天主的公義

天主的公義

很多人誤會了天主的公義，就是「賞善罰惡」。這種把複雜事物簡單化的傾向，是人之常情。倘若堅持自己這個膚淺的思想就是真理的全部，恐怕祇會自尋煩惱。例如，如果天主的公義祇可以是「賞善罰惡」，那麼，善人為何會受苦呢？可見天主的公義，不可能祇是「賞善罰惡」那麼簡單！

讓我們從另一個角度考慮。行善可以升天堂，對不對？祇對了一半！倘若行善的結果是升天堂，便違反了一個重要的倫理判斷原則了：就是「動機」。一個為了估名釣譽而捐出兩億財產的富翁，與福音中捐出兩個銅錢的窮寡婦，如何判別他們的優劣呢？其中一個準則就是行為的「動機」！同樣道理，倘若行善不是為了愛天主，或者不是為了解救有困難的近人，而是為了累積功勞給自己升天堂，相信很多人會唾棄這個動機！可見，行善，並不是為了自己，而是為了其他人的益處。這不是耶穌在講述「點燈應放在燈台上」的教訓嗎？「好使他們看見你們的善行，光耀你們在天之父。」（瑪5:15-16）

因此，行善不應該為自己。同理，履行公義也不是為了自己！這樣容易明白。可惜，很多人把「公義」簡單化為「公平」，繼而轉變為「以牙還牙」，目的是為了保障個體，不會受到不合理的傷害…殊不知這樣理解「公義」，反而製造更大的不公義。因為很多人會揮舞著「公義」的旗幟，聚眾攻擊與自己競爭的對手，結果令更多的個體，受到無辜的和更大的傷害。所以，真正的公義，應該是解放受約束的人，使他們不再被別人奴役！

在今天的福音，耶穌一方面教訓司祭長和長老，另一方面讚賞若翰的「正義」。因為若翰的言行，引導了娼妓和稅吏悔改，使罪人與天主修和，從罪惡的奴役中釋放出來！以言以行，協助罪人悔改，合符天主的公義，故然會獲得賞報。但過程中，免不了會受苦，甚至殉道，有如洗者若翰一樣。所以，在賞善罰惡的天主手上，善人也會受苦！
主啊！請賞賜我們剛毅與敬畏上主之恩，好能獲得真正的智慧，不會把事理簡單化。亞孟。
論盡神學
圖片鳴謝: Credo Magazine

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Rethink God's Righteousness

Many people misunderstand God’s righteousness to be “awarding the good and punishing the wicked”. It is the result of the human tendency to oversimplify complicated things. If we insist on this shallow way of thinking to be the whole truth, I’m afraid we’re only inviting troubles. For example, if God’s righteousness is only “awarding the good …”then why do good people suffer? Thus God’s righteousness can never be that simplistic!

Let’s think along another line. Doing good enables us to enter heaven, doesn’t it? It is only a half-truth! If the fruit of doing good is entry into heaven, it contradicts an important moral principle: viz. motive. How do we judge who is better, a rich man who donates two billion dollars for fame or the biblical poor widow who donates two mites? One of the moral principles is the motive of an action! Similarly, if we do good not for the love of God, or to relieve the plights of the needy neighbour but for earning merits to enter heaven, I’m sure we earn contempt instead! Thus, doing good is not for ourselves but for the sake of others. Isn’t this what Jesus teaches with “Lighting a lamp and setting it on a lampstand”? “That they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly father.” (Matthew 5:15-16)

Thus, doing good is not for oneself. Similarly, doing justice is also not for oneself! This is easy to understand. Regrettably, many people simplify “righteousness” into “equality”, then turning into “a tooth for a tooth” to protect individuals from unreasonable harm … Unbeknown to them, such an understanding of “righteousness” creates a greater injustice. Many people hoist a righteous flag, gather a mob to attack their rivals. Consequently, more individuals are harmed and greater damages are made. Genuine righteousness should instead liberate people from bondage and slavery!

In the gospel text today, Jesus scolded the chief priests and elders on one hand and praised the righteousness of the Baptist. It was because John’s words and deeds made prostitutes and tax-collectors repent. He reconciled sinners and God, liberating sinners from the bondage of sin. Helping sinners repent with words and deeds satisfies God’s righteousness. We shall surely be rewarded. But in the process, we’ll suffer and may eventually are martyred like the Baptist. Thus in the hand of a God who “rewards the good and punishes the bad”, the good may suffer!
Lord! Grant us fortitude and the fear of God in order to obtain genuine wisdom not to oversimply things. Amen.