不能再逃避自己 Can’t Run Away From Oneself Anymore

常年期十三主日，乙年
主題：不能再逃避自己

運用電腦多年的我，仍然犯上最低級的錯誤，真是汗顏！
重新安裝操作系統時，在未安裝防毒軟件之前，竟然心急地下載來歷不明的軟件，中了勒索病毒；清理硬盤的啟動分割區時，不慎令硬盤從電腦消失了；在恢復硬盤內數據的過程中，一步一步地令數據變得不可讀…買了一部可以撥電話的平板電腦時，插入新電話咭後，一直未重新開機，以致電話號碼兩天以來，一直沒有註冊…這兩個星期，不知浪費了多少冤枉的時間，一事無成！我漸漸感覺到，天主正在考驗我，訓練我的謙遜！今天，我看到了曙光…

馬爾谷福音把耶穌基督行的兩個神蹟放在一起，突顯出天主子的力量。祂不但能治病，更能起死回生。但在默想治好血漏病婦人時，卻多了另一番體會。她患的是一般婦科病，月經失調，不會是甚麼致命的病患，找醫生調理，並無大礙。豈料十二年來，這個病竟然毫無進展！真的像馬爾谷所埋怨的，「她在許多醫生手裡，受了許多痛苦」（谷5:26）是那些庸醫，一個又一個地欺騙她的金錢嗎？難道十二年來，一個有本領，有醫德的醫生也找不到嗎？
保祿的一句有關我們獲得救恩的說話，我們比較少反省。他說：「因為我們得救，還是在於希望。所希望的若已看見，就不是希望了；那有人還希望所見的事物呢？」（羅8:24）的確，是那份希望和堅持，令血漏婦人一次又一次地希望落空，遭受損失，但她並沒有放棄。看在天主眼中，她這份努力，為她獲得了多一份天主的憐憫。在她身上，我看見了自己頑固和盲目的影子，希望天主會憐憫我，一如祂憐憫血漏婦人一樣。
當時候到了，耶穌基督開始天父的救贖工程時，困苦的人會陸續得救！但得救絕非我們憑自己的努力不懈，憑觸摸耶穌基督的衣裳(谷6:28)，便可以成就的，而是要有耐性地，謙遜地等待時機，與天主邂逅。

其實，需要補救的，何止是健康和電腦呢？我自己的人際關係，我所認識的親友教友，很多人在人際關係上，都處理得不好；更廣闊些，整個社會在近期的動盪中，加劇了團體內和團體間的分裂，考驗著信徒們對耶穌基督的信德！無疑，許多人的性格和動機，對和諧的關係不利；再加上社交媒體的排波助瀾，情況令人擔心。不少教友對聖職人員的表現失望，嚷著要離開教會；很多人受了氣，便向身邊的人發洩…不少人不但心理需要輔導，甚至他們的婚姻也亮起了紅燈…

血漏婦人知道自己病了，還能尋求醫治。終於，她的信德和望德，為她帶來痊癒。可借今天很多人明知自己有病，卻諱疾忌醫，不斷逃避，令身邊的人替他們空著急！能夠成功地逃避自己，要付出非常高的代價，到頭來，會變成精神分裂或者妄想狂！相比之下，這個血漏婦人真是幸福得多，她的病鎖定了她，使她不能逃避，最終卻得到康復。忽然，我看見了被釘在十字架上，不能動彈，不能逃避，任人侮辱的耶穌基督！我開始明白為甚麼祂選擇死在十字架上，原來祂是為了拯救那些逃避自己的罪人。

主啊！請寬恕我們的驕傲自私，幫助我們脫離罪過的奴役。我們承認自己的無能，沒有祢的助祐，我們便一事無成。請補助我們的無信，憐憫那些我們力有不逮，未及照顧的靈魂，獲得治療。亞孟。
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：nousapeiron.com

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Thirteenth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Can’t Run Away From Oneself Anymore

I’ve been using computers for decades. Yet, I’ve made the most elementary mistakes recently. What a shame!
I had to re-install the operating system. Before I installed some anti-virus software, I had rushed to install programs from unfamiliar sources. In the end, the computer was infected with ransomware! While trying to clean up the partition table, I turned the hard drive invisible. Trying to recover the lost data in the hard drive, I step-by-step made the data unreadable … I purchased a tablet which is able to make telephone calls. After inserting the SIM card, I forgot to reboot the tablet so that the phone number was not registered for two days … During these two weeks I spent and wasted many fruitless hours, always returning to square one! Gradually, I sense that God is testing me, training me to be humble! Today, I saw a glimpse of light …

Mark puts two healing miracles together to amplify the power of the Son of God. Not only was He able to cure diseases but He was able to raise the dead. While meditating on the cure of the bleeding woman, I came up with some fresh understanding. The woman suffered from menorrhagia, a non-fatal ordinary gynaecological illness. A general practitioner was able to handle it. Yet, no progress was made in twelve years! Was Mark fair in his complaint that “She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors” (Mark 5:26)? Did incompetent doctors cheat her of money one after another? Didn’t even one single competent or ethical doctor turn up in those twelve years?
Paul says something about salvation which we seldom meditate. He says, “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees?” (Romans 8:24) Indeed, it was hope and perseverance that cost the woman money again and again. She was disappointed repeatedly and yet she did not give up. In God’s eyes, her perseverance earns her a greater portion of God’s mercy. In this bleeding woman, I see my own stubbornness and blindness. I hope God have mercy on me like His having mercy on the bleeding woman.
When time came, Jesus Christ began the Father’s salvation project. Poor people would be saved one by one! Salvation is not the merit of our efforts, or through touching the cloak of Jesus Christ (Mark 6:28). Rather, we have to wait in patience and humility to encounter the Lord.

Health and computers are not the only things which need remedy. My interpersonal relationships and those of my friends’ and my parishioners’ are not handled properly. In a wider context, the society is severely divided through recent social unrests. There are a lot of infightings within and among communities. The faith of the believers of Jesus Christ is under scrutiny! Without doubt, the personalities and motives of many people are detrimental to harmonious relations. The situation is worrying when social media are stirring up divisions. Many a laity is disappointed by the performance of the clergy and declares to leave the Church. Many people pick up easy victims to vent their frustrations … Not only do many people need counselling, but their psychological problems are also taking toll on their marriages …

The bleeding woman knew that she was sick. She went about to seek treatment. In the end, her faith and her hope brought her health. Unfortunately, many people know that they themselves are sick and yet, they don’t want to talk about it. They run away from themselves, making their loved ones worry! One needs to pay an extremely high price in order to run away from oneself successfully. In the end, they may become schizophrenic or paranoid! In contrast, this bleeding woman was luckier. She was “locked up” by her illness. She could not run away and finally she was cured. Suddenly, I saw in her Jesus Christ crucified. He could not move. He could not run away from the cross and the humiliation from people! I begin to understand why He chose to die on the cross. Jesus Christ wants to save sinners who run away from themselves.

Lord! Forgive us of our pride and selfishness. Deliver us from the slavery of sins. We acknowledge our incompetence. Without Your help, we could do nothing. Help us of our lack of faith. Have mercy on those souls who are beyond our reach to care. Help them regain health. Amen.

天主不管我們的死活嗎？ Doesn’t God Care About Our Perishing?

常年期第十二主日，乙年
主題：天主不管我們的死活嗎？

無論你相信聖經的啟示與否，大部份人也相信世界有末日，而且末日前會發生大災難。
教會明白世人的喜樂與憂慮，所以她喜歡借用「諾厄方舟」來比喻自己。教會相信在天主的照顧下，她能安然渡過末日的災難。就好像洪水到來前，人和動物進入了方舟便能得救一樣。若把洪水象徵末日，在末日審判前加入教會，便能得救，獲得永生。
可是，天主不是承諾過不用洪水來毀滅有血肉的生物（創9:15）嗎？是的！但這承諾並不否定末日的來臨，而且耶穌基督在對觀福音中，論述了末日的情況。因此末日的來臨是肯定的，而洪水祇不過是末日的象徵而已。所以教會負擔著傳福音的使命，讓更多人在末日前加入教會，進入這艘在塵世中航行的方舟，好能在審判時得到好的判決，享受永生。

不得不承認，人的心理非常複雜。他們雖然能運用理性去思考，創造偉大的事業，但自己的情緒：例如忿怒、恐懼、妒忌和愛恨，就好像一匹脫韁野馬，駕馭不了！例如加音，他沒有理會天主的忠告，管理好自己的忿怒，結果殺了自己的弟弟亞伯爾；達味沒有理會十誡的訓令，姦淫並謀殺…這些罪惡都不是一時衝動所做成的，而是情緒管理不善的後果！今天福音中的門徒，大難臨頭的時候向他們的師傅求救：「師傅！我們要喪亡了，你不管嗎？」（谷4:38）試想想，他們所認識的師傅是誰，有多大能耐？撇開耶穌基督有權威的教訓外（1:22），祂祇不過是一個「神醫」，有能力治好癩病人、驅魔、癱子和枯手人。但在波濤凶湧的海上，治病的異能有用武之地嗎？可見門徒們的恐懼，和大部份的人一樣，已經不是理性所能克服了！而在恐懼的影響之下，大部份人會做出不理性的行為，包括暴力！可幸耶穌基督即時出手，解除了門徒們的恐懼，制止了更大的災難！

今天疫情仍在漫延，世上沒有一個民族，沒有一個地區能倖免，全球有如陷入海上的風暴一樣。倘若教會就是在波濤凶湧中的其中一條小船，我們並不孤獨，因為「還有別的小船」（4:36）。這些其他的小船可能是不同的宗教、各國政府和跨國企業…他們用自己的方法：例如以封關手段來約束病毒的散播、研發疫苗、舉行祈福求神儀式等，各單位以自己可行的方法，聯手對抗這疫症的衝擊。信仰耶穌基督的教會在這疫情中，可以如何自處呢？因為各地的文化政治及經濟環境不同，各個地方教會應該有不同的對策！容許我祇就香港的環境反省。

和讀聖經一樣，反省任何社會事件，也應該要注意事件發生前的情況！疫症爆發前，香港經歷了十多個月的社會動蕩，很多市民看見政府官員的無能與不公義，不再信任他們的管治了。所以今天當政府推出接種疫苗計劃時，三個多月來，祇有18.3%的人口接種了兩劑疫苗，距離群體免疫的70%目標還很遠！這些都情緒管理上出了問題，不是理性上出了亂子。負責的官員也承認很多市民正在「鬥氣」。可是，當今的形勢，是追究誰是誰非，是互相指摘的時候嗎？
教會也要面對類似的衝擊。教會應該是團結合一的，但分裂的元素始終存在著，祇不過一場社會運動，把以往看不見的分裂更表面化而已。在香港的天主教徒人數，雖然不及人口的十分之一，但很多都是中產階級。在社會運動期間，部份教友揚言對教會失望，要脫離天主教。今天更出現了明顯的移民潮。當然，即使離開教會、離開香港，祇要心中仍有耶穌基督，仍不失得救的機會。至於教會，作為基督的奧體和基督的淨配，這條船是不會沉沒的！但主教/教宗作為這條船的舵手，有責任喚醒睡著了的耶穌基督，喝停風浪，讓這條船能夠平安到達彼岸。天主子耶穌基督睡在我們這條船上，是我們的優勢，是其他小船不能奢望的。我們反而有責任，憑天主子的力量，平息這場風暴，讓其他小船也能得到安全！

像福音中的門徒一樣，我們的信德並不特別堅強，也看不懂時代的徵兆。甚至為了自保，與權貴同流合污。但天主接受和包容我們的軟弱，並趁機淨化我們、提拔我們。且看，相信是今次平息風浪的經驗，令伯多祿有足夠的膽量，在耶穌基督步行水面時，跳到海裡跑向他的主（瑪14:28-29）！雖然這一次以失敗告終，但伯多祿經過這些磨煉之後，耶穌基督立伯多祿為教會的磐石（16:18-19）。所以，今次的疫情也是天主賜給我們的機會！不是倚靠自身的能力，而是信靠天主子的力量。
且看，今天的權貴已經自身難保（詠146:3-4）了，我們惟有尋求天主的救助。我們請主教神父們舉行多幾台為消滅疫症的彌撒嗎？還是響應教宗的呼籲，整個五月每天唸玫瑰經嗎？看來這些傳統的方法並不見效，否則今天還會圍繞著疫情默想嗎？看來我們是求錯了，疫情是不會因為唸經祈禱而消失的。

各位兄弟姊妹，我們不須要祈求疫情的減退，因為「天下任何事皆有定時…殺戮有時，治療有時」（訓3:1，3）。而事實一再證明，天主是不會掉下我們，不理我們的死活。所以，學習在疫情下生活，與病毒共舞吧，說不定天主出於對人類的憐憫，設下疫情，防止更大的災難出現，亦未可知！我們所面對的，是情緒的管理問題，給我們帶來了信仰上的危機，懷疑天主的存在，懷疑天主對罪人的愛意！我們儘管向主求救，不要指望「跳船」會帶來生存的希望。
天主保祐！
2015年講道
圖片鳴謝：caruthers.com

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Twelfth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Doesn’t God Care About Our Perishing? Whether you believe in the revelations from the Bible or not, most people believe that the world would end one day before which there would be great disasters.
The Church understands the joys and worries of mankind. Thus, she likes to identify herself with Noah’s Ark. The Church believes that with God’s providence, she would safely pass over the end of the world disasters. When men and animals entered the Ark before the arrival of the Great Flood, they would be saved. Similarly, if the Great Deluge symbolizes the End of the World and if people can join the Church before the Last Judgment, they would be saved and enjoy eternal life.
But didn’t God pledge that “the waters would never again become a flood to destroy every mortal being” (Genesis 9:15)? Yes, but that pledge does not rule out the imminence of the End of the world. Moreover, Jesus Christ teaches about the situation of the end of the world in the Synoptic gospels. Thus, the end is a certainty and the Great Deluge is only a symbol of the End. Therefore, the Church accepts the commission to evangelize, allowing more people to join the Church before the End. When they enter this Ark which is sailing all over the world, they would receive a favourable judgment and subsequently receive eternal life.

Undeniably, human psychology is extremely complicated. Though they are able to think rationally to work out gigantic projects, their emotions, such as anger, fear, jealousy, love and hatred are like uncontrollable wild horses off harness! For example, Cain did not heed God’s advice to manager his anger. Consequently, he murdered his brother Abel. David did not care about the guidance of the Ten Commandments. He committed adultery and murder … These evils were not consequences of impulses but failures of emotional management! The gospel passage today tells us that in imminent disaster, the disciples desperately sought help from their teacher, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38) Think about it. How much did they know their teacher? How powerful was He? Forget about the authority Jesus showed in His teachings (1:22), He was only a “miracle healer” who had special power to heal lepers, to drive out demons, to cure the paralyzed and withered hands etc. What use had this healing power before those raging elements? It showed that like most people, the disciples were seized by a fear which rationality could not prevail! In fear, most people would resort to irrational actions, including violence! Fortunately Jesus Christ calmed the storm just in time to relieve the disciples of their fears, averting an even greater disaster!

Today, not a people or a region on earth is exempted from the Covid-19 pandemic. The whole world is tossing on sea during a storm. If the Church is a small boat in the raging waters, we are not alone because “Other boats were with Him” (4:36). These other boats could be other religions, governments or multinational corporations etc. They deploy different methods, for example, locking down a city to contain the spread of virus, vaccination research, benediction rites etc. to fight against this pandemic. Each unit does whatever they can and join hand to fight against the impact of this pandemic. How does Christianity conduct itself in this situation? Since different churches operate within different cultural, political and economic environments, their strategies should be different! Allow me to reflect on the situation of Hong Kong only.

Like bible studies, we need to pay attention to what happened before in the reflection of social incidents in context! Before the pandemic, Hong Kong underwent more than a year and a half’s social unrest. Many citizens see clearly the incompetence and injustice of government officials and they no long trust in the governance of the Special Administration Region. Thus, when the government implements the vaccination project, only 18.3% of the population have done 2 shots after more than three months, very much behind the target of 70% for herd immunity! This is an emotional management problem, not a rational problem. Government officials in charge of the project admit that the citizens are holding grudges against the government. But at this moment, is it a time to play the blaming game?
The Church is also facing similar impacts. She is supposed to be united and in communion. However, there exist elements of schism which remain invisible until the social unrest and pandemic manifest them. In Hong Kong, the Catholic population is less than 10% but most of them are middle class. During the social unrest, many aired their disappointment of the Church and claimed to leave the Catholic Church. Today, an exodus is on the horizon. Of course, leaving the Church and leaving Hong Kong do not deny one’s salvation as long as one has Jesus in his heart. As for the Church, she is the Mystical Body and Spouse of Christ. She will never sink! As helmsmen of the Noah’s Ark, bishops and Pope has the responsibility to wake Jesus Christ up to calm the storm so that the Ark might safely arrive at the other shore. Jesus Christ the Son of God is resting in our ship. This is our advantage over the other boats. Rather, we have the responsibility, with the power of the Son of God, to calm the storm so that the rest of the boats may reach safety!

Like the disciples in the gospels, our faith is not particularly strong and we fail to discern the signs of the times. In order to survive, some of us even go along with the powerful. But God accepts and tolerates our frailties and takes the opportunity to purify us and raise us up. Look, I trust this experience of witnessing Jesus’ calming of the storm had encouraged Peter to walk towards Jesus Christ on the water (Matthew 14:28-29)! Although he had failed again, after all these challenges Jesus Christ made him the Rock of the Church (16:18-19). Thus, this pandemic might be an opportunity provided by God! Don’t rely on our efforts but the power of the Son of God. Where are the princes and officials today? They are powerless and nothing (Psalms 146:3-4). So, we have to turn to God. Shall we ask the clergy to celebrate masses to eliminate the pandemic? Or shall we follow the exhortation of the Pope to recite the Rosary every day in May? It seems that these traditional methods are ineffective. Otherwise we don’t have to meditate on this pandemic today! Perhaps we have prayed for the wrong thing. The pandemic will never vanish because of prayers.

Brethren! We don’t need to pray for the disappearance of the pandemic because “There is an appointed time for everything … a time to kill and a time to heal” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 3). The fact is God will not leave us behind and does not mind our perishing. Thus, learn to live with the virus. Perhaps out of His mercy, God allows this pandemic to divert an even greater disaster! What we need to confront is a temptation to forsake our faith because of our failure of emotional management. It is a crisis of faith, a doubt of God’s existence and a doubt of God’s love for sinners. Let us beseech the Lord’s help. Jumping shipping might not bring hope of survival.
God bless!

了解我們的老闆 Know Our Boss

常年期第十一主日，乙年
主題：了解我們的老闆

我們大部份人都是不同形式的僱員，按照老闆的指示工作。無論你是為了糊口還是為了興趣，倘若不能在工作上找到滿足感，生活一定很苦！工作上的滿足感因人而異，各有所求：有人看在金錢份上，有人看在成就上；有人為了滿足顧客的需要，有人為了滿足老闆的要求…無論如何，老闆是讓你在工作上獲得滿足感的決定性因素。所以，了解我們的老闆是必須的！ 天主/耶穌基督是我們的終極老闆，我們對祂了解多少呢？
請嘗試反省及回答以下兩條問題，幫助自己更認識天主。然後用不多於二十字，舉例說明天主/耶穌基督，在以下的範疇內的態度：

1. 耶穌基督的經濟學
2. 祂的人事管理哲學

讀經必須要了解經文的上文下理，掌握經文片段的取向。例如今天的福音之前的一句，是「因為凡有的，還要給他；凡沒有的，連他所有的，也要從他奪去。」（谷4:25）這一句經文，可以怎樣指導我們解釋跟著的「種子自長比喻」和「芥子比喻」呢？這兩個天國的比喻，一般是用來解釋傳福音的事業。即是說：種子是天主的福音，「種子自長比喻」教訓我們傳福音時，「祇問耕耘，不問收獲」。因為聽眾怎樣信從福音，我們是不知道的（4:27），所以收獲豐富與否，也不是我們努力的成果。「芥子比喻」鼓勵我們不要對傳福音的「業績」灰心，微小的開始在天主聖神的助祐之下，將會有豐盛的成果。以上是傳統的解釋，而前一句擴闊了我們的視野。

梵蒂崗第二次大公會議之後，天主教提出了「新福傳」。不是對教外的人傳福音，而是鼓勵已領洗的教友，接受持續的培育，以提高他們的信仰質素！原來我們有責任向自己傳福音！這樣的話，前一句的「富者越富，貧者越貧」，便給我們解決了「不知道種子怎樣生長」的疑問了。對於那些接受了洗禮的人，信仰有如逆水行舟，不進則退。「不進則退」，這不就是靈性上「富者越富，貧者越貧」的寫照嗎？倘若以為接受了洗禮，便畢業了，上了岸，不思進取，不作持續地自我培育，我們的靈性生命，將會日漸萎靡不振。因此，教會有幫助教友成聖的責任，「新福傳」是正確的方向。教友自己亦要認識這不進則退的道理，對聖神開放，日進於德。假以時日，大家的信仰質素，必會像芥子一樣，提升成為大樹！這「富者越富，貧者越貧」，不就是耶穌基督的「經濟學」嗎？

我們祇讀了上文的後半段，仍然犯了斷章取義的毛病。「富者越富」之前是這樣說的：「你們用甚麼尺度量給人，也要用甚麼尺度量給你們，且要多加給你們。」（4:24）字面上的意思，是鼓勵大家對別人慷慨。倘若你對人慷慨，天主會對你慷慨，而且要對你更加慷慨；倘若你對人吝嗇，天主也祇能對你吝嗇…但天主是悲慈的，祂怎樣對你更加吝嗇呢？讓我們轉換另一個概念看：權力。權力有如一柄雙刃劍，既方便行事，卻會腐化運用權力的人。接下一句的時候，變成「有權的越有權，無權的被剝去僅有的權力」！當你運用權力（尺度）來服務（量給人）的時候，天主會給你所需要的權力，而且多加權力給你服務，你變成「最大的」。當你運用權力謀私，不是「量給人」的時候，天主會給你權力謀私，而且多加權力反過來腐化你，最終你會一敗塗地！所以耶穌基督教訓我們說：「你們中那最大的，該作你們的僕役。」（瑪23:11）這不就是耶穌基督的「人事管理哲學」嗎？

但這句「權力是為了服務」，與兩個傳福音的比喻，有甚麼關係呢？
在結構上看，天主教確是一個很有制度，從上而下，階級權力分明，換句話說，很「官僚」的組織。2020年7月，教廷「聖職部」向全球的聖職人員發出指令，要求本地教會，從堂區層面開始，為傳福音作出適當的「牧民歸依」。這不是再一次印證天主教很「官僚化」嗎？請耐心地讓我說下去，不要過早下判斷。在這份文件裡，「聖職部」探討在目前的聖教法典框架內，堂區可以怎樣把權力和責任，下放到堂區教友的手上，使堂區更能成為一個「眾團體的團體」，共聚一起欽崇天主的團體，一個既能從天主聖言獲得滋潤的團體，更能在身處的社區（因為互聯網的普及，打破了舊有的地域觀念，而成為存在的空間），宣揚天主聖言，基督福音的團體。看來，教廷開始認識到種子如何生長的奧妙，並且有勇氣地從微末的景況下，向沒有把握的前程出發，信靠天主聖神的帶領，使由一小撮有如芥子般的神職人員所掌管的傳福音工作，變成大樹一樣，群策群力，以服務世人為目標的傳福音事業。

各位兄弟姊妹，在傳福音的使命上，你願意置身事外，讓自己的靈性生命漸漸枯萎？還是響應普世教會的「牧民歸依」，投身福傳工作，使自己的信仰，日漸壯大成長起來呢？
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia

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Eleventh Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Know Your Boss

Most of us are employees of some sorts and follow the instructions of our bosses. No matter you work to earn a living or to enjoy your interest, life would be difficult if you don’t find satisfaction in the tasks at hand! People differ in the job satisfaction they pursue. Some find it in monetary returns while others in achievement. Some work to satisfy customers’ needs while others in meeting the demands of their bosses … In whatever situation your boss is a decisive factor in your job satisfaction. Therefore, it is essential to know your boss! God/Jesus is our ultimate boss. How much do we know Him?
Try to reflect on the following two questions to help you better understand God. Then, in less than 20 words, illustrate Jesus’ attitude in the following areas:

1. Economics
2. Human Resource Management

When we study the texts of the Scripture, we should know their context in order to take a proper orientation in interpretation. For example, the verse before the gospel passage today reads, “To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”(Mark 4:25) How does this verse guide us to understand the parables of the growing seed and mustard seed? Usually, we interpret these two parables of the Kingdom of Heaven as a reference to evangelization. That is to say, the seed is the Word of God. The parable of the growing seed teaches us that when we evangelize, we only focus on the effort and not the outcome because we don’t know how the audience accepted the gospel (4:27). The outcomes are not the fruit of our efforts. The parable of the mustard seed encourages us not to be disheartened for the poor performance of evangelization. With the support of the Holy Spirit, a meagre beginning can have a bounty harvest. Verse 4:25 above extends the horizon of our interpretation.

After the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church started talking about a “New Evangelization”. It is not the proclamation of the gospel to non-believers. On the contrary, it is an effort to encourage those who were baptized to undergo continual formation to enhance the quality of their faith. It turns out that we have the responsibility to evangelize ourselves! Thus, the earlier verse, “The rich becomes richer and the poor poorer” solves the problem of “knowing not how the seed grows”. For those who were baptized, faith is like rowing a boat against the current. If you don’t make progress, you retreat. Isn’t “Progress or Perish” a correct description of our spiritual life? If we think we are graduated after baptism, we have reached the shore and have no intention to keep going and undergoing formation continually, our spiritual life will wither. The Church has the responsibility to sanctify the faithful. “New Evangelization” is the proper direction to go. The faithful should also understand the wisdom of this aphorism “Progress or Perish”. They should open up to the Holy Spirit and make progress in virtues. In time, the quality of our faith will be like the mustard seed which grows into the largest of plants. Isn’t this “The rich becomes richer and the poor poorer” the economics of Jesus Christ?

If we only read the one verse just before our passage, we still make the mistake of reading out of context. The verse before the “Rich becomes richer” reads, “The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you.” (4:24) The verse literally encourages us to be generous towards the others. If we are generous to others, God will be generous and more generous to us. If we are miserly, God can only be miserly to you … But God is merciful. How can He be more miserly to you? Let us consider again by switching to another concept: authority. Authority is a double-edged sword. It facilitates our projects but at the same time, it corrupts the owner. When we read the verse together with the next, it becomes “People with authority get more authority. People without authority would be striped of the little authority they have”! When you exercise your authority (the measure) to serve (measure) others, God will give you the authority you need and still more will be given to you so that you become the greatest. When you abuse your authority to obtain privileges and not to serve others, God will give you the authority you need and still more will be given to you to corrupt you. In the end, you fall! Thus, Jesus Christ teaches us that “The greatest among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11) Isn’t this the human resources management policy of Jesus Christ?

What has this “Authority is for Service” to do with the two evangelization parables?
Structurally speaking, the Catholic Church is highly top-down hierarchical. In other words, she is very bureaucratic. In July 2020, the Congregation for the Clergy of the Roman Curia issued an Instruction to clergy all over the world, demanding local churches to undergo appropriate pastoral conversion on the parish level. Didn’t it prove once more how bureaucratic the Catholic Church is? Be patient. Don’t pass judgment too early. In this document, the Congregation explores how parishes can delegate authority and responsibilities to parishioners within the framework of the Canon Law. The aim is to make the parish become “A community of communities” coming together to worship God. It is a community nourished by the Word of God and a community to proclaim the Word of God, the gospel of Jesus to the neighbourhood. The popularity of the Internet has changed the concept of parish from a territorial space to an existential territory! This indicates that the Curia begins to understand the mystery of the seed which grows by itself. The Curia has the courage to start with a meagre situation and to move towards an uncertain future. Trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, let the “mustard” group of clergy who have been in charge of evangelization become an inclusively great plant embracing all the faithful to serve the people on earth for evangelization.

Brethren! Would you stay away from the mission of evangelization, allowing your spiritual life to wither gradually? Or would you answer the call of “Pastoral Conversion” from the universal Church, involve yourself in evangelization and strengthening your faith day by day?
God bless!

群體免疫 Herd Immunity

聖體聖血節，乙年
主題：群體免疫

作為造物主，上主天主在行使祂的權威時，是可以為所欲為，不受約束。所以，當聖經記載有關祂與諾厄立約（創9:11）、與亞巴郎立約（17:7-11）、透過梅瑟作中保，與以色列人立約（出19:5-6），到最後透過耶穌基督，親自與全人類訂立新約（谷14:24），真是令人驚訝！為甚麼當權者竟然會約束自己呢？請留意不同盟約的內容，包含著天主不可以做的甚麼事，例如禁止祂用水消滅所有生物；和祂不可不做的事，例如永遠保存以色列民族，不會在人類歷史上消失；甚至保證最少有部份人類，可以享受祂的永恆生命！這表示了甚麼？除了是愛之外，我找不到更令人滿意的解釋了。試想想，無限的天主與渺小的人類來往，就好比科幻電影中的「金剛」，牠以碩大無朋之軀，竟然可以細膩地與脆弱的小女孩來往一樣，是充滿著何等的溫柔呵護！天主對人的關愛和保護，的確無微不至。

在人類的歷史中，國與國之間，民族與民族之間，經常為了達成共同的利益，會「歃血為盟」。他們舉行隆重的儀式，把牲畜的血塗在嘴唇上，以表誠信。倘若違背盟誓，就有如被宰的牲畜！以色列人也有類似的儀式。例如，在今天的第一篇讀經，我們看到梅瑟上山領取十誡前，便宰殺牛犢，祭獻天主。取了一半的血，灑在祭壇上；梅瑟向群眾唸過盟約的內容後，把另一半的血灑在百姓身上（出24:4-8）。可見訂立盟誓，是嚴重的，是以性命作擔保的！今天的第二篇讀經告訴我們，到了訂立新約的時候，天主所用的，不再是牲畜的血，而是自己的血，其嚴重性，真是非筆墨可以形容（希9:11-12）。天主子降生成人，最後在十字架上把自己的寶血傾流淨盡，為世人贖罪。為了悔改的罪人，天主子留下了自己的體血，滋養他們的生命。試問為了罪人的回頭悔改，天主還有甚麼可以做而未做的事呢？

舊約的不足之處，在於讓人以為遵守法律，便可以成為「義人」，可以在天主的面前無可指摘。這種思想，忽略了恩寵的角色。殊不知沒有天主的恩寵，所有努力都是徒然。法律是天主白白所賜，教導我們行善避惡。所以法律也是天主的恩寵之一。可惜很多人，尤其其有學問的法學士，以為遵守法律便是一種功勞，足以用來賺取救恩。這種思想，就是後世的白拉奇主義。雖然聖保祿提出「因信成義論」，與及後來的聖奧思定提出「恩寵論」，糾正這異端的錯謬；但直到今天，這思想仍陰雲不散，以其他形式出現在教會內！關鍵在於我們必須相信並接受天主對世人，尤其是罪人的愛。沒有這份信任、信靠，即使天主有多大的善意，世人是不會領情的！

疫症已肆虐了一段日子，全世界沒有一塊土地，沒有一個國家的人民，得以倖免。終於，科學家已研發了一些疫苗，供緊急使用。這場抗疫戰爭，漸露曙光。祇要有相當多的人口接種了疫苗，專家估計要70%，纔能達到「群體免疫」的效果。所以各國政府，不會獨善其身，有義務與貧窮落後地區，分享疫苗。同理，為了公益，市民應按政府的安排，依次序接種疫苗：首先是前線醫護人員，繼而是高危的長者等等。環視世界各地接種疫苗的進度，香港實在落後。截到今天，疫苗接種計劃已進行了超過一百天，但接種了兩劑疫苗的市民不足15%！這樣推算，若要達到70%的群體免疫門檻，恐怕要用大概15個月的時間。但病毒變異是不會等候人類的，到時，疫苗還有效嗎？這個社會現實帶給我們甚麼反省？

我們生活在一個被罪惡污染了的世界，罪惡有如病毒，感染了每一個人。天主憐憫人類，以自己的體血，作為解藥，拯救被罪惡奴役的人類。罪惡有如病毒，不斷「變種」。從前的罪惡，例如殺人、姦淫、搶劫等等，比較個人化；今天的罪惡，變得制度化，通過法例，屠殺未能為自己喊冤的胎兒、准許離婚和同性婚姻、剝削外判工人等等。信徒生活在這樣的環境下，可以倖免嗎？
天主子耶穌基督在升天前，曾派遣門徒向世人宣講福音，使萬民成為門徒。這樣，當大多數的世人信從了福音之後，我們便能達到對罪惡「群體免疫」的效果，可以享受到不受騷擾的宗教自由了！可見，傳福音是何等重要的任務。

各位兄弟姊妹，我們都領受了聖體聖事，領受了天主子耶穌基督的大愛。我們有沒有吸收到基督聖體的恩寵，成為基督的肢體呢？我們既然是基督的肢體，基督充滿著愛的心，有沒有推動我們去拯救其他在羊棧外的羊呢？聖體既然在我們內，我們便是一個聖體櫃了！我們是在聖堂內的聖體櫃，還是在社區內的流動聖體櫃，把天主的大能和救恩，分施給得救的人，邀請他們加人救得的團體，我們的教會呢？
天主保祐！
2018年講道
圖片鳴謝：biblegraphics.com

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Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Year B
Theme: Herd Immunity

When the Lord God exercises His authority as the Creator, He can do whatever He wishes without any constrain. Thus when the Bible tells us about His making covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:11), with Abraham (17:7-11), with the Israelites through Moses as a mediator (Exodus 19:5-6) and at last built a covenant with all humanity Himself through Jesus Christ (Mark 14:24), it is truly shocking! Why would somebody in power agree to restrain himself? Take a look at the contents of the covenants. They include what God is NOT allowed to do, for example, forbidding Him from destroying all living things with flood. They also include what God MUST do, for example, to ensure the existence of the Israelites throughout the ages and even to guarantee that at least some human beings are able to partake in His eternal life! What does it mean? Other than love, I find no explanation more satisfactory. Just think about it. An infinite God interacts with negligible humanity is just like a King Kong in sci-fi movies, which is able to handle delicately a fragile child with its gigantic hand. How mild and caring it is! God’s love and protection of humanity covers every minute detail.

Throughout history, covenants have been made between countries and peoples so that they might maximize their mutual benefits. They went through ceremonies in which cattle’s blood is smeared on their lips to demonstrate fidelity to the pact. Had they breached the covenant, they would have perished like the slaughtered cattle. Israelites also took part in similar ceremonies. For example, from the first reading today, we read that before Moses went up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, the Israelites offered burnt offerings to God. Then Moses took half of the blood and splashed it on the altar. He read the covenant to the people and splashed the blood on the people (Exodus 24:4-8). Thus, building a covenant is a solemn business, using one’s life as a guarantee! The second reading today tells us that when the new covenant was set, God did not use cattle’s blood but His own blood. The solemnity is indescribable (Hebrews 9:11-12). The Son of God incarnated and took up human flesh. At last He poured out all of his blood on the cross to take away the sins of the world. He left behind His body and blood to nourish the lives of repentant sinners. Let us ask ourselves, for the repentance of sinners, what has God left undone which He is capable to do?

The insufficiency of the Old Testament is the illusion that observing the laws justifies a man so that he is without fault before God. This logic has left out the role of grace. Without grace, all human endeavours are nothing. The law is given us without our merit by God, teaching us to do good and to avoid evil. Thus, the law is also a grace. Regrettably, many people, in particular the learned scribes believed that observing the law is a merit, enabling us to earn our salvation. This mentality was the Pelagianism in the future. Although St. Paul refuted this heresy with “Justification by Faith” and St. Augustine with his “theology of grace”, to this date, Pelagianism still lingers on in different disguises within the Church! The crucial point is that we must trust and accept God’s love for us, in particular His love for sinners. Without this trust and reliance, no matter how much God loves us, humanity would never respond!

The pandemic has been around for a while. No piece of land or people from any country is exempted from infection. At last, scientists have developed vaccines and obtained approval for emergency use. Dawn has broken over the horizon in this pandemic war. When enough people, experts estimate at 70%, are vaccinated, herd immunity would be achieved. Therefore, no government is an island. Each has the obligation to share vaccines with the poor or underdeveloped regions. Similarly, for the sake of common good, citizens should follow the government’s arrangement to receive vaccination: firstly the frontline medical staff. Then go senior citizens of high risk groups etc. Surveying the situation of global vaccination today, Hong Kong is falling behind. As of this writing, more than 100 days of vaccination programme have elapsed, less than 15% of the population is fully vaccinated! From extrapolation, I’m afraid it would take about 15 more months before we might achieve 70% vaccination. But virus does not wait for us to mutate. By then, would the vaccine be effective? This social reality forces us to reflect!

We’re living in a sins-infested world. Sins are like virus, infecting everybody. The Lord is merciful. He makes use of His body and blood to be our antidote to deliver us from the slavery of sins. Sins mutate like virus. Previously, sins such as murder, adultery and theft etc. were individual. Nowadays, sins become more structural. Through legislation, innocent foetuses are butchered, divorce and same-sex marriages are permitted and outsourced workers are exploited etc. Living in such an environment, can believers be exempted?
Before His ascension, the Son of God Jesus Christ commissioned His disciples to proclaim the gospel and to make disciples of all peoples. Thus, when the majority of people believe in the gospel, we shall achieve herd immunity against sins. We shall be able to enjoy religious freedom without fear! Thus evangelization is an extremely essential mission.

Brethren! We have received the Sacrament of Eucharist, the undeserved love of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Have we absorbed the grace from the Holy Communion and become members of the Mystical Body of Christ? If we are members of the Mystical Body, does the love-overflowing heart of Christ move us to deliver other lambs outside this fold? Since the Holy Communion is inside us, we have become a tabernacle. Are we tabernacles stationed inside the Church or mobile tabernacles in the neighbourhood, sharing God’s power and salvation with people, inviting them to join the community of the redeemed, the Church?
God bless!