耶穌基督要找怎麼樣的信德？ What Kind of Faith Does Jesus Christ Look For?

常年期第三十主日，丙年
主題：耶穌基督要找怎麼樣的信德？

讀聖經不可以脫離「上文下理」的原則，所以要明白今天福音的訊息，應先掌握之前的經文。上一個主日的福音，最後一句是這樣說的：「人子來臨時，能在世上找到信德嗎？」（路18:8）「人子來臨時」，就是「世界末日」的意思。耶穌是否在預言，當世上再沒有人相信天主的時候，或者當教會被破壞毀滅了的時候，就是世界末日呢？我相信不必要這樣悲觀！因為太明顯了！

1. 耶穌基督曾多次提醒我們，祂會在最出人意表的時辰重臨。教會遭受迫害是家常便飯，但如果教會出現被毀滅的危險，那就太明顯，不會是出人意表的時辰了。所以即使教會出現被毀滅的危機，絕對不會是世界末日的徵兆！相反，當教會不用面對內憂外患的時候，到了可以安枕無憂的時候，小心，那可能是耶穌基督選定的突如其來的時辰了！
2. 耶穌基督在這句說話之前和之後，都是在講述祈禱。所以是與祈禱有關。「找不到信德」是指沒有人再祈禱嗎？沒有人再返聖堂領聖事嗎？對不起！我相信天主重質不重量，不會因為沒有人返聖堂就結束這個世界！想當年，亞巴郎曾與天主討價還價，祇要找到十個義人，就赦免索多瑪城（創18:32）。又例如，天主從基德紅民長手上的三萬二千人，祇挑選了三百人（民7:6），便擊敗了米德揚的十三萬五千大軍。最後，耶穌基督曾許諾，「那裡有兩個或三個人，因我的名字聚在一起，我就在他們中間。」（瑪18:20）可見天主是重質不重量的，即使教會祇剩下兩三個義人，天主也不會結束這個世界，因為有耶穌基督與我們同在！所以，耶穌基督那句「找不到信德」的話，是要求我們培養有質素的信德！

祇要你相信兩個信條，你可以算是一個基督徒了。這兩個信條就是：天主祇有一個，祂是三位一體的；耶穌基督是真天主，又真是人。這就是基督徒的信德。固然，要相信這些道理，在理性上是有點難度，但真正的挑戰卻是如何生活出這信德！所以，在俗世生活中實踐出耶穌基督所教導的福音精神，即所謂「真福八端」的成聖之路，纔是困難所在。耶穌基督今天用了「法利塞人和稅吏祈禱」的比喻，把兩種信仰的態度，展示在我們眼前，讓我們作出明智的選擇。

世上最難醫治的病人，是以為自己沒有病的人！
那個法利塞人，懂得感謝天主，他又遵守梅瑟十誡，沒有做傷天害理的事；每周禁食，十一奉獻（路11:11-12）…，他可以說是一個模範猶太教教徒，還有甚麼他沒有做到呢？如果要挑剔他，頂多可以說他沒有提及做過任何愛德工作，幫助貧窮弱小的人！可能他有做過，祇是沒有說出。另一方面，那稅吏又有做過嗎？的確，在表面上，這個法利塞人真是一個無可指責的模範教友。但不要忘記，「人看外貎，上主卻看人心。」（撒上16:7）這個法利塞人的祈禱，暴露了他內心所犯的「三宗罪」。

1. 天主是全知的，你有需要在天主面前，數算自己的優點嗎？天主需要你提醒祂嗎（依40:13-14）？需要你提醒的天主，不信也罷！你這樣做，是反映了自己信德的薄弱，你並不在渴望天主的拯救！你信自己多於信天主！
2. 這個法利塞人說：「因為我不像其他人…」（路18:11）。很多人喜歡越俎代庖，不做自己應該做的事，反而好管閒事，做留給天主做的事！請問這位法利塞人：「誰立了你作我們的首領和判官？」（出2:14）其實，他做好自己份內的事便是，何必批評別人做得不夠好呢？踐踏在別人的短處上來高舉自己，不見得你高了多少！倘若真的想切磋比拼，提高自己的實力，找個高手來比拼纔對，是不是？
3. 看見別人軟弱犯罪，沒有激發起對他們的憐憫之心，祇管譴責，對事情有幫助嗎？又沒有哀慟之心，警惕自己有朝一日，有可能也會墮落，好像他們犯同一樣的罪過。這個法利塞人反過來感謝天主，慶幸自己沒有犯錯，這不是「幸災落禍」是甚麼！

這個法利塞人，就是我所說的，「以為自己沒有病的人」的樣板！他的毛病，在於他相信自己的得救，自己在天主前的成義，完全是自己的努力，而不是天主的慈悲。這樣的人，又怎會接受天主的治療呢？驕傲自大，的確害人不淺。

各位兄弟姊妹，耶穌基督在山中聖訓，教導我們神貧、哀慟和憐憫（瑪5:3-4，7），正是針對驕傲的良藥。讓那個稅吏的祈禱啟發我們，心生謙卑之情，「連舉目望天都不敢」（18:13）好能識清自己的罪過，渴望獲得天主的救贖。這就是真福八端所教導的「飢渴慕義」（瑪5:6）的意義。能做到這四端，相信離「成了正義的」不遠矣！
天主保祐！

圖片鳴謝：http://findingthetruefaith.com/are-you-a-publican-a-pharisee-or-both/

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Thirtieth Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: What Kind of Faith Does Jesus Christ Look For?

We cannot read bible passages out of context. In order to understand the message of today's gospel, we need to know the context. The last sentence of the gospel passage last Sunday says, "But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8)
"When the Son of Man comes" means the end of the world. Does Jesus foretell that when no more people believe in God, or when the Church is destroyed, it shall be the end of the world? I don't think we need to be pessimistic because it is too obvious!

1. Jesus Christ reminds us many times that He would return at the most unexpected moment. The Church has been routinely persecuted. If the Church faces the danger of annihilation, it would be too obvious a time, not an unexpected time. Therefore, when the Church is besieged both from within and without, it is absolutely not a sign of the end! On the contrary, if the Church does not have to worry about all these troubles and is facing a peaceful and receptive world, beware, most probably that's the moment Jesus Christ has chosen to return!
2. Before and after this comment, Jesus was talking about prayers. Therefore, the comment must be related to prayers. Does "Will he find faith on earth" means nobody pray anymore, that nobody goes to Church to receive sacraments? I believe that God looks for quality, not quantity. He will not end this world because nobody goes to Church! In the Old Testament, Abraham was able to secure a bargain with God sparing Sodom if he would find ten righteous people in the city (Genesis 18:32). As another example, God picked up 300 soldiers from 32,000 people under the command of Gideon (Judges 7:6) to defeat a Midian army of 350,000. Lastly, Jesus Christ promises, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Thus, we see that quality, not quantity, is God's concern. Even though only two or three righteous people remain in the Church, God shall not end this world because Jesus Christ stays with us! Therefore, Jesus demands us to build up a faith of high quality in His comment.

If you believe in just two creeds, you can be counted a Christian. Those two creeds are: there is only one God who is three in one. Jesus Christ is truly divine and truly human. This is the Christian faith. Of course, it is not easy to believe in these articles with rationality, but the real challenge is how to live up this faith. The difficulty lies in how to live up the evangelical spirit in this secular world, the way towards sanctification with the Beatitudes. Today with the parable of the Prayer of a Pharisee and a Publican, Jesus Christ puts before us two different attitudes towards faith for us to choose.

The most difficult patients on earth to heal are those who deny that they are sick!
The Pharisee is grateful to God, observes the Ten Commandments and does no harm to others, fasts twice a week and pays tithes etc. (Luke 11:11-12). He is an exemplary Jew. What else has he not done? If we want to criticize, at most you can say that he has not mentioned any charity works, helping the needy! Probably he has. He just doesn't mention it. On the other hand, has the publican done any?

Indeed, superficially, you cannot find fault with this exemplary Pharisee. But don't forget, "A mortal sees the appearance. The Lord looks into the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) The prayer of this Pharisee reveals three vices in his heart.

1. God is omniscient. Do you need to enumerate your merits before Him? Does God need you to remind him (Isaiah 40:13-14)? A deity which needs to be reminded is not worth believing at all! What you have done shows how weak your faith is. You do not desire God's salvation. You believe in yourself more than in God!
2. This Pharisee says, "That I'm not like the rest of humanity…" (Luke 18:11) Many people enjoy playing God. They don't discharge their duties but like to do things reserved for God! Hey, Pharisee, "Who has appointed you ruler and judge over us?" (Exodus 2:14) In fact, it is good of him to do his duties. Is it necessary to pass judgment on the others? Trampling upon others to exalt oneself does not make one any taller! If he really wants to improve himself with challenges, he should challenge the strong ones, shouldn't he?
3. What help is there of condemning others when you see them fall without compassion? Without mourning to remind us, one day we may similarly fall. On the contrary, this Pharisee thanks God for his not sinning. Isn't that callous?

This Pharisee is an exemplar of what I said earlier, "those who deny that they are sick"! His fault is that he believes that his salvation or his justification before God comes totally from his own effort and not God's mercy. How can this kind of people receive God's healing? Arrogance is truly detrimental to our salvation.

Brethren, Jesus Christ teaches us to be spiritually poor, be mournful and merciful (Matthew 5:3-4, 7). These are the antidotes to pride. Let the prayer of the publican inspires in us humility, that we "would not even raise his eyes to heaven" (Luke 18:13) so that we may be able to see more clearly our own vices and desire God's salvation. This is the meaning of "Hunger and thirst for righteous" (Matthew 5:6). We shall not be far away from justification when we are able to practise these four beatitudes.
God bless!