做個有策略的人 Be Strategic

常年期第廿三主日，丙年
主題：做個有策略的人 Be Strategic

連續幾個主日，耶穌基督教導我們拒絕「七罪宗」的誘惑，幫助我們回歸天父的家園。正如今天的第一篇讀經所說：「因為這必腐朽的肉身，重壓著靈魂；…世上的事，我們還難以測度；…那麼，天上的事誰還能探究？」（智9:15-16）人類受到「原罪」的傷害，在日常生活中經常不分輕重，本末倒置。我們變得短視，貪圖眼前的方便、舒適和利益；卻因小失大，放棄履行天主的旨意，賠上了永恆的生命。出於對世人的憐憫，天主子降生成人，苦口婆心地教導並陪伴我們走上回歸父家的道路。所謂「苦口良藥、忠言逆耳」，要接受主耶穌的教訓是充滿挑戰的，今天的福音就是一個很好的例子。耶穌經常用一些容易明白的比喻，來教導聽眾一些很難解釋的真理。那麼，讓我們先默想祂的比喻，然後嘗試掌握祂那些生硬的教訓。

在今天的福音選段中，主耶穌三次強調在甚麼情況下，人「不能做我的門徒」（路14:26, 27, 33）。並且講了兩個比喻，幫助我們明白當中艱深的教訓。表面上，兩個比喻都好像教導我們，先「籌算」清楚自己有沒有足夠的本錢或者實力，能否惱恨自己的家人，能否背著自己的十字架跟在耶穌後面等等…纔做耶穌的門徒。與其做一個虛有其表的基督徒，倒不如放棄領洗入教，免得貽笑大方！「免得他奠基以後，竟不能完工，所有看見的人都要譏誚他」（14:29）。這樣的解讀未嘗不可，但不是主耶穌的真正意思；否則，祂何必再說多一個比喻補充呢？那麼，兩國交戰的比喻補充了甚麼呢？

首先，耶穌為甚麼選擇說一個戰爭的比喻呢？戰爭是國家大家，不是我們這些平民百姓可以決定的。這個戰爭比喻，與我們有甚麼關係呢？主耶穌在倡議投降給羅馬帝國嗎？或者是倡議世界和平嗎？都不是！因為我們往往忽視了在我們身邊一直進行中的「屬靈戰爭」！作為基督徒，與撒殫的戰鬥是不能置身事外的。不但主耶穌運用戰爭的圖像，連聖保祿宗徒也在他的書信中，描繪了「基督徒全副武裝」的圖像（弗6:11-18）。

在現實世界裡，和平是罕有的，而受苦的多是黎民百姓！所以老子說：「兵者不祥之器，…不得已而用之」（道德經#31）。侵略是不道德的，自衛是應該的。比喻中的第一個國王，是為了保家衛國，不得已而戰。但戰爭的勝負絕非取決於先進的軍備；或者軍隊人數的多寡。古今中外就有不少以少勝多；或者出奇制勝的戰例。因此要「籌算」的不單是本錢和實力那麼簡單，還有「時機」是否成熟！這就是中國文化所說的「天時、地利、人和」，「時機」排第一位！倘若入侵者長途跋涉而來，補給線就是他們的致命傷；加上軍隊疲累，成了強弩之末，殺傷力減弱。倘若我軍據險死守一段時間，以一萬守兵擊敗兩萬入侵者，又有何難！當然，倘若我軍是臨時徵召的烏合之眾，士氣低落；再加上彈盡糧絕；其他國家又拒絕派出援兵…處於這樣惡劣環境之下，「議和」是當前的最佳戰略。請注意，議和不等於投降，而是「緩兵之計」。議和後經過「十年生聚、十年教訓」，我們必定有捲土重來的一天！所以耶穌基督講兩個比喻，教訓我們須要「籌算」，但不是一次過的籌算，而是不斷地考量時機的因素。況且，我們與撒殫的戰鬥，亦不是一仗定生死的！

讓執事我分享自己的聖召經歷，說明「時機」這個因素。香港教區在1997年7月祝聖了第一批兩位終身執事，如今已返回天家，享受天主的賞報了。其中一位是曾繁興執事，當年他奉派前往屯門贖世主堂服務。曾執事在2000年向堂區適合做終身執事的男士，介紹終執職務的內容及要求。那時我也曾考慮，豈料那一年，天主賜給我夫婦倆第四個孩子。於是我以為天主不是召叫我做終身執事，而是做一個稱職的父親。九年後，機緣巧合遇上了教區的陳志明神父，重燃起這份聖召的心火！的確，時機成熟了。六年之後，我成為香港教區第十一屆領職的終身執事。願天主永受讚美，願天主繼續領導！

明白了「籌算」的深層意義之後，讓我們反省那些生硬的，「惱恨自己家人」的教訓。誠然，耶穌基督曾在常年期第二十主日提及過，家庭成員會因為接受或者拒絕祂的福音而引起分裂：父親反對兒子，兒子反對父親…（路12:53）。由「分裂」發展到「惱恨」，不是時間的問題，而是心中有多少親情和多少虔敬的問題。按【舊約】記載，因為利益的原故，兄弟姊妹之間經常有惱恨的情況存在。例如：加音出於嫉妒和忿怒而殺了弟弟亞伯爾、雅各伯騙了厄撒烏的長子名份和祝福、若瑟因父親的偏心而被其他的兄弟賣往埃及；梅瑟的姊姊米黎盎公開反對梅瑟等等。
但子女對父親的惱恨和咒罵，只限於因為父親的不虔敬所招來的蒙羞受辱纔有（德41:10）。【舊約】絕少提及父親惱恨兒子，相反的例子卻有很多。例如：富可敵國的約伯，恐怕子女們犯了罪，心中詛咒了天主，便清早起來照子女的數目〔總共10個〕向天主獻上全燔祭品（約1:5）；達味心愛的兒子阿貝沙隆發動政變，達味不願牽連耶路撒冷的居民，便帶領全家徒步出走，只留下十個嬪妃看守王宮（撒下15:16）。有讒臣建議阿貝沙隆親近達味留下的嬪妃，以為可以惹下達味的仇恨，令支持政變的人更加堅強（16:20）。但達味並沒有惱恨阿貝沙隆，並且在反攻時吩咐軍人對阿貝沙隆手下留情（18:5）！原來【舊約】早已啟示了天父對世人的憐愛，父親是不會惱恨自己的子女！

「十誡」教導我們「孝敬父母」（出20:12; 申5:16）；而主耶穌來不是為廢除法律，而是來成全它（瑪5:17）。三位一體的天主是不會自相矛盾的，所以福音所說的「不惱恨父母家人，不能成為祂的門徒」，必定另有所指。
首先，從兩個有關「籌算」的比喻中，我們學習了在作出抉擇時必須考量時機的因素。即是說，倘若父母家人拒絕福音，是他們領受福音的時機尚未成熟，不應強迫他們接受。但當他們阻止我們領受福音、令我們蒙羞受辱、障礙我們獲得永生的時候，我們自然會惱恨他們的不虔敬，並作出明智的抉擇！

其次，當主耶穌說「我的門徒」一詞時，也許是指蒙召成為教會聖職人員的人而說。
在祂復活後，基督花了40天的時間顯現給曾跟隨祂的人，其中一次顯現給500多人（格前15:6），聚集他們成為耶路撒冷初期教會的班底。在祂升天後，只有120人留下（宗1:15）。他們可以說是經過考驗的、真實的「我的門徒」。在信仰死而復活的耶穌基督的基礎上，他們協助十二宗徒建設這個兀立了二千多年而仍未倒下的天主教會！對於這些教會公務員，主耶穌自然會要求高一些，對嗎？

親愛的兄弟姊妹，對天主子的教導，我們不應該有所選擇。對於可以做的、容易做的和順耳的就實行；對於逆耳的就置諸不理。這是不對的。同時，我們不要因主耶穌生硬的教訓而灰心喪志，因為是時機未成熟，我們的經驗未達標。保持謙虛、忍耐和望德吧！我們知道天父喜歡把天國賞賜給求祂的人（路12:32），總有一天我們可以做得到！讓我們呼求天主聖神，加強我們的望德，成為一個有策略的、知機的希望朝聖者。以我們的愛德善行，帶給世人信心和希望，以光榮天主聖父（瑪5:16）。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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2019年反省
圖片鳴謝：ideogram.ai

滿招損 Pride Before Fall

常年期第廿二主日，丙年
主題：滿招損 Pride Before Fall

同大家一樣，執事我喜歡看電影─不一定是宗教電影─因為電影娛樂性豐富，用誇張的手法，反映現實。例如在武俠片的世界裡，很多人爭權奪利，做甚麼武林盟主、武林至尊…旨在影射現實世界的人情冷暖。當中有不少訊息，頗為附合天主教的價值觀。例如在大多數的武俠片裡，武功高強的人物通常並不顯眼。到了最後關頭，他們纔現身解圍。反而那些花拳綉腿的嘍囉，卻經常欺善怕惡，結果在大俠出手時，便在眾人面前出醜！這些都是娛樂消遣的小事，借文字和影音，勸導讀者和觀眾「謙遜」的重要。在今天的福音裡，耶穌同樣講述日常生活的瑣事，教訓同祂一起吃飯的客人，尤其是那些自以為是的法利塞人，驕傲會出醜（路14:11）。出醜事少，倘若在國家大事上，例如外交和軍事，掌權者的「驕傲」，每每令國家和人民，付出沉重的代價。相信大家一定聽過「紙上談兵」這句成語，表面上沒有甚麼大不了；原來背後卻有一段沉痛的歷史。話說戰國時代，秦昭王派白起代替王齕領兵攻打趙國，他用「離間計」使趙王也陣前易帥，換來一個沒有實戰經驗，只會「紙上談兵」，而且心高氣傲的趙括，帶領數十萬趙軍迎戰入侵的秦軍。趙括一上任，便立刻推翻了老將廉頗的安排，另作部署。結果在長平一役，驕傲的趙括死在亂箭之下，四十萬投降的趙軍被白起坑殺！驕傲的後果，原來可以如此嚴重！

相信大家也有聽過「學而時習之」這經典名句，它是整部《論語》的第一句，點出了儒家思想的精粹。儒家思想認為，人生目標就是成為一個盡善盡美的人，孔子稱他為「君子」。這樣的人是經過千錘百鍊纔修煉得來的。君子有學養，能明辨是非。這修維是經過學習和實踐累積得來的。所以說「學而時習之，不亦悅乎」。把知識付諸實踐，知行合一是快樂的，是有樂趣的。跟著是「有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎」，點出君子是一個有德行的人，不應該獨善其身，而要兼善天下（孟子‧盡心上）。所謂「德不孤，必有鄰」（論語‧里仁）。君子應該廣交朋友，向不同的人學習，即使不是同道中人，或是遠道而來的人，甚至是小人，也有值得學習或警惕之處！所謂「三人行必有我師焉！擇其善者而從之，其不善者而改之」（論語‧述而），就是這個道理。最後要修煉到「人不知而不慍」的境界。「慍」是怨恨、憤怒的意思。「懷才不遇」而沒有半點怨憤，當中不知克服了多少「自以為是」的心態，這不就是「君子」嗎？「自以為是」只不過是驕傲的一小步而已，還有更多累人累物的大驕傲！要做到「人不知而不慍」，在古代或許可以，在今天競爭激烈的商業社會裡，簡直沒有生存的空間。倘若你待人謙讓、談吐溫文、舉止儒雅，別人只會踏著你向上爬，連一句多謝也沒有！試問我們怎樣謙遜呢？

天主教的靈修，非常注重修煉謙遜，克制驕傲，因為驕傲是「七罪宗」之一。例如聖本篤在他的《會規》內，便羅列了十二級的「謙遜」，指導本篤會會士如何親近天主。謙遜是重要的，因為只有在謙遜的狀態下，真正的我、即「天主的肖像」，纔能表現出來。要知道天主無處不在，對別人驕傲，同時是對天主驕傲！所以驕傲，只會遮蔽了「天主的肖像」，掩蓋了真我！謙遜是「善」，虛偽的謙遜就是「偽善」，是驕傲的技倆！後世很多男女修會，都採用《本篤會規》。例如更嚴格的「熙篤會」，會士們在說話之前，先要獲得院長批准。他們用鉗制口舌的方法來修煉謙遜，是《本篤會規》的第九級謙遜！聖伯爾納鐸是「熙篤會」的一位聖人，他好像聖本篤一樣，羅列了十二級「驕傲」，勸勉會士們警惕。這就是今天福音的主題：「因為凡高舉自己的，必被貶抑；凡貶抑自己的，必被高舉」（路14:11），指出克制驕傲的重要。

今天的福音選段，可能為了時間問題，又或者擔心會出現兩個不同的主題，令教友分心。惟有採取權宜之計，抽起了中間有關耶穌在席間治好「一個患水臌症的人」（14:2）的片段。可惜留下了一條尾巴，沒有交代！今天選段的第一句清楚說明：「安息日，耶穌進了一個法利塞人首領的家中吃飯；他們就留心觀察祂」（14:1）。安息日，法利塞人留心觀察耶穌甚麼呢？今天的選段沒有交代，便立刻說「耶穌注意到…」（14:7）！耶穌由一個「被觀察者」忽然搖身一變，成為了一個「觀察者」，是一個刺耳的破綻，令聽眾不舒服！ 其實，法利塞人在觀察耶穌會不會在安息日治病。安息日的法律，和其他梅瑟法律一樣，立法的本意是指導人履行天主的旨意，以獲得生命。可惜法利塞人驕傲偽善，自以為是。他們運用自己的法律知識，來指控耶穌。他們把助人獲得生命的法律，變成殺人的武器，已經不是第一次了。今次他們變本加厲，在同枱吃飯的時候，想近距離地挑剔指摘耶穌，完全沒有理會主人家的面子。或許請耶穌吃飯的法利塞人領袖，也邀請了他的同袍來他家中，默許他們搜集耶穌的「犯罪證據」，也未可知！無論如何，法利塞人的驕傲，已經到了病態的癡迷程度，到了聖伯爾納鐸所說的第十級驕傲：「公開反抗師長」！他們的處境，可謂危在旦夕！

天主子怎會不知道他們的心意呢？但耶穌基督非常忍耐，並沒有直斥其非，恐怕他們灰心喪志。祂本著憐憫的心，只講述了一個日常生活的比喻，柔和地教訓他們謙遜的重要，不要在人前出醜（14:11）。祂進一步教導他們不要短視，只注意世上的賞報和利益，而忘記了天上永恆的賞報，就是永恆的生命。正如第一篇讀經所說：「你越偉大，在一切事上越當謙下：這樣你纔能在上主面前，獲得恩寵」（德3:20）。所以不要把眼光放在現世，而是放在「上主面前」！於是，耶穌教導那個款待他的法利塞人領袖，和在場的所有聽眾，不要請那些可以回報他的人，而是接待那些貧窮病弱，沒有能力報答他的人：「在義人復活的時候，你必能得到賞報」（14:14），就是永恆的生命。

天主子就是天主聖言（若1:1），祂就是「成了血肉」的天主法律（1:14）。法利塞人想用法律來指控耶穌，簡直是班門弄斧！耶穌說：「看，這裡有一位大於撒羅滿的」（瑪12:42）。祂的確是胸襟廣闊，包容萬有的主宰。倘若祂斤斤計較，「有誰還能站立得住？」（詠130:3）且看耶穌被釘十字架受難時，祂不但沒有半句怨憤，反而為加害祂的人求情（路23:34），耶穌「不亦君子乎」！
各位親愛的兄弟姊妹！且讓我們謙虛地接受祂的教導，拒絕「驕傲」的誘惑，把目光放到永生去。亞孟。
天主保祐！

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2022反省
圖片鳴謝：creator.nightcafe.studio, youtube.com

Christ Is Our Wisdom 基督是我們的智慧

Twentieth Ordinary Sunday, Year B
Theme: Christ Is Our Wisdom 基督是我們的智慧

The first reading today is taken from the book of Proverbs which is one of the books in the Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament. King Solomon is an embodiment of wisdom and scholars believe that he wrote the book of Proverbs which is a collection of so called proverbs, couplets, poems and even proses of wisdom. They are different from modern day one-liner proverbs such as “Actions speak louder than words”, “Beauty is only skin deep” and “Practice makes perfect” etc. because most proverbs are culturally conditioned and we exist in history. Time changes and what was once significant may no longer be relevant nowadays. For example, when the Temple in Jerusalem still existed, Jews followed the precepts of the Hebrew Scriptures to offer sacrifices there. Now that the Temple no longer exists, Jews can no longer follow the Hebrew Scriptures completely to practise their faith. Those precepts related to oblations and sacrifices have become irrelevant today. Naturally we would ask what about the “wisdom” we find encapsulated in the Wisdom Literature. Is such ancient wisdom able to withstand the test of time and remains relevant today? The answer depends on to what extent we accept the authority of the Church’s interpretations of the Bible.

Nowadays, few people buy the authority of the Catholic Church, not even Catholics themselves. This has been a trend since the Age of Enlightenment when people wanted to get away from the grip of the Church. The Church has her share to blame because she was able to wedge huge authority over the people, including princes and kings. As a proverb goes, “Authority corrupts and absolute authority corrupts absolutely”. The actions of the corrupted clergy disappointed a lot of people. Who wants to be treated unfairly? However, philosophers in the Age of Enlightenment were not exempted from the flaws of human nature wounded by the “Original Sin”. To be persuasive, sophists put forth an oversimplified world view which is easier to understand. It is too mentally challenging to accommodate the existence of a plurality of causes and a plurality of consequences. Black and white is easier to understand than fifty shades of grey than a spectrum of luminosity! “Believing in a Creator God is superstitious. Nobody in his right mind believes in a Creator”. On the other hand, Catholics believe that out of love, God created the known universe suitable for the existence of self-aware beings. “If God is almighty and merciful, why does He allow the good to suffer? He cannot be almighty and merciful at the same time!” On the other hand, Catholics believe that God’s power is best shown in His mercy to forgive. “Read history! Religions are violent. They force people to convert lest they kill them”. On the other hand, Jesus teaches us to be poor in spirit, mournful, meek and be peacemakers in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10). To be candid, the secular reasoning is simpler and more easily understandable than the complex logic of theology! The secular reasoning has won the day up until now and only a few people are able to insist on the theological reasoning of the Catholic Church.

Let’s not complicate the matter. For Catholics who accept the teaching authority of the Church, we do not question her interpretation of the Bible. We believe that the Bible contains God’s revelation and truth related to our salvation. As a spokesperson of God, prophet Isaiah says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways --- oracle of the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Therefore, no matter how much progress we have achieved since the Age of Enlightenment, our logic and reasoning will never attain God’s level. Thus, no matter how foolish ancient wisdom encapsulated in the Wisdom Literature may sound to the ears of modern people, it conveys a certain amount of truth related to our salvation, our final destination and our return to our Creator! In Paul’s words, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

The first thing that catches our eyes is the gender of Wisdom. Why, as a product of a patriarchal society, is Wisdom feminine? This is particularly acute in the eyes of Chinese because the Chinese language treats objects, especially abstract concepts as neutral. The moon is not feminine, nor a ship nor the Church, nor freedom nor democracy etc. It is good of you to have noticed this oddity because it betrays our bias towards the Bible and perhaps the Western civilization as well. We should appreciate the revolutionary nature of Biblical messages which turns our world upside down. The patriarchal mentality is obvious in the Bible because all the authors were men. For example, it was Eve who fell into the Serpent’s temptation (Genesis 3:6), it was Bathsheba who caused the holy king, King David to commit evil things in the sight of the Lord (2 Samuel 11:27). To be true children of Adam, men put the blame on women and God, “The woman whom You put here with me --- she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate it” (Genesis 3:12). Alas! While God created Adam out of the dust of the ground (2:7), the woman came from the bone of Adam’s bones and flesh of Adam’s flesh (2:23). Won’t you agree that the woman is an improved version of the man? While men tend to be rational, women are more capable of moving the hearts of men, thus more effective in getting things done in their ways! The case of Bathsheba is even more challenging because she would give birth to King Solomon in the future (2 Samuel 12:24)! Thus, we should avoid categorizing events into black and white only! A cultural explanation is in place as well. The pursuit of Wisdom should be a virtue or at least a good thing. Were Wisdom a man, it would be repugnant for a man to ask for the hand of another man, at least in the Jewish culture!

People naturally ask what benefits we would gain when we pursue wisdom. The book of Proverbs portrays an enviable picture for us. People with secular mentality want power to control people. Wisdom has her maidservants at her disposal (Proverbs 9:3). People want wealth to enjoy life. Wisdom has a house with seven columns (9:1). It must be a palace and she would treat her guests with meat and wine (9:2) which were no ordinary food of subsistence. Wisdom must be very wealthy as well. So wisdom is worth pursuing as much as power and wealth, if not more. But here comes the twist. Who should pursue wisdom? “Let whoever is naïve turn in here; to any who lack sense I say, Come, eat of my food and drink of the wine I have mixed!” (9:4-5). Wait! In a competitive commercial society like Hong Kong, who want to admit that they are naïve or they lack sense or to show frailties and vulnerabilities in front of the others? Alas! Let’s face it. Who is invincible? Who has no Achilles’ heels? The philosophical maxim “Know thyself” is always right. Let us be humble in order to have a genuine assessment of our mental and spiritual situation. Only then can we lead an authentic life. In Wisdom’s word, “Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding” (9:6).

I used the term “authentic life” instead of “eternal life” above because “eternal life” is a concept found in the New Testament only. It needs another treatise to trace its development in the Old Testament because it is impossible for Jesus to talk about “eternal life” out of thin air. In hindsight, we Catholics understand what Jesus meant when He says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:51). Jesus was teaching us the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. It is more than establishing personal relationship with our Saviour. It is a global relationship. In receiving the Holy Eucharist, all humanity will be in communion in Christ, including those whom you like or you hate.
I pity the contemporary audience of Jesus because Jesus’ claim was beyond their understanding. Even though the Jewish society at that time was not as competitive as Hong Kong today, at least doubting Jesus’ claim was in the majority. It was common sense that the Galilean carpenter rabbi would be unable to give his flesh for people to eat. Who could afford to be an odd man out?

Beloved brethren! In hindsight, we interpret the Wisdom in the book of Proverbs as a personification of the Lord God. In the light of the Trinity theology, we understand that Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the visible sign of the invisible Father. Therefore, Jesus Christ is the invisible Wisdom made visible. Moreover, wisdom is the first gift of the Holy Spirit Catholic received in the Sacrament of Confirmation. In fact, the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church manifest more fully the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believers. The last gift of the Holy Spirit is “The fear of the Lord”. In the Wisdom Literature, we find that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom” (Job 28:28; Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; Sirach 1:16). So the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit come in a full circle and are intimately linked. It is a topic worth meditating in yet another treatise.
God bless!

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2021 Reflection
Picture Credit: creator.nightcafe.studio

The Fear of the Lord Is NOT Enough 敬畏上主並不足夠

Second Lent Sunday, Year A
Theme: The Fear of the Lord Is NOT Enough 敬畏上主並不足夠

Today we meditate on the Transfiguration of the Lord. What catches my attention this time is the diametrically opposite reactions shown by the disciples. A moment ago, Peter says, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Matthew 17:4). The disciples were enchanted by the beatific vision of the divinity of the Son of God and His dialogue with Moses and Elijah whom they had never met in person. Just think about it. You’ve heard of historical celebrities, their words and deeds. How thrilled you would be to see and hear them real close! Somehow, you are able to know who they were. Time seems to have frozen. How amazing this foretaste of eternity is! If I were the disciples, I too would not want to leave but to stay at the scene forever.

Immediately after hearing the voice from the bright cloud, “they fell prostrate and were very much afraid” (17:6). Unfortunately reading the text does not enable us to sense the dynamics of the voice the disciples heard: its amplitude, its pitches and duration. It’s difficult to imagine how these words, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (17:5), would invoke any fear! Therefore, the voice and its intensity, not the message, must have been very overwhelming. This brings to mind the reactions of the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai. “Now as all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blast of the shofar and the mountain smoking, they became afraid and trembled … and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we shall die’” (Exodus 20:18-19). The Psalter has similar things to say, “The voice of the Lord cracks the cedars; the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon, Makes Lebanon leap like a calf, and Sirion like a young bull” (Psalms 29:5-6). Fear of the Lord is an essential ingredient of Judaism and of most religions. It is a proper reaction to the might and majesty of Yahweh.

But the Lord God is always a God of surprises. The ferocious words and zealous deeds of Elijah reflected his understanding of the Lord he believed in --- a righteous and almighty warrior defeating Baal. Thus, Elijah was eager to incite the Israelites to slaughter 450 false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:40). Yet, when the Lord appeared to Elijah later on Mount Horeb, He was not found in violent wind which rent mountains and crushed rocks, or in earthquake or in fire but in a light silent sound (19:11-12)! Not only is the Lord righteous and almighty just as Elijah understands, but He is also merciful and mild, like a light silent sound. On the other hand, Jesus has been showing His disciples a merciful heavenly Father who is patient and ready to forgive whoever repents. Yet, the disciples cracked in the thundering voice of the Father, showing that He is powerfully merciful! In short, we are unable to take the Lord God for granted and to take Him under control!

And yet nowadays, God has become irrelevant to many modern people whose hearts have been emboldened by exotic scientific discoveries and Herculean technologies. The temptation to play God has never been greater! Nowadays scientists are able to produce the energy output of our sun briefly here on earth. They are able to edit the DNA of human beings at will to produce, say a new breed of man which is immune from AIDS. The advances in artificial intelligence are able to help humanity solve any nameable problem efficiently … And yet, our morality is lagging far behind. Ethical guidelines among professional scientific bodies cannot be craved in stones. In the name of intellectual independence, many a greedy scientist would simply ignore them! Why should we be moralistic or virtuous when consequences can be postponed downstream? Spend now and pay later (by somebody else)! Thus, ambitious politicians have no qualm preying on the commoners to satiate their appetite for power. Team-members show no remorse betraying colleagues to contain personal losses. Ordinary people would resort to frauds, coercion and even murder to get what they want when winners would take all! The law of the jungle is prevailing; conscience seems to be in hiding and God on leave! Not only is there no Purgatory, heaven and hell are also illusions because angels and demons are exorcized from their hearts. Of course, those concepts can be conjured up anytime they are instrumental in the acquisition of power and wealth! It is more and more difficult for modern people to buy the concept of God and to surrender themselves to the will of an ethereal entity called Yahweh.

On the Third Ordinary Sunday, I meditated on the merits of the “Fear of the Lord”. Making use of the concept of “identification” as a defence mechanism is able to explain satisfactorily “like father like son” and the phenomenon of comrades betraying comrades. Therefore, the “fear of the Lord”, which appears in 124 verses in the Old Testament and only once in the New, can be instrumental in helping the Jews identify themselves with the Lord, to reinforce their identity as the Chosen People of Yahweh. Reading in the light of identification, “You will be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6) and “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2) make a lot of sense. For the Jews, the fear of the Lord is closely coupled with wisdom. Around 14 such verses are found in the Wisdom Literature. For example, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning/training/root of wisdom” (Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 9:10, 15:33; Sirach 1:20). However, if we think we have obtained the whole truth in the “fear of the Lord”, once again we’d better prepared for more surprises awaiting us.

We have spent quite some time meditating on the intensity of the voice and of the Father. Let’s return to the message itself. During the Transfiguration, what did the apostles hear? “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew 17:5b). So, what has Jesus taught us?
First of all, Jesus has not come to abolish the fear of the Lord (5:17). He opens our hearts to a better understanding of how to identify ourselves with our heavenly Father. We’re not just “images of God” or “a holy nation” but “children of God” (5:9; Luke 20:36; John 11:52). Jesus teaches us the Beatitudes and the spirit of the Law in the Sermon on the Mount. Therefore, in order to attain our full identity, we’d better focused more on the Beatitudes which Pope Francis calls the identity card of Christians (Gaudete et Exsultate #63). What do some of the Beatitudes tell us about our identity and about our God?

The fear of God is inspired by God’s essence, namely His might and majesty. All creatures stand in awe before His greatness and glory. But the Lord God is more than might and magnificence. Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). What essence of God can poverty inspire? On the Fourth Ordinary Sunday, I meditated on “Who wants to be poor?” and came to the understanding that the most important question is NOT so much about poverty or wealth. Rather, it is which side we are on! Wealth is a temptation which pulls us away from God because we don’t feel the need to rely on God and to stand with God. Jesus has taught us to choose to stand on the side of God who is essentially and infinitely rich. Richness is an essence of God. The poorer we are, the more we’ll rely on God. Thus it is wise to remain poor.
Jesus says, “Blessed are meek, for they will inherit the land” (5:5). I don’t think anybody has ever seen a meek landowner because sooner or later, his land would be overtaken by more powerful ones with claws (outlaws) and jaw (laws)! Well, Jesus tells us, “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves” (11:29). With this verse, Jesus reveals more essences of God to us. God is meek and humble. He must have prepared for His children sufficient land to inherit. Some more capable ones may be given a larger portion to inherit while others less. Some greedy ones don’t know how much they are able to manage and consequently occupy more than they are able to bite. In the end, they would hand the land back to the Creator to redistribute. Therefore, stay meek and let God be God.
Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (5:9). Out of greed and selfishness, people stir up conflicts and confusion so that they may take the opportunity to fatten themselves. But Christians should be peacemakers because our God desires to see peace on earth. How do we know? This Beatitude tells us so. It manifests another aspect of the Blessed Trinity which is a communion of the three Blessed Persons. Thus, not only is God powerful, but He also desires to see peace among humanity because solidarity and communion are also essences of our God.

Brethren! Listen to Jesus. Perhaps we’ll be able to reveal His glorious countenance to our fellow folks, leading them to their salvation. Amen.
God bless!

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2020 Reflection
Picture Credit: popsugar.com