主題：地上的鹽，世界的光
相信大家都聽過耶穌的勸諭：「你們是地上的鹽…你們是世界的光。」（瑪5:13-14）當然，我們不是鹽，也不是光。它們肯定是一些比喻，一些象徵。倘若要明白當中的含意，我們必須認識它們的文化背景。例如：甚麼是最狡猾的動物呢？是狐狸？還是蛇呢？為中國人，是兔子！中國成語中就有「狡兔三窟」。聖經卻說：「在上主天主所造的一切野獸中，蛇是最狡猾的。」（創3:1）所以，倘若我們不認識當中的文化背景，我們會誤解，會錯過了其中的真正意義。
瑪竇寫福音給有猶太教背景的基督徒。因此，要更清楚明白耶穌的教訓，我們需要知道鹽在舊約中的重要性。在探討鹽在聖經中的文化背景之前，讓我們問自己，在我們日常生活中，鹽有甚麼用途。我們用鹽來調味，在未發明雪櫃之前，可以用鹽殺菌防腐，保存食物將來享用。正確！聖經也有提及這兩個用途。例如，約伯曾訴苦說：「淡而無鹽的食物，豈能下咽？蛋白能有甚麼滋味？」（約6:6）在另一個故事，城中的人向厄里叟先知訴苦說當地的水不好，以致土產不熟即落。於是先知拿一口新碗，裡面放些鹽，去到水泉旁，將鹽倒在水裡，奉上主之名把水潔淨了（列下2:21）。可見，鹽的調味和殺菌功能，是古今中外所公認的。但鹽在猶太文化中，有另一個獨特的功能。當以色列人向天主獻祭時，必須有鹽在其中。「在你的一切祭品上，都應加上鹽奉獻。」（肋2:13）因此，當耶穌基督說祂的門徒是地上的鹽的時候，不單指出他們有「調味」和「殺菌」的角色，更包含了奉獻的意義。就是說，倘若這個社區、社會、國家和世界沒有基督徒，天主是不會悅納的。有基督徒的地方，纔可以成為天主悅納的禮物！
讓我們默想耶穌教訓的第二部份，看我們怎樣成為世界的光。我們傾向以理智的方式，把「光」解釋為真理。這解釋有其不足之處，它把缺乏知識或者沒有學問的人，拒諸門外。這解釋是精英主義，但耶穌基督卻擁抱全人類。
耶穌基督是世界的光（若8:12），在祂內有生命（1:4）祂是光，並且在顯聖容時，在門徒前發放光芒！我們都是凡人，我們能發光嗎？雖然我們不能發光，但作為基督徒，我們最少也能反射基督的光。即使我們沒有發光的本領，但有如月亮反射太陽的光一樣，基督徒也可以反映耶穌基督的光（這靈感來自敝堂主任司鐸李志源神父）！讓我們成為忠實的鏡子，不要扭曲基督的光。除去我們的貪婪、嫉妒、迷色、驕傲、懶惰和忿怒，這些罪宗毀爛了基督對窮人的愛！我們像月亮一樣，即使不完美，也可以反映出基督的光榮！這樣，我們也可以成為世界的光。耶穌基督說：「我是世界的光；跟隨我的，決不在黑暗中行走，有生命的光。」（若8:12）
各位兄弟姊妹，我們真有福！我們將領受聖體聖事。願我們所領受的耶穌基督在我們內透光，把我們變成地上的鹽，世界的光。
基督徒可以給世界調出甚麼味道？他們如何為這世界調味？是人情味，是對鄰人的關顧，是愛德！讓我舉當前的時局為例：
當今新型冠狀病毒肆虐，很多市民陷入盲目搶購屯積的瘋狂之中：口罩、酒精紙、潔手液甚至廁紙，說得出的都搶購！這是赤裸裸的自私，很多長者及弱勢社群，例如外判清潔工人，他們更需要保護，可是他們買不到！基督徒，倘若你們真是地上的鹽，可否從你們的不足中，送他們一些口罩？可否拒絕在社交媒體中，轉發來歷不明的訊息，拒絕煽動搶購的情緒？
這些日子，不單新型病毒肆虐，更有甚者，謠言與假新聞的散播，有如病毒般可怕！基督徒，現在就是大家殺菌和對抗社會上的不公義，為天主的真理作見証的時候了！請不要再轉發來歷不明的訊息，留心獨居長者的情況，確保在社區中服務的清潔工人有充足的裝備！這樣用，我們便為世界調味，令它成為悅樂天主的祭獻。
正如聖保祿宗徒的呼籲所說：「所以弟兄們！我以天主的仁慈請求你們，獻上你們的身體，當作生活、聖潔和悅樂天主的祭品：這纔是你們合理的敬禮。」（羅12:1）原來祇唸經祈禱，不足以悅樂天主，我們必須以愛德行動，活出有人情味的生活，不與世俗同流合污，纔能中悅天主，成為天主悅納的祭品！
瑪竇說得好。為基督，光就是善行，就是愛德，就是愛（瑪5:16）。生命從愛而來，這是放諸四海皆準的真理：天主是愛（若一4:8）！祇有從這個角度看，「光」總是真理。
天主保祐！
圖片來源：today.line.me
2017年講道
Fifth Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: Salt of the Earth, Light of the World
All of you are familiar with this popular exhortation of Jesus', that "You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world." (Matthew 5:13-14) Of course, we cannot literally be salt and light. They must be some kind of analogy, some sort of images. Exactly! However, in order to understand the underlying meaning of these images correctly, we need to know the cultural background of the symbols used. For example, which animal is the most cunning? Fox? Or Snake? For Chinese, it is the rabbit! We have an idiom which reads, "A cunning rabbit lives in three rabbit holes." In the bible it is the snake (Genesis 3:1). So, if we don't know the cultural background, we shall miss and misunderstand the actual meanings.
Matthew wrote the gospel for Christians with a Jewish background. Therefore, in order to understand more fully what Jesus wants to tell us, we need to know the significance of salt in the Old Testament. Before we explore the cultural background of salt in the bible, let us ask ourselves what uses salt are for in our daily life. Salt gives taste and before the invention of refrigerators, salt kills germs so that people might use it to preserve food for future consumption. Bravo! These two purposes are also found in the bible as well. Job once laments, "Can anything insipid be eaten without salt? Is there flavour in the white of an egg?" (Job 6:6) In another story, people complained to Prophet Elisha that the water was bad and made the land sterile. So, the prophet took a new bowl, put some salt into it, went to the spring, threw the salt into the water and in the name of the Lord, purified the water. (2 King 2:21) Therefore, giving tastes and killing germs are the functions of salt universally acknowledged in all cultures. But salt is something more in the Jewish culture. When the Israelites offered sacrifices to God, their offerings must be seasoned with salt, "On every offering you shall offer salt." (Leviticus 2:13) Therefore, when Christ says that Christians are salt of the earth, not only does He point out their roles to give taste and to kill germs, but includes also the meaning of offering. In other words, if there is no Christian in a neighbourhood, a society, a country or in the world, God shall not be pleased. Because of Christians in a location, it shall become an offering pleasing to God!
Let's go through the three functions of salt one by one.
Let us turn to the second part of Jesus' saying that we are the light of the world. We tend to interpret light in an intellectual manner, thinking that it has to do with the "truth". This interpretation is inadequate. It excludes people who lack knowledge or those who are not learned. Such an interpretation is elitism. But Jesus Christ embraces all humanity. Matthew clarifies it well. For Christ, light means good deeds. Light means charity, love (Matthew 5:16). Love creates life and this is a universal truth: that God is love (1 John 4:8)! Only in this perspective can light also mean truth.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12) and through him was life (1:4). He is the light and in the occasion of Transfiguration, Jesus shone before His disciples! But we are mere mortals. How can be radiate? Though we are not able to shine forth, as Christians at least we are able to reflect Christ' light (The idea is inspired by Fr. Simon Li, my parish priest). Let us be faithful mirrors and distort not Christ's light. Rid ourselves of greed, jealousy, lust, pride, sloth and wrath which disfigure Christ's love for the poor and needy! Then, we can be moons reflecting, however imperfectly the radiance of Christ's glory! In this way, we can also be light of the world. Jesus Christ says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)
Brethren, how lucky we are! We shall be receiving the Holy Communion. May Jesus Christ whom we shall receive shine through us, making us salt of the earth and light of the world.
What taste do Christians give the earth? How do they season the earth? It is hospitality. It is love and care of the neighbours. It is charity! Here is an illustration:
These days as a result of novel coronavirus outbreak, many people fall prey to panic hoarding: masks, alcohol swabs, sanitizers and toilet paper etc. You name it. This is blatant selfishness. Many senior citizens and underprivileged minorities such as outsource janitors who are more in need of protection are unable to acquire what they need. Christians, if you are truly "salt of the earth", can you spare them some masks out of your poverty? Can you refuse to fan panic-buying by not forwarding questionable messages on the social media?
These days, not only is the novel coronavirus rampant, but rumours and fake news too are as ferocious and deadly as viruses! Christians, now is the time for you to kill "germs" , to fight against the injustice in the society and bear witness to God's truth. Stop passing on messages of questionable origins. Pay more attention to the elderly who live alone. Ensure that the janitors who clean your neighbourhood are adequately equipped!
Just as what St. Paul appeals, "I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1) Thus, saying prayers and going to Church only cannot be a sacrifice and worship pleasing to God. In our living as Christians, there must be charitable work and a refusal to go with the current in order to be acceptable to God and pleasing to God.
God bless!
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