以貧窮悅樂天主 To Please God In Poverty

【神貧系列（VI）】
以貧窮悅樂天主（若12:24-26）

歷史上，有不少人為了堅持某些信念，竟然願意賠上自己的性命，我們尊稱他們為「烈士、殉道者」。究竟這些信念，有甚麼值得以性命來交換的價值呢？例如：「啟蒙時代」倡議的「與生俱來的人權」與「人人平等」的思想，鼓舞著在北美洲的殖民，反抗大英帝國殖民地政府不公平的苛政。美國獨立戰爭的成功，鼓舞了受君主與貴族壓榨的法國平民，喊著「自由、平等、博愛」的口號，為了這些信念戰死，推翻帝制，進入共和；整個世界開始步入「革命時代」了。看來這些信念，即使為不相信天主存在的人，的確具有值得以性命來交換的價值，更何況，這些價值並沒有否定福音的「真福精神」（瑪5:3-10），所以是值得支持，是與無神論者相遇和合作的契機。而且，在與他們合作時，基督徒更應身先士卒，樂意首先成為殉道者。

雖然我們樂意與無神論者並肩作戰，為受壓迫的人爭取應得的權利和平等的待遇。但基督徒參與俗世的社會運動時，必須跟隨福音的「真福精神」，以貧為先。即是說，當俗世的人選擇把資源投放在爭取其他的人權時，身為基督徒的我們別無選擇，必須繼續以具體的行動，照顧和服侍臨在窮人身上的耶穌基督（25:40）。

作為執事的主保，聖老楞佐清楚展示了真福的精神，不惜為了維護窮人的權益，慷慨就義。他不但棄絕財富、名譽地位、性格和學問，更不惜以身殉道，把整個生命，毫無保留地完全奉獻。一如保祿宗徒所教導的：「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：這纔是你們合理的敬禮」（羅12:1）。

聖老楞佐，請為我們轉求，使我們也能成為悅樂天主的祭品。亞孟。
天主保祐！

Poverty Series (VI)
To Please God In Poverty (John 12:24-26)

In history, many people uphold their convictions at the expenses of their lives. We honour them with the title of “Martyr”. What values do those convictions have so that people are willing to exchange with their lives? For example, during the “Age of Enlightenment”, people advocated the ideas of “natural human rights” and “everybody is born equal”. Those ideas animated the North American colonists to rebel against the unfair exploitation of the British colonial government. The success of the American War of Independence inspired the French commoners to overthrow the oppressive monarch and aristocrats. They chanted the “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity” slogan, took up arms to overthrew the French monarchy and died for the establishment of the Republic. The whole world entered the “Age of Revolution”. Those convictions, even for people who don’t believe in the existence of God, possess values worth sacrificing their lives for. Not to mention that those values do not contradict the beatific spirit of the gospels (Matthew 5:3-10). These convictions are worth supporting and they provide an opportunity for us Christians to encounter and to cooperate with atheists. Moreover, when we work with them, Christians should enter the front line and be happy to become martyrs first.

Although we are happy to march shoulder to shoulder to fight for the equal treatments of the natural rights of the oppressed, we should follow the beatific spirit of the gospel to opt for the poor when we Catholics participate in secular social movements. That is to say, when worldly people choose to invest their resources to fight for other human rights, Christians have no choice but to continue in concrete actions to care for and serve Jesus Christ present in the poor (25:40).

As the patron saint of deacons, St. Lawrence clearly demonstrated the spirit of the Beatitudes. He defended the rights of the poor without reservation to the point of surrendering his life. Not only did he abandon wealth, fame, status, personality and knowledge, but he also offered up his life to bear witness. Just as St. Paul has taught, “I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1).

St Lawrence! Pray for us that we may become pleasing sacrifice to God. Amen.
God bless!

---

生命恩泉
Picture Credit: artrenewal.org

「棄絕自己」是可能的 It Is Possible To Deny Self

【神貧系列（V）】
「棄絕自己」是可能的（瑪16:24-28）

不知不覺，整個星期的默想都是圍繞著「軟弱」、「無依無靠」、「貧窮」和「不可自以為是」等的思想，今天耶穌基督更變本加厲，要求門徒「棄絕自己」，太難了！

所謂「錢財身外物」。我們赤裸裸的來到世上，死後一分錢也不能帶走。所以捨棄財富並不難。小額的財富我們有本領處理，捨棄它倒可能令人大傷腦筋；但億兆的財產令人摸不著頭腦，即使放棄也不會有任何感覺，棄絕它並不難！

所謂「面係人哋畀，架係自己丢」。名譽和身份地位是別人、是社會大眾賞賜給你的，即使是你辛苦經營而來，是應得的，但也不是永恆的，因為是來自他人及社會。社會正在不斷變化，人亦在宦海浮沉；今天你仍有利用的價值，明天就說不定了！例如，詩人在古代，備受達官貴人賞識，為他們的臉貼金。時移世易，今天寫詩自娛尚可，寫詩維生則免問了！但寫C的人，又當別論。因此捨棄名譽和身份地位也並不難。

「自己」是甚麼？除了與生俱來的遺傳基因外，就是自小在家人、師長和朋友薰陶下所形成的性格、學問和價值觀，指導著我所有的言行舉止和選擇。我之所以是「我」，大部份來自這些信念。「棄絕自己」表示以後不再是「從前的我」，而是另一個人，一個「新受造物」（格後5:17）。「棄絕自己」，談何容易！困難是肯定的，卻是可能的。歷史上俯拾皆是，不能盡錄！例如掃祿在前往大馬士革路上所獲得的經驗，使他在基督內，脫胎換骨，成了一個新受造物，並改名為保祿，為天主子作見證。

親愛的讀者，願你的生命，能觸及基督，產生變化。亞孟。
天主保祐！

Poverty Series (V)
It Is Possible To Deny Self (Matthew 16:24-28)

Imperceptibly, I have meditated around the thoughts of inadequacy, lack of support, poverty and the harm of self-righteousness. Today Jesus Christ demands even more. He requires whoever wants to become His disciples must deny themselves. Alas! It is next to impossible!

Wealth is outside our body. We were born naked into this world and will leave it without carrying a penny away. Thus, denying wealth is not difficult. We have the knowledge to handle small amounts of money. Giving it up is a headache. But trillions and even zillions of inheritance is simply mind-boggling. We are unable to feel anything when we give it away. Giving it up is not difficult.

Fame, identity and status are given us by others in the society. Even if we have worked hard to earn them, they are not eternal because they come from others and the society. Societies are evolving and people in power are rising and sinking in the hierarchy. Today you are still marketable but tomorrow who knows! For example, poets were popular among aristocrats and nobles because bards were capable of singing praises for them. Time changes. Today, you may write poems to entertain yourselves but not to earn a living. To earn a living, you had better write C programs. Thus, giving up fame and status is not too difficult too.

But what is “Self”? On top of our DNA’s, it is the personality, knowledge and values we have attained from interacting with our family members, friends and teachers. Those characteristics guide our words, deeds and choices. What make I the “me” comes mostly from those convictions. “Denying self” means the negation of the “old-self” to become another person, a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is easier talked than done! There are surely difficulties but it is possible! We are able to find many instances in history. For example, the encounter of Saul with the Lord on his way to Damascus transformed him in Christ. He became a “new creation”, picked up a new name Paul to become a witness/martyr of the Son of God.

Beloved brethren! May your life be touched and be transformed by Christ. Amen.
God bless!

---

生命恩泉
Picture Credit: creator.nightcafe.studio

「自以為是」之害 The Harm of Self-Righteousness

【神貧系列（IV）】
「自以為是」之害（瑪16:13-23）

猶太人自恃是「天主的選民」，因而自視過高，民族主義濃厚，卑視外邦人。終於在公元136年第三次（有學者名之為第二次）反抗羅馬帝國的叛亂遭受鎮壓後，被帝國驅逐出境，在沒有任何政權/國家保護之下，在世界各地流離失所達十九個世紀之久，到第二次世界大戰之後，纔有機會重返巴勒斯坦立國。直到今天，有關土地的主權問題上，仍然與居住了十九個世紀的巴勒斯坦人，不斷兵戎相見。

回顧教會的歷史，亦不乏「自以為是」的毛病。教會自第四世紀君士坦丁凱撒登基後，得到帝國的撐腰，壯大地來。教會成了說拉丁語的「天主之城」，凌駕世上（歐洲）所有的國度。固然，在羅馬帝國沒落之時，教會亦義無反顧地負起捍衛歐陸文明的艱巨使命，抗拒野蠻民族的入侵，同化他們成為信仰天主的子民。過了第一個千年，說拉丁語的西方教會與說希臘語的東方教會分裂了。當大家都覺得自己是正確的時候，試問怎可能不分裂呢？

五百年前，說拉丁語的西方教會聖職班，仍生活在「天主之城」內，與「文藝復興時代」、「大航海時代」脫節了；同時各國諸侯不服教宗的權威，百姓不滿主教神父的貪污腐敗，「宗教改革」一觸即發；隨之而來的，是此起彼落，長達190年的宗教戰爭（公元 1522-1712年），信奉天主教的統治者迫害國內的新教徒，新教國家則血腥鎮壓效忠羅馬教宗的人民…有誰會覺得自己是錯的呢？《聖詠集》不是這樣教訓君王嗎？「詭詐欺騙的人，不得住在我的宮中，說謊不實的人，不得在我眼前存在。我每日清早要滅絕在國內所有的罪人，我要由上主的城內剷除所有作惡的人」（詠101:7-8）。原來「自以為是」要付出沉重的流血代價！

有新教學者認為伯多祿的希臘文是陰性的「石頭」（瑪16:18），祇不過是一塊普通的石頭而已，並不是甚麼「磐石」，我覺得頗有道理。西滿伯多祿始終是一個有缺點的人，把他吹奉為「磐石」，祇會給教會一份虛假的安全感，更容易犯上「自以為是」的毛病！耶穌基督給西滿改名，的確用心良苦！

親愛的讀者，耶穌基督是大能的天主子，在祂手上，即使是一塊並不光彩的廢石，亦足以建立萬世的基業（詠118:22）！我們信靠的，不是有破綻的制度，有缺陷的聖人，而是一位大智大能和大愛的天主子耶穌基督。亞孟。
天主保祐！

Poverty Series (IV)
The Harm of Self-Righteousness (Matthew 16:13-23)

Jews are proud of being “God’s Chosen People”. Their inflated ego bred a strong nationalism as well as prejudice against Gentiles. At last, they were crushed by the Roman Empire in 136 A.D. in their third (some scholars say second) revolt and were driven out of the Empire. Without the protection of states or governments, Jews became fugitives all over the world for some nineteen centuries until after WWII were they able to return to Palestine to rebuild their country. As of this writing, the dispute between Israelites and Palestinians over the sovereignty of the land continues with no ending in sight, leading to unceasing military conflicts.

Looking back at the history of the Church, we may easily find similar self-righteous problems. When Constantine Caesar ascended the throne, the Church was allowed to practise her faith in public and was growing from strength to strength. She became the Latin-speaking “City of God” excelling above all kingdoms on earth (Europe). Without hesitation, when the Roman Empire began to decline, the Church shouldered the tremendous burden of defending and preserving European civilization against barbarian invasions. She managed to convert them to become members of the People of God. After the first millennium, the Latin-speaking Roman Church split with the Greek-speaking Byzantine Church. When everybody thought that he was in the right, how would schism NOT happen?

Five centuries ago the clergy of the Latin-speaking Roman Church were still living inside the “City of God”. They lost touch with the Age of Renaissance and the Age of Exploration. At the same time, princes respected Papal authority no more while commoners hated the corruption of priests and bishops. “Reformation” was an arrow on a fully-drawn bow! Once ignited, 190 years of religious wars (1522-1712 AD) followed. Catholic rulers persecuted Protestants subjects while Protestant countries oppressed bloodily people loyal to the Roman Pontiff … Who would feel that they were in the wrong? Doesn’t the Psalms teach kings, “No one who practises deceit can remain within my house. No one who speaks falsely can last in my presence. Morning after morning I clear all the wicked from the land, to rid the city of the LORD of all doers of evil” (Psalms 101:7-8). “Self-righteousness” carries a heavy price tag of blood-shed!

Some Protestant scholars opine that Peter in Greek, πέτρα, a feminine noun (Matthew 16:18), is just an ordinary stone, not a bed-rock. I quite agree with this interpretation. After all, the personality of Simon Peter was flawed and boasting him as the “Rock” would give the Church a false sense of security, leading her to commit “self-righteousness” errors more easily! How wise and merciful Jesus Christ was in giving Simon this new name!

Beloved brethren! Jesus Christ is the mighty Son of God. In His hand, even an inglorious, rejected stone is sufficient to build an everlasting kingdom (Psalm 118:22)! We trust not in and rely not on flawed institutions and blemished saints but the Wise, Mighty and Merciful Son of God Jesus Christ. Amen.
God bless!

---

生命恩泉
Picture Credit: pensamientopentecostalarminiano.org

達味之子，可憐我罷！ Son of David! Have Mercy On Me!

【神貧系列（III）】
達味之子，可憐我罷！（瑪15:21-28）

「達味之子」在對觀福音中出現過17次，其中9次在《瑪竇》；《馬爾谷》和《路加》各4次。這是合理的，因為《瑪竇》的讀者是猶太基督徒，主旨是證明耶穌基督是猶太人所期待的默西亞。固然，先知曾稱呼波斯王居魯士為「受傅者」（依45:1），但當居魯士解放猶太人，並遣返他們回國重建聖殿後，猶太人漸漸把希望放在「達味之子」身上，希望達味後裔中的一個，能成為他們的「受傅者」，以滿全當年天主向達味許下的「納堂神諭」：「你的家室和王權，在我前永遠存在，你的王位也永遠堅定不移」（撒下7:16）。

撇除有關耶穌誕生的兩節（瑪1:1, 20）和榮進耶路撒冷，喊叫口號的兩節（21:9, 15）外，其餘5節「達味之子」都與瞎子復明和驅魔的神跡有關，而惟獨今天所讀的這一節，是出自外邦人的口！
雖然《瑪竇》的讀者是猶太基督徒，但狹隘的民族主義始終不能壟斷天主對萬民的救贖（9:17），所以在福音最後一章，復活的主對十一宗徒有「往訓萬民」的遺令（28:19）！今天的驅魔故事，也批評了狹隘的民族主義。

在今天的驅魔故事中，有兩組人求耶穌：一個客納罕婦人和耶穌的門徒。一個母親從後面求耶穌說：「主，達味之子，可憐我罷！我的女兒…」（15:22）；耶穌的門徒就上前求祂說：「打發她走罷！【因為她帶給我們麻煩，】在我們後面不停地喊叫」（15:23）。倘若我是耶穌，高下立見：前者為了別人的益處，後者為了自己的方便。但耶穌並沒有對門徒失望，直斥其非，反而耐心地向他們指出，自恃是天主的選民，祇會「自食其果」：看，倘若我祇照顧亞巴郎的後裔（15:24），你們將會承受怎樣的不方便！再看外邦人的信德罷，他們沒有天主的許諾可以依恃，祇憑自己一無所有的信靠，反而蒙受天主的眷顧。

親愛的讀者，認真地看待自己的貧乏和不是之處，信靠耶穌基督罷！
天主保祐！

Poverty Series (III)
Son of David! Have Mercy On Me! (Matthew 15:21-28)

“Son of David” appears 17 times in the Synoptic gospels, 9 times in Matthew and 4 times each in Mark and Luke. This is reasonable because Matthew’s readers were Jewish Christians and it aimed at proving that Jesus Christ was the Messiah anticipated by the Jews. Of course, Isaiah also called Cyrus the Persian king the “anointed” (Isaiah 45:1). But after Cyrus had liberated the Jews and sent them home to rebuild the Temple, they gradually put their hope on the “Son of David”, one of the descendants of David to become the Messiah in order to fulfil the “Nathan Oracle” God promised David, “Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16).

Not counting the 2 verses in Jesus’ nativity (Matthew 1:1, 20) and the 2 slogan-chanting during Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem (21:9, 15), the remaining five “Son of David” appeared in miracles of healing the blind and exorcisms. The verse we read today is the only verse that came from a Gentile!
Although Matthew wrote for Jewish Christian, narrow-minded nationalism cannot monopolize God’s redemption of all peoples (9:17). Thus, in the last chapter of the gospel, the risen Lord commissioned the Eleven apostles to “make disciples of all nations” (28:19)! The exorcism story today also criticizes narrow-minded nationalism.

In the exorcism narrative today, two groups of people begged Jesus: The Canaanite woman and Jesus’ disciples. A mother begged Jesus from behind, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter …” (15:22). Jesus’ disciples came and asked the Master, “Send her away! For [she brought us inconvenience] she keeps calling out after us” (15:22). If I were Jesus, the contrast was crystal clear: the former begged for the good of the needy while the latter begged for their own convenience. But Jesus did not show disappointment and scold them. On the contrary, He patiently pointed out to them the price to pay for being proud of the identity of God’s Chosen People. Look! If I only take care of the descendants of Abraham (15:24), you would suffer a great deal of inconvenience! Take a look at the Gentiles who did not have God’s promise to rely on. With nothing to rely on but their faith, God provided for them as well.

Beloved brethren! Take seriously our poverty and inadequacies. Have faith in Jesus Christ!
God bless!

---

生命恩泉
Picture Credit: creator.nightcafe.studio

上高山的經驗 Experiences On High Mountains

【神貧系列（II）】
上高山的經驗（谷9:2-10）

梅瑟攀登西乃山，花了40天的時間領受十誡。可惜山下的以色列人沒有耐性，迫亞郎給他們做一隻金牛，帶領他們返回埃及（出32:1-4）。梅瑟下山看見以色列人在金牛像前歌舞，便大怒並摔碎手上兩塊「約版」，懲罰了那些拜金牛的人。後來梅瑟按上主的吩咐，再帶兩塊石版上山，再過了40天的時間領受十誡。今次下山，因為同上主說過話，面部發光，從此梅瑟要用首帕蒙面（34:29, 35）。這個在高山上與上主相遇的經驗，改變了這位八十歲在埃及長大的王子，在往後的四十年，領導那一盤散沙般的以色列12支派，邁向上主所應許的「福地」。

厄里亞在加爾默耳山，與450個崇拜巴耳的假先知比試求雨（列上18:19），在以色列子民面前證明了雅威纔是天主，並鼓動群眾捉了所有假先知到山下斬殺了（18:40）。這可謂是厄里亞履行天主代言人職務的顛峰。可惜這比試觸怒了依則貝耳皇后，她下達追殺令，厄里亞不得不逃亡了40日，來到曷勒布山避難（19:8）。在那裡，天主在輕微細弱的風聲中，委派了他三個任務（19:15-16）；厄里亞亦改變了以往目空一切的性格，繼續履行他先知的角色。

梅瑟和厄里亞分別代表法律和先知，可以說代表了整部【舊約】。他倆在高山上所遭遇的經驗，在他們身上起了戲劇性的變化，從此他們以一個全新的面貎，履行天主委派給他們的使命。

今天我們慶祝主耶穌在高山上向三位宗徒展露祂的天主性，讓他們認識復活的光榮，加強他們的信德，在主復活後鞏固其他兄弟的信德（路22:32）。這是難能可貴的經驗，今天我們的信德，都是靠他們傳授下來的，彌足珍貴。親愛的讀者，我們可有這上高山與主相遇的經驗呢？我們的信仰，是否與昨天、與去年甚至十年前一樣，依然故我，沒有改進？我們的信仰內容，仍然停留在不到慕道時期的30%水平嗎？是檢討自己的靈性修煉的時候了。
天主保祐！

Poverty Series (II)
Experiences On High Mountains (Mark 9:2-10)

Moses scaled Mount Sinai and spent forty days to receive the Ten Commandments. Regrettably the Israelites were impatient down below and forced Aaron to make them a golden calf to bring them back to Egypt (Exodus 32:1-4). When Moses came down and saw the Israelites dancing before the golden calf, he was furious and smashed the two tablets of covenant and punished those who worshipped the idol. Later, following God’s instruction, Moses brought 2 stone tablets and scaled forty more days to receive the Ten Commandments again. This time when Moses came down with the two tablets of covenant, his face became radiant while he spoke with the LORD. From then on, Moses had to put a veil over his face (34:29, 35). This encounter with the LORD on a high mountain transformed this eighty-year-old prince of Egypt. In the following four decades, he led the disorganized twelve tribes of Israel to enter the land promised by the LORD.

On Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged 450 false prophets of Baal to pray for rain (1 Kings 18:19), to demonstrate before the Israelites that Yahweh was the true God. Subsequently, he incited the crowd to seize all the false prophets and killed them down the Mount (18:40). This was the zenith of Elijah’s ministry as a spokesman of God. Regrettably, Queen Jezebel was furious and declared an order to execute Elijah who fled for forty days for his life to hide in Mount Horeb (19:8). There, in a light silent sound, the LORD commissioned him three missions (19:15-16). Consequently, Elijah also transformed his arrogant personality in discharging his mission as a prophet.

As representatives of Law and Prophet, Moses and Elijah represented the whole of the Old Covenant. Their experiences on high mountains effected dramatic transformations on them. From then on, they put on “a new face” in discharging the missions the LORD gave them.

Today, we celebrate the Transfiguration of Lord Jesus on a high mountain, manifesting His divinity to the three apostles to assure them of the glory of resurrection and to strengthen their faith so that after His resurrection, they might strengthen other brothers (Luke 22:32). This was an invaluable treasure because the faith we cherish today came from them. Beloved brethren! Do we have this experience of encountering the Lord on a high mountain? Is our faith the same like yesterday, yester-year or even a decade before, without showing any progress? Does the faith we practise remain at a 30% level of what we learnt in catechumen class? It is high time we evaluated our spiritual life.
God bless!

---

生命恩泉
Picture Credit: communio.stblogs.org, creator.nightcafe.studio, create.pixelcut.ai/magic-eraser

The Weakness of Christ Is Stronger Than Men’s Strength 基督的軟弱比人強

【神貧系列（I）】
基督的軟弱比人強（瑪14:13-21）

今天的福音以「耶穌一聽說這消息」（瑪14:13a）開始，『這消息』是甚麼消息呢？三部對觀福音都把後來發生的「五餅二魚」神跡，緊接洗者若翰殉道和十二宗徒第一次傳福音之後，回來向耶穌匯報（谷6:30，路9:10）事件，惟有《瑪竇》暗示耶穌基督因著洗者若翰的殉道，需要「私下退到荒野地方」，停下來默觀前路。

耶穌基督是真人真天主，以納匝肋人耶穌的人性位格，他對這位表親的殉道，怎可能沒有「唇亡齒寒」的感觸呢？不要小覷這表面上人性的「軟弱」，它在我們得意忘形的時候，發揮著一種有益的制約作用！

且看，自己一手栽培的十二人，竟然能吸引並聚集了成千上萬的群眾；作為師父的，怎會不心花怒放呢？但在耶穌基督心裡湧出來的，不是「榮耀」或者「心滿意足」，而是「憐憫的心，治好了他們的病人」（瑪14:14）。忙了一整天，門徒請求基督遣散群眾，好讓自己也可以休息回氣，這是最自然不過的事。但主耶穌反而吩咐他們給群眾提供食物（14:16），作為門徒會有甚麼感想呢？「主！難道我們忙了一整天，還做得不夠好嗎？」「主！我們已經累了，不應該休息一晚，明天再努力嗎？」「主！我們不是祢，沒有祢的神力，恐怕不能再堅持下去了！」…「主！我們這裡甚麼也沒有，祇有五個餅和兩條魚，連我們自己也不夠分配，怎能給群眾提供食物呢…」（14:17）。跟著發生的神跡，就不用贅述了。

親愛的讀者，「勞苦、疲倦」並不是羞恥的事，兩個多星期前，耶穌基督曾邀請勞累的我們投靠祂 （11:28-30）。「軟弱」不一定是缺點，「軟弱」讓我們清楚明白自己的不足之處，謙遜地、誠實地把面對的困難，呈奉到基督的面前，讓祂按天父的旨意處理！正如保祿宗徒所說：「天主為愛祂的人所準備的，是眼所未見，耳所未聞，人心所未想到的」（格前2:9；依64:3）；又說：「我為基督的緣故，喜歡在軟弱中…因為我幾時軟弱，正是我有能力的時候」（格後12:10）。
天主保祐！

Poverty Series (I)
The Weakness of Christ Is Stronger Than Men’s Strength (Matthew 14:13-21)

Today’s gospel begins with “When Jesus heard of it” (Matthew 14:13a). One wonders what the “it” is. The Synoptic gospels put the miracle of 5 loaves and 2 fish immediately after the martyrdom of the Baptist and the return of the Twelve (Mark 6:30, Luke 9:10). Only Matthew hints at the martyrdom of the Baptist affecting Jesus and He needed to withdraw, “in a boat to a deserted place by Himself” to meditate the mission ahead.

Jesus Christ is both human and divine. As a human in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, how could he not be affected by the martyrdom of his cousin? Don’t overlook this superficial human “frailty” which inhibits us when successes blind us! Imagine.
“Behold, the Twelve whom I have instructed are able to attract and gather thousands of people. As their Master, how can I not be elated?” But what overflowed from the heart of Jesus Christ was not glory or contentment but “His heart was moved with pity for them, and He cured their sick” (Matthew 14:14).

After a busy day, it was natural for the disciples to request the Lord to dismiss the crowd so that they themselves might take a break. But Lord Jesus told them to feed the crowd (14:16). If you were among the disciples, what would you feel?
“Lord! Are we not good enough to have worked the whole day?” “Lord! We are exhausted. Shouldn’t we take a rest after evening so as to work harder tomorrow?” “Lord! We are not you. We don’t have your divine power. We can no longer persevere!” … “Lord! Five loaves and two fish are all we have here. We don’t have enough even for ourselves. How can we feed the crowd? …” (14:17) The rest was history.

Beloved brethren! Being tired is nothing to be ashamed of. Two weeks ago, Jesus Christ invited all who labour and are burdened to come to Him to take rest (11:28-30). “Frailty” is not necessarily a defect. Frailty allows us to know our inadequacies, to face our difficulties humbly as well as honestly and to offer them before Christ. Let Him handle them according to the Father’s will! Just as St. Paul says, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9; Isaiah 64:3); and, “Therefore, I am content with weaknesses … for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
God bless!

---

生命恩泉
Picture Credit: readingacts.com, creator.nightcafe.studio