be disappointed?

Please, do not rely on miracles to solve problems. It is a temptation that weakens our faith! Didn't the Devil ask Jesus Christ to jump down from the top of the Temple? Didn't the people tease Jesus, asking him to jump down from the cross so that they might believe in him? Some people remain ignorant even seeing a miracle face to face. Miracles just don't work. The headwaiter and the bridegroom are examples. Bear this in mind. Miracles show God's love for men. God makes our lives more abundant with miracles. In fact, Jesus Christ has absolute freedom to refuse icing the cake with the best wine. But Jesus Christ wants us to receive the gospel, to turn a life of poverty like plain water into a joyful and fulfilled life like good wine. Thus, even though his hour has not yet come, he has not yet begun his public ministry, Jesus Christ is happy to make our life more joyful and more fulfilled.

After the miracle, the headwaiter and bridegroom remained ignorant, but the servants knew. How would these humble servants respond? Perhaps they might follow Jesus! The BVM saw everything and reflecting on them in her heart. Three years later under the cross, when Jesus Christ called her "Woman" once more (John 19:26), at last, she understood all! The disciples, including John who wrote the gospel, saw his glory and began to believe in him (2:11) and were crowned with laurel wreaths of faith in the days to come.
Brethren, do we impose our will on God when we pray? Or do we seek the Father's will, allowing Him time to unfold His plan? Do we really need to see miracles to believe in God?
God bless!

受洗穿上基督 Baptized and Clothed with Christ

主受洗節，丙年
主題：受洗穿上基督

在聖誕期，基督徒慶祝天主子降生成人的奧蹟，祂把卑微的人性，提昇到高超的神性。今天是整個聖誕期的最後一天，明天是常年期第一周的星期一了。上一個星期的「主顯節」，慶祝天主聖子把自己，啟示給代表所有外邦人的東方賢士。今天的「主受洗節」，是「主顯節」的另一個表達方式。它慶祝天主聖三，把自己啟示給所有的人。天主子耶穌基督接受若翰的洗禮後， 祈禱的時候，天開了（路3:21）。古代的人所認識的「天」，不是今天我們所認識的外太空，而是天主的居所！所以，耶穌基督祈禱的行動，從下而上，打開了天門，貫通了人間和上天。從前，祇有天主纔能打開天門，與受造界溝通。今天，作為人類一份子的天主子一樣可以做！於是，天主聖神降臨到人間，人類又再一次可以聽到天父的聲音了！

若翰的任務是為耶穌基督作證，告訴當時的猶太人，他自己不是他們所期待的默西亞，因為默西亞比他強，以至連解他的鞋帶，若翰也自覺不配。為甚麼呢？因為若翰祇用水施洗，但默西亞要以聖神和火來施洗。（3:16）若翰不是默西亞，耶穌基督纔是。因為耶穌基督升天後，派遣了聖神，以狂風、巨響和火舌的形態，降臨在120位門徒身上，並建立了教會（宗2）。所以，除了臨危的垂死人士之外，大家領洗之後，也會領受堅振聖事，圓滿大家的洗禮。不是嗎？耶穌基督在洗禮之後，聖神不是降臨在祂上面嗎？（路3:22）

有關於洗禮的道理，聖保祿宗徒這樣教訓說：「凡是領了洗歸於基督的，就是穿上基督。」（迦3:27）「穿上基督」是甚麼意思呢？保祿的教訓，給我聯想起舊約一個有名的故事：話說亞巴郎的兒子依撒格，有一對孿生兒子，名叫厄撒烏和雅各伯。長子厄撒烏全身長毛，好動，喜歡狩獵。弟弟雅各伯好靜，喜歡思考。一天，雅各伯以一碗紅豆湯，交換了厄撒烏的長子名份。創世紀的作者批評厄撒烏輕視長子名份，反而沒有批評雅各伯利用長兄的弱點而獲利（創25:34）！後來，厄撒烏娶了兩個外族女子為妻，這兩個女子，令厄撒烏的父母「傷心難受」。（26:35）後來，依撒格年老失明，他計劃在去世前，給厄撒烏長子的祝福。這時，母親慫恿雅各伯穿上厄撒烏的衣服，衣服上帶有厄撒烏的香氣（27:27），「變成了」厄撒烏，騙取長子的祝福，結果成功了！大家以為依撒格真的沒有懷疑這個所謂「厄撒烏」是雅各伯假扮的嗎（27:22）？天主真的好像依撒格一樣失明，不知道「穿上基督」的基督徒不是耶穌基督嗎？當然不是！天主是真心的愛護人類，正如依撒格愛護兩個兒子，寧願相信雅各伯是厄撒烏一樣，有意給他祝福！同樣，天主願意拯救墮落了的我們，寧願相信我們，並祝福我們。回答上一段的問題，「穿上基督」是甚麼意思呢？就是「變成了」另一個基督！他怎樣思想，我們便怎樣思想；他怎樣說話，我們便怎樣說話；他怎樣行動，我們便怎樣行動！

套用聖母瑪利亞的一句話：「這事怎能成就呢？」（路1:34）非常簡單，就是「堅振聖事」。領了洗的教友，藉著堅振聖事，領受了聖神，獲得「聖神七恩」的能力，一份耶穌基督的「香氣」。聖神七恩，幫助我們好像耶穌基督一樣思想，尋求天父的旨意；幫助我們好像耶穌基督一樣說話，宣揚福音，講述天國的道理；幫助我們好像耶穌基督一樣行動，解放受著各種各樣貧窮壓迫的人們；不但物質上的貧窮，還有知識上的貧窮、關係上的貧窮和靈性上的貧窮。即是說，聖神七恩，幫助我們過「穿上基督」的生活！這樣做，天父對聖子耶穌基督的話，也應用到我們身上，我們領受了入門聖事的人，穿上基督之後，我們也成了天父所喜悅的兒子。（3:22）天主子紓尊降貴，取了人性，為的是把人性提昇到神性的層面，可以分享天主聖三的永恆生命。所以，人生的終極目標，就是成聖，領洗入教，是第一步！

各位兄弟姊妹，記得「聖神七恩」是甚麼嗎？倘若忘記了，彌撒後尋找答案吧！記得耶穌基督所教訓的成聖之道，「山中聖訓」嗎？倘若忘記了，彌撒後翻查瑪竇福音第五至七章溫習吧！有勇氣在這俗世實踐這些具有挑戰性的教訓嗎？不用怕，一會兒領聖體，帶著耶穌基督到街上、回到家裡、學校裡、公司裡 。有耶穌基督在一起，成聖又有何難呢？
天主保祐！

2016年講道

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Feast of The Baptism of the Lord, Year C
Theme: Baptized and Clothed with Christ

During Christmas Season, we celebrate the Mystery of Incarnation. The Son of God took up the humble humanity and elevated it to supernatural divinity. Today is the last day of the Christmas Season. Tomorrow will be the Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time. Last Sunday was the Solemnity of Epiphany. We celebrated the revelation of the Son of God to the Oriental Magi who represented all Gentiles. Today is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It is another expression of Epiphany. It celebrates the revelation of the Blessed Trinity to humanity. After Jesus Christ, the Son of God, "had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened." (Luke 3:21) The "heaven" which ancient peoples knew was not the same outer-space we know today. It was the abode of God! Thus, Christ's prayer opened up heaven from below, connecting the world with heaven. Previously, only God could open up heaven to communicate with His Creation. Today, as a member of humanity, the Son of God is able to do the same! Thus, the Holy Spirit came down to earth. Men were able to hear the Father's voice once more!

The Baptist's mission was to bear witness to Jesus Christ, telling the Jews that he was not the Messiah they were expecting because the Messiah was mightier. He was not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. Why? It was because John baptized with water but the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. (3:16) John was not the Messiah. Jesus Christ is. It is because after his Ascension, Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to descend upon the 120 disciples in the signs of strong wind, blast and tongues of fire to establish the Church (Acts 2). Thus, other than those who receive baptism on the verge of death, all of us have received / will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation to seal our baptism. Didn't the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus Christ after his baptism? (Luke 3:22)

As for Baptism, St. Paul the Apostle has this teaching, "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." (Galatians 3:27) What does "clothed with Christ" mean? This reminds me of a famous story in Genesis. Isaac, the son of Abraham had a pair of twins called Esau and Jacob. Esau the elder brother was hairy, sporty and loved hunting. The younger brother Jacob was quiet and loved thinking. One day, Jacob cheated Esau's birth right with a bowl of lentil stew. The author of Genesis criticizes Esau for treating his right as firstborn with disdain but does not condemn Jacob for taking advantage of his brother's weaknesses! (Gensis 25:34) Later, Esau married two Gentile women who became a source of bitterness to his parents.(26:35) Subsequently, Isaac was old and his sight had failed. He wanted to bless Esau before he died. Their mother persuaded Jacob to put on Esau's cloth which carried Esau's fragrance. (27:27) "Becoming" Esau, Jacob successfully received the firstborn blessing! Had Isaac not suspected this "Esau" was Jacob (27:22)? Is God blind like Isaac so that He cannot tell Christians who "clothed with Christ" from Jesus Christ? Of course not! God genuinely loves humanity, like Isaac who loved his two sons. Isaac preferred believing Jacob to be Esau and blessed him! Similarly, God wills to redeem the fallen humanity, prefers to trust us and bless us. To answer the question above, what does "clothed with Christ" mean? It means to become another Christ! We think as Christ thinks, speak as Christ speaks and act as Christ acts!

To quote the Blessed Virgin Mary, "How can this be?" (Luke 1:34) Simple. It is the Sacrament of Confirmation. Through this sacrament, the baptized would receive the Holy Spirit and its strength from the seven gifts, a fragrance of Christ. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit help us think like Jesus Christ, seeking the will of God. They help us speak like Jesus Christ, proclaiming the gospel and the teachings of the Kingdom of Heaven. They help us act like Jesus Christ, liberating people from all sorts of poverty: not only material poverty, but also intellectual, relational and spiritual poverties. That is to say, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit help us lead a life of "Clothed with Christ"! In this way, the Father's word to Jesus Christ also applies to us. Those of us who have received the Sacrament of Initiation have clothed with Christ and become the well-pleased sons of God. (3:22) The Son of God came down to take up flesh in order to elevate humanity to divinity, to partake in the eternal life of the Blessed Trinity. Thus, the ultimate target in life is sanctification. Receiving baptism is the first step!

Brethren, do you remember the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit? Forgotten? No problem. Check them out after mass! Do you remember the way to sanctification, the Sermon on the Mount? Forgotten? No problem. Look up Matthew chapters five to seven after mass. Do you have the courage to practise those challenging teachings? Don't worry. We shall receive the Holy Communion and carry Jesus Christ with us on the street, in our home, school or office. With Jesus Christ, sanctification is not beyound reach!
God bless!

送禮給主耶穌 Giving a Gift to Lord Jesus

主顯節 ，丙年
主題：送禮給主耶穌

相信大家，尤其是小朋友，收過不少生日禮物，也煩惱過送怎樣的生日禮物給別人。在價錢方面，生日禮物可以是便宜的，例如：一張生日咭或者一件生日蛋糕；可以是昂貴的，例如：一部最新型號的手機或者金銀珠寶。在價值方面，可以是不實用的，例如：請舉世知名的大提琴家馬友友，到你的生日會上演奏「生日快樂」！送生日禮物的確是一件傷腦筋的事，所以很多人送現金、封「利是」了事。雖然實際，但顯不出誠意！對，送禮物固然要考慮對方和自己的身份，但「誠意」始終是最重要的，價錢或實用與否是次要。所以，我們不應批評一個男朋友，送999朵玫瑰花給女朋友作生日禮物是浪費。這不是浪費，是浪漫！

說到送禮誠意的問題，大家可否記得福音中，曾記述一個婦人，用價值約300塊銀錢的香液為耶穌洗頭的故事嗎（谷14:3-9）？猶達斯曾批評此舉浪費，說把這300塊銀錢施捨窮人更實際（若12:5）！300塊銀錢即300日的工資。以一天工作八小時計算，今天的最低工資是$34.5，合共$82,800，如果用來買飯派發給露宿者，的確可以供給約3,000人，每人一盒飯。歌劇「萬世巨星Jesus Christ Super Star」中，猶達斯唱的歌詞就說：「飢寒交迫的人比你的腳和頭髮更為重要」。但猶達斯是出於偽善，纔為窮人發聲！耶穌為婦人的愛心辯護，說「她是為了安葬自己」之餘（12:7），耶穌亦維護猶達斯的尊嚴，並沒有揭穿他的偽善，祇是說了一句「你們常有窮人和你們在一起，至於我，你們卻不常有。」（12:8）這個故事，一再告訴我們，天主不看表面，祇看人的心，看人的誠意（撒上16:7）。

讓我們看看賢士們送給耶穌聖嬰的禮物吧！
無可置疑，黃金、乳香和末藥都是貴重的物品，可惜並不實用。末藥在醫療上可以止痛，所以耶穌在十字架上時，有人「拿末藥調和的酒給他喝，耶穌卻沒有接受。」（谷15:23）按當時的習俗，末藥也是用來傅抹屍體用的。所以，送末藥給耶穌聖嬰，的確沒有甚麼實用價值，而是用來象徵耶穌基督的先知身份和是真人的身份。
乳香祇會在聖殿祭獻時纔用得著，在日常生活中根本找不到甚麼用途。所以送上乳香更加不切實際，它祇是用來象徵耶穌基督的司祭身份和是真天主的身份。
在三份禮物中，黃金應該是最實際吧！錯！在日常生活中，你會不會拿黃金往街市購物呢？有沒有大額的買賣交易，需要動用黃金呢？而且，作為低下階層的平民百姓，擁有黃金可能會帶來麻煩，你怎樣解釋黃金的來源呢？是搶刧得來的嗎？所以，收到黃金作生日禮物，也是得物無所用，它是用來象徵耶穌基督的君王身份而已！賢士的禮物固然表達了他們的誠意，而且還彰顯了耶穌基督多方面的身份：祂既是真天主，又是真人，這是「降生奧蹟」。此外，這些禮物還總結了舊約時代三個重要的，天人交往的職務：就是君王、司祭和先知。

人類向天主呈奉禮物，一般是進行祭獻，而祭獻應該由司祭主持。各位兄弟姊妹，請放心！我們領洗入教，歸於基督，亦分享了祂的三重職務，其中一個就是司祭職務。所以我們有資格主持這個祭獻。但我們是卑微的受造物，而且，我們的一切都是天主所賞賜。耶穌基督是真天主，那麼，我們還有甚麼可以祭獻給耶穌基督呢？從亞伯爾的故事中，我們認識到天主所中悅的，是我們的誠意。所以我們應該把最好的東西，奉獻給耶穌基督。
我們是按天主的肖像所造（創1:26），所以天主是我們生命的主宰，而我們祇是這生命的管家。既然我們的生命受到原罪的污染，失去了天主的光榮，所以我們能夠奉獻給天主最有誠意的禮物，就是一個恢復了天主光榮的生命，一個成聖了的生命。天父派遣耶穌基督降生，拯救人類，教導我們成聖之道。所以，奉獻給耶穌聖嬰的禮物，莫過於按照耶穌基督所教導的「真福八端」去生活，活出成聖的生活。執事在這裡，再一次呼籲大家，閱讀和學習教宗方濟各去年頒佈的【你們要歡喜踴躍】宗座勸諭，窮一生的努力，實踐如何在現代社會中，成聖的方法。最後，可以把成聖了的生命，奉獻給耶穌聖嬰了！
天主保祐！

2016 講道

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Epiphany, Year C
Theme: Giving a Gift to Lord Jesus

I believe all of you, especially children, must have received many birthday presents, as well as suffering headache figuring out what birthday presents to give. Money-wise, birthday presents can be low-cost such as a birthday card or a birthday cake. They can be expensive such as the latest model of i-phone or even jewellery. Value-wise, they can be impracticable, such as hiring the world renowned cellist Ma Yau Yau to play "Happy Birthday to you" at your party. Giving birthday presents is really brain-bending. Thus many people simply give money in the form of lai-see. Although it is pragmatic, it lacks sincerity. Right! Besides considering the statuses of both parties, sincerity is the primary concern. Money or value are secondary. Thus, we should not criticize a boy-friend who gives 999 roses on his girl-friend's birthday for being extravagant. It is not. Rather, it is romantic!

Talking about sincerity reminds me of a gospel story. A woman anointed Jesus with an ointment worth more than 300 silver pieces (Mark 14:3-9). Judas criticized her for being wasteful and said that giving 300 silver pieces to the poor benefited more people (John 12:5)! Three hundred silver pieces were the wage of 300 days of labour. Take an eight-hour working day and the minimum wage today of $34.5 per hour, gives $82,800. If we buy lunchboxes for the homeless, surely more than 3000 people would benefit. In the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, Judas sings, "People who are hungry, people who are starving matter more than your feet and hair!". Of course, Judas voiced for the poor out of hypocricy. Jesus defended the charity of the woman, saying "she keeps this for the day of my burial" (12:7). But Jesus also defended the dignity of Judas without exposing his hypocricy. Jesus simply says, "You have the poor always with you, but me you have not always." (12:8) This story affirms once more that God does not look on outward appearance, but on the heart, on the sincerity (1 Samuel 16:7).

Let us take a look at the gifts of the Magi to the Holy Infant!
Without doubt, gold, frankincense and myrrh are precious gifts. Unfortunately, they are not practicable. Medically, myrrh kills pain. Thus when Jeus was hanging on the cross, some people "gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh; but he received it not." (Mark 15:23) According to customs, Jews anointed the dead with myrrh before burial. Thus, giving myrrh to infant Jesus was not practical. It only symbolizes the prophetic role of Jesus Christ and his being truly human.
Frankincense was only used in Temple sacrifices. It found no use in daily life. Thus, giving frankincense was even more impractical. It only symbolizes the priestly role of Jesus Christ and his being truly divine.
Among the three gifts, gold should be the most practical, righ? Wrong! In ordinary daily life, would you buy groceries with gold? What mega-value transactions do you need gold? In particular, for low-class commoners, possessing gold could be problematic. Where did the gold come from? From robbery? Thus, receiving gold as birthday present is useless. It only symbolizes the kingship of Jesus Christ! The Magi's presents not only show their sincerity, but they also manifest the many roles of Jesus Christ. He is truly divine and truly human. This is the Incarnation Mystery. Moreoever, these gifts summarize the three most crucial ministries of divine-human interactions in the Old Testament: king, priest and prophet.

Men offer God gifts usually in the form of sacrifice and sacrifices are presided by priests. Brethren! No problem. Through baptism, we belong to Christ and share his threefold ministries. One of them is priesthood. Thus, we are qualified to preside over this sacrifice. But we are only humble creatures and all we have are given by God. Jesus Christ is truly divine. Then, what can we offer to Jesus Christ? From the story of Abel, we know that God loves our sincerity. Therefore, we should offer our best to Jesus Christ.
We were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). So, God is the author of our life and we are only stewards of this life. Since this life has been contaminated by the Original Sin and missed the glory of God, the most sincere gift we can offer God is a life restored of God's glory, a sanctified life. The Father sent Jesus Christ to save mankind and to teach us the way of sanctification. Therefore, no gift for the Holy Infant is better than leading a life according to the Beatitudes taught by Jesus Christ, a life of sanctification. Here, I appeal to you once more, study and learn from "Gaudete et Exsultate", the Apostolic Exhortation which Pope Francis issued last year. Put the effort of our whole life into practizing sanctification in the modern world. Then, we may offer this sanctified life to the Holy Infant!
God bless!