成聖不是空談 Sanctification Is Not Fantasy

四旬期第二主日，乙年
主題：成聖不是空談

四旬期是以四十天的齋戒祈禱，幫助候洗者準備復活節守夜慶典時，領受三件「入門聖事」。所以，四旬期的主角是候洗者，已領洗的教友是配角。他們陪伴候洗者，重溫自己蒙恩得救的經歷，有點像結婚紀念一樣。
基督徒相信耶穌基督是真人真天主，所以四旬期第一主日，默想耶穌基督的人性，如何克服誘惑。人祇要一息尚存，必須滿足肉體上及靈性上的需要。有誰不希望不勞而獲，走捷徑來獲得滿足呢？這就是誘惑的意思。耶穌基督展示了即使是脆弱的人性，亦有本領克服誘惑！信靠主耶穌，我們同樣可以戰勝誘惑。來到四旬期第二主日，我們默想耶穌基督的天主性。

教會的信仰是前人，包括第一代的宗徒和日後的傳教士，代代相傳，把福音接力傳遞下來的。第一代的宗徒並不十全十美的超人，反而是性格上千瘡百孔的凡夫俗子。由這一班有缺憾的人傳遞信息，可信嗎？天主的作風，真的不是我們可以完全理解。正因為宗徒們認識清楚了自己的不足（路5:8；格後12:9），纔讓天主聖神在他們內發揮威力，讓天主聖神把受了傷害的人性，提昇並超越先前的層次！天主子寧願選擇有缺陷的人性，降生成人，而不是降生成完美的天使，這真是一個莫名其妙的奧秘！這觀念是從何而來的呢？就是當日耶穌基督顯聖容時，三位在場的宗徒所體驗。雅各伯是第一位殉道的宗徒（斯德望是第一位殉道的信徒），沒有留下片言隻語。伯多祿和若望就有以下的作證。伯多祿的作證比較單純直接，沒有甚麼隱喻：「我們將我們的主耶穌基督的大能和來臨，宣告給你們，並不是依據虛構的荒誕故事，而是因為我們親眼見過他的威榮…是我們同他在那座聖山上的時候，親自聽見的。」（伯後1:16-18）

若望所寫的福音，沒有記載顯聖容的故事。請注意，要知道任何歷史記載，都是選擇性的，不能盡錄。所以沒有記載的事蹟，不能證明沒有發生過。即使是寫下來的，有時也會十分隱晦，例如有名的666。當代的讀者會明白，但後世的讀者，便無法肯定是暗示誰人了。那麼，若望如何作證呢？他說：「論到那從起初就有的生命的聖言，就是我們聽見過，我們親眼看見過，瞻仰過，以及我們親手摸過的生命的聖言」（若一1:1）若望瞻仰過甚麼呢？被釘死、被刺透的耶穌基督！他們親手摸過甚麼呢？我們隱約看見多疑的多默，親手觸摸耶穌基督復活後仍保留的傷口！這些保留在復活了的耶穌基督身上的傷口，是提昇並超越人性的標記。若望沒有在福音中記載耶穌基督顯聖容的光榮，因為他的著眼點，不是耀目的光輝（瑪17:2；谷9:3；路9:29），而是耶穌基督如何在祂身上展現了人性的可塑性和超越性！倘若你們覺得伯多祿或若望的作證沒有價值，是不可信的。對不起，我也沒有辦法提供更有說服力的證據了。

我們的信仰，就是建立在這樣脆弱的基礎上，但它卻流傳了二千多年，有不計其數的人曾為它不惜拋頭顱，灑熱血，令人肅然起敬！就憑兩三個人的證言，便足以令這麼多人著迷嗎？不！是耶穌基督親自在個別信徒心中所引發對永生的渴望，改造了人性！而這改造的成果，正展現在各式各樣的殉道中。是甚麼引發信徒對永生的渴望呢？是耶穌基督的言行，和祂實際施予的恩寵。天主父遷就我們的卑微，遣發天主子降生成可見的，有死的耶穌基督，把恩寵與平安，分施給我們（伯前1:2），提昇我們到達天主性的光榮境界。耶穌基督藉「顯聖容」事蹟，告訴我們復活永生的光輝幸福。 耶穌基督自己，就是不可見天主的可見標記，為的是賜予我們恩寵和力量，讓我們預嘗天堂的福樂。所以耶穌基督，堪稱是一件「原始聖事」，「顯聖容」事蹟，展現了祂的光榮，證明了祂有能力幫助信靠祂的人成聖！具體地，耶穌基督建立了祂的教會，交託給脆弱的宗徒和他們的繼承人管理和運作。有組織的可見的教會，便成為了一件「基礎聖事」，在七個不同的場合裡，分施天主的恩寵，協助信徒成聖。這就是天主教會的七件聖事。沒有耶穌基督，便沒有分施成聖恩寵的教會。沒有教會這個基礎，便沒有七件幫助信徒成聖的聖事。「顯聖容」事蹟，便是一個保證，一個「牛刀小試」事件。到了最後晚餐，耶穌基督建立聖體聖事，留下祂的聖體，交託給教會分施給信徒，履行祂天天與信徒在一起，直到末日的承諾（瑪28:20）。

正如耶穌基督是有生命的，聖事也有生命！倘若我們把聖體鎖在聖體櫃內，把耶穌基督的聖容留在聖堂內，我們便把耶穌基督變成化石，化為「有口不能言、有眼不能看…有腳不能行」的偶像，我們也因造偶像而喪亡（詠115:5-8）！且看，耶穌基督與權貴富人來往，與病弱同行，與罪人為伍，甚至服從聖父的旨意，死在十字架上，讓天主聖神復活祂！倘若祂的教會不是跟著這樣做，教會的子女不帶著基督的聖容下山進入社區，而留戀在山上，恐怕聖詠的警告，必然降臨到我們身上！

各位兄弟姊妹，耶穌基督的生平和言行，不應看成為是支離破碎，沒有關係的事件。祂行增餅的神蹟和宣講相關的言論，不應與最後晚餐割裂；祂治病驅魔，與祂蒙羞地釘死在十字架上是有關係的；祂教導我們為迫害我們的仇人祈禱，與我們日後在天上的生活，是息息相關的…讓我們在四旬期的第二周，默想耶穌基督是怎樣經過屈辱死亡，進入復活的光榮。
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia

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Second Sunday of Lent, Year B
Theme: Sanctification Is Not Fantasy

Lent is a forty-day season to help the elected prepare for Christian initiation at Easter Vigil through fasting and prayers. Thus the elected are the main cast and the faithful take the supportive role, re-living their experience of salvation. For those who were baptized, it is sort of a wedding anniversary.
Christians believe that Jesus Christ is truly divine and human. Thus, in the first week of Lent, we meditate how the humanity of Jesus Christ overcomes temptations. While we are still alive, we need to meet our physical as well as spiritual needs. Who doesn’t want to take the shortcut to meet those needs? This is temptation. Jesus Christ shows us that even the fragile humanity is capable of overcoming temptations. Trust in the Lord and we will be able to overcome temptations. In the second week of Lent, we meditate the divinity of Jesus Christ.

Our faith is handed down from the first generation apostles and missionaries who came after them. The first generation apostles were not perfect supermen. On the contrary, all of them were mortals with flawed personalities. Many people would doubt whether the messages passed on by these handicapped people are credible. God’s modus operandi is ineffable. Just because the apostles knew their inadequacies (Luke 5:8; 2 Corinthians 12:9), they allow the Holy Spirit a free hand to ignite God’s power within the damaged humanity to sublime and surpass previously unknown levels! The Son of God prefers incarnation in the defective humanity to becoming a perfect angel. This is another unfathomable mystery! How did this concept come about? It was the experience of the three apostles who were present during the Transfiguration. James was the first apostle to suffer martyrdom (Stephen was the first Christian martyr) and he did not leave behind any words. Peter and John bear the following witnesses. Peter’s witness is comparatively simple and direct, without much symbolism, “We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty … We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain.” (2 Peter 1:16-18)

John did not record the Transfiguration incident in his gospel. Be careful. Historical records must be selective. It is impossible to write everything down. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Moreover, sometimes, even written records are deliberately obscure. For example, 666 would be perfectly understandable for contemporary readers, but not readers in subsequent generations. Thus, how did John bear witness? He says, “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life” (1 John 1:1) What did John look upon? The crucified and pierced Jesus Christ! What did they touch with their hands? We see the silhouette of doubting Thomas touching the wounds Jesus Christ keeps after resurrection! These wounds He keeps are signs of transcendence of humanity. John did not mention the glory of Jesus’ Transfiguration. John focuses less on the glaring glories (Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:3; Luke 9:29), but how Jesus Christ shows the malleability and transcendence of humanity! If you think that the witnesses of Peter and John are not credible. I’m sorry. I have no more persuasive proof.

Our faith is based on such a fragile foundation but it has propagated for more than two millennia. Countless people were willing to die martyrdom for it and commanded respect. Is the witness of two or three people adequate to enchant so many people? No way! It is Jesus Christ who inspires the desire of eternity that transforms humanity! The fruit of such transformation is martyrdom of different shades. What inspires this desire for eternity? It is the words, deeds of Jesus Christ and the grace He bestows. The Father takes into consideration our inferiority and sends the Son to become the visible and mortal Jesus Christ in order to grant us grace and peace (1 Peter 1:2) in order to elevate our humanity to attain His glorious divinity. The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ informs us of the glorious blessedness of resurrection and eternal life.

Jesus Christ Himself is the visible sign of the invisible God. He gives us grace, power and a foretaste of heavenly bliss. Thus, Jesus Christ is the Primordial Sacrament. The Transfiguration shows His glory, proving that He had the capability to help those who trust in Him attain sainthood! In concrete terms, Jesus Christ established His Church, handed her over to the fragile apostles and their successors to manage and run. As a visible organization, the Church becomes a Fundamental Sacrament which, in seven different occasions, ministers God’s grace to help the faithful attain sanctification. These are the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Without Jesus Christ, there would not be a Church to give sanctifying grace. Without the foundation of the Church, there would not be seven sacraments to facilitate the sanctification of the faith. The Transfiguration is a guarantee and a pilot project of sacraments. In the Last Supper, Jesus Christ established the Holy Communion, left His body behind and commissioned the Church to minister to the faithful to honour His pledge to be with them always until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Just as Jesus Christ is full of life, the sacraments are too. If we lock the Holy Communion up inside the Tabernacle, if we leave Jesus Christ’s countenance behind inside the Church, we turn Jesus Christ into a piece of fossil, idols which “have mouths but do not speak, eyes but not see … feet but do not walk” and we perish because we are idol makers (Psalm 115:5-8)! Look, Jesus Christ mixes with the powerful and the rich, has compassion on the sick as well as the disadvantaged and stands by sinners. He even died on the cross to obey the Father’s will and let the Holy Spirit raise Him! If His Church does not follow His footsteps and the children of the Church prefer staying on the mountain to going down and carrying with them the countenance of Christ into the community, I’m afraid the warning of the Psalm will befall upon us!

Brethren, the words and deeds of Jesus Christ cannot be taken as debris and unrelated incidences. The multiplication of loaves and the related discourses cannot be separated from the Last Supper; healings and exorcisms cannot be decoupled from His shameful death on the cross; praying for those who persecute us is closely linked with our subsequent life in heaven … Let us meditate in the second week of Lent on how Jesus Christ enters the glory of resurrection through His humiliating death.
God bless!

悔改的環保幅度 The Ecological Dimension of Repentance

四旬期第一主日，乙年
主題：悔改的環保幅度

「悔改」的第一步，就是知錯。倘若不知道錯，又怎會產生後悔的感覺和良心的責備，推動悔改呢？倘若找不到錯在哪裡，又怎會思考如何改過呢？例如，不知道攝取過多的糖分會損害健康，做成癡肥、蛀牙或者糖尿病等，又怎會後悔好食甘肥呢？倘若不知道糖分來自碳水化合物，不知道運動幫助消耗體內糖分，又怎會改變飲食習慣和生活習慣呢？
今天疫情肆虐，源自新冠病毒。這種在動物身上發現的病毒，怎樣傳染給人類呢？本來人類與動物各自在自己的棲息處生活，河水不犯井水，彼此是安全的。但人類貪圖發展，開發土地及資源的同時，把動物趕出了牠們的棲息地，增加了彼此接觸的危險；更有甚者，中國人好食野生動物，增加了感染病毒的可能性…疫症發展到今天的地步，雖然已開發了疫苗，但在分配疫苗的安排上，又一次突顯了貧富懸殊的矛盾！疫症在短時間內，在全球各地爆發。除了因為交通發達之外，亦反映了生活有同一艘太空船的人類，已不能妄想可以獨善其身。任何國家的一舉一動，可以影響到地球另一角落的國家。人類理應更清楚合作的重要，可惜因為意識形態的分歧和政治利益的考慮，各國之間浪費了很多寶貴的時間，互相推卸責任；在研發疫苗上，拒絕交流研究成果，互相指責對方偷竊情報，真是可惜！

今天的第一篇讀經，清楚指出諾厄一家與動物界，是洪水的倖存者，是天主立約的共同對象。天主不單與諾厄一家立約，也與祂預先挑選進入方舟的，動物界的「遺民」立約（創9:9-10）。可惜，貪婪令人類忘記了動物也是共同的立約者。誠然，也是在《創世紀》的這一章，天主頒佈了「凡有生命的動物，都可作你們的食物」（9:3）。從此，人類不再是素食者，而是雜食者。攝取到更豐富的蛋白質，使人類的腦袋，突飛猛進。這是天主對人類特殊的眷顧，恢復「天主肖像」（1:26）的顯赫地位。既然位高權重，是否更應該小心翼翼地行使手上的權力呢？可惜很多人的「自肥」，是建築在殘害百姓，殘害眾生之上！當大自然承受不了無止境的污染，過度的砍伐而「病倒」了，它會作出自我調整的反抗。宏觀方面，全球氣溫極端化，颱風的威力更猛烈，地震山崩更頻密；微觀方面，有毒的物質進入了食物鏈，呼吸的空氣和飲用的水裡，我們還打開了大門，迎接來自動物界的病毒…當人民因苛政而「病倒」時，他們也會上街抗議。倘若處理不善，人民便會流血革命！中國史上有不少亡國之君，在城破之日，還懵然不知自己錯在哪裡。當然也有名垂青史的皇帝，在執政的後期，在國力達到巔峰而掩蓋了國內隱患的時候，頒下「罪己詔」，試圖把國家導回正軌！且看，連賢君也要悔改！

耶穌基督今天在福音中的訓示：「你們悔改，信從福音罷！」（谷1:15）在疫情下，別具意義。今天的悔改，又怎可以忽略被破壞了的生態環境呢？保祿宗徒真是一位先知，二千年前已寫下這樣的一段話：「…受造之物被屈伏在敗壞的狀態之下」（羅8:20）「…直到如今，一切受造之物都一同歎息，同受產痛；不但是萬物，就是連我們這已蒙受聖神初果的。也在自己心中嘆息，等待着義子期望的實現，即我們肉身的救贖。」（8:22-23）疫情肆虐，是自食「破壞生態，自私自利」之果。

我們該怎麼做呢？教會傳統以守齋克己，作為善度四旬期，悔改更新的實踐，這是智慧！知進而不知退，不留餘地，是盲目的特徵，是失敗的溫床！守齋克己，不但是為了節制和節約，為未來儲存實力，更是讓自己慢下來，審視各方面的形勢，把珍貴的資料，投放到更有益，更有價值的事上。這種心態，對於保護和恢復生態環境，在今天更為重要，因為大自然反撲了！
其實，有甚麼事情比與鄰人，與天主改善關係更有益，更有價值呢？所以傳統上，在四旬期教會呼籲教友施捨和祈禱。施捨是自我的損失，但施捨卻造就了他人的生命！這種個人的「損失」是不會浪費的，反而改善了四周的經濟環境！當然，更積極和徹底的「施捨」，就是推翻造成貧窮的剝削制度。但在時機未成熟前，不可輕言革命！事實上，保護生態環境是昂貴的，例如污水應該先經過處理，纔讓它流入大海，否則會做成海水的污染，食物鏈的污染！污水處理是不方便的，是昂貴的，但是必要的，是把資源投放在正確的，可持續發展的地方。堅持污水處理的環保人士，比那些短視的，貪圖眼前盈利而不理會未來要付出沉重代價的商人，更為明智！即使他們不會在有生之年還債，這些債務，祇會由他們的後代子孫償還！人又豈可以短視呢？

祈禱讓我們謙遜地走近造物主的面前，領會天父的旨意，向祂乞求力量的機會。在創造之初，天主很欣賞自己的傑作，說了八次「好」！祂委託我們管理這個傑作（創1:26），我們卻污染破壞了它。我們不是缺乏能力，而是心中的貪婪做成的惡果！若不除去這貪婪，它將會是我們重返天家，親近造物主的絆腳石。
各位兄弟姊妹，既然知錯了，並且知道錯在哪裡，便有悔改的條件了，我們應該各如其位地悔改。四旬期是悔改的適當時機，開始克己、施捨和祈禱吧！
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：commonwealmagazine.org

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First Lent Sunday, Year B
Theme: The Ecological Dimension of Repentance

The first step to repentance is to know that you are wrong. Otherwise, from where do the regret and guilty conscience come to drive repentance? If you are unable to locate where you go wrong, what enables you to think about how to make changes? For example, if you don’t know the harms of excessive sugar intake, such as obesity, rotten teeth or diabetes, will you regret eating too many candies? If you don’t know that sugar comes from carbohydrates, or that doing exercises helps burn the sugar in your body, will you change your diet or living style?
The pandemic today came from Corvid-19. This virus was discovered in animals. How did it infect men? At first, men and animals lived in their own habitats within which they were safe. But men were greedy in development and extraction of natural resources. They displaced animals out of their habitats, increasing the risks of mutual contacts. Worse, wild animals are favourite delicacies for the Chinese, thus increasing the possibility of contracting Corvid-19 … At this moment, although vaccinations are undergoing production, the distribution of vaccines manifests once more the contradiction of polarity of wealth gap! This pandemic spreads rapidly thanks to the advances in transportation. It also shows clearly that as residents in a space ship, this planet earth, it is impossible for groups of mankind to remain intact. Any action of a country will affect other countries on the other side of the globe. Mankind should know more clearly the importance of cooperation. Regrettably, due to differences in ideologies and political considerations, many countries have wasted much precious time in blaming each other. In the development of vaccination, it is a pity to see them refuse to share fruits of research and accusing rivals of stealing information!

The first reading today shows without ambiguity that the family of Noah and all other animals were survivors of the Great Deluge. All of them took part in God’s covenant. Not only did God establish covenant with Noah’s family, but He also established covenant with these “remnants” of animals which He elected to enter the Ark (Genesis 9:9-10). Unfortunately, men had forgotten animals as partners of the same covenant due to greed. Undeniably, it is also in the same chapter of Genesis that God declared, “Any living creature that moves about shall be yours to eat” (9:3). From then, men were no longer vegetarian, but omnivorous. Taking in more proteins enables human brain to develop exponentially. This is God’s special care of mankind, restoring the outstanding status of the “image of God” (1:26). With great authority and aloft status, shouldn’t men be more careful in exercising their authority? Sadly, many people fatten themselves at the expenses of commoners and the Creation! When Mother Nature is no longer able to withstand unending contamination and over-extraction, she falls sick and resists with self-adjustments. On a macro scale, global temperatures go extreme, typhoons become more destructive, earthquakes and landslides become more frequent. On a micro level, poisonous substances enter the food chain, the air we breathe and the water we drink. We even open the door to invite virus from animals … When commoners fall sick of tyranny, they take to the streets to protest. If these protestations are not met properly, bloody revolutions will erupt. In Chinese history, we find many last emperors who were still ignorant of why they fell. Of course there are famous emperors who, near the end of their reign when the nation reached the zenith of power and glory which covered the underbelly of the empire, issued a “Penitent Bull”, trying to steer the empire back to the right track! See, even good kings repent!

In today’s gospel, Jesus Christ instructs us, “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). It acquires a new meaning during this pandemic. When we talk about repentance, how can we ignore the damaged ecological situation? Paul is truly a prophet. Two millennia ago, he wrote, “… creation was made subject to futility” (Romans 8:20) “… all creation is groaning in labour pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies” (8:22-23). This pandemic is the bitter fruit of destruction of ecology and greed.

What should we do? Traditionally, the Church fasts and abstains to put repentance into practice in Lent. This is genuine wisdom! Knowing only advances but not retreats and taking no prisoners are signs of blindness and hotbed of failures! Not only do fasting and abstinence help self-mastery and saving resources for future projects, but they also allow us to slow down, make sound judgment of the situation and put precious resources on more beneficent and worthy causes. Bearing this attitude in the protection and restoration of ecology is particularly important today because Mother Nature is striking back!
In fact, what can be more beneficent and worthy than improving our relations with neighbour and God? Therefore, traditionally the Church appeals to the faithful to give alms and pray during Lent. Alms giving is self-inflicted harm but it builds up others’ lives! This personal harm won’t be wasted. On the contrary, it improves the surrounding economic situation! Of course, more proactive and complete “alms giving” is to overthrow the exploitative institutions which create poverty. But before time matures, there’s no point in talking about revolution! Indeed, ecological conservation is expensive. For example, waste water should be treated before flowing into the oceans. Otherwise, water and food chain will be contaminated. Water treatment is inconvenient and expensive but necessary. It is putting resources in the right and sustainable places. Environmentalists who insist on water treatment are wiser than those myopic and greedy merchants who ignore the heavy tolls to pay in the future for the sake of making profits here and now. Even if they don’t repay the debt during their life time, debts shall be repaid by their offspring for sure! How can men afford to be myopic!

We approach our Creator with humility in prayers to know His will and beg for strength. In the beginning during Creation, God enjoyed very much His masterpiece and “saw it good” eight times! He commissioned us to take care of this masterpiece (Genesis 1:26), but we abuse it. We are not incompetent in management but the greed in our hearts makes us mismanage! If not removed, this greed will be the obstacle which prevents us from getting back home and our Creator.
Brethren! Since we know our wrongs and where we make mistakes, we meet the necessary requirements to repent. Let us repent in accordance with our stations of life. Lent is the right time to repent. Start fasting, alms giving and prayers now!
God bless!

先慈生平點滴 Memoir of Our Beloved Mother

先慈生平點滴

解放前，外公在中山縣小欖鎮是做茶樓生意的，有「大班銓」的外號。先慈是長女，是外婆婚後多年所出，故此先慈是外公的「掌上明珠」。她們經歷過八年抗戰，見識過空襲時，跌落祖屋內天井未爆的炸彈。先慈性格獨立，為人心地善良。在那些艱難的歲月，她沒有問准外公，便慷慨地賙濟有困難的鄰居。那個時代，「女子無才便是德」，但先慈不甘愚昧，買課本自學。遇到不明白的時候，不怕厚著面皮問私塾的老師。這位李家大小姐，十多歲便在茶樓當掌櫃，管理十多名員工，亦有不少金錢過手。街上的小伙子，她不會放在眼內，沒禮貎的搭訕祇會被她噴得一鼻子灰。結果換來「惡婆葉」，一個頗有霸氣的外號。

下嫁先嚴後，收斂了霸氣做農家婦，餵豬、養蠶和種桑。因為解放的緣故，先嚴隻身到香港謀發展，留下先慈侍奉守寡的婆母。祖母很疼愛這位李家大小姐，三年來並無任何婆媳衝突，可見先慈深諳人情世故，適應力強，懂得討長者歡心。她亦可以挑起兩擔桑葉，一個人撐著小艇沿河送貨。侍奉婆母三年後，申請到港與先嚴團聚。沒有了鄉下寬闊的空間，也沒有了熟悉的鄉里。兩口子寄居在港島的姑婆家中，我們兄弟倆亦先後出世，繼承了他倆的遺傳因子。

姑婆是一位自梳女，年青時已跑到香港工作，接濟祖家。當兩個女強人住在一起時，作為侄婦的先慈，明顯是處於下風的。先慈深明「自勝者強」的道理，不會意氣用事。雖然受了很多委屈，但她不卑不亢，逆來順受。姑婆亦漸漸釋除偏見，對她另眼相看。先慈堅強不屈的個性，在我們兩兄弟的名字上反映了出來。論輩份，我們應該是「全」字輩。我應該叫「郭志全」，舍弟「郭兆全」。感謝先慈賜我倆一個「強」字，我倆幸不辱命，以堅定不屈的態度，過了六十多個寒暑，不負先慈的期望！雖然先慈未曾聽過「真福八端」的道理，但她婚後能以溫良的態度侍奉長輩，展示了「真福第三端」的威力。

先嚴是一個非常忠心的人，一生人祇跟隨過兩個老闆。倘若不是先慈受了老闆娘的氣，他也不會毅然辭職，並搬往九龍油麻地新填地街，一座唐樓的中間房居住。當時的生活是艱苦的，先嚴當集郵社售貨員，薪金少，工時長。先慈在家除了照顧我兄弟倆，教導我倆讀書寫字之外，還要黏集郵用的紙袋，幫補家計。想不到當年開水做黏貼劑的「桃膠」，今天竟成了養顏甜品！與我們渡過艱難日子的，是電台的廣播。我們聽的，是鄰房的收音機播出的粵曲和廣播劇。唐滌生先生的作品，給予先慈精神上很大的支持。耳濡目染，連我這個小子也滿腦子「帝女花」、「紫釵記」和「再世紅梅記」等等。倘若先慈想到戲院觀賞粵劇或粵語長片，即使生活緊絀，先嚴是不會吝嗇的。

後來獲分配到公共房屋，入住彩虹邨，生活開始改善了。先嚴為人工作認真，每天十二小時的工作，結果累出血壓超標。先慈痛心之餘，便把捨不得的二両重金鏈變賣，醫治先嚴。這種甘苦與共的恩情，我們也繼承了。
某年，先慈與姑婆和好了。我有幸在場，見證了先慈向姑婆奉茶的一幕。兩個女強人各自保持著自尊，恰如其分。姑婆晚年的起居，由先慈照顧，直到先慈力有不逮，纔入住安老院。這正好反映了生活在香港這個商業社會的定律：「姑婆屋」的習俗是行不通的；同理，年青的小家庭，不論是否有計劃養兒育女的家庭，曾為建設社會的繁榮而獻出努力，到了晚年，亦逃不了入住安老院的宿命！我有幸能夠陪同先嚴與先慈，渡過他們的晚年。他們好像開路先鋒，教導了我們不少天主的道理。能陪伴長者渡過晚年，真是一份福氣。

腦退化是一個頗為可怕的病症。年青時，你還可以運用理性，開解自己的偏見和壓抑著負面的情緒。可是腦退化發作的時候，你控制不了自己在想甚麼，記憶甚麼！試想想，你願意在自己的晚年，終日被負面的情緒困擾，坐立不安嗎？剛從茶樓回來不到半小時，便開始怪責你的兒女不孝，沒有陪你到茶樓飲早茶、不停數算著張三欺負過你多少次、李四欺騙了你多少錢…等等，你會快樂嗎？

感謝天主，先嚴在某主日入了急症室，我們不能把先慈獨留家中，便帶她返聖堂，開始了她人生的新一頁。感謝堂區教友的殷切款待，先慈在這裡的感覺很好，很喜樂。得蒙天主的慈悲眷顧，她趕及在腦退化前領洗。到腦退化開始發作時，先慈所想、所問和所記憶的，都是美好的事，沒有帶給她身邊的人任何麻煩。安老院上下員工，從來沒有投訴，他們還很喜歡逗她說話。先慈的秘訣是甚麼呢？應該是與她積極的性格有關：雖然這位李家大小姐很有正義感，恩怨分明，但她不念舊惡，從不數算別人怎樣對不起自己，活出了「真福八端」的憐憫心態。李家大小姐為人慷慨，視錢財如無物，樂於助人。即使明知對方欺騙她，仍本著憐憫之心，助人渡過難關，演繹出「神貧」與「憐憫」的美妙結合！

先慈中風後，一直靠插胃喉餵食，不能動彈，不能說話。起初還有視覺與觸覺，後來漸漸地與我們斷絕了溝通，孤獨地走完長達二十個月的最後旅程，終於因肺炎逝世。我們不期然要問，既然天主是慈悲的，為甚麼要先慈受這麼長的時間、這麼不必要的痛苦呢？這問題在心中一直揮之不去，到了今天，我纔從第一篇讀經領會到天主的意思！很奇怪，這二十個月以來，我也曾主持過出殯，也曾聽過《智慧篇》，但祇有今天纔覺悟！原來天主對信靠祂，愛慕祂的人，例如《創世紀》中的亞巴郎、依撒格、雅各伯、古聖若瑟和《出谷紀》的梅瑟等等，總會加以考驗，給他們機會，證明自己配作天主的人：「天主試煉了他們，好像爐中的黃金；悅納了他們，有如悅納全燔祭。」（智3:6）天主藉試煉，肯定了李家大小姐在祂心中的地位！

感謝天主，讓我們有機會與先慈一起接受試煉。天主真的喜愛這位李家大小姐，她的確是一位女強人，承受得起長達二十個月的試煉。她可以自豪地對我們說：「這場好仗，我已打完；這場賽跑，我已跑到終點，這信仰，我已保持了。從今以後，正義的冠冕已為我預備下了。」（弟後4:7-8）在天主前，我們多了一位代禱者了。
天主保祐！

家慈的「轉守為攻」之道
家父生平點滴

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Memoir of Our Beloved Mother

Before Communist liberation, our maternal grandfather ran a tea house in Xiaolan town, Zhongshan county. “Taipen Quan” was his nickname. Mother was the firstborn many years after marriage. Taipen cherished her dearly. They went through Japanese invasion and knew what it’s like to find, in the courtyard of the house, an unexploded shell from air raids. Mum was independent and kind-hearted. In those difficult years, she generously gave alms to neighbours without seeking her father’s permission. At that time, women without literacy was a virtue. But Mum didn’t want to be ignorant. She purchased textbooks to study. When there’s anything she didn’t understand, she would cheekily asked teachers in the ancestral teaching hall. In her teens, this Lee’s Eldest Princess became the cashier of the tea house, with a workforce of around 20 under her. Much cash went through her hands. Young men tarrying on the streets didn’t bother her. Any indecent advances would only result in volleys of worse indecency from her. Consequently, she earned the nickname of “Shrew Yip”, a rather dignified one.

After marrying Dad, she put down her dignity to work as a farm woman, feeding pigs, planting mulberry trees and breeding silkworms. Communist liberation forced my Dad to seek development in Hong Kong, leaving Mum behind to take care of my widowed grandma who endeared this Lee’s Eldest Princess very much. For three years, there wasn’t any conflict between these two in-laws. It showed that Mum was capable of handling interpersonal relationships well. She was quick to adapt and knew how to please the seniors. Mum was physically strong enough to shoulder two basketfuls of mulberry leaves and row a sampan to deliver goods along the river. After three years, she reunited with Dad in Hong Kong, leaving behind the spacious countryside and the warmth of kinship. They stayed under the roof of Dad’s aunt. I and my younger brother were subsequently born and inherited their DNA.
Dad’s aunt had been a Comb Sister since young, earning money in Hong Kong to support the ancestral family. When two iron ladies lived together, as an in-law, Mum was obviously in a disadvantaged position. Mum understood well the principle that “A strong person overcomes himself” and refused to become emotional. Although she underwent ill-treatments, she accepted them with dignity. Gradually Dad’s aunt was also able to put away her prejudice and saw Mum in a new light. The strength of Mum’s character is reflected in our names. Following the ancestral tradition, my brother and I belong to the “Chuen” generation. I should be called “Kwok Chi Chuen” and my brother “Kwok Siu Chuen”. Thanks Mum for naming us “Keung”, meaning strong. My brother and I have not disappointed her. We have led a life of firmness for more than six decades. Although Mum had never heard of the Beatitudes, the meekness she displayed in serving the seniors after marriage shows the strength of the third Beatitude.

Dad was a very loyal man, having served only two bosses in his whole life. Had Mum not been impolitely treated by the first boss’ wife, Dad would not have resigned and moved to New Reclamation Street, in Yaumati, Kowloon, living in a middle cubicle. Life was harsh. Dad worked as a shopkeeper in a philately shop, working long hours in return for morsels. Besides raising us, teaching us reading and writing, Mum earned a few extra bucks by gluing paper pockets for stamps. It’s amazing the peach gum we dissolved to make glue has become a health/cosmetic dessert nowadays! Radio broadcasting helped us go through those difficult years. We “overheard” Cantonese operas and radio dramas from neighbouring cubicles. The operas of Tang Ti-sheng were a source of spiritual support for Mum. Immersed in such an environment, my head was filled with Di Nü Hua, The Purple Hairpin and The Reincarnation of a Beauty etc. If Mum ever wanted to watch Cantonese opera or movies in theatre, Dad would never reject even when life was harsh.

Later, we were allotted public housing and moved into Choi Hung Estate. Life started to improve. Dad worked seriously hard twelve hours a day and consequently blood tension went high. Mum’ heart burnt and sold of her pet dowry, a two-teal gold necklace to foot the medical bill. We also inherit this spousal love that binds them through sweet and bitter times.
One year, Mum and Dad’s aunt reconciled. I was fortunate enough to witness the scene in which Mum offered a cup of tea to Dad’s aunt. Both iron ladies maintained their dignity in a graceful manner. Mum took care of Dad’s aunt in her final years until it went beyond her strength. Dad’s aunt entered a home for the aged. This proves to be a norm in the life in Hong Kong as a commercial society. The culture of Comb Sisters doesn’t work here. Similarly, young families, whether they have intention to raise children or not, which offer up their efforts to build up the prosperity of the society, would not dodge the fate of dying in a home for the aged! I’m blessed to live with my parents in their last years. They were like path-finders showing us the way ahead, teaching us a lot of God’s wisdom. Accompanying the elders in their final years is truly a blessing.

Alzheimer’s disease is a horrible disease. When you are young, you are still able to make use of your rationality to reduce your prejudice or to suppress negative feelings. However, when Alzheimer’s disease strikes, you can’t control what you think and what you remember! Think about it. Are you willing to be tortured in your latter years by negative feelings throughout the day? Half an hour after returning from tea-house, you blame your children for being disrespectful and not going to tea-house with you for breakfast, you keep counting how many times Mr. A has bullied you, how much money Mr. B has cheated you … etc. Will you be happy?
Thank God, Dad was admitted to A&E one Sunday. We could not leave Mum home alone. So, we brought her to Church, thus opening a new page in her life. Thanks to the hospitality of the parishioners, Mum felt comfortable and joyful. Thank God, she was baptized before the onset of Alzheimer’s. When it started, all Mum thought, asked and remembered were positive things. She didn’t give people around her much inconvenience. Staff in the home for the aged had never complained. They were happy to engage her in cheerful talks. What’s Mum’s secret? It had to be something to do with her positive personality: Although this Lee’s Eldest Princess was righteous without ambiguity, she forgot grudges. She did not care how deeply she had been unfairly treated. She had lived up the spirit of beatific mercy. This Lee’s Eldest Princess was generous in helping people. Money was nothing in her eyes. With a merciful heart, she helped people pass over their difficult times even those whom she knew were cheating her. She combined spiritual poverty with mercy in a marvellous manner!

Mum survived a stroke which left her tube-fed, paralyzed and unable to speak. At first, she still retained her sight and touch but subsequently, she was gradually and completely cut off from us. She scaled the last journey alone for twenty months before she died of pneumonia. Naturally we kept wondering how a merciful God would permit such a lengthy and unnecessary suffering to happen on her. I was unable to shake off this question until today when I found God’s answer in the first reading. It is a mystery that for the past twenty months, I have presided over funeral rites and have read this passage from the book of Wisdom several times and yet understood only today! For those who trust in and love God, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph in Genesis and Moses in Exodus, God would try them, give them opportunities to prove them worthy of Himself, “As gold in furnace, He proves them, and as sacrificial offerings He took them to Himself” (Wisdom 3:6) Through this proof, God affirms this Lee’s Eldest Princess’ position in His heart!

I’m grateful to God for allowing us the opportunity to go through this testing together. God truly loves this Lee’s Eldest Princess. She’s truly an iron lady, capable of undergoing twenty months of trial. Now, she is able to proudly tell us, “I have compete well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8) Before God, we have one more intercessor.
God bless!

A Brief Memoir of My Father

真正的痊癒 Genuine Recovery

常年期第六主日，乙年
主題：真正的痊癒

癩病，即痲瘋病，是可見的。結果令痲瘋病人受到社會的歧視，被排斥。
按【聖經】所載，以色列人認為癩病是不潔的（肋13:3）。因此，癩病亦成了罪的一個標記，癩病人被定性為罪人。不與罪人為伍是《舊約》鮮明的立場（詠1:1），所以排斥歧視癩病人是合理的（肋13:44-45）！幸好，癩病的痊癒是可見的，病人可以從投社會。
排斥是抗拒可見邪惡的其中一種手段，旨在保護自己和身邊的人，是權宜之計。發明了有效的疫苗或治病方法，例如抗生素之後，纔是解決問題的徹底方法。倘若有了解決方法，而仍然使用排斥和歧視之類的權宜手段，便是不公義了！今天新冠肺炎在全球疫情反覆，控制遙遙無期，讀到今天的福音，別有一番滋味。

新冠肺炎致病的原因，來自病毒。一旦感染了，經過潛伏期，繁殖到相當濃度便發病。因為在病毒潛伏期間，受感染的人成了傳播病毒者，使疫症在社區內漫延！發病的死亡率高，所以及早發現病毒，可以挽救更多病人的生命。醫學昌明，科學家已經發明了病毒測試劑。測試結果是陽性，便進行治療。可惜，即使測試結果是陰性，祇表示測試一刻沒有病毒，並不保證測試後不受感染；或者病毒尚在潛伏期，未開始發作，並不保證測試後不會發作。所以，在未開發到有效的疫苗或醫治方法之前，測試是權宜之計。有了有效的疫苗與及治療方法，測試便應該功成身退。為甚麼呢？有了疫苗，全民可以達到某程度的免疫；即使病倒了，亦不至於死，因為還有有效的治療方法。測試已起不了作用，祇會浪費資源。

罪惡有如病菌病毒，在人類的群體中漫延。為了保護人類，天主制定了死亡，切斷罪惡的潛伏和散播（創6:3）；天主曾以洪水清洗被罪惡污染了的世界，但始終都是一個消極的手段，沒有徹底解決罪惡的問題。後來天主與以色列人立約，頒下「十誡」，加強人類對罪惡的免疫能力。這是一個好開始，但不足以解決問題。一向相信法律的優越性的法利塞人掃祿，後來對法律重新評價：「沒有一個人能因遵守法律，而在祂前成義；因為法律祇能使人認識罪過。」（羅3:20）保祿運用法律的觀點看死亡，認為死亡是罪惡的薪俸（6:23），是犯罪後要付出的代價。所以法律解決不了罪惡的問題，甚至連原本是聖的、正義和美善的法律和誡命，反過來使罪惡變成了極端的凶惡（7:12-13）！最後，天主親自降臨，犧牲自己作為贖罪祭，並以復活轉化死亡，作為進入永恆的門戶，這樣纔徹底地把罪惡的問題解決。

因此，在耶穌基督降生前，對罪人排斥和歧視，是無可厚非的。耶穌基督降生了，死在十字架上償還了所有罪債，復活升天了，我們還可以合理化對罪人的排斥和歧視嗎？這樣做，就好像發明了有效的疫苗和治療方法後，仍堅持做無聊的測試一樣！表示你不相信天主子耶穌基督的救贖功效，仍躲在法律框架的安樂窩中。你覺得不安全，仍然需要保護自己和身邊的人！你的不安是可以理解的，因為你身處危險之中。對不起，不是罪人威脅著你的安全，而是你的無信把你漸漸牽往地獄！天主教徒，甚至是資深的教友，一樣歧視他們心目中的「罪人」；不但排斥教會外的「罪人」，對教會內的「罪人」也不放過。當遇上無可奈何的「罪人」神長時，便對教會大失所望。他們愛耶穌，但不愛教會，嚷著要脫離教會！合理嗎？更令人擔心的，是這群資深教友，真的得救了嗎？

我們可以用甚麼作為痊癒的標誌呢？再沒有病徵足夠嗎？今天的「新冠病毒」教導了我們一個真相：在病毒潛伏期，可以是沒有病徵的。所以，沒有病徵不足以作為安全的指標。應用到信仰上，按十誡和聖教五規生活，不足以作為得救的指標！那麼還有甚麼可作標誌呢？
今天福音中的癩病人的表現，值得參考。醫治他的是天主子，所以無論在靈魂上及肉體上，他是徹底痊癒了的。但他的反應令人困擾，他好像沒有服從上主的吩咐，為耶穌基督帶來了麻煩，令祂不能公然進入城中（谷1:45）。可是，耶穌基督有因此而怪責他嗎？當然沒有。上主是全知的，癩病人的反應是意料中事，所以不會怪他。
另一方面癩病人如此極力宣揚，不是出於理性的謀算，而是出於蒙恩得救的喜樂，加上感恩之情。倘若出於謀算，他不宣揚纔對，因為這是耶穌基督吩咐的，宣揚反而有違禁令的危險！而且不宣揚並不會使癩病復發。這是一種「不做不錯」的心態，作為公務員還可以，但作為信徒，真是不敢恭維了！所以，真正得到痊癒，真正得到解放，不再是罪惡奴隸的天主教徒，應該好像這個癩病人一樣，極力宣揚自己得救的經驗！不是出於謀算，而是出於感情。

各位兄弟姊妹，倘若洗禮入教，並不帶來蒙恩得救的喜樂，你應該找「司祭」，檢查你是否真正痊癒了，真正得救了！倘若你洗禮後提不起勁去宣揚福音，這是一個尚未真正痊癒，真正得救的訊號，你應該感到不安！
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：redeeminggod.com

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Sixth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Genuine Recovery

Leprosy is visible. Consequently, lepers suffer discrimination and rejection from the society.
According to the Bible, the Israelites deemed leprosy unclean (Leviticus 13:3). Thus leprosy was a sign of sin. Lepers were labelled sinners. Not staying in the company of sinners is a clear cut moral stance of the Old Testament (Psalm 1:1). Therefore, rejecting and discriminating lepers was reasonable (Leviticus 13:44-45). Fortunately, recovery is visible. Lepers may return to the community.
Rejection is one of the mechanisms to resist visible sins, aiming at self-defence and protecting our neighbour. It is meant to be an expedience. Effective vaccination and treatments, such as antibiotics, are the proper ways to eradicate the disease. It would be immoral and unjust to continue using rejection and discrimination once an effective cure is found! Today, the pandemic is still rampant and control is not yet on the horizon. The gospel we read today is meaningful in a different manner.

The pathogen that causes this pandemic is a virus. Once contracted, the virus multiplies during hibernation and the pneumonia starts kicking in once a certain concentration is reached. Since there is a period of hibernation, patients become virus carriers and spread the disease in the community. The mortality is high. The earlier the virus is detected, the more lives can be saved. Scientists have developed test-kits for the virus. When the test result is positive, treatment may start. Unfortunately, negative results only indicate that there was no virus at the moment of testing. It does not guarantee any immunity to future infection. Moreover, perhaps the virus is undergoing hibernation. It has not reached sufficient concentration to erupt. Thus, before the invention of effective vaccination and treatment, testing is an expedience. When effective vaccination and cure are found, testing has no more use. Why? With vaccination, citizens have reached a certain level of immunity. Even if they fall sick, it won’t be fatal because there is effective treatment. Insisting on testing is a waste of resources.

Evil is like bacteria and virus. It spreads among human communities. In order to protect human beings, God instituted death to cut short the hibernation, the spread of evil (Genesis 6:3). God once cleansed this contaminated world of sins with a great Deluge. But this was a passive tactics. The Deluge has not solved the problem of evil. Later, God entered a covenant with the Israelites, giving them the Ten Commandments to enhance their immunity against evil. This was a good beginning but insufficient to solve the problem. Saul, who used to trust in the superiority of the Law which he subsequently re-evaluated, “Since no human being will be justified in His sight by observing the law; for through the law comes consciousness of sin” (Romans 3:20) Paul looks at death from the legal perspective and claims that “the wage of sin is death” (6:23). Death is a price to pay for committing sins. Thus, the Law is unable to solve the problem of evil. Even the holy, righteous and good law and commandment make sin become sinful beyond measure (7:12-13)! At last, God came down, sacrificed Himself as a redemptive offering and with resurrection, turned death into the portal to eternity. In this way, the problem of evil is completely eradicated.

Therefore, before the incarnation of Jesus Christ, it was not wrong to reject and discriminate sinners. Now that Jesus Christ has incarnated, has died on the cross to repay all debts, has resurrected and ascended into heaven, can we justify the continued discrimination and rejection of sinners? Doing so is like insisting on meaningless testing after the invention of effective vaccination and treatments! It shows that you doubt the effectiveness of the redemption of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. You are still hiding in the comfort zone of legal framework. You don’t feel safe and need to protect yourself and people around you! Your anxiety is understandable because you are in danger. Sorry, not the kind of threat from sinners against your security. Instead, it is your infidelity which gradually pulls you to hell! Catholics, even jaded Catholics also discriminate perceived sinners. Not only do they despise outsiders but also sinners within the Church. When there are sinful clergy whom they couldn’t do anything, they are disappointed. They claim to love Jesus but not the Church and threatening to leave the Church for good! Is it reasonable? It worries us more whether this bunch of jaded Catholics are genuinely redeemed.

What can we use as an indicator of genuine recovery? Is a lack of symptoms sufficient? Today, the Covid-19 virus has taught us a lesson: there can be no symptoms during hibernation. Thus, a lack of symptoms is not a safe indicator. Applying this to faith, living according to the Ten Commandments and the precepts of the Church cannot act as an indicator of redemption! Then, what else can?
The action of the leper in today’s gospel is worth consideration. The Son of God healed him. Thus, he was totally cured, spiritually as well as physically. It troubles us when he seemed not to obey the Lord’s instruction and brought Jesus Christ some inconvenience, making it “impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly” (Mark 1:45) But did Jesus Christ reprimand him? Of course not! The Lord is omniscient. The reaction of the leper was anticipated. Thus He would not blame him.
On the other hand, the leper publicized not out of rational calculation but of joy and gratitude, the joy of being saved. Had he been calculating, he should not publicize because Jesus Christ told him not to. Publicize and you risk being disobedient! Moreover, the leprosy would not return even if you didn’t publicize. “Act not and make no mistake” is not a decent attitude. Perhaps it is appropriate for civil servants. But as Catholics, such an attitude is not commendable. Therefore, to show genuine recovery, genuine liberation and genuine freedom from the slavery of sins, Catholics should publicize their experience of redemption like the leper, not through calculation but affection.

Brethren! If baptism does not bring you the joy of redemption, seek a priest to inspect whether you have been genuinely recovered and genuinely saved! If you don’t feel like proclaiming the good news after baptism, it is an indicator that you are not yet genuinely recovered and redeemed. You should worry!
God bless!

《思高聖經》趣味小統計 Interesting Stats

《思高聖經》趣味小統計

天主教版的《思高聖經》，粗略統計，共有1,328章，35,808節與及1,128,842字，祇用上了3,879個不同的字。在香港，小六畢業生可以掌握到3,000個單字，所以，一般中三程度以上的學歷，閱讀《思高聖經》，綽綽有餘！
況且，其中389個字祇出現過一次；963個字出現4次或以下。遇上這些字的機會不大。所以，如何你有小學畢業程度，誰也不應以「文盲」為藉口，拒絕閱讀【聖經】，認識天主對人的愛。

甲：一些頭盤

• 【聖經】最多章數的書當然是《聖詠集》，有150篇。
• 【聖經】祇得一章的書計有《亞北底亞》、《費肋孟書》、《若望二書》、《若望三書》及《猶達書》五卷。
• 【聖經】最多節數的書卷是《聖詠集》，150章合共2,529節。
• 【聖經】最少節數的書卷是《若望二書》，1章祇有13節。
• 【聖經】最多節數的篇章是「聖詠119篇」，是一首字母詩，22個希伯來文字母，8句一組，每句以該字母開頭，共176節，《思高聖經》譯了3,680字。
• 【聖經】最少節數的篇章是「聖詠117篇」，祇有2節，《思高聖經》譯了48字。在節數和字數方面，《聖詠集》包攬了最多和最少獎！
• 《思高聖經》最長的一節是「多俾亞傳5:10」，有207字。
• 《思高聖經》最短的一節，祇有一個字，是「誰」（箴26:18）。
• 《思高聖經》最多字數的書卷當然是《聖詠集》，150章共58,700字。
• 《思高聖經》最少字數的書卷是《若望二書》，1章共432字。

乙：《思高聖經》的中間是哪個字？

新教的網頁，喜歡展示【聖經】中間是哪一個字，再說一番道理，卻忘記註明是哪一個版本！
《舊約》和《新約》篇幅的份量懸殊（《舊約》887,872字，《新約》240,970字），中間部份必定落入《舊約》部份，問題便出現了。

1. 首先，猶太教的希伯來文版本已被拒諸門外，因為它的排序與我們《舊約》的次序不同，我們的版本按七十賢士本LXX的結構排序，把部份希伯來文的《雜集》部份，調往『歷史』部份，例如《盧德傳》，《編年紀》；和『先知』部份，例如《達尼爾》。LXX跟希伯來版的安排，「大先知」放在「小先知」之後，我們相反！所以我們不能用希伯來文版。
2. 其次，即使是LXX，除了東正教外，我們沒有把LXX照單全收。例如，我們不採納「詠151篇」；瑪加伯傳有四卷，我們祇採納第一二卷等。所以我們也不能用LXX版。
3. 因此，祇能從拉丁文通行版的《新舊約全書》開始數算，纔有意義。這樣的話，中間位置就在《聖詠集》了。

因為總字數1,128,842是雙數，故此，中間是第564,421個字與第564,422個字，是出自「在他的歲月中，正義必要興盛，到處國泰民安，直至月亮失明。」（詠72:7）

丙：《思高聖經》單字龍虎榜

以下表列出現最多的單字前二十名：

《思高聖經》單字20強
的 57,461	他 24,619	你 23,440	們 23,404	我 21,663
人 18,478	在 15,158	了 14,713	上 14,680	主 14,288
是 11,916	一 11,800	為 11,464	不 10,919	有 9,874
說 9,134	要 7,877	和 7,722	子 7,629	天 7,546

從以上部份單字出現的頻率可見

1. 【聖經】出現最多的五個字，是「你、我、他、們、的」！【聖經】真是一本講論關係的書：人與天主的關係、人與人的關係與及人與事物的關係。所以，讀聖經的時候，應留意「關係」。
2. 「人」出現的頻率（18,478），比「上主」、「天主」合併起來（不高於「主」的頻率14,288）還高。可見在人與天主的關係方面，【聖經】是以人為本的。
3. 「是11,916」比「不10,919」多，可見【聖經】肯定多，否定少。聖經是積極的比消極的多。

即使這樣簡單的數目字，也足以體會到天主對人的憐愛！

丁：《思高聖經》用詞龍虎榜

《思高聖經》用詞25強
上主 7,844	天主 4,659	以色列 2,834	耶穌 1,563	達味 1,178
司祭 1,069	猶大，猶達 1,061	耶路撒冷，達味城，金門 1,007	梅瑟 890	埃及 797
先知，預言 757	父親，阿爸 729	聖殿，殿宇，庭院，廂房 674	猶太 587	法律 581
兄弟 540	帳棚，帳幕，會幕 533	天使，使者 515	基督 509	智慧 489
光榮 487	永遠 486	祭壇 479	雅各伯 470	正義 468

聖經用詞，另有一番景像。

1. 【聖經】真是來自天主的「家書」，說故事居多，說道理少。人、地、事物用詞佔了頭19位。「智慧、光榮、永遠、正義」等抽像性、哲理性的辭彙，排在19位之後。
2. 不要因為「耶穌」連季軍也拿不到而失望，因為新舊約份量懸殊（《舊約》字數約為《新約》字數3.685倍），倘若把「耶穌」一詞的頻率按比例加倍，將會是5,760，遠超「以色列」，僅次於「上主」一詞。誠然，「上主」、「天主」等詞語，亦有在《新約》出現，所以直接加大3.685倍是不可靠的。但耶穌基督是天主子的身份，倒是不容置疑的。
3. 《舊約》人物排序方面，先是以色列、繼而達味、猶大纔到梅瑟。雖然是梅瑟塑造那一盤散沙的十二支派，成為一個民族，功不可沒，但在猶太人心目中，這位解放者的地位，始終不及那位「隨上主心意」的牧者（撒上13:14）！
4. 司祭比先知的地位高，聖殿比宣講更重要，反映了《舊約》在整部【聖經】中，仍然具有重要的影響力。

你又有甚麼體會呢？
天主保祐！

辛丑年元旦日

《思高聖經》點滴 Of Duns Scotus Bible

《思高聖經》點滴
獻給先慈
李銀葉，瑪利亞

我便責斥首長們說：「為什麼又將天主的聖殿忽略了呢？」以後我將肋未人召集起來，又復了他們的職務。（厄下13:11）

木已放在他手中，他要揚淨自己的禾場，把麥粒收在倉內；至於糠秕，卻要用不滅的火焚燒。（路3:17）

倘若以上兩節，你看到空白格（「復了他們的職務」和「已放在他手中」的左邊），表示你的電腦系統仍未安裝「香港常用字庫」，請按左邊的超連結下載安裝。

【聖經】是天父寫給「天主子民」的家書，是教會（天主子民）的財產。雖然是天父寫的，但並不是從天上掉下來的，而是日積月累，辛苦經營，得來不易的成果！它是一個小型圖書館，搜羅了超過七十本經典。古代未有印刷術，書籍的發行並不容易，真正是一紙難求，洛陽紙貴！因此各個地方教會擁有的「目錄」，不盡相同。

【聖經】的原文計有希伯來文、阿辣美文及希臘文。後來在羅馬帝國的背景下，纔統一翻譯成為拉丁文通行本。從此教會可以確立【聖經】的正典了。

及後發生「宗教改革」，歐洲各國爭相把拉丁文通行本再翻譯為本國文字。可惜在過程中，因為神學立場不同，新教把其中幾本經書刪除了！作為生活在歐洲之外的人民，我們感謝「宗教改革」所引發的傳教事業，傳教士把福音播種到非洲、美洲及遠東地方，【聖經】開始有中文譯本了。感謝方濟會的神長，在他們的努力之下，我們擁有一本天主教版本的【思高聖經】。

前面已經提過，【聖經】是一個小型圖書館。天主教版本的聖經，藏書73本。但為了方便討論和參考，以書為單位，略嫌粗疏了！例如，祇知「朝聞道，夕死可矣」出自《論語》，是不足以作進一步討論的！有必要把整部《論語》進一步細分。其實，即使在聖經的新約部份，也可以找到比書更細微的分野，例如「梅瑟書的荊棘篇」（谷12:26）和「厄里亞篇」（羅11:2）。但進一步為每本書訂定章和節，並不是沒有困難的，問題在於經文是手抄的，對於章與節的分野，出現了分歧！

以下是跟據網上版《思高聖經》的一些小統計。統計過程的校對未必徹底，所以這些數字，頂多祇是茶餘飯後的話題而已，難登博雅大堂，慎用。

《思高聖經》小統計
73卷	書i
1,328	章ii
35,808	節iii
1,128,842	字iv
3,879	不同的字

點擊前往《思高聖經》趣味小統計

辛丑年元旦日

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ⁱ新教刪去其中7卷書，所以新教聖經祇剩下66卷書。
當年馬丁路德反對教會內的一些人，借「煉獄」的觀念，作為推銷『大赦證書』（俗稱「贖罪券」）的理據。其實，為亡者祈禱和奉獻贖罪祭，是教會素來的傳統，由紀念殉道者開始，與「諸聖相通共融 Communion of Saints」的信條一致，並且有聖經的根據（加下12：38-45）。但馬丁路德改革心切，說這本書沒有希伯來的原文，沒有價值，便把瑪加伯下及其餘六本經典，祇有希臘文而沒有希伯來文的部份，一拼刪除，卻忘記了基督信仰如何超越了猶太教的教義！
ⁱⁱ七十賢士本LXX把《聖詠集》翻譯成希臘文，分章時與希伯來文有出入。所以希臘文/拉丁文的章數，與希伯來文不同。《思高版》跟希伯來文，把希臘文章數放在括號裡。但總章數仍是150。達尼爾先知書，希伯來文祇有十二章，LXX有十四章，多了兩章。瑪拉基亞先知書，拉丁文版，KJV及幾種譯本，在「拉3:18」之後，便開始新一章「拉4:1」，多了一章。
ⁱⁱⁱ《聖詠集》其中50篇的篇首，都有小標題，說出背景，或者寄調甚麼等。有些版本把其中39篇的小標題，獨立分開成為第一節。所以《聖詠集》一共有多少節，要取決是那一個版本！LXX版的達尼爾第3章，收錄了三個青年在火窯裡的祈禱，希伯來文版沒有。LXX版艾斯德爾傳收錄了一些上文下理的片段、諭文及祈禱等。這些珍貴的紀錄，都被馬丁路德刪除了。《思高聖經》的「德訓篇29:17-18」缺了文字。所以聖經有多少節，是沒法定案的。
^iv 方濟會的神長們，為了幫助讀者，除了註釋外，還加上了標題，在《雅歌》一書，還加上寓意等……今次字數的統計，並沒有包括標點符號、標題、寓意和其他註腳等。

訃聞 Obituary

Obituary

LEE NGAN YIP, MARIA, died Saturday the 6th of February 2021 at Yan Chai Hospital.
Born in 1929, Maria was generous and righteous. She loved socializing,Cantonese Opera and playing Mahjong.
She is survived by her two sons, Alex and Stephen, daughter-in-law and four grandchildren.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Holy Redeemer Church presided by Rev. Fr. Nicolas de Fracqueville, MEP, at 10 a.m. on February 16, 2021.

受苦的奧秘 The Mystery of Suffering

常年期第五主日，乙年
主題：受苦的奧秘

社會上的醫院制度，把資源集中起來運用，無疑對病人的康復，發揮了重大的作用；並且把病人與健康的人分隔，減低了疾病在社區擴散的機會，保障了公共衛生。但另一方面，亦引發出不少倫理的難題。醫院制度使醫學更昌明，很少人自然地去世，而是在藥物及機器的支撐下，度過不必要的痛苦歲月纔離世；對於何時停止醫治，親人要作出沉重的倫理抉擇…在香港，很少人在家中、在家人陪同的境況下離世，而是在醫院。死亡不再是日常生活的經歷，成年人為了「保護」兒童及青少年，不會讓他們接觸到死亡的「真面目」，反而令他們不懂生命的真正價值！在古代是兒童的夭折率高，現代卻是青少年的自殺率高！

今天福音一句不經意的話，道出古今醫療的差別。「到了晚上，日落之後，人把所有患病的和附魔的，都帶到他跟前。」（谷1:32）
首先，看病不是在日間更好嗎？為甚麼要在「日落之後」呢？
從上文可知，這一天正值安息日，不准做不必要的事。日落之後是新一天的開始，不再受安息日限制！固然，耶穌基督是安息日之主（2:28），安息日不能約束祂。這是後話，但猶太人遵守梅瑟法律的嚴謹態度，不會隨意走捷徑，可見一斑！
值得注意的，是耶穌基督也沒有走捷徑！祂「不許魔鬼說話，因為魔鬼認識祂」（1:34）。很多人信服魔鬼的說話，牠們的「見證」，應該很有說服力，令更多人信奉耶穌。但耶穌基督拒絕了這種方便，因為魔鬼的證言，祇會混淆視聽，令真理變得模稜兩可，反為不妙。

馬爾谷接著說：「人把所有患病的和附魔的…」，在沒有醫院把病人集中在一起的情況下，在甚麼地方纔找到病人呢？一定是在家中。他們在家人陪伴下來到耶穌跟前求醫，與今天的情況，沒有太大的分別。但值得注意的，是連附魔的，或者精神病的，也是來自家中。到了今天，這是沒有可能的。家庭被視為生產力的來源地，在資本主義制度下，保護家庭，減少疾病，包括精神病對家庭、對社會整體生產力的傷害，變得非常重要。家庭成員之間的關係和認識生命的價值，渴望天主的愛，變得次要！由此產生的社會問題不是問題，反而製造了更多的就業機會…，今天的社會，真的患病了！

說「所有」是否誇張了一點呢？是的，這是《馬爾谷福音》的文學手法，旨在說明耶穌基督是天主子，祂以大能施展救贖。所以馬爾谷選擇了驅魔，作為第一個神蹟。
耶穌基督不是以十字架上的犧牲、以服從及屈辱，最後從死中復活，完成救贖嗎？馬爾谷豈不是放錯了重點嗎？不一定。馬爾谷祇是描述了救贖光榮的一面，但光榮不是惟一的一面。要知道我們在真理面前，有點像瞎子摸象一樣，並不全面，頂多祇能領會其中一二。因此我們必須謙遜，尋求天主聖神的帶領。
事實上，沒有可能是「所有」患病或附魔的人，都有機會來到耶穌基督面前，接受醫治。因為有些病人，是被排斥在城外的，例如癩病人（1:40），有些附魔的人是不能制服的，例如「軍旅」（5:9）。這兩個例子讓我們看到，一旦社會上出現了歧視現象，即使是完美的醫療制度，也祇能把這些「病人」關進精神病院或監獄裡，而不能真正地照顧這些被歧視的人！

比較這段福音的其中兩句說話，讓我們不得不再次反省受苦的意義。「耶穌治好了許多患各種病症的人」（1:34）『許多』一辭與前面的『所有』（1:32）一辭相比，即使是修辭的手法，不是默認有部份人得不到耶穌的治癒嗎？耶穌基督不是全能而且慈悲的嗎？為甚麼竟漏了一部份人呢？
上述被歧視，被排斥的人和接近不了耶穌基督的人，我們不用替他們擔心，因為耶穌基督是善牧，祂一定會主動尋找他們，治療他們。撇除那些寧可躲在安樂窩而不願意痊癒的病人，這類人相信連神醫亦束手無策！他們的心腸已經硬化，有待耶穌基督特別照顧他們。讓我們集中默想那些希望痊癒，並且不斷祈求天主救助的病人，那些求天主醫治，消除痛苦的人。結果，他們的信德，並沒有帶給他們所渴望的救恩！換句話說，既然我們已經信主，為甚麼痛苦依然揮之不去呢？

腦退化晚期的病患者或者植物人，倘若不是醫學昌明，他們早已離世。今天醫療系統發達，他們可以靠喉管餵食餵藥，生存下來。他們整天臥床，動彈不得，靠護理人員替他們清潔，兼且失去了與外界溝通的能力，他們的生活質素很低。生存下去，在財務上及情緒上，帶給家人很大的負擔。痛苦下去還有甚麼價值呢？「安樂死」的念頭，真是一個極大的挑戰！

「受苦」真是一個奧秘，一個千百年來解決不了的謎題。很多人從約伯的故事，得到鼓舞，但他的故事不能說服所有的人，他的際遇不會發生在所有人的身上。他有一個大團圓的結局，但大部份人卻是懷著疑問和控訴，含恨而終。莫非我們真的不應該提問「為甚麼」嗎？或者我們問錯了題目嗎？我不服氣，因為我還未到達「是我以無智的話，使祢的計劃模糊不明；是我說了無知的話，說了那些超越我智力的話。」（約42:3）的境界。不過，最少我知道為甚麼進食前，我應該感恩唸經，因為我還未到達使用喉管餵食的地步；我感謝我的過錯，因為它們提醒我，應該做個謙卑的人；我不介意失敗挫折帶給我痛苦，因為它磨練我成為更堅強的人；我不奢望自己的痛苦，有助身邊的人親近天主，或者補贖他們部份的罪過，我祇願在餘下的歲月，能目睹天父的慈愛，並能開口讚頌祂，亞孟。
天主保祐！

家慈辭世之翌日

2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：wikipedia

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Fifth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: The Mystery of Suffering

A medical system in a society centralizes medical resources. Undoubtedly, it plays an important role in the recovery of patients. Furthermore, separating patients from healthy people minimizes the spread of diseases in the community and enhances public health. On the other hand, it also engenders many ethical dilemmas. A medical system advances medical sciences. Consequently, less people die naturally. Relying on the support of medicines and machines, many people suffer months and years of unnecessary pains before they pass away. The decision to terminate medical treatment becomes a heavy moral burden on family members … In Hong Kong, few people die at home in the company of family members. Instead many pass away in hospitals. Death is no longer a daily experience. In the name of juvenile protection, adults seldom expose children and teenagers to the genuine face of death. As a result, it deprives them of an understanding of the true meaning of life! In ancient times, infant mortality was high. In modern times, it is the suicide rate of teenagers!

One verse in the gospel passage today inadvertently highlights the contrast of ancient and modern medicines. “When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons” (Mark 1:32)
First of all, wasn’t it better to consult physicians during daytime? Why did it after sunset?
From the context, it was Sabbath on which people were forbidden to labour unnecessarily. After sunset, a new day began and Sabbath restrictions no longer applied. Of course, Jesus Christ “is Lord even of the Sabbath” (2:28). Sabbath is unable to restrict Him. That’s another story. However, Jews were meticulous in observing Mosaic laws. They didn’t take shortcuts!
Neither did Jesus take shortcuts! He was “not permitting them (demons) to speak because they knew him” (1:34). Many people believe in the word of demons. Demon’s “testimony” is persuasive and would make many people believe in Jesus. But Jesus Christ refused this convenience because the demons’ testimony would blur the truth, making it ambiguous. It is even worse.

Mark continues, “They brought to him all who were ill or possessed …” Without hospitals to put all the patients together, where did we find the patients? At home! Family members accompanied the sick to seek Jesus’ cure. It didn’t differ much from today’s situation. But I would like to draw your attention to the fact that even the possessed, or mental patients came from home! It is impossible today. Families are the source of labour. Under capitalism, protecting families, reducing the harms done to families and societal productivity through illnesses, including mental illnesses is of primary importance. Relations among family members, knowledge of the value of life and the desire for God’s love become secondary! Social problems created are no problem at all. Rather, they create more employment opportunities … Our society today is really sick!

Is the word “all” a bit exaggerating? Yes. This is the style of Mark which aims at portraying Jesus Christ to be the Son of God who redeems us with great might. Thus exorcism is the first miracle in Mark’s gospel.
Didn’t Jesus Christ sacrifice Himself on the cross, undergo obedience and humiliation and finally His resurrection from the dead accomplishes salvation? Has Mark struck the wrong chord? Not necessarily. Mark only tells the glorious side of redemption but glory isn’t the only side. In front of the truth, we are like the blind feeling an elephant. It is impossible to be complete. At most, we are able to understand one to two details. Thus, we must be humble and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.
In reality, it is impossible for “all” who were ill or possessed to be able to gain access to Jesus Christ to seek cure. It is because there were sick people segregated outside the city such as lepers (1:40) and there were uncontrollable possessed men such as the Legion (5:9). These two examples remind us that once prejudice appears in a society, no matter how impeccable the medical system is, these patients could only be rounded up and locked up in mental hospitals or prisons. That doesn’t do these discriminated folks any good!

Comparing two verses in the passage, we are forced to reflect on the meaning of suffering. “He cured many who were sick with various diseases ...” (1:34) Contrasting “many” with “all” (1:32), even if it is a rhetorical device, doesn’t it suggest that Jesus hasn’t cured some people? Isn’t Jesus Christ almighty and merciful? Why did he leave out some people?
We don’t have to worry about those who have been discriminated and could not gain access to Jesus Christ who is the Good Shepherd. He definitely would reach out to seek and cure them. Remove from our short list those who prefer hiding inside their comfort zone and are reluctant to be cured. Even miracle healers wouldn’t be able to heal them. Their hearts are hardened and need special treatment from Jesus Christ. Let us focus on those who hope for recovery and ceaselessly seek God’s help, those who beg God to cure them and relieve them of pains. In the end, their faith does not bring them the salvation they desire! In other words, we believe in God. Why do pains linger on and refuse to disappear?
Comatose and Alzheimer patients in the terminal stage would have died had medical sciences not been that successful. The medical system today is advanced. Those patients manage to survive through tube feeding of nutrients and medicines. They’re bedridden, motionless and rely on care-takers to cleanse them. They have even lost the ability to communicate. Their quality of life is extremely low. Keeping them alive is financially and emotionally straining to family members. What’s the point of continuing to suffer? The idea of euthanasia is a big challenge!

Suffering is truly a mystery, a hard enigma to crack for millennia. Many people draw inspiration from the story of Job but not all of us buy his message. His encounters do not happen to us all. His was a happy ending, but most people die questioning and complaining. Is it wrong for us to ask “why”? Or perhaps we have asked the wrong question? I’m not convinced because I have not attained the capability to say, “Who is this who obscures counsel with ignorance? I have spoken but did not understand; things too marvellous for me, which I did not know.” (Job 42:3) But at least I know why I say grace before meals because I have not reached the stage to be tube-fed. I thank my faults because they remind me to be humble. I don’t mind suffering from defeats and frustrations because they polish me to be stronger. I don’t expect my sufferings would help people come close to God or to redeem part of their sins. I only hope in my remaining days that I’m able to see the mercy of the Father and sing praises to Him. Amen.
God bless!

One day after my mother passed away.