「世界窮人日」導讀 Introducing "World Day of the Poor"

常年期第三十三主日，丙年
主題：「世界窮人日」導讀

2016年11月20日，教宗方濟各在結束「慈悲禧年」年時，頒佈了一份名為【慈悲與憐憫】的宗座牧函，重溫「慈悲」的聖經、神學、聖事及基督徒生活的重要性，並宣佈了兩件事。

1. 是有關處理犯了墮胎罪的問題。天主是生命的主宰，殺害無辜的生命是對天主的大不敬。所有胎兒都是無辜的，所以墮胎是一項嚴重的罪行。從前，墮胎罪是保留給主教處理的。時移世易，天主教徒生活在非教徒佔大多數的社會中，墮胎很普遍。於是有些教區的主教，委派部份司鐸，代表主教免除墮胎的罪罰。其實墮胎的問題很複雜，而且在女性的身心靈上做成嚴重的創傷和枷鎖！所以教宗方濟各授權全體司鐸，在慈悲禧年期間，可以行使免除墮胎罪罰的權力。不是為了鼓勵墮胎，而是鼓勵痛悔定改的教友，領受天主的慈悲，重新自由喜樂地，度天主子女的生活。在這宗座牧函中，教宗宣布這項權力，正式延續下去。（【慈悲與憐憫】#12）
2. 宣布每年常年期第33主日為「世界窮人日」。教宗說：「…這將會是慶祝我們的主耶穌基督普世君王慶節的最佳準備，因為主耶穌把自己當作最卑微、最貧困者的一員；我們的慈悲善工，將成為祂審判我們的準則（瑪25:31-46）。這『世界窮人日』將幫助各基督信仰團體，以及所有已領洗者，去反思福音的中心議題──貧困，只要拉匝祿依然躺臥在我們家大門前（路16:19-21），世界便不會有公義，社會亦不得和平…」（#21

「貧窮」原來有很多不同面貎，在以後的日子，教宗陸續說明。要解決問題，必先正視問題，所以首先，把眼光聚焦在「貧窮」的問題上。

2017年6月13日，教宗為第一屆世界窮人日（19/11/2017）發表文告，第一句便引用若望書信說：「孩子們，我們愛，不可祇用言語…而要用行動。」（若一3:18）這是第一屆世界窮人日的主題。教宗與我們重溫作為基督徒蒙召的本質，教宗教導我們，天主教徒應怎樣看「貧窮」：貧窮首先是一份召叫，跟隨貧窮的耶穌；是擁有一顆謙遜的心，是一種內在的態度。貧窮創造出全心信賴天主與人同在的條件，我們應在窮人身上，發現天主的福音！（文告#4）
他跟著說：「貧窮每日以千萬種方式挑戰我們：受苦、邊緣化、壓迫、暴力、酷刑和監禁、戰爭、自由與尊嚴受到剝奪、無知與文盲、醫療急需和工作短缺、人口販運和奴役制度、流亡、赤貧以及被迫移民等等…面對這種種不同形式的貧窮，我們必須對生命和社會，抱持嶄新的視野，予以回應。」（文告#5）
所以，貧窮不單是金錢上的貧窮，還有關係上的貧窮，知識上的貧窮和靈性上的貧窮。而貧窮背後，就是不公義的制度。認清了目標，就不會盲目地回應了。

2018年6月13日，教宗發表了第二屆世界窮人日（18/11/2018）的文告，第一句引用聖詠來默想說：「卑微（貧困）的人一呼號，上主立即俯允。」（詠34:7）這是第二屆世界窮人日的主題。跟著，他以馬爾谷福音中巴爾提買的故事，指出天主如何實現了祂的承諾。教宗訓導說，貧窮的人受苦，他們渴望脫貧，渴望有人伸出援手，最少也希望獲得一點安慰。不幸的是，大部份人恐懼窮人，拒絕窮人，視窮人為不安全不穩定的根源。拒絕窮人就是拒絕耶穌基督，教會豈可這樣呢？（文告#5）
教宗繼續以保祿宗徒的書信（羅12:15-16；格前12:26；斐2:5），再次提醒我們，不能與世界同流合污，緊記「貧窮」是基督徒的聖召，貧窮就是福音。（文告#8）

2019年6月13日，教宗發表了第三屆世界窮人日（17/11/2019）的文告，第一句引用聖詠來默想說：「窮人的依靠永不會喪亡。」（詠9:19）這是第三屆世界窮人日的主題。從文告中的內容可見，非常切合香港當前的局勢。今年，教宗把我們的眼光，聚焦到信德上。
他說：「…信德特別銘刻在窮人的心中，在遭遇不公義、痛苦和生活的不確定時，它重新恢復失去的希望。」可是在現實生活所見，「…祂怎能讓窮人飽受侮辱而不前來相助？尤其眼看窮人飽受苦楚，為什麼祂反而允許壓迫的人繁榮興盛，卻不譴責他們的行為？」（文告#1）為甚麼天主不譴責他們的行為？同樣，在今天的香港社會，很多人不停地問，為甚麼教會不譴責他們的暴力行為？
教宗繼續說，忍受著不公義、痛苦和失望的我們，祇要是「信賴上主」，堅定相信天主永遠不會拋棄我們，我們就成了有福的「窮人」。為甚麼天主對窮人「念念不忘、銘記在心」呢？因為窮人「認識」天主，與天主建立了一份充滿愛與感情的個人關係，這關係就是希望的來源！（文告#3）
天主會為窮人做甚麼？祂「聆聽」窮人的呼聲，並「前來救助他們」；祂「保護」並「捍衛」他們，祂「拯救」並「援助」他們。祂是窮人的避難所，永遠扶助他們。（文告#4）

看來，香港社會之所以還沒有走出當前的困局，香港教區決定取銷慶祝已準備就緒的「世界窮人日」，是因為我們認識上主未深，信賴祂不足，忘記了呼求祂吧，所以祂還沒有「前來救助、保護、捍衛、拯救和援助」我們！
天主保祐！
第二屆世界窮人日

文憲：
http://www.vatican.va/content/dam/francesco/pdf/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20161120_misericordia-et-misera_zh_tw.pdf

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/zh_tw/messages/poveri/documents/papa-francesco_20170613_messaggio-i-giornatamondiale-poveri-2017.html

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/zh_tw/messages/poveri/documents/papa-francesco_20180613_messaggio-ii-giornatamondiale-poveri-2018.html

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/zh_tw/messages/poveri/documents/papa-francesco_20190613_messaggio-iii-giornatamondiale-poveri-2019.html

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Thirty Third Ordinary Sunday, Year C
Theme: Introducing "World Day of the Poor"

On November 20, 2016, Pope Francis closed the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy with an Apostolic Letter "Misericordia et Misera" to review the important theme of mercy in the scriptures, theology, sacraments and Christian life. Moreover, he made two announcements.

1. It is about abortion. God is the author of life. Killing the innocent is a grave contempt to God. All foeti are innocent. Therefore abortion is a grave sin. In earlier generations, abortion was an offence reserved for bishops to absolve. As time moves on, many Catholics are now living in societies outnumbered by non-believers. Abortion is common. Thus, in some dioceses, bishops delegate the faculty to absolve abortions to certain priests. In fact, abortion is a complex issue and women who have undergone abortions are left with trauma and bondage physically, psychologically as well as spiritually. Thus Pope Francis granted provisional faculty to all priests to absolve the sin of abortion during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. The Church does not encourage abortion. She only encourages the faithful to repent and reconcile with God, to embrace His mercy and lead the life of God's children in freedom. In this Apostolic Letter, Pope Francis extended this faculty indefinitely. (Misericordia et Misera #12)
2. Pope Francis decided that the whole Church should celebrate "World Day of the Poor" on the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time. The Pope says, "This would be the worthiest way to prepare for the celebration of the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, who identified with the little ones and the poor and who will judge us on our works of mercy (Matthew 25:31-46). It would be a day to help communities and each of the baptized to reflect on how poverty is at the very heart of the Gospel and that, as long as Lazarus lies at the door of our homes (Luke 16:19-21), there can be no justice or social peace." (#21)

Poverty wears many faces. In subsequent years, the Pope would explain. In order to solve the problem, let us face the problem squarely and focus our gaze on the problem of poverty first.

On June 13, 2017, Pope Francis issued a Message for the First World Day of the Poor (19/11/2017). He quoted John's Epistle "Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth." (1 John 3:18) This was also the theme of the First World Day of the Poor. The Pope helps us revise the nature of Christian call. He teaches us how to look at poverty: Let us never forget that, for Christ's disciples, poverty is above all a call to follow Jesus in his own poverty which means having a humble heart. It is an interior attitude. Poverty creates the conditions for us to trust in God's closeness and the support of his grace. In short, the poor manifest God's gospel! (Message#4)
He continues, "In myriad ways poverty challenges us daily, in faces marked by suffering, marginalization, oppression, violence, torture and imprisonment, war, deprivation of freedom and dignity, ignorance and illiteracy, medical emergencies and shortage of work, trafficking and slavery, exile, extreme poverty and for forced migration ... To all these forms of poverty we must respond with a new vision of life and society." (Message#5)
Thus, poverty is not only financial poverty, but also relational poverty, intellectual poverty and spiritual poverty. Behind all forms of poverty is an unrighteous institution. Focusing on a clear target, we will not respond blindly.

On June 13, 2018, Pope Francis issued a Message for the Second World Day of the Poor (18/11/2018). For meditation, he quoted a psalm, "The poor cried out and the Lord heard, and from all his distress He saved him." (Psalm 34:7) This is the theme of the Second World Day of the Poor. Following the meditation, the Pope pointed out that the story of Bartimaeus in the gospel of Mark makes visible what the Psalm proclaims as a promise. The Pope teaches that the poor suffer. They desire deliverance, desire somebody to lend them a helping hand or at least some consolation. Sadly, most people fear the poor, reject them and consider them a source of insecurity and unrest. Rejecting the poor is rejecting Jesus Christ. How can the Church do that? (Message#5)
The Pope continues to remind us to go against the trends with passages from Pauline epistles (Romans 12:15-16, 1 Corinthians 12:26, Philippians 2:5). Bear in mind that poverty is a Christian call. Poverty is the Gospel. (Message#8)

On June 13, 2019, Pope Francis issued a Message for the Third World Day of the Poor (17/11/2019). For meditation, he quoted "The hope of the needy will never fade." (Psalm 9:19) This is the theme of the Third World Day of the Poor. From the contents of the Message, we see that they fit the situation of Hong Kong at the moment. This year, the Pope moves our focus onto faith. He says, "Faith impresses above all on the hearts of the poor, restoring lost hope in the face of injustice, sufferings and the uncertainties of life." However, what we see in real life situations is differnt. "How can God let the poor be humiliated without coming to their aid? Why does He allow oppressors to prosper instead of condemning their conducts?" (Message#1) Yes, why does God not condemn the conduct of the oppressors? Similarly, many people in Hong Kong today keep asking why the Church does not condemn brutality.
The Pope continues to teach that we, who endure injustice, suffering and disappointment, must "put our trust in the Lord", in the certainty that we will never be forsaken, will become the Blessed Poor. Why is God "mindful" of the poor? It is because the poor has established a personal relationship of affection and love with God. They "know" the Lord. This relationship is the source of hope! (Message#3)
What does God do on behalf of the poor? He "hears" their cry and "comes to their aid". He "protects" and "defends" them. He "rescues" and "saves" them. He is their refuge and never fails to come to their assistance. (Message#4)

In light of the Pope's teachings, the Hong Kong society fails to emerge from the present predicament and that the Hong Kong Diocese cancels the long prepared celebration of the World Day of the Poor indicate that we don't know the Lord deep enough, not trust in Him enough and forget to cry to Him. Thus, He has not come to our aid, protection, defence, rescue and assistance yet!
God bless! Reference:
http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20161120_misericordia-et-misera.html

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/poveri/documents/papa-francesco_20170613_messaggio-i-giornatamondiale-poveri-2017.html

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/poveri/documents/papa-francesco_20180613_messaggio-ii-giornatamondiale-poveri-2018.html

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/poveri/documents/papa-francesco_20190613_messaggio-iii-giornatamondiale-poveri-2019.html

Picture Credit:
https://www.greynun.org/2017/10/world-day-of-the-poor/
https://orderofmaltaamerican.org/2018/11/13/the-second-world-day-of-the-poor-on-november-18th/ (page not found)
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/11/07/church-to-observe-world-day-of-the-poor/