《原罪系列 IV》
主題：天國建基於愛德（路17:20-25）
耶穌時代的猶太人，以「天主選民」的身份，屈就在羅馬帝國的殖民統治之下，心有不甘，是可以理解的。他們期待應許的「默西亞」出現，建立「天主的國」（撒下7:14），再一次在異民之間，吐氣揚眉！固然猶太公議會之中，也有支持維持現狀的黨派，無意推翻羅馬帝國的統治。作為「以色列的師傅」（若3:10），法利塞人屬於前者，卻不敢採用武力，好像「熱誠者」一樣。他們相信遵守自己一手編纂的梅瑟法律，足以獲得天主的拯救。結果只流於空談，並給人「偽善」的印象。至於「熱誠者」，他們滿以為暴力可以救國，結果給人民帶來十多個世紀的顛沛流離！
耶穌基督很清楚羅馬帝國的鐵腕統治，只是撒殫千變萬化的手段之一。天主子知道自己的使命，是剷除罪惡的根源，幫助人類與天主修和；而不是推翻區區的一個羅馬帝國！二千年來的歷史證明了，無論是十字軍東征還是二十世紀的兩次世界大戰，都只是生靈塗炭，從來沒有建立到一個仁愛、公義、和平的世界秩序。所以主耶穌心目中的「天主國」，與猶太人心目中的「默西亞王國」，或是「太平天國」，有著天淵之別。
親愛的兄弟姊妹！有如法利塞人一樣，理性不足以救國，有如熱誠者一樣，充滿熱血的意志敗事有餘。惟有基於愛德的謙遜服從，纔是真正的苦口良藥，根治原罪所帶來的傷害。亞孟。
天主保祐！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：grok.com
[Original Sin Series (IV)]
Theme: The Kingdom of Heaven is Built on Charity (Luke 17:20-25)
It is understandable that the contemporary Jews in Jesus’ time, bearing the identity of “God’s Chosen People”, were unhappy living under the colonial rule of the Roman Empire. They were anticipating the appearance of the promised Messiah to establish the “Kingdom of God” (2 Samuel 7:14), to walk tall once more among the pagans! Of course, there were factions in the Jewish Sanhedrin that wanted to maintain the status quo and had no intention to overthrow the Roman rule. As “teachers of Israel” (John 3:10), the Pharisees belonged to the former faction but were reluctant to resort to violence like the Zealots. They believed that by observing the Mosaic laws they had compiled, God would deliver them. Consequently, they became armchair philosophers and gave people the impression of being hypocrites. The Zealots thought that violence would restore their dream kingdom. On the contrary, Jews became fugitives for more than 1800 years.
Jesus Christ understands that the blood and iron policy of the Roman Empire is only one of a thousand cards on Satan’s sleeve. The mission of the Son of God is to uproot evil and help humanity reconcile with God, not simply to overthrow a negligible Roman Empire! As the subsequent history of two millennia unfolds, whether it be Crusades or two World Wars in the 20th century, humanity has not been able to establish a world order of charity, justice and peace. The “Kingdom of God” in Jesus’ heart is diametrically different from the Jewish anticipation of the “Messianic Kingdom” or the “Taiping Heavenly Kingdom”.
Among the people in power, who don’t want to be admired, to enter the capital in triumph on stallions? On the contrary, who want to wash the feet of their servants, to feed their people during famines with their own flesh and blood? In agony when companions are badly need, who want to fight alone as the last badass deserted by all? Who want to be enthroned on a cross? Who wants to be buried in other’s sepulchre and to wait silently for the Heavenly Father to raise him up (Luke 17:25)? The Kingdom of God is completely different from our expectations. No wonder the Kingdom of God is hard to grasp!
Beloved brethren! Like the Pharisees, rationality does not save. Like the Zealots, a will of hot-blood is only a bull in a china shop. Only with a humble obedience based on charity can the injuries of the Original Sin be fully healed. Amen.
God bless!
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