主題：祈禱有用嗎？
世間萬事萬物，皆可從不同角度看，尋找真理的一部份。一朵玫瑰花，可以悲觀地看，為甚麼它這麼短命；可以浪漫地看，例如，羅密歐對朱麗葉說：「即使人們用別的名字呼喚它，玫瑰依然甜美」；也可以運用信德的眼光看，讚歎天主創造的偉大和奇妙！打從六月九日開始至今，發生了很多前所未有的新事物。一如看花，我們可以悲觀地看，也可以運用信德的眼光看。
有人慨嘆香港被嚴重撕裂了。沒有捱過艱難歲月的青年人，竟然向維持治安的警察掟磚，宣洩對政府的不滿；暴力事件不斷升級，以至社團勢力拿著藤條鐵通到西鐵站「教仔」！各式小規模的衝突，有如水銀瀉地，無孔不入，正在影響民生，帶來不便等等。另一方面，五十年不變的承諾過了差不多一半，眼見河水正不斷地侵犯井水，本來對香港的未來，不敢再抱樂觀的期望。忽然新的希望，躍現眼前：本來忙於改善物質生活的上一代，被《逃犯修例》修訂所引起的恐懼喚醒了，社會意識提高了。他們開始認識到，無論如何勤力工作，在向大財團傾斜的政策和制度下，是沒有辦法安居樂業的；無論如何努力賺錢，也不能為下一代成家立室；在修例的陰影下，他們的性命財產，可以一夜之間消失！太可怕了！
另一方面，年青一代接受了普及教育，除了考試入大學，追求高薪厚職之外，明白到世界上有更遠大的價值，有更崇高的理念。現有的制度正握剎著他們的發展，未能一展抱負；於是他們爭取更大的自由，不願輕易投降放棄。可惜因為代溝問題，得不到上一代的諒解，祇能與同輩共同進退，受上一代唾罵不守本份，製造麻煩。但這個多月來，多次不同階層人士的遊行，警察與示威者衝突，黑勢力肆無忌憚地傷害市民等，一方面揭露了政府管治上的毛病；另一方面，提高了市民的公民意識，使互不相識的市民，老一輩和年青一輩的人，綻放出久違了的守望相助精神，令沉默的大多數團結起來，兩代人之間的代溝被漸漸填平了！
無論你是悲觀的，還是樂觀的，祇要你是天主教徒，你必需承認一端重要的道理：天主纔是主宰。即是說，倘若沒有天主容許，任何事情都不會發生的！有讀過舊約出谷紀嗎？沒有天主令法郎心硬，便沒有十個災難，沒有逾越節，沒有過紅海和西乃山的盟約，使一盤散沙的雅各伯子孫，團結成為以色列民族。有讀過約伯傳嗎？約伯是一個敬畏上主，富甲一方的超級富豪。他家庭生活美滿，有十個兒女。惟恐他們得罪天主，約伯每天清早為每個子女獻上全燔祭品（約1:5）。約伯樹大招風，惹來撒殫的嫉妒。可是，假如沒有天主的准許，撒殫是不能令約伯家破人亡的（1:12，2:6）。當然，經過歷練之後，上主賞賜約伯雙倍從前的財產，「以後的福分，遠勝過以前所有的」（42:12）。的確，為信靠、敬畏天主的人，苦難背後是一份等著我們的福分。
大家已經領洗入教，領受了聖神，成為天父的義子（羅8:15），我們的身份，比梅瑟和約伯高，我們不是更幸福的嗎？正如福音所說，在俗世的父親，尚且知道把好東西給自己的兒女，何況在天之父（路11:13）。不過，我們應時常檢討，自己和天父的關係中，有沒有「代溝」！放心，天主一定樂意與祂的子女溝通。問題是我們這些反叛的「蕩子」，有沒有嘗試與在天之父溝通呢？有沒有培養祈禱的習慣呢？正如今天福音中的比喻一樣，「縱然不為了他是朋友的緣故，而起來給他，也要因他恬不知恥地切求而起來給他所需要的一切。」（11:8）
很奇怪，我們為甚麼需要祈禱呢？天父是全知的，祂知道我們的需要，而且耶穌基督在山中聖訓中，曾確切地說：「因為你們的父，在你們求祂以前，已知道你們需要甚麼。」（瑪6:8）那麼在路加福音，為甚麼耶穌卻教訓我們要「恬不知恥」地求呢？無他！是我們有需要與天主保持這份聯系，而不是天主。而且，在求天主的過程中，從求而得或者求而不得的過程中，我們認識自己更深，並且漸漸體會到天父的旨意是甚麼。最後發現到，原來連我們沒有求的，天父也賜給了我們。這種體會天父旨意的能力，豈能一夜之間掌握到呢？所以我們為了自己的成長，應該鍥而不捨地祈求。
各位兄弟姊妹，難道天主不能在我們中，找到十個義人嗎？相信天主一定不會毀滅香港，而且，為了我們的好處，祂定會賜下聖神（路11:13），讓我們能以信德的眼光，認清真相；聖神七恩中的勇毅，必能幫助我們渡過難關。這位愛德之神，必會幫助我們，經此一役之後，更為團結！
天主保祐！
2016講道
相片鳴謝：https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hongkong-propaganda-06132019153341.html
Seventeenth Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Does Prayer Work?
We are able to see things in different perspectives and seek part of the whole truth. Take a rose for example, we may lament it pessimistically that its life-span is short. We may also view it romantically, like what Romeo says to Juliet, "That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet". We may also look at it with an eye of faith, amazed by the wonder of God's creation! Since June 9, we have seen things never happened before. Like looking at a rose, we may see those things in a pessimistic way or with an eye of faith.
Some lament that Hong Kong is seriously torn apart. Young people, who have never struggled in difficult times, vent their anger against the government by throwing bricks at policemen whose duty is the maintenance of social order. Violence escalates so much so that triad members entered West Rail station to beat up passengers indiscriminately, claiming to teach the young people a lesson! Many smaller scales conflicts flare up, creating a lot of inconveniences for the local citizens. On the other hand, the promise of "No Change for Half a Century" has passed nearly half of its course. River water has been eroding spring water continually. People dare not to expect optimistically much for the future of Hong Kong. Suddenly, a new hope bursts into view: the materialistic older generation is suddenly wakened up by this "Fugitive Bill". Their social awareness is raised. They begin to realize that however diligent they work, under an institution which favours cartels, they will never be able to enjoy the fruits of their hard work. No matter how hard they try to make money, they will never be able to help their children raise a family. In the shadow of this Bill, their lives and property would vanish overnight! How horrifying!
On the other hand, having been educated under the compulsory education system, young people understand that there are nobler values than sitting for examinations, graduating from the university and securing a steady job. The present system is smothering their development and dreams. Thus, they fight doggedly for a greater freedom. Unfortunately, because of generation gaps, the older generation do not understand them. Young people can only fight hand in hand with their peers, bracing accusations of being rowdy trouble makers. But in the past few weeks, demonstrations by people from all ages and all walks of life, clashes between riot police and demonstrators as well as triad members beating up citizens indiscriminately etc. have uncovered the incompetence of the government on one hand, and on the other, have raised the civilian awareness of the citizens. People who don't know each other, older and younger generations support each other. We have not seen such a solidarity for a long time. These conflicts have united the silent majority and levelled the gaps between the two generations!
Whether you are pessimistic or optimistic, as long as you are a Catholic, you have to acknowledge an important dogma: Our God is Lord. That is to say, without His permission, nothing can happen! Have you read the book of Exodus? Had God not hardened the heart of Pharoah, the Ten Plagues would never have happened, no Passover, no crossing of the Read Sea nor Sinai Covenant. The disarrayed children of Jacob would never have become a people, Israel. Have you read the story of Job? Job was a super rich man who feared the Lord. He had a happy family with 10 children. Rising early, Job offered sacrifices for every one of them, lest they might have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. (Job 1:5) Job's virtue invited Satan's jealousy. However, had God not granted permission, Satan would not have struck down Job's family and riches (1:12, 2:6) Of course, after those trials, God doubly restored Job's riches and "blessed the later days of Job more than his earlier ones." (42:12) Indeed, for those who trust in and fear the Lord, there is a blessing awaiting them behind every suffering.
We are baptized into the Catholic Church, have received the Holy Spirit and have become the adopted children of the Father (Romans 8:15). Isn't our identity nobler than Moses' and Job's? Are we not more blessed? Just as what the gospel says today, if fathers in the secular world know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will the Father in heaven give. (Luke 11:13). But we need to evaluate our relationship with our heavenly Father to see if there is any generation gap! Don't worry, God is willing to communicate with His children. The ball is in our court, we rebellious prodigal sons. Have we ever tried to communicate with our Heavenly Father? Have we built up a habit of prayers? Like what the parable in the gospel today, "If he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence." (11:8)
Isn't it rather strange that we need to pray? Our Father is omniscience. He knows our needs and Jesus Christ teaches in the Sermon on the Mount, saying "Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." (Matthew 6:8) Why then in Luke does Jesus teach us to pray persistently? None other than that it is we who need to keep in touch with God who does not need to! In the process of asking God, from getting what we pray for and failing to get what we pray for, we know ourselves deeper and the will of God more. In the end, we may be able to even see that the Father has given us what we have not prayed for. How can this ability to understand the will of the Father be acquired overnight? Thus, for our growth, we need to pray persistently.
But does prayer work, in view of the chaos in the Hong Kong society today? Can our prayers change the hearts of the young people and the government officials? Can prayer fight off ratten canes, wooden rods, tear gas and even sponge grenades? Don't forget that the BVM is the woman who strikes at the head of the Serpent (Genesis 3:15) and the story of God hardening the heart of Pharoah (Exodus 4:21)! The present situation in Hong Kong is not simply a political struggle. It is more a spiritual battle. Let us pray hard, say the rosary, go to confession and adore the Holy Eucharist. Like Abraham bargaining for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-32) and Moses interceding for the Israelites (Exodus 32:7-14), let us trust in the true Lord and strikes at the head of Satan with our prayers.
Brethren, can God not find 10 righteous people among us? Trust that God will not weep out Hong Kong and for our sake, He will give us the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13) to help us see the truth with an eye of faith. The fortitude from the Holy Spirit will help us through the present turmoils. At the end of this battle, the Spirit of Charity will make us more united!
God bless!
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