成見使我們與天國為敵 Prejudice Makes Us Enemies of the Kingdom of Heaven

天國系列（五）
成見使我們與天國為敵（瑪13:54-58）

我們在今天的福音，可以看到障礙人接受天國的其中一個因素：就是對別人的成見！可惜要改變人的成見是十分困難的。
我們總是帶著過去的經歷，與別人交往。過去愉快的經歷，使我們很快便找到對我們有利的事物；過去痛苦的經歷，使我們避免重蹈覆轍。憑經驗，我們可以不費吹灰之力，完成一個鑒別評估，完成一件任務。這樣做例行事務時是非常有效率的，但遇上新的事物，或者舊的事物起了變化時，這樣做卻帶來不少障礙和不利。我們對釋囚、對清潔工人或者外傭總帶有幾分成見，他們很難獲得市民大眾的尊敬。因為在大部份人的心目中，囚犯是壞人，囚禁他們是他們罪有應得…市民不會理會他們是否已經改過，從新做人！清潔工人是低技術的人，「低端人口」，對社會貢獻不大…外傭始終非我族類，不能信任…

就這樣，我們不但握殺了別人成長發展的機會，而且我們自己亦喪失了豐富自己生命的機會！不是嗎？連耶穌基督在自己的家鄉，「因為他們不信，沒有多行奇能」（瑪13:58）。難道是耶穌基督的損失嗎？主基督曾忠告我們，祂會臨現在低下階層人士之中、在受助人士之中、在邊緣化了的人士之中（25:40）…當我們被成見蒙蔽，錯過與主基督交往的機會，豈不是損失慘重嗎？

另一方面，天主對罪人慈悲，不願看見惡人喪亡，喜歡他們離開舊道而得生存（則18:23）。我們卻唱反調，拒絕給人成長發展的機會，顯然我們不信任天主有能力轉化他們，我們豈不是與天主作對嗎（宗5:39）？我們擔當得起嗎？
親愛的兄弟姊妹，求天主聖神，那位真理與愛德之神，把我們從成見中解放出來，以獲得生命，更豐盛的生命（若10:10）罷。亞孟！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：thegospelforyou.com

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Kingdom of Heaven (V)
Prejudice Makes Us Enemies of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 13:54-58)

In today’s gospel, we are able to see one of the obstacles preventing people from accepting the Kingdom of Heaven: prejudices against others! Regrettably, it is extremely difficult to remove prejudices.
We always carry with us past experiences to interact with others. From happy experiences, we can quickly identify things and situations beneficial for us while painful experiences will prevent us from repeating the same mistakes. With experiences, making an assessment and accomplishing a mission is just a piece of cake. It is a very efficient way to deal with routines but when we encounter a totally new situation or when we find ourselves in old situations which have changed, following routine procedures will become disadvantageous. To a certain extent, we all carry some prejudices against discharged inmates, out-sourcing janitors and domestic helpers etc. It is difficult for them to command respect from citizens in general. Most of us think that inmates are wicked. They deserve to be imprisoned … Common citizens don’t care whether they have turned a new leaf! Janitors are low-skilled people belonging to the low-end population. Their contribution to the society is negligible … Domestic helpers are aliens and therefore cannot be trusted …

In this way, not only have we deprived them of opportunities for growth, but we ourselves have lost an occasion to enrich our lives! Haven’t we read that even Jesus Christ “did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith” (Matthew 13:58)? Could we count it as Jesus’ loss? Lord Jesus has advised us that He would be present among the low-end population, the needy and the socially marginalized (25:40) … When we’re blinded by prejudices, missing the opportunity to encounter Lord Jesus, who would suffer heavy casualties?

On the other hand, God shows mercy to sinners and does not enjoy seeing the wicked perish. He rejoices in seeing them turn from their evil way and live (Ezekiel 18:23). When we say nay and refuse to give people an opportunity to grow, obviously we have no trust in God’s power to transform them. Aren’t we fighting against God (Acts 5:39)? Can we bear the brunt?

Beloved brethren! Invoke the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth and Charity to liberate us from prejudices so that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Amen!