被誤會了的主人 A Misunderstood Master

被誤會了的主人（路19:11-28）

我們怎樣評價這位取得了王位的貴人呢（路19：15）？
在兩個成功的僕人身上，我們看到這個貴人是一個知人善任的主人。對一個能夠用一個「米納」賺取了十個「米納」的僕人，便派他掌管十座城（19：16-17）；對一個以一賺五的，便派他掌管五座城（19：18-19）…這位主人/國王，的確能把僕人的才幹，發揮得淋漓盡致！能作為他的僕人，應該慶幸有一個「伯樂」賞識他們！

福音並沒有交代為甚麼「他本國的人，一向懷恨他」（19：14）。假如那個把「米納」收存在手巾裡的「惡僕」（19：20）有代表性的話，就是本國的人，認為這個主人很嚴厲，在「沒有存放的，也要提取；沒有下種的，也要收割」（19：21）。很奇怪，這個描述，是指控主人的「不公義」，拿取不屬於他的財物，而不是甚麼嚴厲，苛求！更奇怪的是，主人竟然同意這個「嚴厲」的描述。那麼，為甚麼「沒有下種的，也要收割」，不算是拿取不屬於他的財物呢？

其實，按天主肖像所造的人類，有無限的潛能！科學家也認同，一般人祇運用了腦袋不足十分一的能力。在那些積極有為的僕人眼中，這個主人賞識他們的才幹，給他們發揮所長的機會，恨不得主人給他們更具挑戰性的工作。但在那些「惡僕」眼中，主人苛求他們做一些他們力有不逮的事。他們惟有採取消極的方法，不做不錯，減少損失！

這樣看來，錯不在主人，而是惡僕的錯誤觀念！既然他「沒有存放，也要提取」，事在必行，他怎會不出手協助，眼巴巴看著你失敗呢？即使是客觀上是沒有可能成功的事，天主又怎會放棄你，讓你失敗呢？祂必會助佑你，幫助你成功。保祿說得好：「罪惡在那裡越多，恩寵在那裡也越格外豐富。」（羅5：20）
天父，願祢的旨意，奉行在人間，如同在天上。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：Pinterest

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A Misunderstood Master (Luke 19:11-28)

How do we evaluate this nobleman who had obtained his kingship (Luke 19:15)?
From the two successful servants, we see that this nobleman is a master who knows how best to deploy his servants. For one who was able to earn ten additional gold coins with one, he assigned to take charge of ten cities (19:16-17). For another who was able to earn five, he assigned to take charge of five cities (19:18-19) … This Master/King is really capable of hooking the potentials of his servants who should feel honoured to serve such a good master!

The parable doesn't explain why the fellow citizens despised the nobleman (19:14). If the "wicked servant" who kept the gold coin stored away in a handkerchief could supply any clue, the fellow citizens must have felt the same that this master was a demanding person, who takes up what he did not lay down and harvests what he did not plant (19:21). Strangely, this description is an accusation of foul play on the part of the Master, rather than being demanding! Strange still, the Master agreed to this "demanding" accusation. Why is "harvesting what he did not plant" not a foul play?

Indeed, God created men in His image, making men infinite in potentials! Scientists generally agree that we have not deployed more than 10% of our brain's capacity. From the eyes of the proactive servants, this Master knows their capabilities and gives them opportunities. Wish that He had given them more challenging assignments. But in the eyes of the wicked servants, the Master is demanding the impossible. They resort to a passive strategy of not doing anything in order to contain damages!

Then the fault lies not in the Master but in the wrong perception of the wicked servants. Since the Master takes up what He did not lay down, would He stand by to see you fail without giving you additional support? Even if something is objectively impossible, would God forsake you and let you fail? He shall definitely make you succeed. Paul says well, "Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more" (Romans 5:20)
Heavenly Father, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.