主題：我們都是天父所揀選的
在四旬期第一主日，福音告訴我們耶穌基督如何三退魔誘。受造物中，祇有人類纔會受試探誘惑。動物不會，天使和魔鬼也不會。因為在一般的情況下，動物按牠們的本能生活，沒有所謂濫殺無辜，犯姦淫和說謊等。天使和魔鬼是定了型的靈體，他們各自擁有清晰的立場和任務，塵世間沒有甚麼事物可以改變他們，引誘他們。人類既是天主的肖象，能分辨善惡，又有天主賜予的自由。因此，宇宙間惟有人類經常處於「心神固然切願，但肉體卻軟弱」（谷14:38）的狀態之中，我們必需作出努力，纔能克服拉扯我們離開天主的誘惑。上一個星期的福音，告訴我們一個基督宗教的當信道理：耶穌基督是真正的人，祂的死亡是真實的，不是一個假象！在四旬期，我們與候洗者一起，用四十天的時間準備慶祝復活節。從耶穌基督三退魔誘的事蹟中，學習基督運用天主的聖言，幫助我們拒絕遠離天主。
今天我們耹聽耶穌基督顯聖容的事蹟，默想祂是真天主的道理。在默想前，讓我們澄清一些細節。耶穌顯聖容的事蹟，記載在三部對觀福音之中，發生在伯多祿宣認耶穌為默西亞和耶穌基督第一次預言受難復活之後。雖然耶穌基督想告訴他們復活的喜訊，可惜門徒接受不了他們的師傅，要前往耶路撒冷受死的計劃，伯多祿甚至想阻止耶穌，結果被耶穌斥責他是撒殫！後來，耶穌基督決定帶三名入室弟子，上山顯聖容，讓他們明白復活後分享天主永恆生命的光榮。
三部對觀福音之中，惟有路加福音記載了梅瑟，厄里亞與耶穌基督對話的內容：「他們出顯在光耀中，談論耶穌的去世，即祂在耶路撒冷必要完成的事。」（路9:31）希臘文原文並不是用「去世」一辭，而是「出谷」。即是說，耶穌基督將來在耶路撒冷受難，死亡，復活和升天，是一個「出谷」事件。耶穌基督的死亡和復活，是一個逾越到永生的程序。從此，信仰祂的人，死亡不再是灰飛煙滅，而是跨越到永生的門限，是一次「出谷」！我們與候洗者在四旬期的準備，就是準備一次「出谷」。候洗者準備逾越，度一個脫免罪惡奴役的基督徒恩寵生活；已經是基督徒的我們，準備再跨進一步，走近天父多一些，接受更豐盛的恩寵。
瑪竇福音和馬爾谷福音說是「六天後」（瑪17:1；谷9:2），路加福音卻說是「過了八天」（路9:28）。那麼究竟是「六天」還是「八天」呢？其實，「六天」還是「八天」並不重要，福音的作者這樣安排，自有他所希望表達的訊息。聖安博認為「八天」是指耶穌基督的復活，因為耶穌基督是在一周的第一天復活，亦可以說是第八天。聖安博說：「誰聽了基督的話並相信的，在復活時將會看見基督的光榮。」倘若我們聽了並相信耶穌基督的教訓，並在生活中為祂的復活作見證；在末日，我們也可以像三位宗徒一樣，享見基督聖容的光輝。
除了表示復活之外，「八天」也可以象徵神聖的集會。在舊約的法律和歷史事蹟中，多次提及「在第八天舉行盛大的，全民的神聖集會。」（肋23:36，戶29:35，編下7:9，厄下8:18）雖然在顯聖容時，門徒祇看見梅瑟和厄里亞兩個，並不算甚麼盛大的集會。但不要忘記，梅瑟代表了法律，厄里亞代表了先知，兩個人一起代表著整個舊約。因此，梅瑟和厄里亞代表著整個舊約的所有人物，把新的盟約交託到耶穌基督的手中。三位宗徒是教會的支柱，他們在現場，同樣代表著新約時代所開展的教會所組成的一個神聖集會，他們要向世界見證天父對世人的慈愛。
最後，按猶太人的習俗，在第八天為初生男嬰舉行「割損禮」，並給他起一個名字，使他正式成為猶太人團體的一份子！在描述雲中出現的聲音時，路加福音的記載很特別，說：「這是我的兒子，我所揀選的…」（路9:35）。我們的信仰，宣稱耶穌基督是天主子，是聖父所生，而非聖父所造。既是聖父所生的，為甚麼是「揀選」的呢？要知道路加福音是一本祈禱書。固然，他描述耶穌生平的時候，經常提及耶穌基督的祈禱，不但如此，路加把每件事蹟，都描述成為祈禱的材料。整個顯聖容的事蹟，是一個默想祈禱的材料，尤其是這句「這是我的兒子，我所揀選的」，不單指示耶穌基督本人的身份，更是指耶穌基督的奧體，祂的教會！我們與及所有候洗者，都是天父所揀選的！我們的「割損禮」就是「洗禮」，我們要割損的，不再是肉體上的包皮，而是我們的心靈（申30:6，耶4:4，羅2:29）。我們真是幸福，有幸被天父所揀選，他日將分享復活永生光榮的福樂！
各位兄弟姊妹，為了承受這幸福，今天我們應做甚麼呢？我們既蒙召成為聖徒，組合成一個神聖的集會。讓我們跟隨教宗方濟各在【你們要歡喜踴躍】的號召，在生活中活出「真福八端」的精神，朝著永生邁進，他日有資格分享耶穌基督的天主性！
天主保祐！
Second Lenten Sunday, Year C
Theme: We Are Chosen by the Father
On the first Sunday of Lent, the gospel told us how Jesus Christ overcame temptations. Among the Creation, only human can be tempted. Animals won't be, neither be angels nor devils. It is because under normal circumstances, animals act according to their instincts. It is meaningless to say they kill the innocent, commit adultery and tell lies etc. Angels and devils are fixed spirits. Their stance and missions are fixed. Nothing on earth is able to tempt them to change their courses. But men were created in the image of God. They are able to know good from evil. Furthermore, God gave them freedom. Thus, only humans among the Creation always remain in a state of "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." (Mark 14:38) We have to work hard in order to overcome temptations that drag us away from God. The gospel on last Sunday tells us an important Christian dogma: Jesus Christ is genuinely human. His death is real, not an illusion! During Lent, we together with the elect shall spend forty days preparing for the celebration of Easter. We learn from Jesus' example of overcoming temptations how to make use of the Scriptures to refuse drifting away from God.
Today, we hear of the narrative of the Transfiguration. We meditate on the divinity of Jesus Christ. Before the meditation, let us clarify the context. The three Synoptic Gospel report the incident. It happened after Peter's Declaration of Jesus' Messiahship and Jesus' first Passion Prediction. Although Jesus wanted to tell his disciples the good news of resurrection, they could not accept their master's plan to suffer in Jerusalem. Peter even tried to stop Jesus. Consequently, Jesus rebuked him and called him Satan! Later, Jesus decided to take the core of the apostles to witness his Transfiguration, allowing them to understand the glory of partaking in God's eternal life after resurrection.
Among the Synoptic Gospel, only Luke mentions the contents of the exchanges between Jesus with Moses and Elijah, "Who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem." (Luke 9:31) The word "exodus" was used. That is to say, the passion, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem would be an Exodus event. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a process of Passover to eternal life. From hence, for all believers, death is no longer an annihilation but a passover of the threshold to eternal life. It is an Exodus! Together with the elect, we prepare in Lent an Exodus once more! The elect prepare to passover to lead a Christian life of grace free from the bondage of sins. We, who are Catholics, prepare to move a step closer to the Father to receive more abundant life.
Matthew and Mark talks about "six days later" (Matthew 17:1, Mark 9:2). But Luke says, "About eight days after this" (Luke 9:28). Well then, was it six or eight? In fact, whether it is six or eight is not important. The Evangelists wish to express their messages with such arrangements. St. Ambrose opined that "eight days" refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is because Jesus Christ rose on the first day of the week. It can be said to be the eighth day. St. Ambrose continued, "He who listen to the words of Christ and believe shall be able to see the glory of Christ at resurrection." If we listen and believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ and bear witness to his resurrection in our daily life, at the Last Judgment, we shall be able to see the glory of his countenance like the three apostles.
Other than resurrection, "eight days" also symbolizes sacred assemblies. In Torah as well as historical events in the Old Testament, "sacred assemblies of the people on the eighth day" were mentioned many times. (Leviticus 23:36, Numbers 29:35, 2 Chronicles 7:9, Nehemiah 8:18) Although the apostles only saw Moses and Elijah, which was not a big assembly, don't forget, Moses represents the Law and Elijah the Prophets, together they represented the whole of the Old Testament. Thus, Moses and Elijah represented all the people of the Old Testament to pass on the New Testament to Jesus Christ. The three apostles are the pillars of the Church. Their presence represented the sacred assembly of the Church inaugurated in the New Testament. They shall bear witness to the mercy of the Father to the world.
Lastly, according to Jewish customs, a male baby should be circumcized on the eighth day and given a name so that it would be formally declared a member of the Jewish community! The Lukan narration of the voice in the cloud is peculiar, "This is my chosen Son" (Luke 9:35). In Christianity, Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten of the Father, not made. If he was "begotten", why "chosen"? We have to appreciate that the gospel of Luke is a book of prayer. Of course, in telling the life of Jesus, Luke always mentions the prayings of Jesus Christ. Not only that, Luke narrates every event as materials of prayer. The Transfiguration is stuff for meditation and prayer. In particular, "This is my chosen Son" not only indicates the identity of Jesus Christ, but it also points to the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church! Together with the elect, we are chosen by the Father. Our baptism is the circumcision. We should circumcise, not the foreskins of our body but our hearts (Deuteronomy 30:6, Jeremiah 4:4, Romans 2:29). How blessed we are to be chosen by the Father to partake in the glory of eternal life after resurrection!
Brethren! In order to inherit this blessedness, what shall we do today? Since we are called to be saints, to form a sacred assembly, let us follow the call of Pope Francis in Gautete et Exsultate to lead a life in accordance to the spirit of the Beatitudes. Let us march ahead towards eternal life so that someday we may partake in the divinity of Jesus Christ!
God bless!
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