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）！
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
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!
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