主題：我們忿怒了！
【創世紀】說，天主按自己的肖像，創造了人類（創1:26）。由這一句說話引申，因為天主是公義的，所以我們與生俱來有一份「正義感」。當我們感覺到自己，或者看見別人，得不到公平對待的時候，我們會義憤填膺，有所行動。從今天的福音，我們知道，號稱「雷霆之子」（谷3:17）的雅各伯和若望，因為得不到禮貎的對待，便有所行動。這個記述，印證了「雷霆之子」的稱號，的確名不虛傳。可幸他們尚算冷靜，先請求耶穌基督的批准（路9:54），否則，猶太人與撒瑪黎雅人再添加仇恨，後果真是不堪設想！經過幾十年來不斷的默想，若望昇華了他的忿怒，成為宣講「天主是愛」（若一4:8）的宗徒！
讓我們看看人類的第一個忿怒，帶來甚麼後果！亞當的兒子，加音和亞伯爾一齊奉獻收獲給天主。天主悅納亞伯爾的奉獻，卻沒有惠顧加音的奉獻。創世紀說，「因此加音大怒，垂頭喪氣。」（創4:5）他垂頭喪氣，因為加音覺得自己的努力是白費的。他大怒，因為他覺得天主偏心，天主不公平！其實，公義的天主又怎會不公平呢？今次天主不惠顧他的奉獻，還有下一次，再下一次…加音祇給天主一次機會，反而是他對天主不公平了。所以加音的忿怒，是沒有基礎的。
不知是否因為人類是按天主肖像所造，所以妄想變成天主，喜歡扮演天主，成為了人類的死穴，成了撒殫誘惑人類的切入點！例如，在科技領域上，凡有能力做到的，有野心的科學家不理會是否違反人性尊嚴，是否有歪倫常，他會運用一切藉口去改造人類基因！在待人接物方面，很多人喜歡以自己的期望，自己的尺度，扮天主去審判別人，去指控別人犯錯！例如在很多堂區，他們會批評歌詠團在彌撒中祇顧表演、宣揚讀經員讀錯字、指摘禮儀服務員對帶著小孩參加彌撒的媽媽沒有愛心、執事驕傲自大，目中無人；政教應該是分離的，所以主教不應在社會運動中太出位等等。
殊不知天主的大能，並不是以創造驚天動地的神蹟來表達，而是以大愛造就罪人，以謙卑地死在十字架上的行動展現出來；天主的公義並不在於審判，而是在於慈悲的拯救和寬恕！因此，作為天主的肖像，基督徒應該以彼此相愛，彼此造就來表達他的能力，應該以彼此寬恕來表達他的公義。梅瑟所教導的「以牙還牙，以眼還眼」，或者寫休書休妻（谷10:5），祇是權宜之計而已。所以，忿怒是源於一個錯誤的正義感，一個自以為是的所謂公義！當我們互相廝殺，互相指責，互相抹黑，互相推卸責任，指摘對方掟磚，向著對方頭部開槍，對方混入人群煽動衝擊等等的時候，最傷心的不是撒殫，而是天主。天主希望看見作為警察的，守護市民的權利；作為市民的，與警察合作，撲滅罪行。警察與市民，彼此造就，站在同一戰線，建立一個可以安居樂業，沒有恐懼的社會！
聖保祿宗徒教導我們，作為耶穌基督所救贖了的天主子民，我們在俗世成為了耶穌基督的大使。天主子降生成人，為了使世人與天父修和，並告訴世人天父「不再追究他們的過犯」（格後5:19）。我們自稱為基督徒的人，也應向世人宣講這修和的福音，待人接物時做修和大使！耶穌基督在「真福八端」中，教導我們溫良、慈悲和締造和平，這纔是成全之路（瑪5:48），成聖之路（肋11:44）。
各位兄弟姊妹，讓我們以溫良慈悲之心，渴慕天主救贖之意，在生活中，在抗爭中，締造和平，成為修和大使，成為天父的子女。
那時候，天主勸告加音要制服忿怒，不要被忿怒衝昏了頭腦。可惜加音沒有理會天主的教導，結果殺死了自己的弟弟。當天主追問加音的時候，加音反駁說：「難道我是看守我弟弟的人？」（4:9）加音是兄長，當然是弟弟亞伯爾的守護者，造就他的弟弟。不幸忿怒衝昏了加音的頭腦，導致骨肉相殘。這不但令天主，令亞當厄娃傷心，而旁邊的撒殫，卻慶祝贏了一仗！結果，加音成為逃犯，要流離失所，一生逃避不了這殺弟的罪惡感！
天主保祐！
Thirteenth Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: We Are Furious!
Genesis says that God created men according to His own image (Genesis 1:26). Through extension, since God is righteous, therefore human beings are born with a sense of justice. When we feel that we, or see that others, are not fairly treated, we become furious and jump into action. From the gospel passage today, we read that the "Boanerges", James and John, wanted to take action after they had been slighted. This story shows that they were true to their names. Luckily, they were prudent enough to seek the permission of Jesus Christ before they acted (Luke 9:54). Otherwise, the enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans would be deepened. The consequences would be amplified! After decades of meditation, John sublimed his fury and became the Apostle who preached "God is love" (1 John 4:8)!
Let us take a look at the first fury of humanity and what consequences it brought! The sons of Adam, Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to God who looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but not on Cain and his. So, Cain "was very angry and dejected" (Genesis 4:5). Cain was dejected because he felt that his efforts were wasted. He was angry because he felt that God had been partial, not fair! In fact, how could a righteous God be unfair? If God did not look with favour this time, there would be a next time, and another next time … Cain gave God only one chance. Rather it was Cain who had been unfair to God. Therefore, the anger of Cain was groundless.
Perhaps because men were created in the image of God, they always desire to become God and to play God. These desires have become their Achilles' heels which Satan deploys to tempt men! For example, in science and technology, whatever can be done, whether it tramples human dignity or immoral, ambitious scientists would always find excuses to edit human genome. In daily intercourses, many people play God to judge others and to accuse others with their own expectations and measures. For example, in many parishes, people criticize choirs for singing like recitals, publicize the mispronunciations of lectors, point their fingers at ushers who are not sympathetic to mothers of young children and at arrogant deacons. Religion should not meddle with politics. Therefore bishops should not appear in front of people in social movements etc.
Unbeknown to them, the might of God is not shown by doing ground shaking miracles, but to edify sinners with unreserved love which is expressed in dying humbly on the cross. The righteousness of God does not lie in His judgment, but in His merciful redemption and forgiveness! Thus, as images of God, Christians should love one another, edify one another to show their might; forgive each other to demonstrate their righteousness. Moses taught "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" and "to dismiss a wife by writing a bill of divorce" (Mark 10:5) because of the hardness of the Jewish hearts. Thus fury comes from a false sense of justice, a self-righteous justice! When we harm each other, blame each other, smear each other, push responsibility to each other, accusing the other party for throwing bricks, shooting at the heads, instigating a crowd to riot etc., Satan would not be sad. God would! God wants to see policemen as keepers of citizens' rights and citizens helpers of crime-fighters. Policemen and citizens edify each other, standing shoulder to shoulder on the same front to build up a city where we may work and live without fear!
St. Paul teaches that as a People of God redeemed by Jesus Christ, we become His ambassadors in the secular world. The Son of God incarnated to reconcile the Father and men, telling them that the Father is "not counting their trespasses against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19). We who claim to be Christians should proclaim this gospel of reconciliation to mankind. We are ambassadors of reconciliation in our social intercourse! In his Beatitudes, Jesus Christ teaches us meekness, mercy and peace-making. This is the way of perfection, (Matthew 5:48) and the way of sanctification (Leviticus 11:44).
At that time, God told Cain to control his fury, not to be overcome by it. Regrettably, Cain did not listen to God and subsequently killed his brother. When God asked Cain where his brother was, Cain retorted, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (4:9) As his elder brother, of course Cain was the keeper of Abel and should help build him up. Unfortunately, Cain was overcome by fury and killed his brother. This act hurt God, Adam and Eve but Satan would rejoice winning one battle! Consequently, Cain became a fugitive on the earth, unable to evade the guilt of fratricide throughout his life!
Brethren, let us cherish a meek and merciful heart, a will to desire God's righteousness and be peace-makers, ambassadors of reconciliation and children of our Father in our life and in our commitment to social movement.
God bless!
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