法律定下最低的要求 Laws Set the Minimum Requirements

常年期第三十主日，甲年
主題：法律定下最低的要求

耶穌基督在今天的福音中說：「全部法律和先知，都繫於這兩條誡命」（瑪22：40），有甚麼意思呢？在默想當中的道理之前，讓我們了解一些背景。
耶穌生活的年代，猶太人的「法律」是指聖經最開始的五本書。相傳是梅瑟從天主領受的，又稱為「梅瑟五書」。最有名的法律，即「十誡」，就是記載在《出谷紀》和《申命紀》之中。此外，還有很多法律條文，散見五書之中。猶太教的經師，從五部書中，找到一共613條法律，包括365條負面的法律，例如「除我以外，你不可有別的神」（出20：3）和248條正面的法律，例如「應記住安息日，守為聖日」（20：8）等等。除了宗教性的法律之外，還有更多與現實生活有關，例如婚姻、遺產承繼、經濟交易、賠償、公共衛生和刑事等等的法律。

猶太人清楚明白自己是天主的「特選民族」（19：5），從亞巴郎到達味，從達味到亡國充軍，從巴比倫到羅馬帝國（瑪1:1-17），他們深刻地體驗到自己生活在被罪惡污染了的世界。因為這些「法律」是天主傳授給梅瑟的，所以他們遵守這些法律，便可以獲得天主的救贖！這些觀念，與我們今天的法律觀念，有很大分別。今天的法律，是為了使現代人在商業社會中順利運作，促進經濟發達。出現糾紛時，有一個中立的第三者作出仲裁。雖然今天的法律精神，強調公平，人人獲得平等的對待和人權受到保障等等。可是，在經濟掛帥的大前提下，法律條文往往向企業家傾斜，對工人的保障非常不足。猶太人的法律，卻是生活的指標，是獲得天主救贖的惟一方法。注意，耶穌基督肯定了梅瑟法律的價值（5：17-18）。

今天的福音，看到熟悉法律的人，竟然玩弄法律，挑戰耶穌基督。可見，法律條文是死的，倘若不是本著法律的精神施行，好的法律，也會成為「食人的禮教」！例如，撒杜塞人忘記了「代兄弟納嗣」（申25：5-6）的法律精神，竟用這條法律，設計一個邏輯困局，否定「復活」的真理（瑪22:23-32）。其實當時沒有社會福利的綜援制度，寡婦的生活得不到保障，所以梅瑟設計「代兄弟納嗣」的法律，保障尚有生育能力的寡婦！除此之外，梅瑟的法律，要求土地的主人大方，不要收割到地邊（肋19：9-10），應留給有需要的人，例如孤兒寡婦甚至路過的人摘取。這種對有需要的人的慷慨，既填補了社會保障制度的不足，更是修德養性的操練。可是，有法利塞人卻批評耶穌和祂的門徒，在「安息日」掐食田間的麥粒，挑剔耶穌不守安息日的法律（瑪12:2）！本來法律是為人服務，造就人，幫助人成為一個有道德的人。可以，世上玩弄法律，損人利己的人，實在太多了！

古今中外的法律，都是提出最低的要求，劃出底線，保障人與人之間的互動，可以公平地，順利地進行。例如，納稅給政府。收入少的交稅少，收入多的交稅多，這是公平的。納稅額亦是最低的要求，因為不納稅便是犯法了。當然，你支持政府的政策，所以交雙倍甚至三倍的稅，這是你的慷慨，你的美德！很奇怪，今天福音中指出的最大誡命是，竟是「你應全心、全靈、全力/意，愛上主你的天主。」（申6：5，瑪22：37）試問「全心、全靈、全意」，怎會是最低的要求呢？看來似是一個理想，一個儒家思想所謂的「止於至善」。理想不是人人可以達標，做不到是可以接受的。倘若「最大誡命」不是理想，而是一條法律，必須做到，這豈不是一條無法做到的法律嗎？

無法做到的法律是沒有意義的。例如，捐血救人是善事，因為血庫存量不足，於是政府立法，要求人人每月捐血！即使健康的人也無法每月捐血！這是一條善意的「惡法」，因為沒有人能夠遵守！天主又怎會立下「惡法」呢？難道天主要求所有人做神父修女，天天由早到晚，在聖堂內祈禱唸經嗎？再沒有人會為神父修女洗衫煮飯了，因為他們也要全心、全靈、全意、全力愛天主，在聖堂內唸經祈禱啊！天主願意看見世界變成這樣嗎？

退一步想，天主自己是自由的。祂按自己的肖像創造了人，給了人類高度的自主權。祂決不會立法強迫我們去信祂，去愛祂，因為強迫的愛是沒有幸福的！所以，祂來一個君子協定，與以色列人訂下「西乃山盟約」，邀請他們自願遵守梅瑟法律，成為天主的特選民族。後來，祂與全人類訂下「加爾瓦略山盟約」，邀請願意領洗入教的我們，相信耶穌基督是天主子，並遵守祂的教訓（28:20），成為天父的子女，分享天主的永生。兩個盟約都是自願的，沒有強迫的！

但愛很奇怪，愛是不可能有所保留的！為甚麼呢？因為天主是愛（若一4:8，16），所以愛是絕對的。且看，為了拯救人類，天主傾出自己的一切，降生成人，死在十字架上！所以，當我們越能愛祂，便越能接近祂，越能肖似祂。有朝一日，當我們能「全心、全靈、全意」愛天主的時候，我們已達到與天主完全結合的地步。這不但是作為天主肖像的人類，作為天主子民的我們的目標和理想；不但是回應天主的一份慷慨邀請，而是一項命令，因為愛是絕對的，沒有其他的選擇，沒有其他的選項了。所以「最大誡命」，既是最低的要求，亦是最高的理想！

各位兄弟姊妹，不要覺得沒有可能做到而氣餒，「因為在天主前沒有不能的事」（路1:37）。當我們感到軟弱時，求祂吧！祂樂意「將聖神賜與求祂的人」（11:13）。藉著聖神的幫助，我們必定能夠全心、全靈、全意愛上主，並愛人如己。
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia

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Thirtieth Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: Laws Set the Minimum Requirements

In the gospel passage today, Jesus says, "The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:40) What does it mean? Before we meditate on the teachings, let us clarify the background.
In Jesus' time, Torah meant the first five books of the Scriptures. It is believed that God gave these laws to Moses. Thus, they are also called the "Pentateuch". The most famous laws, the Ten Commandments, can be found in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. Other than these, many laws are found scattered among the five books in which the Jewish scribes were able to identify 613, including 365 negative laws such as "You shall not have other gods beside me" (Exodus 20:3) and 248 positive laws such as "Remember the Sabbath Day. Keep it holy." (20:8) On top of these religious laws, there are many others that deal with daily living such as marriage, inheritance, business transactions, compensation, public hygiene and crimes etc.

The Jews knew very well that they were God's treasured possession among all peoples (19:5). They understood perfectly that they were living in a sins-infested world. Since these laws were handed down from God, obeying them would receive God's redemption! This idea is very much different from the legal concepts nowadays. The laws todays aim at facilitating the smooth running of a commercial society for modern people so that the economy may prosper. When disputes arise, there shall be an impartial third party to settle them. Although the spirit of modern laws advocates fairness, equal treatment of all people and the protection of human rights, in front of the major premise of economic prosperity, the letters of the law favour the entrepreneurs. Workers' rights are not adequately protected. However, Jewish Torah is a guideline for daily living and the only way to receive God's redemption. Be aware that Jesus Christ affirms the value of the Mosaic laws (5:17-18).

In the gospel passage today, some people who were familiar with the laws made use of the laws to challenge Jesus Christ. Thus, the letters of the law are dead. If the law is executed without its spirit, it can devour man whom it is meant to serve! For example, the Sadducees ignored the spirit of Levirate Marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) and designed a logical thought experiment to deny the truth of resurrection (Matthew 22:23-32). A point in fact, there was no comprehensive social security in those days. The livelihood of widows was not covered. Thus, Moses designed the law of Levirate Marriage to protect widows who were still able to bear children! Other than that, Mosaic laws demand land owners to be generous, not to reap the harvest so thoroughly to the very edge of the field (Leviticus 19:9-10). Leave behind something for the needy, such as orphans, widows and even aliens, to feed upon. This generosity filled the gaps of social security and also built up one's virtues. However, some Pharisees criticised Jesus and his disciples for plucking grains on Sabbath, doing what was unlawful on Sabbath (Matthew 12:2)! Laws are supposed to serve men, to facilitate them and help them become virtuous. Unfortunately, there are far too many people with legal savvy that manipulate the laws to benefit themselves!

Whether ancient or modern, Western or Eastern, all laws set the minimum requirements for human behaviours, the bottom line to protect interpersonal interactions so that they may proceed smoothly and fairly. For example, take the case of paying tax to the government. The more you earn the more tax you pay. That is fair. The amount of tax to pay is also the minimum requirement. Not paying tax is a crime. Of course, if you support the government and pay double or treble your tax, that's your generosity and virtue! Strangely, the gospel says the greatest commandment is "You shall love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind" (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37). How can "all your heart, all your soul, all your mind" be the minimum requirement? It looks more like an ideal, a Confucian "Stop Only at Perfect Good". Not everybody may achieve the target. Not fulfilling an ideal is acceptable. If the greatest commandment is NOT an ideal but a law which must be done, isn't it an unachievable law?
An unachievable law is meaningless. For example, blood donation is a good thing. Now that the blood bank is running short of blood, the government passes a law demanding everybody to donate blood once a month! Even healthy people are unable to do so! This is an evil law with a good intention because nobody is able to obey! How can God set up an evil law? Does God want everybody to become priests and nuns, praying all days and nights inside the church? Nobody is going to cook or launder for priests and nuns because cooks and laundrymen too need to love God with all their hearts, with all their souls and with all their minds, praying inside the church! Does God want to see a world as such?

Take a step back. God Himself is free. Thus, He gives high autonomy to men who were created in His image. He would not impose laws to force us to believe in Him or to love Him because no happiness can come about in love under duress! Thus, He came up with a gentleman agreement. He entered into the Sinai Covenant with the Israelites, inviting them to obey Mosaic laws to become the Chosen People of God. Later, He entered into the Calvary Covenant with all humanity, inviting us to be baptised into the Church. By believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and obeying His teaching (28:20), we become God's children partaking in His eternal life. These two covenants are voluntary, not imposed!

But love is amazing. Love is incapable of reservation! Why? It is because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). Therefore love is absolute. Look at God. In order to deliver us from sins, He pours Himself out, took up flesh and died on the cross! Thus the more we love Him, the closer we get near Him and the more we look like Him. One day, when we are able to love Him with all our hearts, with all our souls and with all our minds, we shall be totally united with Him. This is not an ideal of men as images of God, or of the People of God. Not only is it a response to God's generous invitation, but it is also an order. It is because love is absolute. There are no other options. Thus the greatest commandment is the minimum requirement and the highest ideal at the same time!

Brethren! Don't be discouraged when you feel that it is an impossible mission "for nothing will be impossible for God" (Luke 1:37). When we feel weak, beg Him! He is happy "to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him" (11:13) With the support of the Holy Spirit, we are able to love the Lord with all our hearts, with all our souls and with all our minds as well as loving our neighbour as ourselves.
God bless!

我在這裡，請派遣我！ Here I Am, Send Me!

傳教節，甲年
主題：我在這裡，請派遣我！

雖然說，每個人都是天主獨特的創造，所以每個人成聖的道路不一樣；但萬變不離其宗，成聖就是看每個人對天主的愛有多深。天主所想念的，成了我們所想念的；天主所鍾愛的，成了我們所鍾愛的，還不成聖嗎？當人類生活在被罪惡污染了的環境下，愛天主的心志受到了障礙，走成聖的路變得艱難。天主對我們不離不棄，大發慈悲，主動派遣聖子來到世上，拯救我們，幫助我們。耶穌基督在約旦河受洗的時候，天父親自作證耶穌基督是祂所喜悅的愛子（瑪3:17）。所以，愛慕耶穌基督，服從祂的命令行事，應該離奉行天父的旨意不遠（6:10）。

我們有幸領受洗禮，加入教會，在這個得救的大家庭裡共融生活，互相扶持，體現天主聖三的內在共融生命。在波濤汹湧的人海中，教會有如一艘救生艇，給予遇溺者一線生機。時日久遠，這救生艇變成了一艘豪華郵輪，船上的人過著舒適安全的生活，令人羨慕，但另一方面，亦令部份人自慚形穢，不敢加入！

在他們眼中，信教的人很虔誠，而且高不可攀。論社會地位，教徒多是賺錢能力高的成功人士，佔據了社會的中上層。談吐間，教徒常把耶穌掛在嘴邊，能說高超瀟灑的理論；他們經常在神聖而寧靜的教堂內祈禱，和出席名人的慈善籌款晚會。現在手機大行其道，在群組中經常收到不少他們轉發的短訊，內容多是寫得很漂亮的哲理！教徒就是這樣愛他們的天主嗎？

福音告訴我們，天主是主動的，有如善牧。祂知道亡羊不懂得如何返回安全的羊棧，便放下九十九隻羊，跑出去尋找牠（18:12）。但是大部份的教徒，放不下身處的安樂窩。他們祇做一些慣性的事務，不思進取，不回應時局的變化，十年如一日，依然故我地虔誠！多年來他們為聖召祈禱，卻不會鼓勵自己的子女加入獻身生活的行列；他們會捐助傳教活動經費，卻不會在現場出現，頂多遠距離「報佳音」、派傳單，卻不願意走入人群中，與人交談，分享得救蒙恩的喜樂。

天主是慷慨的，祂不會吝惜自己所付出的一切，不會計較人類是否堪當，祇要他們肯相信祂所派遣的天主子，便毫無保留地賜予恩寵！信徒呢？和大部份沒有信仰的人一樣，斤斤計較別人對他們有沒有益處。倘若沒有，便置諸不理。向教外人講耶穌？我沒有神學訓練，我不善辭令…我還是把精力放到其他更有可為的事業去罷！保祿宗徒不是說：「眾人能都作宗徒？豈能都做先知？豈能都做教師？」（格前12:29）各司其職便是好！多漂亮的辭令，多熟悉的經文啊！

的確，我們不是天主，不可能像天主一樣慷慨、像天主一樣主動，但最低限度，我們也應該有主動，有慷慨的意志吧！我們總不應以便宜的，不假思索的轉發來歷不明短訊的行為，取代與人分享蒙恩得救經驗的機會；不應盤算成敗得失之後，纔向「有機會」信主的人游說。是的，被拒絕是掉臉的，不好受的。可是，沒有經過磨難，我們又怎可能成長，怎可能完美呢？不經過奮鬥得來的成就，又怎會珍惜呢？他日在天主的審判台前，我們又可以拿甚麼來交代呢？

我們領受入門聖事時，不是從堅振聖事領受了聖神嗎？我們的聖神七恩去了哪？我們選擇安逸，而不是思念天上的事（哥3:2），怕增添煩惱。聖神的智慧去了哪？跟隨世俗的一般見識，不知道「磨難生忍耐…」（羅5:3），不知道「天主的國…在於義德、平安以及在聖神內的喜樂」（14:17）聖神的聰敏去了哪？貪圖虛榮，彼此挑撥、互相嫉妒，而不是隨從聖神的引導行事（迦5:25-26），聖神的超見去了哪？明哲保身，臨危退縮（弟後4:16），聖神的剛毅去了哪？依附權貴，堅持一己學識，輕視聖經和教會的教導（3:16），聖神的明達去了哪？沉迷於世俗和老婦的無稽傳說，忘記了虔敬上的操練（弟前4:7），聖神的孝愛去了哪？出於懼怕而屈服於那殺害肉身，而不能殺害靈魂的政權，而不害怕那能使靈魂和肉身陷於地獄中的（瑪10:28），聖神的敬畏上主去了哪？「敬畏上主是智慧的肇基」（箴9:10），難怪連聖神的智慧也失掉了！聖神有如活水，失去了聖神，我們的心靈有如一塊在震怒之日無雨無水之地（則22:24），有如枯骨（37:11-14），沒有半點生命氣息！

各位兄弟姊妹，倘若我們的信仰生活變得慣性，死氣沉沉，好像找不到出路的話，我們又怎能服從耶穌基督的命令，使萬民成為門徒（瑪28:19）呢？不服從救主的命令，又怎樣承行天父的旨意呢？不要氣餒，因為天主是主動的，祂對我們不離不棄。求祂罷！天父很樂意慷慨地將聖神賜與求祂的人（路11:13）。讓我們充滿聖神，滿溢仁愛，關懷未信主的人的安危、與他們分享得救的喜樂、獲得聖神的平安和安慰。縱使世人視而不見，聽而不聞，讓我們仍能放心大膽地向天父說：「我在這裡，請派遣我」（依6:8）。
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：freebibleimages.org

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Mission Sunday, Year A
Theme: Here I Am, Send Me!

Although each one of us is unique as a creature of God and our path of sanctification is not the same, sanctification is nothing but how much we love God. Think what God thinks and love what God loves. Isn't it sanctification? When we are living in a sin infested world, our will to love God is hindered and the path of sanctification becomes demanding. But God does not forsake us. Out of mercy, the Father sent His beloved Son to deliver us and to help us. When Jesus Christ was baptized in the River Jordan, the Father bore witness that Christ is His beloved Son with whom He is well pleased (Matthew 3:17). Thus, loving Jesus Christ and obeying His commandment should not be far from doing the will of the Father (6:10).

We are blessed to have been baptized into the Church. In this big family of the redeemed, we lead a life of communion, supporting each other and actualizing the inner communion life of the Blessed Trinity. In this turbulent world, the Church is like a lift boat, giving the drowning people a ray of hope. As time goes by, this lift boat has become a luxury ocean liner in which passengers are leading a life of comfort and safety. It is admirable but some would feel too ashamed to join.

In their eyes, church-goers are pious and lofty. As for their social status, church-goers are successful people with high earning power, occupying the middle and upper classes of the society. In their high-sounding talks, Jesus' name is always invoked. They pray in sacred and tranquil churches and appear in celebrity charity shows. Now that mobile phones have become a necessity, church-goers always forward short message of poetically written philosophies. Are these ways of loving their God?

The gospels tell us that God takes the initiative like a good shepherd. He knows that the lost sheep does not know the way back to the fold. Thus, He leaves behind the ninety-nine other sheep and goes in search of the stray (18:12). But most church-goers do not get out of their comfort zones. They do routines only, not proactive, do not respond to social changes and are as pious as they have always been for decades! Year after year, they pray for vocation but never encourage their children to join the consecrated. They donate to evangelical activities but do not appear on the ground. At most, they sing carols from a distance and do not go into the crowd to engage in dialogues to share the joy of salvation.

God is generous. He does not count the costs and does not screen for the qualified. Whoever believes in the Son He sent, He shall grant them grace without reservation! How are the church-goers? Like most unbelievers, they calculate to see if they would gain any benefit before they act. If there is no benefit, they don't bother. How can I tell the story of Jesus to non-believers? I have no theological training and I am not fluent … Better put my energy elsewhere! Paul says, "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?" (1 Corinthians 12:29) We had better occupy our proper positions! How beautiful such excuses are and how knowledgeable the scriptures!

Truly, we are not God. We are not as generous and take the initiative like God. But at least, we should have the will to be generous and the will to take the initiative! We should never forward messages from unknown sources without a thought to replace the opportunity to share our joy of deliverance. Nor should we assess the costs and only after that do we begin persuading "potentially successful candidates" to believe in Jesus! It is true that we lose face when we are rejected. We feel bad about it. However, if we do not go through hardship, shall we grow up and shall we become perfect? Will we treasure achievements which come without challenge? On Judgment Day, what could we put before God to account for the talents He gave us?

Didn't we receive the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Rites of Christian Initiation? Where have the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit gone? We don't want to get into troubles. We choose comfort and security instead of thinking of what is above (Colossians 3:2). Where has our Wisdom of the Holy Spirit gone? We follow the crowd and know not that "affliction produces endurance …" (Romans 5:3), not knowing that "the Kingdom of God is … righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (14:17). Where has our Understanding of the Holy Spirit gone? Being conceited, we provoke one another. We are envious of one another and follow not the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25-26). Where has our Counsel of the Holy Spirit gone? Concerned with self-preservation and dare not to put up a fight in view of adversity (2 Timothy 4:16), Where has our Fortitude of the Holy Spirit gone? Bending our knees to people in power, insist on our knowledge and ignore the teachings of the Bible and of the Church (3:16), Where has our Knowledge of the Holy Spirit gone? Indulging in profane and silly myths and forget training in devotion (1 Timothy 4:7), Where has our Piety of the Holy Spirit gone? Bending our knees to "those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul" out of fear but are not afraid of "the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna" (Matthew 10:28), Where has our Fear of the Lord gone? "The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord." (Proverbs 9:10) No wonder the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit has vanished. The Holy Spirit is like a living water losing which, our soul is like "an unclean land receiving no rain at the time of God's fury" (Ezekiel 22:24), like dry and lifeless bones (37:1-4)!

Brethren! If our spiritual life has become routine, dry and lifeless, and we fail to see any exit ahead, how can we obey Jesus Christ's commandment to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19)? Not obeying the commandment of the Saviour, how can we do the Father's will? Don't be discouraged because God is happy to take the initiative. He will never forsake us. Ask! The Father in heaven is very much happy to give generously the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13). Be filled with the Holy Spirit, overflowing with love to care about the safety of those who have not yet believed. Share with them the joy of salvation so that they may receive the peace and consolation of the Holy Spirit. Even if people look but not see and listen but not hear, let us be bold to say to the Father, "Here I am! Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)
God bless!

禮服是天主供應的 God Provides the Wedding Garment

常年期第廿八主日，甲年
主題：禮服是天主供應的

聖經的確是一座寶山，內裡有很多寶藏，有待發掘。
相信大家一定記得《創世紀》原祖犯罪的故事，當他們被逐出樂園的時候，「上主天主為亞當和他的妻子做了件皮衣，給他們穿上。」（創3:21）給犯了罪的原祖穿上皮衣，是一個天主憐愛罪人的鮮明形象！人憑自己的能力，祇能「用無花果樹葉，編了個裙子圍身」（3:7），算不上甚麼衣服！這裡，包含了很豐富的默想材料，最特出的，就是人類憑一己的努力，絕不能拯救自己，不能改善自己。是否執事想多了嗎？在釋經的時候，有意無意地添加了個人的臆斷？

天主怎樣愛罪人呢？像耶穌所說，天父「使太陽上升，光照惡人，也光照善人；降雨給義人，也給不義的人」（瑪5:45）嗎？即是說，天主泛愛世人，一視同仁地照顧他們的日常需要。天主對罪人的愛，當然不祇於此！撒羅滿王和聖詠的作者，在祈禱中這樣說：「上主天主，願祢的司祭身披救援，願祢的聖徒在幸福中歡樂」（編下6:40，詠132:9）！除了天主外，還有誰可以給司祭披上救援呢？原來，天主給亞當和他的妻子穿上皮衣，是表示天主沒有放棄犯了罪的人類，決意賜給全人類救恩的意思。聖經另一處，指出天主給人穿上的，不是別的，而是救恩。「祂給我穿上救恩的衣服，給我披上義德的外衣，使我有如頭戴花冠的新郎，有如佩帶珍珠的新娘」（依61:10）。所以，執事沒有添加個人臆說，每當聖經記載天主給人穿上衣服時，是表示天主以救恩，覆蓋人類。且看！婚宴的形象漸漸顯露出來了！

今天的比喻，告訴我們天主在天上，為人類預備了豐盛的宴會。首先被邀請的人，就是在人類歷史中，被天主所揀選的民族，即以色列人。天主計劃使他們成為萬民的「福源」（創12:3），借助他們，使全人類獲得救恩。天主沒有從人類中，揀選一個順服的民族，偏偏挑選一個極其執拗的民族，作為選民（申9:6, 13），擔當這個「福源」的角色。天主的確喜歡挑戰，捨易行難！另一方面，天主是公平的，以色列人並沒有「贏在起跑線」，沒有獲得先手之利。的確，「被召的人多，被選的人少」（瑪22:14），人人都有蒙召的機會，可是，每個人的價值觀都不一樣。有些人思念天上的事（哥3:1），要知道，第一代基督徒中，絕大部份是猶太人。有些人卻注重眼前的事業（瑪22:5），極端的甚至覺得天主的代言人，是他們事業上的障礙，除之而後快（22:6）！結果，他們招來天主的復仇，在公元七十年，聖城被圍，聖殿被毀（申32:35，瑪22:7）。結果，救恩的大門，直接開放給外邦人了！

說也奇怪，天主好像沒有設定參加婚宴的條件，沒有選擇某類人可以成為賓客，而是「無論壞人好人」（22:10），祇要肯回應召叫的人，便可以加入。那麼，後來巡視參加者有沒有穿著禮服（22:11），冷不提防國王使「穿著禮服」成了參加婚宴的條件，是否矛盾，是否不合理呢？倘若參加婚宴的人是窮人，沒有錢買禮服，要求他穿禮服出席婚宴，豈不是不公義嗎？
聖奧思定在解釋禮服時，祇憑信德就可以受洗，加人教會。所以，無論壞人好人，祇要對耶穌基督懷有信德，同樣可以得救，同樣可以參加天國的婚宴（羅8:22）。即是說，不要妄想教會的成員，個個都是好人，教會內一定有「壞蘋果」，一定有令人失望的人！聖奧思定進一步解釋，禮服象徵「愛德」。祇有信德，而沒有愛德的行為配合，是死的信德（雅2:26），以愛德行事的信德纔算數（迦5:6）！所以，沒有穿禮服參加婚宴的人，是指那些憑信德領了洗，以為因信可以稱義，不必履行愛德的行為，結果在末日被抽出來，「丟在外面的黑暗中」（瑪22:13）！這個解釋，仍然美中不足。原來祇是表面上沒有條件，事實上有條件！有點「搬龍門」的感覺，令人難以信服。我倒認為，天主給亞當披上救恩，其實已經為每個亞當的後裔披上了救恩。即是說，國王把邀請和禮服，一拼送上！

昨天本堂在疫情下舉行入門聖事，今天新教友穿著白衣參加主日彌撒。阮金山神父在今天的講道中，提醒所有人，領洗的時候，穿上了基督！應該保持這新生命，末日可以向天主交代！這樣的話，有禮服而不穿，不穿而受罰，客人便無從抵賴了；有基督而不穿，生活不肖似基督而受罰，基督徒無從抵賴！這禮服/白衣是甚麼？就是愛的能力！天主是愛，天主按自己的肖像做了人，即是人有愛的能力。可惜，人濫用了天主恩賜的自由，讓罪惡染污了世界，埋沒了愛的能力，有禮服而不穿。最後受罰，咎由自取。

筆者好奇在想，天主喜歡給人類穿上救恩，那麼，平日祂自己穿甚麼呢？聖詠的作者說：「上主為王，以尊威作衣冠，上主身著德能，腰束大權」（詠93:1）「祢以尊貴威嚴作祢的衣冠，身披光明，好像外氅」（104:1-2）行動時，天主穿甚麼？先知說：「祂身穿正義作鎧甲，頭戴救恩作鋼盔，身佩復仇作衣服，外披妒恨作外氅」（依59:17）。相信保祿宗徒從先知的話取得靈感，為基督徒訂造了全副武裝：「用真理作帶，…穿上正義作甲，以和平的福音作準備走路的鞋…拿起信德作盾牌…戴上救恩作盔，拿著聖神作利劍」（弗6:14-17）。

各位兄弟姊妹，參加婚宴，用不著穿上全副武裝。但前往婚宴路上，旅途凶險，全副武裝是必須的。但當你穿上基督的話，你還需要穿上全副武裝嗎？
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：medium.com/@stevenliew

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Twenty Eighth Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: God Provides the Wedding Garment

The Bible is a treasure trove. There are many treasures yet to be dug up.
I trust all of you remember the story of the fall of our First Parents in Genesis. When they were driven out of the Paradise, "The Lord God made for the man and his wife garments of skin with which He clothed them"(Genesis 3:21). Clothing the fallen First Parent with garments is a clear sign of God's mercy on sinners! With their own power, men could only "sew fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves" (3:7), not even garments! Here is much material for meditation but the most glaring one is that it is beyond human capacity to save themselves or to improve their situations. Am I reading too much into the Bible?

How does God love sinners? Like what Jesus says, our heavenly Father, "makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust."(Matthew 5:45)? That is to say, God loves all men and takes care of their daily needs indiscriminately. Of course more than that! King Solomon and the Psalmist say in their prayers, "Your priests, Lord God, will be clothed with salvation, your faithful ones rejoice in good things."(2 Chronicles 6:41, Psalm 132:9)! Who else could clothe the priests with salvation if not God? Thus, when God clothed Adam and his wife with garments, it indicates that God shall not abandon mankind and is determined to save them all. In yet another piece of text in the Bible, we find that God clothes all men with salvation. "For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, and wrapped me in a robe of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels" (Isaiah 61:10). Thus I did not read too much into the text because whenever the Bible says God clothes men with garments, it means God covers men with salvation. See? The image of a wedding banquet is emerging!

The parable today tells us that God has prepared a lavish wedding banquet for all men. The first people to be invited were historically God's Chosen People, the Israelites. God intended to make them a source of blessing for all peoples on earth (Genesis 12:3). Through them, all peoples shall be saved. God did not choose an obedient people but a stiff necked people (Deuteronomy 9:16, 13) to play the role of a source of blessing. God is truly adventurous, taking a difficult path! On the other hand, God is fair. The Israelites had not taken up the advantages and privileges of being the Chosen People. Indeed, "Many are invited, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). All are given the opportunity and called. Yet different people have different value systems. Some "seek what is above." (Colossians 3:1) Remember, most of the first generation Christians were Jews. But some focus on worldly achievements (Matthew 22:5). The more extreme ones even treated the spokesmen of God as obstacles to their success. They took action to remove them (22:6)! In the end, they invited the vengeance of God and in 70 A.D., Jerusalem was sieged and the Temple was burned down (Deuteronomy 32:35, Matthew 22:7). Consequently, the door of salvation is open wide to Gentiles!

It seems a bit strange. God seems not to have set down any condition for people to join the wedding banquet. He did not choose His guests. The servants "gathered all they found, bad and good alike" (22:10). So, everybody is welcomed. Later, the King came in to meet the guests and saw a man without wedding garment (22:11). Suddenly, the King made "wearing wedding garments" a criterion to join the banquet. Isn't it contradictory and unreasonable? What if a poor man attends this banquet? He can't afford a wedding garment. Isn't it unfair?
When St. Augustine explained this wedding garment, he said that faith is enough for baptism, and admission into the Church. Thus, as long as you believe in Jesus Christ, all can be saved and join the heavenly banquet, bad and good alike (Romans 8:22). In other words, don't fancy that all Church members are good people. There must be "rotten apples" and frustrating people. St. Augustine continues to explain that "wedding garments" symbolizes charity. Faith is dead without accompanying charity (James 2:26), "only faith working through charity counts" (Galatians 5:6)! Thus, people who attend the banquet without wedding garments are those who were baptized with faith, thinking that faith alone justifies and there's no need to do charitable works. Consequently, they would be singled out on Judgment Day, "cast into the darkness outside" (Matthew 22:13)! This explanation is still inadequate. Superficially there is no string attached but actually there is! The goal keeps moving and thus unconvincing. Rather, I'm of opinion that God clothed Adam with salvation. In fact, God has clothed all the offspring of Adam with salvation. That is to say, God sends the invitation and wedding garments together!

Yesterday, our Parish celebrated the rites of Christian initiation during the pandemic. Today, the newly baptized wore their baptismal garments to join the Sunday mass. Fr. Paul Nguyen reminded the congregation that after baptism, we put on Christ! We should preserve this new life and be accountable on the Last Day! Thus, you have the wedding garment but failed to wear it. You are punished for not wearing it. Who is to blame? Christians do not put on Christ. Christians are punished for being unchristian. Who is to blame? What is this wedding/baptismal garment? It is the ability to love! God is love. God created men in His image. Thus, men are able to love. Regrettably, men abused the freedom God gave and contaminated the world with sins, smothering the capacity of charity, not wearing the wedding garments. At last, they shall be punished for what they deserve.

The author is curious. God enjoys clothing men with salvation. What does God wear in ordinary times? The Psalmist says, "The Lord is king, robed with majesty, the Lord is robed, girded with might" (Psalm 93:1) "You are clothed with majesty and splendour, robed in light as with a cloak" (104:1-2). What does He wear in action? The prophet says, "He put on justice as His breastplate, victory as a helmet on His head; He clothed Himself with garments of vengeance, wrapped Himself in a mantle of zeal" (Isaiah 59:17). I think Paul was inspired by the prophet and created the full armour of a Christian, "… loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate … shod in readiness for the gospel of peace … faith as a shield … helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:14-17)

Brethren, we don't wear armour to attend wedding banquet. But the path to the banquet is full of perils. The armour is necessary. But when you put on Christ, do you need to wear armour?
God bless!

祈禱的榜樣 Prayer Series VI

祈禱的榜樣（路11:27-28）

聖母瑪利亞真是有福，不單是因為她懷孕過、哺育過天主子，而且她聽了天主的話而遵行！聖母瑪利亞堪稱是完美的門徒，是所有信徒的完美榜樣。她的秘訣是甚麼？

固然，天主給她特殊的恩寵，使她始胎無染原罪，不受罪惡的污染。這不是我輩凡夫俗子可以奢望的！但她對天主聖神的完全開放，是我們可以效法的。

1. 她沒有堅持自己高尚的志向，放棄了守貞服事天主，願意接受懷孕哺育天主子的艱巨任務（路1:34）。她憑甚麼可以承擔這沉重的使命呢？除了倚靠聖神的力量，還有別的嗎？
2. 她對近人的愛心，是毋庸置疑的。且看她得知年老的表姊依撒伯爾懷了孕，便急速往山區去看顧她（1:39）。這份急速，突顯了聖神的催促（谷1:12）和聖母的順從回應！
3. 她承受自己的局限，對於不明白的事物，並不勉強去明白。她祇謙遜地「默存心中，反覆思想」（2:19; 2:51），讓聖神潛移默化她！後來，在加納婚宴上，她為主人家缺了酒而求耶穌出手（若2:3），成為福音所到之處的佳話。這並不單是因為她的愛心，而是她指示僕人聽從耶穌的吩咐（2:5）！可見聖神多年來潛移默化的效果！
4. 最後，聖母能堅持到十家架下，領受天主聖子交託給她的「教會之母」任務（19:26）。並在耶穌基督升天後，默默地陪伴著教會，履行她「教會之母」的神聖使命，貫通天地，在五旬節，讓聖神再次沛降人間，誕生了教會！

聖母瑪利亞，充滿聖神的妳，確實是有福的！
聖神啊！願照天父的意願，成就於我們身上吧！亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia

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Prayer Series VI (Luke 11:27-28)

Our Lady is truly blessed, not only because she carried the Son of God in her womb and nursed Him at her breasts, but also because she hears the word of God and observes it! The Blessed Virgin is a perfect disciple and an immaculate exemplar. What's her secret?
Of course, God grants her special privileges so that she has been immaculate since conception and immune from the contamination of sins. We mere mortals dare not to dream about it! But her total openness to God is something we may follow.

1. She does not insist on her noble cause. She forsakes her ambition to serve God in chastity and is willing to talk up the Herculean burden to bear and nurse the Son of God (Luke 1:34). With what is she able to bear such a heavy burden? What else but the strength from the Holy Spirit?
2. Her charity towards the needy is indisputable. Just see how she set out and travelled to the hill country in haste once she had known that her aged cousin Elizabeth was pregnant (1:39) This haste is indicative of the drive of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:12) and her prompt response!
3. She took upon herself her limitations. For things she could not understand, she did not force herself to understand. She humbly "kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart" (2:19; 2:51) and let the Holy Spirit transform her! Later, in the wedding feast at Cana, she took the initiative to ask for Jesus' help when the wine ran short (John 2:3). Her act is immortalized not only because of her charity, but also because she instructed the servers to do whatever Jesus told them (2:5) ! Here we see the effect of the Holy Spirit's transformative work!
4. The Blessed Virgin persisted till Calvery where she was commissioned to take up the role to be the Mother of the Church (19:26). After Jesus' ascension, she quietly stayed with the disciples to discharge her role as the Mother of the Church. She became the channel through which the Holy Spirit descended to give birth to the Church on Pentecost!

Ave Maria, Spiritus Sancto plena!
Holy Spirit, be it unto us according to the Father's will. Amen.

祈禱分心 Prayer Series V

祈禱分心（路11:15-26）

從這次疫症大流行，我們最少可以學習到一個道理，就是在這個有限的物質宇宙裡，追求完美是奢望，我們必定與缺陷瑕疵生活在一起！世間總有解決不到的問題，沒有人可以不生病，沒有人可以掌握宇宙的全部知識，縱使我們有多大的悲天憫人之心，「你們常有窮人同你們在一起」（谷14:7），每天我們總會與病菌病毒生活在一起…同樣道理，教會內總有令我們失望的神職人員，有說異端的教授，我們的祈禱總有分心的時刻！

倘若祈禱必定會分心，我們便不祈禱嗎？否！不祈禱怎能與天主保持聯絡呢？
倘若祇能在清靜的內心，總能聽到天主的聲音，但我們與祂溝通的渠道，卻充滿著魔鬼的噪音，充斥著私慾偏情，那怎樣辦呢？有甚麼方法消除這些噪音呢？請神父驅魔嗎？否！我們不應輕率地請神父驅魔，因為當我們意識到自己祈禱時分心，表示我們不是完全被魔鬼操縱。所以不用請神父驅魔，反而是學習如何在噪音中，過濾出天主的聲音！

保祿宗祿告訴我們：「聖神扶助我們的軟弱，因為我們不知道我們如何祈求纔對，而聖神卻親自以無可言喻的歎息，代我們轉求。」（羅8:26）我們還需要憂慮祈禱分心嗎？昨天的讀經，不是告訴我們：「你們縱然不善，尚且知道把好東西給你們的兒子，何況在天之父，有不更將聖神賜與求祂的人嗎？」（路11:13）所以祈禱分心，是天父所容許的，祂希望我們認識自己的不足，向祂尋求協助，賜下聖神。
聖神！請降臨，使大地更生復興，我們也蒙受再生之恩。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：aleteia.org

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Prayer Series V (Luke 11:15-26)

From this pandemic, we've learnt at least one lession: that in this finite universe, pursuit of perfection is unrealistic. We'll always live with flaws! There exist problems which are beyond our capability to solve. Noone is immue to illness. Nobody knows everything in this universe. Even if we have a big heart, "the poor you will always have with you" (Mark 14:7). We live with bacteria and viruses everyday … In a similar vein, there are always disappointing clergy in the Church, heretic professors in the college and distracted moments in our prayers!

If we shall be distracted in prayers, shall we pray no more? No! How can we keep in touch with God if we stop praying?
If we can only hear God's voice in a transquil heart but this channel of communication is always filled with noises from the Devil and concupiscence, what should we do? Should we call a priest to exorcize? No! We shouldn't casually call a priest to exorcize because when we sense that we are distracted, it shows that we are not totally controlled by the Devil. There is no need for exorcism. Rather, we should learn to filter God's voice out of noises!

St. Paul tells us, "The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings." (Romans 8:26) Shall we still worry about distractions in prayers anymore? Didn't yesterday's reading say, "If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" (Luke 11:13) Thus, distractions in prayers are permitted by the Father who wants us to know our inadequacies and beg Him to give us the Holy Spirit.
Come, Holy Spirit! Thou shalt renew the face of the earth and we may be reborn again. Amen.

為別人祈禱的態度 Prayer Series IV

為別人祈禱的態度（路11:5-13）

原來為自己祈求，對其他人也有益處！

且看這個求餅的人，竟然半夜三更，擾人清夢地叩門，的確是「恬不知恥」（路11:8）。他這樣做，是因為他「沒有甚麼可以款待」那個突然出現的客人（11:6）。可能這是中東人的民族性吧，他們相信款待旅客，可能會在不知不覺中款待了天使（希13:2，創18:2f），也可能是為了面子吧！但無論如何，祈禱的其中一個動力，來自認識到自己的不足，自己的貧乏，求天主的助祐！所以祇有認清自己罪過的人，纔會謙遜地禱告；那些自以為義的人，祇會趁機在天主面前數算自己的成就（路18:9-14），其實對自己一點益處也沒有！

這個求餅的人，不是求一個餅，而是三個。我們不用猜測他們的食量，三個餅肯定足夠有餘，即使是為了自己的面子，他所求的絕對不會待慢他的客人！我們也不用猜測三個餅的象徵意義，要知道耶穌基督祇用了五餅二魚，便可以使五千人得以充飢！各位朋友，相信你一定有為朋友的需要而祈禱，例如他們要應付考試、求職、患病和旅行…等等，你有沒有好像這求餅人一樣周全呢？再進一步，你有沒有為拯救蒼生，求天主賜你傳福音的勇氣和能力呢？

所謂愛人如己，所以為別人的需要祈禱，也應該同時為自己的不足而祈禱，因為說不定，天主的旨意，就是讓你知到別人的需要和自己的不足，並安排你去幫助那位有需要的人，成為他的天使！
父啊！請賜我聖神，突破自我中心的局限。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：deviantart.com

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Prayer Series IV (Luke 11:5-13)

I've never imagined that praying for myself is beneficial to others!
Take a look at this man who persistently asked bread at midnight, disturbing his friend's sleep (Luke 11:8). He did so because he had nothing to offer an uninvited friend (11:6). Probably hospitality is an ethnic trait. People living in the Middle East believe that "some have unknowingly entertained angels." (Hebrews 11:2, Genesis 18:2f) Probably it is a matter of face! Whatever the reasons, one of the motives to pray is to seek God's help because we know our inadequacies and poverty! Thus, only people who know clearly their own sins would humbly pray. Those self-righteous people would take the opportunity to show off their achievements before God (Luke 18:9-14), which do not gain them any advantages!

The person who begged bread did not ask for one but three loaves. We don't need to guess their appetite, three loaves should be more than enough. Even for his own face, he would never slight his guest! We don't need to speculate the symbolic meanings of the three loaves, enough to know that Jesus Christ fed 5000 people with only five loaves and two fish! Friends! I'm sure you must have interceded for the needs of your friends, e.g. they need to sit for examinations, job interviews, sickness and travels etc. Have you ever been as comprehensive as this bread beggar? To push further, have you prayed to God to give you strength and courage to evangelize for the sake of the Creation?

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". Thus when we pray for the others' needs, at the same time, pray for your own inadequacies. Perhaps, it is God's will that you know others' needs as well as your own inadequacies and arrange you to help the needy and become their angel!
Father! Grant us the Holy Spirit to break out of my ego's constrains. Amen.

路加版的《天主經》 Prayer Series III

路加版的《天主經》（路11:1-4）

路加版的《天主經》，看來有點殘缺不全，其實是個「寶貝」！

不錯，瑪竇版的《天主經》，包含了七項祈求，而路加版，卻少了兩個，包括「願祢的旨意奉行在人間，如同在天上」，與及「但救我們免於凶惡」。這兩個祈求不重要嗎？少了這兩個，不是殘缺不全嗎？

無可否認，每一項瑪竇版《天主經》的祈求都是重要的，值得獨立祈求的。但精簡了並不減低路加版《天主經》的價值！耶穌基督，不是教訓過我們，祈禱不在多言嗎（瑪6:7）？且讓我們默想路加版《天主經》的美妙。

首先，《思高聖經》的路加福音，直率地稱呼天主為「父」而不是「天父」。稱天主為「天父」在神學上是絕對正確的，適合瑪竇版耶穌的「大宗師」風格！而且，我們對天主應保持一份敬畏之情，稱祂為「天父」，驕傲的人就不會在祂面前隨意放肆了！但感覺上總有點距離，有點高不可攀，慈悲不足。這不是路加版耶穌的風格！

第二，少了的那句「願祢的旨意奉行在人間，如同在天上」，是把「願祢的國來臨」進一步加以演繹。尋求天國的來臨是精神，奉行天父的旨意是條文。其實聖母瑪利亞已說了一句「願照你的話成就於我吧！」（路1:38），所以不必再重複了。

最後，少了一句「但救我們免於凶惡」，很有殉道者的精神，「臨難毋苟免」的氣慨！《宗徒大事錄》記載了教會的第一個殉道者斯德望，路加福音中的殉道者，就包括了洗者若翰和耶穌基督！路加的作品，瀰漫著殉道的氣息，是世上貧困者的慨嘆，父是聽到的！雖然少唸，但我喜歡路加版。
父啊！不要讓我們陷入誘惑。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：osc-religionandpopculture.blogspot.com

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Prayer Series III (Luke 11:1-4)

The Lucan version of The Lord's Prayer looks a bit incomplete, but it is a gem indeed!
No doubt, there are seven petitions in the Matthean version, two of which are missing in Luke, including "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" and "but deliver us from evil". Aren't these two petitions important? Missing these two, isn't the Lucan version incomplete?

Undeniably, each and every petition in the Matthean version is essential and worth begging. But trimming them doesn't necessarily diminish the value of the Lucan version! Hasn't Jesus Christ taught us not to babble like the pagans when we pray? (Matthew 6:7) Let us meditate the beauty of the Lucan version.

First of all, the Lucan version in the Chinese Studium Biblicum Version plainly invokes God "Father" instead of "Heavenly Father". Calling God "Heavenly Father" is absolutely correct in theology. It suits the "Grandmaster" style of the Matthean Jesus! Furthermore, we should keep a sense of awe before God. Calling God "Heavenly Father" should restrain the proud from seeking vainglory before Him. However, it sounds a bit aloft and not sufficiently merciful. This is not the style of the Lucan Jesus!

Secondly, the "thy will be done" petition is an elaboration of "thy kingdom come" which is the spirit and the "thy will be done" is the letters. Indeed, the BVM has already said, "Be it unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38). Thus, it is not necessary to repeat here.

Lastly, leaving out "deliver us from evil" conveys a sense of embracing martyrdom! In the Acts of the Apostles, there is the first martyr of the Church St. Stephen. In the gospel, there are John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. The Lucan corpus is imbued with a sense of martyrdom which are groanings of the poor in the world. The Father hears them! Though I don't recite often, I love the Lucan version.
Father! Lead us not into temptation. Amen.

工作也是祈禱 Prayer Series: II

工作也是祈禱（路10:38-42）

雖然說「己欲立而立人，己欲達而達人」，自己好，也希望其他人好，是一種很積極，很正面的態度；但每個人秉性不同，適合我的，不一定適合你。瑪爾大和瑪利亞兩姊妹，就是很好的例子。兩姊妹以適合自己的方式，表達對主耶穌基督的愛，無高低之別。

可能是大家姐吧，習慣了獨力支撐整個家庭大大小小的事務，於是瑪爾大很忙碌地伺候耶穌（路10:40），表現出大家姐的風範。伯達尼不會是個富庶的村莊，我相信瑪利亞不會是驕生慣養，遊手好閒的閨女。但今天她卻坐在主的腳前，聽祂講話，默觀著救主的容光（10:39），這是何等上乘的默觀祈禱啊！可見瑪利亞的秉性與瑪爾大完全不同，前者默觀，後者行動。從復活拉匝祿的故事更可佐證：瑪爾大跑去迎接遲來的耶穌，而瑪利亞卻仍坐在家中，應該是熱切地祈禱吧！（若11:20）所以當瑪爾大向主耶穌投訴時，生命的主宰袒護了瑪利亞（路10:42）。

其實，說瑪爾大「投訴」，可能對她有點不公平。首先，瑪爾大不需要與瑪利亞爭寵，因為她伺候耶穌，並不是為了討好耶穌，而是盡了朋友的情誼（若11:5）。其次，作為一個行動型的人，瑪爾大可能覺得妹妹缺乏行動，對她沒有益處，所以趁主耶穌在場的時候，借耶穌之力，催迫妹妹做點她認為對妹妹有益的事！我相信瑪爾大是出於一片好意的。

耶穌基督的說話，是否認行動的好處，或者貶低行動的地位嗎？沒有！是中文翻譯誤導了大家！原文是「瑪利亞選擇了好的一份」，並不是「更好的一份」。默觀是對她有益，適合她的一份，正如行動對瑪爾大有益，適合她一樣。她的行動，就是她的祈禱，是另類的默觀，同樣「是不能從她奪去的！」
主耶穌，讓我們自由自在地，以適合我們秉性的方式，默觀祢光輝的聖容。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：stgregorynb.org

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Prayer Series: II (Luke 10:38-42)

Although we say, "If we want to establish, establish others. If we want to prosper, make others prosperous", meaning "when we are good, we want others to be good as well" and it is a very positive attitude because our temperances are different, what suits me may not suits you. Martha and Mary are good examples. The siblings expressed their love towards Lord Jesus Christ in ways appropriate to them. There should not be any comparison.

Probably being the elder sister who used to call the shot, Martha was "burdened with much serving" (Luke 10:40). I believe Bethany was not a rich village. Thus Mary would not be a spoiled "chamber-lady". Today, she "sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak", contemplating the countenance of the Saviour (10:39)! What a contemplative prayer of high calibra! It shows that Mary and Martha were essentially different, the former contemplative and the latter active. The story of resurrection of Lazarus sheds further light on it: "When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home" (John 11:20), most likely praying fervently! Thus, when Martha complained to Lord Jesus, the Author of Life defended Mary. (Luke 10:42)

In fact, speaking of Martha's "complaint" is probably unfair to her. First of all, Martha didn't need to fight for favouritism with Mary because she did not serve Jesus to please him. It was simply a matter of hospitality (John 11:5). Secondly, as a person of action, probably Martha opined that Mary's lack of activity was doing her no good. Therefore, she took advantage of the presence of Jesus to push Mary to do something which she thought was beneficient to her! I believe Martha did it in good faith.

Did Jesus' words deny the goodness of action, belittling the value of activity? Not at all! Modern translations have misled the readers! The original is "Mary hath chosen that good part τὴν ἀγαθὴν" not "the better part". Contemplation is appropriate for Mary just as action is for Martha. Martha's action is her prayer, a different expression of contemplation. "It will not be taken from her" as well!
Lord Jesus, let us contemplate in freedom in the most appropriate manner the glory of Your countenance. Amen.

己欲達而達人 Prayer Series: I

己欲達而達人（路10:25-37）

救濟貧困饑餓的人，提供食物是最直接和最有效；但為長遠計，必須幫助他們耕種，自食其力！同樣道理，耶穌基督從來不抗拒有學問的人。因為有學問的人尋求真理，渴望憑藉真理，不斷地改善自己，甚至改善別人的處境，是值得讚賞的。雖然今天的故事中，那位法學士來意不善，但耶穌並沒有放棄教化他的機會；主耶穌希望可以解放他思想上的束縛，希望他日後可以造福百姓。

當法學士詢問「獲得永生」的問題時，耶穌沒有否定他以往的學養，沒有否定梅瑟的建樹，沒有否定舊約的價值。主說：「你這樣做，必得生活。」（路10:28）即使祇是按梅瑟的法律生活，一樣可以獲得永生！

可惜，法學士被自己的惡念蒙蔽了，看不到耶穌基督對他的肯定和對舊約的肯定。他不願意輕易放過耶穌，便窮追猛打！在耶穌基督的眼中，這些法學士是「以色列的師傅」（若3:10）。祂是多麼渴望這些師傅，可以突破自我的中心，教化其他的猶太人，回心轉意，歸向天父！所以，主耶穌很有耐性地給法學士和我們，講述著名的「慈善撒瑪黎雅人」比喻，教導我們設身處地，從有需要幫助的人的角度看問題！因為愛就是希望對方得益，就是為對方的好處而作出努力，這就是「愛人如己」的本意。

可是，近人始終不是自己，更何況是那些不同語言、宗教和政見的人呢？其實，在遇到貧窮、疾病甚至面臨死亡，語言、種族甚至政見，還有分別嗎？有誰可以保證沒有患病或者潦倒的一天呢？

我們做甚麼纔可以突破自我呢？開放自己的心，祈求耶穌基督的幫助，可以突破自我；其實，從今天的比喻可見，幫助有困難的人，在他們身上看到潦倒的自我，也是一個不錯的方法！
主耶穌，讓我們享受到祢的慈悲之餘，也能幫助其他人這樣做。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：biblicalarchaeology.org

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Prayer Series: I (Luke 10:25-37)

The most effective and direct way to help starving people is to give them food. But in the long run, we need to help them grow food. Similarly, Jesus Christ has never rejected learned people. It is because they pursue the Truth and with which they enhance themselves and even improve the situation of the others. Such endeavour is commendable. Although the scholar of the law was hostile in the story today, Jesus did not give up the opportunity to enlighten him. Lord Jesus wants to liberate him from the straitjackets of his thoughts, hopefully he would benefit the common folks in the future.

When the legal scholar asked how to inherit eternal life, Jesus did not deny his past achievements, did not deny the contribution of Moses nor the value of the Old Covenant. The Lord says, "Do this and you will live" (Luke 10:28). People may inherit eternal life even by observing the law of Moses!

Regrettably, the legal scholar was blinded by his own evil intentions. He failed to see Jesus Christ's affirmation of him and of the Old Covenant. He did not want to let Jesus go easily and continued his assault. In the eyes of Jesus Christ, these legal scholars were "teachers of Israel" (John 3:10) How much Jesus desires these teachers breaking through their egotism to teach fellow Jews to turn to the Father! Thus, Lord Jesus patiently told this legal scholar and all of us the famous parable of the Good Samaritan, teaching us to see problems from the persepective of those in need! It is because love wants to see the others good. It is a will to act for the benefits of the others. This is the original intention of "loving your neighbour as yourself".

However, neighbour is not us after all, not to mention those who speak different languages, those who believe in different gods and those who uphold different ideologies. Indeed, in front of poverty, illness and even death, do languages, races and political stance matter any more? Who can guarantee that they shall never fall sick or misfortunates shall never patronize them one day?

What must we do to break out of our ego? Let us open up our hearts to ask for Jesus Christ's assistance. It surely will help us break through our ego. Indeed, from the parable today, we can see that helping people in need and seeing an unlucky self in them can be a good way to break out!
Lord Jesus Christ! Let us savour Your mercy and help others do the same. Amen.

St. Jerome's Church Silver Jubilee Re-celebration

Silver Jubilee Re-Celebration, October 4, 2020

Good morning, brothers and sisters,
On behalf of all the members of the Parish Pastoral Team and the Pastoral Council of St. Jerome's Church, may I take this opportunity to congratulate you all a very happy and blessed Silver Jubilee. It is such an extraordinary occasion. Last Sunday, in our broadcast on Youtube, Fr. Simon described this as "an already present, but not yet available celebration"! Most of us could only participate on the Internet. It was close at hand enough and yet, so far away and intangible. Fr. Simon reassured us that nothing could be able to separate us from the love of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:35), and from our close relationships with members of our English Community. This is indeed a special and memorable experience which we'll remember and will be eager to share with other people.

Silver Jubilee is a special occasion. It points to the next 25th anniversary, our Golden Jubilee in 2045. Some people like to say that "I'm 25 always." How sweet it sounds. Yes, we want to march forward with our youthfulness, our ambitions, our eagerness and yet, do not remain at the same spot. Golden Jubilee shall be a celebration of tremendous harvest. But first of all, let us be grateful to our Diocese. Proactively she chose this piece of land, Tin Shui Wai, on which to build this Church to provide us with facilities to pray, to shepherd and to evangelize. Let us also be grateful to God for gathering under His wings, you my dear friends to build up this big family. We are also grateful that one of our young men was ordained Fr. Timothy Yan on January 4, 2020. Let us not forget praying for more vocation for our Church. Priests are in short supply and we are not able to sustain sufficient pastoral care for our members, not to mention spreading the gospel to people around us.

Two years ago on eve of the Twenty-Third anniversary, the Pastoral Council designed many innovative projects in preparation for this Silver Jubilee. One of them was to honour our Patron Saint, St. Jerome with a copy of Bible manuscript. St. Jerome spent 23 years in translating the Hebrew and Greek scriptures into one Latin rendition, the Vulgate. What a coincidence. God is amazing! We are not as gifted as St. Jerome but we are still able to copy. Yes, we were able to organized parishioners, teachers and students in our parish to make a copy of handwritten seventy three books in the Bible. Copying the Bible is spiritually uplifting. Copyists are required to be meticulous. One typo-mistake and the whole page of hard work vanished! God is generous. The words we copy on paper are written in our hearts as well. Therefore, Fr. Simon appeals to all of us to make a personal handwritten copy of the Bible for ourselves in the upcoming 25 years. In so doing, we'll able to equip ourselves with sufficient strength to evangelize Tin Shui Wai and Hung Shui Kiu in the years ahead. With a target, an implementation plan and a determined heart we are certain that we can make it. So, let us make good use of God's blessing to accomplish this target!

In the first reading today, we read of the experience of Ezekiel the prophet. God told him to eat the scroll on which was written God's word, "feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll I am giving you." (Ezekiel 3:3) Ezekiel did as instructed and the scroll "was as sweet as honey in my mouth." So, brethren, the word of God is sweet as honey. Don't just read it speedily. Read it slowly and savour it. Copying it is better still. However, sometimes we don't feel like reading it, not because we don't want to spare our time but because the Bible reveals our own weaknesses, faults and inadequacies. We put it down and do not have the courage to face our own sins. No! God wants to save us. He wants to help us become holy. Therefore, He gave us these words. That is what St. Paul meant when he wrote to Timothy, "The sacred scriptures which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:15-16) Take courage, brethren and make good use of the Bible for our own salvation.

The Internet is like the ocean which is rich in contents and yet not all information is beneficent for us. Jesus Christ taught us in the parable today to select and select wisely. We keep the good stuff in our storeroom and throw away harmful ones. What stuff is good? First of all, the word of God is good in helping us improve our relationship with God. It helps us discern what is good and what is harmful for our life as God's children. Just as what St. Peter says, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68) It follows that those which help us go through adversity and uplift our faith are good. Those which encourage us to discriminate, to hate and to divide are harmful. In this time of social unrest and pandemic, we need the word of God more to help us go through such adversity. The word of God should not be hidden away in storerooms and buried in dust. The power of God's word lies in its action. Thus, we have the duty to "bring from our storeroom both the new and the old" (Matthew 13:52), refresh it and to act upon it in order to build the kingdom of heaven in Tin Shui Wai and Hung Shui Kiu.

Brethren, once again we are grateful to God and to you all for coming back and making this re-celebration come true. May the merciful Lord Jesus Christ continue to sweeten our hearts with His words of wisdom. May St. Jerome our patron saint continues to intercede for us before God so that we may not be ignorant of the scriptures and ignorant of Christ. Amen. God bless you all!

還可以回頭嗎？ Is There No Turning Back?

常年期第廿七主日，甲年
主題：還可以回頭嗎？

很多人到了「絕望」的處境，再想不到解決辦法的時候，便採取結束自己生命，或者求人協助自己結束生命的手段，來脫離這個眼前的「絕境」。在舊約，以色列的第一任君王撒烏耳戰敗，伏劍身亡（撒上31:4）；福音中的猶達斯後悔被利用，出賣了師父，上吊死了（瑪27:5）。中國歷史上也有著名的自殺個案，例如屈原、陸秀夫等，同是忠君愛國的表現！屈原的例子祇涉及個人，但陸秀夫的例子卻是集體自殺！猶達斯的動機屬於個人，而且有很多神學上的爭議，我不在這裡默想了。在今天整個社會瀰漫著「愛國」的迷思下，我反而有興趣默想其餘三人的個案。

屈原是個詩人，對政局有敏銳的觸覺。他的自殺，部份原因在於被楚王放逐，未能報國。他投江自盡後55年，楚國真的亡了。所以他的「眼前」是在半個世紀後發生的。做一個詩人真難，跟先知一樣，承受著很大的精神困擾！
真的沒有出路嗎？害怕投降而受到凌辱，是撒烏耳和陸秀夫自殺的動機。是的，成了亡國奴，喪失自由和權利，甚至生存的權利，在所難免（依5:5-6）。在天主和祂所派遣的先知眼中，這些遭遇，都是自食其果（5:4）！面對擺在眼前的苦果，和一總生前死後，那些不敢想像的難堪凌辱；每天在這樣惡劣的環境下繼續生存，真的需要拿出非凡的勇氣，有如越王勾踐；或者苟且偷生的李煜！既然勾踐做得到，李煜做得到，撒烏耳和陸秀夫還有甚麼解釋呢？所以我們認為自殺是懦夫的行為！

連續幾個星期的福音，都是針對猶太權貴的惡行。所謂前車可鑒，他們的「失敗」，可以作為後人的警惕。路加版本最明顯，耶穌說比喻的對象，不是猶太權貴而是平民百姓（路20:9）。馬爾谷和瑪竇卻是針對猶太權貴的，瑪竇的手法更為深刻，由司祭長和法利塞人自己親口說出自己的結局：「要凶惡地消滅那些凶惡的人，把葡萄園另租給按時給他繳納出產的園戶」（瑪21:41）！即是說，這些權貴不是無知的，在審判之日，不能抵賴！天主要求的「出產」，很難做到嗎？天主的要求不合理嗎（依5:3-4）？

保祿在歸化前，是一個狂熱的法利塞人，所以他最有資格發表意見！天主的要求，不外乎：「凡是真實的，凡是高尚的，凡是正義的，凡是純潔的，凡是可愛的，凡是榮譽的；不管是美德，不管是稱譽：這一切你們都該思念；凡你們在我身上所學得的，所領受的，所聽見的，所看到的：這一切你們都該實行！」（斐4:8-9）遵守法律祇不過是最低要求，相信這個狂熱的法利塞人，無論在自己的地方，抑或是外邦人的地域，必定會嚴格遵守；但他更注意到法律的精神所在，這些法律的精神，是守法的動力！所以保祿提出六個「凡是」：真實、高尚、正義、純潔、可愛、榮譽；和兩個「不管」：美德和稱譽，倘若猶太權貴好像他一樣，把自己的思想，聚焦在這些精神領域，遵守法律變得易如反掌，一切言行都不會離經背道！與耶穌基督作對的司祭長和法利塞人，他們的思想被自私、貪婪所蒙蔽，行為變得偽善、卑鄙、不義、謀算、醜陋、被唾棄…還可以拿甚麼在天主面前邀功呢（路18:11-12）？一個狂熱的法利塞人，也可以歸化成為外邦人的宗徒，真實地履行「選民」是世人福源（創12:3）的任務；與耶穌基督作對的司祭長和法利塞人，他日又如何向天主交待呢？結果依撒意亞先知的預言，在公元七十年，再應驗一次了！

亡國真的是末路嗎？歷史再一次證明，害怕亡國而自殺的人，太短視了！1948年，以色列復國了！當然，人類沒有一千九百歲的夀命，當年的猶太人，沒有一個能親眼看見以色列復國（宗1:6），向耶穌提出這個復國疑問的伯多祿，今天在哪？在天上守著進入天國的大門！
其實，在這個惡園戶的比喻中，主人的兒子雖然被殺（瑪21:39），但結果呢？他復活了！耶穌基督說的每個比喻都藏有驚喜，惡園戶比喻的驚喜，在於天主子的復活！對著猶太權貴，耶穌祇間接地，用聖詠暗示祂的復活（21:42，詠118:22-23）；另一方面，耶穌基督並不判他們的罪（若3:17），任由他們自己宣判自己所應受的懲罰！這一點很明顯是天主做事的一貫手法，祂永遠是開放的，深不可測的！是亞巴郎自己提出十個義人（創18:32），是法朗說不要再見梅瑟的面（出10:28），是依弗大許下祭獻自己女兒的誓願（民11:31），是黑落德安提帕酒後暴露了自己的淫念（谷6:23）…顯然，這些都是人性的驕傲使然，在耶穌基督前，紛紛顯露出來（路2:35）！
雖然伯多祿生性魯莽，但在耶穌基督寬恕他三次否認之罪時，表現得體：「主，是的，祢知道…」（若21:15-17），伯多祿懂得在基督面前謙遜，任由生命的主宰安排，而不是執著自己的才幹！司祭長和法利塞人的自以為是，祇會導致自己的喪亡。

各位兄弟姊妹，耶穌基督是慈悲的生命之主，祂並不樂意看見罪人的喪亡（則33:11）。祂向我們保證：「我就是復活，就是生命；信從我的，即使死了，仍要活著；凡活著而信從我的人，必永遠不死。你信麼？（若11:25-26）所以，在日常的生活中，不要迫自己走進死角，亦不要迫其他人走到你的對立面。大家讓一步，不要去盡，給彼此一個下台階！這纔是生生不息之道嘛。即使面臨「絕境」，請不要絕望，是讓天主出手的時候了。學習伯多祿說：「主，是的，祢知道…」
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：hnojatl.org

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Twenty Seventh Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: Is There No Turning Back?

In desperation and seeing no way out, many people resort to ending their lives or asking people to assist them terminating their lives to get out of a hopeless situation in front of them. In the Old Testament, Saul the first king of Israel fell upon his own sword in an imminent defeat (1 Samuel 31:4); Judas regretted being spent by the chief priests and elders hanged himself (Matthew 27:5). Famous suicide cases can also be found in Chinese history, e.g. Qu Yuan and Lu Xiu Fu. They committed suicide for patriotic causes! The case of Qu Yuan was personal but Lu's case was suicide en masse. Judas' case was also personal and there are a lot of theological controversies surrounding the case. Therefore, I don't want to meditate on it here. Today, the society is imbued in a patriotic myth which arouses my interest in meditating the three remaining cases.

Qu was a poet and was able to perceive political situations sharply. Among the reasons he committed suicide, being exiled by the Duke of Chu such that he was no longer able to serve his beloved country was one. Subsequently, Chu was conquered 55 years later. The desperation Qu sensed took place half a century later. To be a poet was difficult. Like prophets, they suffered a lot of mental pressure!
Was being conquered a truly dead end? Fear of being abused after surrender was the motive of suicide for Saul and Lu Xiu Fu. It is true that after being conquered, losing one's freedom and rights, even the right to life becomes inevitable (Isaiah 5:5-6). In the eyes of God and the prophets He sent, this was the cake one baked (5:4)! Putting before you the bitter fruits and all the unimaginably humiliating abuses before and after death, it takes a lot of courage to continue living in such hostile environment, like Goujian the King of Yue or even Li Yu, the last ruler of Southern Tang! If Goujian did it and so did Li Yu, what excuses could you Saul and Lu Xiu Fu give? Thus, we opine that committing suicide is cowardice!

The gospel messages of the last few weeks criticized the faults of Jewish authorities. We should learn from their failures and beware. The Lucan version of the story today is clear. Jesus told the parable, not to Jewish authorities but to common folks (Luke 20:9). Both Mark and Matthew attack the Jewish authorities. The Matthean version cuts deeper. The chief priests and Pharisees condemned themselves, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." (Matthew 21:41) That is to say, the Jewish authorities could not declare ignorance as a defence on the Judgment Day! Is the "produce" God demands difficult to make? Is God being unreasonable (Isaiah 5:3-4)?

Before conversion, Paul was a frenetic Pharisee. He was the most qualified to speak out! God's demand is nothing but, "whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8-9) Observing the laws is only the minimum requirement. I believe this frenetic Pharisee would strictly keep them wherever he was, be it in Jewish or Gentile lands. But he cared more about the spirit of the laws which was the motive to be law abiding! Thus if the Jewish authorities were able to focus their mind, like Paul, on the 6 "whatever's" and two "anything's" Paul listed above, the spirit of the laws, keeping the laws was easy and their words and deeds would earn them eternal life! Regrettably, out of selfishness and greed, the actions of those chief priests and Pharisees who opposed Jesus Christ become hypocritical, mean, unjust, calculating, ugly and scandalous … What could they show off before God (Luke 18:11-12)? After conversion, a frenetic Pharisee became the apostle of Gentiles, thus genuinely discharging the duty of the "Chosen People" to be a source of blessings for all peoples on earth (Genesis 12:3). On the Last Day, how would those chief priests and Pharisees account for themselves before God? Consequently, the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled a second time in 70 A.D.!

Is being conquered a dead end? History proves once more those who committed suicide out of fear were too short-sighted! In 1948, the Israel state was created once more! Of course, no human being lives longer than 1900 years. None of the contemporaries of Jesus Christ was able to see the restoration of the kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6). Where is Peter now who asked Jesus this question? At the main gate of heaven!
In the parable of the tenants, although the son was murdered (Matthew 21:39), what became of him afterwards? He came back to life! Jesus' parables are full of surprises and the surprise of this parable of tenants lies in the resurrection of the Son of God! To the Jewish authorities, Jesus only indirectly hinted at his resurrection with the Psalm (21:42, Psalm 118:22-23). On the other hand, Jesus did not pass judgment on them (John 3:17). He let them condemned themselves! This is manifestly the modus operandi of God who is always open and ineffable! It was Abraham who proposed ten righteous people (Genesis 18:32), Pharaoh who warned Moses not to see his face again (Exodus 10:28), Jephthah who vowed to offer his daughter up as a burnt offering (Judges 11:31), Herod Antipas who exposed his lust after intoxication (Mark 6:23) … Obviously, it was human pride that caused those inconveniences. All these thoughts were revealed before Jesus Christ (Luke 2:35)! Although Peter was impulsive, he acted decently enough when Jesus forgave his three denials. Peter says, "Yes, Lord, you know that …" (John 21:15-17). He was humble and managed to let go. He accepted whatever the Author of Life arranges without insisting on his own will! The self-righteousness of the chief priests and Pharisees would only lead to their downfall.

Brethren! Jesus Christ is the merciful Author of Life. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). He even guarantees, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26) Therefore, in our daily life, don't corner yourselves in a dead end. Don't force others to oppose you. Take a step back. Don't push too hard. Give each other a graceful way to stand down! This is the law of life. In desperation, don't despair. Let God take over. Learn from Peter, "Yes, Lord, you know that…"
God bless!