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.