Theme: What Prevents Sinners From Repentance?
The gospel of Luke is a gospel of mercy. Through the words and deeds of Jesus Christ, it shows us the merciful face of the invisible God. Among the many parables recorded, the parable of the Prodigal Son goes down in history as a classic. Actually, it is one of the three parables which encourage us sinners to repent, to turn back to the Father. But who are the sinners? Tax collectors or Pharisees, or both? The key message is simple. All heavenly hosts rejoice when a sinner repents, whether he is a tax-collector or a Pharisee. It is even more joyful than the good deeds performed by ninety-nine righteous people on earth.
Very few people are natural-born murderers, cheaters, human traffickers or sinners. Didn't God create us in His image (Genesis 1:26)? That is to say, to start with we were all good, very good. In time, however we became evil, very evil. Many factors contribute to the downfall of an upright person. Therefore, we need to be alert and stay away from bad company and bad habits. On a more proactive point of view, we should learn what is good for our eternal spiritual life. We should teach our children what the right things to do are.
However, once a person breaks his oath of allegiance to God and turn away from Him, he has to overcome many obstacles in order to return. Many psychological factors prevent sinners from repentance.
First of all, it is egoism. People do not want to show their weaknesses before the others. They put up a brave face and never seek help. Some of them may be overconfident and believe in their own strength and charisma. Others may not be as confident and yet, they want to look good in front of the others. Therefore, whether you are strong or weak, capable or incompetent, you don't want to lose face and in particular, you don't want to lose face in front of those you care about most. You have a difficulty in admitting that you need external help, that you need God's help.
Let us meditate what Jesus did in his Passion. The Roman soldiers removed his clothes and crucified him, and hung him nakedly on the cross in full view of many bystanders and passers-by. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is powerful enough to prevent such suffering from happening (Matthew 26:53). Yet He humbly went through such a shameful ordeal (Philippians 2:8)! Why did He do this? Why did Jesus Christ suffer like this? Jesus Christ says that He is "the Way, and the Truth and the Life." (John 14:6) We believe that He wants to show us how to overcome our egoism with humility.
Secondly, it is denial. People always play the "Not Me" game! We all tend to blame others for our faults. We are truly children of Adam! When God asked Adam whether he had eaten the Fruit on the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, instead of answering yes or no, Adam replied that it was the woman whom God created gave him the fruit so he ate it (Genesis 3:12). Adam even blamed God for his own disobedience. When God asked Eve, she pointed her finger to the Serpent! Our First Parent mistakenly thought that they would have saved their skin when somebody had taken the blame. Well, since it is not our fault, then we don't have to apologize, to seek forgiveness and to do compensation. In reality, we miss the opportunity to receive forgiveness and healing! The most difficult patients to cure are those who say that they are not sick! They refuse treatment. Let us meditate what Jesus has done for the sick. Once a father brought his possessed son to Jesus for exorcism, Jesus did not drive out the demon immediately. He waited for the father to say the most crucial sentence, "I do believe, help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)
Today, we know that Hong Kong is sick. We have suffered a summer of demonstrations, riots, violence and vandalism. Instead of coming forth to acknowledge their faults, people blame each other for the damages done in these three months: external intervention, colour revolution, the failure of our Education system, the unaffordable housing and the younger generation has no say in the society etc. Like the patient who refuses to acknowledge his sickness, if we do not humbly confess our faults, no physician is able to cure us. The worst situation is when we lose hope and give up, we shall perish. If we still keep our hope and faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord of human history, when time comes, He shall deliver us. If we still keep the charity of Jesus Christ, are willing to let go of our prejudice and blindness to become ambassadors of reconciliation, when time comes, He shall deliver us.
Lastly, it is herd mentality. People follow the crowd. When we go to the supermarket alone, we are honest and we pay. However, when a gang of youngsters enter the supermarket, they shoplift! Why? Some young people want to show off their guts while others do not want to be chickens. If you can do it, I can do even better. When you are in the Police Force, you cannot afford to disobey. You cannot afford to be the odd man out. You think you have no choice but to follow the unwritten rules. It is a dirty job. Even if you don't do it, somebody else shall take it up! They blame the system. It is a variant of the "Not-Me" game in a group setting! However, it all boils down to your personal choice and thus your responsibility. If we are sick, admit it and seek treatment. If we are wrong, admit it and seek reconciliation.
The parable of Lost Sheep today is very reassuring and consoling indeed. Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14). He understands our egoism. He knows that we deny. Therefore, He goes all the way out to seek us. He is actually following us, accompanying us all along our strayed path and waits patiently for us to say, "I do believe, help my unbelief!" Finally, we remember Him and call upon Him. He finds us and sets us on His shoulders with great joy (Luke 15:5) to bring us home.
Brethren, let us take a break along our path. Take a look back to review what we have done so far. Are we lost in our prejudice and blindness against others? Have we disobeyed God's commandments to love Him and to love our neighbour as ourselves? Since we are followers of Christ, do we follow Christ's new commandment to love each other like He has loved us, to build up the others? Seek the help of the Good Shepherd. Call out to Him, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"
God bless!
2016 Homily
Picture credit: https://www.monasteryicons.com/product/good-shepherd-portrait-icon-606/icons-of-christ
常年期第廿四主日，丙年
主題：甚麼事物阻礙罪人悔改？
路加福音是一本慈悲的福音，它透過耶穌基督的言行，展示不可見的天主慈悲的面容。在它所記載的比喻中，「浪子回頭」成了膾炙人口的經典。其實，它是三個規勸罪人悔改，回頭歸向天父的比喻之一。誰是罪人呢？是稅吏還是法利塞人，還是兩者皆是呢？比喻的主旨非常簡單。一個罪人，無論是稅吏還是法利塞人，悔改，在天主的使者前的歡樂，勝過九十九個義人的善行（路15:7，10）！
很少人是天生殺人狂，騙子，人口販子或者罪人。不是嗎，人是按天主的肖像所造成的（創1:26）？即是說，在起初，我們是善良的。但假以時日，我們都成了邪惡的。很多因素導致一個義人墮落。因此，我們要提高警覺，不與惡人為伍，並戒除惡習。從積極的角度看，我們應學習對我們的靈性有益的事物，教導我們的孩子做正確的事。
可是，一個人一旦違反了自己的諾言，離棄了天主，他要克服很多障礙，纔能回歸天父。很多心理因素，阻擋罪人悔改。
第一是「自我中心」。一般人不願意在人前示弱，他們流血不流淚，永遠不會求助。部份人可能自信心膨脹，相信自己的能力和魅力；有些人缺乏自信，但仍希望要成為人們心目中的強者。因此，無論你是強者抑或是弱者，能者抑或是無能者，你總不想在人前掉臉，尤其是那些你重視的人。要承認自己需要外力的幫助，需要天主的幫助，非常困難。
讓我們默想耶穌在受難時的經歷。羅馬士兵剝去祂的衣服，在一眾旁觀者和路過的人眼前，把祂赤裸裸地釘在並，懸掛在十字架上。耶穌基督是天主子，祂有能力阻止這苦難發生（瑪26:53），可是祂卻謙遜地、含羞地承受這折磨（斐2:8）！為甚麼祂要這樣做呢？為甚麼祂要捱受這苦楚呢？耶穌基督說：「我是道路、真理和生命。」（若14:6）我們相信祂在教訓我們如何以謙遜，克服「自我中心」。
第二是「否認」。人總喜歡玩「不是我」的遊戲。我們經常把過失推到別人的頭上。我們真是亞當的後裔！當天主問亞當是否吃了「禁果」的時候，亞當並不承認或否認，而是把責任推到天主為他造的女人身上（創3:12），言下之意，是天主的錯！當天主問女人的時候，女人把責任推到蛇身上！我們的原祖父母錯誤地以為把責任推到別人身上，自己便可以置身事外。既然不是我們的錯，我們便不用道歉，不用求寬恕和作出補償。可是在現實生活中，我們卻錯過了接受寬恕和治療的機會！最難醫治的病人是那些否認自己有病的人，他們拒絕接受治療。
讓我們默想耶穌如何對待病人。有一個父親帶著附了魔的兒子，找耶穌驅魔。耶穌並沒有立刻驅逐邪魔。祂等待那父親說出一句關鍵性的說話：「我信！請祢補助我的無信罷！」（谷9:24）
今天，我們知道香港病了。整個夏天，我們捱受示威、暴動、暴力和破壞。三個月來，沒有人出來認錯，祇會互相指摘：外國勢力干預、顏色革命、教育制度失敗、不可能承擔的樓價、沒有持份的青年人等等。像拒絕承認有病的病人一樣，倘若我們不謙遜地承認自己的過錯，沒有醫生可以治好我們的。最壞的情況是當我們失去希望而放棄，我們便會喪亡。倘若我們仍相信耶穌基督是歷史的主宰，時期一滿，祂會出手拯救我們。倘若我們保持耶穌基督的愛德，願意放下自我的偏見和盲目，去做修和的使者，時期一滿，祂會出手拯救我們。
最後是「羊群心理」，以為跟大隊不會錯。當我們一個人到超級市場，我們會誠實地付款。但當一批童黨進入超級市場時，他們會「高買」！為甚麼呢？部份少年人可能想炫耀自己的膽量，其他人不甘示弱。你能做的，我會做得更好！如果你是一個警務人員，你不能違抗命令，鶴立雞群。你以為你別無他選，祇能按潛規則做事。即使你不幹，總會有人幹！人在江湖，身不由己。其實這是「不是我」遊戲的群體變種。歸根究底，都是你個人的選擇和責任。如果我們病了，承認吧，尋求治療吧。如果我們錯了，承認吧，尋求修和吧！
「亡羊的比喻」很令人安慰。耶穌基督是善牧（若10:11，14）。祂明白我們的「自我中心」，祂知道我們否認。所以祂主動尋覓我們。其實祂一路陪伴著我們走在歧途之上，在我們的身邊耐心地等候我們說一句：「我信！請祢補助我們的無信吧！」最後，我們記起祂，呼求祂。祂找著了，就喜歡地把我們放在自己的肩膀上（路15:5），帶我們回家。
各位兄弟姊妹，讓我們在路上休息一會，回顧曾走過的路和我們的所作所為。我們是否迷失在自己的偏見之中？我們違反了愛主愛人的誡命嗎？既然是基督的門徒，我們有沒有遵守「彼此相愛，如同主愛了我們一樣」的新誡命，彼此造就呢？尋求善牧的幫助，向祂呼喊：「我信！請祢補助我們的無信吧！」
天主保祐！
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