逃避責任 Evading Responsibilities

通病系列（三）
主題：逃避責任（瑪23:27-32）

當上主天主問亞當：「莫非你吃了我禁止你吃的果子」時（創3:11），天主只要求一個「是」，或者 「不是」的答案。可惜亞當已經染上「原罪」，不敢承認犯錯，反而為自己開脫，把責任推在天主和女人身上（3:12）。既然人類開始講「理由」，天主便問厄娃吃禁果的理由（3:13a）。厄娃不愧是由男人的材料所造出來的，她把責任推到蛇身上（3:13b）！從此，推卸責任變成了人類的「第二天性」！

加音過分注重自己的成就，結果因嫉妒和忿怒，殺死了弟弟亞伯爾。事後天主對加音說：「你弟弟亞伯爾在那裡？」（4:9a），他答說：「我不知道，難道我是看守我弟弟的人？」（4:9b）這不是「顛倒黑白」和「推卸責任」，是甚麼？加音殺了亞伯爾，怎可以說不知道亞伯爾在哪？這是赤裸裸的顛倒黑白。加音和亞伯爾是兄弟，互相守護是天經地義的事，怎可以推卸這責任呢？可歎放眼天下，盡是加音之流，到處都是「功勞歸自己」，出了亂子便即時「割蓆」。

在天主的安排中，「君王」替天行道，拓展上主的國度；「先知」是上主的代言人，告訴世人天主的旨意。君王與先知，理應像兩兄弟一樣，情同手足。可惜，達味王之前，撒羅滿王之後，隨從上主心意的君王（撒上13:14），少之又少！先知便成了上主惟一的喉舌，成了「公義」的化身。經師和法利塞假善人修建先知/義人的墳墓（瑪23:29），表面上站在先知的一面，實際上是為自己建立「公義」形象的工程，這便是他們「功勞歸自己」的表現。當耶穌指出他們的祖先不聽從先知的訓誨和殺害先知時（21:34-36），便進一步與殺害先知/義人的執拗祖先「割蓆」（23:30），他們不愧是亞當的後裔、加音的子孫！

聖父，求祢喚醒我們心中的聖神，重振「剛毅」與「敬畏上主」之恩，勇於承擔責任，恢復祢創造我們時的本來面貎。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：creator.nightcafe.studio

Common Mistakes Series (III)
Theme: Evading Responsibilities (Matthew 23:27-32)

When the Lord God asks Adam, “Have you eaten from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat” (Genesis 3:11), He demands a “Yes” or “No” answer. Unfortunately, Adam had contracted the “Original Sin”. He dared not to admit his wrongs. Instead, he passed the buck to God and the woman (3:12)! Since humanity started reasoning, then God asked Eve the reason she had eaten the Forbidden Fruit (3:13a). Eve proved herself to be made from Adam by passing the buck to the Serpent (3:13b)! Since then, passing the buck has become the second nature of humanity!

Cain cared too much about his own achievements. In the end, out of jealousy and wrath, he killed his brother Abel. Later, God asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” (4:9a). Cain answered, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (4:9b). If this is not calling black white and evading responsibility, what is? Cain had killed Abel. How could he say he did not know? This denial is blatantly calling black white. Cain and Abel were brothers. Supporting and protecting each other is natural. How could Cain evade this obligation? Sad to say, anywhere we set our sight on nowadays, we see many Cain’s who take all the credits for successes and wash their hands of team-members when a project fails!

In God’s plan, kings execute God’s will and expand the sovereignty of the Lord whereas prophets are spokespersons of God, telling people what God’s will is. Kings and prophets are supposed to be siblings. Regrettably, before King David and after King Solomon, there were only a handful of kings “after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14)! Prophets became the only channel of God’s words, the personification of “Justice”. Superficially, scribes and Pharisees stood on the side of justice when they “build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous” (Matthew 23:29). In reality, they were building up their self-image of righteousness. This was taking credits for themselves. But when Jesus pointed out that their ancestors did not listen to the teachings of prophets and even killed them (21:34-36), they washed their hands of their stiff-necked ancestors who killed prophets and righteous people (23:30). They had proven themselves descendants of Adam and of Cain!

Heavenly Father, awake the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Reinvigorate the gifts of fortitude and the fear of the Lord in us so that we may truthfully bear our responsibility to restore the original states when You created us. Amen.
God bless!