主題：扎根過去
作為一個終身執事，我是堂區慕道班導師團成員之一。把救主耶穌基督的福音，有系統地和清楚明白地傳授給慕道者，實在責無旁貸。所以對今天的福音，另有一番的體會。
對我們教友來說，福音真是無價之寶，值得我們「賣掉他所有的一切」（瑪13:44，46），去追求這得救的真理，以獲得自由（若8:32）。如何幫助慕道者建立這個「賣掉一切」的決心，的確是一個大課題。我覺得當中有很大的，非人力所為的因素在運作，就是天主聖神。我不是推卸責任，也不會因為很難做到而放棄；而是我相信「信德」的產生，不祇是我們的努力，也是天主的恩寵！我知道天主聖神會藉著伯多祿的宣講，藉著歷代聖人的作證和藉著我們的講授，令慕道者「心中刺痛」（宗2:37），決定不惜賣掉一切，也要得到這無價的寶貝（瑪13:44，46）！
與慕道者一樣，我不是在嬰兒時領洗的。成年人考慮加入教會，總會背負著一段或長或短的歷史。他們已建立了一套生活習慣、學養、世界觀和行為模式，有點像福音中提及到「成為天國門徒」的經師（13:52）。在當代，猶太人的「經師」是訓練有素，熟悉梅瑟法律和堅守傳統的專業人士。雖然耶穌基督很清楚表示，祂「來不是為了廢除，而是為成全」（5:17），但祂的「成全」帶有放棄舊有不完善的部份和更新原有的精神。在放棄和更新的過程中，可能會引起整個舊制度的崩潰（9:16-17）。對重視傳統的經師來說，接受這革命性的福音並不容易。因此，能夠成為「天國門徒的經師」，真是難能可貴！「難能」並不是「不可能」（19:26）！所以我在上面說，有很大的非人力因素在運作！
耶穌基督召選宗徒，與他們一起生活三年，訓練他們為教會的未來柱石。祂的榜樣，相信可以啟發我們如何培育慕道者。
首先，耶穌基督沒有既定的課程進度/考試範圍，而是因時制宜，因材施教。雖然沒有我們所理解的「課程」，但福音的內容是確定的，就是「天國」，就是「天主在基督內使世界與自己和好，不再追究他們的過犯」（格後5:19）。我沒有打算否定現有十八個月的課程，它非常有系統，這是符合教理講授的要求。但不得不承認因材施教的重要，因為完成了十八個月的課程後，不是每一位慕道者都適宜領洗的。
第三：「復活」是福音的核心內容。
小時候，在街上曾遇過一位非常熱心的基督教女士，向途人說耶穌怎樣愛你，怎樣為你流血，怎樣痛苦…可能我沒有耐性，沒有聽完她講述耶穌的復活便走了。倘若導師們祇顧宣講耶穌怎樣以死來愛我們，恐怕導師們也會犯了本末倒置的毛病！看到耶穌的受難，一般人頂多是承認「這人真是天主子/義人」（瑪27:54；谷15:39；路23:47）。但所有接觸過復活了的基督的人，都脫胎換骨，成為了新的受造物（格後5:17），以天主為生活的中心，以祂的眼光看世界！例如在厄瑪烏路上遇上復活的主的兩個門徒，他們從失望之中返轉過來（路24:13-35）。保祿是另一個好例子。從前的掃祿，無論如何熱衷祖先的傳授，也沒有像祖先們：亞巴郎、雅各伯、梅瑟和達味一樣，有幸能見天主一面。直到他在大馬士革路上與復活了的耶穌基督相遇後，這份震撼的經驗，令他從新審視以往所學，並在以後的宣講和書信中，以復活之光演繹梅瑟的法律，建立了「因信成義」的神學！
從這些宗徒的經歷可見，耶穌基督更新他們，有如祂來成全梅瑟的法律一樣，刷新原本已有的，被因循和人性的貪婪所污染了的本性！我相信對慕道者也應該一樣，導師們所做的，就是以耶穌基督的復活，來更新慕道者的習慣、學養、世界觀和行為模式。願天主聖神繼續有耐性地啟導我們，更新我們，透過我們更新慕道者，讓他們享受天主新生子女的自由與喜樂。
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia
Seventeenth Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: Our Foundation Is In the Past
As a permanent deacon, I'm a member of the catechist team in the parish. It is our irrevocable duty to systematically and clearly instruct our catechumens. Thus, there is a different understanding of the gospel passage today.
For us Catholics, the gospel is an invaluable treasure which deserves our selling all that we have to acquire it (Matthew 13:44, 46), the salvific truth which will set us free (John 8:32). It is a major topic for us catechists to help catechumens make the determination to "sell all they have". I feel that there is a huge and supernatural element working in the process, viz. the Holy Spirit. I'm not evading my responsibility or giving up because it is next to impossible to get it done. Rather, I believe that "faith" does not come about through our efforts only, but it also comes from God's grace! I'm convinced that the Holy Spirit who worked through Peter's proclamation, witnesses of all saints throughout ages and our instructions shall "cut to the heart" (Act 2:37) of the catechumens, help them decide to sell all they have to acquire the invaluable treasure (Matthew 13:44, 66)!
Like the catechumens, I wasn't baptized in my infancy. Adults to be initiated into the Church carry with them a certain length of history. They have established a certain set of habits, literacy, world-view and modus operandi, like the "scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven" (13:52). For the contemporary Jews, scribes were well trained professionals who knew thoroughly the Mosaic laws and safe-guarded the traditions. Although Jesus Christ made it clear that He has "come not to abolish … but to fulfil" (5:17), His fulfilment involves abolishing the flaws of the old practices and a renewal of the original spirit. This process of abolishing and renewal would probably bring the whole system of old down (9:16-17). It is not easy for scribes who found traditions essential to accept this revolutionary gospel. Thus, becoming a "scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven" is a rarity! But rarity doesn't mean impossibility (19:26)! That's why I said above that "there is a huge and supernatural element working in the process"!
Jesus Christ called the apostles, lived with them for three years to train them into pillars of the Church in the future. I believe that His examples would shed light on how we should instruct our catechumens.
First of all, Jesus Christ did not follow a certain teaching schedule/examination syllabus. Rather, He made use of the situations and the characteristics of His listeners. Although there was no "syllabus" as we understand it today, the content of the gospel is definite. It is the "kingdom of heaven" and that "God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19). I have no intention to negate the value of the 18-month syllabus which we are using. It is systematic and meets the needs of catechism. But we can't deny the importance of the individuality of the catechumens. After all, not every one of them is ready to be baptized after the 18-month course.
Secondly, Jesus Christ did not reject the past of the apostles. Instead, He edified them upon the foundation of their past. Jesus called four fishermen to follow Him saying, "I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19) which was easily understandable for them. Of course in the end, they turned into shepherds (John 21:15-17)! Their mission was not simply fishing souls, but teaching and sanctifying them. In the case of Matthew, Jesus simply says, "Follow me" (Matthew 9:9) which gives us a lot of latitude to interpret. Bear in mind that in those days, a tax-collector for the Romans was inglorious among the Jews. Jesus did not tell Matthew, "I will make you a tax-collector in the kingdom of heaven." This was not a rejection of Matthew's past but the kingdom of heaven needs no tax-collector! A comparison with the other gospels shows that Matthew was very familiar with Mosaic laws. It was that he didn't end up as a scribe! The gospel he left behind is a legacy in which he "brings from his storeroom both the new and the old" (13:52)! He displays before our eyes how Jesus Christ fulfils the old law and how to renew it. Throughout the whole Bible, "treasures/storeroom" appears 18 times, half of which come from Matthew. What a true colour of a "tax-collector"! The case of Paul is more obvious. Jesus calls a fanatic Pharisee who knew well both Jewish and Greek cultures to bear witness to the gospel to the Jewish Diaspora and Gentiles, to small and great alike (Acts 26:22). Jesus did not reject Paul's enthusiasm toward Jewish traditions. On the contrary, He sheds light on Paul's understanding of ancestral teachings and allows the Church to preserve his epistles, making him the first theologian of the New Testament!
Thirdly, "resurrection" is the core message of the gospel.
When I was small, I met on the street an enthusiastic Protestant lady who spoke to passers-by how Jesus loved them, how He bled for them and how painful it would be … Perhaps I was impatient. I did not remember hearing her finish speaking of Jesus' resurrection and left. If instructors focus too much on how Jesus loves us by dying for us, they probably make the same mistake of putting the cart before the horse! Seeing Jesus' Passion, people at most would confess that "Truly, this was the Son of God/innocent" (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47). But all who are touched by the risen Christ are transformed into new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) who lead a Christ-centred life and see the world with Christ's eyes! For example, the two disciples on the way to Emmaus who left Jerusalem in despair met the risen Lord. They turned back with inflamed hearts (Luke 24:13-35). Paul is another exemplar. No matter how enthusiastic towards ancestral traditions, the former Saul did not have the honour to encounter God like his fathers: Abraham, Jacob, Moses and David etc. did until the day he encountered the risen Jesus Christ on the way to Damascus. This shattering experience forced him to evaluate what he had been taught. Subsequently in his preaching and writings, Paul was able to interpret Mosaic laws in the light of resurrection and to establish the theology of "Justification by Faith".
From the experiences of the apostles, we learn that Jesus Christ renews them in the ways He comes to fulfil the Mosaic laws. He polishes the innate essence of humanity which has been contaminated by greed and complacency! I believe that catechists should do the same with the catechumens by renewing their habits, literacy, world-view and modus operandi.
May the Holy Spirit continue to patiently guide us and renew us as well as the catechumens. Let them enjoy the freedom and joy of becoming new-born children of our Father.
God bless!
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