主題：新的生活方式
耶穌基督死而復活，顯示了祂真是我們的天主。祂不但創造了我們，賜給我們生命；祂更從水深火熱的罪惡中，拯救了我們，使我們不再受罪惡的奴役。祂並且提昇了我們的地位，成為天父的子女，分享天父永恆的生命。
門徒們正處於失望疑慮之中，有如驚弓之鳥，憂慮自己的人身安全。從清晨與及之後陸續打聽到的訊息，並沒有釋除他們的疑慮：耶穌的遺體不見了，這是伯多祿和若望驗證了的。瑪利亞瑪達肋納說見到主，這是不能驗證的。後來，兩個離開了耶路撒冷，後來卻折返的門徒也說見了主，兩個人的見證是可信的。但這樣重要的事件，如果不是自己親眼見證，門徒們絕對有懷疑的權利…
接著，祂把自己的傷痕展示給他們看（20:20）。主耶穌基督絕對有能力消除這些傷痕，不留任何痕跡。相信在末日，祂纔會抹去這五傷，並且「天主也要從他們的眼上拭去一切淚痕。」（默7:17）這些傷痕，見證了罪惡與痛苦的真實，基督在十字架上的死，決不是幻象。另一方面，復活的基督帶著這些傷痕，有如戰利品，標緻著真正徹底的勝利。雖然罪惡「傷害祂的腳跟」（創3:15），但沒有任何罪惡可以擊敗祂，可以隔絕祂對我們的愛。保祿說：「無論是死亡，是生活…或其他任何受造之物，都不能使我們…與我們的主基督耶穌之內的愛相隔絕。」（羅8:38-39）這勝利的標記帶給門徒莫大的喜歡（若20:20）。
耶穌表示要派遣他們，有如父派遣祂一樣（20:21）；並向他們噓了一口氣，說：「你們領受聖神罷！」（20:22）。這動作讓我們想起「上主天主用地上的灰土形成了人，在他鼻孔吹了一口生氣，人就成了一個有靈的生物。」（創2:7）。這動作又一次肯定了耶穌基督是天主，是生命主宰的身份。領受了聖神之後，門徒們獲得了新的生命。不但是一個有靈的生命，更不再是以往有靈但怯懦的生命。因為聖神「是大能、愛德和慎重之神。」（弟後1:7）從此以後，門徒憑藉大能、愛德和慎重之神，可以放心大膽地履行使命，向世人宣佈天主對人的愛。
怎樣宣佈呢？以愛，以修和的態度，作基督的修和大使（格後5:19-20）。
從前的我們在世俗打混，為了保護自己，不願意遭受傷害，於是我們斤斤計較，我們強加自己的意願在別人身上，我們拒絕寬恕…如今，大能的聖神，愛德的聖神，慎重的聖神，會給我們足夠的恩寵和力量，讓我們明瞭修和的長遠好處，並且鼓舞我們樂意寬恕，讓其他人獲得釋放，重新做人。復活了的主耶穌對我們說：「你們赦免誰的罪，就給誰赦免。」（若20:23）為的是要造就軟弱的人，減輕罪惡加給他們的重擔，使他們可以輕鬆地事奉天主。耶穌基督從來沒有保留誰的罪，作為祂的門徒，我們也應該多寬恕，少保留。憑人力做不了的，藉聖神的大能和愛，我們一定可以做到，使這個世界與天主修和。
各位兄弟姊妹，從今以後，我們的生活方式不一樣了！與天父一起生活，「凡我所有的，都是你的。」（路15:31）即使別人如何剝削我們，我們仍一無所缺，用不著把持不捨（斐2:6），讓剝削我們的人知道，我們是富有的！即使別人的決定如何不合乎我們的意願，我們仍是平安的，用不著強迫別人接受我們的意願（瑪5:5），讓他們知道天主的旨意，最終承受土地的是我們這些溫良的人！且翻開歷史看一看，有那一個憑暴力鞏固的政權，能千秋萬世呢？倘若我們有幸殉道，就讓世人認識生活在基督內的我們，享受著基督的生命，這生命比死亡還要強，因為「死亡不再統治祂了！」（羅6:9）
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：abstract.desktopnexus.com
Pentecost, Year A
Theme: A New Style of Life
Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. It shows that He is truly our God. Not only did He create us and gave us life, but He also delivers us from the fire pit of sin, the bondage of sin. He further elevates our status to be children of the Father, to partake His eternal life.
The disciples were desperate and worried about their personal safety like caged birds scared by shooting sounds. All messages received since dawn did not alleviate their fear: Jesus' body was missing. It was verified by Peter and John. Mary Magdalene claimed that she had seen the Lord. This could not be verified. Later, two disciples who had earlier left Jerusalem but turned back also claimed to have seen the Lord. The testimony of two people was credible enough but important events such as this required seeing with their own eyes. Disciples had the full right to doubt …
"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst." (John 20:19) The risen Lord appeared to those He had handpicked and stood in their midst to show that He would never abandon them and would always stay with them. In times of hardships or celebrations, He would stand by them. Moreover, He stood in their midst, giving everybody the same opportunity to be intimate with Him. Nobody enjoys special privileges and nobody is abandoned! First of all, He wished them peace which they desperately needed at that moment. This peace would unleash the power and courage hidden within, helping them in their subsequent mission. No longer would they fight with swords, but to touch people with peace.
Then, He showed them His wounds (20:20). Lord Jesus Christ surely has the power to erase these wounds without a trace. I believe He would do so at the end of the world, "and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Revelation 7:17) These wounds witness the reality of sins and sufferings. His death on the cross was not an illusion. On the other hand, the Risen Christ carries these wound like spoils showing off His victory. Although sins "strike at their feet" (Genesis 3:15), no sins could defeat Him and could separate us from His love. St. Paul says, "Neither death, nor life … nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 38-39). This signs of victory brought the disciples no greater joy (John 20:20).
Jesus said that He would send them, like His Father had sent Him (20:21). He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (20:22) This action reminds us of "The Lord God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7) This action confirms once more that Jesus Christ is God. He is the Author of Life. After receiving the Holy Spirit, the disciples shall lead a new life. Not only do they become living beings, but they also no longer lead a timid life as before. It is because the Holy Spirit is "a spirit of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7) From then on, the disciples would boldly discharge their mission to proclaim God's love to mankind with the spirit of power, charity and self-control.
How are they going to do it? By becoming an ambassador of Christ with love and reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
Previously when we were living in the secular world, we wanted to protect ourselves. We didn't want to be hurt. Thus, we calculated, we imposed our wishes upon others and we refused to forgive etc. Now, the Spirit of power, love and self-control will grant us sufficient grace and power to know the long-term benefits of reconciliation. The Spirit encourages us to enjoy forgiving, to let go of the others. They deserve a second chance. The risen Lord Jesus says, "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them." (John 20:23) The whole point is to raise the fragile ones, relieve them of their burden of sins so that they may serve God with a cheerful heart. Jesus Christ has never retained anybody's sins. Being His disciples, we should forgive more and retain less. There is not much we are able to do. With the power and love of the Holy Spirit, we can surely accomplish it, to help God and the world reconcile.
Brethren! From now one, our life style shall no longer be the same! We are always living with the Father, "Everything I have is yours." (Luke 15:31) No matter how others exploit us, there is nothing I lack. There is nothing to be grasped (Philippians 2:6). Let the exploiters know that we are rich! No matter how disappointing the others' decisions may be, we are still in peace. There is no need to impose our wishes on them (Matthew 5:5). Let them know God wills that the meek should inherit the land! Study history. Can any regime which makes use of violence to retain her sovereignty last? If we are worthy enough to die martyrdom, let the world know that we who lead our life in Christ is enjoying Christ's life which is stronger than death because "death no longer has power over Him." (Romans 6:9)
God bless!
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