耶穌當頭棒喝 Jesus' Wake Up Calls

Thirteenth Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: Jesus' Wake Up Calls

Most of the time, life is peaceful and comfortable. In such times, it is easy for us to fall into the temptation of complacency. We take life for granted and forget what it means to be alive. Times and again, we wake up only when disasters strike! Seventeen years ago, an infectious disease SARS arrived at Hong Kong from the north. We were forced to wear masks and to pay greater attention to personal hygiene. When it was over, the government did not improve our medical system to cater for outbreaks of contagious diseases. Today, we are caught unprepared once again because we have not learnt from the lesson of SARS. Some people in the society genuinely believe that this time God sent this coronavirus to remind us to be good stewards of the environment. Whether you agree with such an interpretation or not, it is true that God cares for us and when we lose sight of Him, He would gently remind us that He is staying with us to go through all sorts of challenges.

In a similar manner, some of Jesus' teachings in the gospels are peaceful and comfortable and it is easy to obey and follow. For example, who would refuse to love each other (John 13:34)? Only callous people would not give alms to starving people or to leave wounded or sick people unattended (Matthew 25:44), right? Following such teachings of Jesus makes you feel good. How can you not obey? However, some of His teachings are more challenging. For example, love your enemies (5:44) or turn the other cheek to bullies (5:39) etc. Following such teachings is unpleasant! But such teachings are important to keep us alive, alive to our identity as God's children. Just think about it for a moment. You are God's children. Are your enemies not God's children as well? If you do not love them and do not pray for those who persecute you, you are not doing your job as your brothers' keeper (Genesis 4:9)! You are not different from Cain who killed his brother Abel out of jealousy and anger! Therefore, this teaching of loving your enemy is a reminder, a wakeup call to take up your obligation as your brothers' keeper. Our eye sights are easily blocked by our anger, jealousy, pride, prejudice and even laziness so that we fail to recognize the Jesus who is present in our "enemy"!

Just like the teaching of loving your enemies, the gospel teachings today are also wakeup calls from Jesus. When we love our parents and our children, we are doing the Ten Commandments. There should be nothing wrong doing the Ten Commandments, right? Right and wrong! It is true that nothing can be wrong when we are doing the Ten Commandments. Furthermore, Jesus did not come to abolish the Ten Commandments. He came to fulfil them (Matthew 5:17). Therefore, Jesus would never contradict the Ten Commandments and the laws of Moses.
Jesus came to fulfil them and to elevate them by highlighting the spirit of the law. What does that mean? It means it is not enough to obey the Ten Commandments and the laws of Moses. It is not enough to follow the letters of the law just like the Pharisees and the scribes did. It is more important to live up to the spirit of the law. Therefore, in the Sermon on the Mount, not only does Jesus teach us not to kill, but also not to be angry (5:22); not only not to commit adultery, but also to respect the physical body of the opposite sex (5:28); not only not to swear, but also to tell the truth, nothing but the whole truth (5:37)!

How is doing the Ten Commandments wrong? The teaching in the gospel today is a wakeup call to show us how doing the Ten Commandments can be wrong. "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me." (10:37-38) Jesus repeats three times "is not worthy of me". So, it must be serious and important. Jesus really means it. What does Jesus mean?

First of all, does spending longer time with people mean loving them more? No! Jesus does not want you to spend more time with him than your parents or children. It is "quality time" that counts! Think of those pitiful students. They are forced to spend a lot of frustrating time doing things they hate to do. The time they are forced to study is not "quality time". It is only when they enjoy the subjects they study or things they do, they would be eager to spend time on. It is the eagerness that makes time a "quality time"! So, the question becomes whether you spend your time more eagerly with your parents, children than with Jesus!

Secondly, there are different types of love. There are husbands and wives, parents and children, friends and colleagues, classmates and team members etc. These relationships require different degrees of mutual understanding, mutual respect and loyalty etc. Therefore, different types of love are running within these relationships. Furthermore, we belong to a family, a working place, a society, a country and a world. They also demand different levels of loyalty and love. Of course all these are inter-related. Usually these relationships coexist peacefully without conflict. It would be meaningless to compare your love of parents with your love of your spouse. They are different. Only when conflicts arise does the problem of comparison appear! Do young people love their friends more than their parents? Do husbands love their wives more than their parents? Do we love parents more than our countries? Do we love parents more than God?

Here cultural elements have to be taken into consideration. It is known that some remote villages living in poverty have some miserable customs. For the good of the whole village, sons had to carry their aged parents to the top of the mountain, leaving them there to die! In China, Confucius teaches that it is a shame not to go into battles to defend the country because the lives of parents would be in danger. Defending the country is love of parents! Therefore, we see that loving your parents also means leaving them behind to achieve a greater good.

God is our Creator and Redeemer. He is our greatest good. In ordinary times, love of parents is also a love of God because we cannot see God, kiss Him or buy Him birthday cakes. It is through the love of parents and others that we love God. It is not meaningful to ask whether we love parents more than we love God because the more we love our parents, the more we love God. It is only when a greater good demands us to make the decision to leave our parents, children and comfort behind that the question becomes unpleasant!

Brethren, do we pay lip service to the greatest commandment: "You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole being and with your whole strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5)? I cannot answer the question for you. Let's pray to the Holy Spirit to give us the heart, the being and the strength to love the Lord our God. Wake us up before disasters strike.
God bless!

2017 Homily
Picture credit: zazzle.com

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常年期第十三主日，甲年
主題：耶穌當頭棒喝

大部份時候，我們都生活在安樂和平中。這些日子，我們容易陷入因循的誘惑。幸福變得理所當然，以致我們忘記了生活的意義，直至災難從天而降，我們纔驚醒過來！十七年前，香港爆發SARS，市民被迫配戴口罩，注重個人衛生。疫症過後，政府沒有改善醫療系統，應付突發的傳染病。今天，我們又被冠狀病毒肺炎殺個措手不及，因為我們沒有汲取ARS的教訓。社會上有人認為今次是天主派來這個冠狀病毒，提醒世人要當好環境管家的職務。無論你認同這種見解與否，我們深信天主關愛世人，當世人忘記了祂的時候，祂會溫馨地提示我們，祂願意與我們共渡時艱。

與此類似，耶穌的教訓有些是安樂和平的，容易服從。例如，有誰與拒絕彼此相愛（若13:34）呢？祇有冷酷無情的人纔不會施捨饑民，或者見傷病者不救（瑪25:44）！履行耶穌這些教訓令人感覺良好，你怎會不服從呢？可是，祂的有些教訓卻是富挑戰性的。例如，愛你的仇人（5:44）或者把另一面也轉給欺凌者（5:39）等。遵行這些教訓是很難受的！但這些教訓是重要的，它使我們活潑地活出天主子女的身份。試想想，你是天主的兒女，你的「仇人」不也是天主的兒女嗎？倘若你不愛他們，不為那迫害你的人祈禱，你便沒有履行守護弟兄之職（創4:9）！你與出於嫉妒和憤怒而殺死弟弟亞伯爾的加音有何分別？因此，這愛仇的教訓是當頭棒喝，提醒我們守護兄弟。我們的視線很容易被憤怒、嫉妒、驕傲、偏見甚至懶惰所蒙蔽，以至看不到在我們仇人身上的耶穌！

與愛仇人的教訓一樣，今天福音的教訓也是耶穌的當頭棒喝。當我們愛護子女，孝愛父母時，我們在履行十誡。試問履行十誡有錯嗎？沒有錯，但亦有錯！履行十誡沒有錯。耶穌來不是為廢除法律，而是來成全它（瑪5:17）。因此，耶穌不會否定十誡和梅瑟的法律。 耶穌來成全和提昇法律的精神。是甚麼意思呢？就是說，按條文來遵守十誡和梅瑟法律是不足的，法利塞人和經師不也是這樣做嗎？按法律的精神守法更為重要。因此，在山中聖訓，耶穌不但命令人不可殺人，更不可發怒（5:22），不但不可姦淫，更要尊重異性的身體（5:28）；不但不可發虛誓，更要說真話，全部的真話（5:37）！

那麼，怎樣守十誡會變成錯呢？今天福音的教訓就指出可以怎樣錯：「誰愛父親或母親超過我，不配是我的；誰愛兒子或女兒超過我，不配是我的。誰不背起自己的十字架跟隨我，不配是我的。」（10:37-38）耶穌三次說「不配是我的」，可見是嚴肅重要的。耶穌是認真的。祂想表達甚麼？

首先，花多些時間與人一起就是愛他們嗎？不是！耶穌不是要求我們陪祂的時間比陪父母子女的時間多，有質素的時間纔有意思！試想想那些可憐的學童，他們被迫花大量令他們氣餒的時間做他們怨恨的事！被迫學習的時間不是優質時間啊！祇有當他們享受他們所學習的課程和喜歡做的事的時候，他們會非常樂意花時間做。這份「樂意」把時間變得優質！所以，問題變成你更樂意花時間與耶穌一起，還是與父母子女一起！

第二，愛有很多種類：夫妻之愛、父母子女之愛、朋友同事之愛、同窗隊員之愛等等。這些關係要求不同程度的互相體諒、互相尊重與忠誠。所以，不同的關係是浸淫在不同的愛中。更廣闊些，我們歸屬於家庭、工作間、一個社會、一個國家和一個世界。它們要求不同程度的愛與忠誠，而且彼此之間，互相緊鉤。在一般的情況下，這些不同的關係和平共存，沒有衝突。當衝突出現時，纔產生比較的問題！年青人愛朋友多於愛父母嗎？夫妻之愛比孝敬父母更大嗎？忠孝不能兩存嗎？愛父母多於愛天主嗎？

在這裡，我們要考慮文化因素。在一些偏遠的窮鄉僻壤流傳一個可憐的習俗，為了全村的利益，兒子要背負年邁的父母上山，留下他們在那裡等死！在中國，儒家思想指出「臨陣無勇非孝也」。所以，為了更大的公益，有時需要放棄照顧父母！

天主是我們的創造者和救贖者，祂是我們最大的善。在一般的情況下，愛父母就是愛天主。因為我們看不見天主，不能親吻祂，送生日禮物給祂。我們祇能透過愛父母和愛其他人去愛天主。所以問你是否愛父母多於愛天主，是沒有意義的。因為我們越愛父母，就是越愛天主。可是，當一個更大的善要求我們作出放棄父母、子女、安逸時，這個問題就會令我們不舒服！

各位兄弟姊妹，我們祇以嘴巴來遵守最大的誡命，就是「你當全心、全靈、全力愛上主你的天主」（申6：5）嗎？我不能替你回答這問題。讓我們祈求聖神，賜予我們真心誠意地全力愛慕上主我們的天主，在災難來臨前醒寤。
天主保祐！

天網恢恢 The SkyNet Is Leak-Proof

常年期第十二主日，甲年
主題：天網恢恢

生活在社會裡，人與人之間的來往不可以祇按個人的好惡，作出損人利己的勾當。更進一步，為了公益，個人必須放棄一些應該享有的權利。為了便利社會整體運作的暢順，必須定下規矩和法律，來解決紛爭。所以立法的其中一個作用，就是以第三者的客觀立場，公平地處理兩者之間的糾紛，例如訂下在道路上甚麼時段是巴士專線，甚麼時候讓所有車輪使用等。
再進一步，為了一些有利社會環境的現實需要，也有用上立法的方式，間接推廣一些政策。例如人口過份膨脹，有必要鼓吹計劃生育，政府便在稅制上下功夫，第一、二名子女的免稅額高，以後出生的子女所享有的免稅額遞減。但是，如果國家強制墮胎，便是殺害無辜胎兒的生命，違反了倫理道德。這些法律便成為了惡法。由此可見，合法不一定合乎道德。再例如社會上制訂了「最低工資」的法律，僱主便可以合法地，祇支付最低工資給工人，滿足合約的要求。可是，這樣做，是否踐踏了工人的尊嚴和剝削了工人應得的經濟成果呢？

與此相反，合乎道德的行為，有可能會觸犯法律。例如耶穌不守梅瑟的法律，在安息日治病；又或者印度聖雄甘地，於1930年拒絕繳納鹽稅給殖民地政府，並率領群眾遊行24日到海邊造鹽！1955年在美國，羅莎帕克斯女士在巴士上，拒絕讓出她坐著的「黑人座位」給一位白人而被捕等等！可見憑良心，做出合乎倫理道德的事，也可以是違法的！

人的法律與天主的法律比較，相差實在太遠了！天主的法律，疏而不漏！例如十誡（出20:2-17），並沒有定下詳細的細節，目的祇是劃下界限，指導人類該怎樣公義地生活。它留下很闊的空間，給人類發展他們內在的天主肖像。十誡的目的不在約束，而在協助人類發展，恢復被罪惡所污染了的天主肖像！至於耶穌基督在最後晚餐，所增加的「彼此相愛，有如我愛了你們一樣」的新誡命（若13:34），亦是為了造就我們的生命，幫助我們成聖，分享天主的永恆生命！天主的法律，耶穌基督的誡命，旨在讓我們獲得更豐富的生命（10：10）。

政府立法的時候，剛好相反。制訂條文時，盡力考慮到巨細無遺的地步，強調「魔鬼在細節」！結果，墮入了魔鬼的圈套，作法自斃！即使立法者不信天主，也應以史為鑒，從歷史中吸取教訓。例如，戰國時代，落後的秦國在列強中，也想進行改革，壯大起來。秦孝公招聘賢士，不計較應聘的是否外國人。來自魏國的商鞅，幫助秦孝公變法，以「治亂世用重典」的方針，令秦國富強起來。秦孝公死後，商鞅失寵了，結果死在自己所立的精密法律之下！

現代人生活舒適方便了，以為一切問題，都可以運用經濟手段解決。國家領導人以為「脫貧、小康」便可以化解群眾的埋怨和不滿，安定繁榮成了最高的目標！當社會出現了動盪時，便把責任推在富商身上、推在地產發展商身上。殊不知人是有靈魂的，吃飽了祇解決問題的一小部份！正如耶穌回答撒殫的第一個試探說：「人生活不但靠食物，而且也靠上主口中所發的一切言語生活。」（申8:3）且看耶穌公開宣講福音時，經常回應群眾在靈魂上和肉身上的需要。例如在施行五餅二魚的神蹟，讓五千人果腹之前，耶穌基督花了整個下午來教訓群眾許多事，還給他們治病（谷6:34；路9:11）；在治好癱子的神蹟中，耶穌先赦免了癱子的罪，讓他從此能安心地、快快樂樂地繼續癱下去（谷2:5）！後來祂為了解放一個附魔人的靈魂，不惜把邪魔驅逐到二千頭豬身上，讓豬群跳崖而死。二千頭豬是整條村的財產，可見耶穌基督非常珍惜靈魂的價值！

反觀現代人迷信科學，否認天主的存在，否認天堂地獄的存在，否認靈魂的存在…並且輕視了今天福音的教訓，「你們不要怕那殺害肉身，而不能殺害靈魂的；但更要害怕那能使靈魂和肉身陷於地獄中的。」（瑪10:28）他們不怕，因為他們以為自己沒有靈魂，以為其他人也沒有靈魂，世上沒有地獄，沒有天主！他們濫用科技，為所欲為。結果，把人間變成了地獄，留給自己，四周的人和後代子孫！我們相信靈魂是不滅的。那麼，靈魂是不會死，不會被殺害的，祇會是「陷於地獄的」，即永遠在地獄裡受苦而不能死去，不能一了百了！這是多麼痛苦的一回事！天堂在哪？天堂就是天主的居所，在那裡可以與天主同在。地獄在哪？地獄就是沒有天主的地方，在那裡沒有半點天主的慈愛，天主的恩寵！

我們不會奢望世間的法律可以完美，亦不會害怕有人會濫用國家法律來迫害那些憑良心生活的人；和那些信靠天主的基督徒。即使生活在迫害之中，我們應該好像宗徒們一樣，慶幸自己能堪當為耶穌基督的名字受侮辱（宗5:41）。 天主保祐！

2017講道
圖片鳴謝：speakout.hk

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Twelfth Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: The SkyNet Is Leak-Proof

Living in a society, people should not interact according to personal likes and dislikes, doing harmful things to others to benefit themselves. Take one step further, for the sake of common good, sometimes individuals have to give up some rights they are entitled to enjoy. For the smooth running of the society, rules and regulations must be set up to resolve conflicts. Thus, one of the purposes of legislation is to settle disputes in a fair manner by an impartial third party. For example, time slots are set aside to be bus-lane in the highway and the remaining time for all vehicles.
Take yet another step further. In order to meet concrete needs of the social situation, government may pass laws to advocate some policies. For example, when population is exploding, it is necessary to promote family planning. Governments may work on the taxation system, giving high tax allowance for the first two children and decreasing it stepwise for children born later. However, if the government imposes abortion on pregnancies that are not permitted, it is a murder of innocent foetus and is immoral. Such abortion laws are evil. Thus, being legal is not necessarily moral. Take another example, there are minimum wages laws. Employers may legally pay only the minimum wages to workers to satisfy the contracts. But isn't that a trampling on the workers' dignity and an exploitation of workers of the economic fruits due them?

On the contrary, taking moral actions may breach the laws. For example, Jesus did not follow Mosaic laws and healed the sick on Sabbath. In 1930, Gandhi refused to pay salt-tax to the colonial government and marched for 24 days to the sea to make salt! In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat at the "coloured section" of the bus to a white man and was arrested! Thus, following the conscience to take moral actions may breach the law!

Men's laws are too primitive compared with God's laws! God's laws are broad but able to "catch" everything! For example, the Ten Commandments do not set down the details (Exodus 20:2-17). They set the boundaries to guide human beings how to lead a righteous life. They leave broad latitudes for mankind to develop God's images inside them. The purpose of the Ten Commandments is not to restrict but to help humanity develop and restore the inner images contaminated by sins! Jesus Christ gave a new commandment during the Last Supper, "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). This commandment aims at the edification and sanctification of our life so that we may partake in the eternal life of the Father. God's laws and Jesus' aim at giving us more abundant life. (10:10)

When governments make laws, they take an opposite approach. They believe that "the Devil is in the details". So when they draft laws, they labour painstakingly to make laws catch big and small offences alike. In the end, they fall into Satan's snare, killing themselves with the laws they've made! Even for atheists, they should at least learn from history. For example, during the Warring States period in China, the backward Qin state wanted to rival other foreign states. Duke Xiao of Qin hired advisers even from foreign states to help him. A legalist, Shang Yang from Wei helped him reform, deploying the policy of harsh legislation to deal with chaotic periods of time. Qin became strong and rose above other warring states. After the demise of Duke Xiao, Shang Yang lost patronage and consequently, was killed by the meticulous legislations he himself had designed!

Modern people lead a comfortable and convenient life. They think that economy is able to solve all sorts of problems. State leaders think that "getting rid of poverty and becoming sufficiently rich" would be able to dissolve social discontents. Prosperity and stability becomes the highest goal of the government! When social unrest emerges, government officials put the blame on rich merchants and land developers. They forget that man has a soul. Filling up the belly solves only a minor part of the problem! Just as what Jesus quoted in answering Satan's first temptation, "It is not by bread alone that people live, but by all that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 8:3) See what Jesus did in His public ministry. He often took care of the physical as well as spiritual needs of the crowd. For example, before He multiplied 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed the crowd, Jesus spent the whole afternoon teaching the crowd many things and healed their diseases (Mark 6:34, Luke 9:11). In the cure of the paralyzed man, Jesus forgave his sins first so that the paralyzed man might paralyze happily ever after (Mark 2:5)! Liberating a possessed man, Jesus drove the demons into 2000 pigs which jumped to their death. The 2000 pigs were the property of the whole village. Thus we see that Jesus Christ takes seriously the value of human souls!

Modern people are superstitious in science. They deny the existence of God, of heaven, of hell and of souls etc. They slight the teaching of the gospel passage today, "And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." (Matthew 10:28) They are not afraid because they think that they have no soul to destroy. Others also don't have souls. There is no Gehenna on earth and no God! They abuse technology and do whatever they wish. Consequently, they create hell on earth for themselves, for people around them and for the future generation! But we believe that souls are immortal. Thus, souls do not die and can't be killed. They can only be destroyed in Gehenna. That is to say, souls will suffer in hell and can't die to cut short their sufferings. How painful it would be! Where is heaven? Heaven is the abode of God where we can live with God. Where is hell? Hell is where there is no God, no God's mercy nor God's grace to be found!

We do not expect laws on earth to be perfect. We are not afraid of people abusing state laws to persecute those who lead a conscientious life or those Christians who trust in the Lord. Even in time of persecutions, we should be joyful like the apostles because "they had been found worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of the name (of Jesus Christ)" (Acts 5:41).
God bless!

心靈教育 The Education of the Heart

心靈教育（路2:41-51）

罪惡的其中一個後果，就是把人性扭曲了，使人渴求虛假短暫的快樂，並且對痛苦麻木，廢除了痛苦的警報功能。沒有罪惡的遮蔽，我們的感覺會更直接，更清晰。快樂是真正甜美的快樂，痛苦是刻骨銘心的痛苦！

聖母瑪利亞始胎無染原罪，不但提前獲得基督的救贖，更一生受到天主特別的照顧，充滿恩寵。她的心靈毫無玷污，堪當成為天主子的母親。她的幸福是獨一無二的，「今後萬世萬代都要稱我有福」（路1:48）！的確，聖母心裡潔淨，要看見天主（瑪5:8），獲得無窮無盡的喜悅和安慰。最後在安眠中，靈魂肉身在毫無阻擋的情況下，一同進入天主的居所。她的幸福是令人羨慕的。

可是，聖母的痛若也是獨一無二的，除了她的兒子外，她比誰的痛苦更深刻！雖然她和大聖若瑟一起失去了天主，祇有三天（路2:46），但她的痛苦，不比加爾各答的聖德蘭修女所經歷四十多年的黑暗輕，比保護她的大聖若瑟的失落重！她的痛苦，相信可以媲美耶穌基督在十字架上呼喊的聖詠22（谷15:34）！這三天，聖母預先嘗試了耶穌基督被埋葬的滋味！她的痛苦，沒有人敢試！

這一切的幸福和痛苦，都是來自她那無玷的聖心。聖母怎樣保持她的聖心無玷呢？「默存在心，反覆思想」（路2:19，51）應該是她的秘訣！她反覆地默想來自天主的說話和天主在她身邊所安排的一切事物。她再沒有空間留給其他世俗的事情了，以至她永遠保持謙卑、溫良，迅速地體會別人的需要，並毫不猶豫地吩咐眾人聽從主耶穌基督的命令（若2:5）！
榮福童貞瑪利亞，請為我們轉求，使我們堪受基督的恩賜。亞孟。

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：https://emceedowell.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/the-boy-jesus.jpg

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The Education of the Heart (Luke 2:41-51)

One of the consequences of sins is the deformity of human nature. Men seek transitory and unreal happiness. They become numb to pain, disabling its alarm function. Removing the shield of sins, our feelings are more direct and clearer. Happiness is genuinely sweet and pain bone racking!

The BVM was immaculately conceived and exempted from Original Sin. Jesus Christ redeemed her preemptively. Her whole life is overshadowed by the special care of God and full of grace. Her heart is immaculate and worthy to be the Mother of the Son of God. Her happiness is unique. "Behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed." (Luke 14:48). Indeed, her heart is pure and is able to see God (Matthew 5:8), bathed in infinite joy and consolation. At last, both her body and soul together passed in sleep into the abode of God without any hindrance. Her blessedness is magnificent.

However, her pains are also unique and unsurpassable except by her Son! Although both St. Joseph and her lost sight of God for only three days (Luke 2:46), her pains would be none less than those of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta who had undergone a spiritual darkness for more than four decades. Her pains must be heavier than those of St. Joseph and are comparable to the pains of Jesus Christ on the cross when He cried out Psalm 22 (Mark 15:34)! These three days must be a foretaste of the pains of Jesus' burial. I believe nobody dares to bear her pains!

All these joys and pains flows from her immaculate heart. How does the BVM keep her heart immaculate? "She kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart" (Luke 2:19, 51) should be her secret! She meditates constantly and repeatedly all the words of God and all things God arranges around her. There is no more room her mundane things in her hearts so that she remains forever humble, meek and perceptive to people's needs and without hesitation tells people to do whatever Jesus tells them. (John 2:5)!
Blessed Virgin Mary, intercede for us so that we may be worthy to receive the grace of Christ. Amen.

聖心為我輩安息之所 The Sacred Heart Is Our Resting Place

聖心為我輩安息之所（瑪11:25-30）

人生在世，得一能交心的知己，可謂無憾了。退一步，能得一伯樂，發掘到自己的才幹，我們也會像諸葛亮一樣，鞠躬盡瘁，死而後已！即使是升斗市民，倘若找到一位好老闆，我們也會盡忠職守，傾盡所有才幹，為他賺錢。

耶穌基督是個好老闆嗎？絕對是，但祂有很獨到的領導風格。
不像一般的企業家，耶穌基督不會把我們和祂的關係，看成是一種合約關係，要求我們朝九晚五，完成工作配額，然後準時出糧給我們。相反，祂祇邀請我們傳福音，卻沒有定下每年三千人領洗的目標。一如祂所說：「我的軛是柔和的，我的擔子是輕鬆的。」（瑪11:30）祂沒有要求我們賣命，卻為我們傾盡心血，在十字架上捨掉自己的性命。

耶穌是伯樂嗎？絕對是。祂肯定我們是有尊嚴的天主肖像，是有永恆的命運！我們不是鬥爭過程中的一隻棋子，為祂達成目標，用完既棄的工具。我們就是祂要造就的目標！祂用的是柔和的軛，輕鬆的擔，不是為了抑壓我們的叛逆，而是啟發我們受傷了的潛質，成聖的潛質，讓蒙污了的天主肖像，得以重新展露光芒！

耶穌是我們的知己嗎？絕對是。是祂創造了我們，知道我們的五內，知道我們的快樂；祂更以被刺透了的四肢和心臟，告訴我們祂知道我們的一切明顯的和隱密的痛苦。祂讓那被敞開的心，成為收容我們的安息之所。在那裡，我們可以無憾，享受真正的安息（創2:2）。
主耶穌基督！也請祢不嫌卑陋，光臨寒舍，做我心靈的嘉賓。亞孟。

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：heartofjesusprayercommunity

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The Sacred Heart Is Our Resting Place (Matthew 11:23-30)

There shall be nothing left to regret if we are lucky enough to find a soulmate on earth. Take a step back, if we can find a Bo Le who is able to hook our talents, we shall be glad to toil to death like Zhuge Liang! Even for us commoners, if we find a good boss, we would be loyal and work with all diligence to earn money for him.

Is Jesus Christ a good boss? Absolutely but His is a unique style of leadership.
Unlike other entrepreneurs, Jesus Christ does not treat our relationship with Him like a contract, demanding us to work nine to five, fill the quotas and pay us punctually. On the contrary, He invites us to evangelize but does not set a target of 3000 converts per annum. Just as what He says, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden light" (Matthew 11:30). He does not demand us to labour to death but poured out for us all His blood and life on the cross.

Is Jesus a Bo Le? Absolutely. He affirms that we have the dignity of the image of God and are destined for eternal life! We are not a pawn in power struggle, a dispensable nut when our mission is accomplished. We ARE the ends! He makes use of easy yoke and light burden, not to suppress our rebelliousness but to ignite our wounded potentials, the potential of sanctification, making the soiled image of God shine forth again!

Is Jesus our soulmate? Absolutely. He created us and knew me before He formed me in my mother’s womb. He knows my happiness. His pierced limbs and heart tell me that He knows all our pains inside out. His opened heart becomes our place of rest. There, we have no regret and enjoy genuine repose (Genesis 2:2).
Lord Jesus Christ! Be the guest of my heart. Amen.

天父系列之四 The Father's Series (IV)

天父系列之四（瑪6:7-15）

父母和子女之間的溝通，應該是怎樣的呢？
首先，兩代之間的經歷不同，能力不同，溝通上必定有所距離。人世間父母子女之間的代溝，祇要彼此願意，是可以拉近距離的。父母的思想已經僵化了，不容易適應新的事物。作為子女的比較靈活開放，很容易便可以掌握父母的思路；祇要他們願意，很快便可以趕上，甚至超前父母。

可是，當我們向天父祈禱，敬禮我們的造物主時，我們沒有做俗世兒子的優勢了。因為我們的認知，與天主的認知距離無限，我們根本不可能趕上超前。正如耶穌基督所說：「在你們求祂以前，已知道你們需要甚麼！」（瑪6:8）這「讀心術」是何等的智慧，何等的全知！我們不禁問，既然天父已經知道我們的需要，我們為何還要祈禱呢？

我要反問，祈禱祇是為了求天父滿足我們的需要，再沒有其他原因嗎？子女和父母溝通，祇有一個索取所需的目的嗎？做子女的，不可以向父母請安嗎？請安，除了表達應有的尊敬之外，還可以加強自己的身份！與此類比，向天父祈禱，除了是一種欽崇之外，還可以加強我們是天父子女的身份。我們不是低等的動物，祗求生存溫飽。我們是享有永恆生命的天主肖像，是天主的子女！一旦我們忘記了自己的真正身份，我們很容易與世俗同流合污，對罪惡麻木，認賊作父！這是何等可怕的事！
父啊！言有盡，意無窮！讓我們懂得不用言語，向祢請安。亞孟！

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝: America Magazine

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The Father's Series (IV) (Matthew 6:7-15)

How should parents and children communicate?
First of all, gaps exist in the communication between the two generations on earth because they have gone through different experiences and have different abilities. If both sides are willing, they can bridge the generation gaps and come closer. The minds of the parents are becoming petrified and they find it difficult to adjust to new things. Children are more flexible and open and can easily grasp the mind-set of their parents. If they are willing, children can easily follow and even outrun their parents.

When we pray to the Father and adore our Creator, we don't have the advantages of children of the world. The distance between our intellect and God's mind is infinite. There is no hope to follow, not to mention outrunning Him. Jesus says, "Your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:8) What wisdom and omniscience is this mind-reading! Naturally, we'll ask why we still have to pray if the Father already knows our needs.

I would retort. Is asking the Father to satisfy our needs the only reason to pray? Do the communications between parents and children have the sole purpose of asking for money only? Can't children ask after the health of their parents? Don't forget, greeting not only conveys respects but it also reinforces our identity! Similarly, praying to the Father is not only adoration but it also reinforces our identity as children of our Heavenly Father. We are not animals that seek survival and gratification of wants. We are images of God and children of God who partake in eternal life! Once we forget our true identity, we will follow the current, become numb to evil and recognize Satan as our father! How terrible it shall be!
Father! Words can't convey all! Let us ask after You not in words. Amen!

天父系列之三 The Father's Series (III)

天父系列之三（瑪6:1-6，16-18）

有些福音教訓，看似矛盾。但在聖神的光照下默想，我們便可以體會到教訓的真諦。例如，耶穌基督在地鹽世光的教訓中，曾鼓勵我們說：「你們的光也要在人前照耀，好使他們看見你的善行，光榮你們在天之父。」（瑪5:16）可是這裡卻說：「不要在人前行你們的仁義。」（6:1）我們該怎樣調和這矛盾呢？

其實，在別人眼中，我們的「善行」，不一定是他們心目中的「善行」。我們不但接濟缺乏物資，被社會邊緣化了的人，更為被剝削的他們爭取合乎人性的尊嚴。雖然這是教會的社會訓導，但是在有些人的眼中，我們是滋事份子，我們的行為不是善行。那麼，我們會放棄嗎？不會。我們會期望別人另眼相看，認同我們的理念，光榮我們在天之父嗎？也不會！我們祇會尋求天父的旨意，努力承行。其餘的，天主自會照顧。倘若天父願意我們的善行白費，我們心中沒有不忿，因為「我們是無用的僕人，我們不過做了應做的事。」（路17:10）倘若天父願意藉著我們的善行，感動那怕祇是一小撮人，讓他們認識並光榮祂，這是我們的榮幸！重點是，我們行善，不會懷有任何目的！

今天的福音，其實在告誡我們，倘若我們行善，是為了做給別人看，是懷有目的地行仁義，這樣便枉費心機了，即使目的是為了得到「天父前的賞報」！除非，你感覺到有能力行仁義，已經是賞報！你會心滿意足！不是嗎？有能力行仁義，你既可盡展天賦的潛質，又不用接受別人的扶助，是多麼幸福的一回事！不用做給別人看，不需要把自己的快樂，押在別人的認同上，是多麼自由的一回事！
父啊！倘若我們有任何目的，就讓承行祢的旨意，成為惟一的目的。亞孟。

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：Thesaurus.plus

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The Father's Series (III) (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18)

Some teachings in the gospel seem contradictory. But when you meditate them in the light of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to understand the truth of these teachings.

For example, when Jesus teaches us to be salt of the earth and light of the world, He encourages us, saying "Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:16) But in the passage today, He says instead, "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them. (6:1) How do we harmonize such contradiction?

Indeed, our "righteous deeds may not be "righteous in the eyes of the others. Not only do we give alms to the needy and the marginalized, but we also fight for the human dignity of these exploited. Although we are following the social teachings of the Church, in the eyes on some people, we are trouble-makers. Our actions are not righteous. Then, shall we give up? No! Do we expect others to see us in different lights, to agree with our beliefs and glorify our Heavenly Father? No! We only seek the Father's will and do it. God will take care of the rest. If the Father wills that our righteous deeds are futile, our hearts are at peace because, "We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do. (Luke 17:10) If the Father wills that our deeds might touch the hearts of a handful of people, allow them to know and glorify Him, it is our honour! The key point is: we have no ulterior motive in our deeds!

In fact, the gospel passage today warns us not to act for people to see. Such a motive defeats the righteous deeds even if getting "recompense from your heavenly Father is your motive! Unless you feel satisfied and being able to perform righteous deeds itself is your recompense! The ability to perform righteous deeds enables you to fully actualize your potentials and how happy it is that you don't need other's help! How free it is that your happiness does not rely on the recognition and approval of the others!
Father! If we have any motive, let doing Your will be our only motive. Amen.

天父系列之二 The Father's Series (II)

天父系列之二（瑪5:43-48）

懷疑天主對人類的愛，有很多種形式。亞當厄娃吃了天主禁止他們吃的知善惡樹上的果子，是一個例子；抱怨天主讓義人無辜受苦，不出手相救，是一個例子；當看見惡人受苦，便額手稱慶，大快人心時，又是一個例子！這些都不是貼身的事件，要保持客觀和理性，對待惡人，不太困難。倘若是那些搶奪我們財產的人或者傷害我們親人，要置我們死地的人，要愛他們，談何容易！但你可否知道，不愛他們，其實表現出你正在懷疑天主對你的愛，這真是一個極大的試探！

你的心可能會想：「天父啊！我的對頭正在傷害我，祢為甚麼不制止他呢？難道祢看不見我在受苦嗎？莫非祢樂意看見我受苦嗎…」看！我們很容易忘記感謝自己沒有祈求，卻白白得來的恩寵；反而抱怨一切不如意，不順利的遭遇！怪祇怪我們不熟識歷史，忘記了天主出於愛，可以假借亞述人和巴比倫人的手，鞭策以色列人離開偶像崇拜，重投祂的懷抱。個人的挫折，與亡國之痛相比，簡直是小巫見大巫！亡國並沒有令以色列人懷疑天主的愛和懷疑天主對達味的承諾，反而在他們心內，激發起對默西亞的期待。那麼，不如意的挫折，有激發你對天主救贖的渴望嗎？

誠然，猶太人對默西亞的期待仍然是有破綻的，因為他們沒有擺脫憎恨仇人的情緒，忘記了猶太人與羅馬人之間的關係，是天主肖像與天主肖像之間的關係，有彼此守護的責任（創4:9）！即使我的兄弟沒有履行他的守護責任，傷害了我，難道我要跟他一樣，不履行我的守護責任，不去為他的神益祈求天父嗎？的確，拯溺救人的大前提，是自身的安全！倘若我們祈求天父手出懲罰那些迫害我們的人，我們又一次懷疑天父對我們的愛了。這樣，你安全嗎?
父啊！請賜下聖神，幫助我們記起基督的教訓，溫暖我們的愛心，不怕因愛而痛。亞孟！

生命恩泉

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The Father's Series (II) (Matthew 5:43-48)

Doubting God's love for humanity appears in many forms. Adam and Eve's eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil is one example; complaining God for allowing the righteous to suffer unnecessarily and not extending a helping hand is another; We are jubilant when we see the wicked suffer is yet another! But all those things are not close to us. It is not difficult for us to maintain our objectivity and rationality in dealing with the wicked in these cases. However, it is not so easy to love those who plunder our property, or hurt our family members or even attempt to take our lives! But don't you know that not loving them reveals your doubt of God's love for you? What a great temptation!

You may complain, "Heavenly Father! My enemies are doing me harm. Why don't You stop them? Do You want to see me suffer? Do You enjoy seeing me suffer …" Look! We easily forget to be grateful for things we haven't asked for. On the contrary, we grumble whatever we find unpleasant! Our problem lies in our not knowing history, forgetting that out of love, God made use of the Assyrians and Babylonians to chasten the Israelites from idolatry and return to His embrace. Surely the pains of being conquered dwarf our frustration! Being conquered did not make the Israelites doubt God's love or question God's promise to David. On the contrary, deep in their hearts, they anticipated the coming of the Messiah. Then, do frustrations trigger your desire for God's redemption?

Frankly, the Messianic anticipation of the Jews was flawed because they were unable to shake off their anger against their oppressors. They forgot that their relation with the Romans was a relation between God's images. They are supposed to be keepers of each other (Genesis 4:9)! Even if my brother refuses to be my keeper and does me harm, should I do the same, refusing my responsibility as a keeper to pray for his spiritual good? Indeed, the prerequisite to be a life-guard is to ensure his own safety! If you pray to the Father to punish those who persecute you, once again you doubt the Father's love for you. Then are you in safety?
Heavenly Father! Grant us the Holy Spirit. Help us remember the teachings of Christ. Inflame our heart to love until it hurts. Amen!

天父系列之一 The Father's Series (I)

天父系列（一）（瑪5:38-42）

基督徒相信耶穌基督死而復活，救贖了全人類。不過，他們的所謂「相信」，究竟有多深刻呢？他們的信德，經得起考驗嗎？

惡人當道，可以說是今天的「時代徵兆」。君不見世界各地出現了不少暴力事件，包括私人恩怨的暴力、家庭的暴力以至制度上的暴力嗎？君不見暴力引起暴力的反抗，以暴易暴，結果形成惡性循環，直至兩敗俱傷，甚至殃及池魚，令四周無辜的人也被波及嗎？君不見無信的人，取笑耶穌基督的教訓，譏諷基督徒不能按師傅的教訓，把另一面轉給他們進一步羞辱嗎？

的確，主耶穌基督的榜樣，實在高不可攀！在革責瑪尼園，祂沒有為了自保而拒捕，甚至即場治癒有份拘捕祂的人；在公議會及比拉多面前，祂沒有為自己辯護，欣然接受不公平的判決；人們釘祂在十字架上時，祂還求天父寬恕釘祂的人；在受刑時，仍寬待臨急抱佛腳的右盜，不計較他從前做了多少惡事…主耶穌何止把另一面轉給惡人侮辱呢！祂完全忘我地，履行天父的旨意，為的是尋找並擁抱迷失的羊，帶領他們回歸父家，光復蒙污了的天主肖像！

基督徒呀！我們是否被自己的所謂公義蒙蔽了，是否被過份膨脹的自我遮蓋了眼睛，看不見天父是一視同仁的。祂保護義人，更憐愛惡人！倘若天父不保證祂一手創造的義人的質素；和恢復變了質的惡人的質素，天父就是一位不合格的工程師了。這是不可能的！
父啊！請賜下聖神，讓我們親眼看見祢的慈愛。亞孟！

圖片鳴謝：https://www.carlylestewart.com/turning-the-other-cheek-and-nonviolence-king-gandhi-and-jesus-third-way/
生命恩泉

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The Father's Series (I) (Matthew 5:38-42)

Christians believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ for the salvation of humanity. But how seriously do they believe? Can their faith undergo tests?

The Tyranny of Violence can be said to be the Sign of the Time. Many violent incidents erupt all over the world, including personal violence, domestic violence and institutional violence. We are not able to turn a blind eye to violence triggering more violence, creating a vicious cycle until both parties neutralize each other. Worse still, innocent bystanders become victims of collateral damage. Infidels tease Christian teachings, bullying Christians for failing to follow their Master to turn the other cheek for further insults.

Indeed, the examples set up by Lord Jesus Christ are too lofty. In Gethsemane, not only did he refuse to resist arrest, but He also cured on the spot one of those who came to arrest him. Before the Sanhedrin and Pilate, He did not defend Himself, happily accepted an unjust verdict. On the cross, He begged the Father to forgive those who crucified Him. He didn't care how much evil the thief had done, promising paradise even to a last-minute repentance! Lord Jesus had done more than turning the other cheek! He totally and selflessly carries out the Father's will in order to seek and embrace lost sheep, bring them home to the Father and restore the tarnished images of God!

Christians! Have you been blinded by your own version of justice? How your eyes been covered by over-inflation of your ego and couldn't see God's justice? He protects the righteous and shows mercy to the evil more! If the Father could not guarantee the qualities of the righteous and restore the distorted ones of the wicked, the Father would not be a qualified engineer. But that's impossible!
Heavenly Father! Send us the Holy Spirit so that we may see Your mercy with our own eyes. Amen!

我們成為生命之糧 We Become Bread of Life

Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Year A
Theme: We Become Bread of Life

Brethren, how are you? How did you spend the days during this pandemic? Has this pandemic affected your livelihood such that you earn less money? Have you lost your job, or any relatives, friends or even family members? But the most important of all, have you lost contact with God?
Against my will, I was labelled "high-risk" because among the early deaths of this pandemic in Hong Kong, two were diabetics. For the sake of my family, I had to undergo a self-imposed quarantine. This means, I went outdoors twice a week only to handle necessary business and meet people. I don't know whether I am an invisible virus carrier or not. For the sake of Christian charity, I had to suspend my prison visits and limited myself to delivering the Sunday Examiner to inmates at the main gate of the prisons only. I discover that "out of sight, out of mind" is not true. The more I cannot meet the people, the more I miss them. The case of prison inmates is more meaningful because during the self-imposed quarantine, I understood better what it feels to lose one's freedom! Like many of them, I have more solitary time to bring to mind my Lord and my God.
One day I met a friend of mine who is very intuitive and she told me that I was as excited as an inmate discharged from hospitals or prisons. Suddenly, I realized that Jesus Christ was "imprisoned" in the Tabernacle as well. How happy and excited it would be for Him to be received by us and carried by us to the world outside!

Compared with the teachings of Jesus, Moses' are milder and more easily acceptable. For example, in the first reading today, instead of telling people to eat him like Jesus did, Moses says, "He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your ancestors, so you might know that it is not by bread alone that people live, but by all that comes from the mouth of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 8:3) In itself, this teaching is excellent because Jesus made use of it to fight back the first temptation of Satan in the wilderness. Times and again we too fall into the temptation of doubting the love of God and complain like the Israelites in the wilderness! "God, you drove Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden because You were afraid that they would eat from the tree of life and live forever (Genesis 3:22). You don't love us!" or "God, You are love (1 John 4:8). How can You allow us be afflicted with hunger, sickness, pandemic and sufferings?" etc. Moses reminds us that for our good, for a better goodness of many people, God allows us to suffer so that we who have gone astray might repent and return to God. Not only do we live by bread to nourish our bodies, but we also live by the Word of God to nourish our souls. Very often, we are too busy earning our bread and have forgotten the needs of our souls. Moses's teachings are easier to understand and follow. What about Jesus' teachings?

Don't blame the Jews. Even for us modern people, cannibalism is an offensive idea! In fact, Jesus' teachings, as always have been, are very revolutionary and more difficult to accept. Just think about the Beatitudes: blessed are the poor, the mournful, the meek, when you are persecuted, turn your other cheek to the evil people and love your enemies etc. Perhaps you may think that Jesus does not mean them to be accepted literally. They are just hyperboles, just to make an impression! Come on. What is Jesus? Jesus is our God. Of course He means what He says! How can we accept His teachings selectively, taking those we accept and rejecting those we find hard to swallow?

But Jesus is very considerate and He understands our weaknesses and inadequacy. Therefore, during the Last Supper, He consecrated bread and wine into His Body and Blood to make it easier for us to eat His Body and drink His blood in order to have eternal life (John 6:54). Therefore, out of love, God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating from the tree of life and live forever because God did not want them to lead a miserable life of darkness, of the ignorance of God's love forever. Now that all of us have free access to the Sacrament of Eucharist and eternal life, therefore, it is wrong to doubt God's love for us.

What else did Jesus say? He says, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." (6:56) In short, after receiving the Holy Communion, we carry Jesus within us. We carry Him around wherever we go. We become, in short, walking Tabernacles in the community. Not just Tabernacles, but we become Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus Christ always prays. We too should always find time to pray to the Father. Jesus Christ teaches the ignorant. We too should teach the ignorant and help them know that the Father loves them. Jesus Christ forgives those who crucified Him. We too should forgive those who make us suffer to help them reconcile with God. Jesus heals the sick and tells us to take care of the sick (Matthew 25:36). Jesus drives out demons which take away our freedom. Shall we not fight against all sorts of human bondages such as pornography, gambling, drug abuses and domestic violence etc.? In doing so, we are obeying the new commandment Jesus gave us during the Last Supper, "I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you." (John 13:34)

Brethren, on this Solemnity of Corpus Christi, let us celebrate how merciful the Father is and how much Jesus Christ loves us. Let us receive Him with a humble heart and carry Him around in the community to bring blessings to the people we encounter.
God bless!

2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：http://en.abouna.org

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聖體聖血節，甲年
主題：我們成為生命之糧

各位兄弟姊妹，大家好嗎？各位怎樣度過疫情下的日子呢？疫情有沒有影響到你們的生計？你們有失業，或者失去親朋或至家人嗎？但最重要的，大家有沒有失去了天主的聯絡呢？
在香港，疫症爆發初期，死於新型肺炎的其中兩名患者是糖尿病人。結果我被列入「高危」一族！為了減少家人的擔憂，我惟有進行自我隔離，每星期祇出門兩天，處理必要的事務和接觸人。我不知道自己是不是「隱形」的帶病毒者，出於基督徒的愛德，惟有停止探監的工作，每星期祇能在監獄大閘遞送《公教報》給囚友。我漸漸明白「一日不見，如隔三秋」的道理，並不誇張。愈見不了面，心裡愈掛念他們。在這自我隔離的情況下，心中更明瞭失去自由的滋味！和他們相似，我有更多獨處的時間，與我的主天主相聚。
有一天，一位很直覺的朋友告訴我，我的興奮有如放監一樣。忽然，我意識到耶穌基督其實是「被囚禁」在聖體櫃內。我們領受聖體，並帶著祂走出外面的世界時，耶穌基督是何等興奮和喜樂！

與耶穌的教訓相比，梅瑟的教訓溫柔得多，容易接受得多。例如，在今天的第一篇讀經中，梅瑟並不像耶穌那樣生硬，告訴人吃他的肉。梅瑟說：「祂磨難了你，使你感到饑餓，卻以你和你祖先所不認識的『瑪納』養育了你，叫你知道人生活不但靠食物，而且也靠上主口中所發的一切言語生活。」（申8:3）這教訓是超卓的，因為連耶穌也引用它來對抗魔鬼在曠野中的第一個試探！我們好像以色列人在曠野裡一樣，經常懷疑天主對我們的愛，並經常投訴！「天主，祢把原祖父母趕出樂園，因為祢怕他們吃了生命樹上的果子，活到永遠。祢不愛我們！」或者，「天主，祢既然是愛（若一4:8），祢怎可以磨難我們，讓我們感到饑餓，染病和受痛苦呢？」等等… 梅瑟提醒我們，為了我們的益處，或者為了很多人更大的好處，天主容許我們受苦，使誤入歧途的人類，可以回頭悔改。我們不但依賴食物滋養我們的身體，也要倚靠天主的說話，滋潤我們的靈魂。很多時候，我們忙於賺錢，忘記了我們靈魂上的需要。梅瑟教訓比較容易明白，容易跟從。耶穌的教訓呢？

不要怪責猶太人，即使現代人對「食人肉」同樣嘔心！事實上，耶穌的教訓，很多都是很革命性，很難接受的。試想想「山中聖訓」的教導：貧窮的人是有福的、哀慟的、溫良的、受迫害的等是有福的；把你另一面也轉給惡人打，愛你們的仇人等。或者你以為耶穌的心意，不須要你按字面的意思做；耶穌祇是語出驚人，留下深刻印象而已！拜託！耶穌是誰？耶穌是我們的天主，祂的說話當然是認真的！我們豈可選擇性地實行祂的教訓，按我們能接受的去做，難接受的就掉在一邊呢？

可幸耶穌是非常體諒，祂明白我們的軟弱不足。因此，祂在最後晚餐時，祝聖了麵餅和葡萄酒，使它們成為了祂的體血，讓我們容易地吃祂的肉，喝祂的血，獲得永生（若6:54）。因此，天主出於愛，把原祖父母趕出伊甸園，因為天主不願意他們永遠生活在悲慘的黑暗世界中，對天主的愛一無所知！現在我們可以自由地領受聖體聖事，獲得永生。因此，懷疑天主對我們的愛，真是大錯特錯。

除了這些永生言論之外，耶穌還說了些甚麼？祂說：「誰吃我的肉，並喝我的血，便住在我內，我也住在他內。」（6:56）一言以蔽之，領聖體後，我們負載著耶穌，無論在何處，我們總帶著祂。我們變成了流動聖體櫃。不單是聖體櫃，我們更成為了耶穌基督自己。耶穌基督經常祈禱，我們也應該經常向天父禱告；耶穌基督教導無知的人，我們也應教訓愚蒙，幫助他們認識天父是愛他們的；耶穌基督寬恕釘死祂的人，我們也應寬恕傷害我們的人，幫助他們與天主修和；耶穌治好病人，並吩咐我們照顧病人（瑪25:36）；耶穌驅逐那些奪去我們自由的邪魔，我們豈不應該打擊色情、賭博、濫藥和家暴等人性的束縛嗎？我們這樣做，是履行耶穌在最後晚餐給予我們的新誡命：「我給你們一條新命令：你們該彼此相愛，如同我愛了你們。」（若13:34）

各位兄弟姊妹，在這聖體聖血節，讓我們慶祝天父對我們是何等慈悲，耶穌基督是怎樣愛了我們。讓我們以謙卑的心領受祂，把祂帶進社區，帶給我們所接觸的人祝福。
天主保祐！

天主是愛 God is Love

聖三主日，甲年
主題：天主是愛

當我們接觸到新的事物時，我們會產生好奇心，不禁會問這是從那裡來的。即使是熟悉的事物，當我們得不到滿意的說明時，我們會尋根究底，直到心安理得為止。「人從那裡來」就是其中一個這樣既熟悉，又得不到滿意說明的問題。歷史上有一段很長的時間，人民接受權威的解釋：是女媧用泥塑造的；或者是天主用塵土造的。後來，自然科學從不同角度解釋：是從父母的精子和卵子結合而來的，是從大猩猩進化來的…人們暫時接受自然科學的解釋，拋棄了神話和宗教的解釋。但問題並未得到滿意的解決！
科學講求證據，即使是廣為接受的「進化論」，仍然祇是一種理論，還未能達到定律的地位，因為當中有很多關鍵性的，連貫性的證據，還未找到。所以訓練有素的科學家，不會輕率地用這理論來否定天主創造的宗教觀點。另一方面，在人權和自由抬頭的現代社會，講求人性尊嚴。倘若人是由變形蟲進化到大猩猩，到智人，到今天的人類，試問我們憑甚麼來追求人權和自由呢？倘若我們認為宗教是人民的鴉片，貶低了人性的尊嚴，看來科學所做到的，比宗教更差，殺傷力更大。注意，執事也是讀理科出身的，絕不反對科學；但執事並不迷信科學，明白信仰與科學，各司其職，相輔相承。在歷史上，把宗教與科學對立是近代的政治手段，絕不是真理。

天主教的信仰是很理性的，絕不迷信。
「天主是愛」（若一4:8）是我們信仰的起點。我們有證據嗎？有！
出於愛，天主創造了一個適合人生存的宇宙，這一點連科學家也要同意。科學家發現宇宙間存在的一切物理常數，例如萬有引力常數、基本電荷、普朗克常數等，它們是如此精密地調校在極度狹窄的數值間，若非如此，就不會有今天我們所見到的，有智慧的生物出現在地球上。即使你不信天主，也要承認宇宙是一個充滿智慧的傑作！

出於愛，天主按祂的肖像創造了人類，並讓人類代表祂管理整個受造界（創1:26）。這一點非常重要的，因為其他的受造物（天使除外）不是天主的肖像。雖然它們能彰顯天主的美善，卻沒有天主的特質，祇有人類纔有。天主是大智慧，人類繼承了天主的特質，所以人也有智慧，有理性，有判別對錯的能力，有創造力等等；天主是自由的，所以人有自由，有人權。配合著理智的運用，人便可以把天賦的潛質，天主的肖像，發揮得淋漓盡致；天主是愛，所以人有愛的能力，有同理心，惻隱之心，甚至捨己為人之心。上述的天主特質，天主的真善美之處，是人性尊嚴，自由人權的立足點。科學祇能帶給人類物質上的方便和舒適，卻帶不到我們人性尊嚴，自由和人權。有些時候，甚至假科學之名，做出泯滅人性的事！

天主對人的愛，更在天主子降生成人一事上，顯示出來！天主子並沒有降生成為比人類高級的天使，而是降生成人。為的是提昇人性，使這肖像不是停滯在肖像的階段，而是提昇成為天主的子女，分享天主永恆的生命與光榮！若望宗徒追隨天主子三年，與祂一起生活。在耶穌基督升天後，他把這三年的經驗，反省了超過半個世紀，寫下了今天的不朽名句：「天主竟這樣愛了世界，甚至賜下了自己的獨生子，使凡信祂的人不至喪亡，反而獲得永生。」（若3:16）

天主是絕對自由的。祂創造了人類之後，可以置諸不理。但祂沒有這樣做，因為祂愛人類，人類是祂的傑作之一。天主是愛，而愛是為對方有益的，是忍耐的（格前13:4-5）。所以天主不會強加自己的意願，到我們身上，不會強迫我們接受祂的愛。我們和天主一樣明白，勉強是沒有幸福的！所以人類有自由相信耶穌是天主子，也有自由拒絕祂。

耶穌基督的任務，是把天父啟示給我們。但祂為甚麼在復活後，離開我們，升天回到天父的右邊呢？其實祂是天主，是無處不在的，所以即使祂回到天父的身邊，卻並沒有離開我們。在福音中，祂曾許下：「那裡有兩個或三個人，因我的名字聚在一起，我就在他們中間。」（瑪18:20）耶穌基督就是藉著教會，繼續臨現在這個世界上。但人類是十分軟弱的，由人組成的教會，怎能擔此重任呢？且看二千年來，教會有光輝的歲月，也有醜聞纏身的日子！
上星期我們慶祝聖神降臨節，這一天也是教會的生日。因此，有聖神瀰漫在這個團體內，經常賜下七樣神恩，幫助我們認識天父的心意，並熾熱我們冷卻了的，愛主愛人的心，我們不愁天主掉下我們，不顧而去了。

各位兄弟姊妹，天父創造了我們，聖子救贖了我們，聖神助祐我們成聖。讓我們以我們的生命，歌頌天主聖三的慈恩。
天主保祐！

2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/40572682840/in/photostream/

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The Solemnity of the Most Blessed Trinity, Year A
Theme: God is Love

When we encounter new things, we will be curious and ask where they come from. Even familiar things, we will search for their origins and will not rest until we come up with a satisfactory answer. "Where did men come from" is one such familiar question which we have not yet come up with a satisfying answer. For a long time in history, people accepted authoritative explanations: Nüwa moulded men out of yellow earth, or God created men from dust of the ground etc. Later, natural sciences explain from different angles: men came from the parents' sperms and eggs, or men evolved from chimpanzees etc. For the time being, most people accept the explanations from natural sciences and reject legends or religious myths. However, the question has not been satisfactorily settled!

Sciences demand evidence. Even the mostly accepted theory of evolution is still a theory and has not reached the status of a scientific law. It is because there are still many missing links. Thus well trained scientists do not brush aside the religious view of God's creation so lightly. On the other hand, nowadays we talk a lot about human dignity, freedom and human rights. If men evolved from amoeba to chimpanzees to Homo Sapiens and modern men, on what ground can we fight for human rights and freedom? If we accept that religion is the opium for people and debases human dignity, sciences are doing worse and more devastating. I studied science and do not oppose sciences. But I do not idolize sciences and understand that science and religion are serving humanity in different ways and should be complementary. Historically speaking, pitching science against religion are political tricks. It is absolutely not the truth.

Catholic faith is very rational and not superstitious.
Our starting point is "God is love" (1 John 4:8). Do we have evidence? Yes we do!
Out of love, God created a universe suitable for human existence. Even scientists agree with this. They discover that all the physical constants in the universe, e.g. the constant of gravitation, elementary charge and Planck constant etc. They are so fine-tuned within such an extraordinarily narrow range that if they were not, the origin and evolution of conscious life in the universe would not be permitted. Even if you don't believe in God, you have to admit that the universe is an intelligent master piece!

Out of love, God created men in His image and delegated them the responsibility to manage the whole Creation (Genesis 1:26). This point is extremely important because all creatures (except for angels) are not images of God. Although they are able to manifest God's beauty and goodness, they do not possess God's attributes. Only human beings do. God's wisdom is great. Men inherited this attribute and we possess wisdom, intelligence, discernment of right and wrong and creativity etc. God is free and so are men. We have freedom and human rights. Making use of our rationality, we are able to actualize our potentials and manifest God's image. God is love so we are capable of loving. We have empathy, mercy and even altruism. These attributes of God, this truth, goodness and beauty of God are the foundation of human dignity, freedom and human rights. Science can only bring us material convenience and comfort. It cannot give us human dignity, freedom and human rights. Sometimes, crimes against humanity are committed in the name of science!

God's love for men was further shown in the incarnation of the Son of God who did not incarnate as a member of higher level angels but of men. He did so in order that humanity might be elevated. God's images do not remain images but God's children partaking in the eternal life and glory of God! John the Apostle followed and lived with the Son of God for three years. After the Ascension of Jesus Christ, John meditated this experience for more than half a century and wrote down this immortalized verse, "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life." (John 32:16)

God is free absolutely. After the creation of men, He would have left them unattended. But He didn't because He loves humanity, one of His master pieces. God is love which wants nothing but the benefits of the loved ones and love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Thus God does not impose His own will upon us. He would not force us to accept His love. God and we understand the same truth: coercion never brings happiness! Men have the freedom to believe in Jesus who is the Son of God. They also have the freedom to reject Him.

The mission of Jesus Christ is to reveal the Father to us. Then why did He leave us and ascend back to the right side of the Father? In fact, Jesus Christ is God and is omnipresent. Thus, even though He has returned to the Father, He is still staying with us. He promised in the gospel, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Jesus Christ continues to be present in the world through His Church. But human beings are fragile. How is a community of men capable of discharging this grave responsibility? Take a look at the Catholic Church throughout these two millennia. There were glorious days as well as scandalous ones!
Last Sunday we celebrated the Solemnity of the Descent of the Holy Spirit. It was the birthday of the Church. Thus, the Holy Spirit infuses this community, granting us the seven gifts to help us know the Father's will and inflaming our lukewarm hearts to love God and men. We don't have to worry about God abandoning us like orphans.

Brethren, God the Father created us. The Son redeemed us and the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. Let us sing praises to the mercy of the Blessed Trinity with our whole life. God bless!