主題：成為你們在天之父的子女
1958年，勞倫斯‧柯爾伯格發表他研究人類道德發展的博士論文。他基於公義原則的倫理模式，提出當人類作出道德抉擇時，他們運用甚麼公義理據解釋自己的決定，可歸納出六個發展階段。最低層次的，是出於害怕懲罰，其次是出於利己，第三是從眾，第四是守法，第五是社會契約，最後而且是最高的是按照放諸四海皆準的倫理原則。這些發展階段與人類的認知發展階段吻合，是有堅實學術基礎的。柯爾伯格的理論廣為學術界及教育界所接受。
所以，當我們勸人行善避惡，因為這是作為一個人所應該做的。不是所有人都會接受這種觀點，因為他們可能尚未發展到這個階段。但當我們勸人不要作惡，不要犯法，要緊記人生的最後兩年時，我們在嘗試觸及最低的層次。理論上是最有效的，但在現實生活中，倘若沒有疏而不漏的執法者與及強而有力的懲罰，成效存疑。即使有效，亦不能培育他的道德發展。今天大部份的國家社會，已廢除了死刑，而且監獄制度的取向，已由注重懲罰改為注重更新。可見倚賴懲罰，強調死後下地獄，不足以令人成為有道德的人。
耶穌基督來不是為廢除法律，而是為成全它（瑪5:17）。祂很少提及懲罰，祇有在五個比喻中提過「那裡有哀號和切齒。」（13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30）倘若人對這些說話毫無感覺，可能他是個活聖人，或者他現在還沒有開發他的道德發展！耶穌基督用的方式，是擺放一個高尚的目標在我們眼前，策動我們朝更高尚的方向邁進。這些目標與世俗的不同，所以別具吸引力；而且很有挑戰性，甚至超過我們本性的能力，讓我們不得不承認自己的不足，需要投靠上主，尋求祂的助佑。
「現世生命是彼此建立兄弟情誼的時間」是甚麼意思呢？誠然，最後誰可以在天上享受天主的永生，無人知曉，因為祇有天主操生殺之權（撒上2:6）。你和我能否在天上相聚，仍是未知之數。即使將來我能在天享受榮福直觀，我喜愛的人也未必能與我一同享受，因為天主作出裁決時，是不會考慮我的個人喜惡。同理，我的「仇人」能否與我一起在天上享福，我沒有否決權，亦沒有資格對天主的判決，提出異議。既然我不能選擇誰能與我一起在天上，現在我與眾人和好，不是最好的準備嗎？試想想你要與一個你不喜歡的人永遠生活在一起，那不是很可怕嗎？
所以，我們應該守望相助。你和我爭我的內衣，可能你比我更需要它，拿去用吧！足夠嗎？這裡是我的外衣，隨便拿去用（5:40）。陪你走一千步？沒有問題，感謝天主，祂一定給我行二千步的能力，使我可以陪你（5:41）。你需要金錢周轉嗎？我這裡有，我還有能力借給你應急。將來還不了也沒關係，天主自會在適當時候替你還給我（5:42）。愛兄弟，為兄弟祈禱是本份（5:43），因為我們都是天父的子女（5:45），所以應該守望相助（創4:9）。保祿在總結愛人如己的法律（肋19:18）時，從反面警告我們不守這法律的後果：「如果你們彼此相咬相吞，你們要小心，兔得同歸於盡。」（迦5:15）可見，為了避免同歸於盡，將來永遠在地獄裡，繼續彼此相咬相吞，現在就是守望相助，愛仇人，為仇人祈禱的時間了！
各位，這些不是幻想，而是我們所信奉的信條。因為「我期待死人的復活，及來世的生命。」倘若我們不愛仇人，不為他們祈禱，便違反了這份對永生的信仰了。
你掌擊我的右頰羞辱我，沒關係，我把另一面也轉給你（5:39）。將來在天上相遇，你並沒有欠我。不是我的道德情操比你高，而是因為「那侮辱你者的辱罵落於我身。」（詠69:10；羅15:3）原來天主子降生成人，不單為我們釘十字架，並且保護我們，為我們承受所有的傷害！
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：https://shop.soarescue.com/products/brother-s-keeper-sticker
Seventh Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: Be Children Of Your Heavenly Father
In 1958, Lawrence Kohlberg wrote his doctoral thesis on moral development. Based on a justice-oriented model of morality, he opines that the reasons a man uses to justify his moral decisions can be categorized into six stages of development. The lowest is fear of punishment, the next is personal benefit. The third is conformity. The fourth is law-abiding. The fifth is social contract and the last and highest is universal ethical principles. These development stages match those of cognitive development. Therefore the theory is academically solid. Kohlberg's theory is widely accepted among academics and educators.
Therefore, when we tell people to do good and avoid evil because this is what a human should do, not everybody will accept this position because they may not have attained this stage of development. But when we advise people not to do evil, not to commit crime, and beware of the last two years of their life, we are trying to touch on the bottom level. Theoretically it is the most effective tactic. But in reality, if there is no long arm of justice or deterring enough punishments, the effectiveness of such an approach is put in doubt. Even if it were effective, it would not help their moral development. Nowadays, many countries and societies have abolished capital punishment and the orientation of prison institutions have turned from retribution to rehabilitation. Thus, reliance on punishment and emphasis on condemnation to hell after death do not make an ethical person.
Jesus Christ does not come to abolish the law but to fulfil it (Matthew 5:17). He seldom mentions about punishment. Only in five parables does he say, "there will be wailing and grinding of teeth." (13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30). If people were not touched by these words, he probably would be a living saint or perhaps he had yet to start his moral development! Jesus teaches us by putting noble targets before us, encouraging us to scale greater heights. These targets are different from secular ones. Therefore they are more attractive. Furthermore, they are very demanding, and even go beyond our natural capacity. We have to acknowledge our inadequacies before them. We need to turn to God and seek His help.
Let us take a moment to meditate. In the beginning, God created human beings in His image (Genesis 1:26), and said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him." (2:18) Thus, we should be helpers of each other. Jesus Christ, the Son of God incarnates to be a member of humanity, to be our brother in order to raise our status to be children of our heavenly Father (Matthew 5:45). On the Last Day, we would partake in God's eternal life together. Therefore, this short span of several decades of life on earth is high time we built fraternity and stewardship instead of aggregating grudges.
What does "high time we built fraternity" mean? Frankly speaking, nobody knows who would partake in God's eternal life in the end because only "the Lord puts to death and gives life." (1 Samuel 2:6) It is an unknown whether we shall meet in heaven. Even if I would enjoy beatific vision in the future, my loved ones might not enjoy it with me because when God decides, He doesn't need to consider my personal likes and dislikes. In the same way, I cannot veto God's decision to permit my enemy to share the same roof with me in heaven and I am not qualified to challenge His decision. If I cannot choose with whom I shall go to heaven, isn't it the best strategy to maintain good terms with everybody? Imagine how horrible it would be to live with someone you dislike forever and ever! So, if you strike me on my right cheek to insult me, no problem, I will turn the other one to you as well (5:39). When we meet again in heaven, you owe me nothing. It is not that my morality is higher but because "I am insulted by those who insult you." (Psalm 69:10, Romans 15:3). The Son of God became man, not only to be crucified for us, but to protect us from evil and take up all harms for us!
Therefore, we should be keepers of each other. If you want to go to law with me over my tunic, probably you are in greater need of it than me. Take it! Not enough? Here is my cloak. Feel free to take it as well (5:40). Press me into service for one mile? No problem. Thank God, He must have given me capacity to walk an extra mile with you (5:41). You ask me for money to take care of your business? I have. I am still financial secure to bail you out. There is no problem even if you would not repay me. God shall repay me for you at appropriate times (5:42). Let us love our brothers. It is our duty to pray for them (5:43) because we are all children of our heavenly Father (5:45). We should be our brothers' keepers (Genesis 4:9). When St. Paul draws conclusion on the law of loving neighbour (Leviticus 19:18), he warns us of the consequences of not observing this law, "If you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another." (Galatians 5:15) Thus, in order not to continue biting and devouring each other forever in hell, it is high time we were keepers of each other, loved enemies and prayed for them!
Brethren, this is not fantasy but the articles of our faith. It is because "I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come." If we do not love our enemies, and pray for them, we go against our faith in eternal life.
God bless!
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