主題：天主子的貧窮
天主超越了時空，所以是永恆的，祂不會因時間的遷移而有所改變。祂不受空間的限制，來去自如，因此是無處不在的。聖經的最後一本書曾三次這樣稱呼祂：「那今在、昔在及將來永在者」（默1:4，1:8，4:8）。
路加福音很具體地表達出天主降生成人，並非是一個傳說，而是一件真實的歷史事實。凱撒奧古斯都和敘利亞總督季黎諾（路2:1-2），都是可考據的歷史人物。而且，在猶大四周的鄰近地區，為何祇提及敘利亞而不是其他地方，當中必定有特殊的政治意義！聖史路加這樣寫，提醒我們不要空想，以為信仰可以脫離現實。剛好相反，既然天主並非「不食人間煙火」，而是願意降貴紆尊，降生成人，所以我們對天主的信仰，應該要在當代的社會、經濟和政治現實中，實踐出來的！
其次，為甚麼祂會躺臥在馬槽裡呢？聖史路加給了我們很好的默想材料：「因為在客棧中為他們沒有地方。」（2:7b）其實，人類捱受的痛苦，不單在肉體上，還有在關係上的痛苦。因為種種原因被人拒絕，被人誤解，是一件痛苦的事。聖家地位卑微，被客棧拒絕。聖子的身份，並非群眾所期望的默西亞，遭人誤解，的確是一件痛苦的事！最後，有十字架上，聖子耶穌感受到人類最大的，被天主所捨棄的痛苦（瑪27:46），沒有比這更大的痛苦了！至慈悲的耶穌基督，願意為人類承擔一切痛苦，包括那些不能承受的痛苦在內！「那侮辱你者的辱罵落於我身。」（詠69:10，羅15:3）
人類最大的弱點，在於過份信賴自己的能力！為了滿足自己的野心，決定「建造一城一塔，塔頂摩天。」（創11:4）巴貝耳塔的故事，就是一個典型的例子。即使在「蕩子的比喻」中，小兒子也想憑自己的能力，博取重新踏入父家的門檻！（路15:19）殊不知，當我們過份信賴自己的能力時，我們都變成了白冷的客棧，哪有空間可以容納天主呢？當我們的心充塞著金錢財富，地位權力和學問成就時，我們想扮演天主，我們還會感覺到需要天主嗎？即使祂叩門，我們還會回應嗎？且看，是誰看見天主的使者？是誰看見天主的真身？是凱撒嗎？是總督嗎？是客棧裡的貴客嗎？全都不是，是那些被邊緣化了，露宿的牧羊人（2:8）！
這半年來的社會動盪，對我們的信德，的確是一場嚴峻的考驗。很多教友問天主在哪？很多教友表示愛耶穌，但因為不滿神職人員的表現，而決定不愛教會！
人類是受造物，受時空限制。所以我們生活在歷史中，生活在被罪惡污染了的世界裡，在地球的某個角落，經歷著生老病死的變化。按祂自己的肖像創造我們的天主，對人類動了憐憫的心，決意把我們從罪惡的奴役出，解放出來！於是祂進了人類的歷史，在某個特定的時空，誕生成人！
首先，即使天主子選擇降生在王宮裡，祂也要經歷人類的苦痛。耶穌基督必須在聖母體內孕育九個月，出生成為一個無助的嬰兒，會肚餓，會哭喊和要接受如廁訓練等等…這樣說明了祂樂意承擔人類的軟弱，成為軟弱的一員。固然，祂長大後不曾經歷疾病和衰老，但祂卻樂意與病人為伍，治好他們的病苦！可以說，耶穌基督真的願意與弱者同在，與我們同甘共苦！
各位兄弟姊妹，天主聖子的降生，提醒我們，天主對我們不離不棄，願意與我們同在，甘苦與共，照亮我們的生命（若1:4）。我們之所以看不見天主，是因為在我們的心中，沒有空間容納祂。我們害怕貧窮、軟弱、犯錯、沒有權勢和一事無成。軟弱無助的耶穌聖嬰，鼓勵我們不必害怕（路2:10），祂願意與我們一起，戰勝這個世界（若16:33）！讓我們把這個喜訊，向區內的居民報佳音！
天主保祐！
圖片鳴謝：陳秉銳兄弟的《祝英台近》詞，譚美娥姊妹的聖葉理諾聖嬰相片
Midnight Mass
Theme: The Poverty of the Son of God
God transcends space and time. He is eternal and never changes as time passes. Space cannot confine Him. He moves around at will and is thus omnipresent. The last book of the Bible calls him "the one who is and who was and who is to come" three times (Revelation 1:4, 1:8, 4:8)
Luke the Evangelist concretely shows us that the incarnation of God is not a legend but a genuine historical fact. Caesar Augustus and Quirinius, governor of Syria were historical figures (Luke 2:1-2) which can be verified. Moreover, why does Luke mention Syria and not the other neighbouring regions? There had to be special political meanings behind! Luke the Evangelist reminds us not to daydream splitting faith from reality. On the contrary, since our God is not otherworldly but is willing to take up human flesh, therefore, our faith in God should be practised in contemporary social, economic and political realities!
To be incarnate, the Son of God could choose to be born in the palace, or in the house of politically powerful ministers or the home of the wealthiest. However, He chose to be born into the humblest family and made the manger His cradle (2:7a). What does it mean to us who believe in Him?
Secondly, why was He laid in a manger? Luke the Evangelist gives us very good material for meditation, "because there was no room for them in the inn." (2:7b) Indeed, human sufferings are more than physical. There are relational ones. For various reasons, it is painful indeed to be rejected or misunderstood! Lastly, on the cross, Jesus Christ the Son of God suffers the greatest pain, the pain of being abandoned by God (Matthew 27:46). Nothing on earth can be more painful than this! The most merciful Jesus Christ is willing to shoulder all the sufferings of all humanity, including those unbearable pains! "I am scorned by those who scorn you." (Psalm 69:10, Romans 145:3)
Over-reliance on one's own capabilities is our Achilles' heels. To satisfy one's own ambition, people decided to "let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky." (Genesis 11:4) The Tower of Babel is a typical story. Even the younger son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son wanted to earn his entry through the threshold of the father's house with his own effort! (Luke 15:19) Unbeknown to us, when we over-rely on our own capabilities, we become an inn of Bethlehem. Where can we find space to accommodate God? When our hearts are stuffed with money and wealth, status and power, knowledge and achievements, we want to play God. Do we still feel the need of God? Even if He knocks, shall we answer the door? Look! Who saw God's angels? Who saw God in flesh? Caesar? Governor? Customers in the inns? None of them, but the marginalized shepherds in that region living in the fields (2:8)!
The Holy Infant makes it clear that it is not shameful to be poor, not shameful to be weak, not shameful to feel helpless and not shameful to be marginalized by the society. It is because in our weakness, God's power is manifested! God likes to defeat an army of 130,000 with a 300 minority (Judges 8:4, 10); a shepherd boy to defeat a giant warrior (1 Samuel 17:50). Well said St. Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
The last six months of social unrest are truly a dogged challenge of our faith. Many parishioners ask where God is. Many claim that they love Jesus but are disappointed by the actions of the clergy. They decide not to love the Church anymore!
Humanity is a creature confined by space and time. Thus we live in history, in a world contaminated by sins. We are assigned to a location on earth to go through birth, aging, sickness and death. God, who created us in His image, has mercy on us. He decides to liberate us from the bondage of sins. Therefore, He enters human history at a particular location and time and becomes a human being!
First of all, even if the Son of God chose to be born in the palace, He had to go through human sufferings. Jesus Christ had to be nursed in the womb of the BVM for nine months, to be born a helpless infant, suffered hunger, cried and had to undergo toilet training etc. It shows that He is willing to bear our frailty and become one of the weak. Of course, when He grew up, He needed not to go through sickness and aging, but He was happy to be present with the sick to heal their illness! Jesus Christ truly enjoys staying with the weak and suffering with us!
Brethren, the Son of God takes up humanity to remind us that God shall never abandon us. He is willing to accompany us in sufferings and lighten up our lives (John 1:4). We fail to see God because there is no room in our hearts left for Him. We are afraid of poverty, weakness, making mistakes, without power and unaccomplished. The weak and helpless Infant Jesus encourages us not to be afraid (Luke 2:10). He is happy to join us to conquer the world (John 16:22). Let us bring this good news to our neighbour!
God bless!
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