主題：認出耶穌基督
首先，讓我們了解今天福音的背景。耶穌基督復活後，顯現給祂選定的人，而不是所有的人。那些見過耶穌基督顯現的人，成了祂復活的見證人，負擔起作見證的責任，向世人宣講耶穌基督的復活，使更多人能分享復活所帶來的新生命！
按福音的記載，門徒們認不出復活了的耶穌基督。無論在墳墓旁顯現給瑪利亞瑪達肋納（若20:15），還是在厄瑪烏路上與兩個門徒同行（路24:16），與及今次（若21:4），沒有人能立刻認出耶穌基督。每次都是憑耶穌基督曾做過的事，認出祂來。瑪利亞瑪達肋納先入為主，以為站在她面前的是一個園丁，搬走了耶穌基督的遺體。當基督叫她的名字時，纔認出師傅來（20:15-16）。前往厄瑪烏的兩個門徒，以為同行的是一個朝聖者，在京城過完了逾越節便回鄉。當基督在他們面前擘餅並遞給他們時，他們纔認出耶穌來（路24:30-31）。他們不一定有份出席最後晚餐，見過基督建立聖體聖事。很大機會，他們在五餅二魚神蹟的現場，見過耶穌望著天，祝福了餅的情景（9:16）。今次一樣，一整夜捕魚，一無所獲。但按主的指示撒網，就得到豐富的魚獲（5:4-7）。因此，門徒是憑耶穌從前所行的事蹟，認出復活的主。
為甚麼可以呢？
正如認出臨現在聖體聖事中的耶穌基督，需要很大的信德，同樣，在被歧視的難民，少數族裔，新移民，被遺棄在醫院裡，安老院裡的長者，監獄中的囚犯，飽受剝削的外判清潔工人和很多勞動貧窮的人等，要認出臨現在他們身上的耶穌基督，極需要靈活的信德。這靈活的信德，是如何栽培得來呢？
各位兄弟姊妹，不要忘記耶穌基督藉著聖體聖事，與我們結合為一，祂也同樣臨現在我們身上。因此，我們應多向聖神祈求，時常賜下七樣神恩，幫助我們認識真理，愛慕基督。也許，耶穌基督會藉著我們說話，把自己啟示給我們所接觸到的人，也未可知！
其次，耶穌基督受難和復活的地點，是京城耶路撒冷。在復活後的第一天和第八天，耶穌基督在耶路撒冷顯現給門徒。根據若望福音的版本，今次是第三次顯現，地點在提庇黎雅海（若21:1），即加里就亞海，在北方。即是說，在復活與升天的四十天之間（宗1:3），耶穌基督並不是天天與門徒在一起。祂的顯現，可以說是神出鬼沒的。所以大家不要奇怪，為甚麼伯多祿打算重操故業，「我去打魚」，而其餘的人也附和他（若21:3）。三年來追隨耶穌基督，滿以為在推翻羅馬統治之後，可以在天國裡獲得一官半職。如今一敗塗地，想東山再起，談何容易！雖然耶穌基督復活了，有新的轉機。可是復活了的主，卻是行蹤飄忽，難以觸摸。遇到這種前路茫茫的處境，選擇做新的事物，比較冒險。最安全的辦法，還是「再作馮婦」罷了。
這事實給我們後世的信徒，一個非常重要的啟示。耶穌基督復活後升了天，你和我並沒有這份福氣，可以親眼看見祂，親耳聽到祂，甚至好像宗徒們一樣，親手觸摸到復活了的主所保留的傷口。不過，透過認識福音，認識福音所記載的耶穌基督的言行，我們也可以憑這些事蹟，認出復活的主。
第一，耶穌基督在講論最後審判時，已經事先張揚了「考試題目」，就是教會所教導的「形哀矜」。君王說：「凡你們對我這些最小兄弟中的一個所做的，就是對我做的。」（瑪25:40）即是說，耶穌基督臨現在需要照顧的病弱者身上，在被邊緣化的弱勢社群之中，在流離失所的難民之中，在被剝奪了尊嚴的外籍勞工之中和被拐帶販賣的人口之中等等。君王給予我們機會，正在等候著我們去服侍祂，並認出祂來！倘若我們不認識這段福音，又怎會主動地去服事祂呢？
第二，耶穌基督升天前曾許諾天天與門徒在一起，直到今世的終結（28:20）。因此，教會每天（除了聖周五）舉行彌撒，把無酵餅祝聖為聖體，兌現主耶穌的諾言。倘若我們不認識這段福音，又怎會主動地去參與平日彌撒，天天領聖體呢？
讀聖經當然是基本功。可是，我們沒有接受過適當的訓練，沒有留心彌撒中的講道，就未必有能力明白聖經了。即使你願意參加訓練課程，與及聚精會神留心耹聽神父的講道，也未必明白聖經，因為秘訣在於聖神。耶穌基督在最後晚餐時，許諾賜下護慰者，就是聖神，那位真理之神，「祂必要教訓你們一切，也要使你們想起，我對你們所說的一切。」（若14:26）聖神賜予「智慧」，讓我們愛慕天主的事，而不是世俗的事；「聰敏」，讓我們理解做耶穌門徒應該做的事；「超見」幫助我們明辨是非，遠避罪惡；「剛毅」令我們能擇善固執，不怕困難，為主作證；「明達」給我們所需要的能力，明白基督和教會所訓導的真理；「孝愛」使我們謙遜地信靠基督和祂的教會；「敬畏上主」使我們害怕犯罪，不願意離開天主。最後，「敬畏上主是智慧的開端」（箴9:10），我們又回到智慧了。聖神的七恩，原來是環環相扣，循環不息的！聖神七恩，不單在理性上幫助我們明白，還暖化我們冰冷了的心靈，熱愛天主。因此，是主耶穌所愛的門徒，首先認出在岸上的是主（若21:7）。有了聖神在心中，我們的信德那有不活潑之理？要認出耶穌基督，又有何難？
天主保祐！
Third Easter Sunday, Year C
Theme: Recognize Jesus Christ First of all, let us clarify the context of the gospel today. After His resurrection, Jesus Christ appeared to elected ones, not to all. Those to whom Jesus had appeared became His witnesses. They are entrusted with the mission to proclaim Jesus' resurrection, making more people enjoy the new life brought about by resurrection!
Secondly, the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ took place in Jerusalem. On the first and eighth days, Jesus Christ appeared to his disciples. According to the gospel of John, this apparition was the third. It took place at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1), the Sea of Galilee in the north. That is to say, during the forty days (Acts 1:3) between His Resurrection and Ascension, Jesus Christ did not stay with the disciples every day. His apparitions were sporadic. Thus, we should not be surprised when Peter wanted to go back fishing while the others joined him (John 21:3). Following Jesus for three years, the disciples expected some positions in the Kingdom of Heaven after overthrowing the Romans. Now that the whole endeavour ended up in a tragedy, it was easier said than done to talk about standing up where you fell. Although new opportunities arose after Jesus Christ had risen, his apparitions were so unpredictable! When chances of success were slim, it would be rather risky to try new things. The safest bet is to take up the previous job again.
According to the gospel narratives, the disciples failed to recognize the risen Lord. Whether it was Mary Magdalene at the tomb (John 20:15), or the two disciples on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:16) and the story today (John 21:4), nobody was able to recognize Jesus Christ instantly. Every time, they recognized Jesus only after seeing what He had done before. Mary Magdalene had the preconception that the guy standing before her was the gardener who moved Jesus' corpse away. When Christ called her by her name, she immediately recognized that it was Rabbouni (20:15-16). The two disciples on their way to Emmaus thought that their new companion was a pilgrim who was returning home after celebrating the Passover in Jerusalem. When Christ broke the bread and gave it to them, their eyes opened and recognized Him (Luke 24:30-31). They might not be present at the Last Supper to see the institution of the Sacrament of Eucharist. Most likely, they were present at the miracle of five loaves and two fish. They saw Jesus looking up to heaven and said the blessing over the bread (9:16). This time, the same story repeated. They fished the whole night and caught nothing. But when they followed the Lord's command, they caught a large number of fish (5:4-7). Thus, the disciples recognized the risen Lord by seeing what Jesus had done before.
This fact is an important revelation to disciples of the future generations. Jesus Christ ascended to heaven after resurrection. You and I do not have the blessing to see Him with our own eyes, to hear with our own ears, or even like the apostles, to touch the wounds which the risen Lord has deliberately kept with our own hands. But through knowing the gospel, knowing the words and deeds of Jesus Christ, we are able to recognize the risen Lord.
How can this be possible?
First of all, when Jesus Christ spoke about the Last Judgment, He leaked the "examination topics" to us. They are the Corporal Works of Mercy the Church teaches. The King says, "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40) That is to say, Jesus Christ is present among the weak and the sick who need to be taken care of, among the marginalized disadvantaged social groups, the rootless refugees, the foreign domestic helpers whose dignity has been trampled and the victims of human trafficking etc. The King is giving us opportunities and waiting for us to serve Him and to recognize Him! If we do not know this passage, how shall we take the initiative to serve Him?
Secondly, before His ascension, Jesus Christ promised His apostles to be with them always until the end of the age (28:20). Thus, in order to honour the Lord's promise, the Church celebrates masses everyday (except on the Good Friday) to consecrate unleavened bread into the body of Christ. If we do not know this passage, how shall we attend mass to receive the Holy Communion every day?
It takes a very strong faith to recognize the presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Communion. Likewise, it is as difficult to recognize His presence among the despised refugees, ethnic minorities, newly arrived immigrants, abandoned elderly in hospitals as well as homes for the aged, inmates in prisons, exploited outsourced janitors and the working poor etc. It takes an active faith to be able to recognize. How shall we cultivate such an active faith?
Bible study is the foundation. Unfortunately, if we have not received proper training or have not paid attention to the homilies during mass, we may not have the capability to understand the Bible. Even if you attend training courses, or listen to the priest's homilies attentively, you may not understand because the Holy Spirit is essential. During the Last Supper, Jesus Christ promised to send the Advocate, i.e. the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Truth, "He will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you." (John 14:26) The Holy Spirit gives us Wisdom which helps us desire God instead of secular things; Understanding which helps us understand as Jesus' disciples, what the right things to do are; Counsel helps us discriminate right from wrong and avoid sins; Fortitude helps us insist on doing good, overcoming difficulties to bear witness for the Lord; Knowledge gives us the capability to understand the truth of Jesus Christ and the Church; Piety helps us humbly put our trust in Christ and His Church and Fear of the Lord helps us refrain from committing sins and be reluctant to leave God. Lastly, "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord" (Proverbs 9:10). We are back to square one, Wisdom. Actually, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are linked and circular! Not only do these gifts help us understand rationally, but they also warm and melt our frozen hearts to love God. Thus, the disciple whom Jesus loved was the first to recognize the Lord on the shore (John 21:7). With the Holy Spirit in our hearts, can our faith not be active? What difficulty there is to recognize Jesus Christ?
Brethren, never forget that Jesus Christ makes us one in Him through the Holy Communion. He is also present in us. Thus, let us pray more to the Holy Spirit, to request the seven gifts to help us know the truth and love Christ. Perhaps Jesus Christ would speak through us and reveal Himself to those we come into contact!
God bless!
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