WhatsApp 流言導致九人死亡 WhatsApp Hoax results in 9 deaths in India

五月十二日至今，在印度已有九個人因一個在 WhatsApp 流傳的「拐帶兒童」謠言，被村民濫用私刑毆斃。雖然有警察在場，但因寡不敵眾而袖手旁觀！下圖是五月十八日，其中一個受害人，Mohammed Naeem 臨死前求情的照片。

圖片來源：hindustantimes.com, 五月廿二日
我可以說甚麼呢？

1. 「民智未開，不宜使用 WhatsApp」？
   無可否認，科技是雙刃的劍，有益亦有害。可是，誰令它變成有害呢？當我們享受科技帶來的方便，使更多人可以自由發言的時候，我們有沒有負責任地發言呢？今天，散播謠言已更大規模、更迅速。我們有沒有核實資訊的來源和真實性後，纔轉發出去呢？我們是否做了幫兇呢？
2. 死者是一個回教徒，回教徒佔印度人口14%。宗教因素亦可能是他被殺的原因之一。可是，互聯網科技，不是用來促進人與人之間的溝通和諧嗎？抑或是一個聚集同聲同氣者的平台，互相加強集體的偏見，對抗異己呢？
3. 警察袖手旁觀，沒有保護無辜市民的生命財產，的確可怕。更可怕的，是貪污無能的政府，把人民困在無知的處境，方便執政者管治，殘民以自肥。
4. 協助散播謠言，祗會自毀長城，蠶食珍貴的「言論自由」。無能的政府不投資提高人民的知識， 有大條道理走捷徑，下令禁制互聯網或社交平台，封殺言論！

試問你下次轉發訊息時，能不三思？

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Since May 12, nine people in India were lynched by angry villagers because of a WhatsApp "children trafficking" hoax. Although police had arrived, they were outnumbered and could only watch the victims being beaten to death. In the photograph above, Mohammed Naeem was begging for mercy moments before he was beaten to death.
Source: hindustantimes.com, May 22
What can I say?

1. "The people are IT illiterate. They should not use WhatsApp"
   Undeniably, technology is a double-edge sword. It saves and it kills. But who make it harmful? When we enjoy the convenience brought by technology, when technology gives more freedom for people to express their views, do we speak in a responsible manner? Today, rumours can reach out more extensively and spreading them is faster. Do we verify the source and truthfulness before we forward a message? Have we been an accomplice?
2. The victim was a Muslim which takes up 14% of Indian population. He might be murdered for religious reasons. However, is not Information Technology supposed to promote interpersonal communication and harmony? Or does it provide a platform for like-minded people to reinforce each other's prejudice, to join force and battle against dissidents?
3. In these incidents, police just stood by without protecting the lives and property of innocent citizens. It was horrible. More horrible would be a corrupt and incompetent government which keeps her subjects in ignorance so that it is easier to govern, harming people in order to fatten the officials.
4. Helping spread hoaxes destroys the basis of our freedom of speech. Instead of investing resources in raising the awareness of people, incompetent governments would cut corners to ban internet access or social media, thus silencing dissidents.

Next time, when you forward a message, would you not think thrice?

Sources:

May 22
"Lynching in Jharkhand Over Social Media Rumours"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U6X9WDTanY

"Jharkhand lynching: When a WhatsApp message turned tribals into killer mobs"
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/a-whatsapp-message-claimed-nine-lives-in-jharkhand-in-a-week/story-xZsIlwFawf82o5WTs8nhVL.html

"Man Pleads for Life"
https://www.facebook.com/ajplusenglish/videos/965473300260844/

May 23
"How WhatsApp Rumours, Mob Vigilantism & Police Inaction Shaped The Jharkhand Lynching"
https://www.scoopwhoop.com/how-whatsapp-rumour-mob-vigilantism-and-police-inaction-shaped-the-jharkhand-lynching

聖神時代 The Era of the Holy Spirit

聖神時代
（若16:12-15）

雖然有些喜歡懷舊，追求甚麼「集體回憶」，畢竟歷史的巨輪永遠是向前滾動，朝著末世的新天新地前進。雖然我們未能「聽見過，親眼看見過，瞻仰過，以及親手摸過」耶穌基督（若一1:1），但是我們有幸生活在「聖神時代」，獲得了很多連十二宗徒也沒有掌握到的真理。正如主耶穌基督所說：「我本來還有許多事要告訴你們，然而你們現在不能擔負。」（若16:12）當時，聖神尚未降臨，宗徒們還是冥頑不靈，甚至在耶穌基督升天的一刻，仍把祂所宣講的天國看作是以色列國的復興。（宗1:6）

例如：在信理方面，天主是「三位一體」和耶穌基督的「兩性一位」的真理，都不是宗徒們拍板定奪，而是後世的主教們，在聖神的引領之下，經過一番爭論纔獲得的成果。在靈修方面，宗徒們祗懂「天主經」；但在「聖神時代」的今天，我們有多姿多彩，適合不同人氣質的各種靈修傳統。在倫理方面，真是很難想像耶穌基督給十二宗徒分析，使用幹細胞治病、變性人或者全球一體化的倫理爭議！而這一切都是邁向新天新地的路上所必經的挑戰，「懷舊」恐怕祗是逃避現實而已。

誠然，聖神如風，我們很難捉摸。祂正好提醒我們天主纔是真正的主宰，我們是不能操控祂，指揮祂的。所以，我們不能預測祂下一步會做甚麼。我們祗可以放下自己的能力和意志，完全交託，任憑差遣。
父啊！我把我的靈魂，交託在祢手中。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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The Era of the Holy Spirit
(John 16:12-15)

Even though some people are nostalgic, craving for "collective memory", history keeps moving ahead towards the eschatological new heaven and new earth. Even though we are not able to "have heard, have seen with our eyes, have looked upon and touched with our hands" Jesus Christ (1 John 1:1), we are lucky to be living in the "Era of the Holy Spirit", knowing the truth which even the Twelve were not able to handle. Just as what Jesus says, "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." (John 16:12) At that time, the Holy Spirit had not yet descended. The apostles were still so stubborn that even at the moment of Jesus' ascension they still thought that the Kingdom of Heaven which they proclaimed was the restoration of Israel. (Acts 1:6)

For example, in the realm of dogmas, the Blessed Trinity and the "Two natures in One Person" of Jesus Christ were not decided by the Apostles. These were the conclusions of heated debates of bishops led by the Holy Spirit in subsequent ages. In the realm of spirituality, the Apostles only knew the Lord's Prayer. But today in this Era of the Holy Spirit, we have a variety of spiritual traditions which suit people of different temperaments. In the realm of ethics, it is difficult to imagine Jesus analyzing the controversies over therapeutic uses of stem cells, transgender people and globalization! All these are inevitable challenges we have to confront on our way to the new heaven and the earth. Being nostalgic may just be running away from the reality.

Frankly speaking, the Holy Spirit is like wind. It is difficult for us to get hold of Him. The Holy Spirit properly reminds us that our God is truly our Lord. We cannot control Him, command Him. Therefore, we cannot predict His next move. We can only let go of our strength and our will. Submit to Him completely.
Father! Into thy hand I surrender my spirit. Amen.

基督宗教的特殊地位 The Privileged Status of Christianity

基督宗教的特殊地位
（若16:5-11）

純粹從哲學角度看，耶穌基督的教訓，與孔子、與佛祖、與其他偉大的思想家的學說，享有同等的地位。大家都在提倡寬容、慈悲和忠恕之道，沒有一個享有甚麼超然地位。從多元社會注重彼此尊重，鼓吹交談的現況看，信奉任何一套教訓都是等價，沒有甚麼不對之處。那麼，基督徒憑甚麼說不信從耶穌基督是罪惡呢（若16:9）？

是的。純粹從哲學，憑邏輯，祗能判斷「對」與「錯」，祗能判斷人有沒有觸犯法律，卻不能判斷人是否犯了罪。因為「罪惡」不是一個哲學概念，而是一個宗教概念。所以，耶穌基督說：「當祂（聖神）來到時，就要指證世界關於罪惡、正義和審判所犯的錯誤。」（16:8）聖神是基督宗教的元素，是神學的範疇，不是哲學所能完全處理的。

從神學角度，「罪惡」是未能達到天主心目中的指標，即保祿宗徒所說的「失掉了天主的光榮。」（羅3:23）從消極的定義看，「罪惡」就是喪失了天主的恩寵、天主的光榮，一如「黑暗」就是「沒有光明」一樣。殺人放火固然是「罪惡」，是狹義的罪惡。當我們做事不達標，失去了應得的光榮，這就是廣義的「罪惡」了。在這裡，耶穌基督擔任了一個關鍵的角色，因為祂是天父所派遣到世上的「道路、真理和生命，除非經過我，誰也不能到父那裡去。」（若14:6）

藉著聖神的默感，我們接受耶穌基督為救主，我們便可以與天父和好（羅5:1），不但擺脫罪惡的奴役，更把身份提昇為天父的子女，參予天父永恆的生命。倘若我們拒絕聖神，拒絕耶穌基督，認為祂的教訓與孔子佛祖的教訓無異，可信可不信，便錯過了踏上回歸父家的道路，不能到達目的地，錯過了無限的恩寵。這不就是聖保祿宗徒所說的「罪惡」嗎？
父啊！請賜下聖神，好讓我們承認耶穌基督是我們的救主。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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The Privileged Status of Christianity
(John 16:5-11)

From a purely philosophical perspective, the teachings of Jesus Christ, of Confucius, of Buddha and of other great thinkers enjoy the same status. All of them advocate tolerance, mercy, authenticity and empathy. None of them enjoys any privileged position. In a pluralistic society which stresses mutual respect and dialogues, embracing any set of teachings is equivalent and is not wrong. Then, by what criteria can Christians say that not believing in Jesus Christ is a sin? (John 16:9)

True. In the realm of philosophy and logic, we can only pass judgment on right and wrong, can only decide whether somebody has committed a crime, but not a sin. It is because "sin" is not a philosophical concept but a religious concept. Therefore, Jesus says, "And when he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:" (16:8) The Holy Spirit is an element of Christianity. It belongs to the realm of theology. Philosophy is inadequate in handling it.

From a theological perspective, "sin" falls short of God’s expectation. That is what Paul the Apostle means by "fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Defining in a negative manner, "sin" loses the grace of God, the glory of God. It is like defining "darkness" as a "lack of light". Murder and arson are sins in a narrow sense. Missing the mark and losing the expected glory would be sins in a general sense. Here, Jesus Christ takes up a crucial role because he was sent to the world to be "the road, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

With the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour. "We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) No only do we shake off the bondage of sins, but our status is also raised to that of adopted children of the Father and we can partake in His eternal life. If we reject the Holy Spirit, reject Jesus Christ and think that His teachings are not different from the teachings of Confucius or Buddha, i.e. we choose not to believe in him, then we miss the way to return to the Father. We cannot arrive at our destination and lose infinite grace. Is this not what St. Paul the Apostle meant by sin?
Father! Grant us the Holy Spirit. Let us acknowledge Jesus Christ to be our Saviour. Amen.

奉主之名迫害異見人士 Persecuting dissidents in the name of God

五月廿二日
奉主之名迫害異見人士（若15:26-16:4a）
人類天生有一種捍衛真理的正義感，喜歡糾正別人的錯處。小規模的，頂多是指指點點，不過是「人之患」而已。可是，大規模的話，就會做成政治迫害，宗教戰爭，很多無辜者的血，便白流了。
第一、二代的基督徒，大部份都是猶太人。猶太教篤信一個真神，基督徒卻奉耶穌基督為天主子，在猶太人眼中，當然是離經背道，人人得而誅之，這就是掃祿歸化前的經驗。正如福音所說，「凡殺害你們的，還以為是盡恭敬天主的義務。」（若16:2）。時移世易，當基督徒內部產生了分裂，互相成為對方的迫害者時，無論是追殺女巫抑或是宗教審裁，有誰不是「以為是盡恭敬天主的義務」呢？殊不知他們「沒有認識父，也沒有認識我」（16:3）他們沒有認識父，因為他們迫害按天父肖像所造成的弟兄（創1:26，瑪6:9）；他們沒有認識耶穌基督，因為他們沒有彼此相愛，為對方的益處，捨棄自己，如同基督愛了他們一樣。（若13:34）
難道我們不應捍衛真理嗎？絕對應該。不過，首先我們必須肯定自己擁有聖神。祂是真理之神，祂必定為耶穌基督作證，使我們認識耶穌基督，認識祂的教訓。（15:26）耶穌基督就是真理的化身（14:6）所以，我們要捍衛的真理，不是抽像的、放諸四海皆準的哲學論述，例如「物有本末、事有終始。故必先有父，然後有子。」而是耶穌基督所代表的，不可見的天父的慈悲。故此，聖神不但是真理之神，更是愛德之神。
父啊！願聖神熾熱我們愛慕耶穌基督的心，讓我們以彼此相愛，為真理作見証。亞孟。

圖片來源：http://ucs.nd.edu/rome-conference/

生命恩泉

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Persecuting dissidents in the name of God
(John 15:26-16:4a) There is an innate sense of justice in human beings. They like to correct other people's mistakes. On a small scale, they are at most too eager to teach others. However, on a large scale, it would become political persecutions and religious wars. Much innocent blood would be spilt.
Most of the first and second generation Christians were Jews and Jews believed in one true God. However, Christians believed Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. In the eyes of Jews, Christians were heretics and deserved to be neutralized. This was the experience of Saul before his conversion. As the gospel text reads, "The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God." (John 16:2) Time has changed. When Christians split among themselves, persecuting each other in witch hunting or Inquisition, who did not think "he is offering service to God"? In fact, "they have not known the Father, nor me." (16:3) They have not known the Father because they persecuted their brothers who were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 6:9). They have not known Jesus Christ because they did not love each other, did not renounce themselves for the good of the others like the way Christ has loved us. (John 13:34)
Are we not supposed to defend the truth? Absolutely we are! But first of all we must be certain that we have the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of truth and He will bear witness for Jesus Christ, help us know him and his teachings. (15:26) Jesus embodies the truth (14:6). Therefore, the truth we defend is not some universal abstract philosophical expressions such as "Things have roots and branches while events have beginning and end. Therefore, we must firstly have the Father, before we have the Son." Rather, it is the mercy of the invisible Father whom Jesus Christ represents. Thus, the Holy Spirit is not only the Spirit of truth, but also the Spirit of love.
Father, may the Holy Spirit enkindle our heart to love Jesus Christ. Let us love each other and bear witness to the truth. Amen.

真理就是愛 Truth is Love

復活期第六主日（甲年）
主題：真理就是愛

今天的福音，給我們一個機會，默想「真理」和「愛」的關係。
耶穌說：「如果你們愛我，就要遵守我的命令。」（若14:15）耶穌的命令是甚麼？有很多人誤會了「全心、全靈、全意愛天主」和「愛人如己」是耶穌的教訓，耶穌的命令。對不起！這些不是耶穌基督的教訓。
話說有法學士挑戰耶穌，要祂從梅瑟所頒佈的613條法律中，找出最大的誡命。耶穌基督不慌不忙地，分別引述了記載在【申命紀】及【肋未紀】中上述的法律。所以，這些都是舊約時代梅瑟的教訓，在耶穌出生前1250年的事了。當然，耶穌基督把舊約的教訓完善了。例如，肋未紀中的「愛近人如愛你自己」的誡命，祗涵蓋同胞，不包括外人。但耶穌曾講述「慈善撒瑪黎雅人」的比喻，把這「愛人如己」的誡命，恢復到不分種族國籍，天主的本意。

那麼，甚麼是耶穌的命令呢？耶穌在最後晚餐為門徒洗腳後說：「我給你們一條新命令：你們該彼此相愛；如同我愛了你們，你們也該照樣彼此相愛。」（13:34）這命令與梅瑟的誡命相比，有何超越之處呢？「彼此相愛」和「愛人如己」不是一樣嗎？的確是一樣。然而，它的超越之處，是在於「如同我愛了你們」。耶穌怎樣愛了我們呢？祂為了救贖我們，死在十字架上。祂愛我們愛到痛。如今，耶穌命令我們───注意，不是邀請，而是命令！───為了大眾的益處，基督徒要愛到痛，要慷慨地犧牲！

「愛到痛」違反人性的自然傾向，是合理的嗎？
為甚麼要求我們遵守祂的命令之後，耶穌基督應許賜下聖神呢？聖神如何幫助我們遵守祂的命令呢？
有一次，孔子向他的學生子由解釋，在沒有真理的指導之下，美德會變成弊病。他說：「好仁不好學，其蔽也愚。」【論語‧陽貨】仁愛是美德，但不學習真理，結果好心做壞事，害己害人，愚不可及！的確，怪獸家長溺愛子女，反而窒息了子女的健康成長，便是一個現代貼身的例子。孔子還列舉其他五種德行，在沒有真理指導下所犯的錯處。為了保障門徒不會犯錯，耶穌許下聖神，真理之神，保証我們「愛到痛」的行動是真實的愛，而不是害己害人的愚昧。

榮休教宗本篤十六世在2009年發表了他任內的第三份通諭【在真理中實踐愛德】，指出愛德必須按真理行事。基督宗教的核心教訓是愛德，而愛德幫助人作出全人的發展。人是按天主的肖像所造，內心充滿著對真實的愛的渴望，因為天主是愛。可惜人性被原罪敗壞了，以致所作所為，建造了一個貶低人性尊嚴，窒息人性發展的制度。且看今天的社會，地產發展商得到政府的幫助，不但把樓價托高到青年人無法負擔，更把單位越建越細，祗能容納一個人居住，而不能一個家庭居住。試問下一代還有成家立室，生存發展的空間嗎？二千年前，聖子降生成人，以耶穌基督的身份受難復活，給予門徒新生命和力量，以真理和愛，把貶抑人性尊嚴的制度，改革為幫助人性發展的制度。

本篤十六世指出，真理必須以愛去表達；沒有出於愛的行動，真理祗是空談。另一方面，真理幫助我們明白甚麼是真實的愛；沒有真理，愛祗淪為一種感覺，流於操控對方的自私行為。明白真理幫助我們放下執著，讓彼此可以溝通交談，從而合作建造一些符合人性尊嚴，符合天主旨意，讓人性得以充份發展的關係和制度。

雖然天主聖神被稱為「真理之神」（若14:17），但祂所做的一切，處處表達出真實的愛。
首先，是天主聖神發揮祂的能力，庇蔭童貞瑪利亞，讓她懷孕天主子（路1:35）。跟著，耶穌在約旦河受洗時，天主聖神降臨到祂身上，為祂傅油，確立祂為默西亞，開始祂救世的工程；洗禮後，聖神催促耶穌進入曠野，與撒殫作初步的交鋒，訓練祂應對未來三年的挑戰。耶穌復活升天後，聖神降臨在門徒身上，不但能說各國語說，讓世人聽到得救的福音；更在擘餅禮中降臨，祝聖麵餅和葡萄酒成為耶穌基督所留下的聖體聖血，滋養信徒的生命。聖神感動信徒的愛心，把全部財物捐歸公用，幫助貧窮的弟兄；聖神賜予信徒熱心和勇氣，不惜殉道，為耶穌基督的福音作証。如此種種，可見天主聖神，不單是真理之神，更是愛德之神。

各位兄弟姊妹，為了避免犯孔子所說的「好仁不好學，其蔽也愚」的錯誤，讓我們祈求聖神的光照，讓我們明白真理，領會天主的旨意；更求天主聖神炙熱我們冰冷的心，熱愛真理，愛主愛人，不怕犧牲，無懼「愛到痛」，讓眾人得到全人的發展，讓天主的肖像恢復光芒。
天主保祐！
2014 Reflection

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Sixth Easter Sunday (Year A)
Theme: Truth is Love

The gospel passage today gives us an opportunity to meditate the relation between Truth and Love. Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15) What are the commandments of Jesus? Many people think that "Love our God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our strength" and "Love your neighbour as yourself" are the teachings, the commandments of Jesus. Sorry, they are not!

It so happened that a teacher of the Law challenged Jesus, asking him to name the greatest commandment among the 613 Mosaic laws. Without hesitation, Jesus quoted the two laws from Deuteronomy and Leviticus. Thus, these were the teachings of Moses, more than 1250 years before Christ was born. Of course, Jesus came to fulfil the teachings of the Old Testament. For example, the "Love your neighbour as yourself" commandment from Leviticus applies to one's countrymen only. Gentiles were not included. But when Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan, he restored God's original intention in the commandment, namely, to include people of all nationalities and ethnicities.

So, what is Jesus' commandment? After washing his disciples' feet at the Last Supper, Jesus told them, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (13:34) Comparing this with Mosaic laws, how does it surpass Moses' commandments? Are not "loving one another" and "loving your neighbour as yourself" the same? Indeed, they are. However, Jesus' commandment surpasses Mosaic laws in "even as I have loved you". How did Jesus love us? In order to redeem us, he died on the cross. He loved us until it hurt. Now, Jesus commands us --- note that it was not an invitation but a commandment! --- for the benefits of the people, Christians should love until it hurts, should generously sacrifice!

Love until it hurts goes against natural human inclination. Is it reasonable?
Why did Jesus Christ promise to give us the Holy Spirit after he demanded our keeping his commandments? How does the Holy Spirit help us keep his commandments?
Once, Confucius explained to his disciple Yeou that without the guidance of Truth, virtues could turn into vices. He said, "Amare humanitatem sine amore discendi, hujus vitium, inscitia." (Analect 17:8) Charity is a virtue. But if we do not study truth, we end up doing evil with good intention, hurting ourselves and others. How stupid it is! Truly, that monster parents spoil their children, choking their healthy developments is a modern typical example. Confucius further elaborated five other virtues and their vices when a person was not guided by the truth. In order to prevent his disciples from making this mistake, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth to guarantee that loving others until it hurts is genuine and is not a stupidity that hurts everybody.

In 2009, the then Pope Benedict XVI issued his third encyclical, Caritas in Veritate to tell us that charity must be practiced in truth. The core teaching of Christianity is charity which helps people develop holistically. Men were created in the image of God. Their hearts are filled with the desire for genuine love because God is love. Regrettably, human nature was damaged by the Original Sin so that their efforts turned out to be building institutions that humiliate human dignity and smother human development. Take a look at the Hong Kong society today. Supported by the government, developers not only push up house prices beyond the ability of young people to afford, but also build tiny units only suitable for single persons to live, but cannot accommodate a family. How can our next generation get married, live and develop? Two thousand years ago, the Son of God incarnated in the person of Jesus Christ to die and to rise again so as to give his followers new life and strength to reform with truth and charity, the dehumanizing institutions into ones which are conducive to human development.

Pope Benedict XVI points out that truth must be expressed in charity. Without charitable actions, truth is empty talk. On the other hand, truth helps us understand what genuine love is. Without truth, love is only a feeling, a selfish behaviour which manipulates the other party. Understanding truth helps us let go so that we can communicate and engage in dialogue. Thus we can cooperate to build up relations and institutions which honour human dignity, follow God's will and allow human nature to develop fully.

Though the Holy Spirit is called "the Spirit of truth" (John 14:17), whatever He does shows that He is genuine love.
First of all, the Holy Spirit used His power to overshadow the BVM so that she was pregnant with the Son of God (Luke 1:35). When Jesus was baptized in River Jordan, the Holy Spirit came down to anoint him the Messiah to begin his salvation mission. After baptism, the Holy Spirit urged Jesus into the wilderness to preliminarily engage with Satan, training him to deal with challenges in the coming three years. After his ascension, the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples. Not only were they able to speak different languages so that different peoples might hear the gospel of salvation, but the Holy Spirit also came upon the liturgy of breaking bread, turning bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ to nourish the life of the disciples. The Holy Spirit also moved the hearts of the disciples so that they handed over all their property for public use to help the needy brethren. The Holy Spirit also gave the disciples courage and fervent hearts to bear witness to Jesus' gospel even unto martyrdom. From all these, we can see that the Holy Spirit is not only the Spirit of Truth, but is also the Spirit of Love.

Brethren, in order to avoid making the mistake mentioned by Confucius, i.e. It is stupid to desire charity but learn not the truth. Let us pray for the illumination of the Holy Spirit so that we may know the truth and understand the will of God. Furthermore, we should pray to the Holy Spirit to heat up our icy hearts so that we may desire the truth, love God and men and are not afraid to sacrifice, to love until it hurts so that all men may fully develop, and that the image of God may shine forth again.
God bless!

耶穌教我們平安 Jesus teaches us Peace

復活期第五主日（甲年）
主題：耶穌教我們平安

兩日前，讀夜神的舊同學打電話向我哭訴。事緣她的女兒星期六將會飛往加拿大結婚。但她到聖堂為女兒領取領洗紙時，很不順利。堂區秘書說：「對不起，電腦沒有令嬡的領堅振紀錄，請妳通知她領堅振的聖堂，麻煩他們輸入資料吧。」跑到女兒領堅振的聖堂，堂區秘書跟堂區神父朝聖去了，下星期五纔返港，當值的義工不敢自作主張，建議她跑去主教座堂，找陳志明副主教幫忙…
生活中，有不少事物會令人煩亂，沒有平安。例如以上的情況，在你趕時間的時候，對方偏偏慢條斯理。或者我們在健康上出了毛病，睡得不好，導致日間心情煩燥；或者在經濟上失了預算，突然需要大筆金錢應急；或者在工作上遇到不合作的同事、受老闆的氣、捲入辦公室政治鬥爭等；或者在關係上與女朋友／配偶冷戰，又或者您所關心的人生病／遠行，令你牽腸掛肚…遇到這些事情，你會怎麼辦呢？

耶穌在福音中說：「你們心裡不要煩亂；你們要信賴天主，也要信賴我。」（若14:1）我們心裡煩亂，因為我們把焦點放在自己身上。雖然表面上我們要呈現一個堅強的模樣，但是內裡是多麼軟弱，多麼需要有人呵護。難怪我們時常被外界事物和內裡的情緒，令自己心裡煩亂，失去方寸。耶穌教訓我們信賴天主，以天主的眼光看世界，以天主的旨意作為生命的依歸。以天主為後盾，還有甚麼可以動搖我們，亂了我們的陣腳，使我們的心煩亂呢？

我的同學心煩意亂，原來她想趕快辦妥，讓女兒帶著領洗紙登機，做母親的便可以心安理得。為甚麼不可以拿到領洗紙後，寄往加拿大呢？她恐怕會寄失…這樣想，合理嗎？她的心太煩亂了，忘記了事物的緩急輕重。
有病應該要求醫，但很奇怪，很多人不知為了甚麼原因，總是諱疾忌醫，拖延時間，結果錯過治病的黃金機會，健康反而惡化。若以天主的眼光看自己，自己是按天主的肖像所造，我們有責任保養好這個身體，為天主服務，光榮天主。 治病可能對家人造成沉重的經濟負擔。難道信賴天主，天主會從天上掉下金錢給你治病嗎？會。天主會藉著我們的親友恩人，接濟我們。問題是我們能否放下自我，謙遜地接受朋友的幫助，抑或祗願意接受全能天主的幫助呢？
我們放棄治療，可能是因為經濟負擔，又或者所患的是不治之症，試過了最新最貴的藥，也不見效。這時候，我們可能會怪責天主不好好照顧我們。既然這樣，信賴天主又有甚麼用處呢？有！我們可以運用這病苦，做有意義的事。

1. 把痛苦奉獻給天主，與基督的苦難結合，拯救世界。
2. 出於對基督的愛，喜樂地忍受病苦，在親友、醫護人員面前見証基督的愛，希望他們也能皈依耶穌基督。

在人際關係方面，無論在工作上、在家庭裡，著眼在自己身上，永遠是產生問題的根源。基督宗教的核心教訓在於愛，在於關懷他人的需要。天主願意我們把眼光，從自我轉移到別人身上；不是在別人身上找出缺點來提高自己的地位，而是找出別人的需要，伸出援手，助人解困。這樣做，我們還有時間心裡煩亂嗎？或者你會投訴，我們的疾病、我們的經濟困難、我們的人際關係問題，誰來為我們解決呢？

小心，很多人樂意幫助他人，甚至是忘我地幫助別人，可能他們是在逃避現實，不願面對家中的親人和配偶，不願與同事和好，甚至不願意寬恕自己，以做善事來懲罰自己。這是多麼可憐啊！因為所做的一切，缺乏了愛。缺乏了對自己的愛、對家人的愛和對天主的愛。保祿宗徒在格林多前書第十三章，細說愛的特徵之前，首先指出，如果沒有愛，一切都是無益的。他說：「我若能說人間的語言，和能說天使的語言，但我若沒有愛，我就成了個發聲的鑼，或發響的鈸。我若有先知之恩，又明白一切奧秘和各種知識；我若有全備的信心，甚至能移山，但我若沒有愛，我甚麼也不算。我若把我所有的財產全施捨了，我若捨身投火被焚；但我若沒有愛，為我毫無益處。」（格前13:1-3）

耶穌基督教訓我們信賴天主，因為天主是愛。所以我們要信賴愛，信賴天父對我們無微不至的愛。我們要信賴耶穌基督，因為祂具體地愛我們，甚至為赦免我們的罪而自作犧牲，指示出回歸父家的道路，顯現出天父愛我們的真理。最後，祂留下聖體聖事，並以自己的復活，賜給我們生命。試問世上還有甚麼事物，還可以令我們心煩意亂呢？

主內的兄弟姊妹，讓我們仰望復活的基督，信賴祂的受難復活，祈求祂賜予平安，在生活中像祂一樣去愛，去為天主的光榮作見證。
天主保祐！

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The Fifth Easter Sunday (Year A)
Theme: Jesus teaches us Peace

Two days ago on Friday, a Religious Sciences classmate of mine called and grumbled. Her daughter would fly to Canada to get married on Saturday. But it was all hell when she went to the church to get the baptismal certificate of her daughter. The Parish Secretary told her, "I am sorry. The computer has no record of her Confirmation. Would you inform the parish where she was confirmed to enter the data?" Then my classmate rushed to the said parish, only to find that the Parish Secretary and the Parish Priest went pilgrimage. The volunteer on duty dared not to take the responsibility and suggested her going to the Cathedral to seek the help of the Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Dominic Chan etc.
There are many such things in our daily life which trouble our hearts, leaving us no peace. For the example above, when you are in a hurry, the other side proceeds like a tortoise! Or perhaps you toss and turn the whole night because of illness, making you irritable the next day; or suddenly you are badly in need of cash beyond your budget; or you have started a cold-war with your girlfriend/spouse; or you have terrible butterflies in your stomach because the one you care falls sick or goes abroad etc. In such situations, what would you do?

Jesus says, "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1) Our hearts are troubled because we focus on ourselves! Although superficially we need to put up a brave face, we are weak inside and in need of care. No wonder we are easily troubled by external events or internal moods and lose directions. Jesus teaches us to believe in God, use the gaze of God to see the world, and make God's will the core of our life. With God as our shield and our rock, can there be things that are able to shake our ground, trouble our hearts?

My classmate was troubled because she wanted to get things done quickly so that her daughter could board the plane with the baptismal certificate. Then the mother would find peace in her heart. Why would she not mail the certificate to Canada later? She worried that it would be lost ... Was this reasonable? She had lost orientation and priorities because her heart was troubled.
We should consult physicians when we get sick. But curiously for some unknown reasons, many people are reluctant to seek medical help. Procrastination costs them to miss the golden opportunity to get cured. Consequently their health deteriorates. If we look at ourselves in God's gaze, we see that we were created in the image of God. We have the responsibility to take good care of our body to serve God, to glorify Him.
Treating diseases may put heavy financial burdens on our family members. Would God drop money from heavens if we believed in Him? Affirmative! God would send us relief through our relatives, friends and even benefactors. The problem is whether we are able to let go our pride, humbly accept others' help or insist on accepting help only from our Almighty God?
Perhaps financial burden is one reason to give up treatment. Or perhaps the disease is incurable even after trying the most expensive and the latest drug. At that moment, we might blame God for not taking good care of us. Then, what's the point of believing in God anymore? Affirmative! We may make good use of the suffering to do meaningful things.

1. To offer up our pains to God, combine with Christ's Passion to deliver the world.
2. To suffer pains joyfully for the love of Christ. Thus we may bear witness to the love of Christ before our relatives, friends and medical staff, hoping that they may convert and believe in Jesus Christ.

Focusing on ourselves is always the source of troubles in relations, whether it be work or family. The core of Christianity is love, is the care of others' deficiency. God wants us to direct our sight away from ourselves to others, not to find faults with them to elevate our station but to discover their needs, to extend a helping hand. In doing so, do we have the time and the mood to be troubled? Perhaps you may complain, "Who will solve our health, finance and relationship problems?"

Beware, many people are happy to help others, even selflessly. Perhaps they are running away from reality, from their family members and spouses, from reconciliation with their colleagues. They may even be reluctant to forgive themselves, punishing themselves by doing a lot of good works. How pitiful because there is no love in all these endeavours! There is a lack of love for oneself, for his family members and for God. Before describing the characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul points out that without love, one gains nothing. He says, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Jesus Christ teaches us to believe in God because God is love. Thus, we should believe in love, believe in the meticulous love the Father has for us. We should believe in Jesus Christ because He loves us concretely, even to sacrifice himself on the cross to forgive our sins. He shows us the Way home to the Father, manifests the Truth of the Father's love for us. Lastly, he leaves behind the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and he came back to life to give us Life. What on earth can trouble our hearts anymore?

Brethren, let us look up to the Risen Christ, believe in His Passion and Resurrection, beseech Him to grant us peace so that we may love like Him and bear witness to God's glory in our daily life.
God bless!

回應聖召 To Answer God's Call

復活期第四主日（甲年）
主題：回應聖召

跟隨著時代的步伐，天主教香港教區也有運用互聯網，以中文及英文，向世界展示香港教區的現況。可喜的是，2017年換了一個在視覺上比以前更吸引的版面，值得大家細心瀏覽。當中，我找到一些有意義的教務統計數字，這些數字是以每年八月三十一日為準的。

首先，截至去年八月三十一日，香港永久居民當中，約有389,000教友，非永久居民的，約有202,000教友，分佈在港九新界52個堂區之中。他們由4位主教管理，288位神父及29位執事牧養。執事之中，4位是過渡性執事，如無意外，在未來一兩年內晉鐸。聖神修院提供的七年神父培育課程，目前有24位修生供讀，計香港教區5位，其中兩位是來自本堂區的！所以湯漢樞機將會在五月廿一日，蒞臨本堂主持聖召彌撒。其他教區有2位，修會有17位。即是說，全港591,000教友，由321位神職人員牧養，平均每位神職人員要照顧1,840人。倘若神職人員每天工作8小時，每月工作26天的話，每位教友祗分到每個月約7分鐘的靈性照顧！老實說，每個月得7分鐘的照顧，又怎樣做到耶穌基督的要求，「他按著名字呼喚自己的羊」（若10:3）呢？又如何帶領羊群「找著草場」（10:9）呢？

近年來，香港教區每年復活節前夕約有3,000人領洗，但全年領洗的總人數，卻是多達6,600人。倘若每年以這個數字增長，未來七年，將有46,200人加入教會。即使全數24位修生可以晉鐸，亦祗照顧到44,200人。況且，今年已有好幾位神父相繼去世。上述的統計數字，並沒有披露神職人員的平均年齡！所以，香港教區所面臨的教務困難，可想而知。神職人員的聖召對香港教區，顯得非常重要。
以上的數字，我是刻意沒有提到修女的，以突顯出每個月7分鐘靈性照顧的不足。倘若香港沒有了修女，香港教區的教務不可能有今天的成績。可幸香港有469位修女，分擔了321位神職人員的其他工作，纔能維持到今天的服務。因此，修女的聖召，對香港教區同樣重要。（http://catholic.org.hk/香港教區教務統計-2/）

這些數字讓我聯想起近來公演的一齣宗教電影【沉默】的一些劇情。十七世紀的日本天主教徒遇上教難，沒有神職人員為他們主持彌撒，聽告解。在這段艱難的歲月中，他們祗能施行洗禮、祈禱、唱聖詠和把教義口耳相傳，直到有耶穌會的神父偷渡來到。他們將那份久旱逢甘露的喜樂，表露無遺，令觀眾感動，刺激天主教徒反省自己的幸福。但幸福不是必然的。因為當權者可以出於自私，以暴力剝削千千萬萬天主教徒敬拜天主的權利，以酷刑對待教友，逼使神父背教，以消滅基督宗教對日本、對自己的國家的影響，斷絕教友的靈性生命。最諷刺的，就是對天主教會進行迫害的日本官員，竟是曾接受天主教神父一手教育出來的學生。他們憑天主教教育飛黃騰達，卻反過來鏟除天主教在日本生長的根。不要以為這是四百年前日本的事，其實今天我們正捱受類似的教難。這要由在香港辦學的修會學校說起。它們在十九世紀中開始來港服務，為香港社會訓練出優秀的中產階級，貢獻了香港社會。可惜，很少甚至沒有學生回應聖召，加入培育他們的修會團體。他們辦學成功，卻沒有為修會帶來聖召，以到今天不少修會學校，要由平信徒，甚至不是基督徒，擔任校長一職，真教人唏噓不已。

其實，當權者的自私，固然造成教會的迫害。可是，教友本身為了自己著想，何嘗不會造成對教會另類的迫害呢？
是甚麼因素，導到今天聖召不振呢？是天主沒有向青年人招手嗎？這是沒有可能的。如果天主沒有停止聖召，又是甚麼因素，令青年男女不回應天主的呼召呢？是富裕的生活嗎？文天祥的【正氣歌】有云：「時窮節乃現，一一垂丹青。」莫非在經濟貧乏，甚至遇上教難時，纔會有蓬勃的聖召嗎？

我個人認為，不是天主的沉默，也不是社會的富裕，令聖召不振。問題的核心在於青年人對天主的信德不足。在今天的社會，大多數的家庭是「核心家庭」，夫妻倆育有一至兩個孩子，甚至不生育。另一方面，青年人目睹香港人口老化加劇，供養父母，以盡孝道，祗能落在一兩個兄弟姊妹身上。這樣沉重的壓力，叫他們何來信心回應聖召呢？這是信心的問題，因為在理智上，我們肯定天主上智的安排，一定比我們個人有限能力的安排更妥善。但我們仍不放心，仍把持著想自己親自照顧年邁的雙親。這份情意結，若沒有天主特別的護祐，的確不易克服。

各位兄弟姊妹，今天是「善牧主日」，又是「聖召主日」。讓我們向耶穌基督祈求，賜予青年人更大的信心，把自己託付在天父的旨意中，使天主的羊，找到草場，健壯成長。 天主保祐！

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Fourth Easter Sunday (Year A)
Theme: To Answer God's Call

Following the footstep of this generation, the Catholic Hong Kong Diocese makes use of the Internet to display the present situation of the Diocese both in Chinese and English. In 2017, it is delightful to see a facelift of the official webpage and is worth browsing. There, I unearth some meaningful statistics of the Diocese as of August 31, 2016.

First of all, among the local residents, the Catholic population was about 389,000. Amongst the non-residents, it was about 202,000. They live among 52 parishes, are governed by 4 bishops, taken care of by 288 priests and 29 deacons. Among the deacons, 4 are transitory. They are expected to be ordained within one to two years. The Holy Spirit Seminary offers a 7-year priestly formation program which is attended by 24 seminarians. 5 of them came from the Hong Kong Diocese. Amongst the five, two came from our Parish. That is why His Excellency Cardinal John Tong will come to celebrate a Vocation Mass on May 21. The rest of the seminarians came from other dioceses and religious orders. In short, 321 clergy take care of 591,000 parishioners. That is 1,840 parishioners per clergy. If each clergy works 8 hours a day, 26 days a month, each parishioner can share 7 minutes of spiritual care per month! Frankly speaking, how can 7 minutes per month meet Jesus' demand to "call his own sheep by name" (John 10:3)? And how can the clergy lead the parishioners out to "find pasture" (10:9)?

In recent years, about 3,000 people were baptized each year during Easter Vigil. But actually, the total number of people baptized throughout the year was 6,600. If the figure continues in the next 7 years, some 46,200 people will be baptized into the Church. Even if all 24 seminarians were ordained, they would only take care of 44,200 parishioners. Worse still, a few priests have recently passed away. The figures above did not reveal the average age of the clergy! Thus, one can imagine the acuteness of the problem. Priestly vocation is obviously very essential for the Hong Kong Diocese.
I deliberately withheld the number of nuns to highlight the insufficiency of spiritual care of 7 minutes per month. If there were no nuns in Hong Kong, the Diocese would not have functioned properly. Luckily, there are 469 nuns sharing the other works of the 321 clergy to maintain the ministry today. Thus, vocation for consecrated life is as important for the Catholic Hong Kong Diocese. (http://catholic.org.hk/en/香港教區教務統計-2/)

These numbers remind me of the story of a recently released religious movie, SILENCE. The Japanese Catholics in the 17^th Century suffered persecution. There was no priest to celebrate mass or hear confession for them. In these difficult times, they could only baptize, pray, sing hymns and pass on their faith orally until some Jesuits illegally landed. The joy, which was like receiving rain during an extended drought, was touching and stimulated Catholic viewers to reflect on the freedom they have been enjoying. But we cannot take freedom for granted. Out of selfishness, people in power would violently deprive tens of thousands of Catholics of their rights to worship God. They would torture the laity to force the priests to apostate. The irony was that these mandarins were taught by Catholic priests. They flew high with the Catholic education they had received and yet turned around to bite the hands that fed them. Do not think that it happened only in Japan 400 years ago. Today, we are suffering from a similar persecution. The story began with religious schools offering Catholic education to Hong Kong beginning in mid-19^th century. They successfully bred an outstanding middle class, contributing to the prosperity of Hong Kong. Sadly, very few and even none of their students responded to vocation to join the religious orders that had reared them. These religious orders had been successful in running schools but had failed to cultivate vocation. Today, it is sad to see some of their schools headed by laity or even non-Catholic principals!

The selfishness of people in power could cause the persecution of the Church. However, when the laity thinks too much for themselves, would it not be another form of persecution?
What causes the withering of vocation? Does God stop calling young people? That is impossible. If God does not stop calling, what other factors prevent young people from answering God's call? Is it affluence? There is such a line in a Chinese poem, "Guts manifest in tribulations. History remembers their names." Do we need an economic recession or a religious persecution to boost vocation?

Personally, I think that it is neither the silence of God nor the affluence of a society that smothers vocation. Rather the lack of faith among young people is the gist of the problem. Nowadays many families are nuclear. Couples raise one or two children and some even none. On the other hand, young people see the rapid ageing of the population. The burden to support aged parents falls on the shoulders of one or two siblings. With such a heavy burden, where comes the faith to answer vocation? It is a crisis of faith because in our mind, we are sure that God's superb arrangement far surpasses our arrangements with limited capabilities. But we still cannot let go. We insist on taking care of our aged parents with our pair of hands. Indeed, this psychological complex cannot be easily overcome without God's special blessing.

Brethren, today is the Sunday of the Good Shepherd. It is also the Vocation Sunday. Let us pray to Jesus Christ to give young people a greater faith. Submit themselves to the will of God so that God's sheep may find the pasture and grow strong.
God bless!