主題：人性舞台
「聖周」是禮儀年的高峰，既標誌著天主救贖人類的完滿，更再次提醒我們人性的不堪。固然，耶穌基督按天父上智的安排受難，但每次朗讀耶穌基督的受難始末時，我們還可以繼續驕傲嗎？司祭長、長老和法利塞人的利祿薰心，殘害忠良，就不用多說了。今天，且讓我們默想我們的代表，耶穌基督親手揀選的門徒，如何不堪。但願默想之餘，得蒙天父恩賜，不致重蹈覆轍。
值得一提的，是惟有瑪竇福音，記載了猶達斯的下場。
作為未來教會的磐石（16:18），伯多祿的表現，的確令人失望。姑且不談他自視過高，他貶抑別人來抬舉自己的毛病（26:33），真令人懷疑他的領導能力。作為領袖，怎可以如此目中無人。引而伸之，可以預料他會拿了下屬的成就來邀功！天父竟然選擇一個如此有問題的人物（16:17），作為未來教會的領袖，祂的上智，的確神妙莫測，令人驚訝！伯多祿的確是一個真漢子！當雞啼令他想起主的預言的時候，他要等到走出了外面，感覺到安全了，纔傷心痛哭（26:75）！曾幾何時，我們要強忍眼淚，板起面孔，硬著心腸，面對世界的種種指控和威脅，直到「安全」了，纔靜悄悄地痛哭悔改！這是危險的，因為軟化僵硬了的心腸並不容易，恐怕有朝一日，我們會忘記怎樣回頭悔改了！耶穌基督曾許諾：「一切罪過和褻瀆，人都可得赦免；但是褻瀆聖神的罪，必不得赦免。」（12:31）這許諾還不足夠讓我們安心嗎？不足以令我們放下一切防禦機制，不再板著臉，硬起心腸嗎？這些防禦機制，可以依恃嗎？個人的成就，可以依恃嗎？「上主說：你們的罪雖似朱紅，將變成雪一樣的潔白；雖紅得發紫，仍能變成羊毛一樣的皎潔。」（依1:18）祂以自己愛子的血，洗淨了聖徒的衣裳（默7:14），兌現了藉先知所許下的諾言！天父的慈悲，的確神妙莫測，令人驚訝！天主如此善待不堪的人類，人啊！你對天主的信心，掉了在哪？
各位兄弟姊妹！天主的慈悲是無可置疑的，可是我們的信心竟然是如此脆弱！但願在此聖周默想耶穌基督的受難始末，有助我們認清自我的不堪，誠心地信靠天父的慈悲。
首先，猶達斯為甚麼會把報酬退回司祭長和長老呢（27:3）？當然他不會那麼天真，以為可以憑那三十磈銀錢，便可以「贖回」耶穌！他當然知道司祭長在利用他，而他亦甘心被利用，可能真是貪錢罷。我們不知道當時猶達斯如何盤算，祇知他「後悔了」（27:3），他知道自己犯了罪（27:4），結果選擇了自殺！有聖經學者指出，新約的每本書，都是在回應他們的團體所面對的挑戰。「教會」是瑪竇福音的重要主題之一，有很多章節論述教會應如何運作，教友之間應如何相處。特別記載了猶達斯的下場，有甚麼目的呢？我個人認為，與其說是「殺一警百」，告誡團體內潛伏的「逆徒」，會有報應，不得善終；不如說瑪竇想提醒大家，不要因犯錯內咎而放棄自己。要相信天主的慈悲，和祂委託給教會的赦罪權柄（16:18-19）！猶達斯的角色真是不易擔當，可是，一個人倘若不是心甘情願，世上是沒有甚麼事物可以迫使他做出違背自己良心的事！猶達斯始終要為出賣主耶穌的行為負責！進入生命的門始終是狹窄的（7:13-14）！
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia
Passion Sunday, Year A
Theme: Life Is A Stage
The Holy Week is the apex of the Liturgical Year. It marks the fulfilment of God's redemption of humanity. Once more, it reminds us of how unworthy humanity is. Of course, Jesus Christ suffers according to the wisdom of the Father. But every time when we read the Passion of Christ, is there anything of which we can be proud? We don't bother to mention how the chief priests, elders and Pharisees determined to murder a good man out of greed. Today, let us meditate how unworthy our representatives, the disciples handpicked by Jesus Christ Himself have been. We pray that with the grace of the Father, we don't repeat their mistakes.
Modern people enjoy challenging traditions. Many learned people want to restore Judas' honour. The gospels say that he betrayed Jesus out of greed (John 12:6). Modern movies and musicals try to suggest otherwise. For example, Judas was disillusioned by the words and deeds of Jesus, or he wanted to force the hand of God, to force Jesus to declare himself the Messiah before the Jewish leaders, or he was discriminated by the other eleven disciples because he came from another province etc. However, doing this would miss a disturbing problem: that God made use of Judas, a dispensable pawn, to achieve His purpose. Eventually, Judas committed suicide and was denied entry into heavens! Jesus himself admits this contradiction, "The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." (Matthew 26:24) However, somehow in God's redemptive project, somebody has to play the role of the Mother of God. In the same way, somebody has to play the Traitor role! Had Judas been in doubt, Jesus's words would definitely set him off without regret, "Friend, do what you have come for." (26:50) This is the destiny of Judas! If we believe in God, on Judgment Day, He would pay Judas his due. As for now, we had better shut up.
There is one last point worth mentioning. Only Matthew mentions how Judas died . First of all, why did Judas return the money to the chief priests and elders (27:3)? Of course he would not be so naïve as to think that the thirty pieces of silver would be able to ‘redeem' Jesus! Of course Judas knew that the chief priests were making use of him and he was willing to be made use of, probably he really was greedy. But we would never know what was in his mind at that time. We only know that he "deeply regretted what he had done" (27:3) and that he had sinned (27:4). Consequently, he chose suicide! Some biblical scholars opine that every New Testament book is an attempt to answer the challenges confronting the authors' communities. The "Church" is one of the major themes of Matthew. One may find many passages talking about how the Church should be run, how the faithful should be dealing with each other. So, what's the purpose of describing the death of Judas? Personally, I think that instead of claiming it as a warning to hidden "traitors" in the community of God's retribution, I would rather opine that Matthew wants to encourage members not to abandon themselves because of sins and regrets. Believe in God's mercy and the Church which has received God's delegated authority to forgive sins (16:18-19)! Judas' role is difficult to play. But if one is reluctant, nothing in the world would be able to force him to do something against his conscience. At the end of the day, Judas is personally responsible for his betrayal of the Master! "How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life" (7:13-14)!
As the Rock of the future Church (16:18), Peter's performance is truly disappointing. Not to mention that he overestimated himself, his trampling on others under his feet to elevate himself (26:33) cast his leadership in doubt. As a leader, how could he ignore the others? As an extrapolation, we would expect him to steal his subordinates' credits! How could the Father choose (16:17) such an unworthy person to be the lead of the future Church? The Father's ineffable wisdom is stunning! Meanwhile, Peter was truly a man of steel! When the cock's crow reminded him of the Master's prediction, he managed to control his emotion, wept bitterly only after he had gone out (26:75). Time and again, we have to hold back our tears, put up a poker face and a hardened heart to face all sorts of accusations and threats in the world until it is "safe" to weep quietly and repent! But this is risky because it is extremely difficult to soften a hardened heart. I'm afraid one day, we would forget how to repent and the way to return home! Jesus once promised, "Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." (12:31) Is this promise not sufficient to put our hearts at rest, not adequate to neutralize our defence mechanism, stop putting up a poker face and hardening our hearts? Are those defence mechanism reliable? Are our achievements dependable? "Says the Lord: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be red like crimson, they may become white as wool." (Isaiah 1:18) He washes the robes of the saints white in the blood of His Son (Revelation 7:14) to honour the promise He made through the prophets! The ineffable mercy of the Father is stunning! God so loves us unworthy mankind! Man! Where have you dropped your faith in God?
Brethren! God's mercy is beyond doubt. However, our faith is so fragile! We pray that the meditation on the Passion of Christ in this Holy Week may help us see clearly our unworthiness and sincerely trust in the Father's mercy.
God bless!
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