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！
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！
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…」
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！
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。
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：hnojatl.org
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!
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!
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…"
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!
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.
God bless!
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