主題：耶穌基督為我們預備地方
首先，對思高聖經的翻譯，感覺有點奇怪。今天福音經文的第二節是這樣的：「在我父的家裡，有許多住處。我去，原是為給你們預備地方；如不然，我早就告訴了你們。」（若14:2）讀來有點莫明其妙！「如不然」是甚麼意思呢？是指「如果我不去」？還是「如果不是給你們預備地方」呢？百思不得其解。放回句子中，那一個較為合理呢？「如果我不去，我早就告訴了你們」合理，還是「如果不是給你們預備地方，我早就告訴了你們」合理呢？
值得默想的，是耶穌基督怎樣為我們預備地方。
由這論點推演，耶穌基督可能為每一個在世的人，規劃一個度身訂造的人生靈修計劃。這亦解釋了為甚麼祂復活後必須升天的原因：為我們預備地方，預備一套靈修計劃！每個人的塔冷通固然是天賜的恩寵，幫助我們服事近人，親近天主。可是，我們大有濫用塔冷通的危險，以至我們沉迷於自己的成就，甚至忘記了天主。靈修提醒我們在生活中渴望天主，尋找天主！歷代的聖人，除了那些沒有留下文字的殉道者外，他們的經驗，反映出靈修可以是多彩多姿的，有如不同的珠寶，都是用不同的材料和工序，雕琢而來一樣。
各位兄弟姊妹，洗者若翰是天主派遣的先知，作為默西亞的先驅，為祂預備一個民族，在地上建立新以色列。耶穌基督來了，開始宣講福音，召選門徒，留下聖事，建設教會。洗者若翰功成身退殉道了，回到羔羊寶座前唱新歌。耶穌基督升天去了，返回天父的右邊，為每一隻羔羊預備羊棧；並遣發聖神，聖化教會！其實，每一位基督徒在世，照樣也要為自己、為身邊的人，預備天上的地方。即使怎樣忙碌，也要心繫天主，依賴聖神；毋忘天父的旨意，善用一分一毫的塔冷通，忠信地辦事。
「我去」是指耶穌將會受難及以後的事，將會離開祂的門徒。如果耶穌不去受難，他早就告訴了門徒。當然，這是沒有意義的，因為受難復活是耶穌基督的使命，祂曾掙扎過，晚一點在山園也有求過天父免去苦杯，但祂仍接受了，何況從前祂曾三次預言自己受難！所以這個「如果我不去」不合理。
可是第二個解釋亦好不了多少。「給你們預備地方」是更接近「如不然」的文字，按上文下理，「如不然」應該是用來否定「給你們預備地方」的。可是，耶穌從來沒有說過：「我是不會為你們在天堂留位的！」反而說：「今天你就要與我一同在樂園裡。」（路23:43）以至有人蠻有信心地說自己在天堂已留有一席位！何況，耶穌離門徒而去，不一定要為門徒預備地方，還可以做其他的事。做其他的事，有必要「早就告訴門徒」嗎？邏輯上更糟糕！
首先來一個前設：一日在生，我們一日還能善用天賜的塔冷通，成為殉道者，爭取額上的印章；或者即使不能以殉道方式，也能爭取到天上的一席位。一旦死後，我們再沒法運用這些塔冷通了。傳統的天主教教義指出，那些並非罪大惡極，一定會在地獄承受懲罰的靈魂，將會被送往「煉獄」，加以煉凈之後，纔能升天堂。因此，耶穌基督所指的預備地方，有可能指那些在煉獄中的「更新」計劃，是度身訂造的，讓煉獄的靈魂適應將來在天堂上的生活。他們可能仍要除去自私自大的心，學習更加正確地關懷別人等等。
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：shutterstock.com
Fifth Easter Sunday, Year A
Theme: Jesus Christ Prepare Room For Us
First of all, the translation of the Studium Biblicum Version is a bit strange here. In the gospel passage today, it reads, "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. I am going to prepare a place for you. Otherwise, would I have told you?" (John 14:2, SBV) Isn't it strange? What does "otherwise" refer to? Does it refer to the going or the preparing? It's difficult to decipher. Let's put it back into the verse and read it once more. "If I'm not going, would I have told you?" or "If I do not prepare a place for you, would I have told you?" Which one is reasonable?
Rather than blind guessing, let us turn to the original and I found that the SBV has exchanged the order of the phrases! According to the Greek original, the translation should be: "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you." Now that is clear enough! Of course, there are many dwelling places in the Father's house. But doesn't the book of Revelation say that "the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked" (Revelation 7:4, 14:1)? Compared to zillions of souls throughout the ages, isn't this number a bit small? In fact, not far from the verse mentioned above it continues, "I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count" (7:9) Therefore, I speculate that the number probably refers to the martyrs because "They were singing a new hymn … No one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand" (14:3) It suggests other than these 14,000 there should be other people whose number we don't know! SBV probably wants to achieve a smooth rendering, or to follow an authoritative manuscript, or even based on a certain theological stance to reach this translation. Check it out with them when opportunity arises.
Therefore, let us meditate how Jesus Christ prepares a place for us.
Extrapolate from here, Jesus Christ would be preparing for each individual on earth a tailor made spirituality programme. That also explains why He had to ascend into heavens after His resurrection: to prepare a place, a spirituality training programme for His disciples. Our talents are given by God to help us serve our neighbours and to love Him. But we are prone to abusing these talents so much so that we are addicted to our achievements and forget about God. Spirituality reminds us to desire God and seek Him in our daily life! The experiences of the saints throughout the ages, except for those who have died without leaving us any writings, show how multifaceted spirituality can be, just like jewellery resulted from different materials and polishing processes.
Brethren! John the Baptist was a prophet God sent to be the precursor of the Messiah, to prepare a people for Him to build up a new Israel. Jesus Christ came to proclaim the good news, to recruit disciples, to leave behind sacraments and set up the Church. John the Baptist retired as a martyr and returned before the throne of the Lamb to sing a new hymn. Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and returned to the right hand of the Father to prepare a place for each one of His lambs. He sent the Holy Spirit to sanctify His Church! Indeed, each one of us, Christian on earth, should also prepare a place in heaven for ourselves and the people around us. No matter how busy we are, we should rely on the Holy Spirit to desire God, forget not the will of the Father. Make good use of every bit of talents to accomplish our mission faithfully.
"I go" refers to the Passion of Jesus and the subsequent events. He would be leaving them. If Jesus did not go to die, He would have told them. This is meaningless because His mission is to go through Passion and Resurrection. He had struggled and later in the evening in the garden, He begged the Father to remove this cup of suffering from Him but He finally obeyed. Moreover, He had previously announced His passion three times before. Therefore, this "If I'm not going" is not reasonable.
But the second explanation is no better. "To prepare a place for you" is closer to "Otherwise". From the context, "otherwise" should negate "to prepare a place". But Jesus has never said, "I would not reserve a place in heaven for you". Instead, He says, "Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43) so much so that some people confidently claim that they have a place reserved in heaven for them! Furthermore, Jesus does not necessarily leave His disciples to prepare a place for them. He could have many other things to do. Would it be necessary for Jesus "to have told them"? It is logically even worse!
Let us agree on a common ground first. Whenever we are alive, we are able to make use of the talents God gave us to become martyrs, to get sealed or to achieve a place in heaven even if we don't die martyrdom. And once we die, we are no longer able to make use of the talents. Traditional Catholicism holds that those who are not evil enough to end up in hell are sent to the Purgatory. After purification, they go to heaven. Thus, Jesus goes to prepare us a place probably means He would be preparing a tailor made "rehabilitation" programme for these souls to adjust themselves to subsequent life in heaven. Perhaps they need to remove their selfishness and pride and learn to care about others correctly.
God bless!
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