天主願意甚麼？ What Does God Will?

復活期第四主日，乙年
主題：天主願意甚麼？

我們對於司鐸聖召的短缺，感到不安。但我覺得任何聖召短缺的分析是沒有意義的。我們成立不同的委員會研究原因，不同的工作小組、周年聖召祈禱會甚至展覽會等，試圖改善聖召短缺的情況。倘若我們找到原因，我們藉著天主的助佑，應該已經解決了問題，應該有足夠的司鐸，牧養天主子民。但聖召仍然下降，是不爭的事實。因此，可能聖召下降的原因永遠不能解答，或者知道了原因也是於事無補。
另一方面，營商的管理層經常掛一句說話在嘴邊：「尚有改善空間」。因此，有些教會的管理層也認為，可能我們實行的聖召策略不夠效率，我們應檢討改善云云。明顯地，我們忘記了「尚有改善空間」祇是一句老生常談。為甚麼？因為這種態度並不像天主的行為模式。綜觀歷史，天主從來沒有用「最好」的工具去執行祂的計劃。一如保祿所說：「天主召選了世上卑賤的和受人輕視的，以及那些一無所有的，為消滅那些有的」（格前1:28）。因此，一個有效的策略，不在於它是否完美地設計和執行，而在於是否符合天主的意願。既然原因不可知，策略不可改善，我們便應該把精力放到別處。

首先，我們的思維太功利了。生活在當今世上，我們正享受著經濟繁榮的成果。現代人不知不覺地自動作出成本效益分析，以期達到最大的收獲。例如上升的收入，工時和壽數等。我們喜歡運用數目字，因為它們容易量度。我們不但定出目標和生意額，我們以運用更少的時間超額完成為榮。現代的教會也訂定目標，例如每年領洗的人數，主日彌撒的出席率，正在接受培育的修生數目等。當我們運用數目來思考，而數目未能達到期望時，我們感到不滿，例如，彌撒出席率下降，修生數目減少和神父老化等。

其次，功利主義思想迷信分工和專門化是完成目標的最有效率方法。所以，神父傳道比較好，因為他們接受過訓練。他們的職務是牧民，照顧天主子民的神益，而平信徒沒有超越慕道班的，有份量的神學培育。教會不會期望平信徒能成功地傳教，傳福音是聖職人員的專屬特權。最少，現代的教會不能把龐大的管理機器交在天主的手中。教會太龐大了，經不起失敗。從這個角度看，教會並不跟隨天主的工作模式運作。為甚麼平信徒不能傳福音呢？倘若教廷是由聖職人員為聖職人員而組成，為甚麼平信徒不能另起爐灶，與現代世界分享他們的信仰呢？

相信天主賜給每位信徒獨特的神恩，並透過他們工作救贖世界是一回事，這是神學。但放手讓平信徒一展所長是另一回事，這是審慎。而且，平信徒本身對自己的能力和成就，沒有信心。他們覺得祇要虔誠地相信天主便滿足了。我很懷疑，有沒有一位現代的堂區神父，放心把傳福音的重擔，交託給堂區內的信眾！

在古代，當神父們還不是功利主義者，當堂區不用交數，堂區還沒有專門的導師教慕道班，「上主天天使那些得救的人加入會眾。」（宗2:47）不是聖職人員把天主子民的數目增加，而是天主。當時沒有培育聖職人員的修院，是聖神培育著一個傳福音的團體。當然，教會內的聖職人員，良莠不齊，教會不能對別具用心的人，拒諸門外；但收留他們在教會內，對團體必定構成威脅。教會不能聽天由命而不作出預防措施。不願意失敗實在是很人性的！

把矛頭指向聖職人員，甚至羅馬教廷，對他們實在有欠公平。倘若在聖經時代，天主召選了世上卑賤的和受人輕視的人去拯救世界，難道今天天主不可以召選差勁的，不道德的聖職人員，替祂實現心目中的救贖嗎？或者我們應該用一個天文的，長遠的眼光看待教會，而不是微控她。給我們一個更長的時間參照，耐性地看事態的發展。我覺得當我們把持更多事物在自己手上時，我們把天主的手撥開，阻止祂進入我們的領域，賜給我們極度缺乏的恩寵。

我們的主耶穌基督示範了如何失敗。祂說：「我並且為羊捨掉我的性命。」（若10:15）甚麼是祂的羊？按世俗的標準，祂在十字架上含羞而死，毫無疑問是一個失敗。而且，祂不但為那些註定得救的人，那些公義的人死，並且為那些到死也不悔改的惡人死！為惡人傾流祂的寶血，豈不浪費（12:5）？倘若你運用功利主義思考，耶穌以釘十字架的方法救贖世界，真的缺乏效率。一定有辦法改善，可以達到預期的效果。對不起，天主並不按功利主義工作。天主可以選擇不稱職的，惡毒的聖職人員去執行祂的旨意。所以，我們應該把精力，投放在尋求天主旨意之中。傳福音肯定是天主的旨意。讓我們不要把傳福音，局限在某種特定的形式之中。讓我們看見每個基督徒當下所做的事，都是傳福音，例如祈禱、讀經、與鄰居交談、買餸、做家務和安慰憂苦的人等。我認為大家為司鐸聖召短缺而愁悶，是因為我們從神學培育所學習到的純粹主義和精英主義，阻礙了我們的視線，看不見平信徒的靜默見證。為甚麼司鐸聖召缺乏不可以是一個祝福，一個讓平信徒意識到上主委託給他們的任務，提昇他們傳福音熱忱的機會呢？

各位兄弟姊妹，教區在未來三年的牧民目標是「為傳福音，堂區團體的牧民皈依」。讓我們祈求天主，照亮我們的心目，看到如何邁進。
天主保佑！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：whispersofworth.com

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The Fourth Easter Sunday, Year B
Theme: What Does God Will?

The decline of priestly vocation in the Church is a reality with which we don’t feel comfortable. But I think it is meaningless to do any analysis of the causes of the decline. We have set up various vocation commissions to study the causes and task forces, annual vocation prayer meets and even exhibitions etc. to attempt various initiatives to arrest the decline. Had we known the causes, we would have solved the problem with God’s help. Then we would have had enough priests to serve God’s People. In reality, the decline persists. Therefore, either the causes are unknowable, or it is futile to know the causes.
On the other hand, most business administrators often make this remark, “There is room for improvement.” Thus, some administrators in the Church opine that perhaps the vocation initiatives we implement are not effective enough. We should modify and improve our initiatives etc. Obviously we have forgotten that “There is room for improvement” is nothing but a cliché. Why? It is because that attitude seems not to be God’s operandi modus. Throughout history, God never uses the “best” tools to carry out His plan. Just as what Paul says, “And God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something” (1 Corinthians 1:28) Therefore, what makes any initiative effective is not how best the initiative is designed and implemented. Rather, does God will the initiative? Now that neither the causes are knowable nor the initiatives improvable, we should spend our energy elsewhere instead.

Firstly of all, our mentality is too utilitarian. Living in the world today where we have been enjoying the fruit of economic prosperity, modern men tend to do cost-benefit analysis automatically in order to maximize the gain, namely all sorts of rising figures such as incomes, working hours and life expectancy etc. We tend to think in terms of numbers which can be measured. Not only do we set up targets or quota to meet, we tend to be proud of doing more in less time. The Church in modern time also set up targets, e.g. the number of adults baptized each year, Church attendance on Sundays, the number of seminarians undergoing formation programmes etc. Once we think in terms of numbers, we would feel uncomfortable when numbers do not meet our expectation, e.g. Church attendance is falling, the number of seminarians is reducing and priests are ageing etc.

Secondly, utilitarian mentality is superstitious about the division of labour and believes that specialization is the most efficient way to get things done. Therefore, priests are better in preaching because they were trained to do so. Their ministry is pastoral, looking after the spiritual needs of God’s People, the laity who have not undergone sufficient theological formation beyond catechism. The Church does not expect the laity to be successful in evangelization which has long been the privilege of the clergy. At least, the Church in modern era could not afford to leave her gigantic administrative machine in God’s hand. She is too big to fail. Seen in this light, the Church is not following God’s operandi modus. Why can’t the laity evangelize? If the Roman Curia was set up by the clergy for the clergy, why can’t the laity set up something else to share their faith with the modern world?

It is one thing to believe that individual believers are gifted with unique charisma and God works through them. This is theology. But it is another to give the laity a free hand in doing their best. This is prudence. Moreover, the parishioners themselves do not have faith in their own abilities and achievements. As long as they believe in God and are pious, they are satisfied. Would a parish priest in modern age feel comfortable in entrusting the parishioners with the Herculean task of evangelization? I doubt it.

In ancient time when priests were less utilitarian and where there was no quota to meet and no catechists to run catechumen classes, “And every day, the Lord added to their number those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47) It was not the clergy who increased the population of God’s People. It was God. There were no seminaries for clergy formation. The Holy Spirit was forming the evangelization community. Of course, there were lousy clergy and immoral clergy. The Church could not prevent people from joining her with ulterior motives and keeping them in the Church could pose a threat to the community. Nor could the Church leave the whole matter to God and took no preventive actions. It is all too human for her trying not to fail!

It would be unfair to point the finger exclusively to the clergy in general and the Roman Curia in particular. If in biblical times when God chose the lowly and despised to save the world, would God not choose those lousy and immoral clergy to carry out the redemption He has in mind today? Perhaps we should take an astronomical long shot of the Church instead of micro-managing her. Allow ourselves a longer time-reference, and be more patient in seeing how things unfold. I think when we take more things in our own hands, we brush God’s hand aside, preventing Him from walking into our turf and giving us the grace we desperately need.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has shown us what it meant to fail. He says, “I will lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:15) Which are His sheep? He died shamefully on the cross and was, without any doubt, a failure in secular standard. Moreover, He died not just for those who have been destined to be saved, those righteous but also for the wicked who do not repent even until the end! Wouldn’t it be a waste to shed His Precious Blood for the wicked (12:5)? If you think in utilitarianism, Jesus’ crucifixion was truly not efficient. There must be better ways to improve the intended effectiveness. No. God does not operate in utilitarianism. God chooses to work even with lousy and wicked clergy to carry out His will. Therefore, we should spend our energy in finding God’s will. Evangelization is definitely God’s will. Then, let us not confine evangelization to one specific form. Learn to see evangelization in whatever every Christian is doing at the moment, viz. praying, studying the scriptures, talking with neighbours, going to the grocery, doing house chores and consoling the sorrowful. It is the purism and elitism that we pick up in theological formation that prevent us from seeing the silent witnesses of the laity of the Church and lament the decline of priestly vocation. Why can’t the decline be a blessing, an opportunity for the laity to raise their awareness of and the effort they put into the mission the Lord entrusted them?

Brethren! The Diocese shall be spending the next three years in Pastoral Conversion of the Parish Community for the purpose of evangelization. Let us pray for God’s enlightenment to see what is the best way to proceed ahead.
God bless!

不怕失敗纔能更新 Embrace Failures To Renew

復活期第三主日，乙年
主題：不怕失敗纔能更新

為響應教廷的號召，香港教區在未來三年的牧民方向，是「堂區更新」，即是以傳福音為堂區的首要目標。堂區將要成為一個「團體中的團體」，一個以傳福音為存在目標的團體。堂區內的成員、架構和所有的活動，將要因應個別堂區的特殊環境，彰顯出天主聖三那包容一切的共融。所以更新將會是全面的，包括成員個人的更新，與整個堂區團體的更新，讓四周的人能更容易被福音所吸引，加入天主聖三的共融之中。
香港教區每年都在一月，連續三日舉行「聖職人員學習營」，集思廣益，就來年的牧民方向，達成某程度的共識和調整，然後返回堂區落實。今年因為疫症的影響，押後到四月纔舉行。疫症使以往慣常的禮儀生活，起了不少的適應，例如祇能在網上舉行公開彌撒，教友在一段頗長的時間內，祇能神領聖體而未能實領聖體等。剛好在聖周前恢復了公開彌撒，但為了減少互相感染的風險，政府限制了聖堂的可容納人數，在坐位的三份一之內。為了滿足教友的需要，不少堂區要加開彌撒，以疏導人群！另一方面，可能教友長時間適應了參加網上的彌撒，返回聖堂參加彌撒的人數，並沒有預期的多。究竟是因為人數有限制的緣故，還是參加實體彌撒的意欲降低了，尚未有定論。由此引申，在可見的未來，倘若有甚麼堂區更新的措施，要量度其成果並不是一件容易的事！

今天的答唱詠唸來頗為諷刺，「上主，請祢向我們顯示祢光的儀容。」（詠4:7）福音卻告訴我們，耶穌基督顯現給門徒時，「眾人害怕起來，想是見了鬼神」（路24:37），主耶穌要出盡九年二虎之力，纔能令門徒接受祂復活了的喜訊！也難怪，人始終是「習慣的動物」，要花一段時間，辛辛苦苦地建立起一套習慣，可以是行為上的習慣，或者是思想上的習慣。要改變這些習慣真的不容易。 耶穌基督在公開傳道的最後階段，曾三次透露給門徒知道祂的救世大計，就是受難後復活，目的是徹底地摧毀罪惡和死亡。可惜，「人死不能復生」的觀念，實在牢不可破。雖然舊約曾有厄里亞和厄里叟復活過死人，但這些都是極罕有的個案；雖然耶穌基督的一少撮門徒，也曾經在三個不同的場合，見證過祂復活死人，但不足以保證耶穌基督死後可以復活。正如厄里叟雖然生前曾復活死人，但他死後，並沒有復活一樣！在描述耶穌復活後顯現的故事中，路加不同於馬爾谷，他所記述的耶穌基督，並沒有怪責門徒的無信，而是耶穌基督憐憫門徒的軟弱，想盡辦法幫助他們相信。

首先，耶穌基督復活後保留了祂的五傷，這五個傷痕是獨一無二的，是耶穌基督所獨有的。第一，因為祇有耶穌基督從死裡復活過來，其他人是一去不返的。第二，即使是捱過釘十字架酷刑而沒有死的人，亦祇有四個傷口而不是五個。第五個傷口，即使不是致命的一擊，也是為了保證祂一定是死去的一擊（若19:34）！耶穌基督向門徒展示祂保留的五傷，證明門徒所見的，不是妖魔鬼怪，而是曾被釘在十字架上的耶穌基督！「你們看看我的手，我的腳，分明是我自己」（路24:39a）。
跟著，耶穌基督為了證明祂不是一個天使或者鬼靈般的純粹靈體，是有骨有肉的，便邀請他們觸摸祂（24:39b）。結果門徒仍然是不敢相信（24:41），因為喜出望外，現實完全超出了他們可以接受的程度！我可以用甚麼相比呢？有點兒像粵劇的橋段，一個婢女與另一個認識多年的僕役結婚，後來纔發現這位男僕竟然是流落民間的太子，這個婢女一夜之間成為了皇后吧！
最後，復活了的主在門徒前吃了一片烤魚，證明了復活後的祂，並沒有放棄人性，仍願意與一眾罪人，甘苦與共。甘，因為祂已戰勝了死亡，祂願意與我們分享這份復活的光榮。苦，因為人間仍然存在著很多尚未清理的罪惡所帶來的罪苦，很多人仍然生活在不公義的制度下，仍然捱受著結構性罪惡的奴役。復活了的耶穌基督願意不離不棄，擔起全人類的苦況！

所以，堂區的更新，堂區教友的更新，有如門徒們所接受的挑戰。就是打破舊有的因循思維，向天主開放。天主經常使我們喜出望外，賜給我們不敢想像的恩寵和喜樂。保祿說得好：「天主為愛祂的人所準備的，是眼所未見，耳所未聞，人心所未想到的。」（格前2:9；依64:3）當基督徒相信復活是理所當然的時候，容易忘記了初期教會接受死後復活，原來可以是十分困難的。倘若是容易接受，人就不會怕痛苦，怕失敗了。這也是在「聖職人員學習營」中提出的其中一個重點！有誰願意擁抱痛苦，擁抱失敗呢？更新的人，更新的堂區要有這種心理質素！
保祿說得好：「如今我在為你們受苦，反覺高興，因為這樣我可在我的肉身上，為基督的身體─教會，補充基督苦難所欠缺的。」（哥1:24）祇有不怕痛苦，不怕失敗，纔可以更新，纔可以傳福音！至於我們，我們「因祂的名向萬邦宣講悔改，以得罪之赦。你們就是這些事的見證人。」（路24:47-48）。一如保祿所說，我們就是「代基督作大使了，好像是天主藉著我們來勸勉世人…與天主和好罷」（格後5:20）

主內的兄弟姊妹！我們願意成為修和大使嗎？願意幫助世界與天主修和嗎？那麼，我們要不怕苦，不怕失敗，更新自己，承擔福傳的使命！
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：freebibleimages.org

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Third Easter Sunday, Year B
Theme: Embrace Failures To Renew

In response to the instruction of the Roman Curia, Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong makes “Pastoral Conversion of the Parish Community” the focus of diocesan actions in the coming three years. That is to say, evangelization shall be the primary aim of all parishes. A parish shall be “a community among communities”, a community whose raison d'être shall be evangelization. All the members, structures and activities shall manifest the all-inclusive communion of the Blessed Trinity according to the particular circumstances parishes find themselves in. This conversion shall be total, including personal conversion of all members and the whole community so as to make the gospel more attractive to all the people around and help them join the communion of the Blessed Trinity.

Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong holds a three-day Clergy Study Camp usually in January to pool all the brains together to come up with some sorts of consensus and adjustments for pastoral care to be implemented in the parishes in the coming year. This year, the study camp was postponed to April because of the pandemic which has disrupted the routine liturgical life of the faithful. For example, masses could only be publicly celebrated online. For a rather long time, the faithful could only receive the Holy Communion spiritually. Just before the Holy Week, public masses would be publicly celebrated but in order to reduce the risk of infection, the government limits the seating capacity to 30%. In order to meet the spiritual needs of the faithful, many parishes celebrate extra masses in order to thin out the congestion! On the other hand, probably the faithful have got used to attending online masses, physical church attendance is found to be less than expected! So far, we can’t tell whether it is because of the limitation of seating capacity or that the desire to physically join mass has decreased. Interpolating from here, in the foreseeable future, it is not easy to measure how effective the implementation of pastoral conversion of the parish communities shall be!

The Responsorial Psalm we read today was a bit paradoxical, “Lord, show us the light of your face!” (Psalm 4:7) But the gospel tells us that when Jesus Christ appeared to the disciples, “But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.” (Luke 24:37) Lord Jesus worked hard to help them accept the joy of resurrection! Well, what else could we do? After all, men are “animals of habits”. They spend a lot time to develop a set of habits, be they habits of operations or habits of thoughts. It’s not easy to modify these habits. During the last days of the public ministry of Jesus Christ, He revealed to the disciples the action plan of salvation, viz. to die and then come back to life in order to conquer sins and death. Unfortunately, that nobody is able to come back to life after death is casted hard in people’s mind. Even though Elijah and Elisha had raised some dead people, those cases were rare. Although Jesus Christ had raised the dead in three different occasions in the presence of a small group of disciples, that did not guarantee that Jesus would come back to life after death, just as Elisha did not come back to life despite the fact that he had raised the dead! The apparition narratives of Luke are less harsh than those of Mark. Jesus did not blame the disciples for their disbelief. Instead Jesus Christ shows mercy towards the weaknesses of the disciples, helping them believe by all means.

First of all, Jesus Christ keeps His stigmata after resurrection. These stigmata were unique. They belong to Jesus Christ only. Only Jesus Christ has come back to life. The others are gone for good. Even if people survived crucifixion, they only had 4 wounds and not five. Even though the fifth wound might not be mortal, it made sure that Jesus had to die (John 19:34)! Jesus Christ showed the disciples the stigmata He kept to convince them that they were not seeing a ghost but the Jesus Christ who had been crucified! “Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself” (Luke 24:39a) Then, in order to prove that He is not an angel-like spirit or ghost, that He had flesh and bone, Jesus Christ invited them to touch Him (24:39b). The disciples “were still incredulous for joy and were amazed” (24:41) because it was too good to be true! It went beyond their expectations! What can I compare their reaction with? It was like a Cantonese opera in which a handmaid married a man servant whom she had known for many years. It turned out that the man servant was a prince in exile for many years. Now, he ascended the throne and she became a queen overnight! Too good to be true!
Lastly, the risen Lord ate a piece of baked fish in front of them to show them that He has not forsaken His humanity after resurrection. He’s still willing to rejoice and suffer with all sinners. Rejoice because He has defeated death and is will to share the glory of resurrection with us. Suffer because there are still a lot of sufferings brought about by sins which have not yet been wiped out completely. Many people are still living in unrighteous institutions, still living in the bondage of structural sins. The risen Jesus Christ is willing to embrace the painful situations of all humanity!

Therefore, renewal of the parish and the parishioners is as challenging as that encounter of the disciples. It is to break away from complacent mind sets and open up to God who is always a God of surprises. He is delighted to give us grace and joy which we dare not to imagine. Paul says well, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9, Isaiah 54:3) When Christians have taken resurrection for granted, they will easily forget how difficult it was for the early Church to accept resurrection after death. Had it been easy to accept, men would not have feared pains and failures. That was also one of the key points brought up in the Clergy Study Camp! Who is willing to embrace pains and failures? Parishes and parishioners who want to renew must possess this psychological characteristic!
Paul says well, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His body, which is the Church” (Colossians 1:24) Only when we are not afraid of pains and failures can we evangelize! “That repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in His name to all the nations …You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:47-48) Yes, we are witnesses of these things. In Paul’s word, “We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing though us … be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Brethren! Are we willing to be ambassadors of reconciliation? Are we willing to help the world reconcile to God? Then, don’t be afraid of pains and failures. Renew ourselves to take up the mission of evangelization.
God bless!

道不可離 We Can’t Depart From the Way

道不可離（若6:16-21）

人的確非常軟弱，叫天主怎能安心哩！且看，門徒們剛見證完五餅二魚神蹟；吃飽了，有氣力在翻騰的海上，划過五千米的路程，卻不能認出步行海面上的主，竟然害怕起來（若6:19）！倘若五餅二魚神蹟，是最後晚餐的演習，那麼，山園祈禱的場面，不用想像也知道不容樂觀了！

天主子就是聖言，「萬物是藉著祂而造成」（1:3），是倚賴祂而存在（哥1:17）。新教把這聖言翻譯成「道」，不無道理。所謂「道也者，不可須臾離也；可離，非道也。」（中庸），與哥羅森書的教訓吻合。

在施行五餅二魚神蹟後，耶穌基督為了避開群眾，便放下門徒一會兒，「獨自又退避到山裡去了」（若6:15）沒有想到門徒是如此不堪一擊。也難怪，離開了真理，心靈被枷鎖封閉，失去了自由，還可以做甚麼呢？

這事蹟告訴我們一個事實，群眾在五餅二魚神蹟中吃的餅，即使是耶穌基督拿起、祝謝、擘開，始終不是聖體聖事，不是耶穌基督的身體！因此，即使門徒們在海上如何努力，但在心中沒有主相伴，費盡氣力都祇會是徒勞無功！耶穌基督被捕後，受難後，在復活前，主基督藉著聖體聖事，支撐著驚弓之鳥一樣的門徒，直到祂復活！這三天，比海上的五千米，不知難捱多少倍！都捱過了！這是聖體聖事的效力、威力。

在這疫情期間，沒有公開彌撒的歲月，沒有實領聖體的日子，實在不好受。但我們深信天主子耶穌基督是真道、是真理、是真生命。祂總不會離開我們。捨棄我們的，就不是道，不是主耶穌基督了。
天父啊！感謝祢的慈悲，真理不再是抽象的原則，而是有血有肉，不離不棄的天主子。我們是多麼幸福。請繼續派遣，強化我們的腳步，走遍天涯海角，為主作見證。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：newswithnaylors.blogspot.com

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We Can’t Depart From the Way（John 6:16-21）

Men are truly fragile. How could God not worry? Look, after witnessing the miracle of 5 loaves and 2 fish, the disciples had had their full and strength to row more than 5 Km over rough waters, but were unable to recognize the Lord walking on the water and began to be afraid (John 6:19)! If the miracle of 5 loaves and 2 fish was a rehearsal for the Last Supper, the expected outcomes in the Agony in the Garden would not be optimistic!

The Son of God is the Word of God, “All things came to be through Him” (1:3) “And in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17) Protestant bibles render “the Word” “the Way” and this translation is reasonable. Chinese classics says similar things “One cannot depart from the Way for a moment. If you can, it is not the Way.” (The Golden Mean) It agrees with the teachings in Colossians.

After performing the 5 loaves and 2 fish miracle, in order to evade the crowd, Jesus left the disciples behind for a while, “withdrew again to the mountain alone.” (John 6:15) The disciples were unexpectedly fragile at that moment. Perhaps it was because they had departed from the Truth, their hearts were locked and they had lost their autonomy. What else could they do?

` This incident tells us a piece of truth. Even though Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and distributed to the crowd to consume, the loaves in that miracle were not the body of Christ! Thus, no matter how hard the disciples laboured over the seas, their efforts were futile because the Lord had not accompanied them in their hearts! After Jesus Christ had been arrested, had suffered the passion and before He came back to life, He was able to support the caged disciples through the Holy Eucharist until His Resurrection! These three days were much harder than the 5 Km on sea! So be it! This is the power of the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

Life was hard during this pandemic when there was no public masses and no holy communion. But we firmly believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the Way and the Truth and the Life. He shall never abandon us. Deserting us, He would not be the Logos, not Lord Jesus Christ.
Father! Thank you for Your mercy. The Truth is no longer abstract principles but the Son of God who takes up our flesh and shall never abandon us. How blessed we are! Send us forth. Strengthen our legs to trot the globe and bear witness for the Lord. Amen.

五餅二魚是解放 The Liberation By Five Loaves & Two Fish

五餅二魚是解放（若6:1-15）

人的心被各式各樣的「結」封鎖著，例如情意結、執著、偏見和常識等等。可幸，耶穌基督是一個偉大的鎖匠，我們的得救是有希望的！

斐理伯憑常識，知道二百塊「德納」的餅，不足以讓在場的每一個人分得一小塊（若6:7）。實際上，門徒們未必攜帶著二百塊「德納」；即使有，山上及四周的村落，何來餅店，可以焙焗足以供應五千人食用的麵包呢？但為認識天主的慈悲，這一次，「常識」是一個鎖。

安德肋實事求是，找到一個兒童帶來的五餅二魚。姑勿論為甚麼這兒童帶著五餅二魚來跟隨耶穌，這兒童證明了四周村落能提供的食物，是有限的。為認識天主的慈悲，這一次，「實事求是」是一個鎖。

有些學者，為了迎合現代人的科學頭腦，刻意淡化聖經中的神蹟，包括耶穌基督為了顯示天主的臨在和天父的慈悲所行的神蹟，學者們祇強調當中的倫理意義。他們傾向認為是兒童無私地奉獻了五餅二魚，感動了在場的五千群眾。於是眾人都拿出自己帶來的食物云云。為認識天主的慈悲，這些迎合世人口味的心態，孔子所謂的「鄉愿」，是一個鎖。

「逾越節臨近了」（6:4），是慶祝解放的時候。大家可曾想過逾越節與五餅二魚神蹟，有甚麼關係呢？對觀福音的描述，讓我們聯想到五餅二魚的神蹟，是耶穌基督與五千群眾一起吃「最後晚餐」。耶穌基督那些「拿起」、「祝謝」和「分開」的動作，就是記號；厄瑪烏的兩個門徒，亦憑著這些記號，認出耶穌（路24:30-31）。所以這樣解讀五餅二魚神蹟沒有不對，但缺乏了解放的元素。

若望特別提及逾越節，並記載了斐理伯和安德肋心中常識的鎖和實事求是的鎖。耶穌基督以五餅二魚神蹟，解開了他們心中的鎖，讓他們認識天父的慈悲。未知學者們心中的鎖，甚麼時候得以解開呢？
天父啊！賀三納，請快來解放我們。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：freebibleimages.org

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The Liberation By Five Loaves & Two Fish (John 6:1-15)

Human hearts are sieged by all kinds of locks, such as complexes, obsessions, prejudices and common senses etc. Luckily, Jesus Christ is a great locksmith. Our salvation is hopeful!

With common sense, Philip knew that “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little bit.” (John 6:7) In fact, the disciples might not even possess two hundred days’ wages in their purses. Even if they had, where came the bakeries in the surrounding villages to supply enough bread for the 5000 people? But in order to know God’s mercy, this time “common sense” was a lock.

Andrew was more pragmatic. He found five loaves and two fish from a boy. Never mind why the boy brought along five loaves and two fish to follow Jesus. This boy proved the limited supply capacity of the surrounding villages. In order to know God’s mercy, this time being pragmatic is a lock.

Some scholars who want to please the scientific mentality of modern people deliberately water-down miracles in the Bible, including this miracle which shows the presence of God and the mercy of the Father. These scholars stress more on the morals of the event. They opine that the altruism of the boy so touched the 5000 people that they were willing to share what they had brought along etc. In order to know God’s mercy, pleasing the crowd is a lock.

“The Jewish feast of Passover was near.” (6:4) It was time to celebrate liberation. Have you ever thought about what Passover had to do with the miracle of five loaves and two fish? From the narration of the Synoptic gospels, we have the impression that the miracle was a “Last Supper” Jesus ate with the 5000. Jesus’ actions of “taking the loaves”, “giving thanks” and “distributing” were signs with which the two disciples on the way to Emmaus recognized Jesus (Luke 24:30-31). To interpret the miracle in this perspective is not wrong but it lacks the liberation element.

John mentions the Passover in particular and tells of the common sense lock of Philip and the pragmatism lock of Andrew. With the miracle of five loaves and two fish, Jesus Christ unlocks these locks in their hearts and allows them to see the Father’s mercy. I wonder when the locks in those scholars would be unlocked.
Father! Hosanna. Come to liberate us. Amen.

天主無鎖不解 God Unlocks

天主無鎖不解（若3:31-36）

這段經文是若望對天主子耶穌基督公開宣講的反省。基督是天主的聖言，在創造之前已經存在（若1:1）。祂由上而來，超越一切（3:31）；祂憑天父無限量所賞賜的聖神，講論天主的話（3:34）。那些信從子的，便有永生（3:36）…等等。這些反省，好像在講論天主子一人，殊不知天主的慈悲，是如何超越人的想像！

我們信從耶穌基督，領受洗禮，加入教會，成為基督奧體的肢體。我們同時分擔了基督的君王、先知和司祭職務，接受了天父的派遣，為真理作證，為拓展天國而出力。天父既然派遣我們，自然會兌現祂的諾言，「把聖神無限量的賞賜」我們（3:34）。既然是無限量的，取之不盡的，我們就不愁沒有能力、資源和時間，去為天父做事了。我們既然有份參加這項工程，天父必定會調配部份資源，提昇我們的能力。所以，我們將會是第一個受益人！且看，即使修院中的修生，不一定百份百晉鐸。但肯定那些沒有晉鐸的修生，也能在其他崗位，為建設教會作出貢獻！所以，那些以種種理由，推搪天主的召叫，拒絕加入教會或者回應獻身生活聖召的人，他們放棄了把自己圓滿地發展的機會，實在可惜！他們的心結，障礙了他們的充分發揮！

老子說得好：「善閉無關楗而不可開，善結無繩約而不可解。是以聖人常善救人，故無棄人。」（道德經．巧用）天主不會放棄任何一個罪人，而祂絕對有能力解開任何的鎖；但祂更喜歡藉著我們的彼此關懷，以聖神的愛，解開我們所接觸到的人，心中的鎖，心中的結。耶穌基督何止是翻譯員，祂更是一位偉大的，無結不解的拆鎖專家！
天父啊！請派遣聖神，拆開我們心中大大小小的鎖，讓我們可以自由地為別人解結。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：alcatrazlock.com

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God Unlocks (John 3:31-36)

This passage is John’s reflection on the public ministry of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Christ is the Word of God who exists before the Creation (John 1:1). He comes from above and is above all (3:31). With the gift of the Spirit which the Father does not ration, the Son speaks the words of God (3:34) and “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (3:36) … etc. These reflections seem to apply to the Son of God alone but how God’s mercy surpasses human imagination!

We believe in Jesus Christ, have received baptism, joining the Church to become members of the Mystical Body of Christ. At the same time, we partake in Christ’s ministries as kings, prophets and priests. We receive the Father’s commission to bear witness to the truth and put our efforts in extending the Kingdom of Heaven. Since the Father has sent us, He has to honour His pledge not to ration His gift of the Spirit to us (3:34). As the Father does not ration, the gift would be inexhaustible. We don’t have to worry about any lack of strength, resources and time to do the Father’s will. As we participate in this project, the Father must allocate part of the resources to enhance our capabilities. Thus, we shall be the first to benefit! Look, even though not all seminarians would be ordained, definitely they are able to help build the Church in their different stations of life! Thus, it is pitiful that people make use of different excuses to decline God’s invitation to join the Church or to lead a consecrated life, forsaking the opportunities to fully develop themselves! The knots in their hearts become obstacles to their full development!

Laozi says well, “A good lock uses no bolts, yet it can’t be opened. A good knot uses no rope, yet it can’t be untied. Hence, a saint is always good at saving people and rejecting no one.” (Tao Te Ching, XXVII) God does not abandon any sinners and is absolutely capable of opening any lock. But He prefers our loving each other with the Holy Spirit’s love to untie the knots and to resolve the complexes in the people we come into contact with to doing it Himself. Jesus Christ is more than an interpreter. He is a great locksmith!
Father! Send the Holy Spirit to unlock all sorts of locks in our hearts so that we may freely untie the knots in others. Amen.

黑暗中的慈悲 Mercy In The Dark

黑暗中的慈悲（若3:16-21）

在弱肉強食的世界裡，為了保命，弱小的生物會用各種方法把自己隱藏起來。例如，牠們會使用保護色，使自己與四周環境融為一體，獵食者難於察覺牠們的存在；倘若牠們沒有變色的本領，就發展牠們的奔跑能力，又或者選擇在黑夜活動。因此，憎惡光明的，不一定是作惡（若3:20），可以是為了生存的手段！從這個角度思考，作惡者也會喜愛光明，因為光明可以把他們的獵物暴露出來，方便他們下手！世事真的不是非黑即白！

想當日伯多祿愛主情深，但他不自量力，勉強跟著被捕的耶穌基督進入大司祭府。在強弱懸殊之下，不幸曝光了。為了保命，他三次否認耶穌基督…伯多祿作惡嗎？軟弱是罪惡嗎？在「真福八端」中，耶穌基督不是教訓我們要哀慟和溫良（瑪5:4-5）嗎？

另一方面，為了避開群眾的公憤（26:5），公議會暗中收買猶達斯出賣耶穌；在審問耶穌時，找些同流合污的人做假見證；表面上羅馬總督是統治者，暗地裡公議會向他施以政治壓力（若19:12），借刀殺人；最後，安排兵士看守墓穴，然後賄賂他們說門徒偷走了耶穌的遺體（瑪28:12-15）…唉！弱勢的人可以光明磊落，為甚麼有權有勢的人，反而要在黑暗中作惡呢？他們的生命受到威脅嗎？

讓我們默想聖詠作者的心意吧，他說:「但黑暗對祢並不矇矓，黑夜與白晝一樣光明，黑暗對於祢無異光明。」（詠139:12）天父憐愛曝光了的伯多祿，讓他哀慟痛哭，後來成為教會的首牧，耶穌基督兌現了祂的許諾（瑪16:18）。我深信天父的慈悲，同樣會憐愛在黑暗中的罪人。
天父啊！當我們身陷黑暗時，請不要捨棄我們（詠22:2）。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：clipartart.com

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Mercy In The Dark (John 3:16-21)

In order to survive in a world run according to rules of the jungle, weaker species try to hide themselves out of sight by all means. For example, they may employ camouflage to blend themselves into the surrounding environment so that predators have difficulties in spotting them. If they are not able to change colours, they may develop their sprinting skills or even turn themselves into nocturnal. Thus hating the light does not necessarily mean they are doing wicked things (John 3:20). It may be a survival imperative. From this perspective, the wicked may welcome the light because their preys would be exposed for them to kill! Truly, things are not as simple as black and white!

Remember Peter who loved the Lord so much that he imprudently followed Jesus Christ, now a prisoner, into the house of the High Priest. He was spotted and overwhelmed. In order to survive, Peter denied Jesus Christ three times … Was Peter doing wicked things? Is being fragile evil? Doesn’t Jesus Christ teach us to be mournful and meek in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:4-7)?

On the other hand, in order to avoid stirring up a riot among the people (26:5), the Sanhedrin recruited Judas to betray Jesus. During the interrogation, their accomplices cooked up false evidences. Superficially, the Roman Procurator was in control. But under the table, the Sanhedrin applied political pressure (John 19:12) to make him do the dirty job of eliminating Jesus. Lastly, they arranged soldiers to guard the tomb and bribed them to spread rumour that the disciples had stolen Jesus’ corpse (Matthew 28:12-15) … Alas! How the underdogs walk tall and the powerful do wicked things in the shadow! Were their lives under threat?

Let us meditate the Psalmist’s words, “Darkness is not dark for you, and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one.” (Psalm 139:12) The Father had mercy on the exposed Peter and allowed him to mourn and subsequently became the Pontifex Maximus of the Church, thus fulfilling Jesus Christ’s pledge for him (Matthew 16:18). I firmly believe the Father’s mercy will embrace sinners in darkness.
Father! Forsake us not (Psalm 22:2) when we are in the dark. Amen.

天父信任我們罪人 The Father Trusts Us Sinners

天父信任我們罪人（若3:7b-15）

《若望福音》的訊息，並不容易理解。有人認為它所記載耶穌基督的說話，好像在不同層次之間來回跳躍著，很難觸摸。的確，耶穌基督真的好像一個翻譯者，努力把天父的旨意，用人間的語言翻譯給我們…祂不就是那個「自天降下而仍在天上的人子」（若3:13）嗎？所以，請體諒耶穌基督的困難，因為我們缺乏了，甚至是喪失了，很多屬神的思想。而祂正努力幫助我們重拾那些失落了的原始恩寵，重新做一個「屬神」的人。

的確，聖經記載了天主的啟示，可惜當中不少章節的意義，都被我們扭曲了！有人說舊約的天主不是真正的天主，因為這個神大開殺戒，濫殺無辜，不是耶穌基督所啟示的慈悲天父！那麼，耶穌基督沒有立刻去醫治拉匝祿，讓他死去四天纔復活他，見死不救，還算是朋友嗎？算是慈悲的表現嗎？是的，倘若醫生與病人之間，未能建立到一個互相信任的關係，病人會拒絕治療。那時，即使是神醫，亦英雄無用武之地了！

我們對天主有多信任呢？仰望銅蛇就得以痊癒（戶21:9），不是巫術是甚麼？既然是慈悲，當初為甚麼要派火蛇咬傷以色列人呢？耶穌基督真是復活了，還是祂的門徒偷走了屍體呢？的確，倘若我們不信任天父的慈愛，任何天父的行為，都可以向負面方向想。

大家可否想過，天父如何信任我們罪人呢？祂原本可以派遣自己的獨生子降生成天使，以無堅不摧的威力，執行祂的旨意。但祂卻派遣聖子降生成人，以痛苦屈辱的方法，來完成救贖人類的事業。天父對罪人的信任，真的不是筆墨所能描述！

各位！我們相信這位翻譯者，這位「自天降下而仍在天上」的人子嗎？
天父啊！求祢賜下聖神，溫暖我們的心，讓它還原成血肉，有能力享受祢的慈愛。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：seedsoffaith.cph.org

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The Father Trusts Us Sinners (John 3:7b-15)

The messages in the gospel of John are difficult to understand. Some people think that Jesus’ messages seem to be vibrating among different levels and thus are difficult to catch their meanings. Indeed, Jesus Christ seems to be a simultaneous interpreter trying His best to translate the Father’s will in human language for us … Isn’t He “that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven” (John 3:13, KJV)? We need to understand the difficulties Jesus Christ is facing because we lack and even have lost many spiritual ways of thinking and He is working hard to help us pick up these lost original graces so as to become a spiritual person.

Indeed, God’s revelations are found in the Bible. Regrettably we have twisted many of their meanings! Some claim that the God in the Old Testament who seemed to enjoy killing sprees is not the merciful Father revealed by Jesus Christ! Then wasn’t Jesus merciful when He deliberately did not go to heal Lazarus who was supposed to be His good friend? In fact, if a physician and his patients fail to build up a trustful relationship, his patients would refuse treatment. Then even miracle healers are not able to heal!

How much do we believe in God? If “looking at a bronze serpent and recovered” (Numbers 21:9) isn’t magic, then what is? Had God been merciful, why had He sent serpents to bite the people in the first place? Did Jesus Christ really come back to life, or had His disciples stolen His body? Indeed, if we don’t trust the Father’s mercy, we would think of everything He does along negative lines.

Have you ever thought how much the Father trusts us sinners? He would have sent His only begotten Son to incarnate to be an angel to execute His wills in a powerful manner. Instead, He sent His Son to take up human flesh and died a shameful death to accomplish the redemption of humanity. His mercy to humanity is indescribable!

Brethren! Do we believe in this interpreter who has come down from heaven?
Father! Grant us the Holy Spirit to warm our hearts, restore them into flesh and blood so that we are able to enjoy Your mercy. Amen.

領洗不祇是重新做人 Baptism is More Than Turning A New Leaf

領洗不祇是重新做人（若3:1-8）

天父為了罪人的得救，便派遣天主子把「道路、真理和生命」（若14:6）啟示給我們，讓我們掌握回歸父家的途徑。天主子謙抑自下，取了奴僕的形體（斐2:7），遷就我們，為的是展示天父的慈悲，讓更多人得救。但始終人性是有限的，我們不一定能領受祂的好意。所以有些人會反對耶穌基督，有些人會誤會祂的教訓。

尼苛德摩是法利塞人，是個有學問的猶太人。他見識過耶穌基督所行的神跡，便得到一個初步的結論:「我們知道你是由天主而來的師傅」（若3:2）。與其他猶太人相比，尼苛德摩是先進的，但不足夠。因為在他心目中，耶穌基督祇不過是一眾「辣彼」中的一個。但他主動來見耶穌，表示他渴求真理，真是孺子可教！所以，耶穌基督借用他的學問，引導他思考更高層次的真理。

於是耶穌基督便語出雙關地說:「人除非由上而生…」（3:3）。在福音中，這個「由上」曾用於耶穌對比拉多說「若不是由上賜給你…」（19:11）；祂的長衣是由上到下渾然織成（19:23）；祂斷氣時，「聖所裡的帳幔，從上到下，分裂為二」（谷15:38）等等。可見耶穌基督所說的「由上」，是與祂的受難息息相關。

另一方面，這個「由上」亦可以解作「再次」的意思。於是，在「由上而生」與「重生」兩個意義之間，尼苛德摩選擇了容易理解的「重生」。耶穌糾正他的時候，進一步啟示了「水和聖神」這個「由上而生」的「聖洗聖事」不可或缺的元素。不是嗎？即使我們也很容易誤會，認為洗禮祇不過是一個「重新做人」的儀式！真是大錯特錯！

錯在哪裡？在耶穌基督的心目中（10:39）和在保祿的教訓中，「聖洗聖事」何止是重新做人那麼簡單，而是歸於耶穌基督的死亡（羅6:3）！我們與基督同死，便有希望憑藉所領受的聖神復活！復活何止是重生，而是成了「屬神」的人（若3:6）。試問沒有經過受難的淨化，受罪惡污染了的人性，如何進入神聖的領域呢？
天父啊！請派遣聖神，更新我們的思、言和行為，使我們堪受永生的恩賜。亞孟。

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia

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Baptism is More Than Turning A New Leaf (John 3:1-8)

For the salvation of sinners, the Father sent the Son to reveal to us “The way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6), help us know the way home. The Son of God emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave (Philippians 2:7). He condescended to manifest the Father’s mercy so as to save more people. But after all, our humanity is finite and we may not appreciate His good intention. Thus, some opposed Jesus Christ while other misunderstood His teachings.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a learned Jew. He saw Jesus’ miracles and drew a preliminary conclusion, “We know that you are a teacher who has come from God” (John 3:2) Compared with other Jews, Nicodemus was progressive but not sufficient. In his mind, Jesus Christ was only one of the many Rabbis. But he managed to come to Jesus, showing his desire to know more about the truth! Thus, Jesus Christ made use of his knowledge to help him explore the truth on a higher level. Jesus spoke in double entendre, saying “No one can see the Kingdom of God without being born from above” (3:3) This “from above” is used in various places in the gospels. For example, Jesus told Pilate, “If it had not been given to you from above” (19:11); His tunic was woven in one piece from the top down (19:23) and the veil of the sanctuary was torn from top to bottom (Mark 19:38). We see that this “from above” is closely related with Jesus’ Passion.

On the other hand, this “from above” can be understood as “again”. Between “from above” and “again”, Nicodemus chose an easily understood “born again”. When Jesus rectifies his understanding, He reveals further “water and the Holy Spirit”, the two indispensable elements in this Sacrament of Baptism from above. Even we make the mistake easily in thinking that baptism is nothing but a ritual for a person to turn a new leaf in life! How wrong it is!

In Jesus’ mind (10:39) and the teachings of Paul, baptism is not simply turning a new leaf in life. Baptism is baptized into Jesus’ death (Romans 6:3)! When we die with Christ, we have the hope to come back to life through the Holy Spirit we receive! Resurrection is more than born again. We become spiritual (John 3:6). Had we not gone through the purgation of Passion, how can our sin-tainted humanity enter the spiritual realm?
Father! Send the Holy Spirit to renew our thoughts, words and deeds so that we may be worthy of eternal life. Amen.

Meditate God’s Mercy in the Stigmata 默想五傷所展現的慈悲

Sunday of Divine Mercy, Year B
Theme: Meditate God’s Mercy in the Stigmata

To be candid, I enjoy Sci-Fi movies a lot, e.g. Spiderman, Superman, Transformers, E.T., Godziller, Aliens and Avengers etc. Not only do I enjoy the special effects which makes the genre entertaining, but I also enjoy the religious messages conveyed in the story lines and images. I often make use of them in my religious classes, hoping to open up my students’ eyes to find God in everything.
Recently, I watched again a TV series called “HEROES” which was aired in 2006. It talks about a group of people who have special abilities: one was able to fly, another to read mind, yet another to become invisible, to paint the future and to bend the space-time continuum etc. The series was inclusive in that actors of different ethnic backgrounds play different heroes. One of the heroes makes me meditate during this Easter season. Let me share what I learnt from her.

Yes, the hero was a beautiful teenager girl called Claire who is able to self-regenerate herself, meaning she is able heal herself of any cuts and wounds, even mortal wounds! She was able to enter a fire scene to pull out a fireman trapped inside, herself unharmed without using any protective gears. Isn’t it wonderful? Not necessarily. In one episode, she was attacked and killed by an abuser who dumped her body in the river. She regenerated and came back to life, leaving no wounds and no evidence of being attacked! She could not bring the attacker to justice. After learning that she was not the only victim, Claire was furious and took justice into her hand. She lured the abuser into a sport car, deliberately crashed the car in high speed, wounding both of them. Of course, Claire regenerated and the attacker, even if he ever recovered, would be paralyzed for the rest of his life. Fully recovered and seeing the miseries of the attacker lying immobile next to her, Claire realized that she had abused her own special power. Now she understood better what it meant to be special and forgave the attacker. I said earlier that Claire made me meditate during this Easter season. Not only because Claire leaves no wounds on her body but also because she forgives. What about Jesus Christ?

Stigmata, the five wounds the risen Lord retain on His body are always fascinating to me. Are these wounds still painful after resurrection? No matter whether they are still painful or not, the question remains why the risen Lord keeps these wounds. To be sure, they are signs and signs convey messages. What messages does the Lord want to convey to us through these wounds?

First of all, these wounds confirm that the Son of God is truly divine and truly human. Throughout history, there have been heretics who doubt the human nature of Jesus Christ. These heretics are very pious. They firmly believe that Jesus Christ is God, but at the expense of the humanity of Jesus Christ. For them, the passion, the crucifixion and the death of Jesus Christ are only appearances. God does not die. If He dies, He is not qualified to be God! These heretics sound reasonable enough but they are wrong. God is omnipotent. With God, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). Why can’t He die? Death is nothing to Him. Jesus says, “I have the power to lay it (my life) down, and power to take it up again” (John 10:18) Of course Jesus has the power to regenerate and leave no wounds behind. But Claire’s story shows that it’s a bad idea. Why? Let us think about a basic question. What do these wounds show? The justice and superiority of the Roman legal system? No. It was political compromise! The piety of Jewish Council to preserve the purity of their faith and to stamp out heretics? No. It was jealousy. The dignity and glory of Jews to fight for independence? No. It was herd mentality. Rather, these wounds were the combined consequences of the sinfulness of these parties. The wounds show the brutality of human frailty and sinfulness.

When Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, Judas complained about the waste. Jesus told all the people present that “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me” (12:8) Poverty is an evil. It is the result of human greed. Nowadays human greed has evolved into a structural sin. We have contractors making use of the laws to exploit defenceless workers. Jesus understands well. He keeps the wounds to remind us of not just the brutality of sins but also the longevity of sins. I suppose these wounds would disappear only when all the sins on earth are totally wiped out. Does it mean these wounds would disappear after the Last Judgment? Perhaps not. Why not?

It is because these wounds also convey the Divine Mercy of God towards sinners. If these wounds are signs of God’s divine mercy, they would never vanish because God’s mercy will endure forever. In previous generations, the Church advocated the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Do you remember those images in which Jesus’ pierced heart is surround by a crown of thorns? It shows the love of Jesus towards all sinners. The Church encouraged the faithful to do reparation for the sins committed by the world against the love of Jesus and set up a Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost, a Friday. Nowadays, we celebrate the Sunday of Divine Mercy. To a certain extent, it is similar to the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This celebration on Sunday instead of Friday suits modern urban people more. The focus is a slightly greater emphasis on God’s mercy instead of reparation which emphasizes more God’s justice.

Nowadays, we have a better understanding of the relation between God’s mercy and God’s justice. They are not contradictory. Mercy is not a sign of weakness. Instead, mercy is more powerful than brute strength. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches us to be meek, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the land” (Matthew 5:5) Don’t the powerful inherit the land? This is common sense but common sense can be wrong. Jesus has always been meek and He has conquered the world. Jesus demonstrates the power of meekness. With meekness, you are able to build up people. Being merciful and forgiving your enemies is the most effective way to win a rival and to truly defeat your enemy. Remember Claire’s story? She learnt that being more powerful, she has the responsibility to be more merciful, instead of abusing her power to punish in the name of justice! God is almighty and therefore His divine mercy is infinite. Through the prophets, He says, “Do I find pleasure in the death of the wicked? Do I not rejoice when they turn from their evil way and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23)

In the second reading today, John confidently claims that we “who believe that Jesus is the Son of God are victors over the world” (1 John 5:5). Then how do we conquer the world? In the gospel, Jesus gave his disciples the Holy Spirit and sent them out to be merciful, to forgive the world (John 20:22-23). With mercy, we conquer the world. With mercy, we forgive and give the abusers another chance. With mercy, we allow people to repent and turn to the better. We build up better people and a better world. This is how we conquer the world with mercy.
Thomas is a good example. He was realistic and demanding in his faith. Perhaps he took his faith far more seriously than the other apostles. Jesus shows His mercy to Thomas. Jesus did not scold Thomas for his unbelief. Instead, Jesus invited Thomas to touch His wounds and to hide himself inside His wounds! How blessed Thomas was!

Brethren! Perhaps you don’t have the ambition to conquer the world because you don’t have Claire’s super power. But at least, all of us should work to improve our living environment. It is not enough to have clean air and water. We need a more uplifting world so that we may fully actualize our potential. Thus, we need to be merciful like the Father. Let’s pray to the merciful Lord to grant us the Holy Spirit. Moreover, beg the Lord to have mercy on us and hide us inside His sacred wounds.
God bless!
2018 Homily
Photo Credit:Wikipedia

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慈悲主日，乙年
主題：默想五傷所展現的慈悲

執事我喜歡看科幻片，例如「蜘蛛俠」、「超人」、「變形金剛」、「E.T.外星人」、「哥斯拉」、「異形」和「復仇者聯盟」等。我不但喜歡它們娛樂性豐富的特技，我更喜歡電影中的圖像和橋段所傳達的宗教元素。我經常在宗教堂上使用這些材料，希望能開啟同學們的心目，在一切事物中找到天主。
最近我重看2006年播出的電視片集HEROES。它講述一群身懷特異功能的人：一個能飛、另一個能讀心、一個能隱形、一個能繪出未來，另一個能扭曲時空等… 這片集很融和，請來不同種族的演員擔任不同的英雄角色。在復活節期間，其中一位主角引起我的默想。

她名叫佳蘭，是一位美麗的青少年，她能自我重生，無論任何傷口，甚至是致命傷，也能自我痊癒！她能在沒有任何保護裝備的情況下，衝入火場救出被困的消防員。棒嗎？不一定。在其中一集的情節中，她被侵犯並意外地死了，施襲者棄屍河中。她重生後，沒有留下一點傷痕，即是說，沒有任何證據，可以把施襲者繩之於法。後來，佳蘭知道了自己並不是惟一的受害人。她非常忿怒，決定要親手懲罰這個施襲者。於是她誘使這個施襲者坐到跑車裡，然後製造一場撞車意外，兩個人都受了重傷。當然，佳蘭重生，沒有留下半點傷痕，但那個施襲者即使能痊癒，恐怕亦會終生殘廢。看到這個景況，佳蘭明白自己濫用了特異功能，她更明白到擁有特異功能所帶來的責任。早前我說佳蘭的故事，令我在復活節默想，不但因為她不留半點傷痕，更因為她寬恕。耶穌基督又怎樣呢？

復活的主在祂身上保留著的五傷，素來引人入勝。復活後，這些傷口痛嗎？無論是痛與否，為何復活的主要保留這些傷口呢？這些傷痕肯定是一些標記，而標記是用來傳達訊息的。那麼，主想透過五傷傳達甚麼訊息呢？

首先，這些傷痕肯定了天主子是真人真天主。歷代有不少異端，懷疑耶穌基督的人性。這些異端份子非常虔誠，他們深信耶穌基督是天主，卻放棄了祂的人性。為他們而言，耶穌基督的受難、釘十字架和死亡祇是表面現象而已。天主是不會死的，會死的，就沒有資格做天主！這些異端份子看來有理，卻大錯特錯！天主是全能的，「在天主前沒有不能的事」（路1:37）為甚麼祂不能死？為祂死亡有甚麼大不了？耶穌說：「我有權捨掉它（我的性命），我也有權再取回它來。」（若10:18）當然耶穌有能力再生，不留半點傷痕，但佳蘭的故事告訴我們這是一個壞主意。為甚麼？讓我們考慮一個基本的問題。這些傷痕顯示了甚麼？羅馬法律制度的公義和優越嗎？不，是政治妥協。是猶太公議會為了信仰純正的虔誠而剷除異端嗎？不，是嫉妒。是猶太人爭取獨立的尊嚴和光榮嗎？不，是羊群心態。這些傷痕是各個組織的罪惡聯手的成果，它們顯示了人類的脆弱和罪性所帶來的暴戾。

當瑪利亞以珍貴的香料傅抹耶穌的腳時，猶達斯埋怨她浪費。耶穌告訴在場的人說：「你們常有窮人和你們在一起；至於我，你們卻不常有。」（12:8）貧窮是罪惡之一，它是人性貪婪的結果。今天，人性的貪婪已進化成為一種制度性的罪，我們中的承包商就是按法律去剝削毫無保障的工人。耶穌明白這一切，祂保留這些傷痕，不但提醒我們罪惡的凶猛，並且告訴我們罪惡如何揮之不去。這些傷痕恐怕要掃除所有罪惡後，纔會消失。那麼，在末日審判後會嗎？未必會。為甚麼呢？

因為這些傷痕同時顯示了天主對罪人的慈悲。倘若這些傷痕是天主慈悲的標記，它們永不消失，因為天主的慈愛，永遠長存。在以往的年代，教會提倡耶穌聖心的敬禮，大家記得耶穌聖心的圖像嗎？那顆為茨冠圍著被刺透的心，它展現了耶穌對所有罪人的憐愛。教會鼓勵信眾為世界傷害耶穌的愛做賠補，並訂立了耶穌聖心節，在五旬節後十九日的星期五舉行。今天我們慶祝慈悲主日，與慶祝耶穌聖心節有點相似。在星期日慶祝更適合現代的都市人，而重點聚焦更多在天主的慈悲上，而不是強調天主公義的賠補上。

今天我們對天主的慈悲和天主的公義之間的關係，有更好的理解。它們並不矛盾。慈悲並非示弱，相反，慈悲比暴力有更大的威力。在山中聖訓中，耶穌教導我們溫良，祂說：「溫良的人是有福的，因為他們要承受土地。」（瑪5:5）不是有勢力的人承受土地嗎？這是常識，但常識可以是錯的。耶穌從來都是溫良的，祂征服了全世界。耶穌示範了溫良的威力。憑著溫良，我們可以造就人。慈悲和寬恕是贏取對手和擊敗敵人最有效的途徑。記得佳蘭的故事嗎？她學習了擁有更大的能力，便有更大的責任去慈悲，而不是濫用能力，因公義之名去懲罰！天主是全能的，所以祂的慈悲是無限的。祂曾藉先知說：「我豈能喜歡惡人的喪亡？我豈不更喜歡他離開舊道而得生存？」（則18:23）

在今天的第二篇讀經，若望很有信心地說：「誰是得勝世界的呢？不是那信耶穌為天主子的人嗎？」（若一5:5）那麼，我們怎樣得勝世界呢？在福音中，耶穌賜給門徒聖神，派遣他們去慈悲，去寬恕世界（若20:22-23）。憑著慈悲，我們征服世界。憑著慈悲，我們寬恕，給予施暴者再次機會。憑著慈悲，我們讓人悔改遷善。我們造就更好的人，更好的世界。我們就是這樣征服這個世界。
多默就是一個好例子。他現實，對信仰有要求。可能他對自己的信仰，比其他的宗徒還要認真。耶穌向多默展示慈悲，祂並沒有責怪多默，而是邀請他觸摸祂的傷痕，把他自己躲藏在祂的傷痕內！多默真是有福！

各位兄弟姊妹！或者你沒有征服世界的雄心，因為你沒有佳蘭的特異功能。但最少我們也應該改善我們的生活環境。祇有清潔的水和空氣是不足夠的，我們需要一個更能鼓舞人心的世界，讓我們的潛能得以發揮。因此，我們必須如同天父慈悲。求慈悲的主賜下聖神。更求主慈悲，把我們收藏在祂的聖傷之內。
天主保祐。

領洗就是重新做人嗎？ Is Baptism Turning A New Leaf?

復活主日，乙年
主題：領洗就是重新做人嗎？

梵二的禮儀改革，是為了突顯出很多信仰上的意義。「祈禱律就是信仰律」，你的祈禱反映出你相信甚麼。例如，以往慕道者祇要完成了慕道課程，見過神父，便可以領洗。小編我在中學時代學習要理，有幸在「聖母領報瞻禮」受洗。但經過梵二禮儀改革後，大部份的成人入門聖事，都在復活前夕的守夜禮儀中進行。大家可否注意到，在用詞上的不同呢？從前說「聖母領報瞻禮」，今天稱為「預報救主降生節」；從前說「領洗」，今天說「領受入門聖事」，把三件聖事，即聖洗、堅振和聖體聖事，連成一體，展現三件聖事之間的關係！而且，入門聖事不再是隨時隨地進行，而是選擇盡量在復活前夕進行，突顯出領洗者與基督同死同生的意義（羅6:8）。這些改革是好的，因為現代人的教育水平高了，除了虔誠之外，也要滿足他們理性上的需要。

今天小編想澄清兩個容易產生誤會的觀念，希望對慕道者有所幫助。
首先，「永生」就是「不死」嗎？
驟眼看來，二者沒有分別。死亡就是生命的結束，不死就是生命不會結束，生命永遠保持下去。那不就是永生嗎？真的不是！一個每年考第一的學生，不能保證永遠考第一；一個從沒有患病的人，也不能保證永遠不會生病；一個練得全身刀槍不入的武僧，也不保證沒有死穴；即使千萬年來太陽每天都在東方升起，亦不能保證明天太陽會在東方升起！「不死」祇反映過往的紀錄，並不保證以後不會死，不保證以後生命不會結束！而且，老而不死，絕對不是現代發達國家人民所追求的！沒有不老不病的保證，是沒有人願意「不死」的！「永生」卻有永遠的保證！耶穌基督在福音中宣講的，是「永生」而不是「不死」（若3:15）。

從另一個方向想，為甚麼要追求「不死」呢？很多統治者手執大權之後，下一步便想盡辦法追求「長生不老」。既健康，又不會衰老，這不是現代人夢寐以求的「不死」嗎？那麼，「長生不老」可以算是「永生」嗎？可惜「長生不老」同樣是過往的業績，「長生」沒有永遠的保證，並不保證將來有同樣的成就。況且，肉體上的不衰老，並不保證心靈上沒有痛苦！試想想祇有你一個人長生不老，看著心愛的人衰老死去，這份心靈上的孤獨不痛苦嗎？其實，追求「不死」 或者「長生不老」所表現的，都是一種逃避現實的懦弱消極心態，而不是一種面對死亡的勇敢積極心態！
「無敵」祇是暫時的！所謂「強中自有強中手」，你總會遇上一個比你更強的對手！但戰敗後能重整旗鼓，捲土重來，一雪前恥，纔是「無敵」的保證！讓我拿象棋作一個比喻，對奕雙方總會犯錯，輸家是犯最後一個錯誤的一位！世上沒有不犯錯的人，所以勝利者不是不犯錯的那一位，而是犯錯後能夠翻身，倒地後能夠爬起來繼續戰鬥的那個人！即是說，真正的「不死」不是不會死，而是「復活」。即使死了，仍可擺脫死亡，再次活起來。這纔是不死的真正保證！

其次，領洗就是重新做人嗎？
也不是！因為「失去了原始恩寵」（俗稱「原罪」）的緣故，犯錯成為了人的本性。犯錯必須賠償，在獲得寬恕，或者滿全補償後，便可以重新做人！很多時候，喪失自由是補償的辦法之一。所以罪犯出獄後，重獲自由，重投社會，開始人生新的一頁。但生活迫人，很多釋囚會再次犯案，多次出入監獄…當然亦有出獄後，成功地在社會找到立足點，甚至飛黃騰達的。
人在信主前是罪的奴隸，信主受洗後，信靠主耶穌基督的復活，不再做罪惡的奴隸，獲得解放。雖然領洗獲得自由與出獄相似，但絕對不是出獄。人可以多次出入監獄，但祇會領受一次洗禮！出獄是重新做人，但領洗是成為一個「新造的人」（格後5:17）！

今天的第二篇讀經說得非常好，容許我節錄一大段：「你們既然與基督一同復活了，就該追求天上的事…因為你們已經死了，你們的生命已與基督一同藏在天主內了；當基督，我們的生命顯現時，那時，們們也要與他一同出現在光榮之中。」（哥3:1，3-4）

領受洗禮是與基督同死同葬，而基督真的復活了。所以我們倚靠祂，便得以復活，即享有永生。所以領受洗禮是獲得永生的保證。領受洗禮不是重新做人，而是「穿上新人」，因為舊我帶有很多缺點，障礙我們過永生的生活，過與天主聖三合一的生活。
怎樣的生活纔不會障礙永生呢？保祿繼續說：「為此，你們該如天主所揀選的，所愛的聖者，穿上憐憫的心腸、仁慈、謙卑、良善和含忍…要彼此擔待…在這一切之上，尤該有愛德，因為愛德是全德的聯繫。還要叫基督的平安，在你們心中作主…你們該有感恩之心。要讓基督的話充分地存在你們内，以各種智慧彼此教導規勸，以聖詠、詩詞和屬神的歌曲在你們心內，懷著感恩之情，歌頌天主。你們無論作甚麼，在言語上或在行為上，一切都該因主耶穌的名而作，藉著他感謝天主聖父。」（3:12-17）真的，領洗不是重新做人，而是成為一個新造的人！

各位兄弟姊妹！沒有人見過耶穌基督復活的一刻，祇有人見過復活後的基督！耶穌基督沒有留在世上，祇憑這批軟弱的罪人為祂的復活作見證。這批天主所揀選的，軟弱的罪人都因著主的復活已成為了新造的人，可以沒有障礙地享受永生。憑著在入門聖事中所領受的聖神，我們已獲得了永生的保證（格後5:5）。我們既已選擇了永生，就不要獨享，請與心愛的人，關心的人分享吧。
天主保祐！
圖片鳴謝：天水圍聖葉理諾堂

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Easter Sunday, Year B
Theme: Is Baptism Turning A New Leaf?

Liturgical reforms of Vatican II aim at highlighting the meanings of our articles of faith. “Lex orandi, lex credendi” --- How you pray shows what you believe. For example, in previous generations, after finishing catechetical instructions and seeing the parish priests, catechumens could receive baptism. I myself was instructed during secondary school and was blessed enough to be baptized at the Feast of Annunciation. After reforms in Vatican II, most of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults would take place during Easter Vigil. Have you noticed the changes in vocabulary? Previously, it was called the “Feast of Annunciation”, now the “Solemnity of Annunciation”. Previously, it was simply called baptism. Nowadays it is the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”, viz. Baptism, Confirmation & Eucharist form one unit, manifesting their relation! Moreover, the rite is not performed any time in the year, but mostly during Easter Vigil to highlight the meaning of dying and rising with Christ (Romans 6:8). These reforms are good because modern people are literate. Besides piety, they need to meet their rational needs.

Today, I would like to help the catechumens clarify two easily mixed-up concepts.
First of all, is eternal life equivalent to immortality?
Superficially, there is no difference between the two. Death is the end of life. Immortality means life doesn’t end. It keeps going on. Isn’t it eternal life? No! A candidate who comes first in every examination is not able to guarantee to come first forever. A person who never falls sick cannot guarantee that he’ll never fall sick. There can be an Achilles’ heel in a bullet-proof monk. Even though the sun has risen everyday in the east for trillions of years, there is no guarantee that it will rise in the east tomorrow! Immortality is only a past record. It doesn’t guarantee life to have no end. Moreover, ageing without dying is absolutely not what people in developed countries want! Without the guarantee of ageing and sickness free, nobody wants to be immortal! But eternal life guarantees eternity. Thus, Jesus Christ proclaims eternal life and not immortality (John 3:15).

Let’s think along another line. Why do people pursue immortality? After securing total control of a country, many tyrants sought longevity without ageing. Aren’t being healthy without ageing the immortality sought by modern people? Then, is longevity without ageing eternal life? It’s a pity that longevity without ageing is also a past record without guarantee of good performance into the future. Moreover, no ageing physically does not guarantee no pains mentally! Just think about it, leading a healthy and long life, you see your beloved ones die one by one. Isn’t this loneliness painful? In fact, seeking immortality or longevity without ageing shows a negative attitude of a coward who runs away from reality and not a courageous and positive attitude towards death!
Invincibility is temporary. Sooner or later, you will meet a stronger rival! But the ability to recoup to make a comeback to win makes one invincible! Let me take an example from chess. Both sides make mistakes. The loser is the one who makes the last blunder! To err is human. So, the victor is not somebody who makes no mistake but the one who is able to recover from the blunder and continue to fight! That is to say, genuine immortality is not that one never dies, but one who comes back to life again after death. This and this alone is the genuine guarantee of immortality!

Secondly, is baptism turning a new leaf?
Again no! Because of the effect of losing the original graces (aka Original Sin), it is human nature to make mistakes. One must repay or compensate the mistakes one makes. Only after being forgiven or satisfying compensation can one turn a new leaf and starts once again! In most situations, losing one’s freedom is part of the compensation or one of the many ways to compensate. Thus after a prisoner is discharged, he regains freedom and returns to the society to turn a new leaf in life. But life is harsh, many discharged prisoners commit crimes again, in and out of prisons many times … Of course, some may gain a foothold successfully and even become prominent in the society.
Before a person believes in the Lord, he is a slave of sins. After believing in the Lord and getting baptized, relying on the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ, he is no longer a slave of sins and is liberated. Although freedom is regained in both baptism and discharge from prison, baptism is not same as discharge from prison. Prisoners may be in and out of prisons many times but one is baptized only once. A prison discharged from prison turns a new leaf in life. But baptism makes the baptized a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

The second reading today is written well. Allow me to quote a big chunk, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above … For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ our life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1, 3-4)

Receiving baptism is to die and bury with Christ who is truly risen. Thus, relying on Him enables us to be raised and thus to attain eternal life. Thus receiving baptism guarantees eternal life. Receiving baptism is not to turn a new leaf in life, but to put on a new-self because there are many defects in the old-self which hinder us from leading an eternal life, a life in union with the Triune God.
What short of life will not hinder eternal life? Paul continues, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another … And over all these put on love, that is the bond of perfection … And let the peace of Christ control your hearts … And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father.” (3:12-17) Truly, one does not turn a new leaf through baptism, but becomes a new creature!

Brethren! Nobody was present the moment Jesus Christ came back to life. There were only people who saw the risen Christ who did not remain on earth. He relies on this bunch of fragile sinners to be the witnesses of His resurrection. They were chosen by God, had become new creatures through the resurrection of the Lord. They didn’t have any obstacles in attaining eternal life. During the Rite of Christian Initiation, we were given “the Spirit as a first installment” (2 Corinthians 5:5). Since we have chosen eternal life, let us not enjoy it alone. Share it with people we love and care.
God bless!