永生得來不易 Eternal Life is Difficult to Attain

四旬期第五主日，甲年
主題：信德系列之七：永生得來不易

做耶穌基督的朋友，不用擔心死後去哪，因為主耶穌肯定在天堂，已為他們留了一席位。不過在生時，生活就未必好過了。拉匝祿要等到病死後，主耶穌纔動身去復活他（若11:43）；保祿歸化後，為耶穌基督嘗過了不少困苦（格後11:23-28），纔獲得光榮的冠冕（弟後4:7-8）；以後的殉道聖人如斯德望及老楞佐等，就不用多說了。那麼，如果沒有機會為耶穌基督受苦殉道，我們還是不是祂的朋友呢？我們在天國的席位，會否岌岌可危呢？

現代人生活富庶了，講求生活質素。能夠活動、工作、與人交往，纔顯得自己存在著，並且是有價值的。死亡的可怕之處，不一定在於死前所捱受的痛苦，否則，世上就沒有烈士/殉道者了。死亡的恐怖，是死後的化為烏有，被人遺忘，甚至被天主所遺忘。多篇哀求的聖詠，表達了對死亡實在的恐懼，無他，都是恐怕被天主遺棄在陰府裡（詠6:6, 30:10, 88:11-13, 15:17）。所以人更加把持著自己的性命，不肯放手，恐怕天主會忘記了他的存在！所以無論信德有多大，也很難把自己，把自己的生命，完全托付在天主的手中！「不要照我所願意的，而要照祢所願意的。」（谷14:36）談何容易！

保祿、斯德望和老楞佐選擇了殉道成聖之路。可憐的拉匝祿，在非自願的情況下，失救而死！誠然，在死亡面前，除了天主子外，誰也沒有選擇權。所謂「生有時，死有時。」（訓3:2），我們控制不了。天主子耶穌基督就不一樣，「誰也不能奪去我的性命，而是我甘心情願捨掉它；我有權捨掉它，我也有權再取回它來。」（若10:18）所以，祂自願的死，成了後世殉道者的榜樣。祂有能力自己從死者中復活，一點也出奇，因為祂身為天主，在生死之間自由往還，一點困難也沒有。可是，跟隨祂榜樣的殉道者，憑自己是沒有能力復活的，惟有信靠這位生命的主宰。在拉匝祿的個案中，耶穌基督給我們證明了，祂的確有起死回生的能力。等一等，耶穌基督不是曾復活了雅依洛的女兒（瑪9:25）和納因城寡婦的獨生子嗎（路7:14-15）？對素未謀面的陌生人，耶穌基督尚且如此善待，復活自己的好朋友，又有甚麼希奇，有甚麼特別之處呢？

復活拉匝祿有甚麼獨特的訊息呢？這個故事，給耶穌基督一個詳細講論永生道理的機會。而且，大家有沒有注意到瑪利亞的角色呢？瑪爾大和瑪利亞在若望福音中的表現，與路加福音的描述十分吻合（路10:40）。瑪爾大是一個行動型的人，瑪利亞是默觀型，一言不發，默存心中，反覆思想，而聖母瑪利亞集二者於一身。耶穌基督有關永生的教訓，散見整部若望福音。在這裡有兩點：「我就是復活，就是生命；信從我的，即使死了，仍要活著；凡活著而信從我的人，必永遠不死。」（若11:25-26）這兩句話，可能也適合應用在雅依洛的家庭和納因城寡婦的家庭，但對觀福音的描述重點，並沒有明顯地指向永生。拉匝祿故事的描述卻有所不同。

若望福音把拉匝祿描述為耶穌基督「所愛的」（11:3），所以拉匝祿對耶穌基督的信德，是肯定的。而耶穌的宣講，「信從我的，即使死了，仍要活著」，亦在拉匝祿身上，具體地彰顯在眾人面前。耶穌基督透過復活拉匝祿，「賜給他們（百姓）另一顆心，在他們臟腑放上另一種精神；拿走他們鐵石的心，給他們換上一顆血肉的心。」（則11:19；36:26）結果，得出兩極的效果，「就有許多人信從了祂」（若11:45）獲得永生；同時，「在那一天起，他們（即公議會）就議決要殺害耶穌。」（11:53）。拒絕換心，拒絕永生的，大有人在！

瑪爾大很有現代人的氣息，停不了，四出張羅。她像大部份的母親一樣，不行動無以表現對子女的愛；瑪爾大不行動無以表現對耶穌基督的愛。不過，不可以小覷她的信德。她對主說：「就是現在，我也知道：你無論向天主求甚麼，天主必要賜給你。」（11:22）她是「知道」，是肯定的而不是「相信」，是沒有百份百把握的！更重要的，是她沒有規定耶穌基督向天父求甚麼。這份對耶穌基督和對天父的開放，的確難能可貴！瑪利亞則剛好相反，雖然她也對耶穌基督說了與瑪爾大相同的話（11:32），表現出一致的姊弟情，並向主表達了她們現在的苦況，但她用不著要求耶穌基督了。因為在耶穌基督身上，瑪利亞已感受到復活的氣息；從主的眼淚中（11:35），默觀到永生的澎湃！與天主子同在，必永遠不死！

各位兄弟姊妹，相信永生並不是迷信，也不是精神的安慰，因為會受苦甚至殉道。相信永生，使我們在現世的生命，活得更淋漓盡致，瑪爾大仍是瑪爾大，不過是一個更能生活天父旨意的瑪爾大；瑪利亞仍是瑪利亞，不過是一個更敏銳地展現默觀生活價值的瑪利亞。願今天默想拉匝祿的復活，能再激起我們對永生的渴求，無懼現世生活的種種困難和挑戰。
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：lifewater.church

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Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A
Theme: On Faith (VII) --- Eternal Life is Difficult to Attain

Friends of Jesus Christ don't have to worry about where to go after death because Lord Jesus definitely has reserved a place in heaven for them. But life on earth would not be easy. Lazarus had to die of illness before Lord Jesus proceeded to raise him (John 11:43); Paul had suffered a lot after conversion (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) before he could attain the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7-8); not to mention the martyrs, such as Stephen and Lawrence in subsequent ages. Then, if we don't have the opportunity to suffer or die martyrdom for Jesus Christ, are we still His friends? Would our lack of sufferings cast doubt on our place in heaven?

Modern people live in affluence. We chase after quality of life. We act, work and interact to express our very existence, to make ourselves worthy of attention. The horror of death lies not in the pains before it. Otherwise, there would not be any martyrs. The horror is the nothingness after death. Nobody remembers us, not even God. Many lamentation psalms express this fear in concrete terms of being abandoned in Sheol by God (Psalms 6:6; 30:10; 88:11-13; 15:17). Thus, men hold fast their life the more lest God would forget their existence! However great our faith is, it is very difficult to surrender ourselves and our lives completely to God! "Not what I will but what you will." (Mark 14:36). It is more easily said than done.

Paul, Stephen and Lawrence had chosen the path of sanctification through martyrdom. Poor Lazarus, he died of a lack of cure, not of his own choice! Of course, nobody can choose when to die except the Son of God. "A time to give birth and a time to die;" (Ecclesiastes 3:2) Death is beyond our control. Jesus Christ the Son of God is different. "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again." (John 10:18) His willingness to lay down His life becomes the exemplar for martyrs in subsequent ages. It is no surprise that He is able to rise from the death. As God Himself, it is not difficult for Him to move freely between life and death. But the martyrs who have followed His example do not have the power to rise themselves. They could only trust in this Author of Life. In the case of Lazarus, Jesus Christ proves that He really has the power to raise the dead. Wait! Hadn't Jesus Christ raised the daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:25) and the only son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:14-15)? If Jesus Christ shows kindness to total strangers, what is so special about raising His good friend?

What special message does the story of raising Lazarus show us? This narrative provides Jesus Christ an opportunity to expound on the meanings of eternal life. Moreover, have you noticed the role Mary plays in this story? The description of Martha and Mary agrees with that in Luke (Luke 10:40). Martha is a woman in action, Mary a contemplative. Mary speaks little and keeps all things reflecting on them in her heart. The BVM is a combination of both. The teachings of eternal life scatter throughout the whole gospel of John. And here are two points, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26) These two verses probably apply to Jairus' family and the family of the widow of Nain. But the focus of the narratives in the Synoptic gospels does not explicitly point to eternal life. The Lazarus narrative is different.

John describes Lazarus as the one the Master loves. (11:3) Lazarus' faith in Christ is certain. Thus, Jesus' proclamation, that "whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live", is concretely demonstrated before the people. Through raising Lazarus, Jesus Christ, "gives them anther heart and a new spirit I will put within them. From their bodies I will remove the hearts of stone, and give them hearts of flesh." (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26) Consequently, it achieved two opposite effects "Many of the Jews who had … seen what He had done began to believe in Him" (John 11:45) and attained eternal life. At the same time, "So from that day on they (the Sanhedrin) planned to kill Him." (11:53) Many are there indeed who refuse hearts transplant and eternal life!

Martha is very modern. She can't stop moving around working. Like most mothers who can't show their children enough love without working, Martha can't show Jesus Christ her love without actions. However, don't underestimate her faith. She says to the Master, "Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you" (11:22). She "knows" and is affirmative, not "believes" without any certainty. More importantly, she does not demand what to ask of God. This openness to Jesus Christ and the Father is precious! On the contrary, even though Mary says the same as Martha has said (11:32), showing the same love among siblings and articulates their plights to the Master, she does not ask anything from Jesus Christ. It is because she senses in the Master the breath of resurrection and from the tears of the Master (11:35), she contemplates the rigour of eternal life! With the Son of God, we shall never die!

Brethren! Faith in eternal life is not a superstition or a spiritual consolation because it brings sufferings and even martyrdom. Instead, faith in eternal life makes our life on earth more fulfilling. Martha is still Martha, but a Martha who lives more closely according to the will of the Father. Mary is still Mary, but a Mary who is more able to demonstrate into focus the values of contemplative life. May our meditation on the resurrection of Lazarus today trigger our desire for eternal life, fearlessly accepting all challenges and difficulties in our life on earth.
God bless!

沒有偏見真難！ How Hard To Be Without Bias

信德系列之六：沒有偏見真難！（若7:40-53）

讓我們羅列，若望福音第一至六章的記載，猶太人對耶穌基督本人或祂的言論的一些成見：

• 「從納匝肋還能出甚麼好事嗎？」（若1:46a）
• 「這座聖殿建築了四十六年，你在三天之內就會重建起它來嗎？」（2:20）
• 「人已年老，怎樣能重生呢？難道他還能再入母腹而重生嗎？」（3:4）
• 「你既是個猶太人，怎麼向我一個撒瑪黎雅婦人要水喝呢？」（4:9）
• 為此，猶太人越發想要殺害他，因為他不但犯了安息日，而且又稱天主是自己的父，使自己與天主平等。（5:18）
• 他們說：「這人不是若瑟的兒子耶穌麼？他的父親和母親，我們豈不是都認識麼？怎麼他竟說：我是從天上降下來的呢？」（6:42）
• 因此，猶太人彼此爭論說：「這人怎能把他的肉，賜給我們吃呢？」（6:52）

看過前六章的例子，今天我們聽到：「從加里肋亞不會出先知的。」（7:52）便是意料中事了。倘若問，是甚麼妨礙我們信靠耶穌基督呢？先入為主的成見肯定是其中一個因素。

時移世易，耶穌基督的身價不同了，人們對他的期望也不同了，但亦免不了一些先入為主的成見！例如：我們是中國人，「耶教」是洋教，在優秀的中華文化面前，還能出甚麼好事嗎？耶穌教人愛仇人，難道愛可以對付侵略者的飛機大砲嗎？耶穌的教訓很危險，經常質疑甚至顛覆政府的政策。所以一定要未雨綢繆，趁它未成氣候前便剷除它…

今天要找到一個對信德開放的斐理伯（1:46b）、尼苛德摩（7:51）或者全心信靠的伯多祿（6:68），真不容易！
天父啊！願祢的名受顯揚。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：community.artauthority.net

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On Faith (VI) --- How Hard To Be Without Bias

Let us make a list of prejudices the Jews harboured against Jesus Christ or against His discourses taken from John 1-6:

• "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46a)
• "This Temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" (2:20)
• "How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot re-enter his mother's womb and be born again, can he?" (3:4)
• "How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" (4:9)
• "For this reason the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath but also called God his own father, making himself equal to God." (5:18)
• And they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven'?" (6:42)
• The Jews quarrelled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" (6:52)

After reading examples of the previous six chapters, hearing "Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee" (7:52) today would not surprise us. Then what prevents us from believing in Jesus Christ? Preconceived bias is definitely one of the causes. Time has changed. The status of Jesus Christ is no long the same. People's expectations have changed but prejudices are inevitable. For example, we are Chinese. Christianity is Western. In front of our magnificent culture, would there be anything to offer? Jesus teaches us to love enemies. Can love defend invaders' aeroplanes and cannons? The teachings of Jesus Christ are very dangerous. They always challenge and even subvert government policies. Therefore, it should be nipped in the bud … Today, it is a rarity to find someone who is open to faith like Philip (1:46b), like Nicodemus (7:51) or completely surrenders like Peter (6:68)! Heavenly Father! Hallowed be Thy name. Amen.

信德的終極任務 The Ultimate Mission of Faith

信德系列之五：信德的終極任務（若7:1-2，10，25-30）

耶穌基督以身犯險，前往耶路撒冷，嘗試向拒絕認識聖父的猶太人，宣講聖父的旨意。祂這樣做，恐怕祇有那些向野蠻的原始人傳福音的傳教士，纔可以媲美。昨天我們提及雅各伯宗徒說過的，沒有行為的信德是死的（雅2:17, 26），我們自然會問，有甚麼行為可以證明我們的信德不是死的呢？是否依照耶穌基督所教訓的，運用信德去移山呢（瑪17:20）？可是，保祿宗徒以愛德，否定了這類空洞無益的信德了（格前13:2）。是的，信德必需與愛德結合，纔不至是死的信德。那麼，有甚麼行為是信德與愛德互相結合的呢？就是傳福音！

傳福音是耶穌基督升天前的遺訓（瑪28:19），可以說是信德和愛德的最高表現！出於對罪人的大愛，天主子願意紓尊降貴，降生成人，宣揚與天父修和的福音；並以十字架上的死，兌現這修和的承諾。天主子邀請跟隨祂的人，以傳福音去繼續祂未完成的工程。讓我們反省，我們對天主子的信靠有多真實呢？

天主教徒推辭傳福音的使命，有很多藉口，以下兩個是最常見的。「傳教是神職人員的事，我們可以做的，是為傳教祈禱。」這些天主教徒忘記了他們領洗時，已分享了耶穌基督的君王、先知和司祭職務！傳福音祇不過是履行這些職務而已。不履行職務，怎可以算得上是天主教徒呢？「我們不懂神學，怕說異端，誤導別人。」這些天主教徒，忘記了是天主聖神借助他們作證（路12:12），成功與否，不是他們的功勞或過失！況且，不透過傳福音的實習，怎能體會到與天主聖三同在的經驗呢？

歸納起來，不傳福音，上對天主無信，下對身邊的人缺乏愛心，對他們靈性的生死存亡，無動於衷，並辜負了其他努力傳福音的兄弟姊妹，包括神職人員！
天父啊！願祢的國來臨。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：goarch.org

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On Faith (V) --- The Ultimate Mission of Faith

Ignoring death threats, Jesus went up to Jerusalem, trying to preach the Father's will to the Jews who refused to know the Father. Probably only actions of missionaries to savages would be comparable. Yesterday, we mentioned Apostle James' remarks that faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26). Naturally we would ask what works prove that our faith is alive. Should we follow Jesus' teaching to move mountains with our faith? (Matthew 17:20) But Apostle Paul has refuted this kind of empty faith with charity (1 Corinthians 13:2). Rightly, faith must work with charity to keep itself alive. Then what actions are combinations of faith and charity? It should be evangelization!

Evangelization is the last command Jesus Christ gave His followers before He ascended into heaven (Matthew 28:19). It can be said to be the ultimate manifestation of faith and charity! Out of great love of humanity, the Son of God degraded Himself, incarnated and took up flesh to proclaim the gospel of reconciliation with the Father. He died on the cross to honour this pledge of reconciliation. The Son of God invites His followers to continue His unfinished project with evangelization. Let us meditate how genuine we believe in the Son of God.

Catholic laymen have a lot of excuses not to evangelize. The followings are the two most common ones. "Evangelization is the work of the clergy. We can only pray for evangelization." These Catholics have forgotten that when they were baptized, they partake in the threefold ministry of Christ, kingship, priesthood and prophetic mission! To evangelize is to discharge this ministry. How can you call yourself a Catholic if you don't discharge the ministry? "I don't know theology. I'm afraid I would speak heresies and mislead people." These Catholics forget that they evangelize on behalf of the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:12). Successful or not is not their merit or fault! Moreover, without partaking in evangelization, where else can you experience the presence of the Blessed Trinity?

In conclusion, refusal to evangelize shows a disbelief in God and a lack of charity to the spiritual destiny of one's neighbour and fails those who evangelize diligently, including the clergy!
Heaven Father! Your Kingdom come. Amen.

信德的倫理幅度 The Moral Dimension of Faith

信德系列之四：信德的倫理幅度（若5:31-47）

作為基督徒，最困難之處莫過於尋求天主的旨意。
熱心的教友，每天虔誠地唸經、齋戒、參加彌撒和勤領聖事，這就是天主的旨意嗎？若嫌不足，不妨每天默想聖經，參加退省，報讀課程。倘若還不夠，就積極地施行形哀矝，甚至投身社運，爭取天國在地上臨現。還欠缺了甚麼呢？

這一切都很好，並沒有做錯。但是相信耶穌基督，口口聲聲以基督徒身份為榮的人，就祇有這一點能耐而已嗎？幾許虔誠正義的信徒，一番努力，直到油盡燈枯之後，仍得不到半點神益。錯在哪裡？今天我們默想耶穌基督對反對祂的猶太人的信德其中一個批評（若5:44），可能會有所啟發。

反對耶穌基督的猶太人如何「尋求光榮」呢？從耶穌基督狠批法利塞人和法學士的記載中，可見一斑（路11:37-54）。以滿足自己的利益、榮譽和成就作出發點，甚至制訂規矩，貶抑別人以高舉自己，甚至窒礙別人的發展。這與耶穌基督的教訓，大相逕庭。耶穌基督教訓我們溫良慈悲（瑪5:5,7），不強加自己的意願到別人身上，為的是樂於造就他人；行善是為了天父的光榮而不是自己的個人榮辱（5:16）；並不是為了在天主前邀功（路17:10）等等！

雅各伯宗徒說得好，沒有行為的信德是死的（雅2:17, 26）。基督徒的信德，是從他們的行為判斷出來的。不但如此，相同的行為，也要看行為的動機！虔誠地唸經和領聖事是行為，炫耀自己抑或是欽崇天主是動機！報讀課程與施行哀矝是行為，沽名釣譽與服事臨現在弱小兄弟身上的基督是動機！投身社會運動是行為，賺取政治本錢與團結善意人士合力拆除結構性的罪惡是動機…
天父啊！願祢的旨意奉行在人間，如同在天上。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝： Wikipedia

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On Faith (IV) --- The Moral Dimension of Faith

The greatest difficulty in being Christians is to seek God's will.
Do piously saying prayers, fasting, joining masses and receiving sacraments every day mean doing God's will? If you feel it is not enough, why don't you meditate scriptures, go retreating and enrol in bible/theology courses? Still not satisfied? Then do more corporal works of mercy, join social actions and fight for the materialization of the kingdom of heaven on earth. What else have I left undone?

All these are very good. There is nothing wrong. But is that all who claim to be proud of the identity of Christian can do? Many a pious and righteous Christian feels burnt out and spent after working diligently and yet receives not a bit of spiritual consolation. What has gone wrong? Meditating on the criticism which Jesus Christ levels against the faith of his contemporary Jews (John 5:44) may give us some hint.

How did the Jews who opposed Jesus "accept praise from one another"? We may get a glimpse from the harsh criticisms of Jesus Christ against the scribes and Pharisees (Luke 11:37-54). Their motive was to seek personal gains, fame and achievements. They even made up rules to exalt themselves and humble others, smothering others' advancement. This is the very opposite of Jesus' teachings. Jesus teaches us to be meek and merciful (Matthew 5:5, 7); never impose personal wills upon others in order to edify them; doing good works to glorify the Father and not ourselves (5:16) and do not claim credits for what we have done (Luke 17:10) etc.

Well said James, the apostle, that faith of itself without works is dead (James 2:17, 26). A Christian's faith is evaluated by his works. Not only that, the same action should be judged by its motive! What's the motive of pious prayers and receiving sacraments, showing off or genuine worship of God? Are enrolment in courses and works of mercy fame-hunting or serving Christ present among the needy neighbour? Is participating in social movement a means to earn political capital or joining all men of good will to demolish structural sins in the society …?
Heavenly Father! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

天主信人 God Believes in Men

信德系列之三：天主信人（路1:26-38）

當士兵對指揮官缺乏信任的時候，他們怎會替指揮官賣命呢？當今世界各地，出現了不少的示威運動，部份原因都是出於人民對政府管治的不滿和不信任。即使是醫術高明的醫生，倘若得不到病人的信任，也是束手無策。上司與下屬、政府與人民、醫生與病人之間，都有著一份不同程度的合作關係。合作的成敗，取決於信任的程度。在上的很多時候都採用家長式管治，因為對在下的缺乏信任：「我係老闆，你唔係」、「最後要負責嘅係我，唔係你」、「我比你知得多」、「我咁樣做都係為你好」等等，毫無合作和信任的餘地！

天主剛好相反，祂對人類的信任，真是令人驚訝。且看耶穌基督，他竟然邀請一個在世俗眼中，成事不足，敗事有餘的伯多祿，與祂合作在世上建設天國，並且把天國的鑰匙交給他（瑪16:19）；從耶穌基督的族譜，我們可以見到在耶穌基督身上的遺傳基因，容納了很多行為上和性格上有毛病的人！天父竟然這樣信任人類，願意天主子降生成脆弱的人類，而不是大能的天使！人類呢？被撒殫挑撥離間（創3:5），竟然懷疑賴以生存的造物主。天人之間的關係，真是脆弱！

可幸在人類之中，還有聖母瑪利亞代表我們，表達對天父的信任！雖然她不明白為甚麼天主拒絕她以守貞的方式服事祂（路1:32），但聖母是有福的，她「信了由上主傳於她的話必要完成」（1:45），使她雖然生育天主子，但仍能保持永遠的童貞！的確，除了天主之外，有誰能言出必行呢？我們的信德動搖，多是出於懷有不合乎天主旨意的期望！即使是高貴的期望，聖母也並不執著，這就是她能帶給人類祝福的秘訣（創12:3）。
天父啊！求祢不要嫌棄我們微薄的信德，仰賴祢的慈悲，讓我們也蒙受祝福吧。亞孟！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：etsy.com

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On Faith (III) --- God Believes in Men

When soldiers do not trust their commanders, how would they bite the bullets for their superiors? All over the globe today, many peoples take to the streets to vent their dissatisfaction and mistrust of their governments. Even professional physicians, if they are not able to command their patients’ trust, they could not treat them. Between supervisors and subordinates, states and subjects, doctors and patients, there exists a certain degree of cooperative relationship. The success of their cooperation depends on trust. Most of the time, supervisors take a patriarchist approach and show no trust to the subordinates: "I'm the boss. You aren't!", "In the end, I am held responsible. Not you!", "I know more than you do" and "I do this for your good" etc. There is no room for trust and cooperation!

God's approach is the very opposite. His trust in men is astounding. Take a look at Jesus Christ. He chooses such a weakling as Peter, works with him to build up the Kingdom of Heaven and asks him to keep the key (Matthew 16:19). From His genealogy, we find that Jesus Christ embedded DNA of many people with flawed personalities and behaviours! The Father so trusted humanity that the Son incarnated as a fragile man and not a mighty angel! What about men? Deceived by Satan (Genesis 3:5), men doubted their Creator who sustains their lives. How delicate is the God-men relationship!

Good for humanity, there is the BVM to represent us to show our trust in the Father! Although she did not understand why God rejected her wish to serve Him in celibacy (Luke 1:32), she is blessed because she "believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled." (1:45) Her faith made it possible for her to give birth to the Son of God and at the same time, keeping her virginity perpetually! Indeed, who else but God speaks and things get done? Most of the time, our faith is shaky because we harbour unreasonable expectations in God's will! Even if the cause is noble, the BVM does not insist. This is the secret of bringing blessing to the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3).
Heavenly Father! You do not despise our miserable faith. Per Your mercy, make us blessed as well. Amen!

自以為義的信德 Self-Righteous Faith

信德系列之二：自以為義的信德（若5:1-16）

患病除了肉體受痛苦外，心靈上，經濟上和人際關係上，也承受著沉重的負擔。所以當耶穌基督問癱子：「你願意痊癒嗎？」（若5:6）聽來有點奇怪！有誰不願意健康地生活呢？原來不願意健康的，大有人在！例如，你有病，親友同事關心你。你康復了，他們便把注意力轉到其他地方去了。這樣的話，你願意痊癒嗎？

身為天主子的耶穌基督，明白人心的矛盾，所以祂在醫治前先詢問癱子，其實是對罪人（5:14）的一份尊重。因為天主尊重人類的自由，不會禁止人犯罪，不會強迫人悔改，強迫人相信祂，接受祂的拯救！癱子雖然沒有直接回答，但他多年來努力守候在池邊，已清楚表露了他願意痊癒的意願。不但如此，他更清楚表達出他的無助，他的不能自救（5:7）！

的確，很多人仍然缺乏悔改的決心，仍然執迷不悟，拒絕天主的治療！可能他們對自己的處境絕望，以為天主不會寬恕，結果好像猶達斯一樣，一死了之。不過，我相信大多數拒絕天主治療的人，有如福音中的法學士和法利塞人一樣，他們除了貪戀利益之外（谷12:40，路11:43），更嚴重的，就是他們自以為義，「我無病」（11:42）！於是他們不覺得自己是離開了天主，而且對自己在天堂的一席位，蠻有信心！其實他們信自己多於信天主！他們有豐富的知識，但他們的信德不是真的。即使在我們眼中這些人是如何痛苦，如何可憐，奈何他們卻自得其樂，即使是短暫的快樂！
天父啊！擺在我們眼前的是癱子和法利塞人，請教我們如何選擇。亞孟。

圖片鳴謝：frontroyalchurchofchrist.com
生命恩泉

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On Faith (II) --- Self-Righteous Faith

Illness inflicts heavy tolls not just bodily, but spiritually, economically and interpersonally as well. Thus, it sounds a bit queer when Jesus Christ asks the sick man, "Do you want to be well?" (John 5:6) Who doesn't want to lead a healthy life? But in reality, many people want to stay sick! For example, you are sick, your friends and relatives care about you. When you recover, they turn their attention elsewhere. In this way, do you want to be well?

As the Son of God, Jesus Christ knows very well our contradictions. When He asked the sick man before He healed him, Jesus was showing respect towards sinners (5:14). God respects our freedom. He would not stop us sinning, would not force us to repent, to believe in Him or to accept His salvation! Although the sick man did not answer directly, his perseverance in staying beside the pool had already indicated his intention to be healed. Not only that, he also clearly expressed his helplessness, his inability to save himself (5:7)!

Indeed, many people still lack the determination to repent, still stubbornly reject God's cure! Probably they are desperate, thinking God would not forgive them. Like Judas, it is better not to have been born! But we believe that most of those who reject God's cure, like the scribes and Pharisees in the gospel, turn away from God not only because of greed (Mark 12:40, Luke 11:43), but also because of self-righteousness (11:42)! They don't think they have abandoned God. They are confident that a place has been reserved for them in heaven! In fact, they believe in themselves more than in God! They are rich in knowledge, but their faith is not authentic. No matter how painful they are in our eyes, they still enjoy their bliss, however brief it would be!
Heavenly Father! Before us are the sick man and the Pharisees. Teach us choose wisely. Amen.

有條件的信德 Conditional Faith

信德系列之一：有條件的信德（若4:43-54）

大部份基督徒宣認耶穌基督為主，並常把「主啊！主啊！」掛在嘴邊（瑪7:21）。但有多少人更具體地，並真心地相信耶穌基督是生命的主宰呢？「祂是我的主人，我服從祂。」非常好。「我會為祂赴湯蹈火。」那更好！但相信並宣認祂是生命的主宰，卻是另一個層次了。我已把自己完全交托到祂手中，不再堅持執著自己的性命，因為我相信祂操生殺之權。祂有權令人死，也有權令死人復活。這一點天主已藉先知撒慕爾的母親啟示了（撒上2:6）。

今天所讀的神蹟並不希奇，與對觀福音中，應外邦人請求為親屬治病的故事大同小異（瑪8:5-13；谷7:24-30；路7:1-10），都是與信德有關。但若望的故事暴露了一個信德的破綻：原來我們的信德是有條件的（若4:48）！試想想，倘若這王臣的兒子死了，他還會不會像瑪爾大一樣前去懇求耶穌呢？（11:22）從多默宗徒的故事，我得到一個悲觀的結論，原來很多人並不希罕成為有福之人，因為他們不見不信（20:29）！難怪耶穌慨歎說：「人子來臨時，能在世上找到信德嗎？」（路18:8）

除了這個有破綻的信德之外，更要命的是我們喜歡自己做天主，更試探天主和擺佈祂，要求祂做這做哪（瑪4:1-10；谷8:11；15:30）！今天的王臣懇求耶穌基督醫治自己的兒子，是親情，是父愛的表現；請耶穌在他兒子未死以前出手（若4:49），雖然是自然不過的事，但卻在不自覺中，指揮天主滿足自己的要求！難道天主不是心裡有數，早有安排嗎？默想到這裡，我感覺到瑪爾大的信德真大，因為她對天主的拯救，保持了一份開放的態度！
主啊！一切祢都知道，祢曉得我愛祢！亞孟。

圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia
生命恩泉

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On Faith (I) : Conditional Faith

Most Christians confess Jesus Christ to be their Lord, saying "Lord, Lord" all the time (Matthew 7:21). But how many of them concretely and sincerely believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord of life? "He is my Lord, I obey Him." Good of you. "I will do whatever He tells me, even to hand my body over." Even better! But believing and confessing that He is the Author of life goes to another level. I entrust my life in His hand. I do not regard my life something to be grasped because "The Lord puts to death and gives life, casts down to Sheol and brings up again", said the mother of Samuel the Seer (1 Samuel 2:6).

The miracle today is not extraordinary. In the Synoptic gospels, there are similar stories of faith, healing miracles at the requests of Gentiles (Matthew 8:5-13, Mark 7:24-30, Luke 7:1-10). But John’s story exposes a flaw in our faith: Our faith is conditional (John 4:48)! Just think about it, had the son of the royal official died, would he have come to beg Jesus as Martha did (11:22)? From the story of Thomas the Apostle, I come to a pessimistic conclusion: people don't bother to be blessed because they won't believe without seeing (20:29)! No wonder Jesus lamented, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8)

On top of this flawed faith, we love playing God, putting Him to test and commanding Him to do this and to do that (Matthew 4:1-10, Mark 8:11; 15:30)! Today, the royal official begged Jesus to heal his son. This is fatherly love. Asking Jesus to "come down before my child dies" is natural but imperceptibly, commanding God to meet our requests! Does God need you to tell Him what to do? Coming to this point of meditation, I admire the greatness of Martha's faith because she kept an open attitude towards God's salvation!
Lord, You know everything. You know that I love you. Amen.

趁白天還可以工作 To Do the Father's Works While It is Day

四旬期第四主日，甲年
主題：趁白天還可以工作

人為萬物之靈，在於能理性地思考。在理想的情況下，人類會觀察那些吸引他注意的事物，作出初步假設，以解釋所見的現象。這些假設可以是來自前人的智慧，可以是自己創新的。在可能的情況下進行反覆驗證，得出判斷，並按此判斷，採取恰當的行動。當然，實際的條件未必容許如此費時費力的運作，例如，沒有可能做到巨細無遺的觀察、不敢質疑前人的權威、沒有充足的科技能滴水不漏地驗證、所作的判斷中立，不受文化或政治考慮所影響等等。所以，對人對事的判斷，應該有所保留，任何合理的疑點，應歸「被告」。雖然耶穌基督教訓我們「不要判斷人」（瑪7:1），但是現實並非如此！

在今天的福音，我們看到當代的猶太人一個根深柢固的思想，把疾病與犯罪掛鉤的一個定論。疾病容易察覺，但除了公開的罪人外，有誰會知道別人犯了罪呢？把犯罪與患病掛鉤是很方便，很容易理解，卻是一個很難驗證的判斷。人總是捨難取易，所以，患病的人一定是犯了些不為人知的罪，所以天主懲罰他，讓其他人知道，警惕所有的人！雖然這種「三級跳」的「犯罪論」並不穩妥，卻因為容易明白而廣為眾人接受！耶穌基督的門徒很聰明，他們發現胎生瞎子是「犯罪論」的一個反例子。既然是胎生，瞎子之所以瞎眼，就有可能不是他自己犯罪所做成了。最有可能的解釋就是父母所犯的罪，遺下的惡果（若9:2）！其實天主藉先知已解答了這疑問：「誰犯罪，誰就該喪亡；兒子不承當父親的罪過，父親不承當兒子的罪過；義人的正義歸於義人自己，惡人的邪惡也歸於惡人自己。」（則18:20）這是舊約的「公義」，也是大部份文化的道德理念，所謂「善惡到頭終有報」。但耶穌基督來了，在祂面前，這些「公義」顯得黯然失色！耶穌基督說：「而是為叫天主的工作在他身上顯揚出來。」（若9:3b）聽來有點逆耳，天主令這個人胎生瞎眼，是為了顯揚祂的工作？這樣的天主，怎可以稱為「善」呢？

可能富裕的生活令我們心硬，忘記了自己有多麼幸運，生活在一個發達的商業社會，起居舒適方便，忘記了比我們不幸的鄰人。我們中，有人生於幸福的家庭，也有生於充滿家暴的家庭；健康的家庭，或者受遺傳病、精神病所困擾的家庭；有聰明伶俐，朝氣勃勃的成員，或者不能自理的弱智、認知障礙的成員。無論天主賦予我們甚麼，我們的任務就是把這天賦發揮得淋漓盡致！聰明的善用其聰明，盲聾的在其限制之內貢獻！我們總算能安居樂業，但我們可曾關心被逼離鄉別井的難民或被拐騙的人呢？今天我們甚至覺得墮胎或者安樂死是一件可以接受的事！我們把正確的判斷遺失在哪？

是的，天主是生命的主宰，當中一切生命的開展，一草一木，將相乞丐，都顯揚著天父的工作！天父如何在不插手干預的條件下工作呢？除了透過我們，還有其他方式嗎？或許是有的，但作為耶穌基督的門徒，你和我是責無旁貸！我們為這些最少的兄弟，做過甚麼（瑪25:40）？耶穌基督使那胎生瞎子復明（若9:7），反觀故事中的法利塞人做了甚麼呢？做了判官，不是冷靜公義的判官，而是濫權的判官！難怪耶穌基督說：「趁著白天，我們應該做派遣我來者的工作，黑夜來到，就沒有人能工作了。當我在世上的時候，我就是世界的光。」（9:4-5）耶穌基督是世界的光，拒絕了祂，何來光明？所以在黑暗中的法利塞人，也祇能繼續濫權。即使那胎生瞎子客觀地指出他們的錯謬，他們仍繼續心盲，冥頑不靈（9:31-34）！奈何！天父賜予眾人不同的天賦，是天父不善嗎？錯！人人天賦不同，纔有分工合作，做出更偉大，更多姿多采的工程，顯揚天父的可能！倘若人人劃一，自給自足，這世界將會多麼呆板！

各位兄弟姊妹，法利塞人的毛病，讓我們不得不注意自己也是否心盲了，以至對天主的工作視而不見，甚至加以對抗！社會的動盪、疫情的肆虐，有沒有幫助我們親近天主，刺激我們從聖經中，找到安慰和信靠；我們的守齋祈禱，有沒有引領我們關心比我們更不幸的人；最後，我們可有伸出天主慈悲之手，幫助有需要的鄰人呢？耶穌基督正臨現在他們身上，等候我們領受祂的光照。
天主保祐！

2017講道
圖片鳴謝：https://stmichaellivermore.com/blog/gift-true-sight

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Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year A
Theme: To Do the Father's Works While It is Day

Humanity is the crown jewel of Creation because they are able to think rationally. In ideal situations, man observes whatever attracts his attention, makes preliminary hypotheses to explain the phenomenon. These hypotheses may come from the wisdom of predecessors or he makes up his own. He would repeatedly verify those hypotheses within what the situation allows and come to a judgment with which he would take appropriate actions. Of course, in reality, he may not be allowed to operate in such a time and energy consuming manner. For example, it is impossible to make meticulous observations from microscopic to astronomic scale; the observer might not dare to challenge the authority of his predecessors; the technology might not be sophisticated enough to remove any doubt in the process of verification and the judgment arrived might not be neutral, untainted by cultural or political considerations etc. Therefore, there should be reservation in passing judgments. The benefit of the doubt should go to the "defendant". Although Jesus Christ exhorts us to stop judging (Matthew 7:1), in reality we seldom follow.

In today's passage, we are able to see a deep-seated prejudice among Jesus' contemporaries. They hooked up sickness with sins. It is easy to see that someone is sick but except for public sinners, who is able to tell which one has sinned? Hooking up sickness and sins is convenient and easy to understand. But it is difficult to verify. Men tend to cut corners. They reason: a sick person must have committed some sins hidden from the public. So God punishes him to alarm the public! This kind of "triple jump" mode of reasoning is shaky but it is easy to understand. Therefore, many people buy this sin-sickness theory. The disciples of Jesus were smart. They saw that this born blind could be a counter example to the sin-sickness theory. Since he was born blind, probably his blindness was not caused by his own sins. The most probable cause might be the sins of his parents (John 9:2)! In fact, God has answered the disciples' question in the Old Testament, "Only the one who sins shall die. The son shall not be charged with the guilt of his father, nor shall the father be charged with the guilt of his son. Justice belongs to the just, and wickedness to the wicked." (Ezekiel 18:20) This is righteousness in the Old Testament. "Justice shall prevail in the end" agrees with moral concepts of most civilizations. But when Jesus Christ comes, this brand of righteousness pales before Him! Jesus says, "That the works of God might be made visible through him." (John 9:3b) It sounds offending. Did God make this man born blind in order to make His works visible? How can such a God be good?

Probably an affluent life has hardened our hearts so that we have forgotten how lucky we have been. Leading a comfortable and convenient life in a developed commercial society, we have forgotten our less fortunate neighbour. Among us, some were born into happy families, others abusive ones; some in healthy families, others in families infested with hereditary or mental illnesses; there are smart and energetic members, or mentally deficient members who cannot take care of themselves. Whatever God bestows on us, our mission is to actualize these potentials to the full! Smart guys make good use of their wits while the blind and the deaf offer their contributions within their limitations! We are stable and prosperous, but do we care about those refugees or victims of human trafficking? Today, we even accept abortion and euthanasia! Where have we deposited our right judgment?

Yes, God is the Author of life. All unfolding lives, a blade of grass, a beggar or a commander make the Father's works visible! How does the Father work in a non-intrusive manner? What else if not through us? Perhaps there are other ways, but as disciples of Jesus Christ, our duty is non-negotiable! What have we done to the least of these brothers of Jesus' (Matthew 25:40)? Jesus Christ made the born blind see (John 9:7). What had the Pharisees done? They passed judgment, not as a sober judge did but an abusive one! No wonder Jesus Christ says, "We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (9:4-5) Jesus Christ is the light of the world. Rejecting Him, where comes the light? Thus, the Pharisees who remained in the dark could only continue to abuse their power. Even though the born blind objectively pointed out their mistakes, they insisted their blindness (9:31-34)! What a pity! The Father gives us different potentials. Is the Father not good? Wrong! We are different so that division of labour is possible. We shall be able to do greater and more magnificent projects to glory the Father! If everyone were uniform and self-sufficient, how bland the world would be!

Brethren! The faults of the Pharisees should remind us of whether our hearts are blind so that we are not able to see God's works and even fight against Him! Have social unrest and pandemic outbreak brought us closer to God, prodded us to seek consolation and trust from His word in the Bible? Have fasting and prayers brought us care for the less advantaged? Lastly, have we extended God's hand of mercy to help our needy neighbour? Jesus Christ is present among them, waiting for us to receive His light.
God bless!

你和我都是撒瑪黎雅婦人 All of Us Are Samaritan Woman

四旬期第三主日，甲年
主題：你和我都是撒瑪黎雅婦人

不要以為今天福音中的撒瑪黎雅婦人祇代表著女性，或者不信主的人，又或者是罪人的代表…其實她代表了所有的人，代表著你和我的某些人生階段。沒有一個人一出生便立刻信主，總要走過人生路上的一段旅程，纔漸漸發現天主的手在不斷地引導。即使是信了，並且接受過洗禮的信徒，當經歷過不同的生活環境，懷疑和無信的時段，總是無可避免。因此，再讀撒瑪黎雅婦人的故事，可以幫助我們檢討自己現在的精神面貎。

當耶穌在井旁開始啟示自己給那婦人時，雖然她並沒有一口拒絕，卻即時拿出種族情仇作擋箭牌（若4:9），這樣做與一口拒絕沒有分別！其實撒瑪黎雅人和猶太人，本來同樣都是雅各伯的後裔，可以說「本是同根生」。祇因北國的十個支派，被亞述滅亡之後，被迫與外族通婚，成了混血的撒瑪黎雅人，被堅持保持血統純正的南國人歧視。後來南國被巴比倫滅了。天主慈悲，差遣波斯王居魯士解放了充軍巴比倫的猶太人，並批準他們回國重建聖殿。撒瑪黎雅人心有不甘，在猶太人重建聖殿的過程中，製造了很多麻煩給他們。可見兩個族群之間的仇恨，是相當根深蒂固！所以那婦人拒絕耶穌，是意料中事。

基督宗教在世上已出現了差不多二千年了，還有甚麼理由拒絕它呢？對於未接受基督信仰的人，可能憑印象覺得它是外來的「洋教」。出於民族尊嚴，或者文化上的優越感，會一口拒絕認識耶穌的福音。有些對基督信仰略知一二的人，最難接受的道理，不是耶穌基督反對離婚，而是要他們承認自己是罪人，覺得信仰基督貶低了人性的尊嚴，這是很難令人接受的。即使是信了甚至接受了洗禮的人，亦祇會在西方傳教士身上看見天主，在本地神職人員或者來自亞非洲的傳教士身上看不見！又或者爭論哪種領聖禮的形式更尊敬臨在聖體中的耶穌基督，口領還是手領？

大家想想，以上種種現象，倘若有徹底的解決辦法，今天這些現象還存在嗎？這些現象仍然存在的話，表示了甚麼？種族偏見或者其他形式的偏見，是沒有解決辦法嗎？不對！面對著真理的化身，那個撒瑪黎雅婦人最後不是信了主嗎？所以一定有辦法解決！是信徒們沒有盡力嗎？我覺得不要把自己看得過份重要，這是另一種試探：就是驕傲！要知道倘若沒有天主允許，即使撒殫也不能有任何作為（約1:12，2:6）！所以，我們應學習耶穌基督的榜樣，循循善誘，讓拒絕接受福音的人知道「排外」的情緒，其實是統治者掩飾自己的過失，轉移人民視線的技倆；對於善意捍衛人權的人，信仰天主並不貶低人性的尊嚴，反而好像一面鏡子，讓我們更認識自己的長短，活得更自由；倘若祇能在西方人身上看見天主，也並不是一樁壞事，祇要找到天主便是好事！但我會覺得可惜，因為他們劃地自限，未能在其他兄弟姊妹身上找到天主。例如耶穌基督教導我們履行形哀矜時，不是已經很清楚地告訴我們，到哪裡去尋找天主嗎（瑪25:35-40）？真是一大損失！至於口領還是手領的問題，今天的福音已把答案擺在大家眼前（若4:23），還有爭論的必要嗎？

當耶穌基督以源源不絕的活水，引起婦人興趣的同時，也引起了她一些期望和疑惑。那口井恐怕是該村莊的惟一水源，所以在婦人的認知中，是沒有自來水、蒸餾水或者海水化淡等的概念，而祇有汲水器！耶穌並不擁有她心目中的汲水器，又怎能賜人活水呢？這是很多人，無論是信主或者不信主的人，的通病，他們限制天主，要按他們的要求運作，否則便不信了！我們經常聽到不信的人，挑戰信主的人：「叫你個耶穌出嚟見我，我就信喇！」耳熟能詳吧！如果耶穌基督真的現身，我真的要恭喜你了，因為你肯定會成為一個聖人！但同時我們替你擔心，因為你從此會多災多難，好像歸化了的聖保祿宗徒一樣，為主受苦！而且，能夠任你擺佈的「上帝」，值得相信嗎？

教外人不認識天主，對天主抱不切實際的期望，是可以諒解的。即使是信了主的人，一樣會犯同樣的毛病，不能免疫。在這疫症肆虐的時候，有新教的牧者，引經據典地說，這是上帝對人類某些罪行的震怒，有如毀滅索多瑪是對同性戀的震怒。我沒有資格判斷他們的言論，我祇記得聖保祿宗祿曾說過：「有誰曾知道上主的心意？或者，有誰曾當過祂的顧問？」（羅11:34）舊約先知也曾說過類似的話：「誰曾指揮過上主的心靈；或做過祂的參謀，教導過祂呢？祂曾向誰請教過，請他教導自己，指導自己正路，教授自己智識，指示明智的行徑呢？」（依40:13-14）我們對貪婪、對同性戀或其他破壞公益的行為表示不滿，是應該的。但隨便搬上帝出來助陣，就欠缺說服力了，對方也可以搬另外一些神祗來支持他們聚歛！其實，天主容許罪惡存在，或者是讓它們鞭策我們回頭悔改也未定！又例如去年反對修例所引發起的社會動盪，有不少信徒期望神職人員譴責暴力。教會沒有依照他們的期望，發表公開聲明譴責暴力，卻仍繼續默默地做著扶弱的工作。這樣做令他們大失所望，甚至因此而離開教會。這又是個人的期望在作祟，強加自己的意願在教會身上，斷絕了與天主建立關係的機會，到別處尋求滿足。可惜！

各位兄弟姊妹，天主的聖言是有生命的。祂在我們的心中，不動聲色地把天父的旨意啟示給我們。撒瑪黎雅婦人的故事，有很豐富的啟示內容，每讀一次，就有新一輪的體會。請大家努力，現在是考驗信德的時候；請大家堅持，現在是天主施恩的時候！
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：commons.wikimedia.org

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Third Sunday of Lent, Year A
Theme: All of Us Are Samaritan Woman

Do not think that the Samaritan woman in today's gospel represents only women, or non-believers or sinners etc. No, she represents all of us, represents some stages in our life. Nobody believes the Lord when he was born. Each one of us has to go through a certain length of journey before we realize that God's hand has always been guiding us. For those who believe and even those who have been baptized, doubt and lack of faith is inevitable when we go through different life situations. Thus, reading the story of the Samaritan woman helps us evaluate our spiritual health at the moment.

Although the woman did not downright reject Jesus when He started revealing His identity to her at the well, she hid herself behind a racial complex (John 4:9). It was the same as blatant rejection! Indeed, Samaritans and Jews were descendants of Jacob. They shared the same root. When the northern kingdom was conquered by the Assyrians, the ten tribes of Israelites were exiled and forced into mixed marriages and thus became hybrid Samaritans. The two tribes in the south who maintained the purity of their blood naturally despised them. Later, it was the southern kingdom's turn to be conquered by Babylon. God's mercy sent the Persian king Cyrus to liberate the Jews in Babylonian Exile and bade them home to rebuild the Temple. The Samaritans were unhappy and gave the Jews a lot of troubles while they tried to rebuild the Temple. Thus, their animosity was deep seated. The Samaritan woman's rejection was of no surprise.

Christianity has been here for nearly two millennia. Is there any reason to reject it? For non-believers, Christianity looks like an alien faith. Out of racial dignity or cultural superiority, people would reject Jesus' gospel. For some who know a bit of Christianity, the biggest obstacle is not Jesus' decree against divorce, but to confess that they are sinners. It is unacceptable that believing in Christianity turns out to debase one's dignity. Even for those who believe and were baptized, some of them could only find God in western missionaries. They fail to find God among local clergy or missionaries from Asia and Africa! Or some of them argue heatedly which manner to receive the Holy Communion is more pious to the real presence of Jesus in the host etc.

Let's take a moment to think about it. If there were effective solutions, would such phenomena persist? If these phenomena persist, what does it mean? There is no effective solution to the problem of racial prejudice or whatever prejudice? Wrong! Before the incarnated Truth, didn't the Samaritan woman finally believe in the Lord? There must be a way! Have believers not working hard enough? I don't think it is right to overestimate our importance. It is a temptation: pride! We should bear in mind that without God's permission, even Satan couldn't do anything (Job 1:12, 2:6)! Thus, we should learn from the example of Jesus Christ, persuade subtly and let those who reject the gospel as alien understand that this xenophobic emotion is instilled by governments which want to cover up their own faults and to divert people's focus. For those people of good will who defend human rights, I would say believing in Christianity does not debase human dignity. On the contrary, it is like a mirror which enables us to know our strengths and weaknesses so that we may lead a life of greater freedom. If believers can only find God among westerners, it is not too bad. Finding God is a good thing! However, I feel sorry for them because they have confined themselves such that they are unable to discover God among other peoples. For example, when Jesus Christ teaches us to practise corporal works of mercy, hasn't He made it crystal clear where we may find God (Matthew 25:35-40)? What a loss! As for the argument over which way to receive the Holy Communion is better, the gospel today has put the answer before our very eyes (John 4:23). Is there any need to argue?

When Jesus Christ arouses the interest of the woman with living water, at the same time, He has aroused some expectations and queries in her. That well was probably the only source of water for the whole village. Thus in the woman's mind, there was no idea of tap water, distilled water or desalted sea water etc. except a bucket! In her mind, Jesus did not have anything like a bucket, how could He give us living water? Many people, both believers and non-believers, commit this common fallacy. They confine God within their mind set, demanding God to fulfil their requirements. Otherwise, they shall not believe! Many non-believers challenge Christians, saying, "Tell your Jesus to come down to see me. Then I will believe!" Sounds familiar? If Jesus Christ really appears before you, I congratulate you because you surely will become a saint! At the same time, I worry about you because from then on, like the converted Paul, you shall suffer a lot for the sake of our Lord! Furthermore, is a god which you are able to manipulate worth believing in?

It is understandable for non-believers who harbour unrealistic expectations in God. Even those who believe in God are not immune. They make the same mistake. During this pandemic, some Protestant pastors quote the Bible and claim that this is Jehovah's wrath against certain sins very much like burning down Sodom was a divine wrath against homosexuality. I'm not qualified to pass judgment on such claims. I only know St. Paul once says, "Who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been His counsellor?" (Romans 11:34) An Old Testament prophet made similar comments, "Who has directed the spirit of the Lord, or instructed Him as His counsellor? Whom did He consult to gain knowledge? Who taught Him the path of judgment, or showed Him the way of understanding?" (Isaiah 40:13-14) It is right of us to speak against greed, homosexuality and any other harm done against the common good. But putting God on the table is not convincing. The other side would put up their own deities to justify their greed and hoarding! In fact, perhaps God allows such vices to chasten us so that we may repent! Let me cite one more example. Last year during the social unrest resulted from anti- Fugitive Bill amendment, many parishioners wanted the Church to condemn violence. The Church did not meet their expectations to do so publicly, but continued to support the underlings silently. In this way, many parishioners were disappointed and decided to leave the Church. Once again, people impose their personal expectations on the Church and cut off their opportunity to establish connections with God to seek satisfaction elsewhere. What a pity!

Brethren! The Word of God has a life of its own. Imperceptibly He reveals the Father's will in our hearts. The story of the Samaritan woman is rich in revelations. Every time we read it, we discover something new. Labour! It is a time to test our faith. Persevere! It is a time God bestowed grace!
God bless!

天主子顯聖容滿足人類對無限的渴求 Transfiguration Satisfies Our Desire For The Infinite

四旬期第二主日，甲年
主題：天主子顯聖容滿足人類對無限的渴求

不得不承認，親人之間的關係，非常複雜。最常見的問題總是環繞在父母的「偏心」和子女之間的爭寵！這些例子，在舊約聖經中，俯拾皆是。加音殺死亞伯爾，源於在他眼中，天主「偏心」，沒有悅納他的祭獻而悅納了弟弟的祭獻（創4:5）；撒辣為了保障自己所生的依撒格，可以獨佔將來的產業，就容不下哈加爾和她為亞巴郎所生的依市瑪耳（21:9-10）；創世紀更明明白白地說依撒格愛厄撒烏，因為他愛吃野味，而他的妻子黎貝加卻愛雅各伯（25:28）；後來雅各伯在母親慫恿下，騙取了長子的祝福，遠走高飛！經歷二十年的艱苦經營，纔能與自己的兄弟和解。十二個兒子中，雅各伯偏愛辣黑耳為他所生的若瑟，並給他造了件彩色長衣（37:3），自然引起了眾兄弟的嫉妒。加上若瑟少不更事，幾乎惹來殺身之禍（37:18）！當然在天主的護佑之下，被出賣的若瑟反過來拯救了全家。這一切事的發生：謀殺、爭產、欺詐、偏心等等，在冥冥之中卻配合著天主拯救世界的計劃。天主的上智，何其神妙莫測，令人讚嘆不已！

天主按自己的肖像造生了人類（1:26）。祂是無限的，所以有死的我們，心底裡有著一份對無限的渴求。可惜我們缺乏耐性，走捷徑，叛逆了天主。但祂對我們卻不離不棄。天人之間有很大的距離，所以天主子遷就我們，降生成人，把天父啟示給我們，並引領我們回歸父家，提拔我們成為天父的子女。天主的思想不是我們容易接受的，祂計劃「置諸死地而後生」，以先受難，後復活的手段，協助我們進入永生，分享祂的生命。當耶穌基督透露這個計劃給門徒時，作為教會磐石的伯多祿，拉耶穌到一邊諫責祂（瑪16:21-22）！可見天主的思維是何等高深莫測！就在這樣的背景下，天主子耶穌基督帶領了三名入室弟子上山，把天主子的光榮顯示給他們。天主子降生成人，祂的光榮暫時被血肉所掩蓋。現在祂把天主子的光榮，也就是祂復活的光榮，顯示給門徒，加強他們對復活的信念。也為了這個原因，耶穌基督囑咐他們說：「非等人子由死者中復活，你們不要將所見告訴任何人。」（17:9）

雖然我們沒有這份福氣，在有生之年可以瞻仰這天主子的光榮，姑且讓我們默想這是怎麼樣的光榮。我們知道這份光榮並不是人世間的文字可以充份地描述的，而且聖史的記載距離我們時日久遠，我們未必能欣賞他們的風格：「在他們面前變了容貎發光有如太陽，他的衣服潔白如光」（17:2），「他的衣服發光，那樣潔白，世上沒有一個漂布的能漂得那樣白」（谷9:3），「祂的面容改變，祂的衣服潔白發光」（路9:29）。這是文字描述的限制，但值得注意的，是門徒們的反應。所謂「人同此心，心同此理」，他們的感受，我們也可感受一二。讓我們留意伯多祿的反應，他說：「主啊！我們在這裡真好！你若願意，我就在這裡搭三個帳棚：一個為祢，一個為梅瑟，一個為厄里亞。」（瑪17:4）究竟天主子的光榮，好在哪？

我相信伯多祿在這一刻，他對無限的渴求，得到了滿足。雖然與主耶穌基督，日夜相處了一段日子，近距離看見過祂施行的神蹟，並在水裡，得到步行在水面上的主，伸手拯救…這一切都被耶穌基督的血肉掩蓋著，不及現在面對著天主真身的直接感受。伯多祿被無限掩蓋了…
梅瑟和厄里亞的出現，令伯多祿初嘗永恆的滋味。時間不再如河水，一去不復返。他們有幸跳出了時間約束，可以見證到梅瑟和厄里亞這些歷史人物，與天主子交談，伯多祿在沒有時間約束的狀態下，一瞬間有如千年（伯後3:8），他完全經歷了自亞巴郎以來，甚至更早，在天主大家庭的繽紛喜樂：加音、依市瑪耳、厄撒烏、普提法爾的妻子、撒烏耳、達味、哥肋雅、烏黎雅、撒羅滿…固然每個人物，包括我們自己，都有不足之處，但天主的慈愛，填補了人的缺陷！試問人生在世，尚有何求呢？「主啊！我們在這裡真好！」

「趨吉避凶」真是人性的表現，但願能永遠留在山上，享受天主子光榮的無限安慰。但在享受光榮之前，我們不得不付出血汗啊！即使是美食當前，也要張開口罷可以品嘗。不勞而獲，總不是味道。所以，門徒們淺嘗來世的美果之後，總得返回現實世界，背起自己的十字架，聯同其他的兄弟姊妹，跟隨主耶穌基督，出死入生，成為天父喜悅的子女（瑪17:5）。

各位兄弟姊妹，天父既然信任我們這脆弱的人性，讓我們加把勁，以天主子的光榮作為指標，向天國邁進。
天主保祐！

2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：https://www.holytrinityutrecht.nl/sermons/transfiguration-2/

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Second Sunday of Lent, Year A
Theme: Transfiguration Satisfies Our Desire For The Infinite

We cannot but acknowledge that the relationships among family members are extremely complicated. The most common feuds revolve around parental favouritism and sibling rivalry. Plenty such dramas can be found in the Old Testament. Cain murdered Abel because in his eyes, God did not look with favour upon his offerings but on his brother's (Genesis 4:5); in order to guarantee that Isaac, the son she bore would obtain all the inheritance, Sarah drove away Hagar and Ishmael, the son she bore for Abraham (21:9-10); Genesis even blatantly claims that "Isaac preferred Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah preferred Jacob." (25:28) Later, persuaded by his mother, Jacob deceived Isaac and obtained the first born blessing. He fled and only after two decades of labour, returned to reconcile with his brother. Among the 12 sons, Jacob loved Joseph best because he was born of Rachel. He made Joseph a long ornamented tunic (37:3). Naturally all other brothers were jealous and Joseph's naivety nearly cost him his life (37:18)! Of course, with God's guidance, the betrayed Joseph turned out to be the saviour of the whole family. God made use of all these: murder, in-fighting, deception and favouritism etc. in His grand plan to save the world. God's wisdom is truly unfathomable and awe-inspiring!

God created men in His own image (1:26). God is infinite. Therefore, deep in our souls, we mortals desire the infinite. Unfortunately, we lacked patience, took a short-cut and rebelled against God. But He does not abandon us. There is an unsurpassable (from human perspective) abyss between God and men. Therefore, in order to deliver us, the Son of God incarnated and took human flesh. He reveals the Father to us and leads us home, raising our status to be adopted children of God. It is not easy to accept God's way of thinking. His plan, codename "Phoenix", is to rise again from death itself in order to usher us into eternal life to share His life. When Jesus Christ told this plan to His disciples, Peter upon this Rock Jesus would build His Church took him aside and began to rebuke him. (Matthew 16:21-22)! God's way of thinking is truly ineffable! In this context, the Son of God brought the nucleus of the Apostles to a high mountain and revealed His glory to them. When the Son of God incarnated, His divinity had been shrouded inside His humanity. Now that He revealed them His glory, which is also the glory of His resurrection, in order to strengthen their faith in resurrection. For this reason, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." (17:9)

Although we don't have the blessing to witness the glory of the Son of Man during our lifetime, let us meditate what sort of glory it was. We understand that no writings on earth would be adequate enough to describe such a glory. The Evangelists had written long time ago. We may not be able to appreciate their writing style: "And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light." (Matthew 17:2), "And his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them." (Mark 9:3), "His face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white." (Luke 9:29) This is the limitation of writings. But we may pay attention to the reactions of the disciples. We are human. Our feelings would be similar. Let us focus on Peter's reactions. He said, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Matthew 17:4) What is so good about the glory of the Son of God?

I believe at that moment, Peter's desire for the infinite was satisfied. Although he had been staying with Jesus Christ for more than two years, watching Jesus' miracles point blank and when he sank, he was delivered by the Lord who was walking on water next to him … all these had been shrouded in the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. Unlike now, Peter looked face to face into the divinity of God. Peter was shrouded in the Infinite… Moses and Elijah also appeared. This gave Peter a taste of eternity. Time no longer flows like a river with no return. They were released from the restriction of time. They were able to witness Moses and Elijah, these two historical figures speaking with the Son of God. In the state of freedom from time, a moment is like a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8). Peter was able to experience from the time of Abraham or even earlier, the joy and fun of God's family: Cain, Ishmael, Esau, Potiphar's wife, Saul, David, Goliath, Uriah and Solomon … Of course, everybody is flawed, including us. But God's mercy fills up our inadequacy! What else can we desire on earth? "Lord, it is good that we are here!"

To enjoy comfort and avoid pain is truly human. How we wish we might stay in the mountain and enjoy the infinite comfort shed on us by the glory of the Son of God forever. But before we enjoy the glory, it is inevitable for us to sweat our brow! Even if good food is laid out, we need to open our mouth in order to taste them. No pain, no gain! Therefore, after tasting the good fruit of the life to come, the disciples need to return to the real world, carry their own crosses, unite with other brothers and sisters to follow Jesus Christ and pass over to become children in whom the Father is pleased (Matthew 17:5).

Brethren, the Father trusts in our fragility. Let us move diligently towards the goal set by the glory of the Son of God, which is the Kingdom of Heaven.
God bless!

誘惑論 On Temptation

四旬期第一主日，甲年
主題：誘惑論

我們得承認，每個人的思維模式都不盡相同。倘若用自己的尺度作標準來衡量或者批判別人，恐怕不妥。過去九個月的社會動盪，突顯了市民與市民之間，市民與政府之間，因為思維模式的不同和政見的不同，可以產生勢如水火般的對立。人世間尚且如此，天主與人之間的對立，恐怕更大！倘若不是天主願意主動遷就我們，用我們所能明白的方式，把自己啟示給我們，恐怕我們根本跟不上！（依55:9）且不用說有關認知方面的事物，因為明白與否，取決於人的聰明才智，不是人人可以掌握；即使是人人都有能力做，應該做的，例如待人接物的做人道理，也不是人人可以接受天主有關倫理道德的啟示。天主所啟示的有關倫理的教訓，在大部份人眼中，要求過高，不切實際，不是一般人可以接受和實踐！
看來有點奇怪，天主既然「願意所有的人都得救」（弟前2:4），為甚麼祂定下如此苛刻，一般人沒法履行的要求呢？例如「不要抵抗惡人」（瑪5:39），跟隨耶穌基督要捨棄一切（谷10:21），為傷害自己的人祈禱（路23:34），任人擺佈（若21:18）等等。在天主眼中認為好的，認為有益的事，例如婚姻應從一而終，不可殺害無辜的胎兒，愛護大自然等，為甚麼我們會覺得難以承擔呢？這又是思維不同所引起了。

以今天的福音為例，「那時，耶穌被聖神領往曠野，為受魔鬼的試探」（瑪4:1）。【思高聖經】把原文譯成「試探」並沒有錯，但選擇「試探」而不用原文的「誘惑」，表示他們採取了一個替天主說好話的傾向，因為「誘惑」是慫恿別人作惡犯罪，通常都不是好事。試比較「天主藉魔鬼『誘惑』耶穌」和「天主藉魔鬼『考驗』耶穌」兩種翻譯，前者讀起來必定會引起爭論！可是，引起爭論有甚麼不妥呢？真理不是越辨越明的嗎？而且採取後者的翻譯，有沒有違反作者的本意呢？這「作者」當然也包括天主在內！這樣，我們回到更根本的善惡問題了。在天主眼中的惡事：例如同性婚姻、安樂死、人口販賣…人未必認為惡；在我們認為好的事，天主未必同意！要舉的例子，真是俯拾皆是！

近兩個月來，源自武漢的病毒性肺炎，蔓延全球，對大眾的性命構成威脅；不但對經濟造成重創，並且影響著大多數人的正常社交及消閒生活等…明顯地，這是一個很大的「惡」。有信徒條件反射地問，為甚麼天主容許這疫症出現？很自然，有人會指出這疫情帶來的「善」：例如，家人團聚的時間多了，社區內守望相助的精神，發揮出來了；很多在「正常」情況下被忽略的人物，例如獨居長者及清潔工人，很多人關心他們了，人與人之間更團結了…這樣替天主辯護固然好，但你這樣做，表示你同意這個疾病本來是「惡」，對你和其他人有害；然後努力從這疫情之中找些這個疾病對社會的貢獻，這豈不是矛盾嗎！倒不如先把這肺炎看成「中性」的，自然的，非善非惡的。這樣做，便沒有必要為天主辯護，並且可以更客觀地審視管理國家社會的人，所採取的行動，是否合理。

說得具體一點，我們的身上及體內，到處都有病菌和病毒。我們自出娘胎便與它們共存至今。既是必然的事實，有如日出，何來善惡之分呢？即使這病真是「惡」，那就是必然之惡了，何必怨天尤人呢？能放下這「病毒是惡」的偏見，這肺炎是自然的，非善非惡的，便可以更平安地看待這疫情，不會慌亂，跟風搶購；更能客觀地審視政府、教區和各大企業的抗疫行政措施，是否合理！能作出恰到好處的政策，造福市民，固然是一件好事；但在缺乏足夠資訊的情況下作出決定，總有差池，不能滿足大眾的期望，也無須口誅筆伐，忘記了彼此都是對方的守護者（創4:9）！

言歸正傳。人生在世，一息尚存，總有所需：食物、空氣、健康、居所、人際關係、成就、名譽、地位和權力…種種有待滿足的需要，便構成了做出損人利己的誘因，這不就是誘惑嗎？可以說，從搖籃到墓穴，我們與「誘惑」同眠！隨著歲月的遷移，昨天不是誘惑的事物，例如，一個嬰孩對一張千元紙幣會無動於衷，但對一個被債主追數的成年人，這張沒有人，沒有閉路電視見到的千元紙幣，今天真是要命的誘惑！一幀裸照可能令青年人熱血沸騰，對血氣既衰的長者，就沒有甚麼大不了！有學者把耶穌所抗拒的誘惑，按人生不同階段的需要，作出解釋：首先是生理和物質上的需要，跟著是心理上的需要，最後是社會成就上的需要等。這些角度，可作參考，但天主的教訓，決不能這樣簡單地總結，總會有更深層次的意義，有待我們發掘！

誘惑除了因應個人發展的進程外，也可以反映出你當前的狀態。當你財政充裕時，金錢對你的吸引力不大。祇有你缺乏資金周轉時，金錢纔成了誘惑。當你婚姻美滿，很難想像會發生婚外情；但當第三者出現時，其實表示你的婚姻已亮起了紅燈！當你瘋狂地購物、玩手機甚至賭博，在你不能自拔之前，是時候尋求尊業的協助了。所以，「誘惑」可以是一個探熱針，顯示出你的生活狀況，是否健康。這樣看來，感受到誘惑，未嘗不是一件有益的事。天主對加音，也曾發出對待誘惑的警告（4:6-7），值得我們反省。

可是，憑著聖經的教訓，真的可以抗拒誘惑嗎？耶穌基督是天主子，祂能的，我們不一定能。
要知道天主的話是有生命的（若6:63），並賜予生命（申8:3，瑪4:4）。對於慣用理性的人，聖經「為教訓、為督責、為矯正、為教導人學正義，都是有益的。」（弟後3:16）但誘惑不是單憑理智便可以克服的，因為當中牽涉到情緒。且看歷代大部份的聖人聖女，因為流傳後世的著作而被教會奉為聖人的，寥寥無幾，大部份都是按真福八端的態度生活，甚至殉道。可見除智識之外，聖經還有其他的寶藏。且聽一位大先知的作證：「祢的話一來到，我就吞下去；祢的話便成了我的喜悅，我心中的歡樂。」（耶15:16）天主的話支持著這位眾叛親離的先知，完成他的任務，這絕不是理性所能做到的。

因循，也可以是一種誘惑，使我們舒適地，不知不覺地遠離天主。教會安排了四旬期，不但為候洗者作準備，更藉禁食、祈禱和施捨，打破我們因循的例行工作，逼我們走出舒適的安樂窩，走到曠野、匱乏的地方，與天主相聚，領受祂豐盛的恩典。
各位兄弟姊妹，起來，走進心靈的曠野，迫魔鬼現身。讓我們與基督聯手，與撒殫一決雌雄！
天主保祐！

2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：https://www.psephizo.com/biblical-studies/why-are-jesus-temptations-in-a-different-order-in-luke/

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First Sunday of Lent, Year A
Theme: On Temptation

We have to admit that each person's thinking mode is different. It is not appropriate for us to measure or criticize other people with our own standards. In the past nine months of social unrest, antagonism between citizens and citizens, between citizens and government highlighted what differences in thinking modes would result in. If political views can be such a huge schism, I'm afraid the great divide between God and men would be unsurpassable! Had God not condescended Himself to reveal Himself to us in a manner manageable by human, we would never have been able to follow (Isaiah 55:9). Not to mention about intellectual things knowing which depends on an individual's intelligence thus not accessible to everybody, even those things which everybody is capable of doing and should be doing, such as precepts of interpersonal interactions, not everybody accepts. In the eyes of most people, the ethical teachings revealed by God are too demanding and unrealistic. Not everybody is able to accept and put into practice!
That's strange. Since God "wills everyone to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4), why does He set down such harsh and impossible demands? For example, "Offer no resistance to one who is evil" (Matthew 5:39), abandon everything to follow Jesus (Mark 10:21), pray for those who hurt you (Luke 23:34) and surrender yourself at others' disposal (John 21:18) etc. Why is it difficult to follow what is good in God's eye, such as chastity in marriage, not to kill innocent foetus and love nature etc.? Once more, it is a difference in thinking modes.

Take today's gospel as an example, "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil." (Matthew 4:1) Some translations use "tested" instead of "tempted". It is not wrong but it indicates a tendency to speak well of God because "to tempt" usually means to entice people to do evil things. Try to compare "God tempted Jesus through the devil" with "God tested Jesus through the devil". The former rendition surely will raise controversy! But what's wrong with arguments? Isn't truth more manifested through debates? Moreover, would the latter rendition go against the author's intention? Of course the term "author" also includes God! Now, we arrive at a fundamental question of good and evil. We might disagree with God about what is evil in His eye, such as same-sex marriage, euthanasia and human trafficking etc. Similarly, God also disagrees with what we think is good. There are far too many such examples to enumerate!

In recent two months, the pneumonia which first surfaced in Wuhan is spreading all over the world threatening the lives of people. Not only does it hurt our economy, but it also hampers the social life and leisures of many people … Obviously, this is a big "evil". Some believers reflexively ask why God permits this plague. Naturally, some people would come forth to point out the many "goods" brought about by this plague, such as families spend more time together, neighbourhood is more supportive, people care more about those who are usually neglected in normal situations, such as lonely elderly and outsourced janitors; the world is more connected etc. It is good of them to defend God, but in so doing, they agree that the pneumonia is bad and harmful. Then they try to look for what good this disease is doing for the society. Isn't this contradictory? Why not treat this pneumonia as neutral, natural, not good and not bad. Then, you don't need to defend God and you can evaluate whether what the government is doing is reasonable.

In more concrete terms, there are always bacteria and viruses inside and outside our body. We are living with them since birth. Since this is a reality much like sunrise, in itself there is no good or evil. Even if it is evil, it is a necessary evil. Why complain? If we let go of this "virus is evil" bias and deal with this pneumonia as something natural, no good or evil, we may confront this plague with peace. We shall not fall into the trap of panic hoarding. We shall be more able to evaluate objectively whether the measures against the outbreak taken by the government, the diocese and the enterprises are reasonable! It is good of the government to enforce appropriate policy for the benefit of the citizen. But when flawed decisions are made due to incomplete information and do not meet citizens' expectations, it is not necessary to condemn, forgetting that we are our brothers' keepers (Genesis 4:8)!

Let's return to our topic today. In our life time, there are always needs to meet: food, air, health, shelter, interpersonal relationships, achievements, fame, status and power etc. These can be tempting factors to take advantages of others. Are these not temptations? I dare to say that from cradle to grave, we sleep with temptations! As time moves, what was not tempting yesterday, for example a thousand dollar banknote in front of an infant and a desperate debtor who sees the same banknote hidden from the eyes of people and CCTV, what a deadly temptation! A nude photo might turn an adolescent on but for an elderly, it's nothing but a photo! Some scholars explain away Jesus' temptations through different stages of needs: firstly physiological and material, then psychological and lastly social achievement etc. This perspective is a good reference but the teachings of God cannot be oversimplified. There are always deeper levels of meanings for us to fathom!

Not only do temptations change according to our developmental stages, they can also indicate the present situation we are in. When you are financially sufficient, money is not attractive. It becomes tempting when you need to juggle your money around for your financial management. When you have a fulfilling marriage, it is impossible for you to engage in extra-marital affairs. But when the third party appears, your marriage is in alarm! When you are addicted to shopping, surfing the internet or even gambling, you should seek professional assistance before it is too late. Thus, temptation can be a thermometer showing how healthy you are in the present situation. From this perspective, being tempted can be a good thing. God has also issued Cain a warning against temptation (Genesis 4:6-7). It is worth meditating.

But is the Bible alone adequate to ward off temptations? Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The fact that He can doesn't mean we also can.
Let's acknowledge that God' word is spirit and life (John 6:63). It gives life (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4). For rational people, the Bible "is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16) But we cannot overcome temptations with rationality alone because they involve emotion. Take a look at the saints throughout the ages, very few are saints because of the corpus of writings. Most of them are canonized because they led their lives according to the spirit of the Beatitudes even to martyrdom. Thus, there are many more treasures than knowledge in the Bible. Let's hear what a great prophet says, "When I found your words, I devoured them; your words were my joy, the happiness of my heart." (Jeremiah 15:16) God's word sustained Jeremiah who was rejected by his people to accomplish his mission. This cannot be done with rationality alone.

Complacency is also a temptation. It carries us comfortably and imperceptibly away from God. The Church institutes the Lent season, not only to prepare those who intend to receive baptism, but through fasting, prayer and almsgiving, breaks our daily routines and forces us out of our comfort zone to enter the desert, an arid and dry piece of land to encounter God and receive His abundant graces.
Brethren, rise and enter into the wilderness of your soul. Confront the devil. Join hands with Jesus Christ to defeat Satan!
God bless!