求主解放我們 Liberate Us, Lord

常年期第四主日，乙年
主題：求主解放我們

把兩個或以上的個體聯合起來的是關係。在對象上，除了其他人之外，也可以是動物或事物。例如寵物和國家，我們也可建立某種形式的關係。在空間上，關係有上下尊卑的分別；在時間上，關係有長短，視乎這關係對各個成員是否有所增益。當任何一個成員再沒法得到預期的益處時，或更好說，付出的代價高於得益時，他便會脫離這種關係。當然有些關係是與生俱來的，不能自由地脫離，例如血緣關係。但在法律上，合約是可以在履行後，或付出賠償後解除。那些不能自由地脫離的關係，就是一種奴役！奴隸制度是一個例子。 人建立各種關係，是為了加大自身的利益。利益是各取所需的，而在一般的情況下，關係好像一個網絡，在一個開放的空間運轉，與其他的關係形成為一個「互聯網」。即是說，關係與關係之間，可以是唇齒相依，在互動中彼此依賴。所有關係都會使當中所有成員的利益增加，纔得到維系。即使部份成員在某段關係可能有所損失，也可能為了維持其他關係的運作，而不會脫離這個招致損失的關係。例如一個士兵冒著生命危險上戰場，即使是凶多吉少，也為了保存家人及國民的性命而不惜犧牲！

說了一大堆關係的理論，是為了默想天主，檢視與天主的關係。若望說天主是愛（若一4:8），而愛絕對不是憑空存在的，必須在關係中發生。我們與自己的配偶、家人、同學同事、上司下屬、朋友、其他市民、政府和天主的關係是健康的嗎？即使是自己與自己，也存在一種互動關係。人可以尊重自己，也可以鄙視自己；可以自暴自棄，也可以自愛。關係有如人類賴以生存的空氣，很難想像在沒有關係的「真空」環境中，找到愛的蹤影！沒有愛，人就沒有發展所需的元素了。

天主是惟一的，沒有任何與祂相稱的存有。那麼天主是孤獨的嗎？「孤獨」應用不到天主身上，因為天主是圓滿的愛，祂的「自愛」就是天主聖三的奧秘，是一個有限的人類不能完全了解的真理，因為天主就是真理！ 耶穌基督告訴我們，「真理必使你們獲得自由」（若8:32）。沒有自由的愛也是愛，但沒有幸福。由此推論，真理讓愛帶來幸福，在沒有真理的情況下，愛打了折扣。心理學家佛洛姆在《愛的藝術》一書就提到，「理解」是愛的四個基本元素之一，沒有理解、沒有真理的愛，祇會帶給對方傷害！例如，送糖果給糖尿病人作生日禮物。

上主天主與人的關係，很清楚是尊卑的關係。但慈悲的上主，卻降生成人，使與人建立平等的關係，變得有可能。祂甚至選擇了好像囚犯一樣，屈辱在十字架上，試問還有甚麼可以阻擋任何人與祂建立關係呢？保祿說得好：「對軟弱的人，我就成為軟弱的，為贏得那軟弱的人；對一切人，我就成為一切，為的是總要救些人。（格前9:22）這不是保祿的豪情快語，而是天主子向人類啟示的愛，是祂為了罪人得救的一片苦心！

今天的福音卻相反，展示了耶穌基督天主性權威的一面。祂的說話令聽眾折服，祂的命令讓邪魔無地容身。要知道馬爾谷寫福音，是為了在讀者眼前，展示耶穌基督是充滿權能的天主子。所以記載在《馬爾谷福音》的第一個神蹟是驅魔而不是把水變成酒！行使權威好像剝奪了對方的自由，這還可以稱得上是愛嗎？

耶穌講道的權威，不在於剝奪聽眾的自由，而在吸引他們的注意。耶穌基督的教訓有權威，一方面是因為經師們教訓的不濟（谷1:22），但另一方面是耶穌基督的教訓是真理！在眾說紛紜，偽新聞及謠言泛濫的今天，真理難求。所謂「物以罕為貴」，而耶穌基督本身就是真理（若14:6），是得救的真理，自然有祂獨特的魅力！但接受與否，最後的決定權，仍在聽眾手上。君不見聽眾中，有不少有識之士，如法利塞人及經師，拒絕了耶穌基督的權威，反過來迫害祂嗎？我們有沒有被耶穌基督的真理所吸引，取決於我們有沒有渴求得救的真理。在社會安定時，我們可能為生計奔波，忘記了天主；在社會動盪時，祇顧指罵敵對陣營製造破壞，在疫情肆虐時埋怨政府抗疫無能。我們完全沒有放天主在眼內，沒有被祂的教訓吸引！到頭來，我們與福音中的經師法利塞人，沒有分別，錯過了悔改的機會，誠為可惜、可憐！

耶穌驅魔，是為了解放附魔者，讓他不再成為邪魔的俘虜（依61:1），得以自由地發展和愛。不得不承認，很多人寧願生活在安樂窩中，而不願走出來呼吸自由的新鮮空氣。君不見以色列人離開埃及後，不少人抱怨缺糧缺水，寧願死在埃及嗎（出16:3）！同樣，人的心裡，有不同的魔障，阻礙了我們自由地生活和發展，破壞了人際關係及人神關係。有人濫藥，有人酗酒，有人沉迷上網、賭博、購物或者迷色…林林總總，不一而足，成為了各式各樣的「俘虜」，失去了自由。但很多人仍然樂意犧牲自由，躲在這些「安樂窩」中，逃避外面應付不了的「殘酷」現實…他們與那些願意為義而受迫害、為達義而失去自由的人，高下立見！義人們雖然肉體上困在有限的空間，但內心卻高飛遠致！耶穌基督運用權威為附魔的人驅魔，恢復了他們的自由，怎可以說是剝奪了他們的自由呢？我無意否定邪魔的真實存在，我對它們認識有限，不宜作無聊的推測，耶穌有沒有剝奪了邪魔的自由！

「沒有最好，祇有更好」其實是逃避現實的遁詞，是未能掌握實況的掩飾！說多了便把自己蒙在鼓中，失去了真理，失去了自由！既然天主是愛，是真理的根源，今天就讓我們檢討與天主的關係是否良好，考慮如何改善目前與天主的實際關係：我們花了多少時間祈禱、讀經、領聖事、參加信徒團體的相聚呢？實實在在地踐行真福八端，享受成為天主子女（瑪5:9）的自由。
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：pinterest.com

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Fourth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme:Liberate Us, Lord

Relations associate two or more objects together. Besides other human beings, the objects can be animals or things. For example, we are able to build up some kind of relations with pets and countries. In spatial terms, there are vertical relations involving superiors and subordinates. In temporal terms, how long a relation lasts depends on whether the relation is beneficial to its members. When a member is no longer able to attain the anticipated benefits, or in other words, the price is more than the gain, he will abandon the relation. Of course some relations are inborn, such as blood relation. But within the legal system, a contract can be terminated by completing it or by paying compensation. Relations which cannot be freely terminated are bondage. Slavery is a prime example! Men set up all sorts of relations in order to maximize self-interest, each party taking what they need. Under ordinary circumstances, relations operate like networks in an open space, forming a network of networks, an “Internet”. That is to say, relations depend on each other. All relations last when the interests of their members increase. Even if the interests of some members in a relation decrease, in order to maintain other relations, those members would not terminate the relation in question. For example, a soldier shall not desert no matter how perilous it is fighting in the battle field because they want to protect his family members and the citizens!

Why did I say so much about relations? It is because I want to meditate God and to review our relation with God. John says that God is love (1 John 4:8) and love does not exist in vacuum. It exists in relations. Are our relations with our spouses, family members, classmates or colleagues, superior and subordinates, friends, citizens, government and God healthy? Even with ourselves we engage in an interactive relation. One may respect or despise oneself. One can be self destructive or loves oneself. Like the air we rely on for our survival, it is difficult to find love in a relational vacuum. Without love, men lacks the essence to grow.

God is one. There is no being compatible with Him. Then, is God lonely? Loneliness does not apply to God because God is perfect love. God loves Himself and this is the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, an unfathomable mystery for us finite creatures because God is Truth! Jesus Christ says, “The truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Love without freedom is still love but without happiness. Thus, truth brings love happiness. Without truth, love is diminished. Erich Fromm mentioned in The Art of Loving that knowledge is one of the four basic elements of love. Without knowledge, without truth, love hurts! For example, giving a box of candies as a birthday present for a diabetics.

The relation between the Lord God and men is one of superior and subordinates. But the merciful Lord took up flesh making an equitable relation with humanity a possibility. He even chose to suffer humility like a condemned man on the cross. What else can stop him from building a relation with anyone? Paul says well, “To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22) This is not a boasting from Paul, but a love revealed by the Son of God to show His compassion and determination on saving sinners.

The gospel passage today is the opposite. It shows the authority of the divinity of Jesus Christ. He taught with authority and His command drove away evil spirits. We have to understand that Mark portrays a powerful Son of God before his readers. Thus, the first miracle recorded in his gospel is exorcism and not turning water into wine! Exercising authority seems to deprive the other party of freedom. Can this be love?

Jesus preaches in authority not to deprive His audience of freedom but to attract their attention. The teaching of Jesus Christ is authoritative. On one hand, it contrasted the inadequacy of the scribes' teaching (Mark 1:22). On the other hand, the teaching of Jesus Christ is truth! Today when fake news and rumours are rampant, truth is in short supply. By the scarcity principle, truth becomes valuable. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of truth (John 14:6) and thus charismatic! But the final decision to accept His truth still rests in the hands of the audience. Don't you see that many learned people like the Pharisees and scribes rejected Jesus' authority and turned around to persecute Him? Whether we are attracted by Jesus Christ's truth depends on whether we desire salvific truth. When the society is stable, we busy ourselves earning our livelihood and forget God. When the society is in turmoil, we blame the opposition for wrecking havoc. When the pandemic is rampant, we blame the government for her incompetency. God is not on our radar. We are not attracted by His teachings at all! In the end, we are no better than the scribes and Pharisees in the gospel. It is pitiful that we miss the opportunity to repent!

Jesus exorcises to liberate the possessed, to release the demons' prisoners (Isaiah 61:1) so that they may freely develop and love. Regrettably, we have to admit that many people prefer hiding in their comfort zone to breathing fresh air in liberty. Don't you see that many Israelites grumbled about the lack of food and water, preferred dying back in Egypt (Exodus 16:3) In the same manner, there are many obstacles in people's hearts, preventing them from living and growing in freedom, doing harm to their interpersonal relations with fellow men and with God. Some abuse drugs, others alcohol. Some are addicted to surfing the Internet, gambling, shopping and even pornography etc. They become captives in various forms losing their freedom. But they still prefer the loss of liberty, hiding in their comfort zone in order to evade the cruel reality which they are unable to handle … Compared with those who are willing to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness and to lose their freedom, those captives are dwarfed! Although the bodies of the righteous is confined within a tiny space, their minds and hearts soar! Jesus Christ exercises His authority to exorcise in order to restore the freedom of the possessed. How can we say He deprives them of their freedom? I have no intention to negate the existence of evil spirits. With a poverty in knowledge, it is inappropriate for me to speculate whether Jesus has deprived the liberty of the evil spirits!

“There is no best but better” is a fig-leaf to evade reality, a cover-up of ignorance! When this cliché is abused, you become blind to the truth and lose your freedom! God is love and the source of truth. Today is high time we reviewed the health of our relation with God, thought seriously about how to improve it with concrete measures: how much time do we spend on prayers, bible studies, receiving sacraments, participating in fellowship etc.? Let us put into practice the Beatitudes and enjoy the freedom of being children of God (Matthew 5:9).
God bless!

天意真的難料嗎? Is God’s Will Beyond Our Reach?

常年期第三主日，乙年
主題：天意真的難料嗎?

很多信天主的教友，經常抱怨天意難料。遠的不用說，在疫情仍肆虐的今天，上至教宗、首相，下至清潔工人、露宿者，無一倖免。作為一個悲天憫人的教友，一定曾經問過天主：「為甚麼祢要這樣懲罰我們？」雖然耶穌基督教導我們履行天父的旨意（瑪6:10），但天意難料，我們怎樣履行天父的旨意呢？
執事我肯定天主很喜歡說話。看！上主天主以說話創造了可見的宇宙和不可見的靈界（記得主日誦唸的《尼西亞信經》嗎？）最重要的，是祂按照自己的肖像創造了人類（創1:26），一種能夠與祂溝通的受造物（我無意否定動物植物，甚至石頭，也能夠與天主溝通！），祂怎會不想把祂的旨意，啟示給我們呢？看！人類不也是與天主一樣，喜歡與四周的事物溝通嗎？除了人類之外，不少人與寵物植物溝通，即使未必存在的物體，例如外星生物，科學家也不斷努力嘗試與他們溝通。可見，祇要我們願意（為了得到安慰或者知識），我們是能夠與天父溝通，得知祂的旨意。

希伯來書開始是這樣寫的：「天主在古時，曾多次並以多種方式，藉著先知對我們的祖先說過話」（希1:1）的確，天主已經用多種方種方式，給我們留下了祂的說話。祇要我們願意放眼四望，一定可以察覺到這些說話。首先，整個宇宙也好像一本聖經，記載著天主的說話和慈愛，讓自然科學家可以從各種研究和觀察中，憑著理性推論，找到天主留下的線索。不難發現，這個適合人類進化和生活的可見宇宙，是隨機進化得來的機會，微乎其微！除非你心硬，否則祇有一個合理的結論：「上主天主創造了這個適合我們生活的可見宇宙。」
各人的秉性不同，天主沒有對感性的人置諸不理。詩人們說：「高天陳述天主的光榮，穹蒼宣揚祂手的化工」（詠19:2）天主藉著詩人們，把祂的安慰、治療和鼓舞等，留給感性的讀者，讓我們發現祂一直在陪伴著我們。最後，「但在這末期，祂藉著自己的兒子對我們說了話」（希1:2）。若望宗徒很清楚指出，耶穌基督就是天主的聖言，祂降生成人（若1:14），宣講福音，建立宗徒團體，受難復活…，向世人展示一個真理：天父是一位滿溢憐愛的父親，而耶穌基督就是真理的化身（14:6）。天父因材施教，按照不同人的秉性，與他們溝通。試問天父遺漏了甚麼，還沒有做呢？

溝通是雙向的，既然天父已經發出了訊息，除非我們不願意建立溝通，現在應該是我們作出回應的時候了。首先，天父尊重我們的自由，祂不會強迫我們回應。但另一方面，我們的不回應，可能不是出於自願，而是出於惡劣的處境：身陷各種罪惡不同形式的奴役，令我們不能自主。如此，我深信天父會更樂意賜予我們恩寵，擺脫罪惡的束縛，重投造物主的懷抱。

其次，不要恐懼我們要作出重大的改變，付出沉重的代價，纔可以回應天父的邀請。試看今天的福音章節，耶穌基督召叫首批宗徒，與祂一起建立教會的核心團隊。他們是漁夫。耶穌基督並沒有邀請他們做軍人去征服世界；或者做法利塞人去制訂天主子民的生活規範；或者做司祭去主持祭天典禮，而是做「漁人的漁夫」（谷1:17）。可見天父的邀請，是按部就班，不會要求我們做超過我們能力的事。但不要少覷自己，因為科學家普遍的意見，是每個人祇用了少於十份之一的腦力，便足以應付日常的生活。我們還有很多能力，尚未開發。所以，假以時日，說不定我們可以用聖經原文來閱讀聖經！君不見作為漁夫的伯多祿，日後成了教會的最高牧者嗎？

另一方面，我們應否好像首批宗徒一樣，不假思索地回應呢？坦白說，福音給我們的印象太理想化了，我們生活的處境，真的不容許我們好像宗徒們般爽快。而且，耶穌基督曾教導我們「先坐下籌算費用，是否有力完成」（路14:28）。如果做不到，就不應敷衍地回應，後來卻背信棄義！
籌算是應該的，可惜很多人好像驕傲的法國數學家拉普拉斯一樣，不需要「天主」這個假設，天主不在他們的考慮之列。我們據可以掌握的事物來籌算，到頭來漏了一個更肯定卻不可操控的變數─就是天主。我們顧慮沒有足夠的才幹、我們的父母沒有人供養、中途而廢會無地自容…卻忘記了慈悲的天父，一定會照顧（創22:8）。聖保祿說得好：「是天主在你們內工作，使你們願意，並使你們力行，為成就祂的善意」（斐2:13）倘若是天父的旨意，祂怎會讓你破壞祂的工程呢？祇一定會加強支援，確保你（祂）的成功！即使你想逃避，恐怕祇會成為另一個約納罷了！這不是對自己過份自信，而是「在天主前沒有不能的事」（路1:37）。所以，感應到天父的邀請而仍然猶豫不決的話，你實在太低估了自己，太低估天主了。

各位兄弟姊妹，《聖經》記載了天主的說話，那裡有比《聖經》更有效地指示天父旨意的地方呢？即使好像今天，政府因應疫情而禁止了一切宗教活動，沒有公開彌撒，教友不能實領聖體，與耶穌基督結合；但我們仍可以透過閱讀聖經，與耶穌基督相聚。找個讀聖經的方案，用一年、兩年的時間，祈求聖神陪伴，讀完整部聖經，充實自己，減了疑惑吧。
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：praxiscommunities.org

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Third Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Is God’s Will Beyond Our Reach?

Many Catholics always complain that God’s will is beyond our reach. Take for instance the present pandemic. From the Pope and Prime Ministers to janitors and the homeless, none is exempted. As kind-hearted Catholics, they must have asked God, “Why do you punish us?” Although Jesus Christ teaches us to do the Father’s will (Matthew 6:10), His will is beyond our reach. How are we able to do the Father’s will?
I’m sure that God is very talkative. See how the Lord God created the visible and invisible with a command (Remember the Nicene Creed we recite on Sundays?) The most important of all, He created human beings in His own image (Genesis 1:26). That is to say, we are creatures that are able to communicate with Him (I have no intention to deny the possibility of plants, animals and even rocks are able to communicate with God!). How could He not reveal His will to us? Look, don’t human beings, like God, enjoy communicating with matters around them? Other than human beings, many people communicate with pets and plants. Even things which probably do not exist, like aliens, scientists keep trying to establish communication. Thus, if we are willing, for consolation or knowledge, we are definitely capable of communicating with the Father and know His will.

The Epistle to the Hebrews begins saying, “In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets” (Hebrews 1:1). Indeed, God has made use of many different methods to leave behind His words. If we are willing to look around, we may discover them. Firstly, the whole universe is just like a Bible recording God’s words and mercy to allow natural scientists to observe and study. With rational deductions, they may be able to find clues God has left behind. It is not too difficult to discover that the probability of a visible universe which is suitable for human growth and survival emerging from random evolution is next to zero! Unless your heart is hardened, there can only be one rational conclusion, “The Lord God created a visible universe suitable for us to live.”
All of us were born with different endowments. God will never ignore the sentimental. The Psalmist says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the works of his hands” (Psalms 192) Through the Psalmist, God passes on His consolation, healing and encouragement to the sentimental, allowing us to discover that He has always been staying with us. At last, “In these last days, He spoke to us through a son” (Hebrews 1:2) John the Apostle clearly points out that Jesus Christ is God’s Word who became flesh (John 1:14), proclaimed good news, built up the apostolic community, suffered passion and was risen etc. to show us a truth: the Father is a father overflowing with mercy and Jesus Christ is the embodiment of truth (14:6). The Father communicates with us in accordance to our temperament. What has the Father left undone?

Communication is bidirectional. Since the Father has already sent out His words, unless we are reluctant to establish communication, now is high time we responded. Firstly, the Father respects our freedom. He would not force us to respond. On the other hand, our failure to respond might not be voluntary but due to adverse circumstances: we lose our autonomy because we are enslaved in different forms of sins. Thus, I’m deeply convinced that the Father shall be more than willing to grant us grace to shake off the bondage of sins and return to the bosom of our Creator.
Secondly, there is no need to fear that we have to make huge changes and to pay a heavy price in order to respond to the Father’s invitation. Take a look at the gospel passage today. Jesus Christ called the first batch of apostles to establish the nucleus of the Church. All of them were fishermen. Jesus Christ did not invite them to become soldiers to conquer the world; or Pharisees to legislate the norms of daily life of the People of God; or priest to offer sacrifices. He invited them to become “fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). We can see that the Father’s invitation is step by step. He would not require us to do things beyond our capabilities. But don’t underestimate yourself because scientists generally opine that each one of us only make use of one tenth of our brain power to deal with our daily life. We still have a huge reservoir of potentials to develop. Perhaps one day, we’ll be reading the Bible in the original languages! Don’t you see how Simon the fisherman became the Pontifex Maximus in the future?

On the other hand, should we respond like the first apostles without a thought? To be candid, the impression the gospel gives us is too idealistic. Living in our situation, we can’t afford to abandon everything immediately to follow Jesus. Moreover, Jesus teaches us to “sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion” (Luke 14:28). If we aren’t ready to, then we shouldn’t respond casually and subsequently break our vow!
It is right and fair to calculate first. But unfortunately, many people are like the arrogant French mathematician Laplace who did not need the hypothesis of God. They do not take God into consideration. We calculate what are under our control. In the end, we miss one certain but uncontrollable variable --- God. We worry a lack of capability, that nobody would take care of our aging parents and that there is no place to hide if we desert midway etc. But we have forgotten that the merciful Father shall provide (Genesis 22:8). St. Paul says it well, “For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work” (Philippians 2:13). If it is the Father’s will, how could He allow you to ruin His project? He would definitely strengthen the support to ensure your (His) success! Even if you want to run away, you would probably become another Jonah! This is not overconfidence on our part but “nothing will be impossible for God” (Luke 1:37). Thus if you still hesitate after feeling God’s invitation, you have actually underestimated yourself and God.

Brethren! The Bible carries God’s words. Where else can we find more effective indicators of the Father’s will than the Bible? Even today, when the government ban all religious activities, when there is no public mass, when the faithful are not able to receive physically the Sacrament of Eucharist in order to unite with Jesus Christ, we can still abide in Jesus Christ through studying the Bible. Get a reading scheme. Invoke the Holy Spirit to accompany you to finish reading the Bible in one or two years’ time in order to equip yourselves and to reduce doubts.
God bless!

耶穌住在哪？ Where Does Jesus Live?

常年期第二主日，乙年
主題：耶穌住在哪？

作為一個仍有生命力的基督徒，是不能因循地，安逸地過信仰生活的；事實上，天主聖神是會不斷督促我們，鞭策我們走在成聖路上，日進於德。四部福音中，若望寫的是最有挑戰性的一本，是基督徒成長到某一階段後一部必讀之書！它除了補充對觀福音中沒有記載的事蹟或細節外，更展示出天國的另一個視野。

今天所讀的福音，記載了首批門徒如何追隨耶穌基督（若1:35-42）。注意，與對觀福音不同，耶穌並沒有召叫他們，而是洗者若翰指示自己的門徒，投靠耶穌；後來，安德肋引薦自己的兄弟西滿到默西亞面前。對觀福音的記載，很清楚表達出是耶穌基督，是天主揀選了我們，召叫了我們，而不是我們揀選相信天主！「蒙召」是宗徒們的一致觀念。例如，「因為祂於創世以前，在基督內已揀選了我們為使我們在祂面前，成為聖潔無瑕疵的」（弗1:4；得後2:13；雅1:18；伯前1:2；猶1），連若望自己也明明白白地說：「不是你們揀選了我，而是我揀選了你們」（若15:16）。為甚麼若望會這樣記載耶穌召選首批門徒呢？
其實，天父和祂所派遣的聖子耶穌基督，都有一種不可言喻的吸引力，讓我們以絕對的自由，走向祂，親近祂。是天父創造了我們，所以回歸造物主是理所當然的。從這個意義上說，即使看起來是門徒主動投靠耶穌基督，但始終都是天主藉著不同的人地事物，不斷邀請我們，呼喚我們。例如聖經中提及的厄里（撒上3:8-9）和洗者若翰（若1:36-37），聖德蘭修女在火車站的體驗等。天主召叫，我們回應，是同一個硬幣的兩個面，二者並沒有矛盾。ma

人生苦短，我們經驗著不同的欠缺，有物質上的欠缺，包括衣食住行，健康和安全，和心靈上的欠缺，包括人際關係，文化及政治等上層結構。人總不能長時間生活在有欠缺的狀態下，坐以待斃。人總要尋求出路，脫離欠缺的境況，讓自己可以生存和發展，這就是有生命力的意思。能夠安居樂業，成家立室是大部份平民百姓的願望，是合情合理的。他們追求一份穩定的工作、一個快樂的家庭，既可滿足到物質上的需要，同時也填補到心靈上的欠缺，這是應該的。但這一切都取決於更大的經濟、社會及政治環境。新約時代的猶太人，生活在羅馬帝國的殖民統治下，過著二等公民的生活，失去了安居樂業的保障。他們期望一個「默西亞」來驅逐羅馬人，解放他們！

安德肋參觀過耶穌的住處，便認定耶穌就是他心目中的默西亞（1:41），並介紹給自己的弟弟西滿。後來，耶穌給西滿起名伯多祿（1:42）。在若望福音中，耶穌召叫的第一個人是斐理伯（1:43），他是按「梅瑟在法律上所記載，和先知們所預報」來認定耶穌是默西亞（1:45），並介紹給納塔乃耳。宗徒們的傳教熱忱，固然值得我們仿效。但從斐理伯的例子，我們得到一個非常簡單的真理：天主藉聖經啟示自己，召喚我們，並給予我們力量去回應祂、跟隨祂！此外，天主也喜歡因材施教，用不同的方式，召喚不同的人。斐理伯熟悉經典，天主就在經典中啟示自己，召喚斐理伯。那麼，安德肋參觀耶穌的住處時，看見了甚麼，讓祂認定耶穌就是默西亞，並引薦西滿呢？

要知道若望在這裡，是在敘述自己與安德肋的心路歷程，即是說，「耶穌住的地方」極有可能不是一個現實世界的地點。那裡是斐理伯的凱撒勒雅，給西滿起名做伯多祿的地點嗎？當然不是！耶穌不是說過：「狐狸有穴，天上的飛鳥有巢，但是人子卻沒有枕頭的地方」（瑪8:20，路9:58） 嗎？另一方面，耶穌在最後晚餐曾向門徒說：「在我父的家裡，有許多住處。我去，原是為給你們預備地方…為的是我在那裡，你們也在那裡」（若14:2-3）所以，當安德肋和若望，聽到洗者若翰稱耶穌為「天主的羔羊」的時候，便跟隨了耶穌，想了解祂多一些（1:36-37）。有甚麼地方比住的地方更能認識一個人呢？為了更認識這位「天主的羔羊」，他們希望耶穌帶領他們到耶穌住的地方，考查一番，再作決定！

這樣做也相當冒險，始終這位「天主的羔羊」是一個陌生人！二人同行是相對安全的，可以彼此印證所見所聞。安德肋和若望為後世的基督徒，留下了尋找真理的楷模：同行冒險！我想像到耶穌引領他們進入「天父的住處」，因為「我與父原是一體」（10:30）。在那裡，他們找到了存在的根源，圓滿的滿足，填補了一切的欠缺，初嘗了永恆的生命！

各位兄弟姊妹，對觀福音介紹了一個「歷史的耶穌」，而若望福音給我們描繪了一個「信仰的基督」。我們不應停滯在歷史的層次中，因為我們離開塵世，便要進入一個永恆的存在，而歷史祇剩下依稀記憶，將會成為塵蹟。所以花多一點時間，默想若望所寫的福音吧！誠然，信仰是一個冒險旅程，即使沒有人同行也不用怕，三位一體的天主是不會任由我們自生自滅的，祂必拯救。
天主保祐！
2018年 反省
圖片鳴謝：pottypadre.com

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Second Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Where Does Jesus Live?

As a Christian who is still alive, one should not be complacent in leading one’s religious life. Indeed, the Holy Spirit keeps watching over us, prodding us to make advances on our way to sanctification. Among the canonical gospels, John is the most challenging one. When a Christian has matured to a certain level, the gospel of John is a must-read! Not only does it fill in details and events not mentioned in the Synoptic, it also reveals to us the Kingdom of Heaven from another perspective.

The gospel passage we read today tells us how the first disciples followed Jesus Christ (John 1:35-42). Notice that it is different from the narratives found in the Synoptic. Here, Jesus did not call them. Rather, the Baptist told his disciples and they followed Jesus. Then Andrew brought his brother Simon to the Messiah. The Synoptic narratives make it clear that it is Jesus Christ, it is God who chooses us and calls us, not that we choose to believe in God! Election is a consensus among the apostles. For example, “He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him” (Ephesians 1:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:2, Jude 1). Even John himself reports plainly, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you” (John 15:16). Why then does John tell Jesus’ call of the first disciples in this manner?
In fact, the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son whom He sent, has an ineffable attraction to allow us to come close to Him in freedom. It was the Father who created us. Thus returning to the Creator is the most logical. From this perspective, even though it looks as if the disciples took the initiative to follow Jesus Christ, it is actually God who continually invites us and calls us through different people as well as events. For example, the Bible mentions Eli (1 Samuel 3:8-9), John the Baptist (John 1:36-37) while St. Mother Teresa had her special vocation experience at the railway station etc. God calls us and we respond to His call. They are the two faces of the same coin. There is no contradiction.

Life is short and we go through different deficiencies. Some deficiencies are physical such as daily necessities, health and safety. There are spiritual ones such as interpersonal relationships, cultural and political superstructures. Men can’t live long in deficiencies and do nothing to avert fatality. We work to remove deficiencies so that we may survive and grow. This is what it means to be alive. A safe home, a stable job and a happy family are the humble dreams of most commoners. These rights are reasonable because a stable job and a happy family meet most of the physical and spiritual needs of most people. But in turn, all these depend on the economic, social and political environment at large. For the Jews in the New Testament time living under Roman colonial rule, leading a second class citizen’s life without social and employment security, their anticipations were all invested on the Messiah who would drive away the Romans and liberate them!

After visiting where Jesus lived, Andrew affirmed that he had found the anticipated Messiah (1:41) and told his brother Simon. Later, Jesus gave Simon a new name (1:42). In the gospel of John, the first person called by Jesus was Philip (1:43) who recognized Jesus to be the Messiah from the Scriptures “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets” (1:45) and told Nathanael about it. Of course, the evangelization zeal of the apostles is commendable and has set for us an example. But the example of Philip also tells us a very simple truth: through the Scriptures, God reveals Himself, calls us and empowers us to respond and follow Him! Moreover, God uses different ways to call different people according to their temperament. Philip knew the Scriptures well. So God revealed and called Philip through the Scriptures. Then what did Andrew see when he visited the lodging place of Jesus that affirmed his Messianic anticipation and thus recommended Simon to join as well?

We should bear in mind that John was talking about Andrew’s and his own spiritual journey. That is to say, the place where Jesus lived is most probably not a physical location in reality. It wasn’t the Caesarea Philippi where Jesus called Simon Cephas (Mark 8:27), was it? Of course not! Doesn’t Jesus also say, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head” (Matthew 8:20, Luke 9:58)? On the other hand, during the Last Supper, Jesus told the disciples, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places … I am going to prepare a place for you … so that where I am you also may be” (John 14:2-3). Thus, when Andrew and John heard the Baptist call Jesus “the Lamb of God”, they followed Jesus in order to know more about Him (1:36-37). What better place is there than his dwelling place in order to know him? In order to know this “Lamb of God” better, they hoped that Jesus would show them around for them to inspect and decide!

This action is rather risky. After all, this “Lamb of God” was a total stranger! It is relatively safer for them to go in two so that they may support each other. Andrew and John have left us a model of going after a truth: a joint adventure! In my imagination, Jesus led them into the Father’s dwelling place because “The Father and I are one” (10:30) There, the apostles discovered the origin of their existence, the perfect satisfaction which would fill up all their deficiencies. They had a foretaste of eternal life!

Brethren! The Synoptic shows us a historical Jesus while John’s gospel a Christ of Christianity. We should not stay in the historical level forever because leaving behind this world, we shall enter into an eternal existence. History shall turn into a vague memory and dust. Let’s spend more time meditating the gospel of John! To be candid, faith is an adventurous journey. Don’t be afraid to go solo because the Trinine God will never abandon us. Jesus saves.
God bless!

智仁兼備 Wisdom & Love Goes Together

智仁兼備（谷2:13-17）

當法利塞人質問耶穌的門徒，為甚麼耶穌與罪人同席，法利塞人是振振有詞，有根有據的（谷2:16）。因為不與罪人為伍，是聖經的教訓：「凡不隨從惡人的計謀，不插足罪人的道路…像這樣的人纔是有福的！」（詠1:1-2）那麼，法利塞人質疑耶穌的行為，他們有錯嗎？沒有錯！他們擁有真理，可惜缺乏了愛德。「真理」與「愛德」，是聖神的恩賜。二者缺一不可！二者缺一是甚麼意思？

愛心「爆棚」，卻沒有真理的支持，輕則「貽笑大方」，重則「好心做壞事」。這就是二者缺一的例子！在中環看見可憐的老婆婆跪在路邊行乞，便不假思索地施捨她五百元。這不是慷慨，而是孔子所說的「好仁不好學，其蔽也愚！」（論語‧陽貨）即使老婆婆真的是可憐，但這五百元也祇會落在幕後操縱她的「丐幫」手上，豈不貽笑大方嗎？今天互聯網大行其道，很多人在社交媒體，未驗證真相之前，便不假思索地隨便轉發短訊。「好心做壞事」的例子，實在多不勝數，用不著再舉例了。

與愛心「爆棚」相反，沒有「愛德」的真理，恐怖程度更大。最容易想起的例子，就是在集中營內的囚犯身上，進行各種冷血的人體實驗。又好像法利塞人一樣，法例是公義的載體，是正義的化身。那麼，冷酷無情地執法，甚至利用法律去對付自己的政敵，這樣的冷血行為，與野心勃勃的瘋狂科學家，有甚麼分別呢？沒有！倘著有，可能是流血殺人與殺人不見血的分別！以追求真理公義之名，出賣了自己的愛心良心，斷送了聖神的愛德與真理之恩，賠上了永恆的生命，值得嗎？法利塞人選擇「真理」，捨棄「愛德」，落得「偽善」的千古惡名。掌權者怎可以不汲取教訓呢？
聖神啊！請施恩我眾罪人，賜予真理，解放我們；賜予愛德，栽培我們。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：thegospelcoalition.org

Wisdom & Love Goes Together (Mark 2:13-17)

When the Pharisees challenged Jesus’ disciples why their master dined with sinners, their reason was sound and scripture-based (Mark 2:16). Staying away from sinners had always been a Biblical teaching, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers” (Psalms 1:1) Then, was it wrong for the Pharisees to question Jesus’ behaviour? Not at all! They possessed the truth but regrettably, they lacked charity. Both truth and charity are inspired by the Holy Spirit. They should not be decoupled! What does it mean?

Charity without truth is stupidity in minor situations but doing evil with good intention in serious cases! If you see a fragile old lady begging at the Central, you give her $500 without a thought. This is not generosity. Confucius says, “It is stupidity to be merciful without knowledge” (Analects, Yang Huo) Even if the old lady is truly pitiful, it is a laughing stock to see the $500 end up in the hands of the “Beggar Gang” which controls the old lady! Today, with the popularity of social media on the Internet, many people habitually forward messages without fact checks … There are far too many incidents of doing evil with good intention to enumerate.

On the contrary, truth without charity can be evil. Examples we can easily conjure up are cold-blooded human experimentations on prisoners of war inside concentration camps. Like the case of the Pharisees, laws are embodiment of justice. Then, isn’t enforcing justice without charity and manipulating legislation to kill off dissidents as cold-blooded, if not worse, than those ambitious mad scientists? No. If there is any difference, perhaps the difference lies in whether blood is shed! Is betrayal of charity and conscience in the name of the pursuit of truth and justice, giving up the gifts of truth and charity from the Holy Spirit and thus forfeiting one’s eternal life worth doing? The Pharisees who chose truth and forsook charity ended up earning an infamy of hypocrites for thousands of years. Can people in power ignore this lesson?
Holy Spirit! Have mercy on us sinners. Grant us truth to liberate us and charity to edify us. Amen.

心靈的痊癒 Healing of the Heart

心靈的痊癒（谷2:1-12）

作為一個癱子，最痛苦的，並不是身體的不能動彈，而是處處要仰人鼻息，倚靠別人的憐憫，失去了做人的尊嚴！沒有別人餵食，甚至插喉，他會餓死；試想想，洗澡，大小二便也要靠人幫助，尊嚴可以放到哪呢？記得一位四肢癱瘓病患者曾回憶說：「從前喜歡用小昆蟲嚇同學的我，如今卻被一隻小蟑螂，肆無忌憚地在我臉上蹂躪一番，真是報應！」癱子之苦，的確不足為外人道。

夾在肉體與心靈的雙重打擊之下，癱子最需要的，是心靈的康復，多於肉體的康復。假如一定要他二選其一：要麼肉體康復無望，卻得到罪赦，從此心靈輕鬆；要麼行動自如，但以後惶恐終日，日夜受著罪惡感的煎熬。我相信癱子寧可獲得罪赦，放下心靈上的大石，他仍可以快快樂樂地癱瘓下去，這總比終日心情沉重地四出奔波好！難怪耶穌基督說：「甚麼比較容易呢？是對癱子說：你的罪赦了；還是說：起來，拿你的床走？」（谷2:9）

耶穌基督是天主子，赦罪與治病，同樣輕而易舉！但為癱子最需要的，不是肉體的康復，而是心靈的痊癒！富於憐憫之心的天主子，既然可以撫摸痲瘋病人，給予痲瘋病人心靈上的潔淨，又怎會吝嗇對癱子的憐憫呢？所以耶穌一見他們的信心，就對癱子說：「孩子！你的罪赦了。」（2:5）這癱子的朋友們既然有這麼大的信德，耶穌基督的愛德和憐憫，豈可遜色呢？所以耶穌基督先安其心，再治其病。天主憐憫罪人，真是一位充滿父母心的醫者！可惜，竟然有人不滿這樣一位醫者，這些不滿合理嗎？
聖神啊！請再度激發智慧之恩，讓我們渴慕真正的幸福，天上的事。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：tatcogschool.blogspot.com

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Healing of the Heart (Mark 2:1-12)

As a quadriplegic, the most painful experience is not the inability to move, but the dependence on the mercy of others and the loss of dignity! With nobody feeding or even tube feeding, you starve. Just imagine, you rely on others to help you taking bath, cleaning up after excretion etc., what dignity can you command? Once a quadriplegic remarked, “I was once a naughty student playing tricks on classmates with little insects. Now, a tiny cockroach molests me, crawling triumphantly over my face. What a penalty!” Who would articulate the pains of quadriplegics!

Under double doses of sufferings, quadriplegics need spiritual healings more than physical ones. If they have to make a choice: either no physical healing in exchange of forgiveness of sins and be happy ever after; or able to move around freely but to be tortured by a guilty conscience days and nights. I trust quadriplegics will seek the forgiveness of sins to unload burdens in their hearts and continue to be quadriplegics happily ever after. It is definitely better off than moving around freely with a heavy heart! No wonder Jesus Christ says, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pic up your mat and walk’?” (Mark 2:9)

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Both forgiving sins and healing are a piece of cake! As for the paralytic, he needed spiritual healings more! The Son of God is full of compassion. He would touch a leper to cleanse his heart, would He be less merciful to the paralytic? Thus when Jesus saw their faith, he says to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven” (2:5). The friends of the paralytic were full of faith. How could the charity and mercy of Jesus Christ pale before them? Thus, Jesus Christ consoled his heart first and then healed. God is merciful to sinners. He is truly a physician with a parental heart! Regrettably, some people were unhappy. Was their dissatisfaction reasonable?
Holy Spirit! Reignite the gift of wisdom in us so that we may desire authentic happiness and seek what is above. Amen.

圓滿的愛驅逐恐懼 Perfect Love Drives Out Fear

圓滿的愛驅逐恐懼（谷1:40-45）

人是有靈的生物（創2:7），是靈性與血肉結合在一起的生命體，二者息息相關。所以，為甚麼醫者要有父母心呢？無他，因為除了治療肉體上的疾病之外，還要醫治病人的心！

在發現盤尼西林之前，痲瘋病是不治之症。痲瘋病人固然要捱受肉體上的痛苦，再加上所有人的無知所引起的恐懼，令他們遭受無情的驅逐和敵視，肉體和心靈上受著雙重的打擊。他們的苦況，有誰知道，有誰會憐憫他們呢？天主子知道，天主子憐憫他們！「耶穌動了憐憫的心，就伸手撫摸他」（谷1:41），耶穌基督不但治療癩病人的肉體，更撫平他的心！在後世，耶穌基督的門徒也能步武天主子的芳表，不怕被傳染，服務這些病人！

耶穌基督乃天主子，一般病菌病毒，傷害不了祂。但基督徒祇是凡人一個，憑甚麼抵抗病菌的入侵呢？是聖神！是聖神所引發的愛，使基督徒無懼各式各樣的病菌病毒！這話怎解呢？

聖神不但是「真理之神」（若14:17），祂又是愛德之神（羅5:5）。正是憑著聖神的助祐，基督徒的內心滿溢著愛德：「…以聖神、以無偽的愛情、以真理的言辭…」（格後6:6-7）處處表現出是天主的僕伇。與拋頭顱，灑熱血的殉道聖人相比，服務痲瘋病人，等閒之事而已！是甚麼令基督徒不怕流血殉道呢？除了愛，還可以有其他嗎？因為「在愛內沒有恐懼，反之，圓滿的愛把恐懼驅逐於外」（若一4:18）
天主聖神，求祢再次暖化我們的冰心，讓我們勇敢地，明智地去愛。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：moyockchristian.org

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Perfect Love Drives Out Fear (Mark 1:40-45)

Man is a living soul (Genesis 2:7). He is a living combination of flesh and spirit tightly coupled. That is why physicians must have a parental heart. It is obvious that besides relieving patients of physical ailments, physicians need to cure their hearts!

Before the discovery of penicillin, leprosy was incurable. Not only did lepers suffer from physical pains, but people also chased them away and were hostile towards them because of the fear engendered from ignorance. Lepers’ were double doses of sufferings indeed. Who knew their plights? Who would show them mercy? The Son of God knows. The Son of God shows mercy! “Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him” (Mark 1:41) Not only did Jesus cure the leper, but he also pacified his heart! In subsequent ages, Christians follow the exemplar of the Son of God to serve the sick without fear of infection!

Jesus Christ is the Son of God whom bacteria and viruses can inflict no harm. But Christians are mere mortals. With what do they resist viral infection? The Holy Spirit! It is the love triggered by the Holy Spirit that makes Christians fearless against all sorts of lethal viruses! What does that mean? Not only is the Holy Spirit the spirit of truth (John 14:17), but He is also the spirit of charity (Romans 5:5). With the blessing of the Holy Spirit, Christian hearts overflow with love, showing themselves as ministers of God “… in a Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech …” (2 Corinthians 6:6-7). Comparing with martyrs who offer up their lives, serving lepers is very minor! What makes Christians not afraid of martyrdom? What else if not love! It is because “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4: 18)
Holy Spirit! Come again to inflame our chilling hearts. Let us love bravely and wisely. Amen.

不許邪魔說話 Silence the Demons

不許邪魔說話（谷1:29-39）

今天醫學昌明，發燒祇是身體的免疫系統在工作，殺死入侵體內病毒的一種機能。對於發燒，今天我們不以為意，吃兩顆退熱藥了事，沒有甚麼大不了。

舊約祇提及熱症一次，是天主對不遵守誡命者的詛咒（申28:22）；但在四福音及宗徒大事錄，有關熱症的記載，全部都是耶穌基督和保祿的治療神蹟，可見天主無意懲罰人。即使當祂降下災劫的時候，天主亦毫無置人於死地的意圖，而是想借助困難痛苦，幫助罪人悔改遷善。所謂「苦口良藥」是也。

舊約時代的人對於發熱，不敢掉以輕心，惟恐是自己觸犯了誡命，會受到天主更嚴厲的懲罰。今天冠狀病毒肆虐，全球已超過八千萬人確診，一百八十萬人死於這病毒肺炎！人類對發熱，不敢再掉以輕心。但有多少人會醒悟到，這疫情與遵守誡命有密切的關係呢？

與古代相比，今天的疫情太政治化了，無論在尋找起源、科研、醫治、傳染病管理、情報交換、資訊發佈和疫苗分配等各方面，無不被政治化。各國政客，互相嘲弄對方防疫不力， 還沾沾自喜。可歎魔鬼在破壞人類團結的戰役中，佔盡上風。更可怕的是，病毒已變種到沒有任何表面病徵，但一發作便迅速致命！簡直是魔鬼的慣用技倆，而且是無一倖免。新冠病毒好像成了魔鬼的聲音，在人心中散佈恐怖和絕望。

我們不會期望耶穌基督出手消滅病毒，這樣做祇會窒息人類的醫學發展！我們祇祈望祂驅散我們心中的恐怖和絕望，讓我們重享天國的義德、和平與喜樂。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：globalnews.ca

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Silence the Demons (Mark 1:29-39)

Today, our medical sciences are advanced. We understand that fever is a defence mechanism of our immunity system to kill invading germs and viruses. Fever is no big deal today. Take a pill and you will be fine.

The Old Testament mentions fever only once. It is a curse from God to those who don’t observe the commandments (Deuteronomy 28:22). The canonical gospels and the Acts also mention fever. They are healing miracles of Jesus Christ and Paul. From these incidents, we see that God does not punish. Even when He brings about disasters, God has no intention to kill. He wants to make use of those difficulties to chasten men, urging them to repent. Effective medicines always taste bitter.

In Old Testament times, people worried about fever lest they had breached the commandments and would incur more severe punishments from God. Today, the pandemic has more than 80 million people infected and 1.8 more people died of Covid-19. Today, people can’t afford to ignore fever like before. But how many people have gained the insight that this pandemic is closely related to observance of commandments?

Compared with ancient times, the pandemic today is too highly politicalized, whether it is about the origin, research, treatment, infection management, information exchanges, publicity and distribution of vaccines etc. Politicians of all shades tease each other for the incompetency shown in fighting against this pandemic, while congratulating themselves of perceived successes. Regrettably, the Devil has gained an upper hand in the battle of dividing humanity. More depressing is the discovery that the virus has mutated such that people contracted show no symptom of infection. But when it strikes, it kills quickly. This is the signature of the Devil. Nobody is immune to it. This virus behaves like the Devil’s roars, breathing terror and despair in our hearts.

We don’t expect Jesus Christ to destroy the virus. In doing so, it only smothers the medical advances of humanity! We only pray that He drives away the terror and despairs in our hearts. Let us attain once more the righteousness, peace and joy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

聖神與天國 The Holy Spirit and The Kingdom

聖神與天國（谷1:21-28）

即使在科學昌明的現代，附魔現象依然存在。無論精神科醫生怎樣努力以心理生理元素解釋，那些屬靈的現象，依然揮之不去。即使科學家想廢除靈魂這個概念，但「人就成了一個有靈的生物」（創2:7），仍然有意義。附魔現象讓我們不得不思考，究意人是甚麼？有靈的生物是甚麼意思？

無可否認，我們對靈界的認知極為貧乏，所以在有限的善與惡、天使與魔鬼的觀念上，添加了不少幻想。例如天主說一句話，天地生成。由此推論，人便可以唸咒語，令不可思議的事，隨心所欲地發生！前者有聖經根據，後者卻是人慾橫流的結果。

按聖經的教訓，人是血肉之軀，所以「上主的神不能常在他內。」（6:3）即是說，人是靈和肉的結合體。血肉有健康和患病的狀態， 靈性上也可以有善神與惡神同在。當人的靈性上沒有善神的時候，惡神便可以乘虛而入，這與耶穌基督有關附魔的教訓吻合（谷3:27）。進一步，耶穌基督更指出，祂是憑聖神的力量驅魔，並警告褻瀆聖神是不得赦免的罪（3:29）

今天的福音，展示了聖神的兩方面：祂是真理之神，所以耶穌「教訓他們正像有權威似的，不像經師們一般」（1:22）。真理自有它不可抗拒的威嚴，令人屈服！另一方面，雖然上主的神不能常在人內，但人的血肉之軀，始終是聖神的宮殿（格前6:19），而不是邪魔的巢穴。所以聖神隨時可以回到自己的宮殿！因為聖神又是愛德之神（羅5:5），所以可以說，愛的力量足以驅魔！是愛使邪魔認識到，人的血肉之軀，不是它可以佔據的地盤，去其他地方罷！
各位兄弟姊妹，聖神住在你的宮殿裡嗎？
生命恩泉：
圖片鳴謝：bitsofbread.org

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The Holy Spirit and The Kingdom (Mark 1:21-28)

Even in this scientific age, the phenomena of demonic possession still exist. No matter how hard psychiatrists try to explain them away in terms of physiological and psychological elements, these spiritual phenomena refuse to back off. Even when scientists try to abolish the concept of soul, “And man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7) is still meaningful. The phenomenon of demonic possessions forces us to rethink what man is. What is the meaning of “a living soul”?

Undeniably, we know next to nothing about the realm of spirits. Thus, we enrich our poverty in concepts of good and evil as well as angels and demons with a lot of imaginations. For example, since God created the known universe with a command, we believe that when we cast a spell, unimaginable things can happen according to our wishes! The former is based on the Bible, the latter on human desires and lust.

According to the teachings of the Bible, God’s “Spirit shall not remain in human beings forever” (6:3) because we are mere flesh and blood. That is to say, man is a combination of flesh and spirit. Our body can be healthy or sick. So, our spirit can abide with good or evil spirits. When our souls lack good spirits, the evil ones shall fill the gap. This reasoning agrees with Jesus Christ’s teaching on demonic possession (Mark 3:27). Moreover, Jesus Christ also points out that He exorcizes with the power of the Holy Spirit and warns that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven (3:29).

The gospel today shows the two wings of the Holy Spirit. He is the spirit of truth. Thus Jesus “taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.” (1:22) Truth has an intrinsically irresistible authority to command awe! On the other, although the Holy Spirit does not always reside in men, the human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) and not the demons’ lair. Of course the Holy Spirit may return to His temple at His pleasure! Since the Holy Spirit is also the spirit of charity (Romans 5:5), we can say that love exorcizes! Love makes known to the demons that this human body is not their den. God elsewhere!
Brethren! Does the Holy Spirit live in your temple?

天國的內涵 The Essence of the Kingdom

天國的內涵（谷1:14-20）

天國是福音的主題，由耶穌基督開始，並交托給教會，四出宣講和開拓，已經二千年了。我們在聖神的光照下，發展了一個怎樣的天國呢？

首先，天國的概念，並不抽像，是可以理解得到的。保祿宗徒就是藉著具體的「食祭肉問題」，說明天國的特質！他教訓我們有責任關顧身邊信德薄弱的人，說：「其實天主的國並不在於吃喝，而在於義德、平安以及在聖神內的喜樂」（羅14:17）你的信德強，不信偶像，所以吃祭肉沒有冒犯天主，你的信德絕對正確！但倘若身邊信德薄弱的人，因為看見你作為信徒，竟然吃祭肉而心亂，「你便不是按照愛德行事。基督為他死了，你不可因著你的食物使他喪亡」（14：15）！在保祿的心目中，信望愛三德之中，「其中最大的是愛」（格前13:13）。

雖然「義德」源於信德正確，但即使擁有移山的「信德」，亦不一定會帶給你「平安」及「喜樂」。惟有「愛德」纔包含了保祿所說的天國三大特徵！愛讓人渴望他人的解放和得救，是天主的公義！盡力愛過，即使對方不領情，總算心安理得；但無論如何，能看見別人長進和自由，總令你心滿意足，笑逐顏開吧！

另一方面，「好仁不好學，其蔽也愚！」沒有真理的支援，愛變得愚蠢盲目，反而做成傷害。聖神既是真理之神，更是愛德之神。可見在拓展天國的使命上，聖神擔任著不可或缺的角色。
今天，世上還有多少義德、平安、喜樂和愛呢？各位兄弟姊妹，你為天國付出了多少努力，多少愛呢？你為天國呼求過聖神沒有？
天主保祐！
圖片鳴謝：groupbuya.com
生命恩泉

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The Essence of the Kingdom(Mark 1:14-20)

The Kingdom of Heaven is the theme of the Gospel. It has been two millennia since Jesus Christ began, then commissioned the Church to proclaim and establish the Kingdom. Illuminated by the Holy Spirit, what sorts of Kingdom of Heaven have we developed?

First of all, the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven is not abstract beyond understanding. St. Paul manages to make use of a concrete example of eating sacrificial meat to illustrate the essence of the Kingdom! He exhorts us that we have the duty to consider the weak conscience of our brothers, "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17) Your faith is strong and you don’t believe in idols. Thus eating sacrificial meat is not an offence against God. Your faith is perfectly correct! But if your brothers are weak in faith. They are troubled/hurt when they see you, as a Christian, eat the meat. Paul says, "Your conduct is no longer in accord with love. Do not because of your food destroy him for whom Christ died." (14:15) In Paul’s mind, among the three theological virtues, "The greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Although justice comes from orthodox faith, even if you possess a faith which is able to move mountains, it may not bring you peace and joy. Only does charity produce the 3 characteristics of the Kingdom of Heaven! Charity loves to see others liberated and delivered. This is God’s righteousness! You have attempted to love. Even if it is rejected, you feel peaceful. Whatever, seeing others grow in freedom will always give you a sense of satisfaction and make you feel like smiling!

On the other hand, "Charity without knowledge is stupidity." Without the support of truth, love becomes stupidly blind and does more harm. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth and the spirit of love. Thus, in the mission to expand the Kingdom of Heaven, the Holy Spirit is indispensable.
Today, how much do justice, peace, joy and love remain on earth? Brethren! How much effort have you put in for the Kingdom? How much have you loved? Have you ever invoked the Holy Spirit for the Kingdom?
God bless!

世人算甚麼？ What Is Man?

主受洗節，乙年
主題： 世人算甚麼？

主受洗節標誌著聖誕期的結束，它把聖誕期默想天主聖子降生成人的奧秘，推到最高峰！天主子降生成人，是一個我們無法理解，祇能讚嘆的奧義，就是天主愛人的奧義。整個聖誕故事的敘述，沒有提供任何理據或者線索證明天主愛人，祇告訴我們天主正在積極地干預人類的歷史，使聖子順利降生：異星、人口普查、天使指導牧羊人、奉獻聖殿、賢士朝覲、逃難埃及…直到主受洗節，三位一體的天主明確地告訴我們，無論人類如何不堪當，天主愛人！

無論是古代的中國或者希臘，都認為仙界與凡間，有不可跨越的差距。在中國的民間故事，仙女思凡，便犯了天條，貶落人間受罰。古希臘哲學認為人的靈魂來自「宇宙靈魂」，被困在肉體內，死後纔獲得解脫，重返宇宙靈魂！這些例子告訴我們，無論中外，肉體和人世間的一切，都是次等的劣貨。因此，創造宇宙，超越萬有的天主，竟然降生成人，居住凡間，簡直不可思議！這就是聖誕期內需要默想的課題。今天的讀經一，沒有嘗試解釋，祇表述出一個事實：「因為我的思念不是你們的思念，你們的行徑不是我的行徑！」（依55:8）

出於大能，天主創造了宇宙，把人類放置其中。萬物理應認識這位造物主，所以先知說：「牛認識自己的主人，驢也認識自己主人的槽」（1:3）；詩人也說：「高天陳述天主的光榮，穹蒼宣揚祂手的化工。」（詠19:2）祂特別厚待人類，所造的宇宙是一個適合人類生活的友善宇宙；祂並且按自己的肖像來造人，造了一個有尊嚴，有能力與祂溝通的受造物，並派遣他們代表自己，管理這個宇宙（創1:26）。原本這是一件美好的事，可惜被撒殫和人類自己一手破壞了！天主是公義的，不會對自己創造的人類，見死不救。所以祂親自下凡，拯救世人。這就是聖誕節所慶祝的事件，聖誕節所默想的奧秘。

今天，我們的默想，達到高峰。當天父從雲端說「你是我的愛子，我因你而喜悅。」（谷1:11）的時候，祂是對既是人又是天主的耶穌基督說的。耶穌基督是真人真天主，是基督信仰的其中一塊基石。神學上的「基督論」，就是研究基督的人性和天主性，如何完美地結合在天主子的位格中。如何表述這「兩性一位」纔是正確，是初期教會要處理的神學難題。
這句「你是我的愛子」是非同凡響的，因為是天父的作證，比人世間任何的作證更偉大（若一5:9）！正如耶穌基督後來在最後晚餐，建立聖體聖事所做的一樣，天主子一句話，麵餅就成了祂的身體，葡萄酒成了祂的血（谷14:22-25）！天父的作證，是對耶穌基督整個人說的，不可能祇對祂的神性部份說是祂的愛子，耶穌基督的人性部份沒有份兒！這種思想是異端，在公元431年的厄弗所大公會議已經討論過。當時有人提出聖母祇可以稱為「基督之母」，不能稱為「天主之母」，因為如果天主有母親，有來源，就不是天主了！大公會議捍衛天主子的神性和人性，不能分割，所以瑪利亞是「天主之母」。同樣道理，耶穌基督人性部份，也是天父的愛子！其實，我們不應該說人性部份，好像在天主子位格內的天主性人性，是可以分拆開一樣！

其實，人算甚麼？人有甚麼好？
不用說那些在高位的不仁者了，且說那些平民百姓，那些對其他人傷害有限的人吧。不提那些在高位的人，因為耶穌基督拒絕憑權勢救贖世界（路4:5-8）。被罪惡污染了的人性，有甚麼價值呢？順利的時候，懂得感恩的少，自我膨脹的多（18:11-12）；遇上困難時，怨天尤人的多，韜光養晦的少，甚至把負面情緒，發洩到別人身上（戶22:23-29）；失敗的時候，認錯的少，推卸責任的多（創3:11-13）！但天主竟然這樣信任人類，讓天主子降生成人，與那些自我膨脹的人、失望的人和推卸責任的人相處，組織造就他們，並為他們釘死在十字架上，教我們如何明白天主的行徑呢？

各位兄弟姊妹，與其胡思亂想，自尋煩惱，倒不如聽從先知的忠告：「趁上主可找到的時候，你們應尋找祂；趁祂在近處的時候，你們應呼求祂。」（依55:6）那裡可以找到上主呢？在不斷掙扎的良心中、在揭到陳舊的經書中、在有矛盾衝突的團體中和在弱勢社群中！天主不是在寧靜中纔可以找到嗎（列上19:11-13）？執事介紹的，全部都是高壓力的地方，可以找到天主嗎？相信我，天主喜歡挑戰難度，在那裡可以展示祂的大能：慈悲。天主不在安樂窩中！
天主保祐！
2015年講道
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia

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Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Year B
Theme: What Is Man?

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks the end of the Christmas season. It pushes the meditation of the Incarnation mystery to the climax! The Incarnation of the Son of God is ineffable. We can only stand in awe before the mystery that God loves humanity. The narratives of Nativity do not provide any evidence or clue why God loves men. They just tell us that God is actively intervening human history to ensure that the Son of God is born: the star, the census, angels sent shepherds, consecration in the Temple, the Magi visit, taking refuge in Egypt … until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord when the Trinine God clearly declares His love of humanity despite its frailty!

Ancient people living whether in China or Greece believed that there was an immeasurable distance between the deity realm and the human realm. In Chinese legends, fairies who contemplated earthly lives would be exiled and punished on earth. Ancient Greek philosophy speculated that human souls came from the Cosmic Soul. They were imprisoned in human flesh and at death were released and returned to the Cosmic Soul! These examples show that both in the East and the West, people believed that flesh and everything on earth were of inferior qualities. Thus, it is unthinkable that the Creator of the Universe who transcends all would take flesh and live among men! This is what we contemplate during the Christmas season. The first reading today also does not attempt to explain but to state a fact, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways." (Isaiah 55:8"

Out of great might, God created the universe and put men there. Creation should know their Creator just like what the prophet says, "An ox knows its owner, and an ass, its master's manger." (1:3" The Psalmist also says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the works of his hands" (Psalms 19:2" God lavishly decorated men. He built a universe suitable for men's habitation. He created men in His image, a dignified creature with which He is capable of communicating. Then He sent them to manage the universe in His stead (Genesis 1:26". It would have been perfect had it not been wrecked by Satan and men themselves! God is righteous. He would not allow men to die without extending a helping hand. Thus, He descended on earth in person to deliver them. This is what Christmas celebrates and the mystery we meditate.

Today, our meditation reaches the climax. When, from the clouds, the Father says, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11" He says to Jesus Christ who is truly divine and human. The divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ is one of the central articles of Christianity faith. It is called Christology which is a study of how the divinity and humanity are perfectly combined in the person of the Son of God. How to articulate this "dual-nature-in-one-person" correctly was a hard theological nut to crack for the early Church.
This "You are my beloved Son" is no ordinary statement because it is the Father's testimony for the Son. "The testimony of God is surely greater" (1 John 5:9"! Just as how Jesus Christ established the Sacrament of Eucharist during the Last Supper, in a word from the Son of God, bread is turned into His body and wine His blood (Mark 14:22-25", the Father's testimony speaks of Jesus Christ as a whole, not as a collection of parts. It is impossible for this testimony of Christ's Sonship to be directed exclusively to the divinity of Christ alone and the humanity of Christ has no part of it! This is heresy. The Council of Ephesus in 431 had already deliberated on this issue. At that time, some people reasoned that the BVM could only be called the "Mother of Christ" and not the "Mother of God". Had God had a mother, a source, God would not have been God! The Council defended the indivisibility of the divinity and humanity of the Son of God. Thus the BVM is the Mother of God. Similarly, the humanity of Jesus Christ is also the beloved Son of the Father! In fact, we should not say the humanity, suggesting that in the person of the Son of God, His divinity and humanity are separate entities!

In fact, what is man? What good is man?
Forget those maleficent people occupying top posts. Let's talk about commoners who can do limited harm to others. Not mentioning people on top because Jesus Christ refuses to redeem the world with power (Luke 4:5-8". What worth is a humanity contaminated by sins? When life goes smoothly, few feel thankful while many self-inflate (18:11-12"; when life turns difficult, many grumble while few stay low, some even vent their frustrations on others (Numbers 22:23-29"; when life goes wrong, few confess while many blame (Genesis 3:11-13"! How comes God trusts such a humanity and allows His Son to take up flesh, live among the self-inflated, the despair and people who look for scapegoats, edify and organize them and be crucified for them on the cross. How are we able to understand God's way?

Brethren! It's better to take heed of the prophet's exhortation, "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6" than to meditate blindly. Where is the Lord? In a struggling conscience, in a worn Bible, in a community full of conflicts and among the disadvantaged! Isn't God found in a light silent sound (1 Kings 19:11-13"? Your recommendations are high tension situations. Are you sure God's there? Trust me. God loves challenges where He may show off His might: mercy. God is absent in comfort zones!
God bless!

《父親的心腸》宗教牧函中文試譯 A Tentative Chinese Translation of "Patris Corde"

〈前言〉
今天是2021年12月8日，「聖若瑟年」已開始了一個月，但仍未見官方的中文譯本面世，實在沉不住氣了！
於是找來朋友一起，按英文版譯出，以供中文讀者參考。
功力有限，錯漏難免。還望諸君不嫌卑陋，賜小的片言隻語，不勝感激。
天主保祐！

英文版連結：梵蒂崗英文網站

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教宗方濟各
《父親的心腸》宗座牧函
紀念公告大聖若瑟為
「聖教之保障」150周年

以父親的心腸：這就是若瑟怎樣去愛護耶穌，而四部福音都以「若瑟之子」去稱呼耶穌。[1]

聖史瑪竇及路加，兩者講述若瑟的篇幅不多，但已足夠讓我們欣賞，若瑟是一位怎樣的父親，和出於上主的聖意，交托給他的使命。

我們知道若瑟是一位卑微的木匠（瑪13:55），與瑪利亞訂了婚（瑪1:18； 路1:27）。他是一位「義人」（瑪1:19），隨時準備去完成天父在法律所啟示的（路2:22-27，39）和透過四個夢境所指示的旨意（瑪1:20； 2:13-19，22）。經過一個長而又累的旅程，由納匝肋到達白冷，「因為在客棧中，為他們沒有地方」（路2: 7），若瑟看到默西亞在馬槽裡誕生，他見證到分別代表以色列子民的牧羊人（路2：8-20）與及代表外邦人的賢士（瑪2:1-12）的朝拜。

若瑟有勇氣承擔了作為耶穌義父的身份，耶穌這名字是天使啟示給他的：「你要給他起名叫耶穌，因為他要把自己的民族，由他們的罪惡中拯救出來」（瑪1:21）。據我們所知，對於古代民族，為一個人或一件東西命名，就如亞當在創世紀（創2:19-21）所做的，是為了建立關係。

在耶穌誕生四十日後，若瑟和瑪利亞在聖殿裡把他們的孩子獻給上主，驚奇地傾聽西默盎有關耶穌及他的母親的預言（路2:22-35）。為了保護耶穌免受大黑落德的殺害，若瑟以一個外人的身份在埃及居住（瑪2:13-18）。回國後，他返回加里肋亞一個遠離白冷，他的祖籍、遠離耶路撒冷和聖殿的一個偏僻鄉村納匝肋，過著隱姓埋名的生活。關於納匝肋，曾有這樣的說法：「從加里肋亞不會出先知的。」（若7:52）真的，「從納匝肋還能出甚麼好事嗎? 」（若 1:46）。有一次，在前往耶路撒冷朝聖之旅中，若瑟及瑪利亞失去了耶穌的蹤影，他們焦急地找尋他，在聖殿裡找到了，他正在與經師們講論聖道。（路 2:41-50）

在天主之母瑪利亞之後，教會訓導最常提及的聖人就是她的淨配聖若瑟，為了更能圓滿地理解他在救贖史的主要角色，我的前輩曾反思福音中有限的資訊。真福庇護九世奉他為「聖教之保障」，[2] 可敬者庇護十二世推薦他為「勞工之主保」[3]，聖若望保祿二世奉他為「贖世主之監護」。[4] 普世教會呼求若瑟為「臨終之主保」。[5]

今天正值真福庇護九世公告大聖若瑟為「聖教之保障」（1870年12月8日）一百五十年，我想分享我對這位非同凡響，如此接近我們人性經驗的人物的一些個人反思。正如耶穌所說：「心裡充滿甚麼，口裡就說甚麼。」（瑪12：34）在新冠肺炎大流行的這幾個月裡，我越來越熱切想分享這些反省。我們在危機中體會到我們的生活「如何與經常被他人忽視的普通人，編織在一起，維繫在一起。這些人沒有在報章雜誌的頭版出現，或在最新的電視節目中出現，但肯定出現在這些日子裡。他們肯定地塑造著這些決定性的歷史事件。醫生、護士、店員和超市工人、清潔工人、護理人員、運輸工人、為提供必要服務和公共安全而工作的男女、義工、神職人員、男女修道人與及很多很多的人。他們明白沒有人可以獨自得救…每天有多少人保持耐心，並給予希望，不散播恐慌，卻分擔責任。不知多少祖父母、父母和老師，通過日常微末的方式，向我們的孩子展示如何調整他們的生活習慣，向前看並鼓勵以祈禱來應對危機，為所有人的益處轉禱，作出犠牲並向上主祈求。」[6] 我們每個人都可以在若瑟身上發現他是一個不顯眼的人物，他每天謹慎而低調地出現 --- 他是我們在遇到麻煩時的代禱者，支持者和指導。聖若瑟提醒我們，那些看來微不足道或者在暗角的人，可以在救贖史中扮演無與倫比的角色。這些人應得到讚賞和感激。

1. 一位摯愛的父親
   聖若瑟的偉大之處在於他是瑪利亞的淨配和耶穌的父親。這樣，就如聖金口若望所說：「他為整個救贖史侍奉」。[7]

   聖保祿六世指出：「若瑟通過將自己的生命，作為救贖目的和聖子降生奧秘的獻祭，來具體表達自己父親的身份。他善用自己在聖家的法律上權威，將自己完全獻身於他們的生活和工作之中。由於他在救贖史中的作用，他把自己對家庭之愛的聖召，轉化為整個人的，全心全力的，超越人性的祭獻，這愛是為救世主侍奉，而救世主亦在他的家中日漸成長。」[8]

   多謝他在救贖史的角色，大聖若瑟一直被基督徒尊敬為父親，全世界有無數奉他為主保的教堂，眾多的宗教機構、修會、聖職團體都因他的靈修感召，而用了他的名字命名，亦有很多圍繞著他的傳統熱心敬禮。無數聖人聖女熱切地敬禮他。其中一位是聖女大德蘭（St. Teresa of Avila），她選擇了他作為護慰者和代禱者，經常向他求助，並得到所求的恩典。聖女大德蘭受到自己經驗的鼓舞，便游說其他人培養對大聖若瑟的敬禮。[9]

   每本祈禱書都載有對聖若瑟的禱文。逢星期三，特別是三月，傳統上的聖若瑟月，眾人都會誦唸獻給他的特別禱文。[10]

   人們對若瑟的信靠可見之於「搵聖若瑟啦」這句慣用語，這措辭使我們想起埃及的飢荒，那時人民向法郎呼求糧食；法郎對埃及民眾說：「你們到若瑟那裡去，照他對你們所說的做。」（創41：55）。法郎指的是雅各伯的兒子若瑟，他因兄弟們的嫉妒而被賣作奴隸（創37：11-28）。據聖經所載，他後來卻成了埃及宰相。（創41：41-44） 作為達味的後裔（瑪1：16-20），耶穌是根據納堂先知給達味的應許，從他那裡繁衍出來的。（撒下7）作為納匝肋人瑪利亞的淨配，聖若瑟站在新舊約之間的十字路口。

2. 一個溫柔慈愛的父親
   若瑟看到耶穌每天都在「智慧和身量，並在天主和人前的恩愛上，漸漸地增長」（路2：52）。一如上主對以色列所做的，若瑟也這樣給耶穌做了：他握著耶穌的手，教他走路。對他來說，他就像父親一樣「高舉嬰兒到自己臉頰，俯身餵養他們」（歐11：3-4）。

   在若瑟那裡，耶穌看到了上主的温柔愛心：「就如父親怎樣憐愛自己的兒女們，上主也怎樣憐愛敬畏自己的人們」（詠103：13）

   在會堂裡誦唸聖詠的時候，若瑟肯定會一次又一次地聽到以色列的上主是慈愛的上主，[11]「上主對待萬有，温和善良，對祂的受造物，仁愛慈祥。」（詠：146：9）。

   透過我們的軟弱，救贖史以「在絶望中仍懷著希望而相信了」（羅4：18）而成就出來。很多時候，我們以為天主只運用我們做得較為好的部分來成就大業，但祂大多數的計劃，儘管我們脆弱，還是以這些脆弱來實現。因此，聖保祿可以說：「免得我因那高超的啟示而過於高舉自己，故此在身體上給了我一根刺，就是撒殫的使者來拳擊我，免得我過於高舉自己。關於此事，我曾三次求主使它脫離我；但主對我說：『有我的恩寵為你夠了，因為我的德能在軟弱中纔全顯出來。』所以我甘心情願誇耀我的軟弱，好叫基督的德能常在我身上。」（格後2：7-9）。

   因為這是整個救贖工程的一部分，我們必須用温柔的憐憫來看待自己的軟弱[12]。

   撒殫要我們看到並責難我們的脆弱，而聖神則以温柔的愛光照這些脆弱。溫柔地觸摸我們內心的脆弱是最好的方法。指責及評斷別人，往往表示我們無法接受自己的弱點和缺失。只有温柔的愛纔能將我們從「控告者」的圈套解救出來。（默12：10）。這就是為甚麼與天主的慈悲相遇是那麼重要，尤其是在修和聖事中，我們在那裡體驗到祂的真理和温柔。吊詭的是，魔鬼也會向我們講真理，但牠這樣做只是為了譴責我們。天主的真理不作譴責，而是歡迎、擁抱，支持和寬恕我們。這真理總是像耶穌比喻中的慈悲父親一樣，向我們展示自己（路15：11-32）。它跑出來迎接我們，恢復我們的尊嚴，使我們重新站起來，為我們感到高興，因為，正如父親所說：「因為我這兒子是死而復生，失而復得了」（15：24）。

   即使透過若瑟的恐懼，天主的旨意，祂的歷史和祂的計劃仍繼續運行。若瑟教導我們，對天主的信仰包括，即使在我們的恐懼、我們的脆弱和我們的軟弱中，相信祂仍然運作。在生命的狂風暴雨中，我們永遠不要害怕讓主帶領我們前進。時不時，我們想望能掌控一切，但上主總看到更宏大的局勢。

3. 一個順從的父親
   正如祂對瑪利亞所做的一樣，上主以夢境向若瑟啟示祂的救贖計劃。在聖經及所有古老民族，都以夢境作為上主宣示自己旨意的方法。[13]

   若瑟對瑪利亞不可思議的懷孕深感困擾，他不想「公開羞辱她」，[14]因此他有意「暗暗地休退她」（瑪1：19）

   在第一個夢，一位天使幫助他解決了嚴重的兩難：「不要怕娶你的妻子瑪利亞，因為那在她內受生的，是出自聖神。她要生一個兒子，你要給起名叫耶穌為他要把自己的民族，由他罪惡中拯救出來」（瑪1：20-21）若瑟立即作出回應：「若瑟從睡夢中醒來。就照上主的天使所囑咐的辦了，娶了他的妻子」（瑪1：24）。順從使他可以克服困難，沒有傷害瑪利亞。

   在第二個夢，天使告訴若瑟：「起來，帶著嬰孩和祂的母親逃往埃及去，住在那裡，直到我再通知你，因為黑落德即將尋找這嬰孩，要把祂殺掉。」（瑪2：13）。若瑟不管艱辛，毫不猶豫地服從了：「若瑟便起來，星夜帶了嬰孩和祂的母親，退避到埃及去。留在那裡，直到黑落德死去。」（瑪2：14-15）。

   在埃及，若瑟耐心地等待天使告訴他何時安全回家。在第三個夢，天使告訴他，那些試圖謀殺那孩子的人已經死了，並囑咐他出發，把孩子和他的母親帶走，回到以色列地（瑪2：19-20）。若瑟很迅速地遵從了：「他便起來，帶了孩子和祂的母親，進了以色列的地域」（瑪2：21）。

   在回程中，「一聽說阿爾克勞繼他父親黑落德作了猶太王，就害怕到那裡去；夢中得了指示後」─這是第四次了─「便退避到加里肋亞境內。去住在一座名叫納匝肋的城中。」（瑪2：22-23）

   聖史路加在他的福音告訴我們，若瑟蹈上了從納匝肋到白冷漫長而艱難的旅程，要在凱撒奧古斯都的人口普查中，返回他的家鄉登記。耶穌在那裡誕生了（路2：7），祂的出生與其他孩子一樣，都記錄在帝國的檔案冊中。聖路加特別關注地告訴我們，耶穌的父母遵守了法律的所有規定：對耶穌行割損禮、對分娩後的瑪利亞的取潔禮、將首生子祝聖給上主（2：21-24）[15]

   在每個境況下，若瑟都宣示了他的「願照祢的話成就於我罷」，就像天使報喜時的瑪利亞和在山園祈禱時的耶穌。

   作為一家之主，若瑟教導耶穌按天主十誡（出20：12），服從父母（路2：51）。

   在納匝肋的隱居歲月中，耶穌在若瑟那裡學習了遵行天父的旨意。那將是祂的日用糧（若4：34）。甚至在革責瑪尼園，這一生中最困難的時刻，耶穌選擇了遵行天父的旨意，而不是他自己的意願[16]，他「聽命至死，且死在十字架上」（斐2：8）。《希伯來書》的作者得出這樣的結論：耶穌「由所受的苦難，學習了服從。」（希5：8） 所有這些都清楚地表明：「聖若瑟被上主召喚，實踐父職，直接服事耶穌自己和祂的使命」，如此一來，「時期一滿，他在救恩的奧秘中充份地合作，並且成為了真正的救恩僕人。」[17]

4. 一個胸襟廣闊的父親
   若瑟無條件地接受了瑪利亞。他堅信天使的話。「若瑟內心的高尚，使他按照愛德來處理法律上的問題。與當今世界，對婦女廣泛的心理、語言和身體暴力相比，若瑟的確是一個應受尊敬和明智的男士。即使他未能了解當前的大局，他還是決定保護瑪利亞的名節、尊嚴和性命。在猶豫不決時，天主啟迪了他的判斷力。」[18] 在生活中，常常發生我們無法理解的事情。我們的第一個反應通常是失望和反叛。若瑟卻放下自己的想法，去接受事態的發展；當事件看來是難以理解時，他欣然接受，負起責任，並讓這事件成為他自己歷史的一部分。除非我們與自己的過去冰釋前嫌，否則我們將無法向前邁出一步，因為我們始終受制於自己的期望和隨之而來的失望。

   若瑟為我們描繪的靈性之路，不是一條辯解之路，而是接納之路。只有通過這種接納，這種和解，我們纔能開始瞥見更廣闊的歷史和更深睿的含義。我們幾乎可以聽到約伯對他的妻子，激烈回應的回響。後者曾慫恿約伯反抗降臨在他身上的邪惡：「難道我們只由天主那裡接受恩惠，而不接受災禍嗎?」（約2：10）

   若瑟當然不是被動的無奈，而是勇敢而堅定的積極。在生活中，欣然接納展示出聖神賜予的「剛毅」之恩。只有上主纔能給我們力量，接受生活的不如意事，包括一切矛盾，挫折和失望。

   耶穌顯現在我們中間是天父的恩賜，天父使我們每個人都有可能深入地與自己有血有肉的過去修和，即使我們無法完全理解它。

   正如上主告訴若瑟：「達味之子，不要怕」（瑪1：20），所以祂好像告訴我們：「不要害怕!」即使事情非我們所願，我們需要放下所有憤怒和失望，接受現實。不是一味無奈，卻要滿懷希望和勇氣。這樣，我們就能開放更深層的生命意義。如果我們有勇氣按照福音去生活，我們的生命就會奇蹟般重生。如果一切似乎都出錯了，或者某些困難無法修復，但這也不重要。上主可以使花朵從石地上綻放出來。縱然我們自責，「因為天主比我們的心大，祂原知道一切。」（若一3：20）。

   在這裡，我們再次遇到那種基督徒的務實作風，他接受所有存在的事物。現實以其神秘的和無法還原的複雜性，承載著存在的意義，包括其所有的光與影。因此，宗徒保祿可以說：「而且我們也知道：天主使一切協助那些愛祂的人，就是那些按祂的旨意蒙召的人，獲得益處」（羅8：28）。聖奧思定補充說，「甚至那被稱為邪惡的」[19] 從這個宏觀的角度來看，信仰賦予每一事物意義，無論它怎樣快樂，怎樣悲傷。

   我們也不要以為信仰，意味著找到輕率的和安慰人的解決方案。耶穌基督教導我們的信仰，就是我們在聖若瑟身上看到的；他沒有尋找捷徑，而是睜大眼睛，面對現實並承擔個人責任。

   若瑟的態度鼓勵我們不分彼此地接納和迎合他人的實況，且要特別關心弱者，因為上主揀選了懦弱的人（格前1：27），祂「是孤兒的慈父，是寡婦的保護。」（詠68：6）。是主命令我們要愛我們中間的陌生人[20]。我認為耶穌是從聖若瑟那裡，汲取「浪子與慈父」比喻（路15：11-32）」的靈感。

5. 一個具創造力的勇敢父親
   如果所有真正內心療癒的第一步，是接受我們個人的歷史，甚至擁抱我們生命中不是我們自己選擇的事物，我們必須添加另一個重要元素：富創造力的勇氣。在我們處理困難時，特別明顯。面對困難，我們要麼放棄並走開，要麼與之交戰。有時，困難會激發出我們沒有想及的潛能。

   當我們閱讀耶穌的童年事蹟時，我們經常想知道為甚麼上主沒有以更直接和明確的方式行事。然而，上主是通過人和事去行事的。上主揀選若瑟去展開救贖史的序幕。他是上主拯救孩子和他母親的真正「奇蹟」。上主信賴若瑟富創造力的勇氣來行事。若瑟抵達白冷，沒有找到瑪利亞可以分娩的地方，便找了一個馬棚，並盡其所能，將馬棚變成一個迎接天主子降世的温馨之家（路2：6-7）。面對大黑落德想要殺害孩子，迫在眉睫的危險，若瑟在夢中再次得到警告要保護那孩子，於是半夜起身，準備逃亡往埃及去。（瑪2：13-14）

   浮光掠影地閱讀這些故事，通常會令人以為世界是弱肉強食，任由霸主來攞佈。但是福音的「好消息」在於表明，對於俗世強權的所有傲慢和暴力，上主總找到實現祂救贖的方法。同樣，有時我們的生活似乎也受到有權勢者的攞佈，但是福音向我們展示了甚麼是重要的。只要我們表現出與納匝肋的木匠相同的，富有創造力的勇氣，上主就會找到拯救我們的方法。納匝肋的木匠總是信賴上主的聖意，就能把問題變成機會。

   如果上主有時似乎沒有幫助我們，那肯定並不意味著天主已經放棄了我們，而是天主信任我們有能力去計劃、去創造條件和自己去尋找解決方案。

   癱子的朋友們表現出了這種富創造力的勇氣，他們把癱子從屋頂縋下來，把他送到耶穌面前（路5：17-26）。困難並沒有阻礙那些朋友的大膽和堅持。他們堅信耶穌可以治癒這個人，「但因人眾多，不得其門而入，遂上了房頂，從瓦中間，把他連那小床繫到中間，正放在耶穌面前。耶穌一見他們的信心，就說：『人啊!你的罪赦了。』」（路19-20）。耶穌認可了他們尋求將生病的朋友，帶到祂身邊的富創造性的信念。

   福音沒有告訴我們瑪利亞、若瑟和聖嬰在埃及呆了多久。然而，他們需要吃飯，找房子和工作。填上這些細節並不需要太多的想像力。聖家必須像其他家庭一樣面對具體的生活問題，就像我們許多遷移流徙的兄弟姐妹，他們今天同樣冒著生命危險，逃避不幸和飢餓。在這方面，我認為聖若瑟，是特別為所有因戰爭、仇恨、迫害和貧窮而被迫逃離家園的難民的主保。

   在若瑟扮演的每個角色的結尾，福音告訴我們，他起來，帶了孩子和他的母親，按照天主的命令去做（瑪1：24；2：14，21）。的確，耶穌和他的母親瑪利亞是我們信仰中最寶貴的寶藏[21]。

   在天主的救贖計劃中，耶穌與他的母親瑪利亞是「密不可分」的，後者「沿著信仰之旅邁進，並忠實地保存與她的兒子的結合，直到她站在十字架下」[22]。

   我們應該經常考慮我們自己是否正在保護耶穌和瑪利亞，因為他們也是不可思議地，託付了給我們照顧和保護。天主子以極脆弱的狀態降臨到世上，祂需要若瑟的捍衛，保護，照料和撫養。上主信任若瑟，瑪利亞也信任若瑟。瑪利亞在若瑟身上，找到了一個不僅會挽救她的性命，而且會永遠供養她和她兒子的人。從這個意義上說，「聖教之保障」非聖若瑟莫屬，因為教會是「基督奧體」在歷史上的延續，一如瑪利亞對教會的母愛，展現了她是「教會之母」的身份[23]。若瑟對教會延續性的保護，是繼續保守著那孩子和他的母親；而我們對教會的熱愛，也讓我們繼續疼愛著那孩子和他的母親。

   他日，那孩子會繼續說：「凡你們對我這些最小兄弟中的一個所做的，就是對我所做的」（瑪25：40）。結果，每個貧窮，有需要，受苦或垂死的人，每個無家可歸的人，每個囚犯，每個病人，都成了若瑟繼續保護的「孩子」。為此，聖若瑟成為不幸、有需要者、流亡者，受苦者，窮人和垂死者所呼求的保護者。結果，教會不能不對我們最少的兄弟姐妹表現出特別的愛，因為耶穌對他們特別關心，並休戚相關。我們必須從聖若瑟那裡學習同樣的照顧和責任。我們必須學會愛那孩子和他的母親，愛聖事和愛德服務，愛教會，愛窮人。這種種現實，就是那孩子和他的母親。

6. 一個工作中的父親
   自從教宗良十三世的【新事物】通諭起，天主教所頒佈的社會訓導，都強調了聖若瑟與勞動的關係。聖若瑟是一個木匠，誠實地賺錢養家糊口。耶穌從他身上學到了「能吃從雙手賺來的食物」的價值、尊嚴和喜悅。

   在我們今天，當就業再次成為一個迫切的社會問題，甚至在這幾十年來享有一定程度繁榮的國家中，失業有時也會達到創紀錄的水平時，人們實需要重新認識「有尊嚴的工作」的重要性，而聖若瑟就是一個模範的主保。

   勞動是參與救恩工作的一種手段，是加快天國的來臨，發展我們的才智和能力、為社會及致力「四海之內皆兄弟」而服務。勞動不僅成為成就自己的機會，而且也成為滿全家庭─這個社會基本單元─的機會。一個沒有工作的家庭特別容易受到困難、焦慮、分居甚至破裂的傷害。沒有工作來確保每個人都能過有體面的生活時，我們如何談論人性尊嚴?

   勞動者，無論他們從事何種工作，都在與上主合作，並以某種方式成為我們周圍世界的創造者。我們這個時代的經濟、社會、文化和靈性上的危機，傳召我們所有人去重新發現工作的價值、它的重要性和必要性，來造就一個新的「常態」，一個沒有人會被拒諸外的常態。聖若瑟的工作提醒我們，上主降生成人時，並沒有鄙視工作。由於新冠肺炎大流行，失業率上升，影響了很多兄弟姐妹。這情況傳召我們重新檢討生活上的優次。讓我們懇請聖若瑟，一位勞動者，幫助我們找到表達我們的堅定信念：沒有年輕人，應該是沒有任何人、沒有任何家庭，應該失業!

7. 
   一個形影不離的父親
   波蘭作家Jan Dobraczyński在《父親的影子》一書[24]中，以小說的形式講述了聖若瑟的生活，他用令人回味的形像──影子──來形容若瑟。若瑟與耶穌的關係，有如天父在塵世上的影子：他守護並保護耶穌，永不讓他獨自去走自己的路。我們可以想像到梅瑟對以色列人說的話：「在曠野裡，你也看出上主你的天主在你所走的長途中，攜帶你，如同人攜帶自己的兒子一樣…」（申1：31）。若瑟以類似的方式，一生扮演著父親的角色。[25]

   父親不是「生」出來，而是「做」出來的。一個男人不是僅僅將一個孩子帶到世界上來，便成為父親，而是要通過承擔照顧這個孩子的責任，纔成為父親。只要一個人承擔起另一個人的生命，他就以某種方式成，為那個人的父親。

   今天的孩子看起來常常像個孤兒，沒有父親。教會也需要父親。聖保祿對格林多人的話語仍然合時：「你們縱然在基督內有上萬的教師，但為父親的卻不多」。（格前4：15）。每位神父或主教都應該能夠與宗徒一起說：「我在基督耶穌內藉福音生了你們」（同上）。保祿也這樣稱呼迦拉達人：「我的孩子們！我願為你們再受產痛，直到基督在你們形成為止」（迦4：19）

   身為父親，必需把孩子們引進生命和現實中。不要阻擋他們發展，亦不要過分保護或佔有，而是要讓他們能夠為自己作決定，享受自由並探索新的可能性。也許由於這個原因，若瑟在傳統上被稱為「若瑟至潔者」。這稱號不單單是慈愛的標記，而是總結了「佔有慾」的反面。「貞潔」是在生活的各個方面擺脫佔有慾的束縛。只有當愛是貞潔的時候，它纔是真正的愛。佔有的愛最終會變得危害：它會監禁，束縛和製造痛苦。上主自己以貞潔的愛去愛人類。祂甚至讓我們有誤入歧途和與祂作對的自由。愛的邏輯永遠是自由的邏輯，若瑟知道如何以非凡的自由去愛。他從未使自己成為事物的中心。他沒有顧及自己，反而專注於瑪利亞和耶穌的生活。

   若瑟不僅從自我犧牲中獲得幸福，還從「自我餽贈」中獲得幸福。在他身上，我們從沒有看到挫折，只有信任。他耐心的沉默是具體表達信任的前奏。今天的世界需要父親，不需要暴君。暴君對他人作威作福來補償自己的欠缺。世界不要那些混淆權威與專制、服務與奴役、商討與壓迫、慈善與福利心態、力量與毀滅。每一個真正的聖召都源於自我的餽贈，那是成熟犧牲的成果。鐸職與獻身生活同樣需要這份成熟。無論我們的聖召是甚麼：是婚姻，獨身還是守貞，倘若我們的自我餽贈，祇停留在犧牲層次，這樣的餽贈是無法圓滿的。倘若是這樣，原本是表現愛的美麗和喜悅的標誌，會變成遺憾、悲傷和沮喪的表情。

   當父親拒絕迫使他們的孩子，過父親自己心目中的生活時，新的和意想不到的景象便打開了。每個孩子都承載著一個獨特的奧秘，只有尊重孩子自由的父親，纔能掲示它神秘的面紗。當一位父親變得「無用」時，當他看到自己的孩子變得獨立，並且可以無需陪伴地走著人生的道路時，這纔是他最是父親和教育者的時候。他變得像若瑟一樣，總是知道他的孩子不是自己的，而是託付給他照顧的。最後，這就是耶穌希望我們理解的道理：「不要在地上稱人為你們的父，因為你們的父只有一位，就是天上的父」（瑪23：9）。

   在我們履行父職的時候，我們都應牢記，它不是要擁有，而是一個指向更大的父親的身份的「標誌」。在某種程度上，我們都是若瑟：天父的影子，「他使太陽上升，光照惡人，也光照善人；降雨給義人，也給不義的人」（瑪5：45）。聖若瑟與天主子，如影隨形。

***

天主告訴聖若瑟：「起來，帶著孩子和他母親（瑪2：13）。

這宗座牧函的目的是增加我們對這位偉大聖人的愛，鼓勵我們懇求他為我們轉禱，並效法他的聖德和熱忱。

的確，聖人的正當使命不僅是傳奇蹟和恩典出現，而是像亞巴郎[26]和梅瑟[27]一樣，在「天主面前」為我們代禱，亦像耶穌一樣作「中保」（弟前2：5），祂是我們與天父之間的「護慰者」（若一2：1），並且「因為祂常活著，為他們轉求」（希7：25；羅8：34）。

聖人幫助所有信徒，履行「被邀請，並有責任獲致聖德及蒙召的成全。」[28]。聖人們的生活是「福音是可以實踐」的具體證明。

耶穌告訴我們：「跟我學罷，因為我是良善心謙的」（瑪11：29）。聖人的生活也是可以效法的。聖保祿說：「你們要效法我！」（格前4：16）[29]。聖若瑟憑著有說服力的沉默，說了同樣的話。

在眾多聖人所立的模範前，聖奧思定問自己：「他們能做的，你做不到嗎?」當他呼喊說：「我愛祢太晚了，萬古常新的『美』！」他便走近皈依一步。[30]

我們只需要向聖若瑟祈求恩典中的恩寵：我們的皈依。
現在讓我們向他禱告：

啊！贖世主之守護者，
童貞聖母瑪利亞之淨配。
天主把獨生子託付給您，
瑪利亞把信任交給您；
基督在您的陪伴下降生成人。
有福的大聖若瑟，
求您展示父親的形象，
並引導我們走上生命的道路。
求您為我們爭取恩寵、憐憫和勇毅，
並捍衛我們免於凶惡。亞孟。

方濟各 於羅馬，拉脫朗大殿，
2020年12月8日，
聖母始胎無染原罪節，本人任教宗的第八年。

[1] Lk 4:22; Jn 6:42; cf. Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3.
[2] S. RITUUM CONGREGATIO, Quemadmodum Deus (8 December 1870): ASS 6 (1870-71), 194.
[3] Cf. Address to ACLI on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph the Worker (1 May 1955): AAS 47 (1955), 406.
[4] Cf. Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos (15 August 1989): AAS 82 (1990), 5-34.
[5] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1014.
[6] Meditation in the Time of Pandemic (27 March 2020): L’Osservatore Romano, 29 March 2020, p. 10.
[7] In Matthaeum Homiliae, V, 3: PG 57, 58.
[8] Homily (19 March 1966): Insegnamenti di Paolo VI, IV (1966), 110.
[9] Cf. Autobiography, 6, 6-8.
[10] Every day, for over forty years, following Lauds I have recited a prayer to Saint Joseph taken from a nineteenth-century French prayer book of the Congregation of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary. It expresses devotion and trust, and even poses a certain challenge to Saint Joseph: "Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, whose power makes the impossible possible, come to my aid in these times of anguish and difficulty. Take under your protection the serious and troubling situations that I commend to you, that they may have a happy outcome. My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power. Amen."
[11] Cf. Deut 4:31; Ps 69:16; 78:38; 86:5; 111:4; 116:5; Jer 31:20.
[12] Cf. Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (24 November 2013), 88, 288: AAS 105 (2013), 1057, 1136-1137.
[13] Cf. Gen 20:3; 28:12; 31:11.24; 40:8; 41:1-32; Num 12:6; 1 Sam 3:3-10; Dan 2, 4; Job 33:15.
[14] In such cases, provisions were made even for stoning (cf. Deut 22:20-21).
[15] Cf. Lev 12:1-8; Ex 13:2.
[16] Cf. Mt 26:39; Mk 14:36; Lk 22:42.
[17] SAINT JOHN PAUL II, Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos (15 August 1989), 8: AAS 82 (1990), 14.
[18] Homily at Mass and Beatifications, Villavicencio, Colombia (8 September 2017): AAS 109 (2017), 1061.
[19] Enchiridion de fide, spe et caritate, 3.11: PL 40, 236.
[20] Cf. Deut 10:19; Ex 22:20-22; Lk 10:29-37.
[21] Cf. S. RITUUM CONGREGATIO, Quemadmodum Deus (8 December 1870): ASS 6 (1870-1871), 193; BLESSED PIUS IX, Apostolic Letter Inclytum Patriarcham (7 July 1871): l.c., 324-327.
[22] SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 58.
[23] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 963-970.
[24] Original edition: Cień Ojca, Warsaw, 1977.
[25] Cf. SAINT JOHN PAUL II, Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos, 7-8: AAS 82 (1990), 12-16.
[26] Cf. Gen 18:23-32.
[27] Cf. Ex 17:8-13; 32:30-35.
[28] SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, 42.
[29] Cf. 1 Cor 11:1; Phil 3:17; 1 Thess 1:6.
[30] Confessions, VIII, 11, 27: PL 32, 761; X, 27, 38: PL 32, 795.

如入寶山空手回 Leaving the Treasure Trove Empty-Handed

主顯節，乙年
主題：如入寶山空手回

不得不承認，財富是走遍世界的通行證。瑪竇的聖誕故事也呈獻上這樣的一個意象。君不見東方賢士可以覲見大黑落德─歡迎與否，另當別論─但聖家卻要星夜走難到埃及嗎？誠然，不同的朝代，對於外國人的態度不同。歸根究底，除了財富之外，也有不少的政治因素。而政治總離不開利益與權勢的分配，到頭來，利益祇不過是短期或長線的財富而已！所謂「無財不行」，沒有金錢的潤滑，世事不能暢順地運轉！文化交流，促進世界大同─最少在現代而言─倘若不會帶來任何經濟或者政治上的利益，恐怕祇是夢想而已。

對於外國人，因為對他們認識不多，免不了保持著一份戒心，提防他們對自己的國家做成傷害：如果你與敵國作戰，這些外人可能是來刺探軍情的間諜；即使不在戰爭時期，從外國來投資的商人，雖然為本地人製造就業機會，但他們也可以乘機刺探工商業上的秘密…除非你好像唐朝的君主，對自己的文化及各方面的制度，充滿信心，認為自己是泱泱大國，樂意向周邊國家送禮，展示國力，並且歡迎外國派人來學習。否則，你一定會懷疑來者的意圖，最後甚至採取閉關的政策！
作為羅馬帝國的一個僕婢，大黑落德沒有那份泱泱大國的信心。所以在接見東方賢士之前，一定會從老遠監視著他們：他們是否一支來自絲綢之路的商旅呢？是否羅馬帝國的附庸國派來，沿途搜集情報，向凱撒匯報，誰有叛國嫌疑的探子呢？賢士帶著的財寶，可能是一種掩飾。他們不一定真是做買賣的商人，但這財寶不失為一個管用的通行證。其中的三份禮物：黃金、乳香和末藥（瑪2:11），可能成為了聖家將來避難時的通行證！

這些來歷不明的外人，帶來了一個轟動的訊息！為群眾，這「纔誕生的猶太人君王」（2:2）真是悲喜交集的訊息！這「新生王」有可能是預許的「默西亞」，終於，獨立自主的時期快到了，再忍耐多十八年…不過，大黑落德的妻妾，近期並沒有為他誕下王子。大黑落德聽到這個「新生王」消息，會有甚麼反應呢？群眾不敢再想像下去，但想下去與否，也不能挽回即將發生的噩耗，全耶路撒冷祇有驚慌地等候宣判（2:3），看哪個村鎮的嬰兒，會不幸成為死囚！果然，真是白冷，達味的家鄉，這個新生王真是「默西亞」！
大黑落德不是一個昏君。後世把他形容是個暴君，除了他的殘暴手段外，還有他的老謀深算！當前，羅馬帝國是他的主子，為了消除凱撒對他的疑心，有甚麼比鏟除「默西亞」更有效呢？即使東方賢士不是羅馬派來的探子，他們帶來的訊息，真是一份大禮！於是大黑落德便導演一齣好戲給凱撒和猶太人看！
猶大有很多有名的地方，出過不少英雄豪傑，例如基德紅的家鄉，敖弗辣（民8:32），三松的家鄉，祚辣（13:2），撒慕爾的家鄉，辣瑪（撒上1:1）…但有那個地方比默西亞的祖先，達味的家鄉白冷更適合呢？大黑落德還說了一個太明顯的謊言：「好讓我也去朝拜」（瑪2:8），說一個沒有希望欺騙到賢士的「謊言」，目的祇有一個：如果賢士是探子，就把這個口訊：「好讓我去除掉他」，帶回凱撒。如果他們是天真的賢士，就留給他們一個好印象吧！一切已成定局，以後的，就成了歷史！

執事是否太有想像力呢？可能是。但無論如何，做夢的人仍可以繼續做他的夢，但老謀深算的人，祇有一個結果：人算不如天算！大黑落德坐在寶藏上，卻拱手把它讓與別人！實在太諷刺了。
也難怪，大黑落德對上主天主是否「孝愛、敬畏」，就不用說了。沒有敬畏，何來智慧？缺乏智慧，老謀深算也祇會變成愚昧（箴1:7）。大黑落德沒有聖神恩賜的「智慧」，他所渴求的，是保障著眼前的權勢和財富，而不是天上的賞報。他沒有聖神的「超見」，糾正他扭曲了的價值觀。因此，對是非黑白，作出了錯誤的判斷。斬草除根，防範未然，於是屠殺無辜的嬰孩，做出一件極可怕的惡事。如果把他屠殺無辜嬰孩的手段，祇說是缺乏愛德，真是犯下為當權者塗脂抹粉的罪過。作為君王，他有責任保障人民的生命財產，但他竟然謀殺社會未來的主人翁！他不但不尊重生命，更是對未來造成傷害，成為名副其實的「千古罪人」！

本來這是上主天主施恩的日子，祂賜給世人一份大禮，把自己的獨生子賜給世人，帶給他們自由，讓他們自由自在地發展。可惜，上主施恩的日子，竟成了世上的君王與上主的一場角力！他們不但錯失了蒙恩得救的機會，還帶給其他無辜者不幸。一如孟子所說：「是以惟仁者宜在高位。不仁者而在高位，是播其惡於眾也！」（孟子‧離婁上）上主大智大仁，即使不仁者如何播惡，亦未能阻擋和改變上主對罪人的慈悲。

各位兄弟姊妹，大聖若瑟在這事件上，樹立了至順和至忠的榜樣。在大聖若瑟年，讓我們以大聖的榜樣，至順、至忠地履行天父的旨意。
天主保祐。
2018年講道

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Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Year B
Theme: Leaving the Treasure Trove Empty-Handed It is undeniable that wealth is the passport for you to travel all over the world. Matthew's Nativity narrative paints us just such a picture. Don't you see how the Magi from the east were granted an audience with Herod the Great, whether they were welcomed would be another story, while the Holy Family had to flee to Egypt? Of course, some dynasties were xenophobic while others were not. But at the end of the day, other than wealth, there are many political considerations. And politics have to do with the distribution of power and resources. It all comes back to wealth in the short term or in the long term! Money is the lubricant without which, things cannot move smoothly! If cultural exchanges in the view of global solidarity don't carry economic or political advantages, they could only be dreams, at least for the present age.

People naturally are cautious in dealing with aliens because we don't know much about them and worry about their doing harm to our countries. If you are engaging in a war, these aliens can be spies stealing military information. Even in peace time when foreigners invest and create employment opportunities for local people, they may take chances to engage in industrial espionages … Unless you are as confident as Tang emperors in the culture and social institutions of your kingdom and think of your kingdom as the Empire, it's difficult to imagine showering neighbouring countries with magnificent gifts to show off the power of your empire, and embracing foreigners who come to study. In most cases, you would doubt the intentions of aliens and even lock up your own country!
As a "handmaid" of the Roman Empire, Herod the Great lacked the confidence of a great empire. Thus, before granting an audience with the Magi, he must have them under surveillance from afar: Were they merchants coming from the Silk Road? Were they spies of Roman vassals, collecting information and reporting to Caesar who would be guilty of treason? The treasures brought by the Magi would probably be a camouflage. They might not be merchants. But treasures were handy passports. The three gift among the treasures: gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11) probably provided "passport" for the Holy Family's exile to Egypt!

These aliens from nowhere brought an unsettling message! For the commoners, this "Where is the new born king of the Jews" message was both bitter and sweet! This "New Born King" could possibly be the anticipated "Messiah". At last, independence and autonomy would be within sight after waiting for yet another 18 years … But the wives or concubines of Herod the Great had recently not given birth to any prince. What would Herod the Great do after hearing the news? Commoners dared not to think further. But whether thinking or not would not change the course of imminent tragedy. All Jerusalem was troubled (2:3) and waiting anxiously to see which town whose children would be so unfortunate as to be condemned! It turned out to be Bethlehem, the native town of David. This New Born King was truly the Messiah!
Herod the Great was not stupid. He was labelled a tyrant not only because of the atrocities he commanded, but also because of his calculations! At that time, the Roman Empire was his master. What would be more effective in removing all of Caesar's doubts than eliminating the Messiah? Even if the Magi were not spies from Rome, their message was a big gift fallen out of the sky! Thus, Herod the Great choreographed a drama for Caesar and all the Jews to enjoy!
There were many famous places where heroes were born. For example, from Ophrah came Gideon (Judges 8:32), from Zorah Samson (13:2) from Ramathaim Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1) … But where else could be more appropriate in producing the Messiah than the home town of David? Yes, it must be Bethlehem. Furthermore, Herod the Great told a lie too obvious not to be detected, "That I too may go and do him homage" (Matthew 2:8). Telling a lie without the slimmest chance to cheat the Magi had only one purpose: if the Magi were spies, they would pass this message to Caesar, "That I may go and do him harm." If the Magi were naïve enough, this lie would simply leave them a good impression! The stage was set. The rest is history!

Am I over-imaginative? Probably! But whatever, day dreamers may continue to dream while there is only one outcome for the calculating people: They shall never outwit God! Herod the Great calculator was sitting on a treasure trove. Yet he allowed it to slip through his fingers! How sarcastic!
This is to be expected. Not to mention that Herod the Great had no piety or fear of the Lord, he lacked wisdom. Why? Without the fear of the Lord, where comes wisdom? Without wisdom, calculations would only turn to foolishness (Proverbs 1:7). Herod the Great lacked the wisdom given by the Holy Spirit. His only desire was to keep the power and wealth at the moment and not rewards above. He lacked the counsel of the Holy Spirit which would right his wrongs of twisted priorities. Thus, he made wrong judgments. In order to nip the Messiah in the bud, he ordered the massacre of the Holy Innocents, a truly evil act. If we say killing the innocent infants was only a lack of charity, we commit the crime of whitewashing the evil of people in power. As a king, Herod the Great had the duty to protect the lives and property of the people. But he decided to murder the masters of the future! Not only did he show no respect for life, but he was doing the future generation great harm. Herod the Great deserved to be named "The Sinner of A Thousand Ages"!

It was supposed to be a day for God to show mercy. He gave humanity a big fat gift, His only begotten Son, to liberate us, allowing us to grow and develop in freedom. Regrettably, this day of mercy had turned into a mortal combat of kings and princes against God! Not only did they miss the opportunity to receive grace and salvation, but they also spelt misfortune on the innocent. Mencius rightly comments, "Only the Benevolent should occupy high positions. When the Maleficent occupy high places, they spread evils to many!" (Mencius, Li Lou I) The Lord is wise and benevolent. Even when the maleficent are spreading evils, they are unable to block or change God's determination to be merciful to sinners.

Brethren! St. Joseph had shown perfect obedience and loyalty in this incident. During the Year of St. Joseph, let us follow his exemplar to do the Father's will in obedience and loyalty.
God bless!