四旬期第三主日，乙年 主題：國民身份的認同
很不幸，天主教徒擁有「雙重國籍」：天國國籍和本土國籍。倘若他們生活在以某些狹隘的意識型態主導的國家，遭受政治迫害是在所難免的，因為「忠臣不事二主」。天主教徒在世上的生活，的確充滿張力，因為耶穌基督很清楚地教訓同樣的道理（瑪6:24）。遲早，「他或是依附這一個而輕忽那一個。」雖然儒家思想素來給人保守的印象，但不容忽視當中「耗盡自己，捨生取義」的殉道精神！在今天的福音中，耶穌基督清理聖殿，清楚地展示了祂作為一個猶太人，為了愛國而耗盡自我的情操（若2:17；詠69:10）！
在萬民中，亞巴郎回應了天主的召叫，並成功通過考驗，成為了「萬民/信德之父」（羅4:17-18），救世主出自他的後裔！當以色列一家在埃及經歷四百年，由七十多口繁衍成六十多萬人離開時，是一盤散沙。於是天主在西乃山與以色列人立約，以「十誡」把他們團結成為一個民族！這個民族信奉同一真神，一個有尊威，不容侮辱的神。信奉祂的是一個擁有尊嚴和自由，可以休息的民族，這不就是十誡頭三誡的意義嗎？可惜這個天主的特選民族，敵不過四周外族的誘惑，反過來渴望擺脫造就他們的天主，建立自己的國家！達味的遠見，撒羅滿的功勲，建造了金碧輝煌的聖殿，成為經濟、文化、政治及宗教中心，團結了十二支派，一再強化以色列人是天主選民的認同。建築在耶路撒冷的聖殿，便成為了「全國上下一心」的標記。
歷史就是這樣坦白，再次記載了「謀事在人，成事在天」的道理（詠127:1）！撒羅滿死後，他的兒子並沒有父親的管治才幹，結果以色列國分裂為二。聖殿在南國的猶大，北國以色列於是另起爐灶，竟然愚蠢地打造兩頭金牛，命令人民崇拜，不必南下前往聖殿（列上12:28），斷絕了將來再次統一以色列的機會！結果北國首先被亞述帝國滅亡，後來猶大亦不敵強大的巴比倫帝國，難逃亡國的命運。猶大國人民還是天主的選民嗎？這是一個極嚴重的身份危機！為了保持這個尊貴的身份，在充軍巴比倫期間，猶大國民除了拒絕與外族通婚外，他們還編纂了經典，保存了自己的精神面貎。即使沒有聖殿崇拜，一個圍繞著經師教訓的猶太教出現了！但天主有祂的計劃，祂並沒有忘記對猶大列祖列宗的許諾，沒有離棄自己親手拯救的選民。五十年後，波斯帝國解放了他們，並資助他們重建耶路撒冷聖殿，一再說明「若不是上主興工建屋，建築的人是徒然勞苦」（詠127:1）的道理！
身為天主子的耶穌基督，十二歲跟父母前往耶路撒冷朝聖，在聖殿裡找到天父（路2:49）。以後每年前往聖殿朝聖，不但親近天父，更強化了對天主子身份體會。固然，天主並不需要一座聖殿（依66:1），無論為了甚麼目的，需要聖殿的是人類。耶穌基督藉清理聖殿的機會，教訓一端非常重要的道理，祂的身體，纔是世上最尊貴的聖殿（若2:19，21-22）。原來世上的聖殿，是天主子身體的象徵。如今司祭們管理不善，使聖殿變成了商場，祇履行到經濟目的，而忽略了其他更重要的功能。所以天主子清理聖殿，是出於撥亂反正，是「自衛」的行為。因此，天主子行使合理的「暴力」，並沒有傷及無辜，是恰當的！
今天，很多人對教會的管理階層不滿，對教會在社會運動中的表現失望。有識之士口誅筆伐，其他不滿者無聲地離開教會。「愛耶穌，但不愛教會」成了他們的口號。
姑且不談保祿宗徒所說，「教會是基督奧體」的大道理。上述人士的口號，反映出那些嚷著因為失望而離開教會的人，沒有聽從耶穌基督的教訓，枉作祂的門徒。耶穌基督在《山中聖訓》說：「你們若祇愛那愛你們的人，你們還有甚麼賞報呢？稅吏不是也這樣作嗎？」（瑪5:46；路6:32）對於可愛的人，愛他們沒有難度。但作為天主教徒，既然有愛心愛痲瘋病人、愛滋病人、垂死的人和囚犯等，為甚麼不能愛政見不同的教會中人呢？其次，他們的信心很薄弱，看不見天父以慈悲的手，掌控一切。他們沒有耐性等待耶穌基督清理聖殿！在歷史上，耶穌基督確實曾啟示不少聖人，例如聖方濟各，回狂瀾於既倒，扶教會於將墜。我並沒有收到清理教會的啟示，你有嗎？
各位兄弟姊妹，耶穌基督不會對教會的腐敗，坐視不理。我們愛慕的是天主，祂對於殘害義人的惡行，必定會心急如焚。但我們不要犯厄里亞的毛病，以為天下間祇剩下他一人，沒有背棄天主的盟約（列上19:14），殊不知還有七千個從未向巴耳屈過膝的以色列人（19:18）！天主必會啟示特選的人物，為祂清理門戶。宗徒的忠告，是有用的。「在知識上加節制，在節制上加忍耐，在忍耐上加虔敬…的確，這樣你們便更有把握，進入我們的主和救主耶穌基督永遠的國。」（伯後1:6-11）同時，讓我們的善行，使那些愚蒙無知的人，閉口無言。（伯前2:15）
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：pinterest.com
Third Lent Sunday, Year B
Theme: National Identity
Unfortunately, Catholics have dual citizenship: citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and citizens on a country on earth. If they are living in countries with intolerant ideologies, political persecutions are inevitable because a servant cannot serve two masters. Life of Catholics on earth is full of tension because Jesus Christ teaches the same truth (Matthew 6:24). Sooner or later, “He will be devoted to one and despise the other.” Although Confucianism gives people a conservative impression, its martyrdom spirit, viz., “Forsake/consume one’s life for justice’s sake” cannot be ignored. In today’s gospel, we read of Jesus’ cleansing the Temple which shows vividly how patriotic Jesus is as a Jew (John 2:17, Psalms 69:10)!
Among all peoples, Abraham responded to God’s call and passed the test to become the “Father of many nations” (Romans 4:17-18). The Saviour of the world came from his offspring. When the Israelites left Egypt after growing from 70 to 600,000, they were disorganized like grains of sand. Thus, God established a covenant with them on Mount Sinai, making using of the Ten Commandments to make them into a people. This people believed in one true God, a majestic God whom nobody is able to slight. The people who worship Him are a dignified people free to rest. Are these not the first three Commandments of the Ten? Regrettably, this Chosen People of God was unable to resist the temptation of the aliens around them. They desired to free themselves from the God who made them in order to establish their own empire! The far sight of King David and the accomplishments of King Solomon built a magnificent Temple to become an economic, cultural, political and religious centre. Moreover, it united the twelve tribes and strengthened the Israelites’ identity as the Chosen People of God. The Jerusalem Temple became a symbol of national unity.
History is simply candid. Times and again it demonstrates the truth that whatever men design, God is in full control (Psalms 127:1)! After the death of Solomon, his son lacked the capability to rule and the kingdom was divided into two. The Temple was in the south. Thus, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had to set up an alternative cultic centre. But through sheer stupidity, they built two golden calves and told the people to worship instead of going to the Jerusalem Temple (1 Kings 12:28), thus killing the possibility of future reunification! Consequently, the Northern Kingdom was conquered by the Assyrian Empire. Later, Judah was unable to resist the invasion of the Babylonian Empire. They suffered the same fate and were conquered. Were people of Judah Chosen People of God anymore? This was a grave identity crisis. In order to maintain this noble identity during the Babylonian Captivity, on top of refusal to mixed marriage, people of Judah collected and arranged scriptures in order to sustain their spiritual outlook. Despite the lack of Temple worship, a Rabbinic Judaism arose! But God has His own plan. He did not forget the promises He made to the Patriarchs and did not abandon the Chosen People He delivered with His powerful arm. Five decades later, the Persian Empire liberated the Jews and even subsidized them to rebuild the Jerusalem Temple. It speaks loudly and clearly the truth that “Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain who build.” (Psalms 127:1)
The Temple was truly a sign God gave His Chosen People. Not only did it symbolize the presence of the Lord among men (132:14), its magnificent structure showed God’s people’s desire towards the Kingdom of Heaven. It was also an achievement to be proud of in front of all nations, something similar to the Great Wall for the Chinese. Herod the Great was a Roman puppet. In order to please the Jews, he started rebuilding the second Temple built during the Persian Empire and continued building extensions around it (John 2:20). Such a colossal structure required organized management. Where there is organization, there would be abuses of power (2:16, Jeremiah 7:11). If you are an easy going person seeing corruption in Temple management, perhaps you want to keep your fury to yourself and take a pacifist approach, reducing as much conflict as possible. But for those who are zealous about the Temple, patriots who take their national identity seriously, how can they not be provoked seeing injustice done in this sacred and solemn Temple? But was Jesus patriotic? Does patriotism justify violence? Did Jesus cross the line when He resorted to violence?
At twelve, Jesus Christ the Son of God, followed His parents to go on pilgrimage to the Jerusalem Temple where He found the Father (Luke 2:49). In subsequent pilgrimages to the Temple, not only did He come closer to the Father, but He experienced more deeply His identity as the Son of God. Of course, God does not need a Temple (Isaiah 66:1), only men need it for whatever reasons. In this cleansing of the Temple, Jesus Christ teaches us a very important doctrine: His body is the noblest Temple on earth (John 2:19, 21-22). In fact, the Temple on earth is a symbol of the body of the Son of God. Now that the priests had mismanaged the Temple, making it a marketplace which only fulfils the economic purpose and ignores the other more important functions, the Son of God cleanses the Temple, turning it back to the proper course is an act of “self-defence”. Thus it is appropriate for the Son of God to deploy reasonable “violence” which does not physically hurt anybody.
Today, many people complain about the management of the Church. Many are disappointed by the inactions of the Church during the recent social movement. Learned people voice their anger while others leave the Church in silence. “I love Jesus but not the Church” becomes their war-cry. Let’s put aside Paul’s grand theology of the Mystical Body of Christ for a moment. The slogan chanted by the people mentioned above only shows that they do not observe the teaching of Jesus Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:46, Luke 6:32) It is easy to love those lovable. But Catholics who are able to love lepers, AIDS patients, the dying and the imprisoned, why can’t they love those who hold different political views in the Church? Secondly, their faith is weak in not seeing the merciful hand of the Father taking charge. They can’t wait seeing Jesus Christ cleansing the Temple! Throughout history, Jesus Christ has called many saints, e.g. St. Francis of Assisi, to rebuild the collapsing Church. I haven’t received the revelation to cleanse the Church. Have you?
Brethren! Jesus Christ would not allow the Church to rot and do nothing. The God we love is consumed by zeal when evil is done to the righteous. But don’t make the mistake committed by Elijah who thought that he was the only person that had not forsaken God’s covenant (1 King 19:14), not knowing that God had spared seven thousand in Israel, every knee that had not bent to Baal (19:18)! God will reveal to specially chosen people to cleanse His Church. The advice of the apostle is appropriate. “Supplement your … knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion … For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.” (2 Peter 1:6-11) At the same time, let us do good to silence the ignorance of foolish people. (1 Peter 2:15)
God bless!
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