Theme: To Forgive Is Divine
Last Sunday, we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus. All three Synoptic gospels report that before He ascended into heaven, the risen Lord commissioned the disciples to proclaim the good news to all peoples (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:47-48). It seems that the Ascension of Jesus and the Commission of the disciples are not mentioned in the gospel of John. Yes, John does not record the incident of Ascension but in the Last Supper narrative, Jesus told the disciples that he would be leaving them for a while and would return. (John 14:3) Yes, John does not speak of the Jesus' commission of disciples to preach the gospel to the whole world, but when we take a closer look, you will be able to see that John did mention the commission in an indirect way in the passage today.
On the surface, the post-resurrection apparition story today gives us the origin of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Yes, to be a sacrament, it must be established by Jesus. It is a visible sign to confer invisible graces. For example, we claim that our Sacrament of Baptism was established by Jesus when he was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. Jesus consecrated the water to wash away our sins during that occasion (Mark 1:9-11). Again, during the Last Supper, Jesus consecrated the unleavened bread and the wine to become his body and blood to nourish our souls (14:22-24). In the passage today, Jesus gave the disciples the Holy Spirit and the authority to forgive sins (John 20:22-23). Therefore, we have found the prooftext to support the establishment of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Let us take a longer view at the mission of Jesus. Out of love, God created a universe suitable for humanity. Out of love, He created men in His image so that among all creatures, only humanity can partake in His eternal life. But men fell from grace, disobeyed God and wanted to become God themselves (Genesis 3:5). The whole creation was contaminated by sins. Out of love, God did not give up. He sent Jesus Christ to redeem the whole Creation together with us. In the words of St. Paul, "Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliaiton. So, we are ambassadors for Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:17-20a) That is to say, God and sinners reconcile in Christ and as His followers, we too should carry on this mission of reconciliation. In order to reconcile, God takes the initiative to forgive us. He does not count our trespasses against us. And this is the good news! Therefore, when Jesus Christ gave the disciples the authority to forgive, they became bearers of this good news and ambassadors of reconciliation to carry on Jesus' mission of reconciling the whole Creation to God.
In fact, all of us who were baptized were given the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Therefore, all of us share this ministry of reconciliation as well. Of course, priests and bishops are ministers of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and they represent Jesus Christ in person to forgive sins. But you and I are also given the authority to forgive in order to "complete" the Sacrament. Let me explain what I mean. When we go to confession, we may not have the opportunity or courage to apologize in person and receive forgiveness from the people we have offended. Still, our sins are absolved by God with or without their forgiveness. Somehow, something is missing without their forgiveness. We have to wait until the end of the world to meet them in heaven to seek their forgiveness in person in order to feel complete. On the other hand, if we generously forgive after the offenders have confessed, we "complete" the reconciliation. If we generously forgive before the offenders confess, we might have encouraged them to go to confession, thus saving their souls. Therefore, to forgive is not only a good way of evangelization, but it is also an opportunity to exercise the authority empowered us by the Holy Spirit. Like muscles which wither without exercises, our spiritual muscles need flexing. The more we forgive, the more divine we become!
Today, some members of our community shall receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. They shall receive the Holy Spirit who gives the recipients seven supernatural gifts which help them grow into perfection! Let us revise what these gifts are. They are the gifts of Wisdom, which makes us desire and love heavenly things instead of secular things. It has nothing to do with our intelligence. It is a feeling of attraction towards God instead of, say money. Nowadays, there are many false opinions circulating on the social media. It is not easy to tell which are truths and which are rumours and fallacies. The gifts of Understanding helps us grasp the truths necessary for our salvation. Even after we understand, out of selfishness and vainglory, we may make wrong choices. The gift of Counsel enables us to see and choose correctly, to do the right things to glorify God and to save our souls. We shall face many obstacles and difficulties when we carry out righteous actions which go against the trend. The gift of Fortitude strengthens us to overcome these difficulties. In the course of our struggle towards heaven, the gift of Knowledge illuminates us, point out to us the path to follow and the dangers to avoid. To sustain us, the gift of Piety inspires in us a tender and filial confidence in God, makes us serve Him and suffer for Him joyfully. Last of all, the Fear of the Lord fills us with a sovereign respect for His majesty and dare not to offend Him. The Bible tells us that "The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom" (Proverbs 1:7) Thus, we come to a full circle back to Wisdom. These gifts are beautifully linked to help us grow effectively to perfection and discharge faithfully our role as ambassadors of reconciliation for Christ in the world. Remember, they are gifts. It is not our merits to receive them. They show us God's love shall never end.
Brethren, let us call upon the Holy Spirit to come upon us once more, to strengthen us to renew the Creation.
God bless!
五旬節聖神降臨，丙年
主題：寬恕是神聖的使命
上一個主日，我們慶祝耶穌升天節。三部對觀福音記載了耶穌升天前，差遣祂的門徒向萬民傳揚福音（瑪28:19-20；谷16:15-16；路24:27-28），但若望福音好像沒有記載。的確，若望福音沒有記載耶穌升天的事蹟，但在最後晚餐的敘述中，耶穌告訴門徒祂要離走，之後必再來接他們到祂那裡去。（若14:3）的確，若望福音沒有記載耶差遣門徒向萬民傳揚福音，但細讀今天的經文，我們便看到若望間接地說出這個差遣。
表面上，這段復活後顯現的敘述，給我們耶穌基督建立修和聖事的經文。對，作為一件聖事，它必須由耶穌基督所建立，以有形可見的標記，賦予不可見的恩寵。例如，我們聲稱當耶穌在約旦河接受若翰的洗禮時，建立了聖洗聖事。祂進入水中，祝聖了水，使它能洗去我們的罪過（谷1:9-11）。又例如在最後晚餐的時候，耶穌祝聖了無酵餅和酒，使它們成為滋養我們靈魂的聖體聖血（14:22-24）。按今天的經文所記載，耶穌賜給門徒聖神，及赦罪的權柄（若20:22-23）。我們找到了耶穌基督建立修和聖事所根據的經文。
我們試以一個長遠的角度看耶穌的使命。出於愛，天主創造了一個適合人居住的宇宙。出於愛，天主按自己的肖像創造了人類，在眾生之中，惟獨人類能分享祂的永恆生命。可惜人背逆了天主，失落了恩寵，想自己成為天主（創3:5），於是整個受造界被罪惡所污染。出於愛，天主沒有放棄，祂差遣耶穌基督拯救整個受造界，包括人類。引述聖保祿的說話：「所以誰若在基督內，他就是一個新受造物，舊的已成過去，看，都成了新的。這一切都是出於天主，祂曾藉基督使我們與祂自己和好，並這和好的職務賜給了我們。這就是說：天主在基督內使世界與自己和好，不再追究他們的過犯，且將和好的話放在我們的口中。所以我們是代基督作大使。」（格後5:17-20a）即是說，在基督內天主與罪人和好。作為基督的追隨者，我們應繼續祂的修和使命。為了修和，天主採取主動寬恕了我們，祂不再追究我們的過犯，這就是福音！因此，當耶穌基督賜給門徒赦罪的權柄時，他們成了這福音的載體和修和大使，去繼續基督使世界與天父和好的任務。
事實上，我們領受了入門聖事的人，在堅振聖事中已領受了聖神。所以我們也分享了這修和的職務。當然，祇有主教和神父纔是告解聖事的主禮人，他們代表著耶穌基督赦罪。但你和我也接受了赦罪的「權柄」使這件聖事得以「圓滿」。讓我解釋：當我們辦告解的時候，可能我們未有機會；或者沒有勇氣向當事人親身道歉，但道歉與否，天主會寬赦我們的罪。不過，得不到當事的的寬恕，我們總有點遺憾的感覺。我們要等到末日在天上與他們重逢，親身尋求寬恕總感到釋懷。另一方面，倘若對方辦告解後得到我們的寬恕，我們完成了修和。倘若在他們辦告解前，我們已寬恕了他們，或許這樣做會鼓勵了他們告解，救了他們的靈魂。因此，寬恕不但是一個傳福音的好方法，更是一個行使聖神所賦予寬恕權柄的好機會。正如不運動的肌肉會萎縮，靈性的肌肉也必須操練。所以我們越行使寬恕之權，我們變得越神聖！
今天，我們的團體中有幾位成員將會領受堅振聖事，他們將會領受「聖神七恩」，幫助他們成長，邁向至善！讓我們重溫這七份超性的禮物。智慧之恩，使我們渴慕天上的事，而不是世俗的事。智慧與理智無關，它是一種渴慕天主，而不是渴慕金錢的感覺。今天的社交媒體，充斥著各種虛假的意見，從中掌握甚麼是真理事實，甚麼是謠言謬論，殊不容易。聰敏之恩幫助我們掌握得救的真理。即使我們明白了真理，出於私慾和虛榮，我們會作出錯誤的抉擇。超見之恩幫助我們作出正確的選擇，做光榮天主和救自己靈魂的工作。當我們作出反潮流的公義行動時，我們會遇上很多障礙和困難，這時，我們需要剛毅之恩堅強我們克服困難。在邁向天國的路上，明達之恩光照我們，指出行善避惡之途。孝愛之恩默感我們孝愛天主，樂意事奉天主，甚至為祂受苦。最後，敬畏之恩今我們對天主的偉大肅然起敬起畏，不敢冒犯天主。聖經說：「敬畏上主是智慧的肇始。」（箴1:7）我們又回到了智慧之恩！這些超性恩典環環相扣，幫助我們有效地成長，並忠信地履行作表基督在世上作為修和大使的職務。要記住，這些恩典是白白得來的禮物，我們並不堪當領受的。天主對我們的愛，的確永無窮盡。
兄位兄弟姊妹，讓我們呼求天主聖神再次降臨，堅振我們，更新受造界。
天主保祐！
No comments:
Post a Comment