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！
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
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!
No comments:
Post a Comment