「復活蛋」Easter Egg

「復活蛋」Easter Egg（若4:43-54）

電腦遊戲/應用程式中經常埋藏了些「復活蛋」，是一些意外的驚喜，秘技或者資訊。雖然離復活節還有三個星期，但在今天的福音中，筆者竟然發現了一顆「復活蛋」，一個隱藏了的神蹟！

人為「萬物之靈」其中的一個元素、一個足以把人類從動物界分別出來的因素，是他的「理性」。科技的發達，上可以飛出太空，下可以改造基因，都是有目共睹「理性」的輝煌成就。所以，不要怪責今天接受科學洗禮的人，事事講求「實證」。他們對於拿不出真憑實據的宗教信仰，嗤之以鼻，是可以理解的。

可惜，當科學家小心翼翼地指出目前科學結論的局限性時，有些不學無術的人，把「實證主義」推往實證所不能保證的極端，誇大它的成果，使普羅大眾，迷信科學，不信造物主的存在！迷信科學的人否定人類擁有靈性，因為有信仰的人拿不出他們的「靈魂」，給科學家放在顯微鏡下觀察，放進粒子撞擊器裡做實驗…這些不學無術的人，誤導了普羅大眾，在他們的認知裡造成了嚴重的障礙，用不恰當的工具去尋覓真理。這是另類的迷信，與崇拜偶像沒有分別！

今天故事中的王臣，憑他說的這句話，「主，在我的小孩未死以前，請你下來罷！」（若4:49）可知他是個很務實的人。但耶穌祇回答了一句話，「去罷！你的兒子活了」，那人竟然信了（4:50）！是甚麼令王臣信了呢？耶穌不是剛說了，「除非你們看到神蹟和奇事，你們總是不信」（4:48）嗎？這個實事求是的王臣看到甚麼神蹟呢？耶穌所說的一句話，有足夠力量嗎？抑或是耶穌的眼神、面容甚至是氣味，使他相信呢？我們不得而知。從第三章到這裡，我們找不到耶穌從猶太回到加里肋亞後，所行的第一個神蹟。莫非這裡發生了若望所暗示的第一個神蹟（4:54）？可能耶穌基督把自己是天主子的身份，啟示了給這王臣；祂以天主子的身份，向王臣的靈魂說了話。在死而復活的「生命之主」面前，王臣信服了眼前，一位來自加里肋亞的木匠。

主啊，這王臣真是有福！求祢讓我們在四旬期的默觀中，得以享見祢聖容的光輝，有如祢在高山上顯示祢的聖容一樣。亞孟。
相片鳴謝：bible.com
生命恩泉

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Easter Egg (John 4:43-54)

“Easter Eggs” are usually surprises, tips or interesting information buried in computer games/applications. Although there are still about three weeks before Easter, the author discovers in the gospel passage today an “Easter Egg”, a hidden miracle.

One of the elements which makes human beings the zenith of creation, distinguishing them from other animals is their rationality. Take a look at the advances in science and technology. Man is able to fly to outer space and manipulate his own genes. These are brilliant achievements of rationality. Thus, we cannot blame modern people who were baptized by science for demanding postive evidences in everything. It is understandable that they tease religious people who are unable to show concrete evidence of their beliefs.

Unfortunately, while scientists caution us to the limitations of current scientific conclusions, some less disciplined scholars push positivism beyond what positive evidence can guarantee. They exaggerate the fruits of science so much so that the general public become superstitious in science and don’t believe in the existence of a Creator! People superstitious in science deny the existence of souls because believers are not able to put their souls under the microscope for scientists to examine, or inside particle colliders for scientists to do experiment … The general public are misled by these undisciplined scholars who have created in them damaging cognitive obstacles and applying the wrong kind of tools to seek the truth. This kind of superstition is no different from idolatry!

From what the royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies” (John 4:49), we know that he was a very pragmatic person. But Jesus only said one sentence, “You may go; your son will live” and he believed (4:50)! What made this royal official believe? Didn’t Jesus say to him just a moment ago, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe”? (4:48) What miracle did this pragmatic official see? Was Jesus’ word truly powerful as such? Or Jesus’ gaze, countenance or even smell that made him believe? We don’t know. From Chapter 3 up to here, we are not able to locate the first miracle Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judaea. Would this encounter be the first miracle suggested by John (4:54)? Jesus Christ reveals his Son of God identity to this royal official. Jesus spoke in the capacity of the Son of God to the soul of the official. Facing this Author of Life who rose from the dead, this official believed in the Jesus he saw.

Lord! How blessed this official was! Allow us to see the glory of Your face in our Lenten contemplation, just as Your Transfiguration on a high mountain. Amen.