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.