主題：不認識聖神七恩，不認識上天之門
一年祇有三百六十五天，教會幾乎每天都紀念幾個聖人。但經過二千年的旅程，聖人又豈祇一千幾百個那麼少呢？況且，古今中外，還有很多無名英雄、寂寂無聞，不見經傳，祇有天主纔知道的聖人，他們可謂是「滄海遺珠」的一群。所以今天，教會慶祝「諸聖節」，慶祝天主在他們的生平，展示了慈悲的救贖！
今天選讀的福音很貼切，是瑪竇福音第五章所記載的「真福八端」，又稱為「天國大憲章」，是所有基督徒的生活指標。因為「真福八端」是指導性的大原則，所以在往後的經文，直到第七章結束，瑪竇把「真福八端」更具體地演繹出來。因此，瑪竇福音的第五章到第七章，稱為「山中聖訓」。作為天主教徒，一生人能做得到其中任何一端，便足以進入耶穌基督所應許的天國了！
耶穌的教訓，真是不近人情！不是嗎？為甚麼要按「真福八端」生活呢？「溫良和善」、「飢渴慕義」、「憐憫寬恕」、「心裡潔淨」甚至「締造和平」可算是美德，按照這些大原則生活，無可厚非。但人生在世，不外乎尋求幸福，安居樂業。有誰會追求「貧窮」、「哀慟」和「為義而受迫害」，自討苦吃呢？
真的，以人的本性，按照「真福八端」任何一端生活，都是困難的。可是，作為蒙召成聖，成為天主子女的我們，豈能永遠停留在那不能生活在天上的本性層次，而不去追求更高尚的，屬靈層次的幸福呢？在世上按「真福八端」生活，就是為了磨鍊我們的本性，讓它可以適合，適應將來在天上生活！
我們憑甚麼能夠駕馭自己的本性呢？在「山中聖訓」的尾段，耶穌基督給我們保證，天父明白我們的困難，祂願意無限量支持我們。祂說：「你們縱然不善，尚且知道把好的東西給你們的兒女，何況你們在天之父，豈不更將好的賜與求祂的人？」（7:11）所以，求天父把聖神賜給我們吧！我們既然已經領了「堅振聖事」，領受了聖神，便求聖神再次激活在我們身上的「聖神七恩」吧！活在四世紀的聖奧思定曾把七個「真福」，配合到「聖神七恩」上，可見擁有聖神七恩的我們，是絕對有把握，活出大部份的「真福八端」了。另一方面，活在十三世紀的聖多瑪斯，把「聖神七恩」與我們得救的關鍵，即「信、望、愛」這三個「超性德行」，與及「智、義、勇」，即做人的德行「四樞德」其中三個聯系在一起。可見「聖神七恩」是我們處世做人，邁向天國路上的致勝攻略！能善用聖神七恩，必能穩操進入天國的門券。
各位兄弟姊妹，你們的天國入場券放在哪？大家可記得「聖神七恩」是甚麼嗎？知道「超見」是甚麼？能分辨「聰敏」和「明達」嗎？我們的主保聖葉理諾說：「不認識聖經，不認識基督」。執事不是聖人，但不害羞，不怕拾人牙慧，模仿我們的主保說：「不認識聖神七恩，不認識上天之門」。
其實，不要以為溫良、慕義、慈悲、心裡潔淨和追求和平是容易做到的美德。
有誰不希望別人服從自己的意願？不強加自己的意願到配偶、兒女和下屬，要「溫良」談何容易！暴力之所以出現，由是因為強加意願時受到抵抗。所以從源頭出發，不強加一己意願，就可以減少暴力的出現！
試問有誰不希望自己得到公平的對待呢？但對別人公平會導致自己有所損失的話，你還會「飢渴慕義」嗎？在這十多個月來尚未停息的社會動盪中，要慈悲寬恕那些使用暴力的人，談何容易。說他們是「瘋子」已經很客氣，怎可能「把另一面也轉給他們」，簡直是天方夜譚…
那麼，天國是「貧窮」的嗎？不是，而是在天上，我們不再需要金錢財富。所以我們現在，就要學習「擁有天主，比擁有金錢財富更幸福」的心態（6:24）！
在天國是經常傷心哀慟嗎？不是。今天的世界，大部份人追求歡笑，不願意面對罪惡的醜惡，逃避罪惡的痛苦！倘若我們不認清罪惡，不像伯多祿一樣，為自己的罪惡而哀慟痛哭（26:75），又怎能清除自身的罪惡，進入天國呢？
在天國，沒有人有權強加一己私欲在別人身上。倘若我們不從現在開始操練「溫良」，將來在天上，怎能和其他人，永遠相處呢？記住，是永遠！
同理，我們不能強加自己的願意給天主，要求天主接納某人進入天國，把曾經傷害我們的人列入「制裁名單」！倘若我們現在不習慣「憐憫」，將來在天上，又怎能與曾經傷害我們的人永遠相處呢…
天主保祐！
圖片鳴謝：wikipedia
All Saints' Day, Year A
Theme: Ignorance of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Ignorance of the Gate to Heaven
There are 365 days a year. On each day the Church celebrates a few saints. But throughout the centuries, how can there only be a few hundred saints in the Church? Moreover, whether it was ancient or is modern, East or West, there are many unsung heroes, unrecorded saints whom only God knows. They are the forgotten ones. Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints to commemorate how God manifests His merciful redemption in their lives!
The choice of gospel passage is very appropriate today. It is the "Beatitudes" which is also known as the "Magna Carta of the Kingdom of Heaven". They are guidelines of Christian life. Since the Beatitudes are high level guidelines, Matthew continues to explain them more concretely until the end of Chapter 7. Thus, Matthew Chapters 5 to 7 is also known as the "Sermon on the Mount". As Catholics, if we are able to put one of the Beatitudes into practice, we would be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven promised by Jesus Christ!
What are the teachings of the "Sermon on the Mount"? I'm sure all of you have heard of some of the classic passages which even non-believers are well-versed and tease us with them. They are, "When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well." (Matthew 5:39), "And lend expecting nothing back" (Luke 6:35) Sorry, this is the Lukan version of the "Sermon on the Mount" and there is only one chapter! Sorry, this is Year A. Let's read Matthew and put away Luke for the time being. Let's continue. "You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world…" (Matthew 5:13-14) How beautifully it is written! The best is reserved to the last! "Whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment and whoever says to his brother … ‘You fool', will be liable to fiery Gehenna" (5:22) Are you sure it is that serious? Luke does not mention this. Why is anger that serious? It is because the first murder, Cain killing his brother Abel, was committed in anger. Paul teaches more mildly about anger. He advises believers "Do not let the sun set on your anger." (Ephesians 4:26) The gospel is the teaching of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is indifferent to the likes and dislikes of men. It is not optional or should it be selectively obeyed! "Whoever endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10:22) Do you have the courage to continue? Jesus continues to teach, "Let your ‘Yes' mean ‘Yes', and your ‘No' mean ‘No'. Anything more is from the evil one." (5:37) It is really difficult to put into practice. It hurts people's feelings. When they are not willing to listen to you, how can you spread the good news to them? OK. If I continue to enumerate, I'm afraid you will be reluctant to go on listening!
Jesus' teachings are too harsh! Aren't they? Why should we live according to the Beatitudes? Meekness, hunger for justice, mercy, purity of heart and peace-making are virtues. It is alright to live according to these principles. But what do people look for in life, happiness and a stable life. Who wants to be poor, to be mournful and to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness in life?
Truly, it is next to impossible to lead our life according to any one of the Beatitudes with our human nature. But we are called to sainthood to become God's children. How can we stay forever in our nature, which is unable to live in heaven, and do not seek more noble and spiritual happiness? We lead our life on earth according to the Beatitudes in order to train our nature, to make it suitable and to adapt it to life in heaven!
How can we bridle our human nature? In the last section of the "Sermon on the Mount", Jesus guarantees us that the Father knows our difficulty and is willing to support us. Jesus says, "If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him" (7:11) Thus, ask the Father to give us the Holy Spirit! Since we have received the Sacrament of Confirmation and have received the Holy Spirit, ask the Holy Spirit to activate the seven gifts in us! St. Augustine in the fourth century links seven of the Beatitudes to these seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thus, we who have the seven gifts have absolute certainty to live out the Beatitudes. Moreover, St. Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth century links the seven gifts with the three theological virtues, viz. faith, hope and charity which are essential for our salvation and three of the four cardinal virtues, viz. prudence, justice and fortitude. Thus the seven gift of the Holy Spirit are the roadmap to enter the Kingdom. Making good use of them shall surely win us the admission ticket.
Brethren, where have you put your admission ticket? Do you remember what the seven gifts are? What is Counsel? Can you tell the difference between Understanding and Knowledge? Our patron saint, St. Jerome once said, "Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ". Though I'm no saint, I won't shy away from parroting our patron saint and say, "Ignorance of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit is ignorance of the Gate to Heaven."
In fact, don't ever think that it is easy to practise meekness, justice, mercy, purity and peace-making. Who doesn't want other to follow their wishes? Not imposing one's wishes on spouses, children and subordinates, being meek is more easily said than done! Violence emerges because people resist. Starting from the source, not imposing one's wishes on others will reduce violence!
Who doesn't want to be fairly treated? But when treating others fairly will incur losses on your part, will you still hunger for righteousness?
For the past sixteen months, the social unrest still lingers on. How can we talk about being merciful to those who resort to violence? It is already mild to call them fools. Turn the other cheek? No way…
Then, is the Kingdom of heaven poor? No, but in heaven, we don't need money and wealth anymore. Thus now, we need to learn "possessing God is more blessed than possessing mammon" (6:24)!
Do we always mourn in the Kingdom of Heaven? No. In our world today, people seek laughter and are reluctant to confront the ugliness of sins. They evade the pains of sins! If we don't see evils in their eyes like Peter and cry for our sins and others' (26:75), how can we cleanse ourselves of sins and enter the Kingdom?
In the Kingdom, nobody has the authority to impose their personal wishes on others. If we do not start practising meekness now, how can we stay with others forever in heaven? Remember, it is eternity!
Similarly, we cannot impose our wishes on God, demanding God to accept so-and-so into the Kingdom and put those who have hurt us in the "Sanction List"! If we do not get used to being merciful, how shall we live together forever with those who have hurt us …
God bless!
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