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。
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
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!
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