沉默的大多數 The Silent Majority

二月六日
《希望的傳承者系列 V》
主題：沉默的大多數（谷6:14-29）

今天教會紀念在日本發生教難時的殉道者，他們的事跡並不驚天地、泣鬼神，而是見證了信徒如何面對天主的沉默。他們的見證，的確可歌可泣。二十世紀有作家把這些事跡編寫成小說，後來更拍成電影，進入觀眾心靈的深處。電影拍得頗為沉重，令人不期然問：「天主，祢還在嗎？為甚麼祢看見我們受苦，仍然袖手旁觀呢？」的確，面對有系統的迫害時，信徒沒有選擇的餘地，只好效法耶穌的沉默，堅忍地靜待天主的拯救。

可能自知劫數難逃吧，自始至終，若翰洗者並沒有選擇沉默。他被捕後仍然不停大聲疾呼，希望能喚醒黑落德安提帕的良心（谷6:20），好能迎接天主的受傅者，通過祂回歸天父的家鄉。這是若翰洗者的「望德」，一點也不是為自己的利益，是近乎「愛德」的「望德」！人類是有理性的個體，為了理想，連性命也可以捨棄，真是名副其實的「天主的肖像」（創1:26）！

但人類歷史不竟是現實的，大奸大惡，滿手無辜者鮮血的人，遺臭萬年；藉著「立德、立功、立言」的人，成為萬世師表，名垂青史，在世人心目中成為楷模！至於那些「沉默的大多數」，他們的名字不會在史書上出現，當權者亦不加理會，直到他們發聲為止… 但願本文付梓之日，天主已妥善處理好伊朗的示威了！

各位親愛的兄弟姊妹，每個「天主的肖像」都是獨特的，所以不能強求劃一的殉道方式。作為「沉默的大多數」，讓我們依恃聖神，忍耐地為上主天主的美善作見證。「不呼喊，不喧嚷，在街市上也聽不到他的聲音」（依42:2），謙遜地做「上主僕人」，做「希望的傳承者」。我們的名字已寫在「生命冊」上了（斐4:3）。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：1971年電影《沉默》截圖

[Messengers of Hope Series V]
Theme: The Silent Majority (Mark 6:14-29)

Today the Church celebrates the Japanese martyrs whose stories might not be earth-shaking. Rather they bear witness to how disciples should stand during the silence of God. Their stories worth praising with psalms and songs. In the 20th century, a Japanese novelist wrote about them. The novel has been made into movies to enter into the psyche of the movie-goers. The movies are heavy. People naturally ask, “God, are you still here? Why don’t you help us when you see us suffer?” Indeed, standing before systematic persecutions, believers have no choice but to follow the example of Jesus’ silence, waiting patiently and steadfastly for God’s salvation.

Probably anticipating martyrdom, John the Baptist did not choose to remain silent. After being arrested, he continued to shout and yell, hoping to awake Herod Antipas’ conscience (Mark 6:20); to receive God’s Messiah through whom he would return to the Father. This was the Baptist’s hope which did no good to his own benefit, a hope nearly indistinguishable from charity! Human beings are rational and yet are willing to lay down their lives for some ideals and values. They are genuinely God’s image (Genesis 1:26)!

After all, human history is realistic. Historians record evil people whose hands were soaked with blood of the innocent. Historians also put into writing those exemplars whose virtues, legacies and philosophies build up our civilizations. As for the “silent majority”, their names will not appear in history books. People in power will ignore them until they start roaring … Pray that when this post goes public, God has already settled the protests in Iran.

Beloved brethren! Every “image of God” is unique. There is no standard way to suffer martyrdom. As members of the “silent majority”, let us rely on the Holy Spirit to bear witness patiently for the beauty and mercy of the Lord God. “He will not cry out, nor shout, nor make his voice heard in the street” (Isaiah 42:2). Let us be “Servants of the Lord”, be “Messengers of Hope” so that our “names are in the book of Life” (Philippians 4:3). Amen.
God bless!