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
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!
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