主題：我信從宗徒傳下來的教會
曾讀過一篇，相信是基督新教的學者寫的，有關伯多祿是「磐石」的作品。作者懂得從希臘文入手，讀來頗有說明力。他說原文的πέτρα，不一定是磐石，也可以是石頭、石塊stone！我們天主教為了保障自己的地位，過份抬舉了伯多祿。建基在伯多祿這樣不堪的「石頭」上，真是岌岌可危！
其實，基督信仰的基礎，是耶穌基督，絕對不是伯多祿。是基督替我們釘十字架，伯多祿釘十字架殉道，並不是為了救贖我們，而是為了見證信仰。基督復活升天了，伯多祿的復活和升天與否，已超出新約作者所能記載的範疇了。耶穌基督自己曾引用聖詠，指出自己就是「匠人棄而不用的廢石，反而成了屋角的基石」（詠118:21，瑪21:42）。初期教會的宣講，也喜歡引用這段聖詠（宗4:11，伯前2:7）。這「廢石」的希臘文原文是λίθος，有異於「磐石」πέτρα。（可惜「屋角的基石」的原文，無論是希伯來文或是希臘文，是「頭」和「屋角」，並沒有運用「石」字。）
在原罪的氛圍下生活，人人都有缺點。要從伯多祿，從十二宗徒或者特朗普、普京和特區一眾的高官身上找缺點，一點也不難。令人詫異的，是天父竟然召選了這些「廢石」，這些不堪當的人，來成就祂的旨意！今天互聯網發達，大家很容易接收到資訊，不再像從前一樣無知。大家有獨立的思考能力，不會被文宣所蒙蔽，有能力作出客觀判斷。掌權者既然擁有這麼大的公權力，理應負責任地為人民服務。可惜我們所見的掌權者，竟然做出這麼多反智的決定，真令人莫名其妙，慨歎不已！注意，不是掌權者的決策不符合我的心意，所以我覺得他們反智。而是人民的眼睛是雪亮的！不是一少撮「反對派」的政見，而是越來越不沉默的大多數人的共識！他們默默地承擔著掌權者「殘民以自肥」的苛政，有誰替他們申冤呢（瑪25:40）？
從更宏觀的信仰角度看，其實也是教宗方濟各不斷提出的呼籲。例如，他說：「基督信仰生活是一場永續的搏鬥…這也是一場與魔鬼、邪惡之王的長期搏鬥。」（【你們要歡喜踴躍】#158-159）魔鬼並非神話，它非常願意我們相信它並不存在！但是，相信天主，相信天主創造了有形和無形的天地萬物，我們又怎能否定靈界的存在呢？這樣的否定，豈不是自相矛盾嗎？所以大家所見到的反智政策，除了是自私的貪婪之外，除了是掌權者為了維護自私利益所建立的剝削制度外，背後還有更深層的因素！我們的對手，不單是可見的掌權者，更是不可見的魔鬼。
今天耶穌對伯多祿說：「你是伯多祿，在這磐石上，我要建立我的教會，陰間的門決不能戰勝她。」（瑪16:18）〔很有趣，為甚麼是「門」？，「陰間的門」是指魔鬼嗎？今天沒有時間深入默想，祇說一句：耶穌基督是「羊的門」（若10:7）〕所以，教會除了倡議和參予社會公義之外，還要在另一戰線與魔鬼搏鬥。教會有能力嗎？她自己當然沒有，但天主有！
這教會是「惟一」的。但不可不知，惟一的天主是三位一體的。所以教會的惟一，是包容多元的合一，而不是統一！在世界各地不同的本地教會，各有自己的文化特色；各基督教派有不同的傳統，卻是信奉同一的主、行同一的洗禮。
這教會是「神聖」的，並不是因為她是由神聖的成員所組成。這樣的話，祇有精英纔可得救！按伯多祿的教導，她是由接近了耶穌基督而成為「活石」的信徒所建構而成的，一座屬於天主的教會（伯前2:4-5）！
這神聖的教會也是「至公」的，即普世的。她不分種族、語言和習俗，收容了各式各樣的「廢石」，讓天主把他們改變成為，裝飾新耶路撒冷城牆基石的寶石（默21:19）。因此，倘若將來在天上遇見特朗普等人，發現天主真的為他們在天上留了一席位，不要奇怪！
最後，這教會是「由宗徒傳下來」的。天主教強調伯多祿是第一任教宗、今天的教宗方濟各是第二百六十六們掌門人、所有主教的按立，可以追溯到十二宗徒…這是多麼令人安心！不過，這是歷史的偶然，更重要的，是天主教代代相傳的「聖傳」!甚麼是聖傳？因為聖經不能盡錄耶穌基督所有的行實（若20:30-31），我們的信仰，有賴門徒的口耳相傳。所以能保存這些從宗徒傳下來的傳統，再經後世教會的訓導，保證其正確性，就是「從宗徒傳下來」的意義！
各位兄弟姊妹，我們有幸蒙召成為宗徒傳下來的教會中的一員，不要妄自菲薄，覺得自己很不堪當。這不是謙遜的表現，反而是否定天主的慈愛與全能！我們可能對教會領袖很失望，對政府高官很失望。請不要停留在失望中，因為對人失望，就是對按自己肖像創造卻令你失望的天主失望！對天主失望、懷疑，是魔鬼常用的技倆！小心！讓我們為所有不堪當的人祈禱，願天父的旨意，能順利地在她們身上開展。
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：wikipedia.com
Twenty First Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: I Believe in the Apostolic Church
Once I read an article written by, I believe, a Protestant author questioning the firmness of Peter as the Rock of the Church. The author was rather persuasive because he began with the Greek original. He said, the Greek word "πέτρα" does not necessarily mean rock. It could simply be a stone! We Catholics want to elevate Peter in order to defend our status. Building upon such a weakling as Peter is definitely shaky!
In fact, Jesus Christ is the foundation of Christianity, not Peter. It was Christ crucified for us. Peter's martyrdom on the cross is martyrdom, bearing witness. Christ resurrected and ascended into heaven. Whether St. Peter had come back to life and ascended is beyond the narrative scope of New Testament authors. Once Jesus Christ described Himself as "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." (Psalm 118:21, Matthew 21:42) The early Church also liked quoting this psalm (Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7). This "rejected stone" is "λίθος" in Greek, different from "πέτρα", the rock. (Unfortunately, the original word for "cornerstone", whether in Hebrew or in Greek, is "head" and "corner". No "stone" can be found anywhere.)
But have we over-elevated Peter by translating "πέτρα" into "rock"? Let's find out how Matthew used the word "πέτρα" in the other parts of the gospel. They include, "built his house on rock" (7:24); the moment Jesus died, "rocks were split" (27:51) and lastly, Jesus' corpse was laid in a new tomb that was "hewn in the rock" (27:60). In the same breath, Matthew continued to use "λίθος" to describe "rolling a huge stone across the entrance of the tomb". Therefore, "λίθος" is not necessarily a rejected stone! From this verse in Matthew, it is obvious that rock is more massive and solid than a huge stone. On the other hand, the First Letter of Peter also uses "λίθος" to describe believers as living stones to be built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). It does not suggest any sense of foundation. Since it is a stone rejected by builders, it cannot be huge! The wonderful part of this verse is, when this unworthy, rejected stone falls into God's hand, it is turned into the cornerstone of a house! Therefore, when Jesus quoted this psalm, the focus was God's wonder, "By the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes" (Psalm 118:23, Matthew 21:42). Here is a digression. The Greek word of "foundation stone θεμέλιος" is made up of "to bury θέμα" and "stone λίθος". For example, the Book of Revelation mentions the New Jerusalem descending from heaven. "The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles" (Revelation 21:14). Once a stone is laid on the ground, the earth would support it to become the foundation of buildings! The real foundation is not the foundation stone, but the Earth!
Living in the milieu of Original Sin, everybody is flawed. It is not a bit difficult to find faults with Peter, with the Twelve Apostles, with Trump, with Putin and with the upper echelon of the SAR etc. The heavenly Father surprises us by calling these unworthy "rejected stones" to do His will! With the popularizing of the Internet, all of us are no longer ignorant because we are able to gain access to information. We have the ability to make independent judgment and without being persuaded by propagandas. People in power are delegated authority to serve the people in responsible manners. Regrettably, we only see them making mind-boggling stupid policies one after another. Be noted. I judge that their policies defy common sense, not because I do not buy their ideas. People's vision is twenty-twenty! It is not the political view of the minority opposition party, but the consensus of a not so silent majority today! They quietly shoulder the harsh administration of power brokers whose aim is to fatten themselves at the expense of the people. Who will render the people justice (Matthew 25:40)?
From a more macro-religious perspective, which Pope Francis has been always been advocating, e.g. he says, "The Christian life is a constant battle … It is a constant struggle against the devil, the prince of evil" (Gaudete et Exsultate #158-159), the Devil is not a myth. It definitely wants us to believe its non-existence! But since we believe in the Father, Maker of all things visible and the invisible, how can we deny the existence of the spiritual realm? It is contradictory to deny it. Therefore, all these stupid policies are more than selfish greed, or exploiting institutions established by people in power to perpetuate their interests. There is a deeper being behind! Our struggle is not simply against power brokers, but the invisible Devil.
Today, Jesus speaks to Peter, "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18). [Very interesting! Why "gate"? Does "gates of the netherworld" mean the devils? Today there is no time for further meditation. I only say, Jesus is "the gate of the sheep" (John 10:7)] Therefore, not only does the Church advocate and promote social justice, but she also engages in a struggle against the Devil. Is she capable? She's not, but God is!
She is One. Let it be known that the One God is a Trinity. Therefore, there is plurality in the oneness of the Church. She is a communion of plurality, not uniformity! There are local churches with different cultural characteristics all over the world. The different Christian denominations have different traditions. But they all believe in one Lord and confess one baptism.
This Church is Holy not because she is made up of holy members. If she were, only elites would be saved! According to Peter's teaching, she is made up of living stones by coming close to Jesus Christ to be built into a spiritual house belonging to God (1 Peter 2:4-5)!
This Holy Church must also be Catholic, i.e. universal. She embraces all sorts of "rejected stones" regardless of their races, languages and customs. Let God transform them into precious stone to decorate the walls of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19). Therefore, don't be surprised to meet Trump et. al. and discover that God really has reserved a room for each of them in heaven!
Lastly, this Church is Apostolic. Catholicism emphasizes that Peter was the first pope and Francis is the 266th, and that all the consecration of bishops can be traced all the way back to the twelve Apostles etc. How reassuring! But this is only a historical coincidence. The more important element is the Tradition handed down through ages within the Catholic Church! What is Tradition? Since the Bible is unable to contain all the words and deeds of Jesus Christ (John 20:30-31), our faith relies on the oral tradition of the disciples. The ability to preserve the tradition handed down from the Apostles, and guaranteed its truthfulness by the Magisterium of the Church through the ages is the meaning of the Apostolicity of the Church!
Brethren! We are blessed to be called to become members of the Apostolic Church. Don't look down upon yourselves because of your unworthiness. This is not humility. On the contrary, it is a denial of the mercy and omnipotence of God! We may be disappointed with Church leaders, disappointed with the State leaders. But don't stay in despair because disappointment with humanity is disappointment with God who created humanity in His own image! Disappointment with and doubt of God is the usual tricks of the Devil! Beware! Let us pray for those unworthy people. May God's will be done with them.
God bless!
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