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！
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。
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。
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。
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。
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/
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Brethren, rise and enter into the wilderness of your soul. Confront the devil. Join hands with Jesus Christ to defeat Satan!
God bless!
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