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！
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！
圖片鳴謝：https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/40572682840/in/photostream/
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!
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