真我的善惡二路 The Good and The Evil Paths Before the Authentic Self

真我系列之六：
真我的善惡二路（瑪14:1-12）

福音中的黑落德安提帕，惡名遠播，不下他的父親，那個在耶穌出生時，作為羅馬帝國傀儡，統治猶大的大黑落德！安提帕荒淫無道，即使違反梅瑟的法律，也娶了自己兄弟斐理伯的妻子黑落狄雅（瑪14:3），並且還對她的女兒起了淫念（谷6:23）。安提帕殘暴成性，為了遵守醉酒亂發的誓言，挽回面子，竟不惜犧牲了群眾公認為先知的洗者若翰（瑪14:9）。安提帕為人狡猾，有點小聰明，知道比拉多送上的禮物，耶穌，是因為他不想負上「千古罪人」的污名。安提帕當然不會這樣蠢，便把耶穌送回（路23:11）。安提帕的罪行，真是罄竹難書！我們不禁要問，安提帕的真我，掉到那裡去了？也難怪，安提帕生在大黑落德的家裡，他的真我難免受到各種荊棘的窒息，無法成長起來！

另一方面，洗者若翰是匝加利亞的兒子，原本可以繼承父業，在耶路撒冷當上一個司祭職（1:5）。但天主心目中的洗者若翰，要當一位擁有厄里亞精神的先知！所以當若翰在母胎時，天主便祝聖了他（1:14），讓他在充滿恩寵的環境中成長。長大後的若翰到曠野生活，在遠離貪婪、淫蕩和暴力的環境下，探索天父的旨意，過著成聖的生活；並向猶太人宣講悔改的洗禮，預備他們的心靈，迎接久待了的默西亞（瑪3:1-12）。他為耶穌基督作證，並為祂施洗後（3:15），知道是隱退的時候，並沒有逃避安提帕的拘捕（若3:30）；並以身殉，預示耶穌基督受難的命運（瑪17:12）！洗者若翰的真我，不單是天主肖像、天主聖者和天主義子，更是天主子的私人指標，幫助世人認清耶穌基督的真我。
天父啊！祢把生死之路擺在我們面前，給我們選擇。請加強我們的力量，在生命之路上行走。亞孟！

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：aleteia.org

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Authentic Self Series VI
The Good and The Evil Paths Before the Authentic Self (Matthew 14:1-12)

Herod Antipas was as infamous as his father Herod the Great who was the Roman puppet king of Judaea when Jesus was born! Not only was Antipas lustful, taking the wife of his brother Philip against the Mosaic Law (Matthew 14:3), but he was lustful towards her daughter as well (Mark 6:23). He was cold blooded. In order to save his face to honour a drunken vow, Antipas killed John the Baptist whom the Jews believed was a prophet (Matthew 14:9). He was cunning. He knew that Pilate sent him a gift, Jesus because Pilate did not want to become a "Sinner of a thousand ages". Antipas would not be so stupid as not to send Jesus back (Luke 23:11). It takes an ocean of ink to list his crimes and sins! We wonder where Antipas had dropped his authentic self. Antipas was born and raised in the house of Herod the Great. It was no wonder that his authentic self was smothered by all sorts of thorns, preventing it from growing!

On the other hand, John the Baptist was the son of a priest, Zechariah. He would have inherited his father's office and become a priest himself in Jerusalem (1:5). But in God's mind, John the Baptist was to be a prophet in the spirit of Elijah! Thus, when John was still in his mother's womb, God had consecrated him (1:14), allowing him to grow up in an environment full of grace. When he grew up, John left for the wilderness to stay away from a greedy, lustful and violent environment to seek the Father's will and led a sanctifying life. He preached a baptism of repentance to prepare the hearts of the Jews to receive the long anticipated Messiah (Matthew 3:1-12). He bore witness to Jesus Christ and after baptizing Christ (3:15), did not evade Antipas' arrest. He knew his position (John 3:30) and died a martyrdom to reveal Christ's passion in the future (Matthew 17:12). The authentic self of John the Baptist is not only an image of God, a holy one of God and an adopted child of God, but is also a personal pointer to the Son of God, helping others to know the authentic self of Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father! You put before us a path of life and a path of death to choose. Give us strength to take the path of life. Amen.

真我的成長 The Growth of the Authentic Self

真我系列之五：
真我的成長（瑪13:54-58）

經過三十年的成長，耶穌基督的「真我」顯露出來了，祂的智慧和奇能，令看著祂長大的同鄉，感到驚訝！（瑪13:54）他們之所以驚訝，是因為他們用了既定的框架來看待耶穌：甚麼「木匠的兒子」、甚麼「他的母親…他的弟兄…他的姊妹」。這種視野並沒有錯，卻未能掌握真理的全部。試問誰無父母？但「虎父」一定無「犬子」嗎？那個父母對出人頭地的子女會不滿呢？所以既定的視野可以用，但應抱開放的態度，說不定天主為我們安排了驚喜！

福音中除了幾個宗徒外，從來沒有人以「天主的肖像」（創1:26）、「天主的聖者」（依12:6）、「天主的聖子」（詠82:6）來看待耶穌基督！這些視野在舊約時代已經啟示了，可能以色列人對天主敬畏有加，不敢褻瀆，不敢高攀，以致從來沒有人用這種視野看待身邊的人。但天主對我們的愛，是何其浩瀚。祂為我們所預備的，是「人心所未想到的。」（依63:3，格前2:9），天主的確是一個充滿驚喜的天主。

天主子降生成人，不但展示了人性的真我，並造就了這真我，令它可以攀登到更高的地步：天主的聖者、天主的子女！耶穌基督以祂的受難和復活，造就了人性的真我！作為蒙召成聖的基督徒，我們享有的「天主肖像」、「天主聖者」和「天主義子」的真我，已經揭示了。讓我們也以這個視野，看待所接觸到的鄰人，並造就他們的真我，破繭而出。
天父啊！求賜我們天主聖神，助「真我」健康成長，成聖，成為祢真正的子女。亞孟！

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：shutterstock.com

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Authentic Self Series V
The Growth of the Authentic Self (Matthew 13:54-58)

After thirty years of growth, the authentic self of Jesus Christ began to manifest. His wisdom and mighty deeds astonished His native folks (Matthew 13:54). They were astonished because they applied an established perspective to look at Jesus: the carpenter's son, his mother … brothers … and sisters etc. This perspective is not wrong but it is not the whole truth. Who doesn't have parents? But is "like father like son" always right? Which parents would not be satisfied with their children's achievements? Established perspectives are useful but we should be open to surprises which God has in store for us!

Except for a few apostles, nobody in the gospels applied the "image of God" (Genesis 1:26); the "Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 12:6); "offspring of the Most High" (Psalm 82:6) on Jesus Christ! These perspectives have been revealed in the Old Testament. Probably the Israelites were awe-struck by God. They dared not to blaspheme or to approach God so much so that they have never applied these perspectives on people around them. But God's love for us is so boundless. He has prepared for those who love Him "what has not entered the human heart" (Isaiah 63:6, 1 Corinthians 2:9). Our God is a God of surprises indeed.

The Son of God took flesh to become man. Not only did He manifest the "authentic self" of humanity, but He also raised this "authentic self" up to a higher dimension: the Holy One of God, the Children of God! Jesus Christ edified the authentic self of humanity with His Passion and Resurrection. As Christians called to sanctification, our authentic selves as the images of God, the Holy Ones of God and the Adopted Children of God have been revealed. Let us apply these perspectives on the neighbour we meet and help their authentic selves emerge.
Heavenly Father, grant us the Holy Spirit to help our authentic selves grow healthily, be sanctified and become authentic children of Yours. Amen.

「真我」內的新舊寶藏 New & Old Treasures in Authentic Self

真我系列之四：
「真我」內的新舊寶藏（瑪13:47-53）

耶穌的門徒中，也有幾個法利塞人和經師，著名的包括尼苛德摩和阿黎瑪特雅人若瑟（若19:38-39），還有保徒宗徒（宗9:5）。他們的經歷，正好說明耶穌今天所說的「從他的寶庫裡，提出新的和舊的東西。」（瑪13:52）

讓我正式定義這幾天所說的「真我」吧，它就是天主心目中的我。雖然我是按天主的肖像所造，但因為喪失了原始恩寵（簡稱「原罪」）的緣故，我這個天主肖像，未能達到天主心目中的藍圖。而且，我們生活在歷史中，受到時空的限制，要經歷一段時間，困在有限的空間內磨練，纔漸漸達標，還原真我。所以每個人的經驗是獨特的，無論怎樣不愉快，都是珍貴的！今天流行的所謂「集體回憶」，無疑在一輩人的靈魂留下痕跡，但始終痕跡的深度，各人不同。

教會收錄了很多保祿的言論，可以驗證上面提及的「新的和舊的東西」。在歸化前，掃祿這個法利塞人，熱愛祖傳的法律，以捍衛正道為己任（迦1:14），所以對新興的基督信仰，窮追猛打。歸化後，基督的復活，光照了他對舊約法律的理解。保祿但覺天主的救恩，頓然變得清晰明朗！他在書信中的論述，必先以他從前的強項─舊約法律為起點，道出無論如何履行法律，均不足以令人在天主前，無可指摘；然後他再論述「因信成義」的道理。可以說，歸化前的掃祿所追求的，祇不過是舊的寶貝。足以把他的真我，發揮得淋漓盡致，要靠新的寶貝！不過，沒有舊的寶貝，新的寶貝便失去了根基！
天父啊！我們感謝祢，祢以最新，最好的寶貝，養活培育了我們的真我。亞孟。

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：providenceonline.com

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Authentic Self Series IV
New & Old Treasures in Authentic Self (Matthew 13:47-53)

Among the disciples of Jesus, there were a few Pharisees and scribes such as the well-known Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38-39) as well as Paul (Acts 9:5). Their experiences illustrate what Jesus says today, “Who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old” (Matthew 13:52).

Allow me to define officially what I meant by "authentic self" on the last few days. It is the "me in God's mind". Although God created us in His image, we are in the state of deprivation of the original grace (aka Original Sin). We have not accomplished the blueprints in God's mind. Moreover, we live in history and are limited within space and time. We need to go through polishing within a confined space and time to restore the authentic self. Thus, the experiences of each of us are unique. Whether they are painful or not, they are precious. Today, it is fashionable to speak of "collective memories" which leave in each of our souls scratches of uniquely different depths.

The Church has collected many treatises of Paul's to demonstrate the "the new and old" mentioned above. Before conversion, Saul was a Pharisee, "a zealot for my ancestral traditions." (Galatian 1:14) Thus, he was frenetic towards destroying the newly emerged Christianity. After conversion, the light of Christ's resurrection illuminated his understanding of the laws in the Old Testament. Suddenly, God's salvation became crystal clear to Paul! In his letters he wrote subsequently, he started with his strength, the Jewish laws, to explain how observing them did not justify one before God. Then he proceeded to explain the doctrine of "justification by faith". Before conversion, Saul sought the old treasures. But it took the new treasures to fully realize his authentic self! Of course, without the old treasures, the new ones lose their foundation!
Heavenly Father! We are grateful that You cultivate our authentic selves with the latest and the best treasures. Amen.

瑪爾大活出「真我」 Martha Lived Up To Her Authentic Self

真我系列之三：
瑪爾大活出「真我」（路10:38-42）

我們沒有絕對的自由，不理他人的死活，任性地活出「真我」。當我們率性而行的時候，不要忘記關懷愛護身邊的人！

福音中的瑪爾大，很明顯是一個行動型的人。她「為伺候耶穌，忙碌不已」（路10：40）。她以具體和實際的行動，展示對主耶穌的愛。這是瑪爾大真我的展現，是值得讚賞的。瑪利亞是一個默觀型的人，她坐在造物主前，聆聽真主的講話。作為受造物，還有甚麼行為比瑪利亞的默觀聆聽，更能表達對天主全心全意的愛呢？當下，兩姊妹都活出了她們的真我！

可惜這美好的時刻並不持久，瑪爾大的真我還有一點兒的好性，喜歡拿妹妹來比較。我不相信瑪爾大對妹妹缺乏關心，或者妒忌妹妹；我更不相信她不能獨力伺候耶穌，我反而相信她是一個越做越起勁的人。瑪爾大向耶穌投訴，不一定是錯，因為這纔是真正的瑪爾大嘛！可能她想耶穌基督肯定她的忙碌，比妹妹的默觀，更能表達對祂的愛！這一比較，幾乎打破了整個愛的氛圍；瑪爾大的率性，險些令她忘記了對妹妹應有的關顧。

幸好有主耶穌在，化解了這場危機。祂肯定了瑪爾大的忙碌是美好的，但天主並不需要我們的勞動來增添祂的光榮。同時耶穌基督指出，瑪爾大的忙碌，倘若用來「護守」妹妹的默觀，將會是主所喜歡的，因為這是更好的一份，不能奪去的一份（10:42）！ 感謝瑪爾大，她教導了我們活出真我，也要關愛別人。
天父啊！求使真正的我，即使犯錯，也能造就身邊的人。亞孟！

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：virtualpreacher.org

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Authentic Self Series III: Martha Lived Up To Her Authentic Self (Luke 10:38-42) Nobody has the absolute freedom to ignore others and lives up to his authentic self recklessly. When we show our true colours, don’t forget to care and love people around us. The Martha in the gospels was an action type of person. She was burdened with much serving Jesus at her home (Luke 10:40). She showed her love of Lord Jesus with concrete actions. Martha manifested her authentic self and it is commendable. Maria was a contemplative type of person. She sat beside the Lord, her Creator, listening to Him speak. As a creature, what more could Maria do to manifest her total love of God than contemplatively listening to Him? At that moment, both sisters lived up their authentic selves. Unfortunately, this beautiful moment did not last long. The authentic self of Martha is a little bit assertive and likes making comparisons. I don’t believe Martha lacks concerns and care for her sister or even envies her. I don’t even believe that she was incapable of serving Jesus singlehandedly. Rather, I think the more she serves, the more enthusiastic she would become. It is not necessarily wrong for Martha to complain because that’s the authentic Martha! Perhaps she wanted Jesus Christ to affirm that her concrete services show more love than her sister’s contemplation! This comparison nearly ruptures the whole milieu of love. Martha’s assertiveness nearly made her forget the loving care due her sister. Luckily Lord Jesus was there to neutralize this crisis. He affirmed Martha’s industriousness but God does not need our labour to increase His glory. At the same time, Jesus Christ points out that if Martha applied her toil to “keep/defend” her sister’s contemplation, God would love it because this is the better part which would not be taken from her (10:42)! Thanks Martha for showing us that when we live up to our authentic selves, we show show loving care to others as well. Heavenly Father, pray that we may edify people around us even when our authentic selves make mistakes. Amen!

活出「真我」的外來障礙 Obstacles to Live Up To the Authentic Self

真我系列之二：
活出「真我」的外來障礙（瑪13:36-43）

天國有內在和外在的意義。內在的天國位於我們心中，是主觀的。當我們讓天主的旨意和恩寵，在我們的心裡運行無阻的時候，天國便臨現在我們的心中。「撒種的比喻」所描述的，正是這個內在的天國。外在的天國是客觀的，和內在的天國一樣，經過一段時間的發展，便彰顯出來。這客觀的天國要「在今世終結時」（瑪13：39）纔實現。「田間莠子」的比喻所描述的，正是這個到末日纔實現的，外在的天國。

正如內在的天國裡，有荊棘窒息福音種子，使它不能生長，外在的天國也一樣。田就是世界（13：38），就是天國的基地。人子在田裡撒好的種子，為的是在世界上建設天主的國。建設天國是一個過程，需要經過一段時間的發展。同時，在這外在的天國裡，有「使人跌倒的事，及作惡的人」（13：41），障礙著天國的子民，建設天國。

人類社會不斷進化，罪惡不再是個別惡人的行為。罪惡已經制度化，把軟弱的人囚禁在制度之內，成為制度的一部份。昔日祇有個人的貪婪，剝削一小撮家中的僕婢。今天有不公義的法律體系，縱容企業家謀取暴利，剝削整個工人階級，加劇貧富懸殊！企業家之間，在制度內，不擇手段，互相競爭，渴望獨霸整個市場；而工人亦淪為生產的機器！這些結構性的罪惡，扭曲了企業家與勞動人民的尊嚴和人性。當人性蕩然無存的時候，還有「真我」可言，還有「蒙召成聖」的可能嗎？
天父啊！請祢快來，掃除那一切使人跌倒的事，讓義人們的真我，得以「發光如同太陽」。亞孟！

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：https://zingcreed.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/structural-sin/

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Authentic Self Series II
Obstacles to Live Up To the Authentic Self (Matthew 13:36-43)

The Kingdom of Heaven has both internal and external meanings. The internal one is in our hearts. It is subjective. When we allow God's will and grace to operate in our hearts without obstacles, the Kingdom of Heaven is present in us. The Parable of the Sower describes this "internal" Kingdom of Heaven. The external Kingdom of Heaven is objective and like the internal one, takes time to develop and manifest. The objective Kingdom of Heaven shall actualize at "the end of the age" (Matthew 13:39). The Parable of the Weeds describes this external Kingdom of Heaven at the end of the world.

Just as the in the internal Kingdom of Heaven, there are thorns smothering the seeds, preventing them from growing, the external Kingdom of Heaven is the same. "The field is the world" (13:38) the base of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Son of Man plants good seeds in the world to build up the Kingdom of Heaven. Building it up is a process and takes time to develop. At the same time, there are people who cause others to sin and evildoers in the Kingdom (13:41), hindering the children of the Kingdom to develop the Kingdom.

In the evolution of human societies, sin is no longer the actions of individual evildoers. Sin is institutionalized. Weaklings are imprisoned in the institution and become a part of it. In previous ages, there were only greedy individuals exploiting a small number of domestic slaves. Today, there are unfair legal systems which turn a blind eye to unscrupulous entrepreneurs who exploit an entire class of labourers, quickening the polarization of wealth! Within the system, entrepreneurs compete among themselves in a dog-eat-dog, hoping to monopolize the market. Workers become bolts and nuts of production! These structural sins twist and distort the dignity and humanity of both the entrepreneurs and labouring people. When humanity is so much trampled, is it meaningful to talk about Authentic Self and is sanctification still possible?
Heavenly Father! Come quickly. Remove all stumbling blocks so that the authentic selves of the righteous may "shine like the sun". Amen!

福音助人活出「真我」 The Gospel Helps Us Live Up To Our Authentic Self

真我系列之一：
福音助人活出「真我」（瑪13:31-35）

疫期期間，很多婦女被迫留在家中，減少外出進食。惟有親自下廚，自製點心，烤焗糕點…這段時間，對「酵母的比喻」，有了另一番體會。

1. 原來把酵母均勻地搓揉進麵團裡，是頗為費力的。因此，雖然天國是天主白白的恩賜，但人們仍需努力，與天主合作，纔能享受到天國的福樂。
2. 麵粉的品種有很多，倘若祇把麵粉開水煮熟來吃，雖然可以攝取到營養，卻是淡然乏味！加入了酵母，便可以把各種麵粉的不同特色，彰顯出來。再配合其他不同的材料，便可以烘焙出不同的精美糕點了。

原來天國的福音，在人心內發酵，使人能活出「真我」。這「真我」是天主按自己的肖像所造的，天主「認為樣樣都很好」（創1：31）。可惜，生活迫人，很多人即使努力掙扎，仍改變不了被罪惡污染了的環境，惟有無奈地向現實低頭。為了自保，為了生存，祇有戴上面罩，以一副虛假的嘴臉與人來往，不敢以真我示人！久而久之，這個真我甚至被那面罩所囚禁，所取代！

天主的福音，就是那神奇的酵母，重新激活那個蒙污的真我，使天主的肖像重生。耶穌基督宣講的福音，邀請我們悔改。因為天父是慈悲的，不再計較我們的過錯。這是天主白白的恩賜，倘若我們願意接受，願意出力與天主配合，我們便得到解放，得享天主的永恆生命。
天父啊！願我們能成為祢的美點，給世界獻上些微的飽足。亞孟！

生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：eatthis.com

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Authentic Self Series (I)
The Gospel Helps Us Live Up To Our Authentic Self (Matthew 13:31-35)

During this pandemic, many ladies are forced to stay home, reducing the number of dining-outs. They return to the kitchen to bake. A new understanding of the Parable of the Yeast emerges.

1. It is rather exhausting to knead the yeast thoroughly into the dough. Thus, although God gives the kingdom of heaven freely to us, we need to work hard and cooperate with God in order to partake in the bliss of the kingdom
2. There are different types of flour. If we simply boil it with water and consume, though we are able to absorb the nutrients, it would be bland! Add a little yeast and the flavour of different types of flour is revealed. Together with various dressings and icings, delicious pastry is baked.

The gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven turns out to be the yeast that ignites the "Authentic Self" in us. This Authentic Self was made in the image of God and "God looked at everything He had made, and found it very good." (Genesis 1:31) Unfortunately, life is crashing people down. No matter how hard they struggle, they are unable to change the sins infested environment. Reluctantly they surrender. In order to protect themselves and to continue fighting for their survival, they put on masks to interact, fearing to reveal their Authentic Selves! In times, their Authentic Selves are imprisoned and replaced by their masks.

God's gospel, this marvellous yeast revitalizes our tarnished Authentic Self and revives the image of God. Jesus Christ proclaims this good news and invites us to repent. The Father is merciful. He does not count our trespasses against us. This grace God freely gives. If we accept this invitation and are willing to cooperate with God, we shall be liberated and partake in God's eternal life.
Heavenly Father! May we become Your delicacy to deliver a crumb of satisfaction to the world. Amen!