煉獄是個充滿希望的地方 Purgatory Is A Hopeul Place

追思已亡諸信者，第三式
主題：煉獄是個充滿希望的地方 Purgatory Is A Hopeul Place

一般沒有信仰的人，只注重今生，因為他們認為「人死不能復生」，一切都要灰飛湮滅，沒有來世。所以在有生之年，人必須把生命活得淋漓盡致，才不枉此生！這只是一個理想，在現實世界裡，很多事物都不是我們可以掌控的。所謂「殺人放火金腰帶，修橋整路無屍骸」、多勞未必多得，令人覺得人生沒有「公義」。
天主教徒則相信一個愛護我們，全能全知的天主；我們相信人死後仍有永恆的生命，在「天堂」或者「地獄」度過。因為天主是公義的，祂賞善罰惡。所以「天堂」是善人與天主享受光榮永生之所。在今天的第一篇讀經，先知給「天堂」作了一個簡單的素描。「萬軍的上主…要為萬民擺設…盛宴…要永遠取消死亡…要從人人的臉上拭去淚痕」（依25:6-8）。至於「地獄」，福音一共有7處輕描淡寫地說：「在那裡有哀號和切齒」（瑪8:12, … ; 路13:28），就是惡人與魔鬼永遠沉淪受罰的監獄！

畢竟，我們的天主是慈悲的。祂按自己肖像造了人類（創1:29），對他們情有獨鍾。祂體諒人類身處困境，一再給予他們悔改的機會。教會自覺是「天主子民」，一個已經得救的團體。她認為所有信徒都是蒙召成聖的人，在世上組織成為『旅途中的教會』，一生與魔鬼周旋千千萬萬個回合，各有勝負。對於那些在信望愛「超性德行」和在智義勇節「四樞德」上有傑出表現聖徒，教會按嚴格的程序「宣聖」。例如宗徒、殉道者、教父、聖師、近代的高比神父和加爾各答的德蘭修女等等；他們組成在天上的『勝利的教會』。至於那些漏網之魚的「共同殉道者」，例如在清朝發生的「義和團之亂」，屠殺了大約三萬教民。公元2000年，天主教只能為其中120位殉道者宣聖。其餘的殉道者呢？還有寂寂無名照顧病弱的神父修女和教友們呢？教會沒有辦法確定他們的身份，於是教會在昨日慶祝「諸聖節」，慶祝他們贏得了天主為他們預備了的勝利花冠（弟後4:8）！

另一方面，古今中外總有不少沒有機會認識天主的靈魂、或者認識天主，卻生活在一個充滿困難和敵意的環境，令他們未能全心、全意、全力愛天主和愛人如己的靈魂。他們並不拒絕天主的慈愛，只是回應不足而已。教會相信慈悲的天主為他們安排了「煉獄」，淨煉他們愛得不足之處。在末日前，他們會完成淨化，最後得以榮升「天堂」。教會統稱這些靈魂為『受苦的教會』。教會相信聖徒在基督內的共融，傳統稱為「諸聖相通功」。在世時，我們為彼此的需要互相代禱。教會亦相信我們為『受苦的教會』，為煉獄中的靈魂祈禱，有助他們早登天國。同樣，『勝利的教會』也會為『旅途中的教會』及『受苦的教會』裡的靈魂轉求。教會定今天為『追思已亡諸信者』日，十一月為『煉靈月』，特別為煉獄中的靈魂祈禱，並可按教會的規定，為他們求「大赦」，縮短他們逗留在煉獄中的日子。

在今天的第二篇讀經，保祿宗徒告訴我們，天主子普世君王耶穌基督重臨世上的光景，這就是「世界末日」的時刻。到時所有在『勝利的教會』和在『受苦的教會』裡的靈魂，即「那些死於基督內的人先要復活，然後我們這些活著還存留的人，同時與他們一起要被提到雲彩去，到空中迎接主」（得前4:16b-17a）。從《瑪竇福音》的「山羊與綿羊的比喻」（瑪25:31-46），我們知道有「最後審判」。那些死於基督內的人與活著的善人，一起榮升天堂。至於那些不是死於基督內或活著的惡人，便進入地獄。時間、空間、煉獄亦不再存在，祇剩下「天堂」與「地獄」存在於「永恆」之中。

可見，我們天主教的信仰，是基於宗徒們的傳承，從十二宗徒開始，傳授給他們覆手的主教，直到今天。當今教宗良十四世，是天主教第267任教宗，聖伯多祿的第266代繼承人。宗徒們的信仰又從那裡來的呢？當然是從我們的主耶穌基督而來。我們知道祂是「三位一體」的天主中的第二位「聖子」。在今天我們所選讀的《若望福音》，「我父」一詞出現過23次。今次主耶穌在「最後晚餐」的「臨別贈言」中說：「在我父的家裡，有許多住處」（若14:2），已經是第12次提及「我父」了。相信宗徒們已經接受了他們以往所相信的惟一真神，即猶太人所信奉的「上主天主」，就是他們師傅口中的「我父」；而他們的師傅就是「默西亞」（1:41），就是「天主子」。所以，當耶穌表示將會離開他們到「父」那裡去的時候，他們明白自己的師傅將要離開他們到「上主天主」那裡去。不要奇怪為甚麼多默宗徒說：「主！我們不知道祢往那裡去，怎麼會知道那條路呢？」（14:5）。要知道「上主天主」是住在天上的，試問世俗的人怎會知道上天的道路呢？感謝多默宗徒的坦白，他並沒有像大多數人一樣，掩飾自己對真理的無知。多默宗徒幫助我們明白了多一點真理。

於是天主子趁這個機會，啟示了自己是信徒得救的關鍵，「除非經過我，誰也不能到父那裡去」（14:6）。的確，沒有「天主子」指點迷津，世人如何找到「天主父」呢？天主是神體，不是受造物所能經驗和領會的。所以「天主子」取了人性，使我們可以實體地與他交往，並能接受祂的啟示。用人類的語言表達，天主的啟示就是天主的說話，就是「真理」。這真理不是抽像的思想系統，若望宗徒偉大的貢獻，在於告訴我們，「天主的說話」就是「天主子」自己。《若望福音》是這樣開始的：「在起初已有聖言，聖言與天主同在，聖言就是天主…」（1:1）。

親愛的兄弟姊妹！耶穌基督說：「我是道路、真理、生命」聽來有點深奧。簡單地說，耶穌基督就是「真理」的化身，祂為世人指點迷津，引領罪人與天父修和，獲得永生。我們只要聽從祂的教訓，關愛貧困病弱的人（瑪25:40），就可以在「最後審判」合格過關。即使成績不理想，也可以到「煉獄」「補考」。有這樣慈悲對待我們的天主，我們的前途一面光明，充滿希望！亞孟。
天主保祐！

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2014反省
圖片鳴謝：grok.com, copilot.microsoft.com

默想石頭 Meditate Rocks

聖伯多祿及聖保祿宗徒節
主題：默想石頭 Meditate Rocks

教會今天紀念聖伯多祿聖保祿兩位宗徒對教會的建樹，今天的福音記述耶穌基督揀選了伯多祿作為磐石，建立祂的教會。那麼，讓我們默想聖伯多祿宗徒有關石頭的教訓吧！

在自然界我們很容易找到石頭，原始人很早已經把石頭雕琢成不同的工具，既可以用來攻擊，又可以用來建築防守。石頭有用因為它堅實、耐用，給人一種可靠的感覺。磐石是一塊單體的巨大火成岩或變質岩，更可謂是「石中之石」了。耶穌基督在結束「山中聖訓」時，便以磐石和沙土作對比，勸諭門徒必須實踐「山中聖訓」的教導：「所以，凡聽了我這些話而實行的，就好像一個聰明人，把自己的房屋建在磐石上：雨淋，水沖，風吹，襲擊那座房屋，它並不坍塌，因為基礎是建在磐石上……」(瑪7:24-27)。 因此，作為一個明智的人，應該要知行合一。知道了永生的竅門而不實踐的，確是愚不可及。這是在個人層面上的理解，但在團體層面上，「房屋」可以象徵「教會」、「磐石」象徵「耶穌的教訓」，明智的牧者應該按耶穌的教訓管理教會，以神貧、溫良、饑渴…的心態服服務弱小者，而不是追名逐利。

聖伯多祿宗徒卻從以色列人固有的「選民」觀念出發，加上耶穌基督榮進耶路撒冷時一句說話的啟發，演繹成有關「活石」的論述。在耶穌榮進耶路撒冷時，門徒們高聲頌揚天主，有幾個法利塞人要求耶穌責斥祂的門徒。耶穌回答說：「我告訴你們：這些人若不作聲，石頭就要喊叫了」(路19:40)。這句話可能啟發了伯多祿如何看門徒與教會之間的關係。在他的書信中，他寫道：「你們接近了他…你們也就成了活石，建成一座屬神的殿宇，成為一班聖潔的司祭，以奉獻因耶穌基督而中悅天主的屬神的祭品」(伯前2:4-5)。門徒如何接近了耶穌基督呢？就是實踐祂的「山中聖訓」。實踐了便成了「活石」，建成教會的「活石」。在聖伯多祿的心目中，教會固然是一個團體，更是一座以活石建成的「屬神的殿宇」，所以是一個屬神的團體。聖伯多祿用「一班聖潔的司祭」來形容這個屬神的團體，「聖潔的司祭」其實是「天主選民」的一個簡稱。當天主與以色列人在西乃山訂立盟約時，祂述說了對以色列的期望：「但你們為我應成為司祭的國家，聖潔的國民」(出19:6a)。在聖伯多祿的心目中，門徒就是「新以色列」，「新天主子民」。他在書信中寫道：「至於你們，你們卻是特選的種族，王家的司祭，聖潔的國民，屬於主的民族」(伯前2:9a)。這是一個屬神的團體，要成為「一班聖潔的司祭」。他們要以實踐「山中聖訓」，來「奉獻因耶穌基督而中悅天主的屬神的祭品」。梵蒂岡第二屆大公會議，秉承著聖伯多祿的教訓，作自我反省時，再次把自己定義為「天主子民」(《天主的啟示》教義憲章，第二章)。

今天的第一、二篇讀經告訴我們，信徒們面對迫害，並不退縮，因為「真福八端」教導我們，為義而受迫害的人，會獲得天國(瑪5:10)。第一篇讀經記載黑落德逮捕了伯多祿，計劃在逾越節後當眾處決，討好猶太人(宗12:4)。伯多祿為福音為主基督，已有慷慨就義的心理準備，「而教會懇切為他向天主祈禱」(12:5b)。可見天主子民，上下一心祈禱，獻上中悅天主的屬神祭品。天主應受讚美，衪差遣天使釋放了伯多祿(詠34:7)，祂在信徒身上再次顯示了自己的光榮。
聖保祿宗徒也有類似的教訓，勸諭羅馬教會。他說：「所以弟兄們！我以天主的仁慈請求你們，獻上你們的身體當作生活、聖潔和悅樂天主的祭品」(羅12:1)，他自己也立下榜樣。第二篇讀經記載了他寫給弟茂德的遺言：「因為我已被奠祭，我離世的時期已經近了。這場好仗，我已打完；這場賽跑，我已跑到終點，這信仰，我已保持了」(弟後2:6-7)。這是何等高尚的情操、何等慷慨激昂的氣概！

有些小心眼的人，不服伯多祿作為宗徒之長的地位，執意貶低聖伯多祿的地位，硬說希臘文原文不是磐石，而是石卵，根本不可靠！上面提到石頭給人一個可靠的印象，但在天主眼中，磐石在轉瞬間便灰飛煙滅，何來堅實耐用可言呢?所以，磐石也好，石卵也好，使它們信實可靠的是天主，而不是它們的本質!在天主手中，石卵也可以擔起磐石的任務！耶穌基督保證說：「陰間的門決不能戰勝她」(瑪16:18c)。可見石卵也好，磐石也好，由伯多祿和他的繼承人所管治的教會，將永遠長存。

親愛的朋友，二千年來，天主透過不少神聖和腐敗的教宗管治教會，至今仍兀立不倒。願天主永受讚美!亞孟。
天主保祐!

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圖片鳴謝: ideogram.ai, creator.nightcafe.studio/studio

原來假善人就是惡僕 Hypocrites are Wicked Servants

原來假善人就是惡僕（瑪24:42-51）

為甚麼惡僕與假善人會遭受同樣的命運呢（瑪24:51）？
惡僕「拷打自己的同伴，甚或同醉漢一起吃喝」（24:49），是個明目張膽的惡人。他並沒有偽裝自己是善人，為甚麼他們與假善人會遭受同樣的命運呢？
那些經師和法利塞假善人，有拷打自己的同伴，同醉漢一起吃喝嗎？都沒有！為甚麼他們與惡僕會遭受同樣的命運呢？

雖然經師和法利塞假善人沒有拷打其他經師和法利塞人，但是他們憑自己的專業知識，「吞沒了寡婦的家產，而以長久的祈禱作掩飾」（23:14），與惡僕拷打自己的同伴，傷害自己的同胞，沒有分別。倘若有，就是惡僕不作任何掩飾罷了！經師和法利塞假善人本末倒置，輕重不分，與一個醉漢的行為有甚麼分別？所以，那些有權勢有地位的假善人，本質上就是一個與醉漢酗酒，拷打自己同伴的惡僕！

雖然惡僕未必擁有好像經師和法利塞人的專業知識，但是他們都是坐在應受尊敬的位置上，行使權力，為人民服務（羅13:1）。當他們善盡職守的時候，天主當然會獎勵他們（瑪24:47）；但當他們「憑權位，張爪牙，殘民以自肥」的時候，他們與濫用專業知識，吞沒寡婦家產的法利塞假善人，沒有分別！

默想到這裡，我們不得不牽掛著教會內的神職班。感謝天主，我們有很多充滿聖德的神長；但亦有惡行昭彰，令人側目，披著羊皮的豺狼。教會的確是一個罪人的教會，教我們怎可以不謙卑呢？可幸教會也是至聖的教會，耶穌基督一定會愛護祂的淨配，使她毫無瑕疵（弗5:27）！

且讓我們請求聖母瑪利亞，天地的母皇，諸寵中保，為天主子民所有的公務員轉禱，保護他們的聖召。縱使跌倒了，仍然屢敗屢戰，繼續跑到終點，打完這場好仗（弟後4:7）。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：myfathersworldsite.wordpress.com

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Hypocrites are Wicked Servants (Matthew 24:42-51)

Why is the wicked servant assigned a place with the hypocrites (Matthew 24:51)?
The wicked servant who “beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards” (24:49) is a blatant rascal. He does not put up a good face. Why is he counted among the hypocrites?
On the other hand, did the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees beat their fellow scribes and Pharisees? Did they eat and drink with drunkards? No! Why then are they counted among wicked servants?

Although the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees have not beaten their fellow scribes and Pharisees, they abuse their expertise to “devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers” (23:14). Their harming their own countrymen is not different from the wicked servant who beats up fellow servants. The only difference is that the wicked servant does not pretend to be good! The scribes and Pharisees put the cart before the horse and set the priorities wrong. How are they different from drunkards? Therefore, those hypocrites in power are essentially wicked servants who beat up fellow countrymen and get drunk among themselves!

Although wicked servants may not possess expertise like scribes and Pharisees do, they are seated in respectable authorities to serve the people (Romans 13:1). When they do, certainly God will reward them (Matthew 24:47). But when they abuse their authority to fatten themselves, they rank among the hypocritical Pharisees who abuse their expertise to devour the houses of widows!

When I come to this point in meditation, I can’t help but am concerned with the clergy within the Church! Thanks be to God because we have many saintly clergymen. Yet, there are also scandalous wolves in sheep’s clothing. The Church is truly a Church of sinners. How can we not be humble? Fortunately, the Church is also holy. Jesus Christ loves His Spouse and will make her “without spot or wrinkle” (Ephesians 5:27)!

Let us pray to Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Mediatrix of all graces, to intercede for the civil servants of the People of God to protect their vocation so that they might continue fighting to finish the race despite repeated fallings (2 Timothy 4:7). Amen.

Pain and Gain 痛苦是成功必須付出的代價

The Second Lent Sunday, Year C
Theme: Pain and Gain 痛苦是成功必須付出的代價

Before the invention of printing, bibles were manually copied. Some manuscripts are more widely accepted while some are more authoritative than the others. For example, there are two versions of Luke 9:35, viz. “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.” and “This is my chosen Son, listen to him.” No such difference is found in Luke 3:22, “You are my beloved Son, in you I’m well pleased.” To us laymen, the difference in Luke 9:35 seems to be superfluous. The “beloved Son” is the widely accepted version and using it in both cases provides a link between Jesus’ baptism and his Transfiguration. In both occasions, the Father declares the divinity of Jesus Christ and confirms that He is the Messiah. Of course, the baptism of the Lord signifies the beginning of His ministry while the Transfiguration points to His upcoming passion and resurrection. Therefore, there must somehow be differences between the two situations.
When Jesus was baptized, He did not have any followers yet. The Transfiguration took place near the end of His mission. There were many followers whom Jesus wanted to incorporate into His Mystical Body in the future. Thus, we are approaching the establishment of the Church during Transfiguration. We are more than bystanders who witness yet another miracle. We become involved because the Father tells us to listen to Jesus and obey His commands. What’s the merit of using “chosen” instead? The word “chosen” is more inclusive to show that all Christians are God’s children, not because of blood line or sharing any other God’s essence but because of faith! And what is that faith? It is the faith in the resurrection of the Son of God who dies to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Using the word “chosen” binds us more strongly with the Son of God, to partake in His sufferings and to share in His glory (2 Timothy 2:11-12).

According to the gospels of Matthew and Mark, “six days” after Jesus’ first prediction of His Passion, He took the three disciples up a high mountain and transfigured before them (Matthew 17:1, Mark 9:2). But Luke says “eight days” (Luke 9:28). In my reflection three years ago, I explored the significance of “eight days”. So, I won’t spend time here.

Lastly, Luke arranges the narratives such that the feeding of 5000 and the Transfiguration are put closely together, only 197 Greek words apart! In modern terms, they are 10 verses apart in the same chapter! What message does Luke want to convey?
Like the Great Deluge and the Crossing of the Red Sea are pre-figures of the sacrament of Baptism, the Manna miracle in the wilderness and the feeding of 5000 are also pre-figures of another sacrament. They were a rehearsal of the Last Supper in which the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist was instituted. The Church teaches that the celebration of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross in a non-bloody manner. What then has the Transfiguration to do with the Holy Eucharist?

What went before the Transfiguration? To be meaningful, let’s take the starting point at Simon Peter’s declaration of the Messiahship of Jesus. After the confession of Simon, the Son of God renamed him Peter and made him the Rock upon which Jesus Christ would build His Church (Matthew 16:16-19). Furthermore, Jesus announced God’s salvation plan through Passion and Resurrection. However, the disciples were unable to accept such a plan (16:21-23).
Human beings naturally want to acquire gains and to avoid pains. They know the truth of the aphorism, “No pain no gain” but find it difficult to obey. Similarly, there is “No Resurrection without Passion”. The Passion is the springboard to glory because it is the only path to Jesus’ Resurrection. There is no shortcut. However, the disciples had difficulty accepting their master’s death because they had given up all they had to follow him. If their master died, their “investments” would evaporate instantly. Here is the paradox: in order to attain eternal life, one has to die first! But it would only be a paradox if there were no resurrection! Regrettably, we’re not Moses and Elijah who have attained the freedom to travel in time. We aren’t time-travellers and are unable to see the future or to see what is happening in another universe. Therefore, many people don’t have the faith to follow Jesus’ example and throw themselves into martyrdom.

In order to reassure his disciples the certainty of God’s plan, Jesus gave his disciples a preview of the glory of resurrection. He transfigured in front of the three chosen disciples so that they would be able to overcome the fear of subsequent suffering and death. With resurrection, Jesus conquers death and shall die no more. He is able to promise us that He would stay with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20)! Without resurrection, He could not honour His pledge to become the Bread of Life for all believers. In other words, without resurrection, there is no sacrament of Holy Eucharist. I think Luke tries to convey this link by putting the feeding of 5000 and the Transfiguration closely together, separated by only 197 words!

The Holy Communion is a mysterious sacrament. It’s both glorious and humble at the same time. It is glorious because it is the Body of the good Lord. There are reports of different kinds of Eucharistic miracles which have been scrutinized and confirmed by the Church. The faithful perform a lot of sacramental, such as Eucharistic adoration and Eucharistic procession to express their awe and praises. Composers have written many soothing and uplifting devotional hymns etc.
However, the Holy Communion is at the same time extremely humble. First of all, it is not made up of precious substance but simple ordinary unleavened bread. Moreover, unlike the Son of God who is able to move around easily at will, the Holy Communion is immobile. It’s unable to protect itself and relies on the Church to prevent it from being desecrated. It is locked up inside the tabernacle in an empty church. Lord Jesus Christ is extremely lonely and is waiting patiently for some accidental believers to come by and adore! Now that churches are locked down during this pandemic, the faithful could only receive Spiritual Communion. Both the good Lord and the faithful have to suffer the pains of separation. While Lord Jesus Christ wants this sacrament to join believers together in communion, His Sacred Heart aches to see believers arguing over theological and liturgical differences on the Eucharist.

Brethren! Even the Holy Eucharist, the body of the Son of God, is an embodiment of suffering in many different ways. How can we just want to gain without pains? During this Lent season, let’s pick up our momentum of prayer, fasting and almsgiving until they hurt.
God bless!
2019 Reflection
Picture Credit:shutterstock.com

ALL OF US ARE SAINTS

ALL OF US ARE SAINTS

by Deacon Alex

Before the creation of this known universe, God has in mind a grand and beautiful design. In His ineffable mind, He wants to populate the universe with beautiful souls, pleasing to Him as well as challenging to Him. Let’s call these beautiful souls saints, too innumerable to count. They shall be human beings in the ages to come and the Son of God shall become ... In short, the visible and invisible universes shall be populated by zillions of zillions of zillions of saints.

The Catholic Church commemorates these saints because they have successfully led a heroic life according to the Beatitudes. Together with St. Paul, they are able to boast, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8) Unfortunately, we only have 365 days a year. Obviously, there isn’t enough room to accommudate all these saints and our brains are too busy to remember all. Therefore, the Catholic Church set aside November 1 to be the ALL SAINTS DAY to commemorate many many unsung heroes whose humble lives are scarcely known by people at all. But definitely God knows and is pleased.

Brethren! Lest you don’t know, all of us are called to be saints ever since the Old Testament. Check it out! Yahweh says, “Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2) In case you feel that attaining holiness is too lofty a goal for you, Jesus Christ our Lord makes holiness more accessible in the gospels, saying “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Even better, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) Who then can complain that God demands too lofty a target for us to reach? In fact, all of us are gifted in different ways. Therefore, no two paths to sainthood would be identical. Thus in 2018, Pope Francis affirms once more in his Apostolic Exhortation “Gaudete et Exsultate” that all the faithful, each in his or her own way, are called by the Lord to perfect holiness. We should not grow discouraged before saints whose holiness appears unattainable. We are not meant to copy them. (GE#11) Bear in mind that all of us are called to be saints, to be ambassadors of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:20) Let’s joyfully tell the world the good news that God does not count their trespasses against them (5:19). God wants all of us to be saints.

While we celebrate the Triumphant Church in heaven, the community of saints on November 1, we the Pilgrim/Missionary Church on earth also remember the Suffering Church in Purgatory on November 2, the ALL SOULS Day and the whole month of November. Some people claim that the Bible alone is the basis of their belief. They are not able to find “Purgatory” in the Bible. Therefore they dismiss the existence of Purgatory and the tradition of offering prayers for the deceased as idolatrous. I would reply that they know not the Bible nor the power of God. They have forgotten Jesus’ teaching in the gospels that God “is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.” (Mark 12:27) Perhaps these people have misplaced their faith elsewhere and need to relearn the good news.

In truth, we have to admit that human nature is fragile. Thus, the Catholic Church offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation to restore us once we break our baptismal vows. However, some of us are stiff-necked and reject God’s mercy and the ministry of the Church. Consequently, they end up dying in a “cancerous” state, in which there are too much fat, cholesterol and even tumours in their souls, preventing them from partaking fully in God’s heavenly banquet. They need to spend time in Purgatory to purge those ‘tumours’. Today, we dedicate in particular the month of November to pray for these souls. Probably they were homeless before they passed away, survived by nobody to remember them. Therefore, praying for the souls in Purgatory, whether known or unknown, is a genuine work of mercy! Brethren! Let’s offer prayers and masses for them in November and beyond. Who knows, perhaps we too might be in their company one day.
God bless!

HOMESTEAD 2021 Oct. edition

我在這裡，請派遣我！ Here I Am, Send Me!

傳教節，甲年
主題：我在這裡，請派遣我！

雖然說，每個人都是天主獨特的創造，所以每個人成聖的道路不一樣；但萬變不離其宗，成聖就是看每個人對天主的愛有多深。天主所想念的，成了我們所想念的；天主所鍾愛的，成了我們所鍾愛的，還不成聖嗎？當人類生活在被罪惡污染了的環境下，愛天主的心志受到了障礙，走成聖的路變得艱難。天主對我們不離不棄，大發慈悲，主動派遣聖子來到世上，拯救我們，幫助我們。耶穌基督在約旦河受洗的時候，天父親自作證耶穌基督是祂所喜悅的愛子（瑪3:17）。所以，愛慕耶穌基督，服從祂的命令行事，應該離奉行天父的旨意不遠（6:10）。

我們有幸領受洗禮，加入教會，在這個得救的大家庭裡共融生活，互相扶持，體現天主聖三的內在共融生命。在波濤汹湧的人海中，教會有如一艘救生艇，給予遇溺者一線生機。時日久遠，這救生艇變成了一艘豪華郵輪，船上的人過著舒適安全的生活，令人羨慕，但另一方面，亦令部份人自慚形穢，不敢加入！

在他們眼中，信教的人很虔誠，而且高不可攀。論社會地位，教徒多是賺錢能力高的成功人士，佔據了社會的中上層。談吐間，教徒常把耶穌掛在嘴邊，能說高超瀟灑的理論；他們經常在神聖而寧靜的教堂內祈禱，和出席名人的慈善籌款晚會。現在手機大行其道，在群組中經常收到不少他們轉發的短訊，內容多是寫得很漂亮的哲理！教徒就是這樣愛他們的天主嗎？

福音告訴我們，天主是主動的，有如善牧。祂知道亡羊不懂得如何返回安全的羊棧，便放下九十九隻羊，跑出去尋找牠（18:12）。但是大部份的教徒，放不下身處的安樂窩。他們祇做一些慣性的事務，不思進取，不回應時局的變化，十年如一日，依然故我地虔誠！多年來他們為聖召祈禱，卻不會鼓勵自己的子女加入獻身生活的行列；他們會捐助傳教活動經費，卻不會在現場出現，頂多遠距離「報佳音」、派傳單，卻不願意走入人群中，與人交談，分享得救蒙恩的喜樂。

天主是慷慨的，祂不會吝惜自己所付出的一切，不會計較人類是否堪當，祇要他們肯相信祂所派遣的天主子，便毫無保留地賜予恩寵！信徒呢？和大部份沒有信仰的人一樣，斤斤計較別人對他們有沒有益處。倘若沒有，便置諸不理。向教外人講耶穌？我沒有神學訓練，我不善辭令…我還是把精力放到其他更有可為的事業去罷！保祿宗徒不是說：「眾人能都作宗徒？豈能都做先知？豈能都做教師？」（格前12:29）各司其職便是好！多漂亮的辭令，多熟悉的經文啊！

的確，我們不是天主，不可能像天主一樣慷慨、像天主一樣主動，但最低限度，我們也應該有主動，有慷慨的意志吧！我們總不應以便宜的，不假思索的轉發來歷不明短訊的行為，取代與人分享蒙恩得救經驗的機會；不應盤算成敗得失之後，纔向「有機會」信主的人游說。是的，被拒絕是掉臉的，不好受的。可是，沒有經過磨難，我們又怎可能成長，怎可能完美呢？不經過奮鬥得來的成就，又怎會珍惜呢？他日在天主的審判台前，我們又可以拿甚麼來交代呢？

我們領受入門聖事時，不是從堅振聖事領受了聖神嗎？我們的聖神七恩去了哪？我們選擇安逸，而不是思念天上的事（哥3:2），怕增添煩惱。聖神的智慧去了哪？跟隨世俗的一般見識，不知道「磨難生忍耐…」（羅5:3），不知道「天主的國…在於義德、平安以及在聖神內的喜樂」（14:17）聖神的聰敏去了哪？貪圖虛榮，彼此挑撥、互相嫉妒，而不是隨從聖神的引導行事（迦5:25-26），聖神的超見去了哪？明哲保身，臨危退縮（弟後4:16），聖神的剛毅去了哪？依附權貴，堅持一己學識，輕視聖經和教會的教導（3:16），聖神的明達去了哪？沉迷於世俗和老婦的無稽傳說，忘記了虔敬上的操練（弟前4:7），聖神的孝愛去了哪？出於懼怕而屈服於那殺害肉身，而不能殺害靈魂的政權，而不害怕那能使靈魂和肉身陷於地獄中的（瑪10:28），聖神的敬畏上主去了哪？「敬畏上主是智慧的肇基」（箴9:10），難怪連聖神的智慧也失掉了！聖神有如活水，失去了聖神，我們的心靈有如一塊在震怒之日無雨無水之地（則22:24），有如枯骨（37:11-14），沒有半點生命氣息！

各位兄弟姊妹，倘若我們的信仰生活變得慣性，死氣沉沉，好像找不到出路的話，我們又怎能服從耶穌基督的命令，使萬民成為門徒（瑪28:19）呢？不服從救主的命令，又怎樣承行天父的旨意呢？不要氣餒，因為天主是主動的，祂對我們不離不棄。求祂罷！天父很樂意慷慨地將聖神賜與求祂的人（路11:13）。讓我們充滿聖神，滿溢仁愛，關懷未信主的人的安危、與他們分享得救的喜樂、獲得聖神的平安和安慰。縱使世人視而不見，聽而不聞，讓我們仍能放心大膽地向天父說：「我在這裡，請派遣我」（依6:8）。
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：freebibleimages.org

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Mission Sunday, Year A
Theme: Here I Am, Send Me!

Although each one of us is unique as a creature of God and our path of sanctification is not the same, sanctification is nothing but how much we love God. Think what God thinks and love what God loves. Isn't it sanctification? When we are living in a sin infested world, our will to love God is hindered and the path of sanctification becomes demanding. But God does not forsake us. Out of mercy, the Father sent His beloved Son to deliver us and to help us. When Jesus Christ was baptized in the River Jordan, the Father bore witness that Christ is His beloved Son with whom He is well pleased (Matthew 3:17). Thus, loving Jesus Christ and obeying His commandment should not be far from doing the will of the Father (6:10).

We are blessed to have been baptized into the Church. In this big family of the redeemed, we lead a life of communion, supporting each other and actualizing the inner communion life of the Blessed Trinity. In this turbulent world, the Church is like a lift boat, giving the drowning people a ray of hope. As time goes by, this lift boat has become a luxury ocean liner in which passengers are leading a life of comfort and safety. It is admirable but some would feel too ashamed to join.

In their eyes, church-goers are pious and lofty. As for their social status, church-goers are successful people with high earning power, occupying the middle and upper classes of the society. In their high-sounding talks, Jesus' name is always invoked. They pray in sacred and tranquil churches and appear in celebrity charity shows. Now that mobile phones have become a necessity, church-goers always forward short message of poetically written philosophies. Are these ways of loving their God?

The gospels tell us that God takes the initiative like a good shepherd. He knows that the lost sheep does not know the way back to the fold. Thus, He leaves behind the ninety-nine other sheep and goes in search of the stray (18:12). But most church-goers do not get out of their comfort zones. They do routines only, not proactive, do not respond to social changes and are as pious as they have always been for decades! Year after year, they pray for vocation but never encourage their children to join the consecrated. They donate to evangelical activities but do not appear on the ground. At most, they sing carols from a distance and do not go into the crowd to engage in dialogues to share the joy of salvation.

God is generous. He does not count the costs and does not screen for the qualified. Whoever believes in the Son He sent, He shall grant them grace without reservation! How are the church-goers? Like most unbelievers, they calculate to see if they would gain any benefit before they act. If there is no benefit, they don't bother. How can I tell the story of Jesus to non-believers? I have no theological training and I am not fluent … Better put my energy elsewhere! Paul says, "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?" (1 Corinthians 12:29) We had better occupy our proper positions! How beautiful such excuses are and how knowledgeable the scriptures!

Truly, we are not God. We are not as generous and take the initiative like God. But at least, we should have the will to be generous and the will to take the initiative! We should never forward messages from unknown sources without a thought to replace the opportunity to share our joy of deliverance. Nor should we assess the costs and only after that do we begin persuading "potentially successful candidates" to believe in Jesus! It is true that we lose face when we are rejected. We feel bad about it. However, if we do not go through hardship, shall we grow up and shall we become perfect? Will we treasure achievements which come without challenge? On Judgment Day, what could we put before God to account for the talents He gave us?

Didn't we receive the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Rites of Christian Initiation? Where have the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit gone? We don't want to get into troubles. We choose comfort and security instead of thinking of what is above (Colossians 3:2). Where has our Wisdom of the Holy Spirit gone? We follow the crowd and know not that "affliction produces endurance …" (Romans 5:3), not knowing that "the Kingdom of God is … righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (14:17). Where has our Understanding of the Holy Spirit gone? Being conceited, we provoke one another. We are envious of one another and follow not the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25-26). Where has our Counsel of the Holy Spirit gone? Concerned with self-preservation and dare not to put up a fight in view of adversity (2 Timothy 4:16), Where has our Fortitude of the Holy Spirit gone? Bending our knees to people in power, insist on our knowledge and ignore the teachings of the Bible and of the Church (3:16), Where has our Knowledge of the Holy Spirit gone? Indulging in profane and silly myths and forget training in devotion (1 Timothy 4:7), Where has our Piety of the Holy Spirit gone? Bending our knees to "those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul" out of fear but are not afraid of "the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna" (Matthew 10:28), Where has our Fear of the Lord gone? "The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord." (Proverbs 9:10) No wonder the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit has vanished. The Holy Spirit is like a living water losing which, our soul is like "an unclean land receiving no rain at the time of God's fury" (Ezekiel 22:24), like dry and lifeless bones (37:1-4)!

Brethren! If our spiritual life has become routine, dry and lifeless, and we fail to see any exit ahead, how can we obey Jesus Christ's commandment to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19)? Not obeying the commandment of the Saviour, how can we do the Father's will? Don't be discouraged because God is happy to take the initiative. He will never forsake us. Ask! The Father in heaven is very much happy to give generously the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13). Be filled with the Holy Spirit, overflowing with love to care about the safety of those who have not yet believed. Share with them the joy of salvation so that they may receive the peace and consolation of the Holy Spirit. Even if people look but not see and listen but not hear, let us be bold to say to the Father, "Here I am! Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)
God bless!

St. Jerome's Church Silver Jubilee Re-celebration

Silver Jubilee Re-Celebration, October 4, 2020

Good morning, brothers and sisters,
On behalf of all the members of the Parish Pastoral Team and the Pastoral Council of St. Jerome's Church, may I take this opportunity to congratulate you all a very happy and blessed Silver Jubilee. It is such an extraordinary occasion. Last Sunday, in our broadcast on Youtube, Fr. Simon described this as "an already present, but not yet available celebration"! Most of us could only participate on the Internet. It was close at hand enough and yet, so far away and intangible. Fr. Simon reassured us that nothing could be able to separate us from the love of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 8:35), and from our close relationships with members of our English Community. This is indeed a special and memorable experience which we'll remember and will be eager to share with other people.

Silver Jubilee is a special occasion. It points to the next 25th anniversary, our Golden Jubilee in 2045. Some people like to say that "I'm 25 always." How sweet it sounds. Yes, we want to march forward with our youthfulness, our ambitions, our eagerness and yet, do not remain at the same spot. Golden Jubilee shall be a celebration of tremendous harvest. But first of all, let us be grateful to our Diocese. Proactively she chose this piece of land, Tin Shui Wai, on which to build this Church to provide us with facilities to pray, to shepherd and to evangelize. Let us also be grateful to God for gathering under His wings, you my dear friends to build up this big family. We are also grateful that one of our young men was ordained Fr. Timothy Yan on January 4, 2020. Let us not forget praying for more vocation for our Church. Priests are in short supply and we are not able to sustain sufficient pastoral care for our members, not to mention spreading the gospel to people around us.

Two years ago on eve of the Twenty-Third anniversary, the Pastoral Council designed many innovative projects in preparation for this Silver Jubilee. One of them was to honour our Patron Saint, St. Jerome with a copy of Bible manuscript. St. Jerome spent 23 years in translating the Hebrew and Greek scriptures into one Latin rendition, the Vulgate. What a coincidence. God is amazing! We are not as gifted as St. Jerome but we are still able to copy. Yes, we were able to organized parishioners, teachers and students in our parish to make a copy of handwritten seventy three books in the Bible. Copying the Bible is spiritually uplifting. Copyists are required to be meticulous. One typo-mistake and the whole page of hard work vanished! God is generous. The words we copy on paper are written in our hearts as well. Therefore, Fr. Simon appeals to all of us to make a personal handwritten copy of the Bible for ourselves in the upcoming 25 years. In so doing, we'll able to equip ourselves with sufficient strength to evangelize Tin Shui Wai and Hung Shui Kiu in the years ahead. With a target, an implementation plan and a determined heart we are certain that we can make it. So, let us make good use of God's blessing to accomplish this target!

In the first reading today, we read of the experience of Ezekiel the prophet. God told him to eat the scroll on which was written God's word, "feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll I am giving you." (Ezekiel 3:3) Ezekiel did as instructed and the scroll "was as sweet as honey in my mouth." So, brethren, the word of God is sweet as honey. Don't just read it speedily. Read it slowly and savour it. Copying it is better still. However, sometimes we don't feel like reading it, not because we don't want to spare our time but because the Bible reveals our own weaknesses, faults and inadequacies. We put it down and do not have the courage to face our own sins. No! God wants to save us. He wants to help us become holy. Therefore, He gave us these words. That is what St. Paul meant when he wrote to Timothy, "The sacred scriptures which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:15-16) Take courage, brethren and make good use of the Bible for our own salvation.

The Internet is like the ocean which is rich in contents and yet not all information is beneficent for us. Jesus Christ taught us in the parable today to select and select wisely. We keep the good stuff in our storeroom and throw away harmful ones. What stuff is good? First of all, the word of God is good in helping us improve our relationship with God. It helps us discern what is good and what is harmful for our life as God's children. Just as what St. Peter says, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (John 6:68) It follows that those which help us go through adversity and uplift our faith are good. Those which encourage us to discriminate, to hate and to divide are harmful. In this time of social unrest and pandemic, we need the word of God more to help us go through such adversity. The word of God should not be hidden away in storerooms and buried in dust. The power of God's word lies in its action. Thus, we have the duty to "bring from our storeroom both the new and the old" (Matthew 13:52), refresh it and to act upon it in order to build the kingdom of heaven in Tin Shui Wai and Hung Shui Kiu.

Brethren, once again we are grateful to God and to you all for coming back and making this re-celebration come true. May the merciful Lord Jesus Christ continue to sweeten our hearts with His words of wisdom. May St. Jerome our patron saint continues to intercede for us before God so that we may not be ignorant of the scriptures and ignorant of Christ. Amen. God bless you all!

生活在平行宇宙中 Living In Parallel Universes

復活期第六主日，甲年
主題：生活在平行宇宙中

持續了接近一年的社會動盪，突顯了一個無可否定的社會現實：抱不同政治立場的人，好像生活在平行宇宙中。為了肯定自己的立場，為了肯定自己真的存在，肯定自己是正確的，甚至是正義的，便圍爐取暖，互相肯定；對家的所作所為，祇會肯定己方是正確的。真令人懷疑真理，是否客觀地存在著！

為信仰耶穌基督的人，這社會動盪眾多難忘的場景中，莫過於執法者大聲向神職人員喝道：「叫你個耶穌落嚟見我」與及伸腳踢開跪求不要動粗的疑似傳道人的震憾！我相信神職人員與及那位傳道人，絕對不會感到氣憤；相反，他們會感到歡喜，堪配為耶穌基督受侮辱（宗5:41）；我相信作為神職人員及傳道人，一定會跟隨救主在十字架上的榜樣，為那些執法人員祈禱，求天父的寬恕（路23:34）。的確，他們像歸化之前的掃祿一樣，不知道在傷害基督徒的時候，就是在迫害耶穌基督，生命的主宰（宗9:5）！幸好，耶穌基督有海量的胸襟，不會與世人秋後算帳。倘若出言干犯聖神，恐怕後果堪虞（瑪12:31-32）！這是基督徒在宇宙這一邊的見解，在宇宙另一邊的執法者和選擇使用暴力者，又會看見甚麼呢？可以幫助他們看見他們想看見的耶穌基督呢？其實耶穌基督有指示看見祂的方法！

主耶穌基督在最後晚餐時，對門徒說：「接受我的命令而遵守的，便是愛我的人；誰愛我，我父也必愛他，我也要愛他，並將我自己顯示給他。」（若14:21）原來，想看見生命之主的人，先要愛護生命，熱愛耶穌，便可以見耶穌！不論你站在宇宙的那一邊，雖然祂樂意好像僕人一樣，表達對世人的慈悲；但祂始終不是任由世人操控，呼之則來，揮之則去的僕人，因為耶穌基督是天主。倘若你真心想看見尊貴的耶穌基督，首先要遵守祂的命令（13:34）；祂就會按自己的意願，把自己顯示給你。即使你現在遵守祂的誡命，這並不表示祂會立刻顯示給你，因為「事事有時節」（訓3:1），天主有祂自己的時間表。且看偉大如聖德蘭修女，也有半世紀的時間，處於靈性的一片漆黑之中，完全感受不到主耶穌基督的臨在，何況是我們這些凡夫俗子哩！那我們可怎麼辦呢？我們怎樣說服宇宙另一邊的人，遵守主耶穌基督的命令，怎樣把天主的慈悲展示給他們看呢？

我為宇宙另一邊的人心痛。雖然我不會否定他們的真理，但我知道耶穌基督是真理（若14:6），是真理的化身。祂把天主是愛（若一4:8）的真理，展現無遺。祂具體地被世人釘死在十字架上，並且真實地復活了，展露出生命的威力！生命來自愛，亦祇有愛纔能維持生命。我們這些基督徒，和所有懷有善意的人，懂得愛，聚在宇宙的這一邊，生氣蓬勃。那在宇宙另一邊的，那選擇暴力而不能愛的，祇會日益趨向衰亡。看著生命被如斯糟蹋，怎不教人心痛！但我知道現在不是末日，宇宙的兩邊尚未形成不可跨越的鴻溝，目前應該還有溝通的可能！莫非要耶穌基督像召喚掃祿一樣，不停在宇宙的另一邊顯現嗎？即使祂真的願意這樣做，都應該是由我們這奧體的肢體來做纔對。憑我們，行嗎？

我們為甚麼如此怯懦呢？保祿的說話非常管用：「天主所賜給我們的，並非怯懦之神，而是大能、愛德和慎重之神。」（弟後1:7）倘若我們怯懦，表示我們並不認識那在我們內的聖神了！的確，我們對聖神比較陌生。我們的靈修實在膚淺，還未能進入內心的深處，認清自我，認清天主！
在宗教知識的層面上，我們不用愁，因為聖神，那真理之神與我們同在，並在我們內（若14:17）！祂必要教訓我們一切，也要使我們想起，耶穌基督對我們所說的一切（14:26）。這一切都是主耶穌在最後晚餐的許諾，並在五旬節兌現了，所以知識不是我們的弱點。
是對主耶穌基督死而復活的信心嗎？這一點是我們基督信仰的根基，懷疑它就不配稱為基督徒了。反而是在面對罪惡和暴力時，我們容易被個人的政見所蒙蔽，指揮天主作出附合我們心意的行動，在不知不覺中試探了天主！在這方面，我們的確因信心不足，不以天主為我們生活的中心而陷於誘惑！願聖神使我們想起，耶穌基督三退魔誘的教訓！
是我們的愛心不足嗎？所謂知易行難，而且德行絕不是一蹴即至，而是經過長年累月磨練而成的。保祿宗徒的一席名言，給我們很大的鼓舞。他說：「因為我們知道：磨難生忍耐，忍耐生老練，老練生望德，望德不叫人蒙羞，因為天主的愛，藉著所賜與我們的聖神，已傾注在我們心中了。」（羅5:3-5）原來聖神更是愛德之神，愛心不足，其實是聖神不足而已。
各位兄弟姊妹，讓我們打開自己的心，祈求聖神的降臨，更新整個大地（詠104:30），也更新我們的心。亞孟。
天主保祐！

圖片鳴謝：medium.com
2017講道

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Sixth Easter Sunday, Year A
Theme: Living In Parallel Universes

The social unrest, which has lasted for nearly one year, shows an undeniable social reality: people with different political convictions seem like living in parallel universes. In order to affirm one's conviction, one's existence, one's correctness and even righteousness, they huddle together affirming each other. Whatever the opposition says or does affirms only that they are on the right. One really doubts whether truth exists objectively!

For Christians, among the unforgettable scenes in this unrest, none are more shocking than law enforcers yelling to the face of clergy, "Tell your Jesus to come down and see me" and kicking somebody to the ground, who looked like a kneeling catechist trying to beg officers not to use violence! I believe the clergy and the catechist were not angry. On the contrary, they should rejoice that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of Jesus (Acts 5:41). I believe the clergy and the catechist would follow the example of the Lord on the cross to pray for the law enforcers for the Father's forgiveness (Luke 23:34). Indeed, they looked like Saul before his conversion, not knowing that hurting Christians is persecuting Jesus Christ, the Author of Life (Acts 9:5)! Lucky for them because Jesus Christ is always tolerant and would not chase after them until the last penny is repaid. However, if they have blasphemed the Holy Spirit, their ending would be lamentable (Matthew 12:31-32)! This is the understanding of Christians on this side of the universe. What would the law enforcers and those who chose violence on the other side of the universe see? Can we help them see the Jesus Christ they want to see? In fact, Jesus Christ has instructed us the way to see Him!

During the Last Supper, Jesus Christ told His disciples, "Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him." (John 14:21) So, whoever wants to see the Author of Life must love life and Jesus first before he can see Jesus! Whichever side of the universe you are in, although He is willing to show His mercy to mankind like a slave, He can after all not be manipulated whimsically by us like a slave because Jesus Christ is God. If you genuinely want to see His Holiness, Jesus Christ, you should first of all observe His commandment (13:34). He would reveal Himself at His pleasure. Even though now you observe His commandment, it doesn't mean He would necessarily reveal Himself immediately to you because "There is an appointed time for everything." (Ecclesiastes 3:1) God has His own schedule. Take a look at St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, for half a century she remained in spiritual darkness and did not feel the presence of Lord Jesus Christ at all. So who are we mere mortals! Then what can we do? How can we convince people on the other side of the universe to observe Jesus' commandment? How do we show them God's mercy?

My heart aches for people on the other side of the universe. Although I do not deny their version of truth, I know that Jesus Christ is the Truth (John 14:6). He is the embodiment of "God is love" (1 John 4:8) and manifests it fully. He was concretely crucified and genuinely raised from the dead, showing off the power of life! Life comes from love and only love can sustain life. We Christians and people of good will know love and come together on this side of the universe vibrant with life. Those who are on the other side of the universe, those who prefer violence to love are decaying daily. It hurts to see life being wasted in this way! But I know it is not the end yet. The abyss between the two sides of the universe is still surmountable. We can still communicate! Is it necessary for Jesus Christ to appear continually on the other side of the universe like the calling of Saul? Even if it is, it should be us, members of the Mystical Body to do the job. But are we capable?

Why are we so cowardly? The word of St. Paul is appropriate here, "For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7) If we hesitate, it shows that we do not know the Holy Spirit within us. Indeed, we are not familiar with the Holy Spirit. Our spirituality is shallow. We have not fathomed into the depth of our soul to know ourselves and to know God!
On the level of religious knowledge, we don't have to worry because the Holy Spirit who dwells within us is the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17)! He will teach us everything and remind us of all that Jesus told us (14:26). Jesus pledged this promise during the Last Supper and honoured it on the Pentecost. Thus knowledge is not our weakness.
Do we lack faith in the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ? Resurrection is the foundation of our faith. If we doubt it, we are not Christians. On the contrary, confronted with evil and violence, we are easily blinded by our political views and command God to take actions after our hearts. Imperceptibly we put God to the test! In this manner, we lack faith, do not make God the centre of our life and fall into temptation! May the Holy Spirit reminds us of the teachings of Jesus Christ when He underwent temptation!
Are we short of love? It is more easily talked than done. Virtue cannot be attained overnight. It is an achievement of long time struggle. Once again, St. Paul's words are very encouraging. He says, "Knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5) The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Love. If we are short of love, we are in fact short of the Spirit.
Brethren! Open up our hearts and pray for the descent of the Holy Spirit to renew the earth (Psalm 104:30) and renew our hearts. Amen.
God bless!

永生得來不易 Eternal Life is Difficult to Attain

四旬期第五主日，甲年
主題：信德系列之七：永生得來不易

做耶穌基督的朋友，不用擔心死後去哪，因為主耶穌肯定在天堂，已為他們留了一席位。不過在生時，生活就未必好過了。拉匝祿要等到病死後，主耶穌纔動身去復活他（若11:43）；保祿歸化後，為耶穌基督嘗過了不少困苦（格後11:23-28），纔獲得光榮的冠冕（弟後4:7-8）；以後的殉道聖人如斯德望及老楞佐等，就不用多說了。那麼，如果沒有機會為耶穌基督受苦殉道，我們還是不是祂的朋友呢？我們在天國的席位，會否岌岌可危呢？

現代人生活富庶了，講求生活質素。能夠活動、工作、與人交往，纔顯得自己存在著，並且是有價值的。死亡的可怕之處，不一定在於死前所捱受的痛苦，否則，世上就沒有烈士/殉道者了。死亡的恐怖，是死後的化為烏有，被人遺忘，甚至被天主所遺忘。多篇哀求的聖詠，表達了對死亡實在的恐懼，無他，都是恐怕被天主遺棄在陰府裡（詠6:6, 30:10, 88:11-13, 15:17）。所以人更加把持著自己的性命，不肯放手，恐怕天主會忘記了他的存在！所以無論信德有多大，也很難把自己，把自己的生命，完全托付在天主的手中！「不要照我所願意的，而要照祢所願意的。」（谷14:36）談何容易！

保祿、斯德望和老楞佐選擇了殉道成聖之路。可憐的拉匝祿，在非自願的情況下，失救而死！誠然，在死亡面前，除了天主子外，誰也沒有選擇權。所謂「生有時，死有時。」（訓3:2），我們控制不了。天主子耶穌基督就不一樣，「誰也不能奪去我的性命，而是我甘心情願捨掉它；我有權捨掉它，我也有權再取回它來。」（若10:18）所以，祂自願的死，成了後世殉道者的榜樣。祂有能力自己從死者中復活，一點也出奇，因為祂身為天主，在生死之間自由往還，一點困難也沒有。可是，跟隨祂榜樣的殉道者，憑自己是沒有能力復活的，惟有信靠這位生命的主宰。在拉匝祿的個案中，耶穌基督給我們證明了，祂的確有起死回生的能力。等一等，耶穌基督不是曾復活了雅依洛的女兒（瑪9:25）和納因城寡婦的獨生子嗎（路7:14-15）？對素未謀面的陌生人，耶穌基督尚且如此善待，復活自己的好朋友，又有甚麼希奇，有甚麼特別之處呢？

復活拉匝祿有甚麼獨特的訊息呢？這個故事，給耶穌基督一個詳細講論永生道理的機會。而且，大家有沒有注意到瑪利亞的角色呢？瑪爾大和瑪利亞在若望福音中的表現，與路加福音的描述十分吻合（路10:40）。瑪爾大是一個行動型的人，瑪利亞是默觀型，一言不發，默存心中，反覆思想，而聖母瑪利亞集二者於一身。耶穌基督有關永生的教訓，散見整部若望福音。在這裡有兩點：「我就是復活，就是生命；信從我的，即使死了，仍要活著；凡活著而信從我的人，必永遠不死。」（若11:25-26）這兩句話，可能也適合應用在雅依洛的家庭和納因城寡婦的家庭，但對觀福音的描述重點，並沒有明顯地指向永生。拉匝祿故事的描述卻有所不同。

若望福音把拉匝祿描述為耶穌基督「所愛的」（11:3），所以拉匝祿對耶穌基督的信德，是肯定的。而耶穌的宣講，「信從我的，即使死了，仍要活著」，亦在拉匝祿身上，具體地彰顯在眾人面前。耶穌基督透過復活拉匝祿，「賜給他們（百姓）另一顆心，在他們臟腑放上另一種精神；拿走他們鐵石的心，給他們換上一顆血肉的心。」（則11:19；36:26）結果，得出兩極的效果，「就有許多人信從了祂」（若11:45）獲得永生；同時，「在那一天起，他們（即公議會）就議決要殺害耶穌。」（11:53）。拒絕換心，拒絕永生的，大有人在！

瑪爾大很有現代人的氣息，停不了，四出張羅。她像大部份的母親一樣，不行動無以表現對子女的愛；瑪爾大不行動無以表現對耶穌基督的愛。不過，不可以小覷她的信德。她對主說：「就是現在，我也知道：你無論向天主求甚麼，天主必要賜給你。」（11:22）她是「知道」，是肯定的而不是「相信」，是沒有百份百把握的！更重要的，是她沒有規定耶穌基督向天父求甚麼。這份對耶穌基督和對天父的開放，的確難能可貴！瑪利亞則剛好相反，雖然她也對耶穌基督說了與瑪爾大相同的話（11:32），表現出一致的姊弟情，並向主表達了她們現在的苦況，但她用不著要求耶穌基督了。因為在耶穌基督身上，瑪利亞已感受到復活的氣息；從主的眼淚中（11:35），默觀到永生的澎湃！與天主子同在，必永遠不死！

各位兄弟姊妹，相信永生並不是迷信，也不是精神的安慰，因為會受苦甚至殉道。相信永生，使我們在現世的生命，活得更淋漓盡致，瑪爾大仍是瑪爾大，不過是一個更能生活天父旨意的瑪爾大；瑪利亞仍是瑪利亞，不過是一個更敏銳地展現默觀生活價值的瑪利亞。願今天默想拉匝祿的復活，能再激起我們對永生的渴求，無懼現世生活的種種困難和挑戰。
天主保祐！
2017年講道
圖片鳴謝：lifewater.church

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Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year A
Theme: On Faith (VII) --- Eternal Life is Difficult to Attain

Friends of Jesus Christ don't have to worry about where to go after death because Lord Jesus definitely has reserved a place in heaven for them. But life on earth would not be easy. Lazarus had to die of illness before Lord Jesus proceeded to raise him (John 11:43); Paul had suffered a lot after conversion (2 Corinthians 11:23-28) before he could attain the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7-8); not to mention the martyrs, such as Stephen and Lawrence in subsequent ages. Then, if we don't have the opportunity to suffer or die martyrdom for Jesus Christ, are we still His friends? Would our lack of sufferings cast doubt on our place in heaven?

Modern people live in affluence. We chase after quality of life. We act, work and interact to express our very existence, to make ourselves worthy of attention. The horror of death lies not in the pains before it. Otherwise, there would not be any martyrs. The horror is the nothingness after death. Nobody remembers us, not even God. Many lamentation psalms express this fear in concrete terms of being abandoned in Sheol by God (Psalms 6:6; 30:10; 88:11-13; 15:17). Thus, men hold fast their life the more lest God would forget their existence! However great our faith is, it is very difficult to surrender ourselves and our lives completely to God! "Not what I will but what you will." (Mark 14:36). It is more easily said than done.

Paul, Stephen and Lawrence had chosen the path of sanctification through martyrdom. Poor Lazarus, he died of a lack of cure, not of his own choice! Of course, nobody can choose when to die except the Son of God. "A time to give birth and a time to die;" (Ecclesiastes 3:2) Death is beyond our control. Jesus Christ the Son of God is different. "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again." (John 10:18) His willingness to lay down His life becomes the exemplar for martyrs in subsequent ages. It is no surprise that He is able to rise from the death. As God Himself, it is not difficult for Him to move freely between life and death. But the martyrs who have followed His example do not have the power to rise themselves. They could only trust in this Author of Life. In the case of Lazarus, Jesus Christ proves that He really has the power to raise the dead. Wait! Hadn't Jesus Christ raised the daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:25) and the only son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:14-15)? If Jesus Christ shows kindness to total strangers, what is so special about raising His good friend?

What special message does the story of raising Lazarus show us? This narrative provides Jesus Christ an opportunity to expound on the meanings of eternal life. Moreover, have you noticed the role Mary plays in this story? The description of Martha and Mary agrees with that in Luke (Luke 10:40). Martha is a woman in action, Mary a contemplative. Mary speaks little and keeps all things reflecting on them in her heart. The BVM is a combination of both. The teachings of eternal life scatter throughout the whole gospel of John. And here are two points, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26) These two verses probably apply to Jairus' family and the family of the widow of Nain. But the focus of the narratives in the Synoptic gospels does not explicitly point to eternal life. The Lazarus narrative is different.

John describes Lazarus as the one the Master loves. (11:3) Lazarus' faith in Christ is certain. Thus, Jesus' proclamation, that "whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live", is concretely demonstrated before the people. Through raising Lazarus, Jesus Christ, "gives them anther heart and a new spirit I will put within them. From their bodies I will remove the hearts of stone, and give them hearts of flesh." (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26) Consequently, it achieved two opposite effects "Many of the Jews who had … seen what He had done began to believe in Him" (John 11:45) and attained eternal life. At the same time, "So from that day on they (the Sanhedrin) planned to kill Him." (11:53) Many are there indeed who refuse hearts transplant and eternal life!

Martha is very modern. She can't stop moving around working. Like most mothers who can't show their children enough love without working, Martha can't show Jesus Christ her love without actions. However, don't underestimate her faith. She says to the Master, "Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you" (11:22). She "knows" and is affirmative, not "believes" without any certainty. More importantly, she does not demand what to ask of God. This openness to Jesus Christ and the Father is precious! On the contrary, even though Mary says the same as Martha has said (11:32), showing the same love among siblings and articulates their plights to the Master, she does not ask anything from Jesus Christ. It is because she senses in the Master the breath of resurrection and from the tears of the Master (11:35), she contemplates the rigour of eternal life! With the Son of God, we shall never die!

Brethren! Faith in eternal life is not a superstition or a spiritual consolation because it brings sufferings and even martyrdom. Instead, faith in eternal life makes our life on earth more fulfilling. Martha is still Martha, but a Martha who lives more closely according to the will of the Father. Mary is still Mary, but a Mary who is more able to demonstrate into focus the values of contemplative life. May our meditation on the resurrection of Lazarus today trigger our desire for eternal life, fearlessly accepting all challenges and difficulties in our life on earth.
God bless!

我們送甚麼禮物給耶穌？ What Gifts Do We Bring Jesus?

主顯節，甲年
主題：我們送甚麼禮物給耶穌？

『出於對墮落了的人類的關愛，天父送了一份大禮給我們，就是祂的聖子。聖誕紀念天主子降生成人，以耶穌基督的身份與我們共處，並以祂的逾越，帶領人類出死入生，回歸父家。禮尚往來，人類又怎樣回禮給天父呢？除了賢士的三份禮物外（瑪2:11），還有：安葬耶穌的墳墓（27:60），一百斤沒藥及沉香（若19:39），洗頭的香液（谷14:3）和眼淚（路7:38），款待耶穌的情誼（10:38），送給窮人的一半家財（19:8）…』雖然不用講道，但仍希能以上一段文字，作為默想「主顯節」的開場白。結果用不著了！這兩天參加了四台彌撒，都是非常感動我的。

第一台是容旭輝先生的出殯彌撒。他是八十五歲高齡的容偉松執事的長子。容老先生以執事身份，與其他三位執事後輩，為羅國輝神父襄禮。神父講述保祿至弟茂德德後書的「賽跑」時（弟後4:7），強調人生和信仰，都是一場接力賽。講得非常有意義，把承先啟後，薪火相傳的精神演繹得很好。可惜為容執事，他在這場接力賽中跌了棒！能不令人唏噓嗎？在彌撒後的辭靈禮中，當他向兒子的靈柩灑聖水和獻香時，我已不能強忍自己的眼淚了。但我卻看到他的信德，有如亞巴郎獻子時的心情：「他想天主也有使人從死者中復活的能力。」（希11:19）結果，亞巴郎得回了依撒格，作為世人復活的預像！今天，容執事憑著信德，把長子先獻給天主，他日在天重聚。這份對天主堅毅的信德，是處身在今天的香港信徒所極度需要的！

接著就是殷灝峰執事晉鐸的彌撒。雖然已在【公教報】拜讀過他聖召的心路歷程，但我很驚訝他在領聖體後的致謝辭中，竟然如此坦白地說出自己是在家暴的陰影下成長！而且，晉鐸的今天，竟然是贈送他聖爵的科明智神父的死忌！殷修士在處於聖召交叉點時，被派往安老院服務，遇上科神父。神父送他聖爵，期望他奉獻首祭時用！殷神父在晉鐸彌撒中用上了，並在彌撒後，他以自己的首個降福，祝福備受「家暴」傷害的香港社會，能好像他一樣，獲得天主的恩寵，走出困境！他把曾受傷害的自己完全奉獻給天主，為使更多人靈的得救。原來以愛心把禮物回贈給天主，是這樣美好的！

今天早上在主顯節彌撒中，舉行了「慕道者收錄禮」。李神父在講道中，提醒慕道者，不可低估未來慕道過程的困難。正如賢士們一樣，出發點（占星術）可以是錯的；過程是艱辛，可能會中途而廢；所遇到的人物不一定是好的；找到的救世主不一定是所期望的！但我們相信這一切都是天主所安排的！賢士們經歷了這個旅程後，與天主建立了關係，並沒有遺憾! 為了遷就慕道者的程度，神父祇把三份禮物的神學意義，作了粗略的說明，留待導師們日後詳細解釋。的確，人生就是一場賽事，一個旅程。所做的一切，祇不過是把天主所賜予的，加工後回贈給祂。所以最重要的，就是能與造物主建立關係！

那麼，婚姻是否賽事的終點，有如世俗人所說，「結婚是戀愛的墳墓」呢？大錯特錯！今天下午有幸為一位喇沙書院舊生的婚配彌撒襄禮，新郎與主禮神父，當年曾一起在修院探索自己的聖召。今天，一位是澳門教區的秘書長，另一位是幸福的金童。彌撒中大部份的詠唱部份，全是出自新娘的創作！彌撒前在祭衣房內，劉偉傑神父隨口說了句「婚姻也是聖秩，今天新郎新娘領受婚姻的聖秩聖事。」的確有道理！講道中，劉神父把賢士的三份禮物，應用到婚姻生活中，演繹得淋漓盡致！按身體神學的教導，配偶二人都是對方的一份寶貴禮物！黃金象徵君王，替天行道。夫妻就是彼此的君王，服事對方，建樹對方！乳香代表司祭，為人民轉禱和祭祀天主。世上沒有其他人，比夫妻更能彼此在天主前，作為中保了！沒藥象徵先知，向人民轉達天主的旨意，天主的安慰與治療。夫妻成了先知，代表著天主，撫慰對方的傷痛，表達安慰，彼此提點！就這樣，夫妻倆在婚姻生活中成聖。太美麗了！

兩天之內，領會了四個聖召：執事及司鐸聖召，基督徒的聖召和婚姻聖召。誠如教宗方濟各在【你們要歡喜踴躍】宗座勸諭所說，每個人的成聖之路都不一樣，但總離不開對天父恩寵的開放（GE#15, 24, 129, 149, 172）。接受過天主的禮物之後，就不應浪費，反而要努力加工，回饋給天主。
天父啊！請不要嫌棄，但願我們的一生，是一份美好的禮物，在世人前見證祢的慈愛。亞孟！

圖片鳴謝：公教報

2017年講道

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Epiphany, Year A
Theme: What Gifts Do We Bring Jesus?

"Out of love and care for the fallen humanity, the Father gave us a big gift, His Son. Christmas commemorates the Son of God taking up human flesh to stay with us as Jesus Christ through whose Passover He delivers us from death and brings us home to the Father. It would be impolite not to reciprocate. What gifts do we return to the Father? Other than the 3 gifts of the Magi (Matthew 2:11), there are a burial tomb (27:60), a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes (John 19:39), perfumed oil on the head (Mark 14:3) and tears (Luke 7:38), hospitality (10:38) and half of his possessions to the needy (19:8) ..." Although I didn't have to deliver homily, I still wanted to open my meditation on Epiphany with the words above. In the end, I don't have to! The 4 masses I joined on these two days have been very touching.

The first one was the funeral mass of Mr. Anthony Yung who was the eldest son of the eighty-five year old Deacon Joseph Yung. Mr. Yung Senior, together with three other deacons assisted Fr. Thomas Law in the funeral mass. In his homily, Fr. Thomas explained that the race which St. Paul mentions in his letter to Timothy was a "relay" (2 Timothy 4:7) Life and faith is a relay race. Fr. Thomas elaborated the spirit of handing down of tradition very well. Unfortunate for Deacon Yung, his baton dropped before he finishes his relay! How regrettable! During the final commendation and farewell when Deacon Yung sprinkled holy water and later incensed the coffin, I couldn't withhold my tears anymore. But I saw his faith, like Abraham when he offered up Isaac, "He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead." (Hebrews 11:19). Consequently, Abraham received Isaac back as a symbol of resurrection of the dead in the future! Today, Deacon Yung offers up his son in faith to God and they meet again in heaven in the future. This persistent faith in God is what believers in Hong Kong definitely need today!

The next mass was the ordination mass for Deacon Timothy Yan. Although I have read his sharing on KKP, I was surprised by his candour in his valedictorian speech after communion. He openly admitted to be brought up in the shadow of domestic violence. Moreover, the date of his ordination coincided with the date of death of Fr. Formenti, PIME who gave him his personal chalice. While seminarian Yan was at the crossroad of his vocation, he was sent to serve at the home for the aged where he met Fr. Formenti who wished Timothy would use his personal chalice in his first mass. Indeed, Fr. Timothy Yan used it in his ordination mass. After mass, Fr. Yan gave his first benediction to the Hong Kong society which has suffered a lot of "domestic violence" recently. Like him, Fr. Yan blesses that Hong Kong would weather through the social unrest with God's grace. Fr. Yan totally offers up his battered self to God in order to save more souls. How wonderful when we wrap our offerings to God with love!

During the Epiphany mass this morning, the Rite of Catechumen Election was held. In his homily, Fr. Simon Li reminded the catechumens not to underestimate the difficulties of the process. Like the Magi, the starting point (astrology) could be wrong; the journey would be difficult and they might give up midway; the people they meet might not be all good; the Saviour they found might not meet their expectations! But we believe that all these were arranged by God! After the Magi had gone through the journey, they established a relationship with God without regret! In order to adapt to the standard of the catechumens, Fr. Li only mentioned the theological meanings of the three gifts briefly, leaving further elaboration to the catechists in the future. Truly, life is a race, a journey. Whatever we do is only further processing of what is given by God and pay Him back. Thus, the most important thing is to establish a relationship with the Creator!

Then, is marriage the finishing line of a race, like what some people say, "Marriage is the tomb of love"? There is nothing more wrong than this! This afternoon, I was blessed to assist in the nuptial mass of a LaSalle old boy. The presiding priest was one who had searched for vocational discernment with this LaSallian in a seminary. Today, one has become the Chancellor of the Macau Diocese and the other is a lucky happy man whose bride wrote most of the music for the nuptial mass! In the sacristy before mass, Fr. Jerome Cyril Law causally commented that "Marriage is an order in its own right. Today, the bride and groom received the Sacrament of Holy Orders of matrimony." I totally agree. In his homily, Fr. Law applied the three gifts of the Magi to married life. His elaboration is superb. Following the teachings of the Theology of Body, the couple are a gift to their spouses! Gold symbolizes kingship, serving God's will. Husband and wife are kings to each other, serving and edifying each other! Frankincense represents priests who intercede for the people and offer sacrifice to God. In this world, there is no better intercessor before God than one's spouse! Myrrh symbolizes prophets who pass on God's will, God's consolation and healing. Husband and wife are prophets to each other, representing God to soothe the spouse's pains, to nurse the spouse's wounds and remind the spouse of God's will. In this way, husband and wife are sanctified in married life. How beautiful it is!

Within two days, I am able to experience four different vocations: diaconal and priestly vocations, Christian and marriage vocations. Like what Pope Francis says in the apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, the path to sanctification for each one of us is unique. But one must open to the grace of the Father (GE#15, 24, 129, 149, 172). We should not waste the gifts God gave us. On the contrary, we should add value to them and return them to God.
Heavenly Father! Do not despite the gifts we offer. May our lives be gifts that bear witness to Your merciful love. Amen!

止於至善 Stopping Only At Perfection

止於至善（瑪22:34-40）
最大也是第一條誡命是『你應全心、全靈、全意，愛上主你的天主。』（申6:5；瑪22:37-38）當中並沒有提及到時間。人自然會問，我們需要維持「全心、全靈、全意」多久呢？
人類始終是受造物，並不完美，況且喪失了原始的恩寵，以至受制於私慾偏情，難以自拔。出於慈悲與公義，天父主動來拯救我們。祂選拔了亞巴郎的家族，到埃及去開枝散葉；興起了梅瑟，建立了盟約，以誡命造就一個「選民」。很明顯，要達到全心、全靈、全意地愛天主，有如儒家思想的「止於至善」，不是一蹴即至的。因此，有如運動員奪標，祇要試跳到某個高度，做到了一個高難度花式，或者跑到了終點（弟後4:7），等等便足夠了，並沒有要求選手永遠保持紀錄！

聖經中能夠名留青史的人物，即使一生中難免有些污點，他們都是在人生的一個場合裡，表達出他們對天主全心、全靈和全意的愛：亞巴郎為了保命而說謊（創12:12-13），卻奉命獻子（22:2）；雖然梅瑟三番四次拒絕天主的委任（出3-4），但過了紅海之後，與以色列全體子民高唱凱旋歌（15:1-21）；達味雖然犯了姦淫和借刀殺人罪（撒下11），但仍不掩蓋他為迎接約櫃，曾當眾半裸，盡力跳躍舞蹈（6:14）；與耶穌基督一同被釘的右盜，亦能夠憑臨終前的一句說話，爭取到樂園的一席位（路23:43）。即使是做了一個時辰的僱工，亦能獲得一個德納（瑪20:9）。再一次證明，天父真的不追究我們的過犯，祇希望我們能成為修和大使（格後5:19-20）！
天父啊，請賜下聖神的勇毅，讓我們能堅持到底，止於至善。亞孟。

圖片鳴謝：https://zh.lovepik.com/image-400904016/keeping-improving-the-brush-words-of-enterprise-culture.html
生命恩泉

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Stopping Only At Perfection (Matthew 22:34-40) "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37-38) is the greatest and the first commandment. But it does not mention time. Naturally one will ask, for how long we have to maintain this "all heart, all soul and all mind".
After all, man is only a creature. He is not perfect. Moreover, after losing the original grace, he is controlled by concupiscence and cannot save himself. Out of love and justice, the heavenly Father took the initiative to save us. He elected the family of Abraham and raised it up in Egypt. Then He elected Moses to establish a covenant, making a Chosen People with the commandments. Obviously, to be able to love God with all the heart, with all the soul and with all the mind, like the Confucian teaching of "Stopping at Perfection", cannot be achieved overnight. Therefore, like athlete winners, you are awarded once you are able to jump over a certain height, to perform a highly difficult routine or to run past the finishing line (2 Timothy 4:7). You don't have to keep the record forever!
Biblical characters who are immortalized are not flawless. People remember them because once in their life, they were able to express their love of God with all their heart, soul and mind: Abraham told lies to save his skin (Genesis 12:12-13), but he offered up his only son (22:2). Although Moses declined God's commission five times (Exodus 3-4), after crossing the Red Sea, he led the Israelites in a triumphant hymn (15:1-21). David committed adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11). It did not overshadow his zeal when he danced half-nakedly before the crowd to receive the Ark of Covenant (6:14). The penitent thief, who was crucified together with Jesus Christ, won a place in the paradise with only one sentence (Luke 23:43). Even a worker who had laboured for just one hour received the usual wage (Matthew 20:9). It proves once again, that our Heavenly Father is not counting our trespasses against us. He only wants us to be ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
Heavenly Father, grant us the gift of fortitude. Let us persevere to the end, stopping only at perfection. Amen.

空虛自己 Empty Oneself

基督苦難主日，乙年
主題：空虛自己

聖保祿宗徒對耶穌基督的死，寫了以下的讚歌。
「他雖具有天主的形體，並沒有以自己與天主同等，為應當把持不捨的，卻使自己空虛…祂貶抑自己，聽命至死，且死在十字架上。」（斐2:6-8）
的確，耶穌基督留下了謙遜的榜樣，作為基督徒的我們，謙遜是理所當然的。可是，真的嗎？原來謙遜真是得來不易啊！

耶穌基督是真人真天主，祂有完全的自由，世上沒有任何事物可以束縛祂。即使是值得把持不捨的，令凡人死不放手的，祂也極其輕鬆地放下。始終，耶穌基督不是一般的凡人嘛！我們卻不同，不是我們天生傲慢，而是我們背著歷史的包袱，成長的創傷，令我們失去自由，受到性格的牽制，擺出不友善的姿態來保護自己。天父，可憐我們吧！

四十多年來的聖詠團經驗，令我形成了不少的執著。例如：江文也先生創作了不少膾炙人口的中文聖樂，他不是廣東人，所以用國語唱他的作品比較悅耳舒暢。二十多年前我已在自己的堂區推動，我認為效果理想。到了目前的堂區服務，曾向歌詠團提出，可是他們反應冷淡，推說他們的普通話水平不理想。我感到非常失望。

我的兒子是哲學系畢業的，為了預防腦退化，我很喜歡和他爭辯。當我提出這個處境時，他給我另一個思考的角度。他問我，語文的純潔性，與會眾的神益，哪個重要？這個兒子真棒，竟用詭辯！靜悄悄地，他把二者放在對立面上！好小子，當初我為甚麼用國語唱江文也先生的作品呢？難道我想團員們唱得舒服嗎？難道我沒有考慮會眾用國語唱，會更好地進入祈禱的狀態嗎？

我喜歡引進一些有挑戰性的歌曲，不單是為了團員們的益處，更是為了會眾的益處。簡單容易的歌曲，團員很容易生厭；會眾唱慣了同一套歌曲，亦會感到彌撒沉悶。因此，即使是中文的彌撒，間中我會選唱一些動聽並且配合讀經的英文聖詠，甚至拉丁原文。唱拉丁文，很多老教友十分雀躍，而大部份的會眾亦很接受；青年彌撒更唱了不少英文聖詠！復活前夕有兩首「逾越頌」，我當然不會選擇唱簡式，唱簡式簡直浪費了天主賜予我的歌唱能力！我的天主，我的謙遜去了哪！

今年是我領職的第三年，天主的恩寵不斷地催促我更新成長。上星期三，我辦告解時哭了；今年的復活前夕，主祭要求我唱逾越頌的簡式。他說觀察了兩年，發覺教友未達到祈禱的水準，投入逾越頌的完整式。為甚麼到第三年他纔這樣要求，當中的醜事，就不用再提了！我並沒有耶穌基督的自由，我經歷了很大的內心掙扎，甚至反撲（提出用國語唱簡式，太執著了！）。終於今天我與令我「失望」的聖詠團一起練習。感謝天主，今次我勝利了！不過我知道，這場好仗，我並未打完（弟後4:7）因為「我們幾時住在這肉身內，就是與主遠離。」（格後5:6）
天主保祐！

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Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Year B
Theme: Empty Oneself

St. Paul wrote the following ode for the death of Jesus Christ.
"Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself ... he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:6-8)
Indeed, Jesus Christ has left behind an exemplar of humility. As Christians, we should be humble. Indeed? In reality, humility comes with a price!

Jesus Christ is truly human and truly divine. He is totally free. Nothing on earth can bind him. Even though it is something worth grasping, something to hold on unto death, He can easily put it down. After all, Jesus Christ is not a mere mortal! We are different. We were not born arrogant but the historical burdens and developmental traumas we carry deprive us of freedom. We are hindered by our personality to put up an abrasive front to protect ourselves. Heavenly Father, have mercy on us!

As a result of four decades of experience in the church choir, I have not a few insistences. For example, Mr. Jiang Wen-ye wrote many popular hymns in Chinese style. He was not a Cantonese. Therefore, singing his hymns in Mandarin will be more comfortable and pleasing to the ears. I promoted singing his hymns in this way in my parish more than two decades ago. I believe the effect is ideal. In the parish I am now serving, I mentioned this to the choir but they were not enthusiastic. As an excuse, they said their Mandarin proficiency was not good enough. I was very disappointed.

My son studied philosophy. To prevent Alzheimer, I enjoy arguing with him. When I brought up this situation, he gave me another perspective. He asked, "Which is more important, purity of language or prayerful spirituality?" This boy is really smart. He tried to trick me into a fallacy! Imperceptibly, he pitched one against the other! My lad, why did I use Mandarin to sing the works of Mr. Jiang in the first place? Did I want the choir members to sing comfortably? Had I not thought about that using Mandarin would help the parishioners enter a prayerful mood more readily?

I like to introduce some challenging hymns not just for the benefits of the choir members but also for the parishioners. Choir members will easily be fed up by easy hymns. The parishioners will also find mass boring if we keep on singing the same set of hymns. Thus sometimes, in Chinese mass, I would choose some inspiring English hymns which fit the readings, even the Latin original. When Latin was sung, many old parishioners were delighted and most of the congregation enjoyed it. In youth masses, we sang a lot of English hymns. There are two Chinese versions of Præconium Paschale Exsultet. Of course I will not choose the simplified version. What a waste of God's talentum for me to sing the simplified! OMG, where has my humility gone!

This is my third year of ordination. God's graces keep on urging me to renew and grow. Last Wednesday, I cried in receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This year, the chief celebrant of Easter Vigil told me to sing the simplified version of Præconium Paschale Exsultet. He explained that after two years of observation, he found that the parishioners had not reached the prayerful level to embrace the full version of Præconium Paschale Exsultet. There is no need to enumerate my shortcomings leading to his demand in the third year. But I do not possess the freedom of Jesus Christ. I underwent a lot of inner struggles and even tried to strike back (I requested singing the simplified version in Mandarin! How stubborn I was!) At last, I practised with the "disappointing" choir today. Thank God, I have overcome! But I know this fight is not yet over (2 Timothy 4:7) because "While we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:6)
God bless!

Feast of Ss. Peter & Paul 2010

The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul today. These two great Apostles died a martyrdom under Nero on different dates. Since 258, their feast has been celebrated on June 29 in Rome because on that day, their remains were collected and moved to Via Appia ad Catacumbas. The importance of these two pillars of the Church cannot be adequately explained here. Rather, we should meditate on their deeds and find strength to handle our daily dealings. Outside the Bible, there is an apocrypha called Acts of Peter and Paul, which supplies us with details about the rest of their lives.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
I am still running, but rather aimlessly. Throughout my life, I have been collecting and gathering a lot of books to feed my curiosity. Alas! Life and energy are short in supply. Perhaps I should narrow down my choices and set my target.
Do I want a crown of righteousness? Not quite. Do I want to see that Day come soon? Not quite. Here, I am a bit selfish and want to tarry a bit longer all because I have not yet set my target. By the day my target is set, surely I want to reach it fast. In the meantime, I will continue to shop around.
At the present moment, I still have three more years of theology study and five more years of teaching to do, if God allows me. These two are my current short-term targets. Surely, I will put up a good fight to reach these targets. Finishing these, I will evaluate my situation to continue the next target. If God allows, I will serve Him and the Church as a permanent deacon. Let this be my final target. Amen.

Dear Lord, You have put me on my course thus far. Be with me to finish the race so that at the finishing line, I can keep my faith in You. Amen.

Feast of St. Irenaeus 2010

Two years ago, I briefly wrote about St. Irenaeus who died a martyr in 202. I did not know him and the historical background well enough. Today, I have made very little progress in the knowledge of early Church history and the writings of the Church Fathers, among whom Irenaeus was one. In the next three days, I will continue the seminar in Patrology. Hopefully, by the end of it, I will be able to appreciate better the contribution of St. Irenaeus in his combat against Gnosticism.

Gnosticism teaches that through gaining "secret knowledge", we are able to attain, you name it, transcendence, salvation, liberation and enlightenment etc. It is very appealing especially when organized religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Taoism etc appear to be so rigid and lifeless. Gnosticism has many incarnations. If you are hostile to the supernatural, it offers you "natural healing". If you lose your passion with your faith, it offers you an "alternative religion" which demolishes all boundaries between world religions. If you want to improve your health, it offers you various forms of Qi-Qong and TM etc. Unlike cults of terrorist brand, Gnosticism seems so healthy and does nobody any harm. Why then should the Church be wary against it?

Today, we read again Paul's advice to Timothy.
So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22).
I suppose Gnosticism also renders similar advice. Avoid lust. Aim at righteousness, faith, love and peace. Gather with other Gnosticists with a pure heart. Of course, it will replace Jesus with another identity. Perhaps this demarcates Christianity from Gnosticism.
How should Timothy deal with Gnosticism?
Have nothing to do with stupid, senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels (2 Timothy 2:23).
Perhaps Timothy was still too young and inexperienced to deal with Gnosticism. Not so with the Church Fathers. One century after the death of all the Apostles, Gnosticism must have been a force to reckon with. The Church Fathers had to defend Christianity lest it became another brand of Gnosticism. I will learn more about it in the next three days.
As for Timothy, he had to deal with it with gentleness and prayed that God might grant them repentance.
And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one, an apt teacher, forbearing,
correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth (2 Timothy 2:24-25).
Dear Lord, I am arrogant and impatient. I have not loved enough. Pray that I become more forbearing with my bosses. Amen.

Feast of St. Boniface 2010

The Church celebrates the feast of St. Boniface (675-755) today. He was honoured with the title of the Apostle of Germany. He was a bishop and died as a missionary martyr. As a bishop, St. Boniface held many synods to enforce the canon. In 754, he resigned the archdiocese of Mainz to his disciple Lullus and took up his early career as a missionary at an advanced age of 79 and died a martyr! Blessed be God for animating even a fragile old man.

Today, we finish reading the Second Epistle of Timothy. He charged Timothy to be urgent in preaching the gospel.
preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching (2 Timothy 4:2).
Paul also warned Timothy of the difficulty in preaching in an age when people loved novelty rather than truth.
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings,
and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Doesn't it sound familiar nowadays as well? Men's hearts are void because of the convenience and comfort modern life afford. The truth of Jesus is neither convenient nor comfortable. How shall we deal with the situation?
As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry (2 Timothy 4:5).
There is no short-cut though modern people love short-cuts. Just do it. Do the right thing.

Paul felt that his days were numbered. He accepted it in tranquility. He had no regrets for he had put up a good fight and kept his faith. He bade Timothy to follow his footsteps.
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

In his last words, Paul mentioned a lot of names. Some were failures whom Paul warned against. Some were good and would be helpful co-workers for Timothy.
Demas had deserted him and gone to Thessalonica (2 Timothy 4:10).
Alexander the coppersmith had done Paul great harm (2 Timothy 4:14). Paul told Timothy to beware of Alexander (2 Timothy 4:15).
Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:10b).
Luke alone stayed with Paul (2 Timothy 4:11).
Paul urged Timothy to come over from Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:9) and asked him to bring Mark along with him (2 Timothy 4:11). He had sent Tychicus back to Ephesus, probably to relieve Timothy of his assignment temporarily (2 Timothy 4:12). Paul called Tychicus a beloved brother and faithful minister (Ephesians 6:21). He had been working with Paul in Ephesus before (Acts 20:4). The editors of KJV added at the end of the epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians that the epistles were written or copied by Tychicus in Rome.
At Troas, Paul had left his cloak to a Carpus (2 Timothy 4:13).
Paul sent his greetings to Prisca, Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus in Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:19).
Paul had sent his servant Erastus in Ephesus (Acts 19:22) to Corinth (2 Timothy 4:20a) who later had become the chamberlain of Corinth (Romans 16:23).
Paul left Trophimus, a fellow Ephesian of Tychicus, in Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20b).
Eubulus, Pudens and Linus and Claudia from Rome sent their regards to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:21).
Paul had been working with a lot of people. He remembered them well and left us a record the ministers of God's word. They become immortalized in Paul's epistles.

Dear Lord, I thank You for You have elected many people to serve You and bring salvation to all. You are blessed forever. Amen.

There are more evils than good on earth

Why do we need to put in efforts in order to stay afloat? It is because we tend to sink. We need to battle against the sinking tendency to keep our heads above waters. Similarly, there are more evils than good on earth. Therefore, we need to put in efforts in order to lead a holy life, a perfect life. In the New Testament, we find lists of evils against which the apostles warned the followers of Christ. For example, in the gospel of Mark, we find the following list of 13 evils and surely this list does not pretend to be exhaustive.
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery,
coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness (Mark 7:21-22).
Bearing in mind that the gospels were written for a particular community in response to their particular situation, we may deduce that the list mentioned in Mark is not any list of evils in general, though its size has covered much.

Paul has also written similar lists in his epistles.
In his Epistle to the Galatians, Paul pitched the Spirit against the flesh. We find the following list of 15 evils.
Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness,
idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit,
envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like (Galatians 5:19-21).
In the Second Epistle to Timothy which we are reading, we find the following list of 19 evils!
For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good,
treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
holding the form of religion but denying the power of it (2 Timothy 3:2-5).
I am sure these were the evils Timothy was facing in the Church of Ephesus. There were so many of them. What good did Timothy have in his disposal to handle such evils? What strength do Christians have in his disposal to handle evils?

In the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul mentions the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, [longanimity, mildness,] faithfulness, gentleness, self-control [,chastity] ; against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).
There are nine (or twelve) such fruit and they are the work of the Holy Spirit bearing fruit in us. By cooperating with the Holy Spirit, we may hope to bear such good fruit to fight against all those evils around us.
In the Second Epistle to Timothy, Paul sets himself as the model for Timothy. He shows Timothy how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to bear fruit.
Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,
my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me (2 Timothy 3:10-11).
Once again, Paul mentions 9 aspects of his efforts. He does not give Timothy abstract virtues, but concrete experiences in life. "Learn from me," exhorts Paul.

Confucius advised his disciple the importance of learning. Here we find six virtues which turn into six deficiencies if we do not study diligently.
子曰：由也，女聞六言六蔽矣乎？對曰：未也。居，吾語女。
好仁不好學，其蔽也愚。好知不好學，其蔽也蕩。好信不好學，其蔽也賊。好直不好學，其蔽也絞。好勇不好學，其蔽也亂。好剛不好學，其蔽也狂。【論語‧陽貨】
Confucius ait: Yeou, tu audivistine sex notiones cum sex suis obstructioibus? Assurgens ait: nondum. Sede, ego docebo te. Amare humanitatem sine amore discendi, hujus vitium, inscitia: amare scientiam sine amore addiscendi, hujus vitium evagatio: amare fidelitatem sine amore addiscendi, hujus vitium offensio; amare ingenuitatem sine amore addiscendi, hujus vitium imprudentia; amare strenuitatem sine amore discendi, hujus vitium perturbatio; amare fortitudinem, sine amore discendi, hujus vitium temeritas.(DISSERTAE SENTENTIAE, Auctore P. Angelo Zottoli, S.J., 1879)
Laying before us are virtues of the Holy Spirit. We are able to cultivate them only when we learn from the saints.

Dear Lord, You are our model. Let us humbly learn from You to bear good fruit and ward away evils. Amen.

Feast of Charles Lwanga and Companions 2010

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Charles Lwanga and his companions, martyrs in Uganda. They were brutally executed on June 3, 1886. One of them, Mgaba, was even the son of the chief executioner. The missionaries were driven out. Yet, those remaining were able to keep and spread their faith until new missionaries returned. They found 500 Christians and one thousand catechumens waiting for them. Christianity has a strong vitality and it must be the work of God. For us modern Christians living comfortably nowadays, shall we not treasure the grace of faith which God has showered us?

Today, we continue to read the Second Epistle of Timothy. Paul continues to encourage Timothy to be a faithful bishop.
His first duty was to entrust the gospel to faithful men capable of teaching others.
and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).
Christianity is not a private, personal matter. It is not beneficial to keep the faith for oneself. It has a life of its own and seeks to perpetuate itself like "selfish genes". The model of the Uganda martyrs is just such a case in point. God wants universal salvation. Therefore, those of us who receive and accept the gospel have the duty to evangelize.
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3).
Secondly, oppositions and persecutions are inevitable. They may not fall upon all Christians. Yet, Christians are in communion with Christ and with each other. Therefore, we should be prepared to share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ. As a soldier, we do not choose in which battle field we fight. Fight wherever we are enlisted (2 Timothy 2:4). Absolute obedience is expected. There may not be many obvious battle fields. Yet, we should be vigilant whichever field we are in to bear witness and suffer for the sake of the universal salvation of mankind.
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules (2 Timothy 2:5).
According to what rules do Christians compete? Paul did not make it clear. I guess they are the teachings of the Lord. The most obvious one is to love each other like Jesus has loved us (John 13:34). We know very well that Jesus means a love that despises death, that urges us to surrender our lives for the sake of the souls of others. Here, Paul motivates us with the image of a competition. Though we may not be physically competent enough to join singing contests, beauty pageants or the Olympics, all of us can lead our daily life with an athlete attitude: serious in preparation, total in commitment, honest in the observance of the rules and humble in accepting the outcomes. This is the third duty of a bishop.
Fourthly, he should be hard-working. He could not afford to be complacent. Paul assures Timothy that if he did so, he would surely receive the reward from God.
It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops (2 Timothy 2:6).
Many of us are hard-working in making more money, in studying to upgrade our marketability. In what area then should Christians be hard-working? To pray harder, study the Bible harder and love each other harder. Only then shall we receive an eternal crown. However, are crowns attractive anymore for modern men? If not, a modern Paul should look for some other attractive alternatives. What would you recommend?

There is a curious quotation recorded in this epistle. It does not seem to be a quotation from the Old Testament. Nor did Paul attribute it to Jesus like he did in his farewell speech to the Ephesian elders.
In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' (Acts 20:35)
The quotation goes like this:
The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him;
if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful -- for he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:11-13).
Obviously, it was not uttered by Jesus because this saying refers to him. Was it then an utterance by one of the apostles? Perhaps. Would this apostle be Paul himself? Very likely. This saying consists of a series of 4 "if εἰ". Paul likes to employ this kind of rhetoric. Of course, we need to check the theology conveyed by this saying.
"If we have died with him, we shall also live with him" is very Pauline in tone. For example,
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his (Romans 6:5)
"if we endure, we shall also reign with him"  is again Pauline. For example,
and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17).
"if we deny him, he also will deny us;" comes from the gospels. It is a paraphrase of Jesus' word. For example,
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:38).
"if we are faithless, he remains faithful -- for he cannot deny himself" is again found in the Epistle to the Romans.
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
By no means! Let God be true though every man be false, as it is written, "That thou mayest be justified in thy words, and prevail when thou art judged." (Romans 3:3-4, Psalm 51:4)
Curiously, Paul did not quote the Numbers which reads
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfil it? (Numbers 23:19)
Therefore, we can safely conclude that the saying came from Paul himself.

Dear Lord, Your faithfulness endures forever. Help us to be faithful in You. Amen.