要全盤地思考 Thinking In a Strategic Manner

十月十三日
要全盤地思考（路11:37-41）

現代人的通病，就是急功近利，在有限的時間和空間，賺取最大的利益。結果缺乏了『全盤考慮』的思維習慣，只喜歡把資源投放在高風險，高回報的項目中。僥倖成功便得意忘形，完全沒有考慮高風險帶來的後遺症：破壞健康、家庭關係、團隊關係、與天主的關係！令我訝異的，原來這種思維習慣，自古已有，不是現代人的專利！在今天的福音選段，耶穌慨嘆法利塞人糊塗（路11:40），不就是因為這些「以色列的師傅」（若3:10）也是缺乏『全盤思考』的思維習慣嗎？試問他們怎樣去教導其他以色列百姓，如何改善與天主、與近人的關係呢？

耶穌基督是『萬世師表』，實至名歸！且看當宴客的主人「怪異耶穌飯前不先洗手」時（路11:38），祂信手拈來與主人談論洗手和洗杯盤的問題，一語道破主人缺乏『全盤考慮』的毛病：「糊塗人哪！那造外面的，不是也造了裡面嗎？」（11:40）可是，怎樣洗手和腳的裡面呢？我會回答你說：「為甚麼不可以？你未曾聽過『洗心革面』嗎？『洗心』當然是洗『內心』，難道是洗『外心』嗎？既然『心』也可以洗，洗四肢五官的裡面，又有何難？」原來法利塞人有如現代人一樣急功近利，於是「心中充滿劫奪與邪惡」（11:39b）。耶穌憐憫他們糊塗，便教導他們如何洗心革面。

古人有『座右銘』，有人曾在洗面盆裡寫了『苟日新、又日新、日日新』的句子，提醒自己每天更新，改過遷善。耶穌亦不遑多讓，祂除了道破法利塞人的毛病之外，更推薦了一個對症下藥的改善方法：「只要把你們杯盤裡面的施捨了，那麼，一切對你們便都潔淨了」（11:41）。『你們杯盤裡面』有甚麼可以拿來『施捨』？很明顯，耶穌是為了維護法利塞人的面子，才用比喻。耶穌剛才不是說「你們心中」（11:39b），然後說「你們杯盤裡面」（11:41a）嗎？即是說，把已劫奪得來的財富施捨給窮人，法利塞人便能成功地『洗心革面』，改善與天主、與近人的關係。思維習慣改善了，出於愛，以後再也不會貪婪劫奪了，可以更稱職地教導以色列百姓了。
各位親愛的兄弟姊妹，你們有需要洗杯、洗盤嗎？
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：gemini.google.com

Thinking In a Strategic Manner (Luke 11:37-41)

The common mistake modern people make is to take short-cuts. They want to maximize profits within limited time and space. Consequently, they fail to develop a “Strategic Thinking Mode”. They tend to distribute all their resources into diverse high-risks-high-returns projects. Had they considered the complications brought about by those high risks which would take toll on their health, familial relations, team-spirit and relation with God, they would not been so elated for coincidental successes! What surprises me is that this is not the monopoly of modern men. Men have been thinking in this manner since ancient times. In the gospel passage today, does not Jesus call the Pharisees fools (Luke 11:40) because those “teachers of Israel” (John 3:10), also lack this strategic mode of thinking? How are they able to teach the people to improve their relationships with God and with neighbour when they themselves lack the abilities?

Jesus Christ is truly an exemplar of teachers of all ages! See how when the Pharisee host “was amazed to see that He did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal” (Luke 11:38), Jesus simply follows the lead and talks about the washing of cups and dishes, and pinpoints the mistake of not thinking strategically, “You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?” (11:40). But how do you wash the inside of your limbs? I would say, “Why not? Have you not heard of the Chinese idiom --- To cleanse one’s heart and change one’s face? To cleanse one’s heart is to make one’s conscience clean. If conscience can be cleansed, why is it hard to cleanse our limbs and senses?” Most Pharisees are like modern people who are too eager to maximize their profits. “Inside you are filled with plunder and evil” (11:39b). Jesus has pity on their follies and teaches them how to cleanse their hearts and change their faces.

Ancient peoples use mottoes to remind themselves to improve. A king engraves on his bathing tub “If you can one day renovate yourself, do so from day to day. Yea, let there be daily renovation” to remind himself of the importance of daily renovation. Jesus did the same. Besides pin-pointing the flaw of the Pharisee host, Jesus recommends an antidote, “But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you” (11:41). What alms can you give from “within”? Obviously, Jesus tries to use parables to protect the dignity of the Pharisee host. Earlier on, He uses “inside” to refer to their hearts (11:39b). Later, He uses “within” to refer to cups and dishes (11:41a). In other words, give away what the Pharisee has plundered to the poor, then he will be able to improve his relations with God and with neighbour. After improving his mode of thinking, out of love, he will never plunder again and is more proficient in teaching the Israelites.
Beloved brethren, do you need to wash your cups and dishes?
God bless!