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。
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？
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。
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。
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
God bless!
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