天主不計較風險 God Doesn’t Count Risks

天主不計較風險（路15:1-10）

「亡羊比喻」很清楚告訴我們，天主子耶穌基督並不信奉「功利主義」。即使祂偶爾運用功利主義的邏輯，也是為了遷就聽眾的道德水平，最終還是希望我們認識天父的慈悲。比喻中的「那個人」，無論他是牧場的主人或是一個普通的牧羊人，為了一隻亡羊而「把九十九隻丟在荒野，去尋覓那遺失的一隻」（路15:4），有得不償失的風險，合化算嗎？要知道在「荒野」中的九十九隻羊，會被狼群侵襲，或者在缺乏照顧之下流失了！「那個人」不計較風險的行動，並不符合「功利主義」的邏輯。

另一方面，用「荒野」來形容教會的處境，非常恰當。今天的教會絕對不是安全地藏身在堅固的堡壘內（詠48:13-14），而是在現世「荒野」中朝聖的、邁向天國的天主子民。她不能保證那九十九隻在「荒野」有牧者照顧的羊，不會被世俗的錯謬思想衝擊，不會對教會失望而離開教會等等，這些的確是教會的現況！

要知道比喻的特點在於故事中的「意外」元素，它令聽眾驚訝而引起反思！違反一般人的「功利主義」思維，正是這個比喻的意外元素。當有限的人計較成本效益時，天主是不計成本地對罪人慈悲。耶穌基督要我們注意的，正是天父的慈悲，祂樂意看見罪人悔改（則18:23），就是這樣簡單！

最後，還有兩個值得默想的課題，留給大家「享受」吧！第一，「無須悔改的義人」帶給天主的喜樂，真的不及「罪人悔改」的喜樂嗎？第二，世上真的有那麼多（九十九比一）「無須悔改的義人」嗎？
天主保祐！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：behance.net

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God Doesn’t Count Risks (Luke 15:1-10)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep clearly tells us that Jesus Christ the Son of God does not buy utilitarianism. Even if sometimes He makes use of the utilitarian language, He is adapting to the moral level of the audience. In the end, He wishes all of us to know the mercy of the Father. The action of the man in the parable, it doesn’t matter whether he is the owner of the farm or just a hired shepherd, “leaves the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it” (Luke 15:3) is totally anti-utilitarian. The benefit would never justify the risks! The ninety nine sheep in the desert would fall prey easily to packs of wolves. They might even get lost due to a lack of pastors. The risky action of the man does not follow utilitarian logic.

On the other hand, using “wilderness” to describe the situation of the Church is very appropriate. Today, the Church is no longer hiding herself inside citadels or bulwarks (Psalms 48:13-14), but is a People of God on pilgrimage towards the Kingdom of Heaven. She is not able to guarantee that there are pastors shepherding the sheep in the wilderness and be able to withstand attacks from fallacies, or that they wouldn’t be disappointed with the Church and leave etc. This is truly the present situation of our Church!

Bear in mind that in parables there are surprise elements which trigger reflections of the audience! The surprise element of this parable is how the man acted against the utilitarian mindset ordinary people took for granted. When finite humanity does cost-benefit-analysis, God continues to be merciful towards sinners without counting the costs. Jesus Christ wants us to focus on the mercy of the Father who rejoices when the wicked turn from their evil way and live (Ezekiel 18:23). It is as simple as such!

Lastly, I leave all of you two more topics for your meditation! Firstly, do righteous people bring less joy to God than sinners who repent? Secondly, are there so many righteous people who have no need of repentance, 99 times of number of sinners?
God bless!