天主聖三主日，乙年
主題：耶穌吩咐了甚麼？
猶太教可以說是現代世界性一神宗教的鼻祖，亞巴郎是他們在信仰上的祖先。以色列人信奉一神的歷程，當然並非一帆風順。他們以天主選民自居，但亡國充軍到巴比倫時，聖殿被毀，更出現了身份危機。於是編纂了自己的歷史和經典，希望在逆境後能重張旗鼓。皇天不負有心人，七十年後，波斯帝國滅了巴比倫，猶太人可以回國重建聖殿，而一個有系統，祭獻與教律並重的一神宗教，猶太教便出現了。公元一世紀，猶太信徒中出現了一個新的流派，相信一個被釘十字架的木匠死而復活，他就是天主子耶穌基督。基督徒與猶太教徒同樣相信宇宙間祇有一個真神造物主，但基督徒的神比較複雜，不是單純的一個神，而是三位一體的一個神！信奉一神的伊斯蘭教是另一個故事了，姑且擱置不談。
今天教會慶祝「天主聖三節」，反省天主聖三對人類的大愛。所選讀的福音中，有一句說話覺得很有意義，便拿來默存心中，反覆思想（路2:19）。這三天帶領聖雲先會聖葉理諾堂協會退省，練習「聖言頌讀」。倘若自己不去實踐，真是愧為人師了。是哪一句話呢？就是「教訓他們遵守我所吩咐你們的一切。」（瑪28:20）
首先，耶穌基督吩咐了門徒很多事物：一篇「山中聖訓」已佔去了三章，還有那些在教會內如何相處之規則（18:15-35）；最後，當然還有差遣門徒使萬民成為門徒的訓令（28:19）。這麼多的吩咐，從何入手呢？有沒有一些提綱挈領性的原則，可以涵蓋所有「吩咐」呢？我想起了在最後晚餐時，耶穌基督吩咐的新誡命：「我給你們一條新命令，你們該彼此相愛，如同我愛了你們，你們也該照樣彼此相愛。」（若13:34）相信沒有人會反對這是最能涵蓋所有吩咐吧！而且這樣思考，在福音中也可找到先例。
猶太教的得救之道，在於遵守散見於「梅瑟五書」，包括十誡在內的613條法律。可見得救成義，真的不是一件容易的事。不要以為著名的「十誡」足以代表那613條法律，祇要遵守十誡便可以上天堂。對不起，天主子耶穌基督不同意這個想法。
事緣一位法學士試探耶穌，問他「法律中那條誡命最大？」（瑪22:36）是十誡中的第一誡嗎？耶穌基督不慌不忙地唸出：「『你應全心、全靈、全意，愛上主你的天主。』（申6:5）這是最大也是第一條誡命。」（瑪22:37-38）；祂跟著繼續唸出「你應當愛近人如你自己」（肋19:18），並且說：「全部法律和先知，都繫於這兩條誡命。」（瑪22:40）對不起，十誡沒有入圍；而且，這種涵蓋性的做法，是天主子同意的。
言歸正傳，來自若望福音，耶穌基督吩咐的「彼此相愛」新誡命，足以涵蓋耶穌基督在瑪竇福音的所有吩咐嗎？這是一個很有趣的問題，因為據我有限的知識，我尚未找到「耶穌基督在瑪竇福音的所有吩咐」；即使找到，我相信總有學者不敢苟同。且看，連著名的十誡如何分配，天主教與基督新教也有分歧。所以「耶穌基督在瑪竇福音的所有吩咐」總有相當的不確定性！反觀「彼此相愛」的新命令，既然是耶穌基督在「最後晚餐」的臨別贈言，也應該有相當重的份量了。況且，耶穌基督不是性格分裂的人，兩部福音所記述的，都是同一個耶穌基督，祇是兩位聖史的寫作主旨，取材不同而已，絕不影響耶穌基督的訊息，祂的福音！所以，來自若望福音的「如同我愛了你們，你們也該照樣彼此相愛」，足以涵蓋同一個耶穌基督在瑪竇福音的所有吩咐。讓我們轉移焦點到這新命令吧！
天主是自由的，不會強迫我們信奉祂。所以即使是彼此相愛，也要好像耶穌基督一樣，容許對方不領情，接納他人拒絕你的善意所帶來的痛苦。且看，耶穌基督所喜愛的富少年，可以是一個很有前途的門徒。當這富少年拒絕了耶穌基督的邀請後，祂並沒有勉強富少年接受，祇是慨嘆而已（谷10:23-24）我對這新誡命所感觸的，不是交付出性命，而是被拒絕的痛苦。請不要誤會，連性命也可交付，自己可還有甚麼痛苦呢？這痛苦不是被拒絕所引起的忿怒或埋怨，而是對方因拒絕而招至的損失。我不怕傳福音時交付出性命，我卻為你拒絕福音，結果招至喪亡而感到傷痛。你有同感嗎？
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：pics.me.me.
Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity, Year B
Theme: What Have Jesus Commanded?
Judaism can be said to be the ancestor of global monotheism today. Abraham is their ancestor of faith. The process through which Israel believed in one true God was not a smooth journey. Israelites looked at themselves as the Chosen People of God. But the Babylonian Captivity dealt them a harsh blow. Their Temple was burned down and they suffered from an identity crisis. Thus, they worked hard to redact their history and scriptures, hopefully they would recoup when the Captivity was over. They were not disappointed. After seventy years, the Persians conquered the Babylonians. Jews would return home to rebuild their Temple. A systematic monotheism, Judaism in which temple sacrifice went hand in hand with scripture studies emerged. During the first century, a new branch appeared among the Jews. They believed in a carpenter who was crucified and, they claimed, was risen from the dead. He was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Both Christians and Jews believe that there is one true God who created this universe. But the Christian God is more complicated. Not only is He one, but three Persons in one! Islam is another monotheism and another story which we would not delve into today.
Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Blessed Trinity to reflect on the great love the trinite God shows men. One verse from the gospel today is rather meaningful. So, I keep all these things, reflecting on them in my heart (Luke 2:19). On the past three days, I was leading an annual retreat for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Jerome’s Church Confederation to practise “Lectio Divina”. If I do not practise myself, it would be my shame as their retreat director. Which verse was it? “Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20)
First of all, Jesus has commanded the disciples many things: the “Sermon on the Mount” has already occupied 3 chapters. There are also instructions on how to treat each other within the Church (18:15-35); and lastly of course, the great commission to make disciples of all nations (28:19). How do we begin? Is there any all-encompassing principle which is able to cover all commandments? I think of the new commandment which Christ gave the disciples at the Last Supper, “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” (John 13:34) I trust nobody would object that this is most capable of covering all the commands! It is totally legitimate to think in this way because there is precedence in the gospel.
In Judaism, if one wants salvation, one has to observe the 613 laws scattered among the five books of Torah. Obviously, being righteous and to be saved is not at all easy. Don’t ever think that the Ten Commandments are representative of the 613 laws and keeping them would ensure you a place in heaven. Sorry, the Son of God Jesus Christ doesn’t think so.
It came to pass when one scribe tried to trap Jesus, asking “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” (Matthew 22:36) Is the first commandment of the Ten Commandments the greatest? In no haste, Jesus recited, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Deuteronomy 6:5) “This is the greatest and the first commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38) Then He continued to recite, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) and added, “The whole law and prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:40). Sorry, the Ten Commandments are not qualified to be the greatest. Moreover, the Son of God agrees with summarizing the details in this manner.
Let’s return to the verse. Is the new “To love each other” commandment from the gospel of John able to cover all of Jesus’ commands in the gospel of Matthew? This is an interesting topic. Since my knowledge is limited. I have not found “all that Jesus Christ has commanded” in the gospel of Matthew. Even if I have, there surely exist scholars who disagree. Look, even Catholics and Protestants disagree on how the famous Ten Commandments should be divided. Thus, there must be uncertainty in what should be included in “what Jesus Christ has commanded” in gospel of Matthew! On the other hand, the new “love each other” command is the last words of Jesus Christ in the Last Supper. It should carry heavy weight. Furthermore, Jesus Christ is no schizophrenic. The two gospels are narrating the same Jesus Christ. Only that the two evangelists took different materials to write for different themes. The narration should not affect the message of Jesus Christ, His gospel! Thus, “As I have loved you, so you should love one another” in John is sufficient to cover all that Jesus has commanded in Matthew. Let’s turn our focus on this new commandment!
This commandment is really great, even the greatest because Jesus Christ loves us so much as to give up His life for us! He commands us to give up our lives for each other. As least, this commandment surpasses the status of “love your neighbour as yourself”. Is it able to challenge the standing of the Shema? A categorical yes! The Son of God incarnated to take up human flesh in order to elevate our humanity to attain divinity. Not only was Jesus Christ happy to walk with sinners, actively got Himself involved among them in order to save them, but He is also willing to be present, and even to incarnate among the sick, the weak and the imprisoned, to be sick and imprisoned to carry the burden of all the sins of the world. Thus, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40) is no empty talk but a real presence among them, such as His real presence in the Holy Communion! Thus, loving men is loving God. Jesus’ new commandment is on a par with the greatest commandment.
God is free. He would not force us to believe in Him. Thus, even in loving each other, we should love like Jesus Christ, allowing the other party to reject and to accept the pain of our goodwill being rejected. Take a look at the rich young man whom Jesus loved. He would have been a very promising disciple. When the rich young man declined Jesus’ invitation, He did not impose His will on the young man but lamented (Mark 10:23-24). I was touched by the verse in Matthew, not because of surrendering my life, but the pain of rejection. Don’t take me wrong. If I don’t mind surrendering my life, what pain do I still have? The pain I mentioned was not the anger or frustration of being rejected but the loss the other party incurs in rejecting the gospel. I don’t mind surrendering my life in evangelization, but I feel painful for your demise as a consequence of rejecting the gospel! Do we share the same feeling?
God bless!
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