偏向虎山行 Take The More Perilous Path

偏向虎山行 Take The More Perilous Path（若6:52-59）

兩天前曾提及那些社會意識高的信徒，他們覺得彌撒沉悶，浪費時間；倒不如依照主基督的訓導，服務在社會裡被邊緣化了的最少兄弟（瑪25:40）。今天的默想，是向他們致敬。

耶穌基督是天主聖言，一言甫出，「事就這樣完成了」（若1:1；創1:6, 9, 11, 15, 20, 24, 30）。我們祇知道可見的宇宙是存在的，至於怎樣形成，是否「真實」地存在，還是在我們的意識中存在，有待科學家們努力發掘答案罷。所以，當耶穌基督告訴我們吃祂的肉，喝祂的血，必得永生（若6:54）；並解釋說，藉著吃祂的肉，喝祂的血，得以與祂結合（6:56）時，我們祇知道這是永生的真理，至於怎樣完成，有待基督在最後晚餐實現（瑪26:26, 28）！的確，天主子一言甫出，無酵餅便成了祂的肉，葡萄酒便成了祂的血；事就這樣完成了。至於怎樣完成，甚至基督是否「真實」地臨在聖體聖事內，有待神學家們努力地辯論出答案。無論如何，領受聖體聖事以獲得永生，並不轟轟烈烈，是任何一個信徒都有能力憑著信德走的一條謙卑「小徑」。

至於那些沒有機會聽過福音，領洗加入教會的人，我相信慈悲的天父是不會放棄他們的。所以祂為這些人另闢蹊徑，讓他們憑良心生活，服務兄弟中最弱小的成員，有機會與基督相遇，從而承受自創世以來為他們預備了的國度（25:34）。這一條為教外人士安排的路非常難行，他們除了要克服內心對失敗者和罪犯的偏見外，還要應付來自世俗的唾棄和當權者的壓力，甚至踉蹌入獄，也未可知。與被社會邊緣化的人（流鶯、癮君子、病態賭徒和社團人士等）相遇並且在他們身上認出耶穌基督來，沒有深厚的靈修功力，融會貫通的聖經造詣，怎可能成事呢？

在這裡，讓我向那些捨易行難，挑戰自我，偏向虎山行的，社會意識高的教友致敬！ 天主保祐！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：solemotive.com

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Two days ago I mentioned about those more socially conscious Catholics who find masses boring and time-wasting. They prefer following the teaching of Christ the Lord, serving the socially marginalized brothers (Matthew 25:40). I would like to pay them tribute in today’s meditation.

Jesus Christ is the Word of God, once uttered, “And so it happened” (John 1:1; Genesis 1:7, 9, 11, 15, 24, 30). We only know that the visible universe exists. As for how it came about, and whether it “really” exists or exists in our consciousness only, we leave scientists to discover the answers. Thus when Jesus Christ tells us to eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to have eternal life (John 6:54), and explains that we remain in Him and He in us when we eat His flesh and drink His blood (6:56), we only know that this is the truth of eternal life. As for how it is accomplished, we have to wait until Jesus actualizes it during the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26, 28)! Indeed, once the Word was uttered, unleavened bread became His flesh and wine became His blood. And so it happened. As for how it happens, or even whether Christ is “really” present in the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist, let’s give theologians time to debate the answers. Whatever, receiving the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist to attain eternal life is not at all earth-shaking. Any believer is able to talk this humble “tiny trail” in faith.

As for those who haven’t had the opportunity to hear the gospel and enter the Church through baptism, I believe the merciful Father would not abandon them. He opens another path for these people. When they lead a conscientious life, serving the needy and socially marginalized, they shall have the opportunity to encounter Christ and inherit the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world (25:34). This is a more treacherous trail for non-believers. Not only must they overcome in their hearts prejudices against losers and criminals, but they also need to bear the brunt of unpopularity among commoners and pressure from people in power. They might even go to jail for it. How are they able to encounter Jesus Christ among the social outcasts (whores, drug addicts, pathetic gamblers and triad members etc.) if they don’t possess deep spirituality and fluent biblical literacy?

Here, allow me to pay homage to those more socially conscious Catholics who give up an easy path and challenge themselves with a more treacherous trail!
God bless!