主題：敬畏上主的恩典
世界已變得越來越世俗化，大部份現代人對聖經的訊息，不感興趣。即使有興趣，也要放下很多包袱，纔能得到正確的理解。例如要接受今天福音所教訓，就必須要克服對「童女」的偏見。在滿腦子「人權」和「平等機會」的城市人心中，為甚麼是「童女」而不是「童男童女」，甚至祇是「男女」？在今天講求「男女平等」的現代社會，福音實在與現代人的生活太脫節了！那邊廂，倡議女權主義者必定會抗議耶穌選用「童貞女」這個圖像，否定女性對自己身體的主權。尚若祇有「童貞女」纔可以進入天國，不進天國也罷！二千年前是習俗，是理所當然的事，今天卻被人唾棄！在廿一世紀成聖的難度，的確要跨越很多困難！
所以，我們需要澄清一些運用比喻的原則，避免那些浪費時間和精力的爭辯。
教會內有聖人，有罪人，是眾所周知的事實。可是，最終的比例有多少呢？恐怕祇有天主纔知道。耶穌基督用五個明智，五個愚昧的比例，是正確的安排。倘有六個是明智的，會令人過份樂觀，心存僥倖；倘若六個是愚昧的，會令人灰心喪志！
「油」既然是發光的燃料，便是行善的動機和能力了！那麼，富有的人有優勢嗎？可幸耶穌基督曾稱讚在聖殿銀庫投下了兩個銅錢的窮寡婦，所以天主仍不失為公義的天主，不是信奉「精英主義」的天主。其實，微不足道的我們，無論行善的數額有多大，無限的天主是不會放在眼內的！因此，祇餘下「動機」一項須要考慮。由此可見，「燈快要滅」（25：8），不是因為沒有了行善的資源，而是失去了行善的正當「動機」。正當的動機祇有一個，就是愛近人的同時，孝愛天主。幾時人為了沽名釣譽，為了接受人們的稱讚而施捨，便會失去了天主（6:1-2）。對不起，動機是不能分施給其他人的。所以，明智的童女，不是出於自私而拒絕分享，而是根本沒有可能分享！但「動機」可以買來的嗎？當然不可以，正當的動機是經年累月，培養出來的。臨急抱佛腳，難怪這些愚昧的童女，最終被拒諸門外。
值得留意的，是明智童女的態度。即使終日抱著正確的動機行善，她們仍然保持一份戰戰兢兢的心態，「怕為我們和你們都不夠」（25:9）。明智的童女是明白「諸聖相通」的道理，她們真的沒有私心，不是祇為了自己而行善，也為了其他同行者的益處行善。另一方面，她們對上主那份敬畏之情，令她們不敢怠慢，終日乾乾！「敬畏上主是智慧的肇基」（箴9:10），難怪她們是明智的。恐怕那些愚昧的童女之所以愚昧，是失去了「敬畏上主」的恩典所致罷！
各位兄弟姊妹，「聖神七恩」是環環相扣的，而且一切都是從「敬畏上主」開始的。世俗主義令人自大，是喪失「敬畏上主」的致命傷。失去「敬畏上主」便沒有智慧；沒有智慧，在各方面都不能明辨是非，隨波逐流，距離天國，越漂越遠。所以，祈求天主聖神，從新激活我們在領受「堅振聖事」所獲得的聖神七恩吧！
天主保祐！
首先，直接論述一些深奧的道理，恐怕祇有少數訓練有素的學者，纔有能力明白。這樣做會把大部份人拒諸門外，有違天主願意眾人得救的本意。讓大部份人明白的事物，就是日常生活可以接觸到的事物。所以耶穌基督按照「近取諸身、遠取諸物」的教學方法，以日常生活的材料，描述天國。
第二，有本領從「一顆沙粒看見宇宙，一朵野花參透天堂」（威廉‧布萊克《天真的徵兆》），固然是大智慧的表現。但這詩句背後的意景，告訴讀者，即使是普通的材料，亦足以描述天國的奧秘！所以運用童女迎接新郎的習俗來描述天國，是可行的。
第三，倘若耶穌在廿一世紀講述同樣的比喻，祂一定會選用今天的材料做圖像，例如參加奧運的運動員。有些運動員積極操練，有些隨便，更有些借用禁藥…二千年前在希臘舉行的奧運會，絕對不及婚禮習俗的普遍。同樣道理，倘若二千年後再沒有奧運會，或者人類社會再沒有婚姻制度，童女與運動員的圖像，同樣變得脫離現實了。每個圖像都有它們的「上架年期」，恐怕這是運用圖像的局限性。始終圖像不是它所象徵的事物本身！
耶穌基督選用了「童貞女」來象徵那些回應天主的邀請，專心一意事奉天主的人（瑪5:8，6:24），並沒有否定女性對自己身體的主權。而教會堅決反對的，是濫用主權，殺害無辜者生命的行為。這樣做，對天主作為生命的主宰是大不敬，是有害而無益的。另一方面，由「童貞女」迎接新郎，然後一起赴宴，既是當時的習俗，又能表達天上婚宴的事實，是當代最恰當的圖像了。
點燈是為了照亮四周，在瑪竇福音，那照耀的光是指基督徒的善行（5:16），是光榮在天之父的愛德服務。這些愛德服務有別於一般的社會福利，因為是為了「光榮在天之父的」。所以不是對所有人的要求，而是對那些接受邀請，參加天上婚宴者的要求，是他們應該穿著的「婚宴禮服」（22:12）。所以天主教徒要緊記，行善是參加婚宴的入場券，是「孝愛天主」，同時也是為了傳福音，為了令人光耀天主。
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：vaticannews.va
Thirty Second Ordinary Sunday, Year A
Theme: The Gift of Fearing of the Lord
The World is becoming more secular. Most modern people are not interested in the messages of the Bible. Even for those who are interested, they need to overcome many obstacles in order to attain a correct understanding. For example, in order to accept the teachings of today's gospel, people need to overcome the prejudice against "virgins". The minds of urban citizens are full of human rights and equal opportunities. They would find "virgins" offensive. Why just girls? Why not boys and girls? The gospels have truly lost touched with lives in modern societies which emphasize gender equality! On the other hand, feminists would protest against Jesus for using the image of "virgins" which denies the autonomy of women over the use of their own body. If only virgins could enter the Kingdom of Heaven, forget it! Two thousand years ago, people took the custom for granted. Today, the custom has become offensive! It is getting more and more difficult to attain sainthood in the twenty first century!
In ancient times, many Church Fathers explained this parable of ten virgins in their treatises and homilies. In general, they agreed that the virgins symbolized the Church. Thus this parable is not meant for all humanity but those who were baptized. Even though God "wills everyone to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4), while He gives all people equal opportunities, He cannot force people to accept His invitation. Therefore, setting up some election criteria, allowing only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 4:15) to join the heavenly banquet is reasonable and righteous!
It is a truism that there are saints and sinners within the Church. But in the end, what will the proportion be? I'm afraid only God knows. Jesus Christ arranges 5 prudent and 5 foolish virgins in the parable. This is an appropriate proportion. If there are 6 prudent virgins, people may become over optimistic and tend to take chances. If there are 6 foolish virgins, people may become discouraged.
People light a lamp to give light to all in a house. In the gospel of Matthew, this light is the good deeds of Christians (5:16) which are charitable works to glorify their heavenly Father. These charitable works are different from services of social welfare because glorification of heavenly Father is the aim. Thus, it is not a demand for all humanity but for those who have accepted the invitation to join the heavenly banquet. It is the wedding garments they should put on (22:12). Therefore, Catholics should bear in mind that charity is the admission ticket to the heavenly banquet. It is piety shown to God and at the same time an act of evangelization so that people shall glorify God.
"Oil" is the fuel that gives light. Then it is the motive and capability to do charity. Would the rich have an edge? Fortunately, Jesus Christ praised the poor widow who dropped in two brass coins in the Temple treasury. After all, God is still a righteous God, not an elitist God. Indeed, we are nothing but dust. However huge our donations are, in the eyes of our infinite God, they are nothing. Therefore, there is only one item, viz. the motive to consider. From this perspective, the reason the "lamps are going out" (25:8) is not a lack of resources, but the vanishing of the proper motive to do charity. There is only one proper motive, viz. to love our neighbour and at the same time, to be pious to God. Whenever people give alms for fame and praises from the others, they lose God (6:1-2). Sorry, motive cannot be shared. Thus, the prudent virgins do not share out of selfishness. It is just impossible to share. But can motive be purchased? Of course not! Proper motive takes years to cultivate. No wonder the foolish virgins who took chances at the last minute were locked out.
We should take note of the attitude of the prudent virgins. Even when they were doing charity with a proper motive, they were still trembling with fear, lest "there may not be enough for us and you" (25:9). The prudent virgins understand the article of faith, viz. "the communion of saints". They are not selfish. They do charitable works not only for themselves but also for the good of their companions. On the other hand, their fear of the Lord prods them on, not daring to be complacent for a moment! "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord" (Proverbs 9:10) No wonder they are wise. I'm afraid the foolish virgins are foolish because they have lost the gift of "the fear of the Lord"!
Brethren! The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are linked together and they begin with "the Fear of the Lord". Secularism inflates people's ego. It is the dart that kills "the Fear of the Lord" in men. Losing the Fear of the Lord loses wisdom. Without wisdom, we cannot discern right from wrongs. We flow with the current and stray from the Kingdom of Heaven. Thus, pray to the Holy Spirit to re-ignite the seven gifts we have received in the Sacrament of Confirmation!
God bless!
Thus, in order not to waste time and energy in futile arguments, we need to clarify the principles behind the use of parables.
First of all, if we explain difficult truths directly, I'm afraid only a handful of well-trained experts would be able to follow. Most people would become outsiders. This goes against God's will for all to be saved. In order to make most people understand, it is necessary to use familiar objects in daily life. Following this pedagogy of "using familiar objects", Jesus Christ makes use of things in people's daily life to talk about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Secondly, the ability "To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower…" ("Auguries of Innocence", William Blake) is great wisdom. But the imagery behind the couplet assures readers that even ordinary materials are able to convey the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven! Thus, using the custom of maidens waiting to meet the bridegroom is a legitimate symbol to talk about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thirdly, if Jesus is to tell the same parable in this twenty first century, He will surely employ modern images such as Olympic athletes. Some athletes train diligently while others casually and some even use enhancement drugs … Two millennia ago, Olympic Games in Greece were definitely not as common as marriage customs. Similarly, in two thousand more years, there might not be Olympic Games or the institution of marriage in human societies anymore. Both images of virgins and athletes would lose touch with reality. Each image has a "shelf-life" which is the limitations of all images. After all, images are not what they symbolize!
Jesus Christ makes use of the image of virgins to symbolize those who respond to God's invitation to serve Him exclusively (Matthew 5:87, 6:24). That does not deny the autonomy of women over the use of their own body. The Church only opposes the abuse of autonomy to kill innocent lives. Doing so is a great rebellion against God who is the Author of Life. It is extremely harmful. On the other hand, virgins waiting to meet the bridegroom to attend wedding banquet was not only a custom, but it also expresses the reality of the heavenly banquet at the end of the world. Therefore, it is the most appropriate image at that time.
No comments:
Post a Comment