Wednesday, December 29, 2010

跟随那颗星

主显节 – YEAR A

在今天的福音中提到多少个君王? 只有一个那就是黑落德王. 我们常在报佳音时提到的三王呢? 在福音中从未提到这三王.其实, 在福音中, 他们称为贤士 – 很可能是占星家或是风水专家或 “巫师”. 天主却将他圣子的诞生启示给这些非犹太贤士.

犹太人, 旧约的子民, 天主的选民对这盛大的事件茫然无知. 而少数外邦人, 事实上是魔术师却知道. 为什么呢? 或许, 这些犹太人对自己的宗教定了型. 他们认为天主是在圣山中, 在圣殿内及在神圣的地方.对默西亚, 这预告的显赫人物该出自豪门. 他们没能接受天主竟选择诞生在马槽里的事实.

有时, 我们也对某些想法定了型, 对新的想法不开放. 这是因为我们长久以来一成不变地做着同一样的事. 如此, 我们不只在某岗位上紧守不走同时在思想上也停滞不前. 每当别人提出有建设性的主意或意见时, 我们通常以自己的悲观主意加以打击 – “这是行不通的!” “我们从没做过!” “让我们照以前试过的方法做好了!” 因为这样的态度, 我们压制一切发展及改变. 当天主设法给我们显示他的旨意时, 我们也加以阻挠.

今天的福音挑战我们去认出那颗星 – 正如那颗..引贤士们到耶稣跟前的星. 我们的天主常给人惊奇. 如果我们对天主的某些看法固守不变, 天主变得可预测的, 他就不是天主了. 我们应让天主做天主. 这意谓着我们应让天主选择显示自己的方式. 天主可以选择给小孩显示自己. 天主可以选择在生活的平凡中显示自己. 天主可以选择在温和宁静中来到我们中间而不是以奇迹炫耀方式. 我们必须让天主以他自己的方式成事而不是依照我们的意思. 每当我们跟随那颗星 – 每当我们跟随天主的信号 – 一个新的主意 – 一个新的牧灵计划 – 一个新的方向 – 我们不知道它会领我们到什么地方. 我们只须以信德前行. 然而如果我们诚心向天主的旨意, 指引开放, 我们在旅途的终点必能找到耶稣. 他在等待我们到他跟前.

愿我们不会在路途中迷失. 有时, 我们很想放弃. 有时, 因其他事,分散我们的注意力. 但如果我们迷失了, 将有一颗星引领我们的方向及终点. 那颗星不是我们的目的地. 它只不过指向耶稣 – 世界的真光 – 来到世界领我们到天父的光. 让我们跟随他!

Following A Star

Epiphany Year A

How many kings were there? Three? Well, the answer may come as a surprise to us - There is only king mentioned in the gospel today, it is King Herod. What of the three kings that we usually sing of in our carols? Nowhere in the gospels is the number three mentioned. Neither are they spoken of as kings. In fact, the gospels describe them as ‘wise men’ – most likely astrologers or what we would call today as ‘feng-shui’ experts or ‘bomohs.’ It was to these non-Jewish wise men that God chose to reveal the birth of his Son.

The Jews, the people of the Old Testament, God’s chosen people – they were totally ignorant of this great event. But a few Gentiles, magicians in fact, came to recognize it. Why was this? Perhaps, the Jews have been so used to thinking about their religion in fixed ways. God is to be found on sacred mountains, in the Temple and in holy places. The Messiah being such a great figure in the prophecies must definitely be a powerful personage that has to be born into wealth and power. They were not prepared to accept the fact that God may choose to be born in a stable.

Sometimes, we too are so fixed in our ways of thinking. We are not open to new ideas. That’s usually the case when we have been doing a thing for such a long time. We not only become stuck to a position but also get stuck to a way of thinking. Whenever someone has a creative idea or suggestion, we usually shoot it down with our pessimism. “It would never work?” “We have never done this before!” “Let’s stick to the old ways of doing things that have been tried and tested!” Because of this attitude, we stifle growth and change. We also put obstacles in the way of God attempting to reveal his will to us.

Today, the gospels challenge us to recognize the stars – just like the star that led the wise men to Jesus. Our God is a God of surprises. If we are stuck to certain ways of thinking about God, God then becomes predictable – he ceases to be God. We must allow God to be God. This means that we must allow him to choose the way in which he wants to reveal himself. God can choose to reveal himself to the little one. God can choose to reveal himself in the ordinary things of life. God can choose to come to us in a quiet and peaceful way and does not need to put on a big show of miracles. We must allow him to do things according to his plans and not according to our own will. Whenever we follow a star – whenever we follow a sign from God – a new idea – a new pastoral plan – a new direction – we may never know where it will lead us. We are merely asked to walk by faith. But if we are faithful and open to God’s will and direction, then we will find Jesus and God at the end of our journey. He is waiting for us to find our way to him.

Let us pray that we will not get lost along the way. There will be times that we feel like giving up. There will be times other distractions draw our attentions. But if we ever get lost, there is always the star to remind us of our direction and destination. That star isn’t our destination. It is merely pointing the way to Jesus himself – the Light of the World – the light which has come into the world to show us the way to the Father. Let us follow him!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

“不正常”的成为 “标准”

圣家节 – Year A

昨天我们庆祝圣诞节. 今天我们庆祝圣家节. 这是提示我们圣诞节和圣家节是互相关联的. 基督降生成为人类家庭中的一份子好使我们成为天主家庭中的成员.

许多年前, 数代同堂的家庭是常有的现象. 它任何的变化将以 “反常” 看待. 今天事情有了很大的改变. 现代的家庭人数越来越少. 现今, 几个亲属家庭同居一屋是罕见的. 单亲家庭也不断增加, 因这项巨变, 正常传统家庭的定义已难于持守.

我们越仔细观察圣家, 玛利亚, 若瑟和耶稣, 我们越能领悟这圣家是如何别于所谓的传统模范家庭. 若瑟娶了玛利亚但不是耶稣的亲父亲. 玛利亚与若瑟结婚, 其实他们共同生活有如兄妹. 玛利亚看似很年青就守寡, 因福音前几章提过他之后就不再提及. 玛利亚可说是位单亲妈妈亲自养大耶稣. 耶稣是唯一子却在众多堂,表兄弟姐妹的陪伴下长大. 圣家肯定是个贫穷的家庭 – 也许因此剥夺了耶稣与当时儿童们所应有的享受.

当我们看到圣家是那么的 “不正常” 时, 我们也因此看到圣家如何可以成为 “标准”传统所谓的模范家庭的楷模. 同时也是 “不正常” 家庭如: 破裂, 单亲家庭, 那些努力维持彼此关系的家庭的模范. 耶稣真正了解你所经历的一切. 没有学校供应有关做父母的教导. 我们的孩子也不是我们的私人财产; 当他们长大成人后, 他们决定自己的人生. 情感的破裂, 背负, 创伤都是生活中的现实. 然而, 圣家却给了我们希望的景象. 如果天主是家庭生活的中心, 那不管困难有多大, 不管创伤有多深, 不管彼此之间的分歧有多大, 天主已一一克服了因他在耶稣内经历了一切.

今天不是宣讲有关家庭 – 有关什么你该与不该做的道理. 而是为家庭向天主谢恩的一天. 随着婚姻破裂,不幸家庭, 夫妻不和, 年老父母被儿女遗弃在老人院的统计不断增加, 的确, 基督徒家庭 – 人性的家庭确实是一个奇迹. 我们永不能忘记家庭是创造主慈爱关怀的恩赐. 不能认为它是理所当然的. 每一个家庭成员是珍贵的不可以为是理所当然的. 在今天的弥撒当中, 让我们感谢天主所赏赐家庭的一切恩惠.

The 'Abnormal' Norm

Holy Family Year A

Yesterday we celebrated Christmas, today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. We are reminded that Christmas and the family are intimately linked. Christ came as a member of a human family to enable us to be part of God’s family.

Many years ago, a family with 2 parents and several children and certain members of the extended family (e.g. grandparents, cousins, unmarried uncles or aunties) would be considered a “normal” family. Any variations from that would be seen as “abnormal.” Today, things have changed enormously. Families are getting smaller and smaller. Today, we seldom see several families related to one another living under the same roof. The number of single parents are increasing – women separated or divorced from husbands living with their children. Because of this drastic change in the makeup of the family, we can no longer hold on to the traditional definition of the family which is ‘normal.’

The more we examine the Holy Family, Mary, Joseph and Jesus, the more we begin to understand how this family is so unlike the ‘normal’ families which we have come to accept as the traditional model of the family. Joseph was married to Mary but was not the real father of Jesus. Mary and Joseph were married but were actually living as brother and sister. Mary seemed to have been widowed at a young age as there no longer any mention of Joseph after the first few chapters of the gospel. In fact, Mary may have been a single mother who had to single-handedly raise Jesus all on her own. Jesus was an only child but would have grown up in the company of many cousins. The holy family was certainly very poor – Jesus would have been deprived of many of things that other children of his age would have enjoyed.

When we recognize how “abnormal” the Holy Family is, then we will begin to see how the Holy Family becomes a model not only for the ‘normal’ and traditional families – the so-called ‘good families – but also a model for the ‘abnormal families’ – the broken families, the single-parent families, the families that are struggling to keep their relationship together. Jesus truly understands what you are all going through and the struggles that you are experiencing. There is no school for mothers and fathers where they learn the art of parenting. Our children are also not our private possessions and when they are old enough they will decide how to live their own lives. Broken relationships, betrayals, hurts are facts of life. But the holy family also gives us a picture of hope. If God is at the center of family life then no matter how big the problem may be, no matter how serious the hurts may have become, no matter how wide the chasm that has grown between individuals, God has overcome all because he has been through it all in the person of Jesus.

Today is not a day for preaching about family – about what you should do or not do. Rather, today is a day for giving thanks to God for families. In the face of increasing break down in marriages, broken families, estranged couples, children leaving their elderly parents in homes, the Christian family – the human family – is truly a miracle. We must never forget that the family is a precious gift of a loving and caring Creator. It must never be taken for granted. Each member of the family is precious and can never be taken for granted. Let us in today’s mass, give thanks to God for the gift of families in all its forms.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

圣言的真光

圣诞节 – 早晨

你可否想象没有话语, 没有语言的世界? 人们将无法沟通. 没有话语或语言也将没有教导或学习.

话语为我们展开了新世界. 通过话语我们学到从未看过的事物. 通过话语我们获悉有关不曾去过的地方的一切. 话语带来新生命.

耶稣是天主的圣言. 他是救恩的许诺。他是爱的言语,天主给我们每一个的情书。我们有所选择――接受他或是拒绝他。他垂允给我们接受他的人“全能,好成为天主的子女。”如果我们已接受天主的圣言,我们就该与别人分享。语言除非共享不然毫无用处。言语是用于交流和建设团体。

你可否想象没有耶稣的世界? 你可否想象没有圣言的世界? 我们会仍在黑暗中摸索. 我们无法知道天主要我们做什么? 这就是为什么圣若望在今天的福音中讲述那为 “真光” 的圣言. 耶稣就是那道真光 – 希望之光, 知识之光, 正义和平之光 – 启迪全人类的光. 他是那光及来到世界战胜世界黑暗的圣言. 世界的黑暗所指的是我们的自私, 我们的骄傲, 暴力和仇恨及罪恶的黑暗. 你是否可想象没有希望, 没有和平, 没有恩典, 没有天主的世界?

在这圣诞节, 让我们向天主感恩. 因为今天, 天主的圣言成了血肉 – 天主成为人 – 为使我们在他内获得生命. 让我们继续与我们相见的每一个人分享这天主的圣言, 世界之光. 让我们向世界作证宣告 “圣言成了血肉, 寄居在我们中间; 我们见了他的光荣, 正如父独生者的光荣.” 恭祝大家: 圣诞快乐!

A World enlightened by the Word

Christmas Day Mass Year A

Can you imagine a world without words? Can you imagine a world without language? People would not be able to communicate. Without words or language, there will be no teaching or learning.

Words have opened up for us a whole new world. Through words, we have learnt about things that we have never seen. Through words, we have learnt about places that we have never been. Words give us new life.

We use words in our everyday communication. The 'communication' is derived from the Latin 'communicare' which means 'making communion.' Thus words used in communication seek to build communion and strengthened relationships between communicants.

Jesus is the Word of God. Jesus is God's most perfect communication to us. Through Jesus, we are brought into communion with God. Can you imagine a world without Jesus? A world without the Word? We will still be groping in the dark. We will still be ignorant about what God wants with our lives. That is why St. John in today’s gospel speaks about the Word being the “true light.” Jesus is that true light – the light of hope, the light of knowledge, the light of justice and of peace – that enlightens all men. He is the light and the word that has come into the world and has overcome the darkness that is in the world – the darkness of our selfishness, the darkness of our pride, the darkness of violence and hatred, the darkness of sins. Can you imagine a world without hope, without peace, without grace, without God?

On this Christmas day, let us give thanks to God. For today, the Word of God has become flesh – God has become man – so that we have life in him. Let us continue to share the Word of God and the Light of the world with every one that we meet. Let us be witnesses to the world and make this profession: “The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father.” Merry Christmas to all of you!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

这名字是什么意思呢?

将临期第四主日

一个人的名字是重要强有力的. 我们的父母给我们取好名字并希望我们拥有其气质及品德. 举个例子, 我的父母给我取名: “锦华” 盼望我有个光辉灿烂的人生. 感谢天主我的父母没有为我取 – “胖子” 或 “亚猪”或 “亚狗” 或其他类似的名字.

犹太人对为孩子取名也非常认真. 每一个名字都有它特别的意义. 圣经中的伟大人物的名字都是天主赐给他们的 – 像亚巴郎, 依撒格, 雅各伯, 洗者若翰甚至耶稣. 为孩子取名带有祝福的含义也是做父亲的首要责任. 通过所选的名字, 做父亲的可以授予孩子祝福或诅咒.

今天的福音, 我们读到上主的天使如何命令若瑟为他的儿子取名耶稣. 这名字在希伯来话是什么意思呢? “耶稣”意思是 “天主拯救.” 天使解释说 “因为他要把自己的民族, 由他们的罪恶中拯救出来.” 耶稣是我们的救主. 他是那..将带来天人合一的那一位. 他是那..从我们的自私中拯救我们并领我们进入永生的福地的那一位. 他是那战胜罪恶和死亡的黑暗的那一位. 耶稣的确不负其名字所望.

天使给耶稣另一个名字或称号. 他将称为 “厄玛奴耳” 意思是 “天主与我们同在.”这是古时所预言的默西亚的来临的称号. 厄玛奴耳这称号是给予达味王的儿子或继承人, 他将建立永恒的天主国度. 为我们每一个人, 这个名字也是强有力的.天主不是高高在上, 隐藏在神秘中. 天主亲近我们. 他成为我们当中的一份子因他的爱, 天主选择称为人分享他的脆弱, 力量, 喜乐, 忧伤, 痛苦, 苦难为使人也能分享天主的生命. 不同于其他的宗教, 在基督宗教里, 我们相信天主主动与我们亲近并不是我们设法达到完善去接近他.

愿我们每一个都努力不负我们的名字所附带的品德. 我们的名字是一个祝福也是一个挑战. 在我们准备庆祝耶稣厄玛奴耳的诞辰之际, 让我们向我们的亲友及全世界宣讲关于天主子的福音. 他是耶稣, 厄玛奴耳, 他是来救赎我们的那一位, 与我们同在的天主

What's in a Name?

Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A

A person’s name is a powerful thing. Our parents gave us names hoping that we will grow up having that quality or virtue. For example, the name given to me by my parents is “Jin Hua” which means “magnificent, splendid, bright and beautiful.” Thank God for my parents for not having given me the name “fatty” or “Ah Ju” (Piggy) or “Ah Kow” (Little Doggy) or something like that.

The Jewish people were also very particular about choosing the name of their children. Every name had its own special meaning. Many of the great men in the bible had their names chosen for them by God – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, John the Baptist and even Jesus. The choosing of a name is a sign of great blessing. It is the fundamental duty of the father to choose the name of his child. He can confer on the child great blessing or a curse by the name chosen.

In today’s gospel, we see how the angel of the Lord commands Joseph to choose a name for his Son. The name chosen is “Jesus”. What does this name mean in Hebrew? Jesus means “God saves.” The angel gives the reason for the choice of the name- “because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.” Jesus is our Saviour. He is the one who will bring reconciliation between God and man. He is the one who will save us from our sinfulness and lead us into the Promised Land of eternal Life. He is the one who has come to overcome the darkness of sin and death. He truly lives up to his name.

The angel also gives another name or title to Jesus. He will also be called “Emmanuel” which means “God is with us.” This is an ancient title that had been part of the prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. Emmanuel was the title given to the Son or ancestor of King David, the one who will establish the Kingdom of God for all eternity. For each of us, this is also a powerful name. God is not only far above in the heavens and hidden by the clouds of mystery. God has come close to us. He has become one of us. Because of his love, God chose to become man to share his weaknesses and strengths, his joys and sorrows, his pain and sufferings so that man may share in the holy life of God. Unlike any other religion, in Christianity, we believe that it is God who takes the initiative to come close to us and not we trying to perfect ourselves to come close to him.

May each of us strive to live up to the virtue that is indicated by our names. Our names are a blessing and also a challenge. As we prepare ourselves the celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Immanuel at Christmas, let us proclaim to all our friends and loved ones and the whole world, the good news about the Son of God. He is Jesus. He is Immanuel. He is the one who has come to save us. He is God who has come to live with us.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

鼓起勇气来, 不要畏惧!

将临期第三主日

很多时候, 当我们被无数的困难缠绕时, 我们开始怀疑天主真的可以应允我们的祈祷吗?有时, 我们甚至开始怀疑天主的存在. 当我们被困在我们的忧虑,沮丧,失败及痛苦中时, 我们很难看到出路. 同样为我们许多在不同方面事奉或曾经事奉教会的人, 当我们遇到一些挫折, 批评, 得不到别人的支持或赏识时, 我们或许也会选择退出一切活动.

那也必然是洗者若翰在监狱里的感受. 这位若翰在约旦河为许多人受洗, 宣讲悔改, 为准备默西亚的来临. 他认出耶稣的真正身份 – 除免世罪的天主羔羊. 事实上, 若翰的一生的目的及使命就是为默西亚准备道路. 或许现在他在监狱里开始怀疑也想知道他是否撑错了人及为他放下生命是否愚蠢. 因此, 他派遣代表去证实耶稣的身份. 他们询问耶稣说: “你就是要来的那一位, 或是我们还要等候另一位?”

耶稣回答说: “你们去把你们所见所闻的, 报告给若翰: 瞎子看见, 破子行走, 癞病人得了洁净, 聋子听见, 死人复活, 穷苦人得了喜讯. 凡不因我而绊倒的, 是有福的!” 这些保证的话语肯定重新激发洗者若翰对耶稣的信赖并在黑落德王手中甘心面对死亡.

耶稣的话也是我们的好消息. 这些话的确能够 “加强痿弱的手, 坚固颤动的膝, 告诉心怯的人说: “鼓起勇气来, 不要畏惧!” 我们要记住这些话, 特别在我们想放弃一切的时候. 我们从别人所受到的挫折, 创伤, 家庭问题不能成为我们退出事奉岗位的理由. 我们必须记住, 我们所做的是天主的工作, 不是我们的. 我们应该清楚, 我们的动机. 我们所做的一切是为得到别人的接纳还是别人的尊重? 相反的, 如果我们要跟随耶稣, 那将永不是一条好走的路. 往往被当为威胁多于被赞赏. 我们所要行的路是十字架苦路.

纵然, 身为门徒的路是艰辛的, 我们有耶稣的话: “瞎子看见, 破子行走, 癞病人得了洁净, 聋子听见” 支撑着我们. 不管事情看来多糟透, 不管情况看来没有希望, 我们坚信天主在耶稣基督内已战胜黑暗.

主内的兄弟姐妹们, 让我们耐心等待主的来临. 别气馁, 当坚守基督的许诺 – “凡不因我-而-绊倒的, 是有福的!”

Courage! Do not be afraid!

Third Sunday of Advent Year A

Very often when we are surrounded by so many problems, we begin to question if God can really answer our prayers. Sometime, we can even begin to doubt that there is a God. When we are caught in the prisons of our fear, depression, failure and pain, its difficult to see a way out. Likewise, for many of us who are serving or have been serving the Church in different ways- when we encounter some setbacks, criticisms, lack of support or appreciation from others, we too might choose to withdraw from all activities.

That must be the experience of John the Baptist in prison. This is the man who had baptized many at the River Jordan, who had preached about repentance, who had prepared the way for the coming of the Messiah. This is the man who had recognized the true identity of Jesus – the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. In fact, the purpose of his entire life and ministry was to prepare the way for the Messiah. Perhaps, as he now sits in prison, he may have begun to doubt and now wonders whether he had backed the wrong man and had given his life for a foolish cause. And so he sends a delegation to confirm the identity of Jesus. They put this question to Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or have we got to wait for someone else?”

Jesus then gives this reply: “Go back and tell John what you hear and see; the blind see again, and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised to life and the Good News is proclaimed to the poor; and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.” These are words of assurance. They must have rekindled the faith of John the Baptist and prepared him to face death at the hands of King Herod.

Jesus’ words are also good news to us. Indeed, these words are able to “strengthen all weary hands, steady all trembling knees, and say to all faint hearts, ‘Courage! Do not be afraid’” (1st reading). We need to remember these words especially when we feel like giving up. Setbacks, hurts that we received from others, family problems should never be the reasons for us to withdraw from ministry. We must always remember that it is God’s work that we are doing, not our own. We must be clear about our motivation. Are we doing all these things so that we can gain acceptance and respect from others? On the contrary, if we were to follow Jesus, it is never an easy road. Rather than gaining popularity, we will often be seen as a threat. The road that we must travel on is the way of the cross.

Even though the way of discipleship will be difficult, we will be sustained by the words of Jesus – “the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and deaf hear.” No matter how bad things may seem, no matter how dark the situation may appear, we are confident that God in Jesus Christ has already conquered the darkness.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, let us then be patient until the Lord’s coming. Let us not lose heart. But let us hold on to the promise of Christ – “Happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.”

Thursday, December 2, 2010

谁是真正疯呢?

将临期第二主日

今天的福音我们读到洗者若翰这个人. 他是一个不同寻常的人–穿的是骆驼毛的衣服,腰间束的是皮带,吃的是蝗虫与野密. 我们是否可以想像他是什么样子的呢? 今天, 我们在街道上仍可看到许多这样的人 – 那些无家可归的, 我们所闪避因为他们肮脏, 有臭味的, 那些“精神有问题”的人.今天,当我看到他们- 这些无家可归的乞丐–我开始想究竟谁是疯谁是正常. 那是社会及世界判断他们不正常被遗弃的一群. 也是同一的社会允许战争导至无数的死亡. 也是同一的社会促进歧视及不容忍.也是同一的社会使无辜未出世的婴孩被杀合法化. 谁是真正疯呢?

若翰洗者是当时的先知. 他的言行毫无保留地抗议当时的政治及宗教领袖的疯狂. 他的言行挑战众人认清自己的信仰生活. 他为耶稣准备道路天国的来临.

若翰悔改的召叫是彻底皈依的召叫. 彻底的皈依意谓我们该拒绝任何形式的偏见, 歧视及不容忍. 耶稣时代的宗教领袖认为救恩已为他们许下正因为他们是犹太人, 亚巴郎的后裔 – 但是若翰却提醒他们并不是血缘使他们得救而是悔改及信赖那将要来的那一位 – 耶稣才能得救.
耶稣是很久以前所预告的默西亚. 他是依撒意亚在读经一所预许那一位 – “由叶瑟的树干将生出一个嫩枝 … 上主的神将住在他内.” 预许的这一位将以和平及正义为栋梁建立天主的国. 天主的国不是以武力建立的. 它的建立在于人心的悔改. 天主的国不能进入我们内心如果我们拒绝悔改.

如果我们留意悔改的呼声, 我们就不应再歧视他人, 对其他民族, 语言, 文化及信仰的人持有偏见.我们不能佯装我们是天主的选民如果我们不尊敬他人. 圣保禄在读经二要我们同心合意才合乎皈依及悔改的召唤. 我们的教会不断地被挑战要 “同心合意”. 没有华人教会, 印度人教会, 讲英语的教会, 或讲国语的教会这回事. 教会是由不同种族, 语言, 文化所组成的. 合一及放下我们自己的成见也是效法洗者若翰的榜样. 藉着我们的合一, 我们以先知的身份抗议马来西亚社会种族的分歧及歧视.

在这将临期…期间, 让我们准备我们的心灵,好使在圣诞佳节, 能以合一的堂口, 团体, 欢欣地迎接基督的来临.

The Sanity that comes with Repentance

Second Sunday of Advent Year A

In today’s gospel, we meet the person of John the Baptist. He is a strange figure – wearing a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist and his food was locusts and wild honey. Can we try to picture the way he looks? Today, we continue to see many such figures on the streets – the homeless, the ones whom we avoid because they are dirty and smelly, the ‘crazy ones.’ Today, when I look at them – these homeless beggars – I begin to wander – who’s actually crazy and who’s sane? It is society and the world which judges them insane and outcasts. This is the same society that permits wars in which thousands are killed. This is the same society that promotes discrimination and intolerance. This is the same society that legalizes the killing of innocent children that are yet to be born. So you tell me, who’s crazy?

John the Baptist was a prophet of his time. His actions and his words spoke out against the madness of the political and religious leaders of his time. His actions and words challenged people to take a closer look at their own faith lives. He prepared the way for Jesus, the coming of God’s kingdom.

John’s call to repentance is a call to total conversion. Total conversion means that we must reject any forms of prejudice, discrimination and intolerance. Many of the religious leaders of Jesus’ time felt that salvation was guaranteed for them just because they were Jews, descendants of Abraham. But John reminds them that it is not blood ties that will save them but ultimately repentance and faith in the one who is to come – Jesus.

Jesus is the messiah foretold long ago. He is the promised one foretold by Isaiah in the first reading – “a shoot springs from the stock of Jesse … on him the spirit of Lord rests.” The promised one will establish the Kingdom of God with peace and justice as its pillars. But the establishment of this kingdom will not be by force. It will take place with the conversion of hearts. The kingdom of God cannot enter our hearts if we refuse to repent.

If we heed the call to repentance, we can no longer practice discrimination and have prejudice towards peoples of other races, languages, cultures and religion. We cannot pretend that we are God’s chosen people if we treat others with disrespect. Indeed, conversion and repentance calls us to be “united in mind and voice” as St. Paul tells us in the first reading. Our church is continually challenged to be “united in mind and voice”. There is no such thing as a Chinese Church, an Indian Church, an English-speaking Church, nor a Bahasa Speaking Church. The Church is made up of all peoples regardless of race, language or culture. By being united and by putting aside our prejudices, we are also following the example of John the Baptist. Through our unity, we act as prophets who speak out against the racial segregation and discrimination in Malaysian society.

In this Advent season, let us continue to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming so that at Christmas, we can truly rejoice at the birth of Christ as a community.