常年期第廿二主日，乙年
主題：守法怎樣顯出有智慧
貫串今天的三篇讀經，有一個共同主題，就是「智慧」。雖然第一篇讀經是節錄的，但大家應該有能力自己翻查原文的全部。第二篇讀經提及拯救我們靈魂的天主聖言（雅1:21），這天主聖言，這生了我們的「真理之言」（1:18），祇有智慧纔能掌握到，領會到這真理！
回到第一篇讀經，話說梅瑟頒佈法律時，很清楚明白地告訴以列色人，這法律來自天主：「看，我授與你們法令和規律，都是上主我的天主吩咐與我的」（申4:5a）。梅瑟繼續說：「你們要謹守遵行，因為這樣，在萬民眼中，纔能顯出你們的智慧和見識」（4:6）。守梅瑟法律的以色列人，在其他民族眼中顯得有智慧和有見識！
原來法律在某程度上，是真理的載體，例如自然科學所發現的定律，總包含著大自然的奧妙真理，反映出天主創造的智慧！應用到社會上的定律，總不離真理。例如：欠債還錢，是保障私有產業的定律，是表達「公義」這個真理。誠然，某些法律祇是為了方便人與人的交往，與真理無關。例如在公路上超速行車，容易發生危險；行車太慢，又會造成擠塞！所以有必要定下車速限制。
話說回來，那麼，是梅瑟法律本身的設計充滿智慧，還是守法的以色列人本身有智慧，以至在萬民眼中，覺得以色列人有智慧和見識呢？以【申命紀】的立場，是前者。因為舊約聖經時常批評以色列人是執拗的百姓/民族（出32:9，申9:6），所以是梅瑟法律本身的完美，令遵守的人，無論是以色列人，還是其他民族的人，顯得有智慧，有見識。
無可否認，沒有法律的指導，人會變得無所適從，容易行差踏錯；但沒有人執法，法律是死的文字而已。所以人與法律是互動的，共生的。要知道文字是死的，人卻是活的，倘若由不理會立法精神的人執法，即使是完美的法律，也會淪為「食人的禮教」！同樣，即使是有缺陷的法律，落在有法治精神的法官手上，也總可以作出合情合理，令人信服的判決。所以，人纔是主角，問題在於守法的人或者執法的人，是按法律的精神行事，還是出於自私，出於耶穌基督今天在福音中數算的邪惡呢？「…惡念、邪淫、盜竊、兇殺、姦淫、貪吝、毒辣、詭詐、放蕩、嫉妒、毀謗、驕傲、愚妄」（谷7:21-22）不按法律精神守法，會帶來甚麼後果？人民祇會想盡辦法逃避責任，推卸責任。不按法律精神執法會怎樣？濫權自肥，此起彼落，祇會累積民怨，造成社會動盪！
當守法/執法由為了幫助人生存（申4:1）變成為了滿足一己的私慾，殘民以自肥的時候，天主，祢會袖手旁觀嗎？
從祂所頒佈的法律，可見天主是「公平」的（4:8）。但這並不意味著天主會立刻追究那些殘民以自肥者的責任。從亞巴郎為索多瑪城，與天主討價還價的例子（創18:22-33）；又或者梅瑟為山下拜偶像的以色列人求情的例子（出32:7-14），可以看到，即使是舊約所描述的天主，在公義以外慈悲的一面。先知繼續說：「我豈能喜歡惡人的喪亡？我豈不更喜歡他離開舊道而得生存？」（則18:23）到了新約時代，天主的慈悲壓倒一切！即是說，天主「是含忍的，慈祥的，不嫉妒，不誇張，不自大，不作無禮的事，不求己益，不動怒，不圖謀惡事，不以不義為樂，卻與真理同樂；凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐，因為祂是永存不朽的」（格前13:4-8a）這忍耐包容是天主的智慧，讓人長進和生存的智慧。當保祿宗徒在歌頌「愛」的時候，他不知不覺地在歌頌天主，聖保祿間接地說了一句「天主是愛」（若一4:8）。
更有甚者，天主把復仇保留給自己（羅12:19），免得我們欠下我們沒有能力償還的血債。即是說，祂已暗示了由祂來償還所有血債！具體地，天主子降生成人，死在十字架上，代替世人償還所有血債！罪人要做的，就是向祂呼求便可以了。正如今天第一篇讀經所說：「有那個大民族的神這樣接近他們，如同上主我們的天主，在我們每次呼求祂時，這樣親近我們呢？」（申4:7）天主，罪人們真的被祢的慈悲寵壞了！不過，我要告訴大家，不要企圖佔天主便宜，不要以為無限慈悲的天主，會給我們無限次的悔改機會、給我們無限量的恩寵生活，便可以無後顧之憂地犯罪，滿足一己的私慾！聖保祿也曾反省過這個疑問：「那麼，我們因為…在恩寵權下，就可以犯罪嗎？」（羅6:15）
誠然，無限仁慈的天主，固然會給我們無限次悔改的機會，和無限量的恩寵生活。問題在於我們是微不足道的受造物，我們沒有無限的時間運用這些無限的機會和恩寵。尤有甚者，浸淫在罪惡的時間越長，我們吸收恩寵的能力越弱；以至我們的心腸硬化到不想悔改，不覺得有需要悔改，或者對天主絕望，認為自己罪孽深重，無可藥救，好像猶達斯一樣，一死以謝天下！
看來守法真是有智慧！首先，守法避免沉溺在罪惡中，心腸硬化，不能自拔。其次，遵守法律可以約束著我們的衝動，使我們的精力，在合符公益的渠道內運作，不至傷及無辜，累己累人。最後，受到約束和限制，我們便有動機去發掘潛藏著的本領，有機會提升，甚至超越自己的本質成聖！
各位兄弟姊妹，天主頒佈戒律，目的不在約束我們的自由，而是幫助我們有規範地運用我們的自由；我們守法，亦不應消極地死守條文，反而應該有意識地活出法律的精神，倡議一些放諸四海皆準的倫理！為人為己，以法治精神守法執法，是智慧之選。
天主保祐！
2015年講道
圖片鳴謝：blogs-images.forbes.com/susanadams/
Twenty Second Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Obeying the Law Shows Wisdom
There is a common thread running through the three readings today, namely “wisdom”. Although the first reading is an excerpt, I’m sure all of you are capable of looking up the text in full. The second reading mentions the “word that is able to save our souls” (James 1:21). This “word of truth” which gave us birth (1:18) can only be grasped by wisdom!
Let’s get back to the first reading. When Moses taught the Israelites the commandments, he told them “See, I am teaching you the statues and ordinances as the Lord, my God, has commanded me” (Deuteronomy 4:5a) and continues, “Observe them carefully, for this is your wisdom and discernment in the sight of the peoples” (4:6). Other peoples would see wisdom and discernment in the Israelites who observe commandments!
To a certain extent, laws are carriers of truth. For example, laws discovered by natural sciences capture wonderful truths of Mother Nature. They reflect God’s creative wisdom! Laws applied to societies can’t stray from the truth. For example, repaying debts is a law which protects private property. It shows the truth of justice. To be honest, some laws are set up to facilitate interpersonal interactions only and may not be related to truth. For example, speeding on highway is dangerous, but driving too slowly creates congestions! Therefore, laws are set up to regulate speeding.
Let’s return to Moses’ laws. Is the design of Moses’ laws full of wisdom, or are the Israelites themselves so wise that other peoples think that they have wisdom and discernment? From the perspective of Deuteronomy, it is the former. It is because the Old Testament always criticizes the Israelites “a stiff-necked people” (Exodus 32:9, Deuteronomy 9:6). Thus, Moses’ laws themselves are so perfect that whoever observe them, be they Israelites or Gentiles, will show wisdom and discernment.
Then, are men really that incompetent and good for nothing?
Undeniably, without laws, men lose direction and make mistakes easily. But without men to enforce them, laws are dead letters. Thus, men and laws tangle and are symbiotic. Letters are dead but men are alive. If laws are enforced by people who ignore the spirit of the law, even perfect laws would become a slaughter house! In a similar manner, in the hands of judges who follow the Rule of Law, sensible and convincing sentences can be meted out even under flawed legislations. Therefore, it is men who play the major roles. The crux of the issue is whether the observers or the enforcers of the law follow the spirit of the law or self-interests, or what Jesus enumerates today in the gospel: “evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly” (Mark 7:21-22) What consequences would it cause when people don’t observe the laws according to the spirit of the law? Citizens would evade responsibilities and pass the buck to others. What about not enforcing the laws according to the Rule of Law? Authority abuses and self-fattening would be rampant. Commoners would grumble and destabilize the society!
When observing/enforcing the laws turns from helping people live (Deuteronomy 4:1) to self-fattening, God, would you simply fold your hands and do nothing?
From the laws He gave, we see that God is righteous (4:8). But that doesn’t imply that God would immediately chase after the abusers. From Abraham’s bargaining with God over Sodom (Genesis 18:22-33), or Moses’ intercession for the Israelites who were worshipping idol below Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:7-14), we see the merciful face of the Old Testament God behind His righteousness. Later, the prophet would say, “Do I find pleasure in the death of the wicked? Do I not rejoice when they turn from their evil way and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23) In New Testament time, God’s mercy overwrites everything! That is to say, God “is patient and is kind. He is not jealous, is not pompous, is not inflated, is not rude, does not seek His own interests. He is not quick-tempered. He does not brood over injury, does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. He bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. He never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a) This patience and tolerance is the wisdom of God, an edifying and life-giving wisdom. When Paul sang this ode of love, perhaps without knowing it, he sang praises to God. Indirectly, Paul says, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
More than that, God reserves vengeance for Himself (Romans 12:19) so that we will not be accountable for the bloodguilt which we are unable to repay. That is to say, He has already suggested that He would shoulder all the bloodguilt Himself! In concrete terms, the Son of God would incarnate and be crucified to repay all the bloodguilt for men! What sinners should do is simply to invoke God. Just as it is written in the first reading today, “For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?” (Deuteronomy 4:7). God, sinners are spoiled by Your mercy! However, I won’t encourage you to take advantage of God. Don’t ever think that God is infinitely merciful. He would give us infinite opportunities to repent and infinite grace to live. Therefore, we may sin and gratify all our desires without any worries. St. Paul asks a similar question, “Shall we sin … because we are under grace?” (Romans 6:15)
Frankly, infinitely merciful God will give us infinite number of opportunities to repent and infinite amount of grace to live. The problem is we are mere negligible creatures. We don’t have eternity to enjoy those infinite opportunities and grace. More seriously, the longer we imbue in sins, the weaker our ability to absorb grace so much so that our hearts become hardened. Then we don’t want to repent, don’t feel the need to repent or we despair, thinking that our sins are so grave that we are irredeemable. Like Judas, the only exit is suicide!
From this perspective, obeying the laws is truly wise! First of all, observing the laws prevents us from submerging in sins, having our hearts hardened and forsaking repentance. Secondly, observing the law can restrain our impulses. We are able to channel our energy to do public good and not doing harm to the innocent. Lastly, being restrained, we have the motive to develop our potentials and the opportunity to sublime and even transcend our nature to sanctification!
Brethren! God gives us commandments not to restrict our freedom but to help us exercise our freedom in an appropriate manner. When we observe the laws, we shouldn’t passively obey the letters of the laws. Instead, we should consciously live up the spirit of the laws and advocate some categorical morality. For our good and for the good of all, observe and enforce the laws with the spirit of rule of law is a wise choice.
God bless!
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