主題：提防心變硬
將臨期是禮儀年的開始，我們又進入了新的一年，進入了救恩歷程的一個新開始。可能大家會覺得奇怪，教會定下將臨期，不是為了預備聖誕節嗎？為甚麼將臨期的第一第二主日，會默想世界末日呢？答案非常簡單，耶穌基督要降臨世界兩次，二千多年前是第一次，為了成全法律和先知的教訓，並以十字架上的犧牲，奠定救贖的基礎。耶穌基督藉著教會，天天臨現在世上，與我們同在一起，直至世界末日（瑪28:20）。到時，耶穌基督以普世君王的姿態，君臨天下；教會亦完成任務，功成身退。
將臨期第一主日的主題非常簡單直接。在短短五節經文之內，主耶穌說了四次「醒寤」！可惜很多人誤解聖經的教訓，甚至穿鑿附會，並誇大其辭，危言聳聽，以收到佔據市場的效果！遠的不用說，2012年以瑪雅曆法來預言世界末日，不少人因此而發了末日財，今天已經是2020年了。近期疫情肆虐，天災人禍不停，又煽動了不少末日的情緒！難怪主耶穌說：「是就說是，非就說非；其他多餘的便是出於邪惡。」（5:37）主基督真的要我們「醒寤」末日前的預兆嗎？既然沒有人知道那時刻（谷13:33），所以不是與時間有關的「醒寤」。祂究竟要我們「醒寤」甚麼呢？
聖經所紀錄的，並非完全是天主從上而下對人的說話和啟示。聖經中包括了很多祈禱，例如《聖詠集》，是從人的位置，從下到上，表達人類的心聲！注意，祈禱其實是天主與人的互動，因為當我們不知如何向天主說話時，天主「聖神卻親自以無可言喻的歎息，代我們轉求」（羅8:26）。所以即使是人的祈禱，也有天主啟示的成份！
是甚麼令我們「心硬」，不敬畏天主呢？注意，有很多原因令人不敬畏天主，例如無知，不知道天主存在，或者即使知道了，但不知道應該要敬畏祂；又或者驕傲，科學昌明，加上對人性過份樂觀，令現代人覺得天主存在與否，與他們無關！今天要默想的，是甚麼令人「心硬」，以至不再敬畏天主。
路加福音中「富翁與拉匝祿」的比喻（路16:19-31），點出財富令人心硬的危險。天天奢華宴樂的富翁，竟然對「躺臥在他的大門前」的乞丐，視若無睹（16:19-20），是「心硬」的寫照。教宗方濟各在《你們要歡喜踴躍》宗座勸諭，論述神貧真福時說得好：「當我們心裡認為自己很富有，就會變得那麼自滿，以至於沒有空間聆聽天主的聖言、愛我們的兄弟姊妹，或享受生命中最重要的事物。」（GE #68）對自己的優勢、財富、權力和成就自滿，被這些東西充塞了自己的心，便沒有空間容納天主聖言、耶穌基督和祂的訓誨。這就是心硬。當我們還懂得向最少的兄弟中的一個，伸出援手（瑪25:40），表示我們仍有血肉之心，而不是冰冷的鐵石心腸！
對於弱勢的一群，當他們受到侮辱、攻擊、欺凌和歧視；既沒有人，包括天主，出現來保護他們，而自己又沒有報復的機會和能力的時候。為了減低痛苦和傷害，受害人容易探取一個消極的方法，就是硬起心腸，表示強壯，不怕攻擊，不需要別人可憐。結果，他們埋怨天主，祇能把自己變得天不怕，地不怕來應付生存。試問他們又怎會敬畏天主呢？在這裡，溫良、哀慟、飢渴慕義、憐憫的真福，變得蠻有意義了！做人抱溫良的心態，又怎會欺凌歧視弱勢的人呢？為罪惡對人的傷害而哀慟流淚，心腸又怎會變硬呢？期望天主的救贖，如飢似渴的人，怎會不敬畏天主呢？憐憫寬恕傷害自己的人，不但釋放了別人，也釋放了自己，不想被報仇的念頭所操控，何來心硬呢？但能做到真福八端的目標，沒有聖神的助祐，聖神七恩的扶助，又怎能成事呢？
各位兄弟姊妹，耶穌基督勸我們「醒寤」，是要我們警醒，不要讓我們的心，因為財富、權勢和成就，變得自滿堅硬，不理別人死活；更不要讓忿怒和仇恨毒害自己的心靈，變得麻木不仁，不再敬畏天主。呼求天主聖神的助祐吧！天父願意所有的人都得救（弟前2:4），一定樂意賜聖神予求祂的人（路11:13）！
今天第一篇選讀的先知書，是猶太人從下而上，向天主表達的渴望；不是一般和平時期的渴望，而是遭受亡國之苦，求救的渴望！先知呼求上主，再顯神威，「望你衝破諸天降下，諸山在你面前震盪…使萬民在你面前戰慄」（依63:19-64:1）。上主天主應驗了先知的話，「並不是使者，也不是天使拯救他們，而是祂自己」（63:9）。的確，祂親自來了。很奇怪，祂並沒有帶著猶太人所期望的光榮而來。祂出生在馬槽，葬在別人的墳墓裡，由始至終都是貧窮的。祂的光榮，不是熔化群山，分開海水，而是懸於十字架上，求天父寬赦世人（路23:34）！正如先知所說「因為祢行了誰也想不到的驚人事蹟，是人從未聽過的，耳朵從未聽過，眼睛從未見過…」（64:2-3）祂這樣溫良地做，為的是尊重人性的自主，不願強迫人類接受祂的好意！恐怕祇有依照耶穌基督的教訓，經常「醒寤」，好像先知的人，纔會體會得到。天主教徒領了洗，不是分擔了主耶穌的先知職務，是一個先知嗎？
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：takebackyourtemple.com
First Advent Sunday, Year B
Theme: Hark Heart Hardening
The Advent Season is the beginning of a Liturgical Year. We have entered a new year, a new beginning of the Redemption Cycle. Perhaps you would wonder why Advent is not a preparation for Christmas and why we meditate the end of the world during the first two Sundays in Advent. The answer is simple. Jesus Christ comes to the world twice. Two millennia ago was the first visit in which He fulfilled the teachings of the Law and the prophets. With the sacrifice on the cross, He set the foundation of salvation. Jesus Christ is present among us every day through the Church till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). At the end, Jesus Christ shall appear once more as the King of the Universe. By then, the Church shall have accomplished her mission.
The theme of the First Advent Sunday is simple and direct. In just five verses, Lord Jesus says, "Watch" four times! Regrettably, many people misunderstand the teaching of the Bible. Some even speculate and exaggerate so as to attract attention! Not too long ago, using the Maya calendar to foretell the end of the world in 2012, many people made money and 2020 is approaching its end. Recently, apocalyptic sentiments are fanned by the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters! No wonder Jesus says, "Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes', and your 'No' mean 'No'. Anything more is from the evil one." (5:37) Does Jesus Christ really want us to be watchful of the signs before end time? Since nobody knows when the time will come (Mark 13:33), therefore, being watchful has nothing to do with time. Then what does He want us to be watchful?
The Bible is not all top down revelation and words from God. There are many prayers in the Bible, such as the book of Psalms. It is a bottom up expression of human desires! Note that prayers are in fact an interaction between God and men because when we do not know how to pray as we ought, "the Holy Spirit intercedes with inexpressible groanings" (Romans 8:26). That is to say, even our prayers can be part of God's revelation!
The first reading we choose today is a Jewish bottom up prayer to tell God their desires. It is not an ordinary desire during peace time but a distress sigh for being conquered! The prophet begs God to show His glory, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you … and the nations would tremble before you." (Isaiah 63:19-64:1) The Lord God fulfils the words of the prophet, "It was not an envoy or a messenger, but His presence that saved them." (63:9) Truly, He came in person. But strangely, He did not come in the glory the Jews had expected. He was born in a manger and buried in other people's tomb. From cradle to grave, He was poor. His glory did not melt the mountains nor split the oceans but hanging on the cross to beg the Father to forgive men (Luke 23:34). Like what the prophet says, "You worked awesome deeds we could not hope for, such as had not been heard of from of old. No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen…" (64:2-3) He works in such a meek manner because He respects human autonomy and does not want to impose His good will on men! I'm afraid only those who follow Jesus Christ's teaching and are watchful like the prophet can understand. Catholics who were baptized have partaken in the prophetic ministry of Lord Jesus. Are they not prophets?
We should pay attention to another verse by the prophet because it is related to our duties. He says, "Why do you make us wander, Lord, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we do not fear you?" (63:17) Very interesting! If God hardens our hearts so that we do evil, are we still responsible for our actions? In Egypt, God kept hardening the heart of Pharaoh (Exodus 4:21). In the end, God sent the plague of "Killing the firstborns". God hardened Pharaoh's heart. Then it was not Pharaoh's fault! Don't be surprised. Ancient Jews did not follow our moral system. In their minds, God was in full control. Thus "harden Pharaoh's heart" is a narrative technique, showing God is God. In fact, one "Killing the firstborns" plague was enough to bend Pharaoh. Why did God send ten plagues, wasting time and resources, right? Thus, we can't use "God makes us sin. God hardens our hearts" as a defence for our sins.
What hardens our hearts so that we have no fear of God? Be careful! Many things are able to cause the lack of fear of God. For example, ignorance of the existence of God or even if people know God exists but they know not that they should fear Him. Again pride. With the advances in sciences and technology, coupled with an unwarranted optimism on human nature, modern people feel that the existence of God is none of their business! Today, we meditate on what hardens our hearts and leads to a lack of fear of God.
The parable of "The Rich Man and Lazarus" (Luke 16:19-31) is an excellent narrative of how wealth hardens human hearts. The rich man who dined sumptuously each day and ignored the poor Lazarus who was lying at his door was a stark illustration of "heart hardening". In his apostolic exhortation "Gaudete et Exsultate", Pope Francis explains the beatitude of spiritual poverty, "Once we think we are rich, we can become so self-satisfied that we leave no room for God's word, for the love of our brothers and sisters, or for the enjoyment of the most important things in life." (GE #68) When we are satisfied with our merits, wealth, power and achievements, when our hearts are stuffed with these things, there is no more room for God's word, Jesus Christ and His teachings. This heart is hardened. When we are still able to extend a helping hand to "one of the least of these brothers of mine" (Matthew 25:40), it shows that we still have a heart of flesh and blood, not a cold lump of stone!
When the disadvantaged are insulted, attacked, bullied and discriminated, nobody, including God, stands up for them and they themselves don't have the opportunities or abilities to take revenge, in order to reduce the pains and the hurt, victims would take an easy way out: to stiffen their hearts and appear to be tough, appear not to fear attacks and to need no pity. Consequently, they blame God and turn fearless in order to survive. How would they fear the Lord? Here, the beatitudes of meekness, being mournful, hunger for justice and mercy become meaningful! When you are meek, how will you bully or discriminate the disadvantaged? When you mourn for the damages sins inflict on men, how will your hearts be hardened? When you hunger and thirst for God's salvation, how will you not fear the Lord? When you are merciful and forgive those who hurt you, not only do you release the perpetrator, but you also release yourself from being controlled by the thoughts of revenge, how shall your heart be hardened? But to be able to achieve the target of the Beatitudes without the support of the Holy Spirit, the power from His seven gifts, how shall it be possible?
Brethren! Jesus Christ urges us to be watchful always not to allow our hearts to be hardened because of wealth, power and achievements which make us feel satisfied and ignore the plights of other people. Furthermore, don't let anger and hate poison and numb our heart so that we no longer fear the Lord. Invoke the help of the Holy Spirit! The Father in heaven wills everyone to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). He is eager to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13)!
God bless!
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