原來假善人就是惡僕 Hypocrites are Wicked Servants

原來假善人就是惡僕（瑪24:42-51）

為甚麼惡僕與假善人會遭受同樣的命運呢（瑪24:51）？
惡僕「拷打自己的同伴，甚或同醉漢一起吃喝」（24:49），是個明目張膽的惡人。他並沒有偽裝自己是善人，為甚麼他們與假善人會遭受同樣的命運呢？
那些經師和法利塞假善人，有拷打自己的同伴，同醉漢一起吃喝嗎？都沒有！為甚麼他們與惡僕會遭受同樣的命運呢？

雖然經師和法利塞假善人沒有拷打其他經師和法利塞人，但是他們憑自己的專業知識，「吞沒了寡婦的家產，而以長久的祈禱作掩飾」（23:14），與惡僕拷打自己的同伴，傷害自己的同胞，沒有分別。倘若有，就是惡僕不作任何掩飾罷了！經師和法利塞假善人本末倒置，輕重不分，與一個醉漢的行為有甚麼分別？所以，那些有權勢有地位的假善人，本質上就是一個與醉漢酗酒，拷打自己同伴的惡僕！

雖然惡僕未必擁有好像經師和法利塞人的專業知識，但是他們都是坐在應受尊敬的位置上，行使權力，為人民服務（羅13:1）。當他們善盡職守的時候，天主當然會獎勵他們（瑪24:47）；但當他們「憑權位，張爪牙，殘民以自肥」的時候，他們與濫用專業知識，吞沒寡婦家產的法利塞假善人，沒有分別！

默想到這裡，我們不得不牽掛著教會內的神職班。感謝天主，我們有很多充滿聖德的神長；但亦有惡行昭彰，令人側目，披著羊皮的豺狼。教會的確是一個罪人的教會，教我們怎可以不謙卑呢？可幸教會也是至聖的教會，耶穌基督一定會愛護祂的淨配，使她毫無瑕疵（弗5:27）！

且讓我們請求聖母瑪利亞，天地的母皇，諸寵中保，為天主子民所有的公務員轉禱，保護他們的聖召。縱使跌倒了，仍然屢敗屢戰，繼續跑到終點，打完這場好仗（弟後4:7）。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：myfathersworldsite.wordpress.com

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Hypocrites are Wicked Servants (Matthew 24:42-51)

Why is the wicked servant assigned a place with the hypocrites (Matthew 24:51)?
The wicked servant who “beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards” (24:49) is a blatant rascal. He does not put up a good face. Why is he counted among the hypocrites?
On the other hand, did the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees beat their fellow scribes and Pharisees? Did they eat and drink with drunkards? No! Why then are they counted among wicked servants?

Although the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees have not beaten their fellow scribes and Pharisees, they abuse their expertise to “devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers” (23:14). Their harming their own countrymen is not different from the wicked servant who beats up fellow servants. The only difference is that the wicked servant does not pretend to be good! The scribes and Pharisees put the cart before the horse and set the priorities wrong. How are they different from drunkards? Therefore, those hypocrites in power are essentially wicked servants who beat up fellow countrymen and get drunk among themselves!

Although wicked servants may not possess expertise like scribes and Pharisees do, they are seated in respectable authorities to serve the people (Romans 13:1). When they do, certainly God will reward them (Matthew 24:47). But when they abuse their authority to fatten themselves, they rank among the hypocritical Pharisees who abuse their expertise to devour the houses of widows!

When I come to this point in meditation, I can’t help but am concerned with the clergy within the Church! Thanks be to God because we have many saintly clergymen. Yet, there are also scandalous wolves in sheep’s clothing. The Church is truly a Church of sinners. How can we not be humble? Fortunately, the Church is also holy. Jesus Christ loves His Spouse and will make her “without spot or wrinkle” (Ephesians 5:27)!

Let us pray to Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Mediatrix of all graces, to intercede for the civil servants of the People of God to protect their vocation so that they might continue fighting to finish the race despite repeated fallings (2 Timothy 4:7). Amen.