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？
「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
圖片鳴謝：wikipedia
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.
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