主題：如何善用「不義」之財
耶穌基督是天主子，祂來到世上，教導罪人如何與天父修和，如何回歸父家。在祂快要完成祂的任務，與門徒吃「最後晚餐」時，祂告訴門徒自己是「道路、真理和生命」，惟有信靠祂，我們纔能獲得真正的生命（若14:6）。這話聽來有點刺耳，卻是真理。我們所生活的俗世，很多人為了一己的私利，鼓吹散播著錯謬的思想和言論；結果大部份人被迷惑了，以至是非不分，黑白顛倒，與天父的距離，越走越遠，的確可悲！且看今天繁榮舒適的現代化社會生活，便會看到一些頭緒。
今天的市民，可以享受很多方便和物質上的滿足。從前，荔枝是來自南方夏天的貢品；今天的普羅大眾，也可以隨時享受帝王的口福。從前，皇帝在不同的季節，有不同的行宮居住，可以避寒避暑；今天的小市民，也可以在家中安裝空調，安度四季，不需要勞師動眾地遷徙，一樣可以享受帝王般的舒適生活…這一切都是因為今天的社會，比古代的社會更有經濟效率，帶來很多的方便和享受。之所以更有經濟效率，是因為現代社會比從前的社會，分工更細微，每個成員更專門化。結果，上至整個國家，下至地方單位和組織，變得極度等級化。不過，有其利必有其弊，任何事物總有其代價！一種制度無論如何完美，執行的人始終都是有缺陷的罪人，他們會做出不理想的效果！
讓我們想像在一個有等級的制度裡，例如一間為了賺錢的商業機構，或者是為了服務市民的政府部門，一個從低級做起─姑且稱他做「陳大文」─如果他有能力，有表現，自然會獲得上司的賞識，升遷到更高的位置。對嗎？錯！雖然聽來是理所當然，可是，在現實的世界裡，真的是「有能者居之」嗎？恐怕這祇是儒家的「大同」理想，現實世界始終是殘酷的。
這個故事是如何發展下去呢? 最後的結局是怎樣呢？無論從前陳大文如何稱職，他表現怎樣好；除非他是一個神貧、謙遜和飢渴慕義的基督徒，為了實踐福音精神而拒絕升職，否則到最後，他總會升遷到一個他不稱職的位置！從前很成功的才幹，在新的位置用不著，反而成了他的包袱！這就是在職場中有名的「彼得原理」。你以為陳大文真是憑實力升遷到在這個位置上嗎？世上真是有「伯樂」的嗎？對不起，假的「伯樂」多的是！
因為陳大文不稱職，手上的工作做不了，他可以怎麼辦呢？於是他開設兩個或更多的職位，聘請或調升幾個副手，把手上的工作交給他們，陳大文自己升級成為監督。聘請副手的好處是：功勞歸自己，錯誤就發還副手處理。小的錯誤還可以包庇，大的錯誤就找個代罪羔羊。如果你是陳大文，你會聘請能幹的，還是奉承的人當副手呢？一定不能聘請比你能幹的人！那個做你副手的，以為遇上伯樂，當然會替你賣命！試想想你的副手將來會如何生存下去呢？「少做少錯，不做不錯。」成了座右銘！有一天，他們會模仿陳大文，要求聘請副手的助理！不久，一個和尚能擔的水，要由十個和尚來擔！有名的「帕金遜定律」出現了！今天分工和專門化的社會，必須倚靠等級制度來維持；有等級制度，難免被「彼得原理」和「帕金遜定律」所支配！請注意，商業機構和政府部門，都不是管理自己的錢，而是管理股東和市民的錢。商業機構和政府部門都是管家，而且，大多數是「不義」的管家，因為他們把焦點放在「利潤最大化」，或者所謂「成本效益最大化」之上；所用的每一分錢，要向「持份者」交代，而不是向天主交代！真的，「你們不能事奉天主而又事奉錢財」（路16:13）。
試問嬰兒和小學生對香港有甚麼貢獻？為甚麼他們又可以享受多方面的福利呢？嬰兒和學生，最少也在他們身上投資二十年以上，纔對香港社會有所貢獻。反觀新來港的移民，領取福利，在香港立足，接受培訓，不出幾年，便可以投入勞動力市場，做那些香港人不大願意做的「安老護理服務」等等，不是更有效率的投資嗎？ 相反，當我們尊重即使是弱小的社群，承認他們是社會中的持份者，應用我們手上，不屬於我們的資源，幫助他們，改善他們的處境，我們祇不過做了耶穌基督的教訓，「用不義的錢財交結朋友，為在你們匱乏的時候，好叫他們收留你們到永遠的帳幕裡。」（路16:9）這樣做，我們祇不過是「無用的僕人，我們不過做了我們應做的事。」（17:10）
各位兄弟姊妹，作為耶穌基督的真實信徒，我們應按自己的處境和能力，依照福音的精神，就是「真福八端」的精神，以神貧和同理心，「與喜樂的一同喜樂，與哭泣的一同哭泣。」（羅12:15）這樣做，在末日，我們纔堪受主人的稱讚（路16:8）。
天主保祐！
2016講道
圖片鳴謝：http://jackypang2.blogspot.com/2016/12/1645.html
Twenty Fifth Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: How To Make Friends With Dishonest WealthJesus Christ is the Son of God. He came down to earth to teach sinners how to reconcile with the Father and how to return home. When He was about to accomplish His mission and ate the Last Supper with His disciples, He told them that He is "the Way, and the Truth and the Life". Only through Him can we attain genuine life (John 14:6). This statement is hard to swallow but is the Truth. In this secular world we are living, there are many selfish people who spread fallacies in order to take advantages for themselves. Consequently, many people are fooled and unable to tell the right from wrong. It is pitiful that they are straying farther and farther away from the Father. Take a look at the prosperous and comfortable modern social life and you will see a glimpse. Many people today are enjoying many conveniences and material satisfactions. In ancient times, lychee was a royal summer tribute from the south. Today, the general public can enjoy this imperial delicacy at any time. In ancient times, emperors spent their summers and winters at different palaces. Today, we commoners simply install air-conditioners at home and don't have to migrate in order to enjoy palatial comfort... It is because modern societies are more economically efficient than ancient societies that these conveniences and enjoyments are possible. Economic efficiency is made possible because of finer division of labour and specialization. Consequently, all organizations, from a country to a production unit, become highly hierarchical. However, there comes a price. No matter how perfect an institution is, it is carried out by fragile sinners. They make the outcomes less than desirable!
Let us imagine a hierarchical institution, such as a commercial company which aims at making profit, or a government department which aims at serving the citizens, in which a Mr. Able works from bottom up. If he is capable and gets results, his boss shall notice him and promote him. Right? Wrong! Although it sounds logical, in real world, capable people do not occupy top posts. It would only happen in an ideal world. Reality is harsh!
How shall the story develop? What will the finale be? No matter how capable Mr. Able was, unless he is a spiritually poor, humble and hungry for righteousness and refuses to promote in order to lead a life in the spirit of the gospel, sooner or later Mr. Able would rise to a job which he is no longer competent! The previous skills which made him competent were no longer appropriate and even perhaps became stumbling blocks! This is the famous concept of "Peter Principle" in management studies. Do you think Mr. Able really reaches this position with his competence? Are there bosses who genuinely appreciate his competency? Sorry, there are far too many incompetent bosses!
Since Mr. Able is no longer able to finish his works, what should be done? Create two or more posts and hire or promote subordinates to fill them. Mr. Able promotes himself to be the supervisor. What are the advantages? Well, credits go to the supervisor. Subordinates take care of the demerits. Small ones can be tolerated and swept under the carpet. When big ones arise, look for scapegoats. If you were Mr. Able, would you hire capable subordinates or shoe-shiners? Of course you cannot hire people more capable than you are! Your subordinates would work very hard to repay your appreciation. But how would your subordinates survive? "Doing little would make little mistakes and doing nothing would make no mistakes" becomes a motto. One day, your subordinates would follow your example to hire assistants to subordinates! Soon, a job done by one man would be shared by ten. Alas! Parkinson's Law comes alive! Today, a society with high level of division of labour and specialization is maintained by hierarchical institutions which inevitably are "supported" by Peter Principle and Parkinson's Law. Note that, commercial organizations and government departments are stewards and most of them are dishonest because they focus on the maximization of profits, or "cost-benefit" only. Every cent spent is held accountable to stake holders and not to God! Truly, "You cannot serve both God and mammon." (Luke 16:13)
God is our ultimate Lord. He created us in His image and told us to manage this universe (Genesis 1:26). Thus all of us are stewards and each one of us is a masterpiece of God. We are brothers. In the story of Cain murdering Abel, we learn that we should be keepers of each other (4:9). Thus, when we abuse our advantages and institutions to exploit others, turning them into slaves, torture them to fatten ourselves, we are dishonest stewards and commit Cain's fratricide! For example, recently, the fallacy of "newly arrived immigrants cheat CSSA" spreads again in social media. It is a hate-speech. The article does not treat men as God's images but measures their worth by money! It argues that these people have no contribution to the society of Hong Kong. After arriving in one year, they start receiving CSSA, thinning out the social benefits of local citizens. This is unfair.
Just think about it, what have babies and primary students contributed to Hong Kong? Yet, why are they receiving a lot of benefits? They take at least over two decades of investment before they will be able to contribute to the society. Look at those newly arrived immigrants. Yes, they receive CSSA, settle down and receive training. In a couple of years, they shall be able to join the labour market to take up dirty jobs, such as "elderly nursing" etc. Isn't it a more efficient investment?
On the contrary, when we respect these disadvantaged minority, acknowledge their stake-holder status, make use of resources not belonging to us to help them and to improve their situation, we are just practising Jesus' teaching, "Make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." (Luke 16:9) In so doing, "we are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do." (17:10)
Brethren, as true followers of Jesus Christ, we should lead a life in the spirit of the gospel, that is the spirit of the Beatitudes according to our life situations and capabilities. With spiritual poverty and empathy, let us "rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15) In so doing, at the end of the world, we deserve the commendation of the Master. (Luke 16:8)
God bless!
No comments:
Post a Comment