主題：所有基督徒都是巴辣巴！
主真的復活了，亞肋路亞！
保祿宗徒說得好：「為義人死，是罕有的事：為善人或許有敢死的；但是，基督在們還是罪人的時候，就為我們死了，這證明了天主怎樣愛我們。」（羅5:7-8）巴辣巴的際遇，正是「證明了天主怎樣愛我們」這句說話的寫照！倘若耶穌基督代替罪人死在十字架上，仍然未能說服不信天主的人，相信天主對我們的愛，恐怕再沒有其他事物能夠說服了（路16:31）。
各位兄弟姊妹，所有福音都記載了耶穌復活後的顯現，「不是給所有百姓，而是給天主所預揀的見證人。」（宗10:41）祂顯現給婦女，吩咐她們向宗徒宣講復活（瑪28:10）；祂顯現給宗徒，吩咐他們把復活的好消息，向世人宣講（28:19-20）。因此，你和我也有這份傳福音的使命。
趨吉避凶，是生物的本性。人也不例外，在一般的情況下，也會投放精力於爭取自身的利益。但作為群體動物，祇要能保護到群體的大部份成員，可以保留到群體的一點基因，自我犧牲的行為是會出現的！所以，在經濟向上，人人都能賺錢的時候，大部份人都顯得自私，為自己屯積財富。另一方面，在大敵當前，人人自危的時候，部份人會挺身而出，犧牲小我，成全大我！
在順境的時候，死亡看來是那麼遙遠，「復活」的概念有點無關痛癢！今年的復活節很特別，因為過去十個月，我們處身「死亡」的陰影之下。自去年六月以來，反修例運動開始引起的身心、經濟、社會和政治衝擊，接著來的疫情延續並加劇了這衝擊！那麼，復活可以給予我們甚麼呢？今天讓我們默想主耶穌基督的復活，帶給我們甚麼啟示。
當我們默想耶穌基督的復活時，又怎能與祂的受難抽離呢？因為祂的復活，是由祂的受難賺取得來的！一眾在「受難曲」出現的角色之中，有一位是值得我們更多注意的，他就是巴辣巴（瑪26:16-17）。與耶穌基督一同被釘的右盜，即使死了，肯定是前往樂園（路23:43）。猶達斯出於內咎，自殺死了（瑪27:5），他是否在地獄，無人知曉。這位巴辣巴又如何呢？以他的罪行，必死無疑！可是在最後關頭，殺出了一個納匝肋人耶穌，讓他能逃出鬼門關。這份險死還生的經歷所帶來的滋味，恐怕祇有那些等候器官移植以續命的病人，纔能有所共鳴！他們能死裡逃生，這不就是「復活」的滋味嗎？
巴辣巴的下場如何呢？有說他前往刑場，看到了耶穌基督被釘的情況；有說他在一次動亂之中死了，聖經沒有交代，這是好的！一如「蕩子比喻」的開放結局，由信徒自己決定。同樣，我們每個人都是巴辣巴！天父慈悲，派遣聖子降生，代替我們受死。倘若我們無動於衷，在天父給予機會之後，依然故我，繼續走叛逆之道，最後死於劍下！尤有甚者，更進一步否定復活的事實；自己不信之餘，還設法阻止別人相信。（瑪28:11-15）又或者痛定思痛，悔改皈依，跟隨耶穌基督走修和之路（格後5:19-21），最後成為聖巴辣巴，也未可知！請緊記，天堂與地獄，是我們自己選擇的，與人無尤！
今天在世界各地肆虐的疫情告訴我們一件事：在這地球村，沒有人能獨善其身！人與人，國家與國家必須攜手同心抗疫。同理，基督徒也不能獨善其身，不同教派的基督徒必須攜手同心，向世人宣講福音。雖然天堂與地獄，是個人的選擇；可是，為了建設一個更美好的新天新地，我們必須從復活的主所得來的平安，在我們的生活中，散發給所接觸到的兄弟姊妹。
天主保祐！
2017講道
Easter Sunday, Year A
Theme: All Christians Are Barabbas!
Surrexit Dominus vere, Alleluia!
When we meditate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, how can we tear it away from His Passion? His Resurrection is "earned" with His Passion! Among the cast of the Passion, one role deserves more attention. He is Barabbas (Matthew 26:16-17). The repentant thief crucified with Jesus Christ had surely died and definitely been in Paradise (Luke 23:43). Judas committed suicide out of remorse (Matthew 27:5). Nobody knows whether he is in Hell. What about Barabbas? According to what he had done, there is no doubt of his damnation! But Jesus of Nazareth appeared at the last minute sparing him of a sure death. I'm afraid only those patients who are dying waiting for organ donations to sustain their lives would understand this experience of a narrow escape. Isn't this narrow escape a taste of resurrection?
St. Paul the Apostle speaks well, "Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:7-8) What befell on Barabbas is a proof of this statement! If the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for the stead of sinners is not able to convince unbelievers of God's love for us, I'm afraid nothing else could (Luke 16:31).
Brethren! All the gospels mention the post-resurrection apparitions of Jesus, "Not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance." (Acts 10:41) He appeared to the women, telling them to report the resurrection to the disciples. (Matthew 28:10). He appeared to the disciples, telling them to proclaim the gospel of resurrection to all nations (28:19-20). Therefore, you and I have an evangelization mission to accomplish.
It is natural for living things to seek gratifications and to avoid pains. Human beings are no exception. Under normal conditions, they would invest most of their energy in competing for their self-interests. But as a social animal, as long as it is possible to protect most members of their group, to retain some DNA of their community, some brave altruistic behaviour may emerge! Thus when the economy is good and everybody is able to make money, most people appear to be selfish in accumulating wealth. On the other hand, when an enemy looms large threatening everybody, some brave souls may come forward to sacrifice themselves for the sake of all!
In easy times, death seems remote and the idea of resurrection irrelevant! But this Easter is very special because for the past ten months, we have been overshadowed by "death". Since last June, social unrest has inflicted great physical, psychological, economic, social and political damages on us. This pandemic follows the heels! Then what can resurrection give us? Today, let us meditate what the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ reveals us.
How did Barabbas' life come to the end? Some say that he went to see Jesus Christ die on Mount Calvary. Others say that he was killed in a revolt. It is good of the Bible to leave this blank! Like the open ending of the parable of the Prodigal Son, it should be filled in by believers themselves. In the same way, all of us are Barabbas! Out of mercy, the Father sent His Son to take up human flesh to die for us. If we are untouched and continue to move along the same path of rebellion after the Father has given us yet another chance, we perish! Worse still, some people even go further as to deny resurrection. Not only do they not believe, but they also prevent others from believing (Matthew 28:11-15). Or we regret, repent and follow Jesus Christ along the path of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19-21). Who knows, perhaps in the end, we would become St. Barabbas! Bear in mind, heaven or hell is our own choice, not others'!
Today, the pandemic teaches us one thing: in this global village, no man is an island! All men and all nations must work hand in hand together to fight against this pandemic. Similarly, Christians cannot selfishly look at their own benefits. All denominations must work together to proclaim the gospel of resurrection to all tongues. Even though heaven and hell is a matter of personal choice, in order to build a new heaven and new earth, we must radiate in our daily life the peace we obtain from the risen Lord to the brothers and sisters we encounter.
God bless!
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