福傳有何難？ Is Evangelization Really Difficult?

福傳有何難？（若1:45-51）

在傳福音的事業上，天主教徒與基督教徒相比，的確望塵莫及。天主教徒相當「內歛」，他們托辭甚麼「身教」比「言教」有效，又「謙遜地」說自己沒有足夠的神學訓練，恐怕說了異端，誤人子弟云云…便祇做愛德服務，甚少向教外人宣講；倒喜歡在教友之間發表高論，該怎樣領聖體纔算虔誠！

今天福音所選讀的章節，記述斐理伯宗徒示範了傳福音時應有的步驟。讀過之後，誰還可以說自己沒有傳福音的能力呢？
猶太人是天主的選民，他們有法律和先知作為他們的文化背景。因此，在辨別事物的真偽時，會參考法律和先知。斐理伯向自己的同鄉納塔乃耳所說的，並不是甚麼生澀的神學論述，而是他們共同擁有的文化背景。「梅瑟在法律上所記載」（若1:45）的，大概是指「上主你的天主，要由你中間，由你兄弟中，為你興起一位像我一樣的先知，你們應聽信他。」（申18:15，34:10）。而在【依撒意亞先知書】，我們可以找到很多有關默西亞的預言，這些都是猶太人所熟悉的。

斐理伯示範了傳福音的三個要素：第一，不是運用嚴謹的哲學或者動聽的詭辯，更不是為了譁眾取寵而犧牲了真理。而是從實際的和共同的經驗中，指出天主的臨在。第二，宣講的內容不是自己精闢的高論，而是「納匝肋的耶穌」（若1:45）。斐理伯不是在宣傳自己，而是宣傳耶穌基督。第三，尊重聽眾，不強迫聽眾接受自己的宣講，而是讓聽眾自己決定，「你來看一看吧」（1:46）。

請注意，令納塔乃耳信服的，並非斐理伯，而是耶穌基督自己（1:48-49）。斐理伯祇要帶領納塔乃耳到耶穌基督的面前，便功德圓滿。斐理伯在十二宗徒之中，並不算是一個特出的人物。朋友，如果他也可以做到，難道你不會做得更出色嗎？
天主保祐！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：wikimedia.org

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Is Evangelization Really Difficult? (John 1:45-51)

Catholics are far more inferior in evangelization than Protestants. Catholics are more reserved. They make excuses such as, “actions speak louder than words” or “humbly” confess that they have not attained sufficient theological trainings lest they would speak heresies etc. So, they would mostly do charitable services and seldom proclaim the gospel to non-believers. Instead, they enjoy airing their opinions among parishioners about which way of receiving the Holy Communion is more pious!

In the gospel passage today, we see how Philip demonstrated the proper manner of evangelization. After reading it, who can deny his own ability to proclaim the good news?
The Jews were God’s Chosen People. Torah and Prophets were their cultural backdrops. Thus, in discerning the truth of something, they would refer to Torah and Prophets. Philip did not speak to his fellow Jew Nathanael in heavy theological treatise but their common cultural background. “The one about whom Moses wrote in the law” (John 1:45) probably refers to “A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among their kindred; that is the one to whom you shall listen.” (Deuteronomy 18:15, 34:10) And in the book of Isaiah, we will be able to find many prophecies about the Messiah. All Jews knew this well.

Philip demonstrated three essential elements in evangelization: Firstly, we do not speak to people with stringent philosophy or eloquent sophism. Nor can we please them by watering down the truth. Instead, we point out the presence of God with practical and common experiences. Secondly, the proclamation is not our refined researches but the “Jesus from Nazareth” (John 1:45). Philip did not promote himself but proclaim Jesus Christ. Thirdly, we should respect our audience and do not shove our proclamation down their throats. Let them decide. “Come and see.” (1:46)

Note that it was not Philip who convinced Nathanael but Jesus Christ Himself (1:48-49). Philip simply brought Nathanael before Jesus and his mission was accomplished. Among the Twelve, Philip was not outstanding. My friends, if Philip could do it, can’t you do better?
God bless!