三月七日聖灰瞻禮後星期四（路9:22-25）
「人縱然賺得了全世界，卻喪失了自己，或賠上自己，為他有什益處呢﹖」（路9:25）
用不著喪失了自己，或者賠上性命那麼嚴重。即使是為了賺得全世界，卻賠上自己的健康，失去了享受成果的機會；又或者喪失了親情，不能與家人共享成就，的確沒有益處，的確可惜。但耶穌基督在這一段經文所提出的告誡，並不是指這些人之常情！
基督徒不是蒙召成聖的嗎？作為基督徒，不是富有「犧牲小我，完成大我」的宏願嗎？不是懷有「功成不必我在」的豪情壯志嗎？那麼，賠上健康、性命和親情，又有甚麼大不了呢？教會的禮儀日曆上，不是充斥著以各式各樣方法殉道的聖人嗎？他們為信仰而作出犧牲，名留清史，獲得後世信徒的歌頌。有何不對？
的確，憑表面很難判別誰是革命烈士，誰是殉道者。大家都是為了一個更高尚，更偉大的理想而作出犧牲，實在令人敬佩。不過，革命烈士祇是烈士，不是聖人；至於殉道者，卻是聖人！分別在哪？聖保祿宗徒曾教訓說：「我若捨身投火被焚，但我若沒有愛，為我毫無益處。」（格前13:3）又是「益處」？真巧合！
基督徒，不要忘記，「天主是愛」（若一4:8，16）聖經的教訓是非常明明白白的。我若沒有天主，即使賺得了全世界也是枉然；我若沒有天主，喪失了性命，成為革命烈士也是毫無益處！我若沒有天主，無論怎樣盡力為教會奉獻精神時間，也是在浪費天主所賜的「塔冷通」，白費心機！
天主啊！請不要向我掩面，讓我找到真正的心靈富足。亞孟！
On Gain
March 7, Thursday after Ash Wednesday (Luke 9:22-25)
"What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?" (Luke 9:25)
You don't need to lose your life or forfeit yourself in order to suffer. Even if you gain the whole world at the expense of your health so that you are unable to enjoy the fruit of your efforts; or at the expense of your family relations so that they are not able to share your joy of achievement, it is already pitiful. But Jesus Christ does not warn us against these natural consequences!
Aren't Christians called to be saints? As Christians, aren't we filled with the passion of sacrificing oneself for the bigger good? Do we not cherish the noble ideal of ploughing without expecting to see the harvest? Then, losing one's health, life and families is no big deal. Isn't the Church calendar filled with saints who suffered martyrdom in various manners? They lost their lives to bear witness for their faith. They are immortalized and praised throughout the ages. Is there anything wrong?
Truly, it is difficult to differentiate revolutionaries from martyrs. All of them die for a nobler and greater ideal and have earned our respect. But revolutionaries are not saints. Martyrs are. What is the difference? St. Paul says, "If I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:3) It is "gain" again. What a coincidence?
Christians! Don't forget that "God is love." (1 John 4:8, 16) The teaching of the Bible is crystal clear. If I don't have God, it is pointless to gain the whole world. If I don't believe in God, losing my life as a revolutionary is worthless! If I don't have God, it will be a waste of God's given talents to spend all my time and energy to serve the Church!
My God, don't hide your countenance from me. Let me find true satisfaction in you. Amen.
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