轉守為攻 Turn Defensive To Offensive

常年期第七主日，丙年
主題：轉守為攻

在我眼中，家慈是一個很有個性的女人。五個子女之中，外祖父祇給舅父一人，供書教學，其他的女兒，一個也沒有上學的機會。外祖父並不窮困，他是個地主，是個酒樓老闆，祇是他重男輕女而已。雖然沒有機會讀書，家慈用她的方法自學，也是個識字明理的人。家嚴忙於謀生，養妻活兒。因此教導兒子的任務，便落在家慈身上。在教導我兄弟倆如何待人接物的時候，有一種態度我一向不明白、不認同，直到今天纔恍然大悟。她教導說：「如果對方有心欺騙你，你要令對方知道，你是知道的！」我一直不明白，既然知道對方想欺騙我，為甚麼不揭穿他，或者想辦法避免自己受損失呢？明明是損失，還要表現得毫不在乎。是為了爭一口氣？還是亞Q精神，自我安慰呢？

可能是家庭背景的影響吧，家慈是一個並不斤斤計較的人。她樂善好施，喜歡為人排難解紛。所以，我相信她不是亞Q精神，也不是為了爭一口氣，而是她不在乎所謂的損失！換句話說，她輸得起！她很厚道，願意保護欺騙者的尊嚴，祇表示知道了對方的陰謀，卻並不揭穿對方！能夠花點錢「買」多一個朋友，總比為了保障少許損失而樹立多一個敵人好！我這個大學畢業的書呆子，在待人接物方面，真是望塵莫及！

讀到今天的福音，纔驚訝雖然當年家慈還沒有認識耶穌基督的教訓，但天主聖言的種子，早已埋在她的心中。耶穌基督不是教訓我們，要尊重對方，即使是那些傷害我們的人，也要善待他們嗎？即使是仇人、惱恨、詛咒、毀謗我們的人，打我們的面，強拿我們的衣服的人等等，都要愛（路6:27-29）。因為在天主的眼中，他們都是天主的傑作，是按天主的肖像所造（創1:26），是我們的兄弟（4:9）。

昨天出席夏志誠輔理主教主持的「DOCAT研習會」，學習天主教的社會訓導。其中一位學員指出，耶穌基督所教導「愛德的金科玉律」，包括愛仇、忍耐迫害、「有人打你的面頰，也把另一面轉給他」（路6:29）等，好像與天主教社會訓導所倡議的社會公義，背道而馳！於是夏主教分享一位釋經學者的見解，令我們耳目一新！

別人對你使用暴力，是想摧毀你的尊嚴和你的自由，要征服你。因此，即使在強弱懸殊，完全沒有還擊之力的時候，我們也應拿出尊嚴和自由，轉守為攻，把另一面轉給他。表示我還有一點天主肖像的尊嚴，我是自願被打的，你的暴力並沒有征服了我！我依照耶穌基督的教訓愛你，我是自願被打的，你並沒有犯十誡！耶穌基督說：「誰也不能奪去我的性命，而是我甘心情願捨掉它；我有權捨掉它，我也有權再取回它來。」（若10:18）為了愛我們這些無用的僕人（17:10），耶穌基督自願地接受十字架的苦刑。作為耶穌基督的跟隨者，我們的行動，也應該以對方的益處為出發點。

天主教徒學習並履行教會的社會訓導，不是針對施暴者，而是為了消滅施暴的制度。運用制度剝削弱者的官員和商人，都是按天主的肖像所造的。他們被貪婪所束縛，也是制度下的受害人。因此，倡議和履行社會訓導，不是為了製造事端、奪權或者推翻政府，而是為了恢復一個能尊重人性尊嚴的社會，一個充滿正義和平的天國。我們創造一個更適合一眾天主的肖像，各自能發揮得淋漓盡致的環境，而不損害其他天主的肖像！因此，愛德的金科玉律，是履行社會訓導的基礎，二者相輔相成，並不矛盾！

各位兄弟姊妹，我們蒙召成聖，領洗入教，成為天主教徒，向著永生邁進。外面的世界亦不斷進步，「成聖」已不再是個人熱心祈禱的事，而是在家庭、社會和世界實踐信仰的事。今天，我們有手機互聯網，已不能對發生在「地球村」另一個角落的事，不聞不問。因此，成聖要靠兩條腿：一方面領聖事、祈禱、讀聖經；另一方面要讀社會訓導和走出聖堂，到社區內為弱勢社群發聲！
天主保祐！

2016年常年期沒有第七主日

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Seventh Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Turn From Defensive To Offensive

In my eyes, my mother is a lady of character. Among his five children, my maternal grandfather allowed his only son to study. The other girls did not have access to schooling. My grandfather was not poor. He was a landlord and a restaurant owner. It was sexual discrimination. Although she did not have proper schooling, my mother studied in her own ways and became a reasonable woman. My father was busy earning wages to feed and shelter the family. The responsibility to teach the two boys fell upon my mother's shoulder. In teaching us to behave, there was an attitude which I never understood nor bought until today. She taught, "If someone cheats you, make sure he knows that you know!" I have never understood why knowing that this guy cheats me, I don't expose him, or try to avoid losses? Why should I put up a bold face when I was cheated. Was it a kind of "Ah Q Spirit", a self illusion?

Probably it was family bring-up, my mother was never a calculating person. She is generous and enjoy helping people out. Thus, I believe that it was not an "Ah Q Spirit" or face-saving but that she was not bothered! In other ways, she could afford to pay! She was gracious and willing to protect the dignity of the cheater. She only indicated that she knew and had no intention to expose him! It is better to spend some money to win a friend, than to make an enemy in order to contain some losses! What a Bachelor of book-worm I have been! I could only eat dust following my mother who has not finished primary schooling!

Reading the gospel today surprises me how, although my mother has never known any teachings of Jesus Christ, God's word has long been sowed in her heart. Doesn't Jesus Christ teach us to respect and treat well even those who hate us? We have to love even our enemies, those who hate, curse and mistreat us, who strike us on our cheek and takes our clothes. (Luke 6:27-29) It is because in the eyes of God, they are His masterpieces. They were created in His image (Genesis 1:26), our brothers (4:9).

Yesterday, in a "DOCAT Workshop" run by the Auxiliary Bishop Francis Ha to get familiarized with the Catholic Social Teachings, a participant pointed out that the "Golden Rule of Charity" taught by Jesus Christ, including the love of enemies, enduring persecution and turning the other cheek (Luke 6:29) etc, seemed to go against the social justice advocated by the Catholic Social Teachings! Biship Ha opened our eyes to the exegesis of a scholar!

When the others abuse you, they want to destroy your dignity and your freedom to conquer you. Thus, even when we find no strength to resist, we should place our dignity and freedom before them, turn from defensive to offensive and offer them the other cheek! Tell them, I still have the dignity of the image of God. I suffer your abuse willingly. You have not conquered me! I follow Jesus Christ's teaching to love you. I suffer your abuse willingly. You have not breached the Ten Commandments! Jesus says, "No one takes it [my life] from me, but I lay it down on my own. I ave power to lay it down, and power to take it up again." (John 10:18) For the sake of these unworthy servants (17:10), Jesus Christ willingly suffer crucifixion. As followers of Jesus Christ, we act for the benefits of the others.

Catholics learn and practise the Social Teachings of the Church. We do not oppose the oppressors, but oppressive institutions. Those statesmen and businessmen were also created in the image of God. They are enslaved by greed and themselves victims of the system. Therefore, in advocating and practising the Social Teachings of the Church, we are not making troubles, stirring up insurgences or overthrowing the governments. We want to restore a society in which human dignity is respected, a Kingdom of Heaven which is full of justice and peace. We want to create an environment in which all the images of God are able to manifest fully without harming other God's images. Thus the golden rules of charity are the foundation of Social Practises. Both are supplementary and not contradictory.

Brethren! We are called to be saints, baptised to become members of the Church and journey towards eternal life. The world is progressing all the time. Sanctification is no longer a matter of fervant prayers, but to put into practice our faith in families, societies and the world. Today, with mobile phones and the Internet, we will never be immune from what have happened on the other side of this Global Village. Thus, we need to walk along the path of sanctification with 2 legs: receiving sacraments, pray and study the Scriptures on one hand; and on the other, study the Social Teachings of the Church, walk out of the Church to speak up for the disadvantaged in the community.
God bless!

真正的富有 Genuine Richness

常年期第六主日，丙年
主題：真正的富有

在默想今天福音的教訓之前，讓我們填補從上一個主日到今個主日，福音中的空缺。在上星期的福音，我們聽到耶穌基督召叫伯多祿的故事。路加版比較豐富，把召叫伯多祿的事蹟放在網漁的神蹟之中，使我們明白到，放棄一切去跟隨耶穌基督傳福音，是值得的，是不枉此生的。然後，路加跟隨馬爾谷的鋪排，記載了耶穌基督所行的一些醫治神蹟，並因此引發與法利塞人的一連串衝突。之後，耶穌基督上山徹夜祈禱，然後從門徒中選出十二宗徒。今天的福音說「耶穌和那十二人下山，站在一塊平地上。」（路6:17），就是選拔了十二宗徒後，與他們一起下山，面向群眾，開始傳福音的工作。
今天所讀的福音，並沒有包括向群眾講道治病驅魔的部份（6:18-19）。群眾與門徒不同，他們得到所需要的治療，或者解決生活問題的道理之後，不一定會繼續跟隨耶穌基督。門徒是指那些願意跟隨耶穌基督生活一段時間，跟祂學習天國道理的人。耶穌基督就是對著這一群人，而不是一般的群眾，講述作為基督徒，作為祂的跟隨者，應有的生活態度。
今天的福音，是「真福八端」的路加版，沒有八端真福這麼多，而是四福、四禍。雖然形式不同，但都是「天國大憲章」，是基督徒生活的「基本法」。瑪竇把耶穌基督，塑造成為一個比梅瑟更偉大的導師。因此，瑪竇版的「真福八端」更精細，更完備。「所以你們應當是成全的，如同你們的天父是成全的一樣。」（瑪5:48）路加卻把耶穌基督，塑造成為一個慈悲的牧者。祂體諒罪人的軟弱，對罪人並不苛求。下星期我們就會讀到：「你們應當慈悲，就像你們的父那樣慈悲。」（路6:36）所以，祇列出四福、四禍便足夠了，並沒有包括「溫良、憐憫、心裡潔淨和締造和平」（瑪5:5-9），也並沒有把貧窮靈性化到精神上，把飢餓昇華到正義上。那麼，我們從路加版的真福，體會到耶穌基督的心意是怎樣的呢？
路加版非常實在，說「現今」和「將要」，不像瑪竇版那裡超越時空，放諸四海皆準！路加深明人的有限，顧此會失彼。當我們把大部份，甚至全部精神時間放在世俗事務，無論是財帛抑或是名譽地位方面，成為富有的時候，我們在其他方面，例如健康、人際關係甚至靈性生命方面，必有損失。「因為你們已獲得了你們的安慰！」（路6:24）在「富翁和拉匝祿」的比喻中，路加更清楚明白地說：「孩子，你應記得你活著的時候，已享盡了你的福！」（16:25）「盡」這個中文翻譯，真教人拍案叫絕。很多人祇知進，不知退，包括執事我在內。這十天臥床休養，體會良多！

痊癒後

康復中

以香港的生活水平，我算是中產階級；一生的教育事業，換來一家六口，共住同一屋簷下，三餐無憂。賺錢不是我的專長，亦無雄心壯志，改革社會上的不公義，但求安穩地成家立室，敬拜天主而已。退休後開始人生的另一頁，以執事身份，盡心盡力服事天主，服事教會。難道為光榮天主，救人靈魂，有錯嗎？沒有！難道探望在囚人士，為他們奔走；接觸外判清潔工人，集會倡議改善勞工待遇；把四十年教宗教科的經驗，培訓現職的老師和牧民助理；為學校及團體主持祈禱會和退省等，有錯嗎？沒有！問題出在「盡心盡力」！ 的確，以「戰績彪炳」來形容這三年來的職務，當之無愧！我成了富有的！我已得到了我的安慰！可是，當我把自己的行事曆填滿了以後，我還有多少空間留給耶穌基督呢？耶穌基督在哪？不是在家慈，在妻子，兒女和自己身上嗎？
感謝天主，感謝路加醫生，我終於病倒了，有機會停下來反省了。我對疾病並不陌生，與糖尿病共眠了三十年，並且體會到天主在疾病所帶來的不便和痛苦中，有著豐厚的祝福！今次並不例外，我看到了自己的貧窮所在！在開始講論四福四禍前，「耶穌舉目望著祂的門徒說！」（6:20）原來耶穌基督一直望著我，對著我說話，而我卻把目光放錯了在事務上，錯過了與基督的目光相遇。因此，無論我如何盡心盡力地探監、探清潔工人和主持講座退省等，永遠也不會在「這些最小兄弟中的一個」（瑪25:40）服事到耶穌基督！因為我沒有望著耶穌基督，沒有增進彼此的關係，沒有掌握到天父的旨意。簡而言之，我的方向錯了，優次錯了！慢下來，祈禱啊！
各位兄弟姊妹，無論做甚麼事，不要貪婪冒進，要與耶穌基督的眼光相遇，不要白費功夫！
天主保祐！

2016年沒有常年期第六主日

Sixth Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Genuine Richness
Before we meditate the teachings of today's gospel, let us fill up the gaps between last Sunday and today. In last Sunday's gospel, we read of the story of the call of Peter. The Lucan version is richer. Luke puts the story in the context of the miraculous catch to show us that it is worthwhile, it is not a waste of our life to abandon everything to follow Jesus to evangelize. Later, Luke follows Mark's structure and tells of some Jesus' healing miracles which ignited the subsequent conflicts with the Pharisees. After that, Jesus Christ departed to the mountain to spend the night in prayer. When day came, he called the disciples and chose among them the Twelve. So, today's gospel begins with "And Jesus came down with the Twelve and stood on a stretch of level ground." (Luke 6:17). That is to say, after electing the Twelve, Jesus came down with them, facing the crowd and began their evangelization works.
The gospel we read today skips the part of preaching, healing and exorcism among the crowd (6:18-19). The crowd and the disciples were not the same people. After they had got the cures they needed, or some ways out of their daily problems, the crowd might not necessarily follow Jesus Christ. Disciples were those who intended to stay and live with Jesus Christ for a period of time to learn more about the Kingdom of Heaven. It was to this group of people, not to the crowd that Jesus Christ talks about the proper attitudes of being Christians, His followers.
The gospel text today is the Lucan version of the Beatitudes. There are not eight Beatitudes but four Beatitudes and four woes. Although the forms are different, it is the same Magna Carta, the Basic Law for Christian living. Matthew portrays Jesus Christ as a Teacher more superior than Moses. Thus the Matthean version of the Beatitudes is more detailed and comprehensive. "So, be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) On the other hand, Luke portrays Jesus Christ as a Merciful Shepherd. He understands the frailties of sinners and is not harsh on them. Next Sunday, we will read, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36) Thus, four beatitudes and four woes are enough. Meekness, mercy, purity of heart and peace-making are not included (Matthew 5:5-9). Poverty is not elevated spiritually, nor hunger sublimes to justice. Then, what can we learn about the mind of Jesus Christ from the Lucan beatitudes?
Unlike the Matthean version which is transcendental, the Lucan version is very realistic. It talks about "are now" and "will be". Luke understands the limitations of humanity. There are always trade-offs. When we invest most, even all of our time and energy in secular business, whether it be money or status, and become rich, we shall sustain losses in other areas such as health, interpersonal relationships and even spiritual life. "For you have received your consolation." (Luke 6:24) In the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus, Luke speaks more explicitly, "My child, remember that you received (all of) what was good during your lifetime!" (16:25) The Chinese rendering of "all of" is morallistically superb! Many people know only advances and no retreats, including me. Convalescing in bed for ten days, I have learnt a lot!
By the living standards of Hong Kong, I belong to the middle class. Earning from my whole career, I manage to house and feed six mouths under the same roof. Making money has never been my expertise. Nor do I have the ambition to right societal wrongs. I only seek a stable married family life which enables me to worship God. Retirement gives me a new lease of life. I can serve God and the Church with all my heart and strength in the capacity of a permanent deacon. How can it be wrong to glorify God and save souls? Cannot! How can it be wrong, visiting prison inmates and running errands for them; reaching out to outsourcing janitors and advocating better working conditions for workers; sharing my forty-year experience of teaching Religious Studies with teachers and pastoral assistants; running prayer services and retreats? Nothing wrong! The problem arises from "with all my heart and strength"!
Truly, it is no exaggeration to claim "flying colours" for these three years of diaconal ministry. I am rich and have received my consolation! But when I fill up my calendar with services, how much space have I left for Jesus Christ? Where is Jesus Christ? Isn't He in my mother, wife, children and myself as well?
I am grateful to God and to Luke the physician that I have finally fallen ill and have time to stop to reflect! Sickness is not stranger to me and I have been sleeping with DM for thirty years. I am able to feel the abundant blessings within the inconveniences and sufferings brought about in sickness! It is no exception this time. I am able to see my poverty! Before Jesus Christ spoke about the four beatitudes and four woes, he "raising his eyes toward his disciples" (6:20). It turns out that Jesus Christ has always been gazing at me and speaking to me, but I turn my gaze to the wrong stuff and miss meeting Christ in his gaze. Thus, however much I visit prison inmates, janitors and giving talks/retreats with all my heart and strength, I have never served Jesus Christ "for one of these least brothers of mine." (Matthew 25:40) It is because I have not gazed into Jesus Christ, not improved our relationship and not known the Father's will. In short, my direction is wrong, my priority is wrong! I need to slow down and pray!
Brethren! Whatever you do, don't be greedy and ambitious. Meet the gaze of Jesus Christ. Don't waste your efforts!
God bless!

對己對人的偏見 Prejudice Against Oneself and Others

常年期第四主日，丙年
主題：對己對人的偏見

上一個主日，我們聽到有關耶穌基督在祂的家鄉納匝肋，宣佈祂的政綱：就是以聖神的力量，賜予貧窮人豐盈的生命，解放遭受著各種壓迫的俘虜（路4:18）。這個豐盈的生命，不是虛無縹緲的來世生命，而是在當下的現實世界裡，活出充滿聖神活力和喜樂的生命；這個解放，不是任意妄為地放縱自己的私慾偏情，而是按福音的精神，活出天主子女的自由（羅8:21）。這政綱不是由一般人，而是由天主子親口宣佈，的確是天大的喜訊。但耶穌基督的鄉親父老接受不來。他們的反應是「這不是若瑟的兒子嗎？」（路4:22）這一份狹隘的偏見，令納匝肋人錯過了福音所帶來的豐盛恩寵，誠然可惜！

受到過去的經歷所影響，我們對別人、對自己都會產生偏見。而且，偏見是很難糾正的。因為偏見所持有的理據，非常簡單，容易明白。相反，要証明偏見的錯謬，就困難得多了。例如西方社會歧視黑人，認為他們的人種是愚蠢和衝動的。在兩次大戰之間，美國已有研究指出，黑人的智商，比白人低15至20！其實，問題出在黑人生活在貧窮中、政府又施行種族隔離政策，與及黑人學校的資助不足，導致那些智商測試工具，因文化及社會上的偏差，對於大部份沒有機會接受同等教育的黑人不利。即使我們中國人做那些測試，相信亦拿不到高分。難道中國人的智商比美國的白人低嗎？証明黑人和中國人的智商低很容易，因為智商測試結果就是這樣！但要証明社會制度和智商測試工具出了毛病，就困難得多了。要表達和捍衛真理，真不容易！

對別人懷有偏見，把對方放在一個既定的框架內，除了對別人不公平外，對自己也是一份損失。猶太人對耶穌基督的偏見，令他們喪失了得到天主治療和解放的喜樂。美國白人對黑人的歧視，令罪案上升，令黑人沒有機會貢獻美國社會。可見歧視偏見，對個人和社會的禍害很大。不過，大家有沒有想過，原來自己對自己，也會有偏見！相信大家會有以下的經驗：你的朋友勸告你改變一些，客觀上不理想的壞習慣、或者做事方式甚至態度時，你的反應是甚麼？「我生來就是這樣，改不了！」。這一個很容易明白，連自己也欺騙了的藉口，它節省了九牛二虎之力，去改善自己！這樣做，合理嗎？有益嗎？讓我和大家分享這三年來當執事的一點經歷，希望能幫助大家，提防對自己懷有偏見。

領了執事職的初期，很多認識我的人，改不了從前的稱謂，仍然會稱呼我「郭生」，「郭Sir」，我亦不以為然。後來纔發覺到，是自己缺乏了一份應有的執事氣質。原來四十年來的教學生涯，在我身上累積了深厚的，做教師的處事和思考風格。即使做了執事，說話仍然像個教師，講道仍然像個教師，做事仍然像個教師（格前13:11）。真的是「我生來就是這樣，改不了」嗎？

首先，老師每天批閱同學的習作，久而久之，祇注意到學生的錯處，並毫不猶疑地加以更正，惟恐誤人子弟。在教育的環境還可以，但在大社會又可以這樣嗎？做家訪時，客氣地詢問戶主為甚麼家中有這麼多無用的雜物？為甚麼不執拾地方，讓一家人可以住得更舒適？為甚麼家中沒有聖經，沒有祈禱的角落？在聚會分享祈禱心得時，糾正其他人分享祈禱經驗中的不合理性！可以「我生來就是這樣，改不了」嗎？
其次，老師的責任，是「傳道、授業、解惑」。尤其是現代的老師，他們幫助同學應付公開考試，當然掌握了所有標準答案！順理成章，做了執事，自然掌握了所有天主的真理！殊不知四十年的教學生涯，累積了的都是狹窄的經驗，產生了很多盲點！在研習聖經，講授要理，指導靈修的時候，忘記了自己祇是一位同行者，是陪伴眾人與耶穌基督，建立個人的親密關係，而不是一部錄音機，依書直說，並無虛言。結果，當別人指出自己的錯誤時，心裡十分納悶，接受不了！是虛榮心使自己不願意放下以往的成就，而這份虛榮心，又源自更深層的自悲感，感覺到自己的不足，自己的罪過；但缺乏勇氣面對和改過，便努力以成就來逃避它、掩飾它。回想當年初出茅廬，經驗不足，但有如海棉一樣，努力吸取知識和教訓。難道年紀大了，腦袋硬化了，喪失了年輕時的吸收能力嗎？原來過去的成就，成了今天的包袱。當年所見的若瑟之子，今天，納匝肋的鄉親父老，仍然以「若瑟之子」的框架，看待天主子耶穌基督！

感謝天主，今天有機會再次「初出茅廬」，踏上執事的聖召之路。憑著堅振聖事和聖秩聖事所領受的傅油，憑著聖神所賦予的七恩，一切都成了可能的。問題在於自己有沒有渴望天主的解放，天主的牧養；有沒有敬畏孝愛天主，獲享智慧、聰敏、超見、明達的恩寵，並以剛毅，完成蒙召成聖的目標。
各位兄弟姊妹，讓我們空虛自己，渴求天主的平安；擺脫既定框架，開放自己，與聖神合作，踏上成聖之路。不要躲懶，再說「我生來就是這樣，改不了！」
天主保祐！

2016年講道

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Fourth Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Prejudice Against Oneself and Others

Last Sunday, we heard of Jesus' proclamation of His agenda at Nazareth, His home town: With the power of the Holy Spirit, He shall bestow abundant life to the poor and liberate prisoners of all sorts (Luke 4:18). This abundant life is not some elusive life in the next world, but leading a spirit-filled and joyful life in this concrete world. This liberation is not an unrestrained gratification of the concupiscence but living up, in the spirit of the gospel, a life of freedom as children of God (Romans 8:21). This agenda was proclaimed, not by ordinary men, but the Son of God. It is truly a good news. However, Jesus' kinfolk could not accept it. Their reaction was "Isn't this the son of Joseph?" (Luke 4:22) Such narrow-minded prejudice cost the people of Nazareth the abundant grace the gospel brought. It is truly regrettable!

Affected by past experiences, we bias against others and ourselves. Moreover, it is very difficult to rectify prejudices. It is because prejudices are usually based on simple and easily understood "evidence". On the contrary, it is extremely difficult to prove the falsity of prejudices. For example, Western societies bias against the Black, thinking that this race is stupid and emotional. Between the two World Wars, there were studies showing that the IQ of the Black was 15 to 20 lower than that of the White. In fact, the problem came from the poverty in which the Black were living, the segragation policy of the government and the inadequate subsidies to black schools. Because of these cultural and social disparities, the Black who did not have equal opportunity to receive education were disadvantaged in those IQ tests. Even we Chinese could not obtain high scores in those tests. Is the IQ of Chinese lower than that of the White in USA? Proving the IQ's of the Black and Chinese are lower is easy because the test results show it! However, to prove that the social system and the IQ tests are flawed is more difficult. It is not easy to articulate and defend the Truth!

It is unfair to be biased and to pigeonhole others into a rigid framework. It also causes us losses. The Jews biased against Jesus Christ, costing them the joy of receiving God's cure and liberation. The American White prejudice against the Black, causing the crime rate to climb and denying the Black from contributing to the American society. Thus, prejudice is harmful both to the individuals and to the society as a whole. However, do you know that we can bias against ourselves? I trust you might have this following experience: your friend advises you to change some objectively bad habits, or working style or attitude. What is your response? "I was born this way. There is no way to change!" This is an easily understood excuse which we use to cheat even ourselves because it saves us ardent efforts to improve ourselves! But is it rational? Is it beneficial? Let me share with you some experiences of my 3-year diaconate. I hope they will help you avoid prejudices against yourselves.

During the early stage after ordination, many people who have known me were not able to change their addresses to me, kept calling me "Mr. Kwok" or "Kwok Sir". I was not surprised but later, I discovered that it was caused by my lack of a diaconate temperament which I should possess. My forty-year teaching career has accumulated in me a thicket of "Teacher Modus Operanti". Being a deacon, I still speak like a teacher, deliver homily like a teacher and operate like a teacher (1 Corinthians 13:11). Can I say, "I was born this way. There is not way to change"?

First of all, teachers mark student assignments everyday. After a long time, they focus more on the students' mistakes and will not hesitate to correct them lest they fail the students entrusted onto their hands. It works well in the education sector but does it work in the society at large? Visiting homes, can you courteously ask the host why there are so many useless things around, why they don't clean up the house so that members can live more comfortably, why there is no bibles, no prayer corners at home. During gatherings to share prayer experiences, correct the irrationality of the prayer experiences of the participants! Can you say, "I was born this way. There is no way to change"?
Secondly, the duty of a teacher is "to proclaim the truth, to hand down the establishment and to resolve confusions". In particular, teachers of modern time help students sit for public examinations. Teachers have all the model answers! Logically, after diaconate ordination, I have all the truth of God! Unbeknown to myself, the experiences I have accumulated in this forty-year teaching career are narrow and full of blind spots! When we study the bible, conduct catechumen classes or do spiritual directions, I forget that I am only a facilitator, accompanying them to establish an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Instead, I speak like a tape-recorder, giving all the model answers without leaving out anything. Consequently, when somebody points out my mistake, I feel hurt! It is vainglory that prevents me from laying down my past achievements. In turn, this vainglory originates from a deeper inferiority complex which makes me feel inadequate and sinful. However, a lack of courage to change and repent drives me to spend my energy to achieve in order to evade and cover up this inferiority complex. Looking back when I first worked as a teacher, I was not experienced but I worked hard to absorb all available knowledge and lessons like a sponge. Now that I have grown old, have I lost my ability to absorb new understanding? The past achievements have become a burden instead today. The kindreds in Nazareth still pigeonholed the Son of God, Jesus Christ into the framework of "son of Joseph"!

I thank God. Today, I have the opportunity to emerge again and take to the path of sanctification. With the anointments from the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders, with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, nothing is impossible. The question is whether I desire the liberation, the shepherding of God, whether I am pious to and fearful of God and enjoy the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel and knowledge. With fortitude, we can achieve the target of sanctification.
Brethren, let us empty ourselves and desire the peace of God. Shake off frameworks and open ourselves up. Cooperate with the Holy Spirit to trod on the path of sanctification. Don't be lazy and claim that "I was born that way. There is no way to change."
God bless!

亥年談豬 About Swines

亥年談豬

郭志強執事

值此新春，謹代表聖葉理諾堂仝寅，祝各位來年身壯力健，家肥屋潤，聖寵滿盈。
天主安排在我們身邊的事物，對我們必然有所裨益。今年歲次己亥屬豬，讓我們看看豬怎樣啟示天主對我們的大愛！「家」字，是屋簷下有豬。在同一屋簷下，一群人圍繞著一頭豬生活，便組成一個家，這是多麼有意義！豬多產，供應一家在經濟上，和營養上的需要，功不可抹。

可惜，人類缺乏感恩之心，不但沒有感激豬的貢獻，反而把很多惡劣的質素，投射到豬的身上去：懶惰，骯髒，貪饕，好色等等，【西游記】中的豬八戒，就是典形的寫照！更可惜，連舊約聖經對豬，也好像沒有好感！【肋未紀】定下有關潔與不潔的法律時，走獸中，有偶蹄，有趾及反芻的，是潔的，可以吃，可以觸摸（肋11:3）。豬偶蹄有趾，可惜不是反芻，被定性為不潔，不可以吃（11:7-8）。可能覺得豬愚蠢吧，在【瑪竇福音】，連耶穌也勸我們不要把珠寶投在豬前（瑪7:6），言下之意，不要給愚蠢的人傳授真理（箴23:9）。最後，令人印象最深刻的神蹟，莫過於耶穌把邪魔驅進2,000頭豬之中，讓牠們「笨豬跳」進海裡溺斃了，何其壯觀！（谷5:13）
可是，我們作為基督徒，應該有感恩之心。所以，從另外一個角度看，我們可以再一次肯定豬對人類的貢獻！為了拯救一個人的靈魂和肉身，耶穌基督不惜犧牲2,000頭豬，折合拍賣價約港幣五百二十萬，零售價一千九百萬 ！當然，這個價錢並不能代表一個人的價值，祇反映出天主不惜任何代價，也要設法拯救人類！我們豈能不感謝天主，不感激為我們代罪的豬呢？
至於豬的愚蠢，執事無意在此為豬平反。倘若我們嫌棄豬愚蠢，請記住，人類之中亦有不少「愚不可及」和「大智若愚」的人。所以不要小覷看似愚蠢的豬，否則，我們祇是五十步笑百步而已。從前，科學家曾在豬身上提煉出控制糖尿病的胰島素。今天，科學家印証到豬與人類，有84%的基因是相同的。科學家希望在豬身上，研究出治療更多人類疾病的方法！人啊！你還嫌棄豬懶惰，骯髒，貪饕，好色嗎？
至於宗教上的不潔，反而有點奇怪。天主看了自己的創造，不是認為樣樣都很好嗎（創1:31，宗10:15）？為甚麼會出現不潔的制度，禁止人食用豬呢？學者相信，古代人類的智慧，認為有些人類不應該染指的東西，都冠之以神聖不可侵犯的標籤（例如知善惡樹，生命樹，焚燒的荊棘等）；或者有些會危害團體的事物，都被定性為不潔（例如有寄生蟲的走獸，死屍，血液，外邦人等）。以人類當今的知識水平，豬並非不應染指或者對社會有害，所以豬沒有甚麼「不潔」了。

天主召叫所有人回應祂的愛，並進一步召叫回應了祂的基督徒成聖，成為「聖潔的國民，屬於主的民族」（伯前2:9）。天主願意讓我們分享祂的超性生命，願意我們都成為神聖的，再沒有可以污染我們的豬了！當豬不再是不潔時，豬的多產，豬的犧牲貢獻，便成了基督徒的榜樣。作為基督徒，最低限度，我們應該像豬一樣，貢獻家庭。教宗方濟各在【愛的喜樂】宗座勸諭中指出，沒有一個家庭是圓美無缺的，每一個家庭都是一所「戰地醫院」，以愛照顧受傷的家庭成員。愛是需要忍耐和犧牲的，好像豬一樣。其實，當耶穌基督選擇犧牲一群豬，而不是其他走獸，來拯救附魔的人的時，是以豬的死亡，光榮天主，像他自己和其他宗徒一樣（若12:24，21:19）。因此，豬並非不潔，而且給我們示範了如何光榮天主。光榮天主不是一眾天主教徒所應該追求的事嗎（要理問答#1）？
教宗方濟各在最新的宗座勸諭【你們要歡喜踴躍】，論述基督徒如何在現代世界成聖，他指出「真福八端」是基督徒的身份證。因此，按「真福八端」的態度生活，是基督徒成聖的不二法門。豬的溫良，豬不斷的飢渴，豬的一心一意（心裡潔淨），最後，豬為了人類而受「迫害」，作出完全的犧牲等，凡此種種，把真福的態度，展示在我們眼前！的確，執事鼓勵大家，最少在豬年，效法豬的「真福」態度。但是，祇有態度是不足夠的，我們需要具體和實際的行動。要貢獻家庭，貢獻堂區大家庭和社會大家庭，就要認識和實踐天主教的「社會訓導」。教宗方濟各希望每個天主教徒，成為活生生的「天主教社會訓導」。他細心編寫了一本DOCAT，簡易清晰地講解「天主教社會訓導」。
各位兄弟姊妹，在豬年，讓我們飢渴地精讀【你們要歡喜踴躍】和DOCAT，一心一意，溫良慈悲地貢獻家庭，完全地犧牲服務社會；像豬一樣多產，吸引更多得救的人，加入教會（宗2:47）。
天主保祐！
雞年談五德

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About Swines

Deacon Alex Kwok

On behalf of the Pastoral Team and staff of the St. Jerome's Church, may I take this occasion of Lunar New Year to wish you all a healthy, prosperous and abundantly blessed new year ahead. God arranges things around us. They must be beneficial. This is the Year of the Swine. Let us see how swines show God's love for us. The Chinese character for "family" is "a pig under a roof". How meaningful it is that a group of people living around a pig under the same roof form a family. Pigs are fertile and provide for a family financially as well as nutritively. Their contributions should never be discredited.

Unfortunately, men lack gratitude. Not only are men not grateful for pigs' contributions, but they also project many evil inclinations onto pigs: sloth, filth, gluttony and lust etc. Zhu Bajie in the Journey to the West is such a typical characterization. Unfortunately, even the Old Testament does not spare the pigs. Leviticus defines the Code of Cleanliness, "Any animal that has hoofs you may eat, provided it is cloven-footed and chews the cud." (Leviticus 11:3) Pigs have hoofs and is cloven-footed. However, they do not chew the cud and are therefore declared unclean. Men should not eat their meat. (11:7-8) Perhaps pigs look stupid. Even Jesus warns us in Matthew not to cast our pearls before swine, (Matthew 7:6) suggesting that we should not teach the stupid the truth. (Proverbs 23:9) Lastly, the most spectacular miracle Jesus did was to drive demons into a herd of 2000 pigs which jumped off the cliff to drown in the sea! (Mark 5:13)
However, we are grateful Catholics. Looking from another perspective, we can affirm once more pigs' contribution to men! For the sake of one person, Jesus Christ is willing to sacrifice 2000 pigs, which cost about an auction price of $5,200,000 or retail price of $19,000,000! Of course, this is not the price of a person. It only reflects how much God wants to save mankind regardless of the cost! How can we not be grateful to God and pigs which pay our price?
As for the stupidity of swine, I do not intend to defend them. But if we despise pigs for their stupidity, don't forget, there are countless stupid people on earth. We are only pots calling kettles black. Previously, scientists extracted insulin from pigs to control diabetes. Nowadays, scientists discover that pigs share about 84% DNA with human. It is hoped that we are able to discover ways to cure more human diseases from pigs. Men! Would you still despise pigs for their sloth, filth, gluttony and lust?
God looked at everything he had made and found it very good." (Genesis 1:31, Acts 10:15) Why then did men set up a system to declare pigs unclean to eat? Scholars believe that ancient wisdom mandated that things forbidden for men should be labelled sacred (e.g. the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the Tree of Life, the Burning Bush etc.), or things threathening the community's safety should be labelled unclean (e.g. animals with parasites, corpses, blood and aliens etc.) With our level of knowledge today, pigs are neither forbidden nor threantening to our society. There is nothing unclean of pigs.

It is a bit strange to declare pigs unclean when "
God calls us all to respond to His love. He further calls Christians, who have answered Him, to be "a holy nation, a people of his own." (1 Peter 2:9) God wants us to partake in His supernatural life, to become holy such that no pigs shall defile us! Pigs are no longer unclean. They are fertile. Their sacrificial contribution becomes an exemplar for Catholics. At least, we should contribute to our families. In his Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis points out that no family is perfect. Every family is a field hospital to nurse wounded members. Love is patient and sacrificial, like pigs. Indeed, when Jesus Christ chose to sacrifice a herd of swine, and not other animals, to save the possessed man, the demise of pigs gloried God, like he himself as well as the Apostles (John 12:24, 21:19). Thus, pigs are not unclean and they show us how to glorify God. Isn't the glorification of God something we Catholics should seek?

In his latest Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, Pope Francis discusses Christian sanctification in the modern world. He points out that the Beatitudes is the ID card of Christians. Thus, leading our life according to the teachings of the Beatitudes is the sure path to sanctification. Pigs are meek. They always hunger and thirst. They are determined (pure of heart) and lastly, they suffer "persecution" for us and completely sacrifice themselves. All these beatific attitudes are displayed before our eyes! Truly, at least in the Year of the Swine, I encourage you to follow the beatific attitudes of pigs. But having attitudes alone is not enough. We need concrete and practical actions. If we want to contribute to our families, our parish and our society, we need to know the social teachings of the Catholic Church and put them into practice. Pope Francis wants every Catholic to become a walking "Catholic Social Teachings". He has meticulously written a DOCAT to explain Catholic Social Teachings in a lucid way.
Brethren, in the Year of the Swine, let us hunger and thirst in reading Gaudete et Exsultate and DOCAT, single-mindedly, meekly and mercifully contribute to our families, totally committed to serve the society. Like fertile pigs, attract more people who were being saved into the Church. (Acts 2:47)
God bless!


Picture Credit:
http://gogonews.cc/article/6552883.html
https://logicvsgod.com/2015/02/28/why-did-jesus-send-demons-into-2000-pigs/
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/propernomenclature/docat/
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2018-04/pope-francis-apostolic-exhortation-gaudete-et-exsultate-summary.html