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

---

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.