信天主有如品酒 Belief in God is Like Tasting Wine

聖言主日，甲年
主題：信天主有如品酒

時值農曆新年，雖然處於「武漢肺炎」的陰霾之下，但親朋戚友團拜賀歲，在所難免。席上總要碰杯祝酒，高談闊論。年青一輩對於飲酒有相當要求，不似老一輩的我們，喜歡牛飲，以示豪氣！年青人批評我們浪費了種植者和釀酒者的一番心血，他們的批評不無道理！年青人飲酒，先用眼細看酒的顏色和「掛杯」程度，再用鼻嗅出酒的香氣，甚麼肉桂、拖肥、呍呢拿…，含在口中，讓味蕾品嚐箇中滋味，嚥下再慢慢回味…，真不可小覷一杯酒，原來品嘗起來，可以有這麼豐富的色香味回甘學問！「品酒」和「飲酒」的確不可同日而語！

猶太教、基督宗教和伊斯蘭教，都是一神宗教，而且是相信同一個神明。但大家對所相信的天主，卻「品嘗」出不同的滋味。基督宗教奉耶穌基督為天主聖子，祂不但捨身拯救世人，並把天主的內在生命─三位一體，啟示給我們。猶太教否認耶穌是他們所期待的默西亞，而伊斯蘭教祇把耶穌當作一位先知。倘若我們把品酒和宗教信仰作類比，猶太教和伊斯蘭教對天主的認知，相對地粗枝大葉，不及基督宗教那麼細緻！的確，倘若我們不知道一杯酒可以從色香味與回甘的方向體會，就祇有獨沽一味了！同樣，倘若我們不知道天主是三位一體，祂的本體是愛，祂以慈悲展示祂的大能，祂願意以聖言及聖體，與人類同在…等，恐怕信仰就祇有「敬畏」，別無選擇了！

倘若牛飲會浪費種植者和釀酒者的心血，同樣道理，倘若我們不讀聖經，不領聖事，豈不同樣浪費了天主對我們的一番美意，浪費了我們堂區主保聖葉理諾，翻譯聖經的一番辛勤嗎？教宗方濟各以自動手諭《開啟他們的明悟》，頒布設立「天主聖言主日」時，開宗明義引述了聖葉理諾的名句：「誰不認識聖經，誰就不認識基督。」所以，即使勤領聖體，亦需要勤讀聖經，認識清楚所領受的聖體是何等寶貴的禮物，把聖體的功效，發揮得淋漓盡致！

大家都知道聖經是一個小型圖書館。沒有人進入圖書館，從書架上第一本書讀到最後一本，總是按自己的需要和興趣選讀！同樣道理，從【創世紀】順序讀到【默示錄】並不是一個理想的讀聖經方案。作為基督徒，不是應該先讀福音，了解耶穌基督的言行，再參考其他書卷嗎？同樣，也不應從【瑪竇福音】順序讀到【若望福音】，除非你是一個猶太人！為甚麼？因為聖史寫福音給不同的對象：瑪竇寫給有猶太教背景的信徒，證明耶穌是他們所期待的基督；馬爾谷和路加寫給外邦人，告訴他們天主是大能的，更是慈悲的；而若望的福音，是一部深刻的神學反省！因此，執事我的讀福音順序是：馬爾谷、路加、宗徒大事錄（路加福音的續集）和瑪竇。最後纔是若望。

所以，讀瑪竇福音，會接觸到不少猶太色彩。例如今天的福音所提及的「則步隆地與納斐塔理地」（瑪4:15），是甚麼意思呢？這並不是一個簡單的地理名稱，而是牽涉到以色列十二支派之間，複雜的地位問題！
雅各伯有十二個兒子，由兩個表妹和她們的婢女所生。雅各伯心儀的表妹是辣黑耳，她一直不育（創30:1），最後祇為他生了兩個兒子便難產死了（35:16-19）。則步隆是大表妹肋阿最後生的第六個兒子（35:23）！而納斐塔里是辣黑耳的婢女所生的（35:25）。所以，後來這兩族後裔在福地，祇分到北方邊陲之地，外族入侵時首當其衝！可見他們在十二支派中，地位卑微，備受歧視。加里肋亞正位於納斐塔里地，即使耶穌的門徒，也曾看不起加里肋亞的納匝肋（若1:46）！

雖然雅各伯的家庭生活並不完美，但天主的恩寵卻補充了當中的不足！
雅各伯被騙而娶了肋阿，對她沒有好感（創29:25）。可是，天主祝福了她，讓她多產，並且在她的第三子肋未的後裔中，出了偉大的梅瑟；第四子猶大，出了人類的救主耶穌基督！天主的慈愛，的確偉大，經常為受委屈的人出頭（撒上2:4-8）！今天的福音，再次引證了天主對被歧視者的眷顧。且看，耶穌基督的福音，並不是出自富裕的南方，不是源於宗教的權力中心耶路撒冷，而是出自備受冷落歧視的北方，出自「外方人的加里肋亞」（瑪4:15），是他們最先領受到救贖（4:16）！
各位兄弟姊妹，天主的聖言，蘊含豐富的色彩和味道。請細心品嘗，有不明白的地方，便請教神長；或者參加聖經分享小組，甚至報讀一些聖經課程。請不要浪費天父為了拯救我們所預備的一番美意。
天主保祐！

圖片鳴謝：aigle2vie.over-blog.com

2017講道

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Sunday of the Word of God, Year A
Theme: Belief in God is Like Tasting Wine

It is Lunar New Year. Although we are overshadowed by Wuhan pneumonia, relatives and friends still gather to celebrate. Wining, dining and speech making are part and parcel of celebration. Young people are meticulous in wining, unlike the older folks who gulp to show off their masculinity! Young people criticize us for wasting the craft and labour of planters and brewers. Their criticisms are reasonable! When they drink, they begin inspecting the colour and viscosity (wine tears) with their eyes. Then they smell the aromas with their nose to figure out the mixture of cinnamon, toffee and vanilla etc. Rinse their taste buds with the wine and swallow slowly. Then catch the aftertaste until there is no more ... Wine tasting can be such an elaborate process. No wonder drinking wine is not on a par with wine tasting!

Judaism, Christianity and Islam are monotheistic and all of them believe in the one and the same God. But the "tasting" is different. Christianity worships Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Not only did He sacrifice Himself to save humanity, but He also reveals us the inner life of the Godhead. God is a Blessed Trinity! Judaism rejects Jesus as their anticipated Messiah and Islam respects Jesus as one of the prophets only. If we attempt an analogy between wine tasting and religious faith, Judaism and Islam understand God in a relatively crude manner, unlike the sophisticated refinement of Christianity. Indeed, if we do not know that we can enjoy a glass of wine with our sight, smell, taste and imagination, there can only be one way of drinking --- swallowing! In the same way, if we do not know that God is a Trinity, that His essence is love, that He demonstrates His might with mercy and that He is willing to be present with us in His words and sacraments ... etc. then there is only one way to believe in God. Fear!

If drinking like a fish is a waste of the efforts of planters and brewers, then similarly, if we do not study the Bible or do not receive the sacraments, isn't it a waste of God's mercy and the effort of the patron saint of our parish, St. Jerome who translated the Bible into Latin? When Pope Francis institutes the "Sunday of the Word of God" in his Apostolic Letter "Aperuit illis" in the form of motu proprio, he quotes from St. Jerome, "Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ." Thus, frequent receptions of the Holy Communion must be supported by frequent studies of the Bible to understand clearly how precious the Communion is. Then the reception can be fully effective!

We all know that the Bible is a mini library. Nobody enters a library, picks the first book on the shelf and reads until the last. We read according to our interests and needs! Similarly, reading from Genesis to Revelation is not an ideal bible study schedule! As Christians, shouldn't we begin reading the gospels in order to know the words and deeds of Jesus Christ before we refer to other books? In a similar manner, you should not read from Matthew to John, unless you are a Jew! Why? It is because the Evangelists wrote for different target audiences: Matthew wrote for Jewish disciples to prove that Jesus is their awaited Christ. Mark and Luke wrote for Gentiles, telling them that God is powerful and merciful. John's is an in-depth theological reflection! Thus, the sequence I suggest is: Mark, Luke, Acts (the sequel to Luke) and Matthew. Lastly, it is John.

Therefore, we shall come across many Jewish "colours" in Matthew. For example, the passage today mentions "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali" (Matthew 4:15). What does it mean? This is not simply a geographical name but a complex status problem among the twelve tribes of Israel!
Jacob's twelve sons were born of two cousins and their maids. Jacob loved Rachel but she had always been barren (Genesis 30:1). Rachel died after giving birth in distress her second son (35:16-19). Zebulun was the sixth and last son of Leah (35:23), Jacob's elder cousin and Naphtali was the son of Rachel's maid (35:25). Subsequently, the two tribes occupied the northern border of the Promised Land, bearing the first brunt of alien invasions! We may safely conclude that among the twelve tribes, Zebulun and Naphtali were lowly and despised. Galilee was in the land of Naphtali. Even one of Jesus' disciples despised Nazareth in Galilee (John 1:46)!

Although the family life of Jacob was far from perfect, God's grace made up the imperfections!
Jacob was cheated into marrying Leah whom he had never liked (Genesis 29:25). But God blessed her with six sons. From the third son Levi came great Moses and from the fourth son Judah, Jesus Christ the saviour of mankind! God's mercy is tremendous, always raises the lowly high (1 Samuel 2:4-8). The gospel passage today proves once again that God remembers the despised. Behold, the good news of Jesus Christ did not come from the rich south, nor from the power centre of Jerusalem, but from the ignored north, from "Galilee of the Gentiles" (Matthew 4:15) who were the first to receive salvation (4:16)!

Brethren! The Word of God is rich in colours and texture. Taste it with a mindful heart. When you meet something difficult, consult the clergy, or join a Bible sharing group and even taking biblical courses. Don't waste the good things God has prepared for our salvation.
God bless!

當耶穌基督向你迎面而來，你會… When You See Jesus Coming Towards You ...

常年期第二主日，甲年
主題：當耶穌基督向你迎面而來，你會…

耶穌基督是生活在二千年前的人物，你和我都沒有親眼見過他。我們祇見過，藉著媒體，例如名畫，電影等，透過畫家的筆觸，或者憑電影導演的想像力所塑造的耶穌。因此，現代人經常投訴，為甚麼一個在二千年前，在中東生活了三十多年的男士，竟然是一個白種人！這是一個市場的問題，西方的媒體幾百年來佔據了市場的大部份，作為消費者，我們的選擇是有限的！

其實，沒有保存耶穌基督的真面目，反而是一件好事！此話何解？
耶穌基督曾鼓勵我們多行愛德服務，說：「凡你們對我這些最小兄弟中的一個所做的，就是對我做的。」（瑪25:40）正因為沒有人親眼看見過耶穌基督的真面目，所以祂便可以輕而易舉地，臨現在眾人的身上。我們不能好像偵探，拿著一張「通緝犯」的照片去認人，對照每個有困難的人的面孔，看看是否耶穌基督，纔去服事祂！小心，我們對耶穌基督很多的既有觀念，可能會妨礙了我們在窮困者身上，認出主來！例如，耶穌基督是男性，要在弱質女流身上看到耶穌基督，是困難的；又例如祂將會在第二次降臨時，審判萬民。因此祂是正義的，所以祂不會臨現在枉法的人身上，例如「暴徒」或者「黑警」！耶穌基督真的不會臨現在女性、在破壞公共設施的暴徒、在不守法的警察…身上嗎？難道女性永遠都是弱者嗎？難道那些「暴徒」或者「黑警」，都是死不悔改的嗎？請不要以一個標籤，一副有色眼鏡，局限了自己的視野！

雖然洗者若翰與耶穌基督是同時代的人，但根據福音所載，二人出生後，一個在南方，一個在北方，一直未有來往。那麼，洗者若翰憑甚麼認出耶穌基督呢？應該是聖神。聖保祿宗徒說：「除非受聖神感動，沒有一個能說：耶穌是主。」（格前12:3）所以洗者若翰，應該是感受到從耶穌基督身上散發出來的那股聖神力量，認出耶穌基督，並宣認祂是「天主的羔羊，除免世罪者」（若1:29）。可惜，當我們接近貧困的人，流離失所的人，失去了尊嚴的人，病人或者坐牢的人時，我們感受到聖神在附近嗎？或者直接感受到，臨在他們身上的耶穌基督，所散發出的那股聖神力量嗎？

我可能對大家苛刻了些。也罷，倘若聖神難以觸摸，讓我們檢查自己，在服務上述最少兄弟中的一個時，有沒有感受到「聖神的果效」呢？就是：「仁愛、喜樂、平安、忍耐、良善、溫和、忠信、柔和、節制。」（迦5:22-23）倘若當我們與「最少兄弟中的一個」交往時，我們之間產生了上述的元素，這表示聖神正在我們中間運作，證明我們正在和耶穌基督相處，而不是自我陶醉！感謝天主，原來耶穌基督由始至終，不離不棄，在我們身旁，與我們同在！原來服務最少兄弟中的一個，使我們反而獲得天主溫柔的安慰、一份帶有喜樂的平安。這份安慰與平安，是寶貴的，因為它能治療我們心靈的創傷。但這份恩寵，需要在忍耐和節制中，纔能領會。天父啊，請教導我節制忍耐！

若翰看見迎面而來的耶穌基督，便向自己的門徒作證，耶穌基督就是「天主的羔羊，除免世罪者」（若1:29），指出祂是治療這個病入膏肓的世界的良藥！最後，他自己以被捕的方式隱退，並成了罪惡的受害者。同樣，傳說中的伯多祿逃離羅馬城時，耶穌基督迎面而來。伯多祿便問了一句：「主，祢往哪？Quo Vadis?」耶穌基督表示要返回羅馬，被釘十字架！最後，伯多祿自己返回羅馬城，並成了罪惡的受害者。我更喜歡伯多祿的故事，因為他的經歷，更能反映出基督徒在日常生活中的迷茫和不知所措。「主，祢想我們做甚麼呢？」耶穌基督的名句，不斷在腦海中回響：「不要照我所願意的，而要照祢所願意的。」（谷14:36）
天主保祐！

2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quo_vadis%3F

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Second Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: When You See Jesus Coming Towards You ...

Jesus Christ lived two thousand years ago. You and I have never met him in person. We only see him in the media, such as paintings and movies etc., through the strokes of artists or imagination of movie directors, a human creation. Thus, modern people always complain why a thirty-odd male living in the Middle East two millennia ago was a Caucasian! This is a question of supply and demand. The Western media have taken over the lion share of the market. As consumers, we have little choices!

Indeed, it is better not to have preserved the real face of Jesus Christ! Why?
Jesus Christ has encouraged us to do more works of mercy saying, "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40) Since nobody has seen the real face of Jesus Christ, He shall be present easily in anybody. We cannot act like a detective, checking the faces of each and every needy person to see if they match the face on the picture and only then shall we serve him! Beware! We have many preconceived ideas which might prevent us from recognizing the Lord in the needy. For example, Jesus Christ is a male. It is difficult to see Jesus Christ among women. Take another example. We know that He shall come again to judge the nations. Therefore, He is righteous. Therefore, He would not be present in those who breach the laws, for example rioters or bad cops! Is Jesus Christ really not present in women, in those rioters who vandalize public facilities or police officers who do not follow procedures...? Shall women be forever fair? Would those rioters or bad cops never repent? Please do not narrow your vision with labels, with coloured spectacles!

Although John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were contemporary, according to the gospels, after their births, one stayed in the south and the other in the north. They had never met until the River Jordan. Then how did John the Baptist recognize Jesus Christ? It should be the Holy Spirit. St. Paul says, "And no one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3) Therefore, John the Baptist must have detected the power of the Holy Spirit radiating from Jesus Christ so that he could recognize Him and declare, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) Unfortunately, when we approach the poor, the refugees, those who have lost their dignity, the sick and the imprisoned, do we feel the Holy Spirit in the proximity? Or do we directly feel the power of the Holy Spirit as a result of the presence of Jesus Christ in the person?

Perhaps I have been too demanding. Alright, if the Holy Spirit is difficult to capture, let us check ourselves to see if there is any "Fruit of the Holy Spirit" when we serve the least of one of those mentioned above. They are "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23) If these elements emerge when we interact with the least of those mentioned above, it indicates that the Holy Spirit is in our midst, that Jesus Christ is among us. We are not deluding ourselves! Thanks be to God. Lord Jesus Christ has not abandoned us. He always stands by us in our midst! Serving the least of these needy brothers, we receive God's generous consolation and a joyful peace. This consolation and peace is precious. They heal our spiritual wounds. But in order to receive this grace, we need to be patient and have self-control. Heavenly Father, teach us patience and self-control!

John the Baptist saw Jesus Christ walking towards him. Then he bore witness to his disciples that Jesus Christ is "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), the antidote to this bedridden world! At last, he was arrested and receded into the background and became a victim of evil. Similarly, in a legend, when Peter was fleeing Rome, he saw Jesus Christ coming towards him. Peter asked, "Quo vadis?" Jesus said that he was returning to Rome to be crucified! At last, Peter returned to Rome himself and became a victim of evil. I prefer Peter's story because his experiences show how lost many Christians are today, not knowing what to do. "Lord, what do you want me to do?" His famous words keep ringing in my head, "Not what I will but what you will." (Mark 14:36)
God bless!

充滿聖神的喜樂 Filled With The Joy of the Holy Spirit

主受洗節，甲年
主題：充滿聖神的喜樂

主耶穌基督，以天主子身份，接受洗者若翰的洗禮，展開祂的傳福音，拯救世人的工程，是一個很有意義的事蹟。我們既可以默觀天主三位一體的奧秘，或者天主子為了拯救罪人，而樂於與罪人同行的真理。今天，讓我們姑且從洗者若翰的角度，默想這片肥沃的靈修園地。

綜合其他對觀福音的記載，洗者若翰與耶穌基督是表兄弟的關係。他們還各自在母腹的時候，便初次接觸。福音說，瑪利亞請安的聲音一入耳，還是胎兒的洗者若翰，就在依撒伯爾腹中，歡喜踴躍（路1:44）洗者若翰必定是感受到充滿聖神的天主子的力量，被祂觸動，使他「歡喜踴躍」！對，接觸到聖神，就會充滿力量，充滿喜樂！相信大家都已經領過堅振聖事，曾藉著傅油禮，領受了聖神。「喜樂」正是聖神九個效果的第二個（迦5:22）。各位兄弟姊妹，大家領堅振後喜樂嗎？大家今天仍然喜樂嗎？我們有沒有因為受到生活壓力，例如忙於讀書、工作和交際，憂心考試成績、收入、健康或者人際關係，遺失了這份聖神的禮物呢？如果這份喜樂減弱了，甚至消失了，快點調整自己生活的節奏，研讀福音、祈禱、找蘇喜樂神父辦告解…恢復減弱了的聖神喜樂！

在往後的日子，天主子誕生後，為了逃避大黑落德的追殺，避難到埃及。返回以色列之後，隱姓埋名在加里肋亞的納匝肋三十年。估計兩表兄弟各自發展，沒有再聯絡了。耶穌基督在大聖若瑟的栽培之下，在北方的納匝肋成為了一個木匠（谷6:3）。若翰原本可以繼承父業，在南方的耶路撒冷做一個司祭。但他蒙天主的召叫，跑到約旦河一帶的曠野，做一個先知，宣講悔改，為人施洗（瑪3:2, 6）。當時的猶太人，期望著一個默西亞，解放他們脫離羅馬帝國的殖民地統治。但洗者若翰的出現並不符合他們的期望。於是猶太人的宗教領袖來調查他，問他憑甚麼為人施洗，洗者若翰說：「我固然用水洗你們，為使你們悔改；但在我以後要來的那一位，比我更強，我連提祂的鞋也不配，祂要以聖神及火洗你們。」（3:11）洗者若翰很清楚自己的定位，即使見到自己很受歡迎，吸引了很多人（3:5），但他不會被成就衝昏了頭腦，誤以為自己是真命天子！各位兄弟姊妹，相信大家也曾嘗過勝利的滋味，也曾得到別人的讚賞，恭喜你！但請你學習洗者若翰，保持謙遜，否則他日跌倒的話，便很難堪了！

直到有一天，在群眾當中，來了一個似曾相識的人，到他面前，接受他的洗禮。這人身上，發放出一種似曾相識，令他「歡喜踴躍」的力量！對了，就是聖神的力量！各位兄弟姊妹，請緊記這份聖神的喜樂，否則，我們會不知不覺，被俗世生活的快樂，混淆了真正的，永生的喜樂。對！我們生活在俗世中，會追求溫飽，安居樂業，甚至名成利就。但請不要被俗世所同化，隨波逐流，喪失了對永生的盼望，喪失了對獲得永生的堅持。永生是甚麼？「永生就是：認識祢，唯一的真天主，和祢所派遣來的耶穌基督。」（若17:3）請注意，猶太人所說的「認識」，有結合的意思。例如聖母瑪利亞曾對天使加俾額爾說：「這事怎能成就？因為我不認識男人。」（路1:34）除了與天主結合，分享天主聖三的生命之外，永生還可以是甚麼？

在福音的另一處，洗者若翰曾作證說：「那派遣我來以水施洗的，給我說：你看見聖神降下，停在誰身上，誰就是那要以聖神施洗的人…祂就是天主子」（若1:33-34）所以，當他感受到那股強烈的聖神力量的時候，洗者若翰意識到站在他面前，準備領洗的人，就是天主子！很自然地他說：「我本來需要受你的洗，而你卻來就我嗎？」（瑪3:14）各位兄弟姊妹，我們是多麼有福氣！我們領受的，不單是水的洗禮，更是洗者若翰，夢寐以求的聖神洗禮。其實他在母腹時，已經領受了聖神的洗禮。三十年來，這份喜樂可能已經淡忘了。今天耶穌基督主動來到他面前，再次讓洗者若翰，重溫這份喜樂；也來到我們中間，藉「聖道禮」和「聖祭禮」，幫助我們重溫這份聖神的喜樂；並提醒我們，為了獲得完滿的救贖，即福音所說的「完成全義」（3:15），領受聖洗聖事，並非繁文縟節，而是必要的！

各位兄弟姊妹，讓我重覆一次，大家要緊記這份聖神的喜樂。請多讀聖經，加深對天主聖父，對耶穌基督，對天主聖神的認識。多祈禱，向天父祈禱，向耶穌基督祈禱，向天主聖神祈禱，建立更密切的關係。勤領聖事，尤其是聖體聖事與及修和聖事，讓這些聖事滋養我們，治療我們。
天主聖三保祐大家！

2014年講道
圖片鳴謝：https://steemit.com/in-christ/@abrish/spirit-filled-with-joy

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Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Year A
Theme: Filled With The Joy of the Holy Spirit

The Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ receives the Baptist's baptism to kickstart His evangelization and salvation project. This incident is pregnant with meanings. We may meditate the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, or the truth that in order to redeem sinners, how the Son of God walks hand in hand with sinners. Today, let us meditate the richness of this piece of spirituality garden from the perspective of John the Baptist.

From the other Synoptic gospels, we know that John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were cousins. They first met while they were still in their mother's wombs. One gospel says, the moment the sound of BVM's greeting reached Elizabeth's ears, the infant in Elizabeth's womb leaped for joy. (Luke 1:44) John the Baptist must have felt the power of the Holy Spirit filled Son of God, touched and leaped with joy! Right! Getting in touch with the Holy Spirit will fill you with power and joy! I trust all of you have received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Through anointment, you have received the Holy Spirit. Joy is the second fruit of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. (Galatian 5:22) Brethren! Were you joyful after receiving Confirmation? Are you still joyful now? Have you, out of pressures in daily life, such as studies, work and social intercourses, worried about your results, income, health and interpersonal relationships, and lost this gift of the Holy Spirit? If this joy is diminished or even lost, adjust the rhythms of your life, study the gospels, pray and go to Fr. Santoso, SCJ to do your confessions etc. to restore the weakened joy of the Holy Spirit!

Let's fast forward. After nativity, in order to evade Herod the Great's massacre, the Son of God hid in Egypt. After return, He stayed anonymously in Nazareth of Galilee for thirty years. I suppose the two cousins took different paths in their developments and had not met ever since. Under the formation of St. Joseph, Jesus Christ became a carpenter in Nazareth in the north (Mark 6:3). John could have inherited his father's position, serving as a priest in the Temple in Jerusalem in the south. But God called him to be a prophet in the wilderness of the River Jordan, preaching repentance and baptizing (Matthew 3:2, 6). At that time, the Jews were expecting a Messiah to liberate them from the colonial rule of the Roman Empire. But John the Baptist did not meet such an expectation. Thus, the Jewish religious authority came to investigate why he baptized. The Baptist answers, "I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (3:11) John the Baptist knows his positioning. Even though he was successful and popular (3:5), he would not allow himself to be deluded into believing that he was the Prophet! Brethren! I trust you have tasted successes and have been praised by others. Congratulations! But learn from the Baptist and be humble. Otherwise, it would be extremely embarrassing to fall in the future!

The day came when among the crowd a seemingly familiar face came before him to be baptized. A seemingly familiar power which made him joyful radiated from this person! Right! It is the power of the Holy Spirit! Brethren! Hold dearly in your heart this joy of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, imperceptibly this genuine and eternal joy shall be diluted by secular happiness! Right! We seek meeting physiological needs stability needs and even fame and achievement in our daily life. But don't follow the current and lose our desire for eternal life, lose the perseverance of pursuing eternal life. What is eternal life? "Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ." (John 17:3) Pay attention! For the Jews, "to know" means to be in union. For example, the BVM said to Angel Gabriel, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34) What else is eternal life but union with God, partaking in the life of the Blessed Trinity?

In another place in the gospel, John the Baptist bears witness and says, "The one who sent me to baptize with water told me, on whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit ... he is the Son of God." (John 1:33-34) Thus, when he felt the strength of the Holy Spirit, the Baptist recognized that the one who was standing before him, ready to be baptized, was the Son of God! Naturally, he says, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?" (Matthew 3:14) Brethren! How blessed we are to have received, not just baptism by water but the baptism of the Holy Spirit which John the Baptist had longed for. In fact, he was baptized by the Holy Spirit in his mother's womb. In the subsequent thirty years, this joy might have diminished. Today, Jesus Christ took the initiative to come before him to refresh this joy in him again. Jesus Christ also comes into our midst, through the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist to help us refresh this joy of the Holy Spirit. He also reminds us that in order to fulfil redemption, that "to fulfil all righteousness" (3:15), the Sacrament of Baptism is not a rite but a necessity!

Brethren! Let me repeat! Hold dearly in your heart this joy of the Holy Spirit. Study the Bible more to deepen our knowledge of the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Pray more, to the Father, to Jesus Christ and to the Holy Spirit to establish a more intimate relationship with them. Receive the sacraments more, in particular the Holy Communion and Reconciliation. Let these sacraments nourish us and heal us.
May the Blessed Trinity bless you all!

我們送甚麼禮物給耶穌？ What Gifts Do We Bring Jesus?

主顯節，甲年
主題：我們送甚麼禮物給耶穌？

『出於對墮落了的人類的關愛，天父送了一份大禮給我們，就是祂的聖子。聖誕紀念天主子降生成人，以耶穌基督的身份與我們共處，並以祂的逾越，帶領人類出死入生，回歸父家。禮尚往來，人類又怎樣回禮給天父呢？除了賢士的三份禮物外（瑪2:11），還有：安葬耶穌的墳墓（27:60），一百斤沒藥及沉香（若19:39），洗頭的香液（谷14:3）和眼淚（路7:38），款待耶穌的情誼（10:38），送給窮人的一半家財（19:8）…』雖然不用講道，但仍希能以上一段文字，作為默想「主顯節」的開場白。結果用不著了！這兩天參加了四台彌撒，都是非常感動我的。

第一台是容旭輝先生的出殯彌撒。他是八十五歲高齡的容偉松執事的長子。容老先生以執事身份，與其他三位執事後輩，為羅國輝神父襄禮。神父講述保祿至弟茂德德後書的「賽跑」時（弟後4:7），強調人生和信仰，都是一場接力賽。講得非常有意義，把承先啟後，薪火相傳的精神演繹得很好。可惜為容執事，他在這場接力賽中跌了棒！能不令人唏噓嗎？在彌撒後的辭靈禮中，當他向兒子的靈柩灑聖水和獻香時，我已不能強忍自己的眼淚了。但我卻看到他的信德，有如亞巴郎獻子時的心情：「他想天主也有使人從死者中復活的能力。」（希11:19）結果，亞巴郎得回了依撒格，作為世人復活的預像！今天，容執事憑著信德，把長子先獻給天主，他日在天重聚。這份對天主堅毅的信德，是處身在今天的香港信徒所極度需要的！

接著就是殷灝峰執事晉鐸的彌撒。雖然已在【公教報】拜讀過他聖召的心路歷程，但我很驚訝他在領聖體後的致謝辭中，竟然如此坦白地說出自己是在家暴的陰影下成長！而且，晉鐸的今天，竟然是贈送他聖爵的科明智神父的死忌！殷修士在處於聖召交叉點時，被派往安老院服務，遇上科神父。神父送他聖爵，期望他奉獻首祭時用！殷神父在晉鐸彌撒中用上了，並在彌撒後，他以自己的首個降福，祝福備受「家暴」傷害的香港社會，能好像他一樣，獲得天主的恩寵，走出困境！他把曾受傷害的自己完全奉獻給天主，為使更多人靈的得救。原來以愛心把禮物回贈給天主，是這樣美好的！

今天早上在主顯節彌撒中，舉行了「慕道者收錄禮」。李神父在講道中，提醒慕道者，不可低估未來慕道過程的困難。正如賢士們一樣，出發點（占星術）可以是錯的；過程是艱辛，可能會中途而廢；所遇到的人物不一定是好的；找到的救世主不一定是所期望的！但我們相信這一切都是天主所安排的！賢士們經歷了這個旅程後，與天主建立了關係，並沒有遺憾! 為了遷就慕道者的程度，神父祇把三份禮物的神學意義，作了粗略的說明，留待導師們日後詳細解釋。的確，人生就是一場賽事，一個旅程。所做的一切，祇不過是把天主所賜予的，加工後回贈給祂。所以最重要的，就是能與造物主建立關係！

那麼，婚姻是否賽事的終點，有如世俗人所說，「結婚是戀愛的墳墓」呢？大錯特錯！今天下午有幸為一位喇沙書院舊生的婚配彌撒襄禮，新郎與主禮神父，當年曾一起在修院探索自己的聖召。今天，一位是澳門教區的秘書長，另一位是幸福的金童。彌撒中大部份的詠唱部份，全是出自新娘的創作！彌撒前在祭衣房內，劉偉傑神父隨口說了句「婚姻也是聖秩，今天新郎新娘領受婚姻的聖秩聖事。」的確有道理！講道中，劉神父把賢士的三份禮物，應用到婚姻生活中，演繹得淋漓盡致！按身體神學的教導，配偶二人都是對方的一份寶貴禮物！黃金象徵君王，替天行道。夫妻就是彼此的君王，服事對方，建樹對方！乳香代表司祭，為人民轉禱和祭祀天主。世上沒有其他人，比夫妻更能彼此在天主前，作為中保了！沒藥象徵先知，向人民轉達天主的旨意，天主的安慰與治療。夫妻成了先知，代表著天主，撫慰對方的傷痛，表達安慰，彼此提點！就這樣，夫妻倆在婚姻生活中成聖。太美麗了！

兩天之內，領會了四個聖召：執事及司鐸聖召，基督徒的聖召和婚姻聖召。誠如教宗方濟各在【你們要歡喜踴躍】宗座勸諭所說，每個人的成聖之路都不一樣，但總離不開對天父恩寵的開放（GE#15, 24, 129, 149, 172）。接受過天主的禮物之後，就不應浪費，反而要努力加工，回饋給天主。
天父啊！請不要嫌棄，但願我們的一生，是一份美好的禮物，在世人前見證祢的慈愛。亞孟！

圖片鳴謝：公教報

2017年講道

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Epiphany, Year A
Theme: What Gifts Do We Bring Jesus?

"Out of love and care for the fallen humanity, the Father gave us a big gift, His Son. Christmas commemorates the Son of God taking up human flesh to stay with us as Jesus Christ through whose Passover He delivers us from death and brings us home to the Father. It would be impolite not to reciprocate. What gifts do we return to the Father? Other than the 3 gifts of the Magi (Matthew 2:11), there are a burial tomb (27:60), a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes (John 19:39), perfumed oil on the head (Mark 14:3) and tears (Luke 7:38), hospitality (10:38) and half of his possessions to the needy (19:8) ..." Although I didn't have to deliver homily, I still wanted to open my meditation on Epiphany with the words above. In the end, I don't have to! The 4 masses I joined on these two days have been very touching.

The first one was the funeral mass of Mr. Anthony Yung who was the eldest son of the eighty-five year old Deacon Joseph Yung. Mr. Yung Senior, together with three other deacons assisted Fr. Thomas Law in the funeral mass. In his homily, Fr. Thomas explained that the race which St. Paul mentions in his letter to Timothy was a "relay" (2 Timothy 4:7) Life and faith is a relay race. Fr. Thomas elaborated the spirit of handing down of tradition very well. Unfortunate for Deacon Yung, his baton dropped before he finishes his relay! How regrettable! During the final commendation and farewell when Deacon Yung sprinkled holy water and later incensed the coffin, I couldn't withhold my tears anymore. But I saw his faith, like Abraham when he offered up Isaac, "He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead." (Hebrews 11:19). Consequently, Abraham received Isaac back as a symbol of resurrection of the dead in the future! Today, Deacon Yung offers up his son in faith to God and they meet again in heaven in the future. This persistent faith in God is what believers in Hong Kong definitely need today!

The next mass was the ordination mass for Deacon Timothy Yan. Although I have read his sharing on KKP, I was surprised by his candour in his valedictorian speech after communion. He openly admitted to be brought up in the shadow of domestic violence. Moreover, the date of his ordination coincided with the date of death of Fr. Formenti, PIME who gave him his personal chalice. While seminarian Yan was at the crossroad of his vocation, he was sent to serve at the home for the aged where he met Fr. Formenti who wished Timothy would use his personal chalice in his first mass. Indeed, Fr. Timothy Yan used it in his ordination mass. After mass, Fr. Yan gave his first benediction to the Hong Kong society which has suffered a lot of "domestic violence" recently. Like him, Fr. Yan blesses that Hong Kong would weather through the social unrest with God's grace. Fr. Yan totally offers up his battered self to God in order to save more souls. How wonderful when we wrap our offerings to God with love!

During the Epiphany mass this morning, the Rite of Catechumen Election was held. In his homily, Fr. Simon Li reminded the catechumens not to underestimate the difficulties of the process. Like the Magi, the starting point (astrology) could be wrong; the journey would be difficult and they might give up midway; the people they meet might not be all good; the Saviour they found might not meet their expectations! But we believe that all these were arranged by God! After the Magi had gone through the journey, they established a relationship with God without regret! In order to adapt to the standard of the catechumens, Fr. Li only mentioned the theological meanings of the three gifts briefly, leaving further elaboration to the catechists in the future. Truly, life is a race, a journey. Whatever we do is only further processing of what is given by God and pay Him back. Thus, the most important thing is to establish a relationship with the Creator!

Then, is marriage the finishing line of a race, like what some people say, "Marriage is the tomb of love"? There is nothing more wrong than this! This afternoon, I was blessed to assist in the nuptial mass of a LaSalle old boy. The presiding priest was one who had searched for vocational discernment with this LaSallian in a seminary. Today, one has become the Chancellor of the Macau Diocese and the other is a lucky happy man whose bride wrote most of the music for the nuptial mass! In the sacristy before mass, Fr. Jerome Cyril Law causally commented that "Marriage is an order in its own right. Today, the bride and groom received the Sacrament of Holy Orders of matrimony." I totally agree. In his homily, Fr. Law applied the three gifts of the Magi to married life. His elaboration is superb. Following the teachings of the Theology of Body, the couple are a gift to their spouses! Gold symbolizes kingship, serving God's will. Husband and wife are kings to each other, serving and edifying each other! Frankincense represents priests who intercede for the people and offer sacrifice to God. In this world, there is no better intercessor before God than one's spouse! Myrrh symbolizes prophets who pass on God's will, God's consolation and healing. Husband and wife are prophets to each other, representing God to soothe the spouse's pains, to nurse the spouse's wounds and remind the spouse of God's will. In this way, husband and wife are sanctified in married life. How beautiful it is!

Within two days, I am able to experience four different vocations: diaconal and priestly vocations, Christian and marriage vocations. Like what Pope Francis says in the apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, the path to sanctification for each one of us is unique. But one must open to the grace of the Father (GE#15, 24, 129, 149, 172). We should not waste the gifts God gave us. On the contrary, we should add value to them and return them to God.
Heavenly Father! Do not despite the gifts we offer. May our lives be gifts that bear witness to Your merciful love. Amen!

先知的態度：成功不必我在 A Prophet's Attitude: Unnecessary To Be Crowned

【先知系列之六】
先知的態度：功成不必我在（若1:35-42）

中國的文化領域，有一個致命傷，阻礙了它發展成為普世文化！
其實，做師父的，有哪一個不希望自己的技術、功夫、學問或者理念，可以流傳後世，發揚光大呢？可能是中國人的「道統」和「尊師重道」的思想作祟罷，師父被「神化」為真理的化身，負責「傳道、授業、解惑 」的任務。有哪個做弟子的，敢冒「欺師滅祖」的罪名呢？在這樣的氛圍之下，各學派形成了門戶的成見，和固步自封的陋習。即使其他的學派，比自己的學派，有更卓越的成就和貢獻，沒有門徒有膽量投靠別的門 派。因為這樣做，便會喪失了自己的「忠誠」，沒有任何門派會願意接收一個叛徒的。另一方面，做師父的，總不會把本門的學問技術，傾囊相授；總會保留一手，以防弟子將來反叛，欺師滅祖！這種自私的心態， 祇會令學派的內涵，日漸失傳！

假如洗者若翰和耶穌基督都是中國人，耶穌基督接受了若翰的洗禮，祂就是洗者若翰的弟子了。所謂「一日為師，終身為師！」但結果呢？耶穌基督竟然自立門戶！到最後，洗者若翰的門徒全數被基督信仰吸收了， 他的派別在歷史洪流中消失了！這樣一個「叛徒」所創立的宗教，值得加入嗎？幸好洗者若翰和耶穌基督都不是中國人，因此基督信仰能發展成為普世大公的宗教，而中國的儒家思想，祇局限在亞洲內發揚光大！

洗者若翰並沒有戀棧自己的成就，他沒有為自己安排接班人，或者指派了接班人後垂簾聽政。相反，他鼓勵自己的門徒，投到耶穌基督的門下！今天的福音如是（若1:37），他在被捕入獄後仍然一樣（瑪11:2）。洗者若翰一點也不自私，他知道自己的定位，幫助世人皈依天主子。在坦然完成使命之後，洗者若翰死而無憾了！他真是所有履行先知職務的基督徒的典範。
天父啊！讓我們懷有洗者若翰的精神，幫助身邊的人，認識祢所派遣的聖子，分沾祢的救恩。亞孟。

圖片鳴謝：1932年胡適致北大畢業生演講：成功不必我在，而功力必不唐捐！

2013年鏗鏘集

生命恩泉

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"Prophet Series #6"
A Prophet's Attitude: Unnecessary To Be Crowned (John 1:35-42)

Chinese culture has an Achilles' Heels which prevents it from becoming catholic!
Indeed, which master doesn't want to see his skills, kungku, knowledge or ideas to be handed down and flourish? Probably in the Chinese context, masters are deified by the concepts of "orthodoxy" and "apprentice piety". Masters hold the key to knowledge, its propagation and demystification. Which disciple dares to bear the sin of betrayal? In such a milieu, schools care very much about their identity and purity. Even if the achievements and contributions of other schools are greater, no disciples dare to change school. Had some dared, they would have lost their loyalty and no school would accept any traitor. On the other hand, masters would not teach knowledge and skills in their entirety, keeping some secret techniques lest the disciples rebel! Because of such a selfish mentality, the knowledge of a school would slowly evaporate!

Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. Had John and Baptist and Jesus Christ been Chinese, Jesus would have been John's disciple. "Once your master, forever your master" ! What happened subsequently? Jesus Christ set up His own religion! In the end, all the disciples of John were absorbed by Christianity and his school vanished in history! Is such a school established by a traitor worth joining? Fortunately, both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were not Chinese. Thus Christianity becomes a catholic religion for the whole world, while Confucianism is confined to Asia!

John the Baptist was able to let go of his own achievements. He did not arrange any successor, or after appointing a puppet, kept pulling all the strings. On the contrary, he encouraged his own disciples to follow Jesus Christ! He did it in today's gospel (John 1:37) as well as when he was imprisoned (Matthew 11:2). John the Baptist was not at all selfish. He knew his position is to help people turn to the Son of God. After discharging his mission, John the Baptist died with no regret! He is truly an exemplar for Christians to discharge their prophetic ministry.
Heavenly Father! Let us live up the spirit of John the Baptist to help people around us know the Son You sent to receive Your salvation. Amen.

先知有責任宣講天主聖三 Prophets Should Proclaim the Blessed Trinity

【先知系列之五】
先知有責任宣講天主聖三（若1:29-34）

起初，我們可能會羨慕洗者若翰，因為他可以聽到天主的說話（若1:33）。但其實，我們在聖經裡，不是同樣可以隨時閱讀到天主的說話嗎？天主未必經常顯現或啟示給洗者若翰，但在科技發達的今天，沉甸甸的聖經已安裝到輕便的手機裡去，隨時隨地可以閱讀默想。相比之下，洗者若翰應該羨慕我們纔對！

不過在互聯網發達的今天，我們有實在太多的資訊閱讀，以致我們顧此失彼，少了閱讀天主聖言的時間。這經驗並不陌生，因為在我們祈禱的時候，經常承受不了四周的誘惑，不也是會分心嗎？是的，在現代社會，的確很難找到祈禱靈修的「曠野」，讓我們可以與天主談心！

作為天主的代言人，我們不能假傳聖旨，把天主的訊息誤傳。一個假先知，會遭受嚴厲的懲罰！但聖經的篇章繁多（新舊約合共1328章，超過一百一十萬個中文字），我們未有能力全部讀完，讀懂。那麼，怎樣保證我們所引述的經文，不會犯「斷章取義」的毛病呢？例如，對一個絕望求死的人，我們可以引用「你所要做的，你快去做罷！」（若13:27）去勸解他嗎？

今天，洗者若翰給了我們一些線索！原來他的作證，完全是圍繞著天主聖三的！即是說，我們履行先知職務的人，述說聖經的教訓時，倘若能圍繞著天主聖三，雖不中不遠矣！例如，天父到現在一直工作（5:17），所以先知要倡議工作是神聖的，是參與聖父的創造工程。而且，工人是按天主的肖像所造（創1:26）。因此，先知要倡議工人應得合符尊嚴的工資；工人是主體，而不是生產配件。天主聖三的內在生命是共融的，所以我們要宣講團結共融，協助工人成立工會；不祇是為了爭取合理的工資，更是為了把人性的潛質，發揮得淋漓盡致…
聖父啊！請派遣聖神，真理之神，開啟我們的明悟，並把祢的說話，放在我們的口中，讓我們向世人宣講祢聖子的福音。亞孟。
圖片鳴謝：https://www.wikiart.org/en/joachim-patinir/the-baptism-of-christ
生命恩泉

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"Prophet Series #5"
Prophets Should Proclaim the Blessed Trinity (John 1:29-34)

At first, we would probably envy John the Baptist because he was able to hear the Father's words (John 1:33). In reality, aren't we able to read God's words in the Bible, anytime anywhere? God might not appear or reveal frequently to John the Baptist. But today with the advances in technology, a bulky Bible can be installed in our mobile phones. We are able to read and meditate God's words anytime anywhere. In contrast, John the Baptist should envy us!

However, when the Internet is accessible to everyone, we are overwhelmed by too much information for our consumption. Consequently, we have less time to read God's words. We are familiar with this experience. Aren't we easily distracted by the surrounding temptations in our prayers? Indeed, it is extremely difficult to find a "wilderness" for our spirituality formation, to chat heart to heart with God!

As spokesmen of God, we are not allowed to convey distorted messages of God and misrepresent God's will. A false prophet would be harshly punished! But there are too many passages in the Bible (there are 1328 chapters in the Bible and more than 1,100,000 Chinese characters). We do not have the capability to finish reading them all and to understand them all. Then, is there any guarantee that we do not quote the Bible out of context? For example, for a desperately hopeless man who wants to commit suicide, can we quote "What you are going to do, do quickly" (John 13:27) to dissuade him?

Today, John the Baptist gives us some clues! His witness revolves around the Blessed Trinity! That is to say, for us who discharge our prophetic ministry, whenever we want to quote the Bible, we won't miss if our quotes are related to the Blessed Trinity! For example, "My Father is at work until now" (5:17). Therefore prophets must advocate the holiness of work and labourers participate in the Father's creation project. Furthermore, workers were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Therefore prophets must advocate wages compatible with workers' dignity. Workers are subjects of work, not parts of production gears. The inner life of the Blessed Trinity is communion. Therefore we should advocate solidarity and communion. We help workers form unions not only to fight for rightful wages, but also to actualize the potential God has given us.
Holy Father! Send forth the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth to enlighten our understanding. Put Your words into our lips so that we may proclaim to all peoples the good news of Your Son. Amen.

先知的有限 Limitations of A Prophet

【先知系列之四】
先知的有限（若1:19-28）

天主是全知的，但祂所派遣的代言人，即先知，是有限的受造物。所以先知們有很多事物，並不知情。甚至連自己的身份，也不完全清楚。
猶太人根據瑪拉基亞先知書最後的兩句話，預料在默西亞出現前，天主會派遣先知厄里亞，預備百姓的心靈迎接他：「看，在上主偉大及可怕的日子來臨以前，我必派遣先知厄里亞到你們這裡來；他將使父親的心轉向兒子，使兒子的心轉向父親…」（拉3:23-24）洗者若翰在母親體內成胎之前，天主派遣加俾額爾總領天使，引用瑪拉基亞先知的話，確立洗者若翰將來，「要以厄里亞的精神和能力，在上主前面先行，使為父的心轉向兒子…為上主預備一個善良的百姓。」（路1:17）作為默西亞的前驅。後來耶穌在顯聖容後，亦肯定洗者若翰，就是預言中的厄里亞（谷9:13；瑪17:13）。當然，這是從全知的天主的角度所看到的。可是，從先知自己有限知情的角度看，偏差在所難免。

例如瑪拉基亞先知，把默西亞出現的日子，等同世界的末日，所以是「偉大及可怕的日子」！殊不知天主子要兩度來臨，祂第一次來臨時，是慈悲的日子，是悔改得救的日子，而不是「偉大及可怕的日子」！與此相似，國仇家恨閉塞了約納先知的心，他容納不了尼尼微人，悔改蒙受寬恕的可能性，並且是由他一手促成，簡直是荒天下之大謬。他寧可求死，也不願看見尼尼微人蒙恩（納4:3，8）！至於洗者若翰自己，可能他也深信默西亞在末日纔出現，但天主沒有告訴他，世界快到末日，所以他不覺得自己是厄里亞，他祇是「在曠野裡呼喊者的聲音」而已（若1:23）！

是的，我們分擔耶穌基督先知職的人，真的要謙遜。即使是蒙天主差遣，也要接受自身的有限和不足。我們始終都是有限的器皿，未必有能力完全盛載天主的訊息。我們惟有經常保持著與天主的聯系，纔不會令天主的說話「失真」。
天主啊！我們都是無用的僕人。求祢減少我們的「噪音」，不要讓我們誤傳祢的旨意。亞孟。

圖片鳴謝：https://askgramps.org/lesson-god-want-teach-jonah-story-gourd-worm/

生命恩泉

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"Prophet Series #4"
Limitations of A Prophet (John 1:19-28)

God is omniscient but the spokesmen He sent, i.e. prophets, are creatures with limitations. There are many things which the prophets do not know. Sometimes, they even do not know clearly their identity.
Based on the last two sentences of the Book of Malachi, the Jews expected that before the Messiah appears, God would send Elijah to prepare the hearts of the people. Elijah would appear first, "Now I am sending you Elijah the prophet, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and terrible day; He will turn the heart of fathers to their sons and the heart of sons to their father ..." (Malachi 3:23-24) Before John the Baptist was conceived in his mother's womb, God sent archangel Gabriel to mark the future of John the Baptist, quoting Malachi's words, "He will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers towards children ... to prepare a people fit for the Lord" (Luke 1:17). Of course, this comes from the perspective of an omniscient God. However, from the limited vision of the prophets themselves, deviations are inevitable.

For example, Malachi equated the day of the Lord with the Judgment Day. Therefore, it is "the great and terrible day"! Unbeknown to him, the Son of God would come twice. His first coming was a day of mercy, a day of repentance to obtain redemption and not a great and terrible day! Similarly, the heart of Jonah was filled up with nationalism and racism. He could not accept the possibility of repentance and forgiveness of the inhabitants of Nineveh. It was even scandalous for Jonah to mediate it himself. He preferred death to seeing the inhabitants being forgiven (Jonah 4:3, 8)! As for John the Baptist himself, perhaps he was convinced that the Messiah would come at the end of the world. But God had not told him that the end of the world was imminent. Thus, the Baptist did not think that he himself was the Elijah. He was only "the voice of one crying out in the desert" (John 1:23)!

Indeed, we who partake in the prophetic ministry of Jesus Christ should be humble. Even if we are commissioned by God, we still have to accept our limitations and inadequacies. After all, we are only limited vessels. We may not be able to carry God's message faithfully. In order not to lose the high fidelity of God's words, we need to maintain our good relationship with God.
My God! We are unworthy servants. Help us reduce "noises" in our hearts. Don't allow us to misrepresent Your will. Amen.

諸先知之后 Queen of the Prophets

【先知系列之三】
諸先知之后（路2:16-21）

今天我們慶祝天主之母節。雖然聖母身為受造物，但在天主奧妙的安排之下，童貞瑪利亞竟然成為了造物主的母親！這是一端非常重要的「當信道理」，因為它捍衛著天主子耶穌基督，不可分割的天主性與人性。倘若聖母瑪利亞祇是天主子人性部份的母親，那麼，天主子的犧牲祇是祂人性部份的死。這人性部份的死，又怎能消除古往今來，億億萬萬人類的罪債呢？有興趣研究神學的讀者，自己再發掘下去罷！

聖母有另外一個稱號，可能會幫助我們理解多一點「天主之母」的奧妙。那就是在【聖母德敘禱文】中提及的「諸先知之后」。這稱號指出，聖母自己是一位偉大的先知，堪稱先知中的皇后；另一方面，歷代先知有關默西亞的預言，都提及到聖母瑪利亞獨特的角色！

首先，先知向人類宣佈天主的話，而聖母把天主聖言，誕生到世上來。而且，在耶穌基督行第一個神蹟時，聖母對僕役，即所有世人說：「他無論吩咐你們甚麼，你們就作甚麼。」（若2:5）所以先知的稱號，聖母當之無愧。她更是先知中的皇后！

其次，不少先知的預言，指出救世主由童貞女所生。例如：「看，有位貞女要懷孕生子，給他起名叫厄瑪奴耳」（依7:14）；「因為上主在地上正在創造一件新事：女人包圍男人」（耶31:22）「任何人不得由此門而入，因為有上主以色列的天主已由此門而入，為此常應關閉」（則44:2）；「一塊石頭，未經手鑿」（達2:34）等等，指出救世主由童貞女所生。這樣便保證了救世主並非來自人間，從而保證了祂的天主性！當然，在舊約時代，啟示尚未完滿，不能苛求先知們能說出，造物主願意由受造物所生的真理。先知們能夠指示出聖母瑪利亞是卒世童貞的，已經是可貴的成就了！
天主啊！讓我們效法聖母，把祢那「眼所未見，耳所未聞，心所未想」（格前2:9）的恩寵，默存在心中，反覆思想，體會這恩寵是何等甘飴。亞孟。

圖片鳴謝：https://www.salvemariaregina.info/SalveMariaRegina/SMR-176/QueenProphets.htm

生命恩泉

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"Prophet Series#3"
Queen of the Prophets (Luke 2:16-21)

Today, we celebrate the "Solemnity of the Mother of God". Although the BVM is only a creature, under God's ineffable arrangement, she became the Mother of the Creator! This is an extremely important dogma because it defends the inseparable union of the divinity and humanity of the Son of God. Had the BVM been the mother of only the humanity of the Son of God, then the sacrifice of the Son of God would only have been the death of His humanity. How could the death of this humanity be able to repay the debts of zillions of human beings throughout the ages? Interested readers continue to explore please!

The BVM is honoured with another title which may help us understand more the intricacy of the "Mother of God" dogma. The title, "Queen of the Prophets" is found in the Litany of the BVM. This title points out that the BVM is a great prophet herself. She deserves to be called the Queen of the Prophets. On the other hand, all the Messianic prophecies pronounced by the prophets mention without exception the special role of the BVM!

Firstly, prophets bring God's word to men. The BVM gave birth to the Word of God to all men. Moreover, during Jesus' first miracle, the BVM told the servers, i.e. all humanity, "Do whatever he tells you." (John 2:5) Therefore, the BVM deserves to be called a prophet. She deserves even to be called the "Queen of the Prophets"!

Secondly, many prophecies foretell that the Saviour shall be born of a virgin. For example, "A young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel" (Isaiah 7:14); "The Lord has created a new thing upon the earth: woman encompasses man" (Jeremiah 31:22); "No one should come through this gate. Because the Lord, the God of Israel, came through it, it must remain closed" (Ezekiel 44:2) and "A stone was hewn from a mountain without a hand being put to it" (Daniel 2:34) etc. They point out that the Saviour would be born of a virgin. They guarantee that the Saviour does not come from the created world, thus guarantee the divinity of the Son of God! Of course, revelation is incomplete in the Old Testament. It is not right to demand Old Testament prophets to announce the mystery that the Creator is willing to be born of a creature. Their achievements are already superb when they were able to point out the perpetual virginity of the BVM!
Dear God! Let us imitate the BVM, keep reflecting in our hearts all those graces, those "eye has not seen, and ear has not heard and what has not entered the human heart" (1 Corinthians 2:9)which You have prepared for us. Savour how sweet these graces are. Amen.