聖母蒙召升天節
主題：論聖母蒙召升天的重要性
天主教的信仰，絕不迷信，因為她的神學，經過千年來的推敲辯論，去蕪存菁，絕對理性。沒有足夠的哲學訓練，是不能徹底掌握的。所以這個非常理性的信仰和崇拜，絕不會導人迷信。倘若宗教信仰祇有理性的成份，頂多是人生哲理的一種，沒有可能成為一個足以鼓舞人心，甚至不惜赴湯蹈火地殉道的動力。的確，宗教的威力不在其教條，而在它對意志和情感的教化。天主教今天所慶祝的「聖母蒙召升天節」，是一個很清楚的例子，說明這個宗教並不迷信，並且合符人性的情操。
天主教信仰建基於聖經，但聖經並不會自我解說，要靠聖經學者和神學家研究它的含意。有些研究結果是公認的，教會上下成員都同意的，不需要進一步研究討論的，並且足以界定信徒身份的。我們稱這些結果是「當信道理」。例如：天主是「三位一體」，耶穌基督是「真人真天主」是作為一個基督徒所應當相信的真理，不接受這些真理，就沒有資格稱為基督徒。有些研究成果尚有討論的空間，我們稱之為「教義」，甚至祇是「神學意見」。例如，有些學者堅持按字面解經，認為天主祇造了一男一女（創1:26）；有些學者認為這樣解釋聖經，會引起「亂倫」的困難（4:17）。但從聖經研究所累積到的經驗所知，正確的釋經，一般是捨易取難的…所以這些討論，到今天仍未有定案。
「聖母蒙召升天」是天主教有關聖母瑪利亞的四個「當信道理」之一。即是說，如果懷疑聖母瑪利亞死後，靈魂和肉身一起被提升到天上，就沒有資格稱為天主教徒！為甚麼這樣嚴重呢？第一，它是最遲確立的，是之前三個「當信道理」的邏輯結論，是理性的成果。第二，它符合對聖母感情上的要求，符合宗教情操。
第一個聖母的當信道理，宣認聖母瑪利亞是「天主之母」，是在公元431年的厄弗所大公會議所確立。聖母瑪利亞是受造物，造物主又怎可以是受造物所生的呢？所以當時有意見認為聖母祇誕生了天主子人性的部份，所以頂多祇是「基督之母」，不可以是「天主之母」。殊不知這種看來合符邏輯的意見，把耶穌基督的天主性與人性撕開了！因此，捍衛聖母是天主之母的身份，是捍衛天主子是真人真天主的當信道理！
第二個聖母當信道理，宣稱聖母瑪利亞在誕生耶穌前，在誕生過程中和誕生耶穌後，由始至終沒有破損她的童貞，這是公元649年的拉脫朗大公會議所確立。生物學家一定會反對這個結論，認為與科學不符！
首先，我們相信天主的人，一定相信神蹟。下雨是自然現象，但因為下雨而扭轉戰局，在有信仰的人眼中是天意，拒絕神蹟的人惟有尋求其他解釋了！我們相信神蹟是天主臨在的標記，一個祂向我們展示慈悲的痕跡。自古之來，教父認為梅瑟所見沒有焚毀的荊棘（出3:2），就是聖母卒世童貞的標記。聖嬰的出生，無損聖母的童貞，尤如祂復活時透出墳墓，不用挪開堵塞墓門的石頭一樣，是自然定律不能解釋的神蹟！耶穌基督由童貞女所生，是他的天主性的一部份。福音中提及主的兄弟姊妹（谷6:3），教父們一致認為不是聖母瑪利亞所生的。其實，聖母卒世童貞的道理，也是捍衛耶穌基督的天主性所要求的！
第三個聖母當信道理，宣稱聖母瑪利亞從成孕之始，沒有原罪。是教宗庇護九世在公元1854年頒佈的。這道理不是大公會議的決議，不但被基督新教拒絕，連東正教也採取保留的態度。雖然不在大公會議決議，教宗用了五年時間，諮詢了全球主教的意見，百份之九十支持這端教義成為當信道理。是的，這端道理經歷了長時間的爭辯，有待各種的反對意見逐漸退下纔定案下來的。這端道理與「天主之母」的道理吻合，並沒有否定聖母瑪利亞也需要耶穌基督的救贖。天主給聖子之母這特殊的恩寵，是可能並且是恰當的。要知道天主子具有真實的人性，但如何捍衛他的人性，免受原罪的傷害呢？在耶穌基督的族譜中，總要有一個轉捩點，一個界限，令原罪到此為止，不得越雷池半步。「天主為滄海劃定界限，令水不要越境，給大地奠定基礎」（箴8:29）以聖母作為這個界限，是最經濟的做法，是為了捍衛天主子的人性所要求的！
即使是受造物，人類是享有尊嚴的，不應作為工具看待。所以人祇應該是目的，不可以是手段，這是人與人之間最基本的倫理要求。司祭長和長老為了捉拿耶穌而利用猶達斯，不理會他的死活。這種將人用完即棄的態度，絕對是不道德的。人與人之間的交往，尚且如此，難道天主可以不尊重按祂自己肖象所造的人類嗎？試想想，天父會不會利用完瑪利亞作為天主子進入人間的載體後，把她遺棄在世上，任由她腐朽呢？「你也絕不讓你的聖者見到腐朽」（詠16:10）雖然宗徒們引述這句話來證明耶穌基督的復活（宗2:27，13:35），但這句話應用在天主之母身上，同樣恰當！因為聖母死後，靈魂肉身最好的去處，莫過於天主的居所了！可能你會引用保祿論述復活的說話反對：「各人要依照自己的次第：首先是為初果的基督，然後是在基督再來時屬於基督的人。」（格前15:23）不錯，在基督復活與基督再來時之間，是沒有復活！但不要忘記，在舊約時代，哈諾客（創5:24）和厄里亞（列下2:11）沒有經過死亡，被接到天上去；而且在耶穌顯聖容時，厄里亞再次出現。連這些被原罪傷害了的凡夫俗子，也可以在天上享見天主子的聖容，難道被天使尊稱為「充滿恩寵者」（路1:28），天主聖神所庇蔭（1:35）的天主之母，要淪落在陰府裡等候末日復活嗎？
這端當信道理是在1950年，由教宗庇護十二世經廣泛諮詢全球主教意見後，首次引用「教宗不能錯」的權威所頒報。雖然這端道理沒有直接捍衛天主子兩性一位的真理，但它與其餘三端當信道理是前後呼應的。在理性上，聖母蒙召升天是天主聖父的公義；在情操上，是天主聖子孝順的表現；在意志上，是天主聖神的貫徹始終。這端當信道理，即使沒有聖母多次的顯現，也是無懈可擊的！
各位兄弟姊妹，我們有幸作為聖母的子女（若19:27），今天慶祝母親的升天，既有依依不捨想念之情，也有說不清的喜悅。讓我們懷著天鄉重聚的希望，跟隨聖母孕育聖言的榜樣，勤讀聖經，活出福音的精神，把福音的喜樂，感染身邊的人。
天主保祐！
圖片鳴謝：aleteia.org
Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM
Theme: The importance of the Assumption of BVM
Catholicism is absolutely not superstitious because her theology has gone through a thousand years of debates, been purified and therefore absolutely rational. It is impossible to comprehend without sufficient philosophical training. Thus, this extremely rational faith and worship can never turn people superstitious. However, if a religion is rational only, it is at most a sort of worldview which is not able to motivate people to seek martyrdom. In fact, the power of religions lies not in their creeds but in their cultivation of will and affection. Catholics celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the BVM today. It illustrates clearly how Catholicism is not superstitious but is in harmony with human sensitivity.
Catholicism is founded upon the Bible which is not self-explanatory. Believers rely on scholars and theologians to study its meanings. Some articles of faith are publicly acknowledged and agreed upon by members of all ranks and files. There is no further need to debate and analyse. Furthermore, these articles define the identity of the believers. We call these articles of faith dogmas. For example, God is trinite, i.e. three in one and Jesus Christ is both human and divine are Christian dogmas. If you do not accept these truths, you are not qualified to be a Christian. Some conclusions from studies still leave room for further discussion. We call them doctrines and even theological opinions. For example, some scholars insist on literal interpretation of the Bible. They opine that God had created one man and one woman (Genesis 1:26). Some scholars raise the difficulty of incest (4:17) in taking the literal path. However, from the past experience of biblical exegesis, scholars know that the correct interpretation usually comes from the more difficult one … The discussion is still open.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the four Marian dogmas. That is to say, if you question whether the soul and body of the BVM were taken up to heaven after her death, you’re not qualified to be a Catholic! Why is it as grave as such? First of all, it is the latest Marian dogma, a logical conclusion of the previous three dogmas. It is rational. Secondly, it is in harmony with the affective demand towards the BVM, a proper religious affection.
The first Marian dogma, that she is the Mother of God, was promulgated in the Ephesian Council in 431 AD. But the BVM is only a creature. How could a creature give birth to the Creator? At that time, some people opined that the BVM only gave birth to the humanity of the Son of God. She could at most be called the Mother of Christ, not the Mother of God! However, this seemingly logical opinion tore apart the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. Thus, defending the identity of the Mother of God is in fact defending the dogma of the humanity and divinity of the Son of God!
The second Marian dogma declares that the BVM retains her virginity before, during and after giving birth to Jesus. The Lateran Council in 649 promulgated this perpetual virginity dogma. Biologists would object, thinking that it is in contradiction with science!
First of all, we who believe in God believe in miracles. Raining is a natural phenomenon. But when a downpour turns the outcome of a battle around, in the eyes of believers, it is a miracle, a God’s will. For those who reject miracles, they have to look for explanation elsewhere! We believe that miracles are signs of God’s presence, signs showing His mercy. Since antiquity, Church Fathers see the burning bush (Exodus 3:2) as a sign of the perpetual virginity of the BVM. When the BVM gave birth to the Holy Infant, her virginity was preserved just as when Christ emerged from the tomb without removing the rock that blocked the entrance. These are miracles which science cannot explain! The virginal birth of Jesus Christ is part of his divinity. The gospels mention the siblings of the Lord (Mark 6:3) whom the Church Fathers opined that they were Joseph’s children from previous marriage. In fact, the dogma of perpetual virginity of the BVM defends the divinity of Jesus Christ!
The third Marian dogma, i.e. the Immaculate Conception of the BVM was promulgated by Pope Pius IX in 1854. This dogma was not defined by ecumenical councils. Not only was it rejected by Protestants, even the Orthodox Church also holds it in reservation. Although this dogma was not a resolution of a council, it came from prior consultation of bishops all over the world for five long years. More than 90% of bishops supported declaring it a dogma. Truly, this dogma has gone through lengthy debates until opposing voices have all died down. It agrees with the dogma of Mother of God and does not deny the necessity of Christ’s redemption. That God gave this special grace to the mother of the Son of God is possible and appropriate. The Son of God is genuinely human. Then how did God defend his humanity from the damage of the Original Sin? Along the genealogy of Jesus Christ, a certain turning point, a boundary must be set up to stop the Original Sin from proceeding. God “set for the sea its limit, so that the waters should not transgress His command; when He fixed the foundations of earth” (Proverbs 8:29). Making the BVM this boundary is the most economical way to defend the humanity of the Son of God!
Let us meditate the fourth dogma.
Even though we are creatures, humanity enjoy dignity and should not be treated as tools. Man can only be an end, never a means. This is the most basic moral demand in interpersonal interactions. In order to arrest Jesus, the chief priests and elders manhandled Judas, ignoring his fate. Treating people as dispensable is absolutely immoral. This is a rule of engagement even among men. Can God disregard humanity which He created in His image? Just think about it, could the Father, after making use of the BVM as a carrier to bring the Son of God into this world, abandon her on earth and leave her to decay? “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor let your devout one see the pit” (Psalms 16:10). Although the apostles quoted this verse to prove the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts, 2:27, 13:35), this verse also applies to the Mother of God, most appropriately! It is because after her death, where else can be a better place to settle the soul and body of the BVM than God’s abode? Perhaps you would quote Paul’s treatise on resurrection to object, “each one in proper order: Christ the first fruits; then at his coming, those who belong to Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:23). Truly, between Christ’s resurrection and His second coming, there’s no resurrection! But don’t forget, in Old Testament times, Enoch (Genesis 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) were taken up to heavens without going through death. Moreover, Elijah showed up during Christ’s transfiguration. Even these mortals who were damaged by the Original Sin were able to enjoy in heaven the vision of the Son of God, would the one whom the Angel reveres as “Full of grace” (Luke 1:28), the Mother of God whom the Holy Spirit overshadows (1:35) be degraded to await resurrection in Sheol?
Using papal infallibility for the first time, Pope Pius XII promulgated this dogma in 1950 after extensive consultation with bishops all over the world. Although this dogma does not directly defend the humanity and divinity of the Son of God, it is consistent with the previous three dogmas. Rationally, the assumption of the BVM is the righteousness of the Father. Affectively, it shows the filial piety of the Son of God. In will, the Assumption of the BVM is the perseverance of the Holy Spirit. Even without the many Marian apparitions, this dogma is flawless!
Brethren! We are blessed to be children of the BVM (John 19:27). When we celebrate the Assumption of our Mother, we are filled with this lingering feeling of missing her and an unspeakable joy. Let the hope of reunion in heaven urge us to follow the example of the BVM nurturing the Word of God, to study the Bible diligently and to live up the spirit of the gospel. May we carry and pass on the joy of the gospel to our neighbour.
God bless!
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