四級強者 Iron Man Level-4

四級強者（路12:39-48）

流行文化之中，亦可找到一些福音的教訓。例如眾所周知，出自蜘蛛俠漫畫的名句：「強大的能力帶著重大的責任」，就是出自今天的經文：「交托誰的多，向誰索取的也格外多」（路12:48）。倘若天主賜給你特別多的「塔冷通」，意即能力和才幹，天主會要求你為建設天國，為拯救人的靈魂，多出一分力。

不單是天國，這道理也可以應用到所有機構去，包括世俗的政府。換句話說，你的權力越大，你的責任就越大。因為當權者行使他們的權力時，會帶給全體國民廣泛的影響。所以，純粹享受權力所帶來的利益，而忘記了向人民負責任的匹夫，就是一個暴君！

儒家思想與基督信仰，有很多不謀而合之處。今次也不例外。耶穌基督不是教訓過，我們是世界的光，建在山上的城嗎？我們應以善行光榮在天之父。（瑪5:14-16）同樣，儒家思想主張由「強者」來掌握權力，出任公務員，輔助君王，推行「仁政」，惠及百姓。
子路是孔子的弟子，是著名的勇者。有一天他請教孔子，怎樣做纔算是一個強人。孔子提出四個層次的指標：和而不流、中立而不倚、國有道而不塞、國無道至死不變！（禮記．中庸10）這些都是所有在任何機構服務的人，無論是公務員、聖職人員、前線士兵還是銀行的中層管理，所應該追求的表現。

• 「和而不流」是指待人接物善良，但不會同流合污，因為做人要有明辨是非善惡的能力。
• 「中立而不倚」是指處事公平，不會輸送利益，因為我們要按倫理原則做人。這個指標比「和而不流」難，因為爭奪雙方都會埋怨你。
• 「國有道而不塞」是指即使在有利的環境下，也不要冒進強求尚未達到的目標，因為好高鶩遠祇會失敗收場，禍害更大。
• 最後，「國無道至死不變」是指即使在惡劣的環境下，絕不放棄真理和慈悲的原則，這是四個指標中最難做到的一個！

各位兄弟姊妹，你是強者嗎？不過，無論你有多強，或多弱，最後總要向天主交代。
主耶穌基督，請幫助我們強壯起來，堅持到底（瑪10:22，谷13:13）。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝: Wikipedia

---

Iron Man Level-4 (Luke 12:39-48)

We are able to find gospel teachings even in popular culture. For example, the well-known aphorism from the Spider Man comics, “With great power comes great responsibility” actually comes from today’s gospel passage, “Still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke 12:48) If God gives you more talentum, i.e. abilities and talents, God expects you to work harder to establish the Kingdom of Heaven and to save more souls.

This principle applies not only to the Kingdom of Heaven, but it also applies to all institutions, including secular governments. In other words, the greater authority you command, the greater your responsibility shall be. It is because when powerful people exercise their authority, all commoners will be affected extensively. Thus whoever enjoys the benefits of power and ignores his responsibility towards his subjects is a tyrant!

Confucianism and Christianity agree with each other a lot in their teachings. This time is no exception. Hasn’t Jesus Christ taught that we are the light of the world, a city set on a mountain? We should glorify our heavenly Father with our charity services (Matthew 5:14-16). Similarly, Confucianism teaches that the strong should be invested with authority as civil servants to assist the king in discharging benevolent policies to enrich the people.

Zhong You was a faithful disciple of Confucius. He was famous for his valour and sense of justice. Once he asked Confucius what to do to be an Iron Man. Confucius lay down four indicators: to be friendly without pleasing others; to maintain fairness without leaning towards either side; not being ambitious even in favourable situations and lastly perseverant unto death even when conditions are adverse. (The Doctrine of the Mean #10) These indicators should be pursued by everybody serving in any institutions, be they civil servants, the clergy, frontline soldiers or middle managers of banks.

• “To be friendly without pleasing others” means we should be meek and seek harmony without following the crowd because we have the capability to judge right from wrong.
• “To maintain fairness without leaning to either side” means we should be impartial towards all parties concerned because we should follow moral principles. This indicator is more difficult because both parties shall blame and hold grudges against us.
• “Not being ambitious even in favourable situations.” Favourable situations are tempting to ambitious men. But ambitions almost always end up in failures. The damages are greater.
• Lastly, holding on to the principles of truth and mercy, “perseverant unto death even when conditions are adverse” is the most difficult among the four!

Brethren! Are you an Iron Man? No matter how strong or how fragile you are, all of us are held accountable to God in the end.
Lord Jesus Christ, help us become strong and persevere to the end (Matthew 10:22, Mark 13:13). Amen.