Theme: Is Division Bad?
When we interpret the Bible, we tend to impose some sort of framework or themes to make it more understandable. However, we should bear in mind that the authors might not have the same framework or themes such as ours in mind while they were writing.
For example, the end of the present age, that is to say, the coming of the Kingdom of God, is one of the many themes found in the gospel. This theme may be found in the collection of Jesus' sayings in Luke 12 to Luke 14. The passage today falls within this collection of the sayings of Jesus Christ. Bearing this "the coming of the Kingdom of God" theme in mind, we shall not deviate too far away from the true meaning of the passages. So, when Jesus says, "I have come to set the earth on fire and how I wish it were already blazing!" (Luke 12:49), can we accuse him of arson? What kind of fire is able to set the whole world ablaze?
Fire can be destructive and can be used as a punishment! Just think of the fire in Hell and the various tortures using fire. But fire can also be purgative and can be used as a purification, a cleansing procedure! Just think of the fire in Purgatory and sterilizing a lancet or a needle with fire. Moreover, fire can keep us warm and when our hearts are on fire, we become courageous and charge ahead to fight against enemies. Now, what kind of fire does Jesus want to set ablaze on earth? It is the fire which enkindles our love of God and the fire which purifies our hearts and enables it to know the truth. How does Jesus Christ set the earth on fire? It is by sending us the Holy Spirit, who is the spirit of love and the spirit of truth. So, Brethren! Have you been enchanted by God's overflowing love? In return, do you love God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength? If not, pray harder to receive the Holy Spirit so as to activate once more the seven gifts you have received in the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Now that we come to the Sacrament of Confirmation, let us turn to the question of Baptism. Jesus says, "There is a baptism with which I must be baptized and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!" (12:50) Had Jesus not been baptized in River Jordon by John the Baptist? Are there more than one baptism? What other baptism was Jesus anticipating? A passage in the gospel of Mark will illuminate the meaning of this baptism better. Once James and John were requesting to be seated at the right and left of Jesus when he came in his glory, Jesus asked if they could be baptized with the same baptism with which he would be baptized. (Mark 10:38b) Jesus was talking about his crucifixion and his resurrection. Resurrection is Jesus' glory. He achieves this glory through dying on the cross where two thieves were crucified on his left and right. No wonder Jesus says, "You don't know what you are asking!" (10:38a) When a person is submerged during baptism, it symbolizes his death and burial. When that person comes out of the water, it symbolizes the beginning of a new life. Thus, baptism symbolizes a transition, a Passover from death to life, which is a new life in God. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He loves the Father so much that he was anxious to see His will done. Therefore, Jesus Christ couldn't wait dying on the cross in order to accomplish the salvation project and to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Brethren! How eager are you to do God's will? How anxious are you to see the Kingdom of God descend on earth?
But isn't the Kingdom of God supposed to be a kingdom of love and truth? If it is full of love and truth, shall it not be peaceful and full of justice? Why does Jesus say, "Do you think that I have come to establish peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division." (Luke 12:51)
Truly, the Kingdom of God is a kingdom of love and truth. It is a utopia where every soul seeks to do God's will. But what is God's will? God's will for us is to love each other just as Jesus Christ has loved us (John 13:34). It shall be a world of harmony and glory. However, at this moment, the world is still infested with all sorts of sins: anger, deception, greed, pride, unfaithfulness and violence etc. The world is far from being the Kingdom of God. Since God "wills everyone to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4), therefore, when salvation comes, that is to say when Jesus began his public ministry, all are called to enter the Kingdom of God. However, not all who are called respond positively (Matthew 22:14). Many of them are reluctant to give up their achievements, do not want to abandon the wealth they have accumulated and do not want their authority to be challenged or threatened. Therefore, division appears. Those who reject God's invitation would start persecuting those who answer God's call. This is what Jesus means when he says, "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness," (Matthew 5:10a) Therefore, division is inevitable!
Let me assure you, without God's permission, nothing can possibly happen. Division can't take place without God's permission. Let's take a look from the opposite direction. The opposite of division is unity. Unity comes in two manners: an imposed unity and a spontaneous unity. A spontaneous unity is achieved when the parts share a noble cause and a common vision. The noble cause or the common vision provides a centre of gravity which weakly pulls the parts together. Autonomy and dignity are respected when you join in. Such a unity lasts long because in coming together, the parts interact and help each other grow and develop. On the other hand, like the previous Soviet Union, an imposed unity is achieved by applying an external force. It disregards people's autonomy and dignity. Resources are channelled to the central government to maintain the control and stability. Consequently, corruption and idolatry become rampant. Such a unity cannot last long. It crumbles when the external force is no longer strong enough to hold the parts together. Therefore, when division appears, it means an imposed unity begins to break up. Hopefully, the parts shall be able to find a noble cause, a common vision to join together. Then, a spontaneous unity may arise out of the ashes of a revolution.
Brethren! As Catholics, we are called to uphold the Kingdom of God as our noble cause and our common vision. Where there is division, let us be Christ' ambassadors of reconciliation. Let's work hand in hand to love our neighbours and defend God's righteousness in our beloved city.
God bless!
Picture credit: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3023263/hong-kong-breathes-sigh-relief-saturday-night-passes-no
2016 Homily
常年期第二十主日，丙年
主題：分裂是不好的嗎？
當我們解釋聖經的時候，我們傾向設下一些框架，或者一些主題，使解釋更易明白。但是，我們要提醒自己 ，作者在寫作時，心中的框架或主題，不盡與我們的框架或主題相同。
例如，今世的終結，即是說天國的出現是福音其中一個主題。這主題可在路12-14章所記載耶穌的論述中找到。今天的福音就其中一段。記住「天國來臨」的主題，雖不中亦不遠矣。因此，當耶穌說：「我來是為把火投在地上，我是多麼切望它已經燃燒起來！」（路12:49）時，我們可否控告耶穌縱火呢？有甚麼火可以燃燒整個世界呢？
火可以破壞，或者用來行刑！想一想地獄之火或者各種用火的酷刑。但火也有淨煉或者清潔的作用！想一想煉獄之火或者以火來為醫學用柳葉刀或刺針消毒。而且我們可以生火取暖。當我們熱血沸騰時，我們可以與敵人決一死戰。那麼，耶穌想在世上投下怎麼樣的火呢？就是燃起對天主的愛火，它淨化我們的心靈，讓我們認識真理。耶穌基督如何把火投在地上呢？就是賜給我們聖神，祂是愛德之神和真理之神。各位兄弟姊妹！你們可曾飽飲天主滿溢的慈愛呢？有沒有以全心，全靈和全力，愛上主你的天主，還報祂的愛呢？倘若還沒有，你們便要加倍祈禱，求天父賜下聖神，重新活化領受堅振聖事時所獲得的聖神七恩了。
既然提到堅振聖事，讓我們看看洗禮吧。耶穌說：「我有一種應受的洗禮，我是如何焦急，直到它得以完成！」（12:20）耶穌不是已經在約旦河接受了若翰的洗禮嗎？莫非有不祇一個洗禮嗎？耶穌期望著一個怎麼樣的洗禮呢？馬爾谷福音的一個片段，可以令洗禮的意義更清晰。有一次，雅各伯和若望要求耶穌在祂的光榮中，一個坐在祂右邊，一個在左邊（谷10:37b）。當時耶穌在講述祂的苦難和復活。復活是耶穌的光榮。祂是戰勝死亡纔得到這光榮的。而耶穌被釘十字架時，有兩個凶犯也釘在祂左右兩邊。怪不得耶穌說：「你們不知道你們所求的是甚麼！」（10:38a）當人在洗禮時浸在水中，象徵著他的死亡及埋葬。當他從水裡出來的時候，便象徵著新生命的開始。因此，洗禮象徵著一個出死入生的逾越，進入天主內的新生命。耶穌基督是天主子，祂深愛天主父，極其渴望完成祂的旨意。耶穌基督急不及待，死在十字架上，完成救世的使命，在世上建立天國。各位兄弟姊妹，你有多少渴望完成天父的旨意？你有多少焦急，想看見天國臨現人間呢？
但天主的國不是一個愛與真理的王國嗎？倘若她是充滿愛和真理，它不是充滿和平與公義嗎？為甚麼耶穌說：「你們以為我來是給地上送和平嗎？不，我告訴你們：而是來送分裂。」（路12:51）
誠然，天國是一個愛與真理的國度。這是一個理想的世界，人人尋求天主的旨意。可是，甚麼是天主的旨意？天主的旨意，就是要我們彼此相愛，如同耶穌基督愛了我們一樣。（若13:34）這世界將會變成和諧與光榮。可是在這一刻，世界仍充滿各種罪惡：憤怒、欺詐、貪婪、不忠和暴力等等。天國與世界，真是天淵之別。因為天主「願意所有的人都得救。」（弟前2:4），所以當救贖工程開始時，即耶穌開始祂傳福音的使命時，祂召叫所有人進入天國。可是，不是所有蒙召的人都積極回應（瑪22:14）。有些人不願放棄他們的成就，有些不願捨棄積累了的財帛，另一些不願意自己的權威受到挑戰或威脅。結果，分裂出現了。那些拒絕天主邀請的人，開始了迫害回應天主召喚的人。所以耶穌說：「為義而受迫害的人是有福的，」（瑪5:10a）所以分裂是無可避免的！
那麼，分裂是好，是壞呢？
請放心，沒有天主的許可，甚麼事也不可能發生。沒有天主許可，分裂不會出現。讓我們從相反的方向考慮。分裂的相反是合一。合一有兩種形式：「強制的合一」與「自然的合一」。當各個部份朝著同一個崇高的目標，一個共同的憧憬時，民心所向，形成了一個重心，微弱地吸引凝聚著眾人。自主與尊嚴受到尊重，各部份互動，互相扶持，共同發展成長。這樣的合一能維持長久。另一方面，好像從前的蘇維埃聯邦，以外力強行統一，不理人民的自主和尊嚴，把資源輸送到中央政府，維持穩定。結果貪污與偶像崇拜肆虐。這種合一，不能長久。當外力不足以強行合併各部份時，這個合一便瓦解。因此，當分裂出現時，意味著一個強制的合一，正面臨瓦解。但願各部份能找到一個崇高的目標，共同的憧憬，再次凝聚一起，讓一個自然的合一，從革命的灰燼中重生。
各位兄弟姊妹！作為天主教徒，我們蒙召，高舉天國作為我們的崇高目標和共同憧憬。在那裡在分裂，就讓我們成為基督的修和大使。讓我們攜手並肩，在這個土生土長的城市中，守護近人，捍衛天主的公義。
天主保祐！
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