主題：主四出尋找我們
天主是一個大奧秘，人類的智慧是無法完全掌握到天主的。有朝一日，當有人宣稱對「天主」已能瞭如指掌，那個他能瞭如指掌的「天主」，肯定不是天主，頂多祇是個次貨！即使天父願意遷就我們，派遣聖子降生成人，成為人類的一份子，「一位在各方面與我們相似，受過試探的，祇是沒有罪過。」（希4:15）來救贖我們，我們對這位耶穌基督的本質，仍喋喋不休！這是好的，因為理性的討論，可以防止我們的信仰變成迷信，變成狂熱！但我們不得不承認，人類的理性始終是有限的，它沒有能力減少天主的神秘性，天主永遠是一個帶來驚喜的天主！
天主的某些特質，是無從置疑的。例如：天主是慈悲的，祂有如善牧，四出找尋亡羊。即使已進入羊棧裡的羊，也會外出覓食，便有迷途的可能性！世上的羊棧始終是短暫的，不完美的。所以，一日未到達天上的耶路撒冷，一日還有迷途的機會，這是不爭的現實。耶穌基督完成在世任務之後離開我們，返回天上去為我們預備地方（若14:3）。在升天前，他曾許諾天天與我們在一起（瑪28:20）。所以，我們可以放心大膽地在世上履行我們的傳福音使命。今天的福音勉勵我們，即使是在山窮水盡的日子，主總在我們身邊，開啟我們的眼目，得見柳暗花明！倘若主沒有顯現給那兩個門徒，他們不會折返耶路撒冷，便失去五十日後領受聖神的恩寵了！
前往厄瑪烏的兩個門徒，不相信婦女的作證，更不會相信出自她們口中，天使的見證了。（路24:23）這也難怪他們，在猶太人的社會中，女性的證言普遍地是不被接納的。雖然也有幾個前往墳墓驗證的，回來報告證實婦女的說話，但他們聽了以後，仍決定離開，因為這幾個驗證的，「沒有看見祂。」（24:24）這樣看來，多默宗徒的要求，其實也是信徒們普遍的要求了。耶穌基督是天主，不是我們可以隨傳隨到的，真的苦了那些當祂復活的見證人了！兩個厄瑪烏門徒祇看到被釘死的耶穌，而看不見那位曾為了祂而捨棄一切的基督，看不見未來！對於看不見的事物，每個人的信心不同。對於未來，有些人需要多一點切實可見的保證，有些人卻不需要任何保證。厄瑪烏的兩個門徒是前者，他們惟有返回老家，返回熟悉的，有安全感的安樂窩，他們承擔不起那經常出人意表的天主！
在路上，出人意表的事發生了！雖然伯多祿否認祂，猶達斯出賣祂，兩個厄瑪烏門徒離開祂，但慈悲的主沒有放棄，仍四出奔走，引領他們返回羊棧！復活的主不但顯現給伯多祿，更給他補償三次否認主的機會（若21：15-17）；復活的主並沒有強迫兩個門徒返回耶路撒冷，祂與那兩個門徒同行，耐性地解釋聖經給他們聽，並在分餅時開啟了他們的眼睛，看見了他們渴望見到的主（路24:31）。猶達斯呢？我們不會懷疑天主的慈悲，並努力地把慈悲與公義調和。不過，我們應知所定位，應該知道適可而止，「我如果要他存留直到我來，與你何干？你祇管跟隨我。」（若21:22）我們姑且拭目以待，說不定猶達斯會是天主預備的另一個驚喜。現在是跟隨耶穌基督，在世上奮力傳福音的時候，其他的事就不必費神了。
各位兄弟姊妹，復活的主已戰勝死亡，恢復了我們永生的希望。求主賜下聖神，光照我們的明悟，對天父保持一個開放的心，迎接祂每天帶給我們的驚喜。求聖神循循善誘，聖化我們，在近人身上認出主耶穌基督，服事祂，以愛德服務為祂的復活作見證，把這福份分施給近人。
天主保祐！
2017講道
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia
Third Easter Sunday, Year A
Theme: The Lord Goes Out To Seek Us
God is a great mystery which human intelligence is unable to fathom. If one day somebody claims to understand God thoroughly, that "God" which he claims to grasp completely is definitely not our God. At most, it is a watered down version of God. Even though the Father condescended for our sake, sent the Son to incarnate as one of us, "one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15) to redeem us, we are still debating the essence of this Jesus Christ! This is good because rational discussions prevent our faith from becoming superstitious and fanatic! But we have to admit that human rationality is finite. It is unable to reduce the mystery of God who is forever a God of surprises!
We are certain of some attributes of God. For example: God is merciful. Like a good shepherd, He always goes out to seek the lost sheep. Even those sheep which are already in the fold have to go out grazing. There is still a possibility of getting lost! After all, sheepfold on earth is only temporary and defective. It is a truism that as long as we have not reached the heavenly Jerusalem, the possibility of getting lost is always there awaiting us. After Jesus Christ has accomplished His mission on earth, He returns to the Father to prepare a place for us (John 14:3). Before He ascended into heavens, He promised to be with us always until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Thus, we may boldly discharge our evangelization mission. The Gospel passage today encourages us that even though all hopes are shattered, the Lord stays with us always and opens our eyes to see new possibilities! Had the Lord not appeared to the two disciples, they would not have rushed back to Jerusalem where fifty days later they received the powers of the Holy Spirit!
The two disciples who left Jerusalem for Emmaus were a genuine portrayal of each and every one of us. When people follow Jesus Christ, they certainly are responding to God's call. But there must be ulterior motives: "We were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel" (Luke 24:21). The contemporary Jews were anticipating a liberating Messiah and "Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs" (Acts 2:22). Moreover, some had forsaken everything to follow Jesus Christ. How much they wished Jesus Christ would honour His promise to reward them a hundredfold (Mark 10:29-30)! Are we not the same? When we first joined the Church, did we not want flour/milk powder, an enrolment in a Catholic school, a mate or becoming a school principal etc.? But Jesus Christ does not reject us for these ulterior motives. He embraces all, taking tax-collectors, zealots and even a future traitor! Although Jesus Christ teaches His disciples with inexhaustible patience, it would not guarantee that His disciples would not exit the fold in times of troubles.
The two disciples did not believe in the testimony of the women and of the vision of angels mentioned by the women (Luke 24:23). It is understandable because women's witness was not acceptable in Jewish society. Although some other disciples went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, the two disciples still decided to leave Jerusalem because "him they did not see" (24:24). We can safely conclude that Thomas' request was indeed the request of the faithful in general. Jesus Christ is God whom we cannot summon at our whim. Poor witnesses to Jesus' resurrection! The two disciples only saw a crucified Jesus but failed to see Christ for whom they had abandoned everything. They failed to see a future! People' faith in unseen things varies. As for the future, some people need more concrete visible guarantees. Some need no guarantee at all. The two disciples returning to Emmaus belonged to the former. They could not stand a God of surprises. They could only return to their comfort zone which they were familiar.
On their way, surprises awaited them! Although Peter had denied Him, Judas had betrayed Him and the two disciples had deserted Him, the merciful Lord did not give up. He still ran around to gather His flock and brought them back to the fold! Not only did the risen Lord appear to Peter, but He also gave Peter three chances to compensate for his three denials (John 21:15-17); The risen Lord did not force the two disciples back to Jerusalem but walked patiently with them on their way to Emmaus, explaining the Scriptures and opened their eyes when He broke the bread so that they were able to see what they had most desired to see (Luke 24:31). What about Judas? We definitely shall not doubt God's mercy and try hard to harmonize it with His righteousness. However, we should know our position and where to stop. "What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me." (John 21:22) Let's wait and see. Perhaps Judas would yet be another surprise awaiting us. As for now, we just follow Jesus Christ to work hard evangelizing the world. Leave the rest to God.
Brethren! The risen Lord has defeated death and restored our hope in eternal life. Let us beseech the Lord to grant us the Holy Spirit to illuminate our understanding and keep a mind open to the Father to accept surprises He has in store for us every day. May the Holy Spirit teach and sanctify us so that we may be able to recognize Jesus Christ present in our neighbour, serve Him and bear witness to His resurrection with our charity works. May we be a fountain of blessings to our neighbours.
God bless!
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