為傷害您的人祈禱 To pray for those who hurt you

聖枝主日（丙年）
主題：為傷害您的人祈禱

路加是一本祈禱默想的福音，一本以慈悲為主題的福音。 耶穌受難是一個不爭的事實。聖經以外的歷史書也有記載。福音的作者從各種各樣的材料中，選擇了一些他覺得重要的細節，譜寫出一篇「耶穌基督的受難曲」。今天我們聽的，是路加版的「受難曲」。路加邀請基督徒，默想天父的慈悲，如何在耶穌基督的受難中表達出來；天主的愛，如何在耶穌基督的受難中實現。

教宗方濟各為慈悲禧年編寫的禱文，列舉了很多耶穌基督以慈悲的眼神，感動罪人悔改的例子，例如：召叫瑪竇、稅吏匝凱、罪婦、在伯多祿三次否認他之後，十字架上的右盜等等，這些例子，都是出於路加的記載。所以這本在丙年所誦讀和默想的福音，為基督徒的靈修和成長，是非常有益的。

今天，讓我們來默想其中的一個片段。耶穌被捕的時候，有門徒拔劍拒捕，並砍下大司祭僕人的耳朵。所有福音都記載了，是不爭的事實。但接著來如何處理，就各有不同了。若望清楚記載是伯多祿拔劍削了大司祭僕人瑪耳曷的右耳。其他三本對觀福音沒有寫是伯多祿，因為他仍在世。若望寫的時候，伯多祿已死了大約三十年。所以，福音上的記載，難免會有所出入。且看路加如何把故事發展下去。當其他福音沒有關懷那些來捉拿耶穌的人的時候，祗有路加記載耶穌治好了那來逮捕他的人。

試想一想，你是瑪耳曷，縱使你是同情耶穌的人，你不得不奉命行事。當然，你可以在後方吶喊助威，不必跑在前面，首當其衝被伯多祿砍到。或者你有上進心，又或者你在混亂中被其他人推到前面。耶穌並不計較，耶穌治療你皮肉的傷，也治療你心靈的傷，相信日後你一定成為了教會的一份子，你的名字，留傳千古。

另一方面，想像你是伯多祿，你拔劍拒捕，並且傷人。為甚麼呢？是出於恐懼，出於自保。你可能出於忠心，想保護師父；你也有可能不願看見三年來放棄一切來跟隨耶穌所創的一番事業，毀於一旦。耶穌並不計較，治療了你所傷害的人，減輕了你傷害無辜者之罪。

相信大家對油蔴地碧街七十一便利店事件，亦略有所聞。三十八歲的店主於三月八日星期二被刺傷，在醫院救治，延至三月十四日星期一不治，遺下寡婦和個多月大的孤兒。三十二歲加拿大籍的越南疑凶，由意圖謀殺改控為謀殺。三月十六日起，七十一便利店發起捐助，八小時內已籌得一百六十萬！香港人的愛心和慈悲，令人讚嘆。請問在座之中，有沒有為受傷然後不治的店主，及他的孤兒寡婦祈禱呢？有。好，執事再挑戰大家，各位有沒有為疑凶祈禱呢？

基督徒的慈悲，不應停留在捐錢給孤兒寡婦上。這樣做是非常好，但非基督徒也一樣會做，而且絕不遜色，甚至比基督徒做得更好。基督徒就是跟隨耶穌基督的榜樣去生活的人。在今天的福音裡，耶穌治療傷害祂的人、耶穌憐憫並堅強因害怕而否認他的伯多祿、耶穌求天父寬恕釘他的羅馬兵，耶穌接納悔改的右盜…所以，基督徒的慈悲，就在於為傷害你的人祈禱，寬恕一切傷害你的人。這樣做，我們纔算得上是基督徒。在耶穌基督的眼中，那疑凶是個可憐的人。所謂「一失足成千古恨」，相信這事件，會改寫他的一生。香港沒有死刑，終身監禁亦有出獄的一天。幾十年之後的世界，恐怕他不但感到陌生，而且已沒有能力適應。請為這個錯手殺人的凶徒祈禱吧！
天主保祐

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Palm Sunday (Year C)
Theme: To pray for those who hurt you

Luke is a prayerful, meditative gospel. Mercy is its theme.
The Passion of Jesus was an incontestable fact. Extra-biblical sources also testify to it. The Evangelists selected materials from all sorts of things which they considered significant to write up the "Passion of Christ". Today, we hear the Passion according to Luke who invites all Christians to meditate how the mercy of the Father was made manifest in the Passion of Jesus Christ, how God's love materialized in Jesus' Passion.

When Pope Francis wrote the prayer for the Jubilee of Mercy, he listed many examples in which Jesus Christ touched the sinners with his merciful gaze to move them into repentance. E.g. the call of Matthew, Zacchaeus the chief tax-collector, the sinful woman, after Peter's third denial and the good thief on the cross etc. These examples are taken from Luke. Therefore, this gospel for Year C which we read and meditate is good for the spirituality and growth of Christians.

Today, let us meditate on one of the many sections. While a band of Temple officers and others tried to arrest Jesus, one of the disciples drew a sword to resist and cut off the ear of a slave of the High Priest. All gospels agree on this fact but the Evangelists handled what happened next in different manners. John explicitly wrote that Peter drew the sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus, a slave of the High Priest. The Synoptic gospels did not say that it was Peter because he was still alive. When John wrote his gospel, Peter was already dead for about three decades. Therefore, it is inevitable that there are differences in the gospel narratives. Let us see how Luke developed the story. While all other gospels did not care about what happened to those who came to arrest Jesus, only Luke told us that Jesus healed the man who came to arrest him.

Imagine you were Malchus. Even if you were sympathetic to Jesus, you had no choice but to carry out orders. Of course, you could have stayed behind to yell war cries and did not need to go to the forefront to be struck by Peter. Or perhaps you were ambitious, or even you were pushed ahead by others in the chaos. Jesus did not care. He healed the wounds in your body as well as your soul. To be sure, you must have become a member of the Church in the future and your name would be mentioned in ages to come.

On the other hand, imagine you were Peter. You drew the sword to resist and assaulted somebody. Why? You must have acted out of fear to protect yourself. Perhaps you were loyal to your master. Or perhaps you did not want the career which you had built up by forsaking everything to follow the Messiah to be vapourized instantly. Jesus did not care. He healed the one you had injured, to lessen your guilt of doing harm to an innocent person.

I am sure all of you must have heard what had happened in the 7-11 convenient store at Pitt Road, Yaumati. On March 8, the 38-year-old shop owner was stabbed and hospitalized. He died subsequently on March 14, leaving behind a widow and a one-month-old baby. The 32-year-old Canadian Vietnamese suspect was charged from attempted murder to murder. On March 16, the 7-11 chains started a donation campaign. Within 8 hours, 1.6 million were received. The charity and mercy of Hong Kong people are truly amazing and praiseworthy. Let me ask you, have you prayed for the injured but later deceased shop owner and his widow and orphan? You have. Good. Let me challenge you. Have you prayed for the suspect?

Christian mercy should not stop short at donation for the widow and orphan. Doing so is already very good but even non-Christians do the same, and even more generous than Christians. Christians are people who follow the example of Jesus. In the gospel today, Jesus healed someone who hurt him. He showed mercy and strengthened Peter who denied him out of fear. He prayed to the Father to forgive the Roman soldiers who crucified him. He accepted the repentant thief on the cross ... Therefore, Christian mercy is to pray for those who hurt you, to forgive all who do you harm. Only then are we true Christians. In the eyes of Jesus, the suspect is pitiful. Take one false step and you are finished. This incident would definitely change his whole life. There is no capital punishment in Hong Kong. Even prisoners serving life-sentence would come out of prison one day. By the time he came out several decades later, he would find the world alien and would not find the ability to adapt to it. Please pray for this accidental murderer.
God bless.

為義而受迫害 PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE

為義而受迫害
今天讓我們來默想按耶穌基督的教訓行善卻仍受人迫害的事件。 三月十五日，星期二，教宗方濟各在樞機會議上，宣佈五位真福，最早將於今年六月，最遲十個宣聖。其中包括德蘭修女。梵蒂崗將於九月四日（主日），就是德蘭修女的逝世前夕，為她舉行宣聖彌撒。

在慈悲禧年為德蘭修女宣聖，是最恰當不過的了，因為她是慈悲的化身。她一生蒙受兩次聖召。第一次，在十八歲的時候加入洛雷托Loreto女修會，十九歲奉派往印度教書。三十六歲那一年，感受到更深刻的召叫，要在最貧窮的人身上服事耶穌基督。三十八歲，她開始脫去修女的會衣，換上一襲白色滾藍邊的傳統印度服飾sari。白色代表純潔，藍色代表聖母瑪利亞。她由一個從事教育工作約二十年的修女，開始了為最窮的人服務。她每日非常具體地實踐神形哀矜。她的慈悲行動，比世上最優秀的布道家，還要感化了更多的人。她在世時，很多人已把她當代二十世紀的活聖人。

可是，樹大招風，有很多人會攻擊她、利用她。
固然，有人與出於嫉妒而攻擊她，但不要以為攻擊她的人，一定是壞人。要知道，她是梵二之前長大的天主教徒，在信仰上、誡律上是保守和嚴謹的。她經常唸玫瑰經，反對避孕及墮胎。甚至在接受諾貝爾和平獎的演說上，亦毫不掩飾她酷愛生命，反對墮胎的立場。這些言論，當然與致力改善貧窮的有志之士，南轅北轍，因為很多人相信印度的貧窮，是出於人口過剩。亦有很多善心人士，擔心她心地良善，容易被人偶像化，受人利用。所以，她也受到善心人士的攻擊和反對。

固然，利用她的名譽和善心的，大有人在，而且德蘭修女，心地善良，不會怕被利用而不接受富有的人的捐助，亦不會因為被人利用了而仇視富有的人。受攻擊、受委屈，她的心靈是痛苦的，但她仍願意為奉行耶穌基督的旨意，為一切的人祈禱，包括攻擊她，利用她的人。

耶穌基督在世的時候，何嘗不是做善事而受到攻擊，受到迫害，甚至死在十字架上嗎？作為耶穌基督的跟隨者，不但要按照基督的教訓行善，亦要跟隨基督的榜樣，跟隨他行人生的苦路，默默地忍耐行善所招致的迫害。天主保祐。

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PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE

  This evening, let us meditate the persecution we receive when we follow Jesus' command to do good.
Last Tuesday, March 15, Pope Francis announced the canonization of five Blessed's during an ordinary public consistory, including Blessed Mother Teresa. The earliest will take place in June and latest in October. Vatican will celebrate her canonization mass on September 4, the vigil of the anniversary of her death.

To canonize Blessed Mother Teresa during the Jubilee of Mercy is the most appropriate of all because she was a personification of mercy. She experienced two calls in her life. Firstly, when she was 18, she entered the Sisters of Loreto. At 19, she was sent to teach in India. She experienced a deeper call when she was 36 to serve Christ among the poorest. At 38, she took off her Loreto habits and put on a traditional white sari with blue border. White symbolizes purity and blue the BVM. After teaching for nearly 20 years, she started serving the poorest. Daily she concretely performed corporal as well as spiritual works of mercy. Her works of mercy touched the hearts of more people than the most effective evangelists and preachers. Many people have already regarded her as a living saint of the twentieth century.

Of course, her fame had brought her attacks and manipulations.
There were people who attacked her out of jealousy. But do not think that all who attacked Mother Teresa were bad guys. We have to understand that she was raised a pre-Vatican II Catholic. Her faith and the precepts she kept were conservative and strict. She always recited the Rosary and opposed contraception and abortion. Even in her Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, she did not shy away from telling the audience her intense love of life and her opposition to abortion. These stances went against people of good will who wanted to eradicate poverty because many people believed that over population was the root cause of poverty in India. There were also people who worried about her being taken advantaged of or being idolized because of her simple kind-heartedness. Therefore, even good people attacked and opposed her.

Of course, there were not a few people who had manipulated her fame and kindness. She was meek but would not refuse the donations from the rich out of fear of being taken advantage of. Nor would she hate the rich after they manipulated her kindness. Being attacked and misunderstood was spiritually painful. Yet, she was still willing to perform the will of Jesus Christ and to pray for all people, including those who attacked her as well as took advantage of her.

Wasn't Jesus Christ attacked, persecuted and even died on the cross for doing good? As followers of Christ, not only do we follow Jesus' command to do good, but we should also follow his example to go through the stations of the cross in our daily life, quietly enduring persecutions for doing good.
God bless.

真福德蘭修女在3月15日封聖的假聞

幾天前，多次收到有關真福德蘭修女於三月十五日封聖的訊息。封聖的禮儀，起碼也要幾個月的預備。但本地【公教報】或者梵蒂崗靜如深海。所以作假的成份居多。不過，仍有同學覺得學習德蘭修女的生活態度，也是一件好事，所以傳出去也不是問題。可惜讀起來錯誤犯駁太多，恐怕連修女的駭骨，也會在墳墓裡打滾！
姑且分析如下，以慰修女在天之靈。

YOU MAY CALL ME A BIGOT

Post war life has been unduly lengthened. People has enjoyed prosperity for too long. We are facing a different level of "making the ends meet". In order to meet the living standards, both parents have to work and neglect their children. We have bred a generation of children who cannot take care of themselves; who do not possess necessary savvy to survive.

On the other hand, we have bred a generation of egoistic people who claim human rights for their own benefits but refuse to sacrifice for the sake of the general public. It is true that we need human rights to defend citizens from tyrants. It all started with three human rights of life, liberty and private property some two hundred years ago. In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed by 48 nations in UN. That was three years after WWII. 70 years after WWII, more people want more human rights.

Freedom to travel and to work are respected. Freedom of thoughts, speech and assembly are respected too. So is sexual orientation today. Sexual orientation is a matter of private life and as long as you are not practising it in public, it is not offending. However, public morality is eroding when sex and marriage divorce.
No argument can refute the biological reality that sex is for procreation. It is immoral to enjoy sexual gratification while evading the duty of procreation. Furthermore, the social institution of marriage is for procreation and legal inheritance and marriage is for the good of the individuals and the stability of the society as a whole. Unfortunately, LGBT activists piggyback the human rights movement to demand a marriage which cannot procreate. They demand the right to marriage and the mass media love sensationalization. Such a demand is illogical. Prove me wrong.

Lord Jesus, may Your light illuminate us and drive away the darkness that blinds us. Amen.

Church Invasion, SCMP

我是拉匝祿 I AM LAZARUS

四旬期第五主日（甲年）
主題：我是拉匝祿
**舉行考核禮，選用甲年讀經。

四部福音之中，若望福音成書最晚，距離耶穌基督的復活升天事件，超過半過世紀。當時，三部對觀福音，即馬爾谷、路加和瑪竇已經流傳了大約二十年以上。所以除了一些重大事件，如若翰洗者的見証、醫治瞎子、癱子、五餅二魚、復活死人和受難復活等等之外，若望沒有重複其他福音的記載。他經過半過世紀的反省，領會到耶穌是降生成人的天主聖言。從這個角度出發，耶穌的一切言行，有了很超越的幅度。所以，若望福音是一部很深奧，但又必須閱讀反省的福音。

「復活拉匝祿」的故事，內容非常豐富，足以作為七日退省的默想材料。所以今天祗選讀短式，並默想其中部份片段。請大家在這個星期內，在家中誦讀並默想故事的全部。
整個故事是非常簡單的。耶穌來到伯達尼傳福音的時候，這一家人，包括瑪爾大、瑪利亞和拉匝祿，接待了耶穌，成為耶穌的好朋友。耶穌每次經過的時候，都會逗留在他們的家中。這個瑪利亞，就是曾經以香液傅抹耶穌，並以自己的頭髮擦乾耶穌的腳的婦人。今次，弟弟拉匝祿病了，耶穌過了幾天纔去探望他。結果，耶穌來遲了，拉匝祿已經死了。為了周圍的人的得救，耶穌決定到墳墓那裡，復活他的好朋友拉匝祿。結果，很多素來不接受耶穌的猶太人，也相信了耶穌。

故事的主角，除了耶穌之外，應該是拉匝祿了。在希伯來文，「拉匝祿」是「上主是救援」的意思。他的際遇，的確表達了天主的救援。不過，在整個故事中，甚至在所有的福音中，他並沒有說過一句話。他過著一般猶太人的生活，在他生前，沒有發生過有如他的姊妹瑪利亞那麼戲劇化的事件。他祗是默默地生活，默默地患病，默默地死去。雖然他祗是個最平凡不過的人，但令他的生命突出的，是他的兩個姊妹。我們不知道拉匝祿患的是甚麼病，但他患病時，他的姊妹便派人找耶穌，因此他的病並不輕。也正是瑪爾大和瑪利亞的信德，令拉匝祿得以復活，令許多猶太人也相信了耶穌。各位兄弟姊妹，做天主教徒並不一定要做轟轟烈烈的殉道者，或者做一個有如真福德蘭修女一樣聖德超著的聖人。就算是平凡有如拉匝祿的人，祗要配合天主的慈悲，一樣能令周圍的人，相信耶穌基督，接受耶穌基督為救主。

拉匝祿的遭遇與我們沒有分別：他有姊妹，他患病，他死去；我們一樣有自己的親人，也會患病，也會死去。不要以為信了耶穌便一帆風順，人見人愛，無災無難。作為耶穌的好朋友，耶穌所愛的人，也一樣會病，一樣會死。難道耶穌會願意看見他的好朋友受苦嗎？對不起！耶穌會！所以準備在復活節領洗的候洗者，請三思。作為耶穌的好朋友，拉匝祿和我們要也忍耐。倘若沒有耐性，也要學習忍耐罷！天主有祂的時間表，有祂的計劃。時機未成熟卻輕舉妄動，祗能落得失敗收場。所以，與耶穌做朋友，除了認識他，相信他，愛慕他之外，更要鍛鍊耐性。這就是我們經常說的「望德」了。望德就是在困難中所表現出的忍耐。

故事中，瑪爾大與耶穌的一段對話，非常微妙。首先，她埋怨耶穌來遲了。原來我們是可以埋怨天主的！而且耶穌並沒有因此而生氣。所謂「不如意事十常八九。」遇到病苦，遇到挫折失敗，遇到惡人當道等等，埋怨天主是可以的。天主是體諒的，祂不會因此而生氣。瑪爾大的埋怨始終掩蓋不了她的渴望。請注意瑪爾大祈求的方法，她的祈求是正確的，因為她並沒有指定天主要為她做甚麼。很多時候，當我們所關心的人病了，我們自然會求天主使他們痊癒。當我們看見惡人橫行霸道，我們自然會祈求天主鏟除他們等等。這樣的祈禱是錯誤的，因為我們這樣祈禱，是在吩咐天主怎樣做，這是試探而不是祈禱。我們應該求天主，賜力量予病者及家人，共渡難關；求天主給了惡人悔改的機會，造福市民。這個病、這個社會環境，是一個獲得天主恩寵，天主慈悲的機遇。
瑪爾大祈求了，於是耶穌提示她，她是可以祈求她弟弟的復活。瑪爾大是相信復活的，但她以為復活是末日的事。於是耶穌糾正她，復活也是現世的事。耶穌說了一句很重要的道理，是整個事件的核心。耶穌說：「我就是復活，就是生命。」（若11:25）等一等，耶穌是一個人，復活卻是一個事件，一個過程，二者如何等同呢？其實，耶穌說這句話，旨在要我們注意到我們與祂的關係。耶穌基督是生命的主宰，生命的根源。如果我們快要死，甚至好像拉匝祿一樣死了，憑著我們與祂的關係，祂會令我們出死入生；如果我們生活著，憑著我們與祂的關係，祂會令我們的生命更豐富。當然，倘若我們犯罪，我們背叛祂，破壞了與祂的關係，我們的生命便會出現危機了，甚至埋沒良心，喪失生命。

各位兄弟姊妹，「復活拉匝祿」的事蹟，提醒我們要與耶穌基督，建立並保持良好的關係。信從祂，渴望愛慕祂，在艱難困苦之中保持忍耐。在日常生活中這樣實踐信望愛三德，我們現在及在末日，便能享受天主源源不絕的永恆生命。各位候洗者，「復活拉匝祿」的事蹟，向您們保証了耶穌基督是生命的主宰。請您們忍耐，並恆心祈求，不久，耶穌基督要從黑暗之中，墳墓之中，解放您們。
天主保祐。

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The Fifth Lent Sunday (Year A)
Theme: I AM LAZARUS

John was written last among the 4 canonical gospels, more than half a century from the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. At that time, the three Synoptic gospels, Mark, Luke and Matthew had been circulating for more than two decades. Except for some important incidents, such as the witness of John the Baptist, healing of the blind, the paralyzed, five loaves and two fish, raising the dead and the Passion/Resurrection narratives etc., John does not repeat what the Synoptic have written. After half a century of reflection, John realized that Jesus is the Word of God incarnate. From this perspective, the words and deeds of Jesus have assumed a transcendental dimension. Thus, John is a deep, but a must-read gospel.

The story of the "Raising of Lazarus" is rich in contents, enough for meditation in a 7-day retreat. So we read the short version and meditate a tiny section of it today. I ask you all to read and meditate the whole story within this week at home. The story is very simple. When Jesus preached the gospel in Bethany, this family which consisted of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, received him and became Jesus' acquaintance. Every time Jesus came around, he would stay in their house. This Mary was the woman who anointed Jesus and wiped his feet dry with her hair. This time, their brother Lazarus fell sick and Jesus visited them only after he had tarried for a few more days. Consequently, Jesus arrived late and Lazarus had already died. For the sake of the people around, Jesus decided to go to the tomb to raise his good friend Lazarus. In the end, many Jews who had rejected Jesus before believed in him.

Besides Jesus, the main character in this story should be Lazarus. In Hebrew, Lazarus means "God has helped". What happened to Lazarus illustrates this name well. But throughout the whole story, even in all gospels, Lazarus did not say a single word. He led an ordinary life as a Jew. During his life time, nothing dramatic happened to him like Mary, his sister. He lived quietly, fell sick quietly and died quietly. His life was nothing but ordinary. What made his life extraordinary were his two sisters. We do not know of what illness he fell sick. But when he did, his sisters sent for Jesus. So, it must have been a serious illness. And because of the faith of Martha and Mary, Lazarus was raised, making a lot of Jews believe in Jesus. Brethren, it is not necessary for a Catholic to die martyrdom, nor to lead a saintly life like Blessed Mother Teresa. Even if we are as ordinary as Lazarus, working together with God's mercy, we can also convert our neighbour to believe in Jesus, to accept him as our Saviour.

What happens in our lives may not be radically different from that of Lazarus: he had sisters, fell sick and died. We too have our relatives. We do fall sick. We die. Do not think that after believing in Jesus, your life would become smooth, you would be liked by everybody and no harm would fall upon you. As a good friend of Jesus, a man whom Jesus loves, you fall sick and die like any other people do. But could Jesus want to see his good friend suffer? Sorry. Jesus could! Therefore those of you who are prepared to be baptised this Easter, think thrice! As a good friend of Jesus, Lazarus and we have to learn the virtue of patience. If you are short-tempered, learn to be patient! God has His own schedule. When the times were not right, any action would be futile. So, in order to befriend Jesus, besides knowing him, trusting in him and loving him, we need to beef up our patience. We usually call this the virtue of hope. Hope is the patience shown in times of difficulties.

The exchange between Martha and Jesus was subtle in the story. At first, Martha blamed Jesus for coming late. What? We may blame God and Jesus does not mind at all? We have more down's than up's in our life. When we fall sick, are frustrated or suffer unfairly under some bad guys, it is alright to blame God. God will understand. He will not be offended. Martha's frustration could not cover up her desires. Pay attention to how Martha prayed. The way she prayed was correct because she did not tell God what to do for her. Very often, when our loved ones fall sick, we pray to God for their recovery. When we meet bad guys harming the innocent, we pray to God to neutralize them. Praying in this way is wrong because we are telling God what to do. This is temptation rather than prayer. Instead, we should pray God to give strength to the patient and his family members to go through it; pray God to give the bad guys opportunities to repent to do good for the citizens. This illness, this social situation is an opportunity to receive God's grace, God's mercy.
Martha had prayed and Jesus prompted her to pray for the resurrection of her brother. Martha believed in resurrection but she thought that it would happen on the last day. So, Jesus corrected her. Resurrection is a contemporary event. Jesus declared an important dogma which is the core of the whole story. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life." (John 11:25) Wait a minute. Jesus is a person and resurrection is an event, a process. How could the two be identical? In fact, Jesus wanted to draw our attention to our relationship with him. Jesus Christ is the author of life, the source of life. If we are dying or like Lazarus, dead, with our relationship with him, Jesus can bring us through death to come out alive. If we are living, with our relationship with him, Jesus can make our life more fulfilled. Of course, if we commit sins, rebel against him or compromise our relationship, we put our lives at risks. We even bury our conscience and lose our life.

Brethren, the story of "Raising Lazarus" reminds us to keep a good relation with Jesus Christ. Trust in him, desire and love him, keep our patience in times of difficulties. When we practise these theological virtues, we can enjoy the inexhaustible eternal life of God, now and at the hour of our death. Baptizees, the story of Lazarus guarantees you that Jesus Christ is the author of life. Be patient and pray unceasingly. Very soon, Jesus will liberate you from the darkness of your tomb.
God bless.

DEFENDING JESUS

Prejudice or hardness of heart, or whatever you may call it, men are always able to find a reason to reject you.
In John 7:27, the Jews claimed that when the Christ appeared, no one knew where he came from. Not long after, another group of Jews were sure that Christ was the descendant of David and thus came from Bethlehem, the village of David (7:42). Both groups of Jews knew that Jesus had come from Galilee. Obviously, the latter group of Jews had prejudice against Galileans. They claimed that no prophet was to rise from Galilee (7:52). You were not even a prophet. How could you be the Christ? The logic seems impeccable. So, it is clear that there was no consensus among the Jews about the origin of the Christ. But I don't think it was a matter of knowledge, that some had access to Scriptures while others had not. It can never be a matter of knowledge, but a matter of love. How did I come to this conclusion? I think the life of Blessed Mother Teresa speaks volume. She did not convince people with theology. She performed works of charity and mercy. That's all. Every spiritual person must have gone through spiritual desolation, not just once. She must have, but she did not hesitate to love Jesus among the poorest.

In love, there is no fear (1 John 4:18). When we are afraid to defend Jesus, we do not love Jesus enough. In the gospel of John, there was a Nicodemus who visited Jesus at night lest his colleagues would accuse him of siding with their enemy. Now he tried to speak for Jesus but he was shouted down by his fellow Pharisees. Jesus had become a sign that is spoken against (Luke 2:34). As his followers, are we able to defend Jesus properly? Have we done enough to equip ourselves to defend him? If we are not able to and have not done enough, do we feel ashamed of failing to defend him?

Perhaps you may say that Jesus does not need us to defend him. He can defend himself. Unfortunately, such hardness of heart will only harm oneself. Rejecting others will lock ourselves up inside our comfort zone, while not actively involved in building up our relation with Jesus will seal our fate.

Merciful Lord, I would like to defend you. Yet, you come to protect me instead. I thank you. Amen.

WE THINK WE KNOW

Jesus lamented the ignorance of the Jews, and by inference, the ignorance of most people. It is paradoxical that the greatest ignorance is shown by those who know the most.

Jesus was a Jew. His contemporaries should have known him the most, the best. Yet, the greater their knowledge was, the more they rejected him! Isn't it paradoxical? Once again, it demonstrates that knowledge alone does not help foster our relationship with other persons, including God. Of course, we can defend the Jews because their so called knowledge was actually a prejudice. They thought that "when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from." (John 7:27) and yet, they knew where Jesus came from. So, Jesus could not be the Christ they had been expecting.
To a certain extent, the Jews were right. God is a mystery and if God does not reveal Himself to us, He remains a mystery beyond our understanding. However, if we stick to this thinking, we have no way to know God, to know where the Christ comes from. However, if we allow ourselves to be more receptive, to be more open to God's love, why can't we accept the fact that God Himself would take up human flesh to live like a man and to die on the cross for us and leave behind His body in the form of a piece of wafer etc.? It is because WE THINK WE KNOW God enough! God would not do this and that! WE WANT TO BELIEVE that God is almighty and shall kill all the bad guys for us, that God is merciful and shall exempt us from suffering etc. I am sorry. God is not our invention. God has a mind of His own! When we think we know God enough, He remains a mystery beyond our understanding!

Merciful Father, Your love knows no bounds. You love until it hurts. I am not worthy to receive You in my heart because I am not courageous enough to suffer to please You. Strengthen me, my Lord. Amen.

DO WE HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD WITHIN US?

The Jews were and are very intelligent people. Their performance and achievements have been very outstanding among humanity. Despite all kinds of hardship, they manage to strive and survive and thrive. However, in the eye of Christianity, they fail miserably before they rejected Jesus Christ.

In the gospel reading today (John 5:31-47), we find Jesus' negative comments on their performance. All these are summarized into one sentence, "But I know that you have not the love of God within you." (5:42) That was devastating! Of course, that was not final. Humanity is capable of change and transform. I am sure that devastating sentence does not apply to all Jews. After all, the first disciples of Jesus were all Jews.

I still admire the Jews. They are path-finders. The mistakes they made and which cost their lives are treasures for us all. They set up counter-examples, warning us what pitfalls humanity might fall into when they seek God. The key issue is: do we have the love of God within us? No wonder John kept on speaking about love and concluded that God is love (1 John 4:8). In short, if we do not have love in our hearts, do not have God in our hearts, we fail to go to Jesus and have no life. God is watching over us with a pair of loving eyes. Most of the time, we turn our sight away from Him and commit sins. We are not responding to His love.

Heavenly Father, fill our hearts with Your love so that we may have life. Amen.

THE FATHER IS NOT THE SON

The Blessed Trinity is a Christian mystery in the sense that nobody is able to explain it in any satisfactory way. One false step and you will become a heretic! For example, only the Son died on the cross to redeem humanity. The Father did not die on the cross though the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one and the same God! In ancient times, bishops and theologians made use of images to convey what they wanted to say. It was safer because images are inexact and whenever you try to be exact, you end up being a heretic. So long as you do not mix up the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and acknowledge all three Persons as one God, you are safe.

Nowadays, theologians tend to explain the Trinity is a more relational manner. Instead of talking about the nature, essence of the three Persons, now they talk more about their relationships. Such an approach is more dynamic and in fact is closer to the Scripture. Of course it is because the ideas of Persons and  Nature/Essence are Greek philosophical jargon Christian theologians borrowed to explain the concept in an acceptable way to the non-believers. The Bible speaks a different language.

The gospel reading today (John 5:17-30) is a typical exposition of part of the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. Though the Holy Spirit was not mentioned, it must be hovering in the background. In the text, Jesus illustrated many times the sameness of the Father and the Son: both of them are working (5:17), they do the same things (v.19) and they give life (v.21) etc. But the Father is NOT the Son.  This is obvious even in human relationships. In isolation, the Son cannot do anything of his own accord (v.19). However, there is at least one thing the Father does not do but let the Son do: to pass judgment (v.22, 27). But even here, sameness is found because the judgment of the Son is the same as the Father (v.30)! Why not? If their judgments were different, they would be schizophrenic! After so many centuries of using Greek jargon, it is refreshing to explain this mystery in a different paradigm. Since no man is an island. A relational approach is a right path to take.

May the Three in One be blessed, forever and ever. Amen.

DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALED?

You will be amazed how much people DON'T want to be healed! In particular, patients of chronic illnesses have adopted a life style in the years. Given long enough time, patients are able to adapt themselves to their health conditions. The illness only degenerates into a kind of inconvenience similar to short-sightedness. It doesn't hurt much. It is only inconvenient. The patients have learned to "live with" the illness. They have no problem keeping the status quo. Furthermore, other people show greater kindness to patients of whatever sicknesses. Therefore, there is no incentive for them to be healed. On the other hand, acute illnesses are sharp and short. You want to get rid of them as soon as possible. You are willing to take drastic actions to relieve yourselves.

In the gospel reading today, the man had been paralyzed for 38 years. What Jesus spoke to him later suggests that the cause of his paralysis was his sin (John 5:14). So, this man had been staying in a sinful state spiritually and been paralyzed physically for a very long time. After 38 years, he might have lost his faith and hope in God already. He might not eagerly want to be healed. Superficially, he explained how, as a paralyzed man, disadvantaged he was in securing a cure. I suspect that he was not determined enough to get cured for reasons mentioned above but Jesus' question (5:6)was an invitation. His question rekindled a ray of faith and hope in the paralyzed man. His question was also an eviction. Jesus forced the paralyzed man out of his comfort zone. Get out. Let God love you and forgive your sins.

Let us give the benefit of the doubt to the Jews. Even though Jesus was wrong because his instruction had really violated Sabbath, that did not forfeit the mercy of God. Be careful, I am not justifying an "illegal" action with its good consequences. I am saying that the mercy of God overwrites legal technicalities. Given that Jesus' instruction was "illegal", we should keep our minds open. Jesus may have to resort to extreme measures to kick us out of our comfort zones.

Merciful Lord, I want to be healed. Instruct me and I will follow. Amen.

UNLESS YOU SEE SIGNS

It is a common mistake, though with good intention, to pray for the recovery of cancer patients! Pardon me for sounding callous. We believe in God. We love our neighbour and are taught to help the needy. They are suffering from cancers. Isn't it logical to pray to God for the good of the patients? It demonstrates our faith in God. Moreover, we admit our incompetence before cancers and turn to God. We cannot find fault with faith and charity. However, suffering is truly a mystery. We are not able to fathom what God wants to do with the cancer.
On the personal level, many people are able to defeat cancer with their will-power. Then, we interpret this illness in these people is an opportunity to draw out their previously untapped resources. On an interpersonal level, this illness draws family members closer together; reveal which ones are true friends and may even provide a reconciliation opportunity among enemies. In the end, it is God who decides the outcome.

My ex-colleague is lying in bed in a hospital ward. I do not know much about his conditions and it seems that his situation is terminal. I thank the Lord when we held hands together after administering Holy Communion to him. He closed his eyes and was peaceful. I am grateful for the Lord to allow me to touch Him and feel His bony physique. I dare not pray for the recovery of my ex-colleague. I can only pray that the merciful Lord gave him enough strength to carry this cross.

Lord, I do not need to see signs to believe in you (John 4:48). Heal me and have mercy on us. Amen.

悔改的喜樂 The Joy of Repentance

四旬期第四主日（丙年）
主題：悔改的喜樂

大家不要奇怪，為甚麼在應該穿著紫色的四旬期內，今天執事穿著的聖帶，竟是鮮艷的玫瑰紅色呢？其實，不但四旬期，還有穿紫色的將臨期，神職人員穿著的禮儀服飾，在指定的某一天可以穿著玫瑰紅色，表示「喜樂」的意思。在四旬期的第四主日和將臨期的第三主日，都稱為「喜樂主日」（分別稱為Lætare/Gaudete Sunday），標誌著要齋戒的四旬期或將臨期已過了一半。而且在彌撒的經文中，強調喜樂的主題。例如，四旬期第四主日，倘若不舉行候洗者考核禮，進堂詠是這樣唸：『凡愛慕耶路撒冷的，都應與她一同喜樂；』在拉丁文，「喜樂」是進堂詠的第一個字。倘若舉行考核禮，也在「集禱經」中提到求天主以『屬神的喜樂，充滿教會』。那麼，在四旬期第四主日，有甚麼值得喜樂呢？真的因為齋期已過了一半嗎？當然不是。答案就在今天的福音裡。

今天我們選讀路加福音第十五章，膾炙人口的「蕩子比喻」。在路加福音第十五章，耶穌回應法利塞人和經師的質疑，說了三個比喻。為甚麼法利塞人和經師質疑耶穌的言行呢？除了因為耶穌的教訓，動搖了他們在群眾心中的地位外，更重要的是，在他們的眼中，耶穌離經背道，太自由放任了。例如，中國的【詩經】，記載了孔子所搜集的三百篇詩歌，擔任著教化群眾的任務。同樣，舊約的一百五十篇【聖詠集】，也擔任著類似的教化任務。【聖詠集】的第一篇就教訓以色列人，不可與罪人為伍，否則會落得慘淡收場。因此，作為一個受人敬重的師傅，耶穌與稅吏罪人混在一起，不但對自己無好處，更在其他人面前立下壞榜樣。於是耶穌講了三個比喻，表達出天主慈悲的胸襟。

第一個「亡羊的比喻」，瑪竇福音第十八章也有記載，重點在於天父不願意看見罪人的喪亡。但路加卻說，「對於一個罪人悔改，在天上所有的歡樂，甚於對那九十九個無須悔改的義人。」（路15:7）在這裡，耶穌在間接批評那些自以為義的法利塞人和經師。縱使法利塞人真是義人，無可指摘，所以天父不用替他們操心了。但令天父每日為他們操心的罪人，假若他們能悔改，他們帶給天父的歡樂，必能比較不用操心的義人為大。其實，在天父面前，因為「原罪」的遺禍，沒有人能合乎天父心目中的要求，所有人都不達標。因此，法利塞人歧視稅吏，祗是「五十步笑百步」，法利塞人也同樣需要悔改。可惜，他們自以為是，不知悔改而已。
第二個「失錢的比喻」是路加獨有的，內容和第一個「亡羊的比喻」相似，祗不過一個在戶外，一個在室內；一個是男性的，一個是女性的。但主題仍是一樣，罪人的悔改，在天主的使者前，也是這樣歡樂（15:10）。 倘若法利塞人仍然心腸僵硬，聽不出第一和第二個比喻的絃外之音，路加便以高超的文學手法，寫出第三個「蕩子的比喻」，把「所有人都需要悔改，並且悔改帶來喜樂」的主題，發揮得淋漓盡致。
故事中的長子象徵那些自以為是的法利塞人。小兒子象徵罪人。請注意，要求分家產的是小兒子，但結果，長子也分到他的一份。在過程中，長子有沒有盡長兄的責任，規勸弟弟不要分家呢？福音沒有記載，可能有，可能沒有。無論有或者沒有，長子已因為弟弟的不肖而成了受益人。
好境不常，小兒子受苦了，纔想起父親家中的溫飽。大部份人都會安於現況，甚至抱著「今朝有酒今朝醉」的心態生活，非迫不得已都不會改變，走出自己的「安樂窩」。「居安思危」是罕有的德行。而「受苦」原來也是有益的事，它迫使我們反省，引導我們回頭改過，信靠天主。
故事中的父親象徵誰呢？當然是天主喇，但更準確的是耶穌。小兒子把田地房屋變賣了，纔可以遠走他方。他回來，一定不會被鄉親父老所接納。所以，作為父親的，老遠看見小兒子回家，便要跑出去為他護航，甚至要宰殺一隻牛犢，宴請全村的父老，向他們陪不是。試問一家人又何能吃掉一條牛呢？在長子不願與小兒子和解，並指摘父親偏心時，父親親自出來勸解。他並沒有偏袒任何一個，兩個兒子，他都親自跑出來。為罪人做那麼多功夫的，除了耶穌，還有誰呢？
故事的結局是開放的，長子可能受感動，跟父親一起進入家中，與小兒子和解，大團圓結局；他有可能執迷不悟，拒絕和解，留在天堂的門外。耶穌並不會強迫法利塞人悔改，他把悔改的主動權，把進入天國的主動權，交給法利塞人，交給自以為是的罪人。

各位主內的兄弟姊妹，請珍惜耶穌的邀請。當我們犯了罪，他仍不離不棄；當我們悔改時，他願意陪伴我們進入告解亭，領受修和聖事，享受獲得罪赦的喜樂。不要執著，把自己關在天堂的門外，趁四旬期妥當告解吧。
天主保祐。

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Fourth Sunday in Lent (Year C)
Theme: The Joy of Repentance

Don't be puzzled. Why do the clergy who should be wearing purple during Lent, wear this brightly rosy red today? In fact, not only in Lent, but also in Advent when the clergy are supposed to be wearing purple, do they wear rose red on a certain date to express joy. The 3^rd Advent Sunday and 4^th Lent Sunday are called Gaudete Sunday and Lætare Sunday respectively to signify that we have reached halfway in the abstinence season. Moreover, the prayers in Mass emphasize the theme of joy. For example, on the 4^th Lent Sunday, if the Rite of Scrutiny is not held, the Introit reads "Rejoice, O Jerusalem; and come together all you that love her ..." In Lain, "Lætare Jerusalem ..." are the first words of the Introit. If the Rite of Scrutiny is held, the Collect reads, "Almighty ever-living God, give to your Church an increase in spiritual joy ..." So, what is worth rejoicing on the 4^th Sunday of Lent? Is it because we are halfway through fasting? Of course we are not. The answer is found in the gospel reading today.

Today, we read the popular parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Here, Jesus told three parables in response to the challenges of the Pharisees and Scribes. Why did the Pharisees and Scribes challenge Jesus? Besides the fact that Jesus was putting their status among the people in jeopardy with his teachings, Jesus was heretical and too liberal in their eyes. For example, Confucius collected 300 songs in the Classic of Poems to teach and cultivate the morality of the general public. Similarly, there are 150 songs in the book of Psalms to do likewise. The very first psalm teaches the Israelites not to join the company of sinners. Otherwise, they would end up miserably. Therefore, as a respectable Rabbi, it did Jesus no good to mix with tax collectors and sinners. Worse, he was setting a bad example in front of people. Therefore, Jesus told three parables to illustrate the mercy of God.

The first parable is that of the Lost Sheep which is also found in Matthew 18. Matthew stresses that our heavenly Father does not want to see sinners perish. But Luke said, "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7) Here, Jesus indirectly criticized those self-righteous Pharisees. Suppose Pharisees were genuinely just and impeccable so that our heavenly Father did not have to worry about them. If sinners whom our heavenly Father had to worry all the time repented, of course the resultant joy must be greater than those righteous people whom God did not have to worry about. But in fact, in front of our heavenly Father, none of us meets God's requirements. None of us is able to attain God's target because of Original Sin. Therefore, when the Pharisees despised the tax collectors, it was only pot calling the kettle black. The Pharisees needed repentance all the same. Unfortunately, they refused to repent because of self-righteousness.
The second parable of the Lost Coin is exclusively Luke's. The content is similar to that of the Lost Sheep. One is outdoor, another indoor; one is masculine, the other feminine. The theme is the same: there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (15:10)
If the hearts of the Pharisees were so hardened that they were unable to read between the lines, Luke wrote a high-calibre parable of the Prodigal Son to press home the point that "all men need repentance and repentance brings great joy".
The elder son in the story symbolizes those self-righteous Pharisees, the younger son sinners. Bear in mind that it was the young son who demanded his own share of property. Consequently, the elder brother got his share as well. In the process, did the elder brother do his duty to dissuade the younger brother from sharing the property? The gospel is silent. Perhaps yes, perhaps no. No matter what, he became a beneficiary of his brother's unworthiness.
Good days last short. The young son began to suffer. Then he remembered the good old days in his father's house. Most people prefer to keep the status quo. Some even lead a life as if there is no tomorrow. Unless they are forced, they shall not change and emerge from their comfort zones. In peaceful time, vigilance to impending disasters is a rare virtue. Suffering turns out to be a good thing. It forces us to reflect, lead us to repentance and trust in God.
What does the father in the parable symbolize? Of course he is God. To be precise, he is Jesus. The young son sold the property, turned it into cash so that he would go to a far off place. When he returned, the elders in the village definitely would not accept him. Therefore, when the father saw him while he was yet at a distance, the father rushed out to escort him back. The father even killed a calf to treat the elders of the village to apologize. Think about it, how could one family consume the whole calf? The elder brother did not want to reconcile with the younger brother, complaining about the favouritism of the father who came out to persuade him back. The father did not take side. He took the initiative to reach out to both sons. Who else but Jesus has done so much for sinners?
The story is open ended. The elder brother could be moved and followed the father to return to the house and reconciled with the younger brother. It will be a happy ending! But he could also refuse to reconcile and stayed outside heaven. Jesus would not force the Pharisees to repent. He handed over the initiative to repent, the initiative to enter the kingdom of heaven to the Pharisees as well as those self-righteous sinners.

Brethren, cherish the invitation of Jesus. When we commit sins, Jesus does not forsake us. When we repent, he is willing to accomplish us to enter the confessional to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, to enjoy the joy of forgiveness. Do not be stubborn and lock yourself outside of heaven. Do confession while it is still Lent.
God bless.

五十步笑百步 POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK

五十步笑百步（路18:9-14）

相信大家都聽過孟子給梁惠王說的「五十步笑百步」比喻吧。梁惠王好戰，孟子就用戰爭做比喻的材料，說服他不要自以為是。比喻大概是這樣的：在戰場上打敗仗的時候，有士兵逃跑了一百步纔停下來，有些跑了五十步便停了。跑了五十步的取笑跑了一百步的。對嗎？【孟子‧梁惠王上】

當然不對！大家都是逃兵，你有甚麼資格取笑其他逃兵呢？耶穌今天說的比喻，也有異曲同工之妙。在天父前，大家都是罪人，我們有啥資格在天父前，踐踏別人，自我炫耀呢？

跑了一百步的，意識到戰情的凶險，距離敵人遠一些，存活的機會自然高一些。祗跑了五十步的，可能被短暫的成就，衝昏了頭腦，低估了敵人的戰鬥力。敵人再度來犯，恐怕命不久矣。同樣，稅吏意識到自己罪孽深重，便悔改回頭，得到慈悲天父的接納。回到家裡，成為真正的「義人」（路18:14）。那虔誠的法利塞人，毫無疑問已做足了法律所要求的一切。而且，他看見其他人未能滿全到法律上的要求，便沾沾自喜。真可惜，他被自己這微不足道的「成就」，衝昏了頭腦，忘記了倘若沒有天主的意願，他根本沒有能力完成法律上的規定。這所謂的「成就」，根本是天賜的恩寵。罪惡再出現時，自視過高的他，自恃一己之力，忘記了謙卑地求天主幫助，恐怕他會成了第一個犯罪跌倒的可憐蟲。
天父啊，可憐我吧，不要讓我成為可憐蟲。亞孟。

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POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK (Luke 18:9-14)

I am sure all of you must have heard of the parable of "50-step laughing at 100-step" which Mencius told King Hui of Liang. King Hui loved fighting wars so Mencius made use of military materials to tell him this parable so as not to think too highly of oneself. The parable goes like this: When one side lost in a battle, some deserters ran 100 steps and stopped. Some stopped after running 50 steps. Those who had run 50 steps laughed at those who had run 100 steps. Were they right?

Of course, they were not. All of them were deserters. Who made you a judge over the others? The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican told by Jesus rings the same truth. We are all sinners before God. What qualifies us to trample upon others, to show ourselves off in front of our heavenly Father?

Those who had run 100 steps sensed the danger of war and kept the enemy away at a longer distance. They might have a better chance of survival. If you had only run 50 steps, you might be misled by your own achievement and underestimated the combat power of your enemy. If they attacked again, you might be the first to fall! In the same way, the tax collector sensed that his sins were many. He repented and was accepted by the merciful heavenly Father. "He went down home justified" (Luke 18:14). On the other hand, I am sure the pious Pharisee had not left out any law undone. He might congratulate himself when he saw others failing to fulfill the requirements of the law. What a pity, he was fooled by those little achievements and forgot that without God's blessing, he could never fulfill the law. These so called "achievements" were actually God's blessing. When temptation arose, this over-confident Pharisee would rely on his own strength and forgot to seek God's help humbly. He might become the first despicable person to fall.
Heavenly Father, have pity on me. Do not allow me to become despicable. Amen.

http://fll.cc/inspire/loser-laugh/

您的心放到哪？ WHERE WILL YOU PUT YOUR HEART?

您的心放到哪？（谷12:28b-34）

有哪個基督徒不知道，他應全心、全靈、全意、全力愛天主；並且應愛人如己呢？可惜，知易行難，要實踐上述十誡的總綱，實非易事。我們很容易找到千個百個理由，解釋為甚麼實踐這總綱是如此困難。總結起來，不外乎以下兩個原因。

首先，「心不在焉」。日常的生活，有太多事物要處理，全部的注意力，已集中在自己身上，集中在手上要應付的事物上。哪有空間關心身邊的人呢？連身邊的人也無暇關心，何況遠在天上的天主呢？ 其次，「力不從心嘛」。到想起身邊的人的時候，已經筋疲力盡，哪來力量照顧他們，愛護他們呢？天主呢？祂是全能力，用不著我去關心祂吧！

你覺得上述的生活，幸福快樂嗎？這種本末倒置的生活，何來幸福可言？這種被牽著鼻子走的生活，何來快樂之有呢？

本末倒置，因為天主是我們存在的根本。追求根本，我們可以吸取無窮的力量，源源不絕的能量，何來力不從心呢？把天主邊緣化，我們只能訴諸自己有限的力量，很快便油盡燈枯，當然力不從心了。

耶穌說：「你的財寶也在那裡，你的心也必在那裡。」（瑪6:21）那麼，你會把你的心放在哪？心不在天主，祗憑己力，不久便油盡燈枯。心在天主，天主就成了我們的財寶，是用之不竭的財寶，無限的財寶。這麼簡單的算術，難道你不懂嗎？
慈悲的天父，我把我的心，交在祢的手中。亞孟。

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WHERE WILL YOU PUT YOUR HEART? (Mark 12:28b-34)

Which Christian does not know that he should love God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind and with all his strength, and love his neighbour as himself? Unfortunately, it is easier said than done. It is not at all easy to put this summary of the Ten Commandments into practice. It is very easy to put up hundreds and even thousands of reasons to explain why it is so difficult to practise. But in reality, there are no more than the following two.

Firstly, the heart is not there. There are too many things to handle in our daily life. We pay all our attention to ourselves, to tackle all the jobs in hand. Where can we find the attention span to care about people around us? If we cannot afford to care about people near us, how can we care about God who resides in heavens?

Secondly, though we have the heart, we don't have the strength! By the time we remember the people around us, we are already exhausted. Where does the strength come from to take care of them, to love them? What about God? Well, isn't He almighty? He doesn't need us to care about Him!

Do you think the way of life described above is a happy one? How can an upside down life be happy? When you are being led by the nose, where does happiness come from?

This kind of life is upside down because God is the root of our existence. When we seek God, we will obtain infinite amount of inexhaustible energy. How then can we be exhausted? But when we marginalize God and resort to the finite amount of energy of our own, we will burn out very quickly. Of course, we are exhausted.

Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:21) So, where will you put your heart? If your heart is not in God and you rely only on yourself, you will soon burn out. If your heart is in God, He will become your treasure, an inexhaustible treasure, an infinite treasure. This is simple arithmetic. Don't you know that?
Merciful Father in heaven, into thy hands I commit my heart. Amen.

http://fll.cc/inspire/how-to-love/

天主的手指 THE FINGER OF GOD

天主的手指（路11:14-23）

天主降下第三個災難懲罰埃及時，吩咐亞郎用他的棍杖，拍打埃及地上的塵土，變成蚊蚋。埃及的巫師認為這是「天主的手指」（出8:19）後來，天主在西乃山上，用手指在兩塊石版之上，寫下十誡（出31:18，申9:10）。這就是「天主的手指」在舊約的記載。它既表示天主的能力，又指導著人應如何生活。耶穌以天主的手指驅魔，不但展示了天主的大能，更指導了我們如何生活。

人的心魔有許多，有些是外來的，更有不少是源於自我。人是按天主的肖像所做，有著無限的命運。世間的有限事物，很難給予完全的滿足。但在追求無限和超越的過程中，為了走捷徑，我們會很容易誤入歧途，例如濫用藥物，或招魂惹鬼，不能自拔。結果，除了天主的慈悲之外，哪裡還有救贖呢？倘若執迷不悟，固執起來，拒絕天主的慈悲，又哪裡能逃脫地獄的永火呢？那些譭謗耶穌的人，恐怕祗有自取滅亡的下場了。

四旬期正是天父大發慈悲的日子，「慈悲禧年」更是天主廣施慈悲的時期。「趁上主可找到的時候，你們應尋找祂；趁祂在近處的時候，你們應呼求祂。」（依55:6）讓我們聽從教宗的規勸，履行神形哀矜，禁食，施捨並祈禱，軟化冥頑的心靈，尋求天父的慈悲，回歸父家。亞孟。

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THE FINGER OF GOD (Luke 11:14-23)

When God sent the third plague to punish the Egyptians, He instructed Aaron to strike the dust of the earth with his rod. The dust became gnats. The Egyptian magicians could not duplicate the miracle and they told Pharaoh that that was the finger of God (Exodus 8:19). Later, on Mount Sinai, God wrote the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets with His finger (Exodus 31:18, Deuteronomy 9:10). Only these three passages contain the "finger of God" in the Old Testament. They show the power of God as well as the right way to lead our life. Jesus exorcized with the "finger of God". Not only did he show God's glory, but he also showed us the right way of life.

We have many obsessions in our hearts. Some comes from without while many more originate from within. Men were created in the image of God. We have an infinite destiny. Worldly finite things can hardly satisfy our desires completely. But when we seek after infinity and transcendence, we may cut corners and go astray, such as substance abuses and mediumship so much so that we are unable to kick the practices off. In the end, where comes redemption except from the mercy of God? If the practitioners remain unrepentant and reject God's mercy, where else can they go but the eternal fire of hell? I am afraid those who blasphemed Jesus had chosen calamity for themselves.

The season of Lent is a time of mercy of the Father, in particular when Lent coincides with the Jubilee of Mercy. "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon Him while He is near" (Isaiah 55:6). Let us follow the exhortation of the Pope, perform spiritual as well as corporal works of mercy, fast, give alms and pray so as to soften our hardened hearts. Seek the mercy of the Father and come home. Amen.

http://fll.cc/inspire/gods-finger/

成全法律 FULFILLING THE LAW

成全法律（瑪5:17-19）
「破舊立新」是一場革命。但立新不一定要破舊，改革一樣可以立新，可以找到新的出路，不一定要革命。

毫無疑問，耶穌所提出的言論，在當代人的耳中，是相當革命性的。守安息日，休妻，不與罪人來往、行割損禮等等，都是理所當然的事。遵守這些規矩法律，都是得救的途徑。耶穌違反安息日的禁令去治病、反對休妻、與罪人共席，他的門徒後來甚至放寬行割損禮的規定…在當代人看來，當然大逆不道。但以今天的道德標準來看，安息日工作、結集的自由、不行割損禮等，並沒有甚麼大不了，所以耶穌的言論並沒有甚麼大不了。反而在禁止離婚方面，耶穌未免太保守，沒有考慮到女性的權益了。

因此，耶穌根本不需要推翻或廢除法律和先知。隨著時代的推移，法律會日趨完善，先知的預言會陸續應驗。所以耶穌的任務不是推倒重來，反而是來使法律完滿，來應驗先知的預言。

反過來說，容許離婚、墮胎合法化、同性婚姻等，真的對婦女或對同性戀者的權益，提供了保障嗎？不是傷害了他們的身體，麻痺了他們的良心，踐踏了兒童的權益和整個社會的未來嗎？舊約的法律雖然不是完善的，但總有其偉大和對人類文明有建樹之處。耶穌曾警告過，廢除或鼓吹違反這些法律的，容許並立法離婚、墮胎、同性婚姻的人，在天國中是最小的（瑪5:19）。請注意，離婚者、墮胎者、同性戀者和那些立法者，在天國中雖然是最小，但仍在天國之內，並沒有被拒諸門外。天父的慈悲真令人詫異。

天父啊，請把真理之神，賜給呼求祢的人。亞孟。

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FULFILLING THE LAW (Matthew 5:17-19)

"Abolishing the old to establish the new" is a revolution. But it is not necessary to abolish the old in order to establish the new. Reform is also a way capable of establishing the new, of breaking new path. Revolution is not necessary.

Doubtless, in the ears of Jesus' contemporaries, his speeches were revolutionary. The Jews had taken for granted the observance of Sabbath, divorce, circumcision and avoiding sinners etc. Observing these precepts was a sure way to salvation. Jesus did not observe the Sabbath to heal the sick. He objected to divorce, dining with sinners and his disciples even did away with circumcision ... in the eyes of holy men, this was blasphemy. But from the moral stance nowadays, it is no big deal to work on Sabbath, to enjoy the freedom of association and not to circumcize. Therefore, Jesus' teachings are not that revolutionary after all. Rather, forbidding divorce, Jesus was too conservative and had not taken women's rights into consideration.

Thus, it was not necessary for Jesus to abolish the laws and the prophets. With the progress of time, the laws would become more nearly perfect and the prophets' prophecies would come true. Therefore, Jesus' mission was not to abolish the laws, but to make them fulfilled, to make the prophecies come true.

On the contrary, do permission of divorce, legalization of abortion and same-sex marriages truly protect the human rights of women and homosexuals? Do these practices not harm their bodies, numb their conscience and trample upon children rights as well as the future of the whole society? Although the OT laws are not perfect, they are still great and contribute to the building up of human civilization. Jesus had warned that people who relax these commandments, permitting and legislating divorce, abortion and same-sex marriage shall be called least in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 5:19). Attention, although people involved in divorce, abortions and same-sex marriages and the legislators are called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven, they are still inside and have not been kicked out. God's mercy is truly amazing.
Heavenly Father, give the spirit of truth to those who invoke Your name. Amen.

http://fll.cc/inspire/i-come-to-fulfill-the-law/

如何數算？ HOW TO CALCULATE?

如何數算？（瑪18:21-35）

我喜歡計數，今天的福音給了我一度很刺激的數學題。
按【思高聖經】附錄五，乙部「新約時代」的希臘制貨幣計算，一個「塔冷通」是20.5公斤的銀子。一萬「塔冷通」即20.5萬公斤的銀子，若以493.6美元一公斤計算（二月二十日蘇黎世銀價），故事中，國王的僕人欠國王10,112萬美元、約合7.8億港元。

一個香港的大學畢業生，安份守己，21歲開始工作，月薪領18000元，18年後拿頂薪66800元，餘下的21年，按通脹2.6%調整拿頂薪，退休那一年，每月領100000元。他用了39年的時間，一分錢也不消費，共賺得了2780萬，接近一次「六合彩」的頭獎上限。如果僕人有橫財命，不用工作，祗中「六合彩」的話。他欠的債，相當於208次「六合彩」的頭獎上限！如果每星期有兩次攪珠，而這個僕人每次都中頭獎並領得頭獎上限，也要兩年時間纔可以籌到足夠的錢，還清欠國王的債。耶穌所設的比喻，實在誇張。如果現實一點又如何呢？

一個「德納」是3.85公分銀子，一百個「德納」是0.385公斤銀子，即190美元，約合1483港元。相對之下(二十萬公斤對0.4公斤)，是僕人欠國王的532,468份之一。一個「德納」同時亦是一個工人一日的工資。倘若僕人替國王工作還債，也要做53,200,000日。假設僕人一生可以工作80年，他也要1,800世為奴，方可還請欠債！當然，如果您有幸大學畢業，一生工作39年，您祗要做28.5世，便可以還清一世的欠債。可是，其餘27世的欠債，又怎樣還呢？
天父啊！我欠祢的，實在太多了。可是，我仍與人斤斤計較，我知錯了。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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HOW TO CALCULATE? (Matthew 18:21-35)

I enjoy doing calculations. The gospel reading today gives me an exciting sum to do. According to Appendix V of the Studium Biblicum Version, Section B, "N.T. Currencies", one talent was 20.5 kg of silver. 10,000 talents would be 205,000 kg of silver. Let 1 kg of silver be USD 493.6 (price of silver in Zurich on 20 February), the servant owed the king 10.112 million USD, roughly 78 million HKD.

Suppose a university graduate in Hong Kong starts working at 21 in a steady job at a salary of HKD 18,000. After 18 years, his salary caps at HKD 66,800. For the remaining 21 years, he receives the maximum salary, adjusted according to an inflation rate of 2.6%. When he retires, he will be receiving HKD 100,000 a month. Throughout his life not spending one cent, he makes 27.8 million HKD, nearly the maximum of a Mark Six first prize. If this servant did not have to work, and simply won all Mark Six first prizes. His debt would roughly be the equivalence of 208 maximum Mark Six first prizes. Suppose Mark Six is drawn twice a week. It would take him nearly two years of winning maximum Mark Six first prizes to repay the debt he owed the king. Jesus' parables are really hyperbolic. Let's get more realistic.

A denarius was 3.85 gm of silver. 100 denarii were 0.385 kg of silver, i.e. USD 190, roughly HKD 1,483. In comparison (200,000 kg vs. 0.4 kg), that was one 532,468th of the debt the servant owed the king. Moreover, one denarius was also the daily wage of a worker. If the servant worked for the king as a slave to repay, he needed to work 53.2 million days. Suppose a servant could work for 80 years throughout his life, he needed to work as a slave, life after life for 1,800 lives! Of course, if he were a university graduate and worked 39 years throughout his life, he still needed to work for 28.5 lives to repay the debt of this life. The question is, how were he to repay the debts of the remaining 27 lives?
Heavenly Father, I owe you too much. Yet, I am still so calculating towards others. I am sorry. Amen.

REJECTING GOD'S MERCY

When Jesus returned to the town where he had been raised, he expected to bring them good news, which is Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah was fulfilled in their hearing (Luke 4:21). He, the Messiah, had come. He would cure their blindness and release their captivity. His kinsmen were only amazed by his gracious words but rejected his claim. In the end, they rejected him and even tried to kill him (4:29), thus rejecting God's mercy.

What else can we say? God cannot be seen. We are literally blind to Him, unless we are able to see Him. But no learning is adequate in order to see Him, unless our spiritual blindness is healed. Whom can we trust to cure our blindness? It takes faith in Jesus Christ whom God sent. He has come but we lack faith in Jesus Christ. Then, we come to a dead end. Will there be any breakthrough?

Jesus has already shown us the way. Perform corporal works of mercy and meet Jesus among the little ones, the needy. Pray quietly to encounter Jesus, to seek enlightenment from him. Perhaps we should fast to do penance for our sins, to soften our numbed conscience. Perhaps we should even go to confession to pour out our sins ...

Lord, I am exhausted. Give me peace. Amen.

天主的慈悲有限期嗎？ Does God's mercy have a due date?

四旬期第三主日（丙年）
主題：天主的慈悲有限期嗎？
在默想今天的比喻之前，讓我們認識一點上文下理。今天所讀的福音，是第十二章至第十四章的一個片段。路加福音的第十二至十四章，講述的是進入天國的條件。在消極方面，包括了不可貪婪、不可掛慮世俗事物。這些生活態度，會阻礙我們進入天國，獲得永生。在積極方面，包括做人真誠、審慎、保持醒寤和主動悔改。今天的比喻，勸說我們趁早悔改。
路加在勸說我們悔改的重要性之前，首先處理一個有關「報應」的錯誤觀念。相信各位在網上，可能觀賞過一段三分鐘的短片。一位關小姐在立法會福利事務委員會有關全民退休保障的特別會議上發言，道出很多市民的怨氣所在。兩日內點擊率超過三十萬，大快人心。在結束前，關小姐說：「呢個世界有樣嘢叫『報應』。」可想而知，「報應」的觀念，深入人心。讓我們來分析，耶穌基督相信有「報應」嗎？
人性本善，而且人單獨生活不好，必須在群體中生活成長。與別人相處，公平和公義是美善的，是合理的。公義就好像是一種與生俱來的感覺，雖然不好解釋，但大部份的人，仍然相信有「公義」是好的。可是，現實世界的社會生活中，我們的確見到很多不公義的事情發生了。從信仰的角度看，天主是美善的，而且祂也是公義的。祂是宇宙萬物和世人的主宰。為甚麼祂會容許惡人享福呢？於是「報應」的概念出現了，即是所謂「善惡到頭終有報。」又「若然未報，時辰未到。」一方面，「報應」解決了在現世惡人享福的不公義現象；更重要的，「報應」撫平群眾心中的不忿。
雖然說「人同此心，心同此理」，古今中外的人都相信有報應。不過，二千年前福音所記載的猶太人，卻把問題反轉過來問：「遇難的人，是否因為他們犯了罪呢？」原來古代的猶太人，素來很簡單地相信天主賞罰分明。善人受到祝福，兒女成群，豐衣足食。壞人會愛到天主的懲罰，不是死無葬身之地，就是疾病纏身。很明顯，這邏輯是錯的。假設「犯了罪，遲早一定會受到應得的懲罰」是正確，反轉過來說，即是「橫遭劫難，必定是因為犯了罪。」就不一定正確了。在舊約的【約伯傳】之中，來安慰約伯的其中一個朋友，就曾運用過這種錯誤的邏輯。如果這「遇難表示犯了罪，受到天主懲罰」是錯誤的邏輯，這就意味著，好人和壞人，一同會遇難。例如在空難之中，死了二百多人。難道所有的乘客都是壞人，死有餘辜嗎？但耶穌並沒有停留在邏輯爭辯之中，他藉著這個機會，進一步警告那些自以為是，沒有危機意識的人：「不要以為眼前的死難者，比較其他人更有罪，更死有餘辜，纔會遭此禍殃。不對。假如你們不悔改，你們都要同樣喪亡。」正如保祿宗徒曾說過，「眾人都犯了罪，破壞了天主的光榮。」所以當法利塞人瞧不起稅吏的時候，是「五十步笑百步」。大家在天主前都不達標，都是罪人。所以歧視他人，便罪加一等，多一條歧視他人之罪！
現在，我們可以反省今天福音中的比喻了。比喻中的無花果樹，祗吸取養份，從來也沒有結果實，沒有達標，在這個比喻中，無花果樹象徵了罪人。園主當然象徵了天主聖父。祂認識我們，知道我們每個人能做到些甚麼，有甚麼做不了。祂悉心栽培我們，有如栽種各種各樣的葡萄樹、無花果樹，給我們發展，提昇我們的人性，好能將來可以在天國，分享祂的天主性。如果我們做不到天主對我們的期望，我們的確在「荒廢土地」。福音中的園丁象徵了耶穌基督。他為我們向天父求情，不要立刻懲罰我們，繼續給我們悔改的機會，「再容他這一年罷！」。這就是天主的慈悲。天主的慈悲就在於對悔改的人，不斷地給予機會，給予寬恕。所以，壞人仍然可以享福。但原來天主的慈悲是有限期的。第四年過後，倘若他仍然執迷不悟，讓享福麻木了自己的心，不知回頭改過：不施捨，改善窮人的困境；不守齋，體驗窮人的苦處和補贖自己的罪過；不祈禱，回頭歸向天父。結果，他們會受到天主公義的判決，可能是現眼報，可能在死的時候，亦可能要到世界末日之時。這個「第四年」有多久，由天主決定。在我們眼中，這就是「報應」了。
其實天主既是公義，又是慈悲的。祂的公義和祂的慈悲，並沒有矛盾。從時間上看，天主好像先慈悲，後公義。但天主是不受時間限制的。所以祂在慈悲的時候，同時是公義的。我們犯罪，可能出於無知，出於軟弱。天主出於公義，容忍我們，給我們改過的機會，表現了祂的慈悲。祂在行公義的時候，同時是慈悲的。祂給予壞人些小懲罰，旨在提醒他們改過遷善。天主出於慈悲，給予小懲大戒。因此，祂的公義是慈悲的。不過，耶穌在這個比喻中，提醒我們，人的夀命有限度，所以天主的慈悲也受到了限制。所謂蓋棺定論。人死後再也沒有回頭的機會了。這是合乎情理的，並不是天主的無能。
各位兄弟姊妹，四旬期，特別是在慈悲禧年的四旬期，我們應趁天主還是慈悲的時候，祈禱守齋，行各樣神形哀矜，轉化麻木了的心靈，悔改，妥當告解，領全大赦，好能重投天父的懷抱。
天主保祐。




為甚麼在葡萄園種無花果樹？
Why Plants a Fig-tree in a Vineyard?

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  Third Lenten Sunday (Year C)
Theme: Does God's mercy have a due date?
Let us clarify the context of the gospel reading today (Luke 13:1-9). The passage today is taken among Luke chapters 12 to 14. This section talks about the requirements for entering the Kingdom of God. On the negative side, we should not be greedy, should not worry about worldly things. These attitudes in life will block us from entering the Kingdom of God, from obtaining eternal life. On the positive side, we should be sincere and prudent, be alert and take the initiative to repent. The parable today teaches us to repent as soon as possible.
Before handling the importance of repentance, Luke deals with a wrong concept related to Karma. I believe many of you must have watched the 3-minute video on the social media. A Miss Kwan spoke out the grievances of many citizens during a special Legislative Council meeting about retirement protection. Within two days, the video received a hit rate of more than 300,000. Near the end of the tirade, Ms. Kwan said, "There is something in this world called Karma!" Obviously, the concept of Karma has deeply been carved into our psyche. Let us analyze and see if Jesus buys the idea of Karma.
Human nature is basically good and it is not good for man to be alone. He must live and grow in a group. When we live with other people, fairness is good and reasonable. Fairness seems to be inborn and it is not easy to explain. Still, most people believe that justice is good. However, in the real world, we see a lot of unfair things. From a religious point of view, God is good and God is just. He is the master of the whole universe and mankind. Why then does He allow evil people to enjoy a good life? The concept of Karma appears. In the end, God will award everybody his due. Put it in another way, sooner or later God will act. So on one hand, the concept of Karma solves the problem of apparent unfairness, but more importantly, the concept soothes people's grumblings.
All mankind share the same humanity. The concept of Karma transcends space and time. But 2000 years ago, the Jews turned the question around and asked, "People suffer disasters. Is it due to their sins?" Ancient Jews believed in God's justice in a simplistic way. God blessed good people with many children and wealth. He punished bad people with death without a proper burial or with chronic illnesses. Obviously, this logic is flawed. Assuming that the statement "If you commit a sin, sooner or later, you will be punished" is correct, conversely, "When someone suffers disasters, he must have committed a sin" is not logically correct. In the book of Job, one of Job's friends who came to console him committed this fallacy. If the logic is wrong, it implies that both good people and bad people will meet disasters. For example, in an air crash in which more than 200 people died, it is impossible for all passengers to be sinners who deserve such a violent death. But Jesus was not content with logical arguments. He took this opportunity to warn those self-righteous people who do not have a sense of crisis: "Do not think that those who suffer a violent death were worse sinners than other people and that they deserved to die a violent death. No, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Just as what St. Paul has taught, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". So, when the Pharisees despised the tax-collectors, it is "the pot calling the kettle black". All of them fail to meet the target God sets for them and thus are sinners all the same. Therefore, despising others is committing yet one more sin of prejudice.
Now, we can do our reflection on the parable. The fig tree only absorbs nutrients and never bears any fruits. It does not achieve its target. It symbolizes sinners. Of course the owner of the vineyard represents the Father. He knows us through and through, what we can do and what we cannot do. He cultivates us like all kinds of vine and fig trees. He helps us develop, elevates our human nature so that we may enter the Kingdom of God to partake His divinity. If we do not meet His expectation, we have truly "used up the ground". The vinedresser represents Jesus Christ. He pledges the Father for us, not to punish us immediately, to continue giving us more opportunities to repent, "let it alone this year also". This is the mercy of God. The mercy of God is to forgive repentant people continually. That is why bad people can still enjoy a good life. However, God's mercy has a due date. After the "4^th year", if a sinner persists in his evil and allows riches to numb his heart and refuses to repent: does not give alms to relieve the plights of the poor; does not fast to experience the hunger of the poor and to do penance for his sins; does not pray and turn to the Father. In the end, he will receive the just judgment of God, perhaps an immediate punishment, or at his death, or even at the end of the world. God decides the duration of this "4^th year". In our eyes, there is Karma, God's vengeance.
In fact, God is both just and merciful. There is no contradiction between His justice and mercy. Chronologically, God's mercy precedes His justice but God transcends time. Therefore, His justice and mercy go hand in hand. We commit sins out of ignorance or weaknesses. Out of His justice, God tolerates us and gives us opportunity to repent, thus manifesting His mercy. When God metes out His justice, He is merciful at the same time. He punishes bad people to chastise them and remind them of repentance. Out of mercy, God gives them a little punishment to teach them a big lesson. Therefore, God's justice is merciful. But Jesus' parable reminds us that our life span is limited and thus, confines God's mercy. After death, a person can no long turn to God. This is reasonable and God is not impotent.
Brethren, in Lent, especially the Lent in this Jubilee of Mercy, we should, while God is still merciful, pray, fast and perform spiritual and as well as corporal works of mercy to transformed our numbed hearts, repent, do confession and receive plenary indulgence so as to return to the bosom of the Father.
God bless.

WHEN WILL DISASTERS STRIKE?

It is very difficult to repent. We focus on ourselves most of the time and seldom see the log in our eyes. Instead, we easily see the speck on our siblings, spouses, parents and colleagues. How true Jesus' observation is (Matthew 7:3-5). Even when we suffer anxiety and feel the need to seek help, we deny it is our problem.

Today, I listened to a couple who suffered from communication breakdown. Their marriage is undergoing a serious crisis which is precipitated by the demise of one of the parents of the couple. When A spoke, B cut A off in mid-sentence and started putting forth B's view without responding to A's emotion. When B pointed B's finger at A, A denied and claimed that B did not understand the whole truth ... While listening to them, I experienced a strong sense of déjà vu emerging. I have had communication breakdown myself before because I focused too much in my work and had failed to respond to my wife's frustrations. At the end of our session, I did not think the couple were willing to acknowledge that they had a communication problem. We three prayed together, holding our hands. May Jesus have mercy on the couple and me as well.

The prodigal son woke up and came to his senses when he was hungry, when his comfortable life ended, when he spent all his resources and there was nothing else to rely on. Only then did he remember his father (Luke 15:17). Do we really need to meet disasters in order to come to our senses? I am pessimistic. I think we do because most of us are so egocentric that we are unable to leave our comfort zone voluntarily unless disasters strike. Perhaps it would be too late.

Lord, have mercy on us. Have mercy on us couples. We do not have the strength to repent. Amen.