没有团体是完美的

复活期第二主日

当我们在今天的读经一中读到初期信友团体时, 它给我们的印象是一个理想的团体 – 一个坚信于耶稣基督的团体 – 一个热心于天主的圣道,祈祷及圣体圣事的团体. 我相信我们每个人都响往活在这样的团体中. 然而,实际上,初期信友团体并不是完美的. 至到今时今日,没有信友团体是完美的. 原因是团体的所有成员都不是完美的. 团体的每一个成员仍不断去伤害别人及被伤害.

许多人在寻找那里想的团体但是他们永找不到.这也是为什么有些人从一间教堂转到另一间教堂.有些远离教堂或基信团体因为他们认为这一切不符合他们的理想团体.多默在福音中或许也因同一原因而远离其余的宗徒. 或许他离开为去寻求答案. 所有的宗徒都陷于艰苦危难的时期. 他们的主人已被逮捕, 受审, 最后被判死刑. 他们的信德受到动摇. 然而他们并没有放弃因为在团体中彼此扶持.

复活的主显现给这群受惊的门徒们,全因他们留下团结一致,成为一个团体的缘故. 整个星期来, 耶稣选择不显现给多默. 耶稣可以选择在任何时候显现给多默, 但耶稣没有这样做. 直到多默回到团体中, 耶稣才再次显现.

有时, 我们尝试自己寻找天主. 我们以为我们可以独自找到他. 但是, 天主活在团体中. 不管那团体中的成员有多残缺或罪恶深重, 天主临在团体中. 如果我们远离团体, 我们也就远离了天主. 正好象复活的第一周, 只有在多默回返团体中, 耶稣才显现给他.

生活在团体里, 的确是一个挑战. 如果团体生活是容易过的话, 那一群人不可能成为真正的基督团体. 真正的基督团体是由多种不同兴趣及不同方式做事的人所组成的. 基督团体是有彼此互相伤害的罪人所组成的. 既然如此, 我们要问: 那基督团体和其他的协会及群体又有什么不同呢? 不同的地方在于宽恕的能力. 耶稣赐给他的门徒圣神并告诉他们: “你们赦免谁的罪, 就给谁赦免; 你们存留谁的罪, 就给谁存留.” 这些话常认为是指神父在告解圣事中赦罪的权力. 我相信不止于此. 其实这些话是指耶稣命令他的门徒和我们每一个人以宽恕为我们生活的一部分. 在每一个团体和家庭中的核心该是爱及宽恕.因耶稣知道团体将仍是残缺及充满罪恶的团体, 人们仍会互相伤害.

在这复活期第二主日, 让我们祈求耶稣把圣神嘘进我们心中, 使我们能宽恕那些伤害我们的人; 也向那些我们伤害过的人恳求宽恕. 让我们求主赐信德好能在我们的团体中认出复活的主.

No Christian Community is Perfect

Second Sunday of Easter Year A

When we read about the early Christian community in today’s first reading we get the impression of a perfect community – a community united by their faith in Jesus Christ – a community devoted to the Word of God, to their prayers and to the Eucharist. I am sure that every one here would dream of living in such a community. But in reality the early Christian community was not perfect. Till today no Christian community is perfect. The reason for this is that all the members of the community are not perfect. Each member of the community continues to hurt and be hurt by others.

Many people are looking for that perfect community but they will never find it. That is the reason why some people are running from one church to another. Others stay away from Church or from the BEC because these do not conform to their idea of the perfect community. Thomas in today’s gospel may have kept away from the remainder of the other apostles for this same reason. He may have gone away searching for answers. All the apostles were in crisis. Their master had just been arrested, put on trial, and finally put to death. Their faith were shaken. Yet they didn’t give up because of the support that they gave one another in the community.

The risen Christ appeared to this group of fearful disciples precisely because they remained united as a community. Jesus chose not to appear to Thomas throughout that first week. He could have chosen to appear to him at any time but he didn’t. It was not until Thomas had returned to the community that Jesus appeared again.

Sometimes we try to look for God on our own. We think that we can find him all on our own. But God lives in community. God is present in the midst of the community, no matter how broken or sinful the members of that community may be. If we keep away from the community, we keep away from God. Just like that first week of Easter, Jesus appeared to Thomas only when he was prepared to return to the community.

But living in community is truly a challenge. If it was easy to live in community, then that group of persons would not be a true Christian community. A true Christian community is made up of diverse persons with diverse interests and ways of doing things. A Christian community is made up of sinners – people who hurt us and who are also hurt by us. If this is so, we may ask: What is the difference between a Christian community and other societies and groups? The difference lies in the ability to forgive. Jesus gives the Spirit to the disciples and tells them: “For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.” These words are often thought of as referring to the power to forgive sins given to priest during confession. I believe that it is much more than that. These words actually refer to Jesus commanding his disciples and all of us to make forgiveness part of our lives. At the heart of every community and family, there must be both love and forgiveness. The reason for this is that Jesus realized that the community would continue to be a broken and sinful community where people will continue to be hurt.

In this Second Sunday of Easter, let us ask Jesus to breathe his Spirit on us so that we may be able to forgive those who hurt us and ask for forgiveness from those whom we have hurt. Let us ask for the faith to be able to recognize the risen Lord in the midst of our community.

不要再跑

复活主日

在今天的福音中人们到处奔走.玛利亚玛达肋纳在复活日清晨跑到坟墓那里. 当她看到石头已挪开, 变跑回通知门徒们. 伯多禄和耶稣所爱的那另一个门徒往坟墓里去. 那另一个门徒比伯多禄跑得快 - 可能是他较年轻的缘故. 伯多禄随后抵达, 进了坟墓而那门徒仍留在外面. 但伯多禄看见了空了的坟墓感到迷惑不解. 那门徒随着伯多禄也进了坟墓, 也同样看到了一切. 但却有不同的反应. 那门徒一看见就相信了.

有时, 我们也一样到处奔走. 有时, 我们为追求幸福而忙. 我们追求财富. 我们追求我们的女朋友和我们的男朋友.

然而, 很多时候我们在逃避某些事. 结婚多年后, 我们有些人想摆脱当年热烈追求的男人或女人. 我们逃避使我们伤心的事. 我们摆脱痛苦与不幸. 我们逃避恐惧. 我们尽量不去想使我们不开心的事并沉浸于工作及其他活动. 有些人跑进圣堂以躲避他们不美满的婚姻或家庭问题. 有些人工作迟回为了逃避家中所面对的问题.我们许多人不愿面对或想本身的问题因为太痛苦. 但是我们的问题, 我们的伤痛及不幸并不因我们不去想而消失. 我们尝试去逃避这些问题却永远逃不了.

今天, 当我们在庆祝复活节之际, 教会最大的庆节, 天主邀请我们回家. 我们也受邀把注意力放在这空的坟墓. 我们要面对我们深切的恐惧, 探究我们的问题, 正视我们破裂关系的创伤因为如果我们深入看待, 我们也许会 “一看见就相信了.” 我们可以以伯多禄的眼光看待我们的问题而不见天主的鉴临, 耶稣的临在. 在另一方面我们可以以那主所爱的门徒的眼光看待我们的问题及伤痛并在见不到临在的情况下认出他的鉴临.

如果我们远离那些伤害我们的人, 我们之间的关系将永得不到治愈. 但是, 如果我们有勇气去面对我们深处的恐惧, 如果我们敢于再回到我们破裂的关系中并记起它们, 我们将得治愈并得释放. 我们会对空坟墓的奇迹感到惊讶. 玛利亚玛达肋纳, 伯多禄和那主爱的门徒回到坟墓去为回忆耶稣的死亡. 然而, 当它们抵达时却得到生命 – 复活的生命的惊喜.

当我们能面对我们生命的坟墓时. 我们也会获得天主意外的惊喜. 这从死者中复活耶稣的天主也必把我们从痛苦, 不幸及恐惧的坟墓中复活我们. 在这复活节日, 愿大家得到治愈及解放.

Stop Running - Just Come In

Easter Sunday Year A

In today’s gospel, people are running all over the place. Mary Magdalene runs to the tomb early Easter morning. When she discovers that the stone has been rolled away, she runs back to tell the disciples. Peter and the beloved disciple then both run to cave. The beloved disciples is faster than Peter – perhaps the reason for this is that he is the younger of the two. Peter reaches the tomb a little later and goes in while the beloved disciple remained outside. But when he sees that the tomb is empty, he remains puzzled – he still does not understand. The beloved disciple goes in after Peter, he sees the same thing. But there is a difference. He sees and believes.

Sometimes, we too are running all over the place. Sometimes we run after happiness. We run after wealth. We run after persons whom we hope will eventually become our girlfriends or our boyfriends.

But quite often we are running away from something. After years of marriage, some of us are running away from that man or that woman that we were chasing after while we were dating. We run away from things that make us sad. We run away from pain and suffering. We run away from our fears. We try not to think about things that make us sad by immersing ourselves in work and in other activities. Some people run to Church to get away from their unhappy marriages or from problems in the family. Some people stay late at work in order to run away from the problems that they find at home.

Many of us do not want to look at or think about our problems because it is too painful. But our problems, our pain, and the suffering do not disappear just because we do not think about them. We try to run away from these problems but we cannot run forever.

Today, as we celebrate Easter, the greatest feast day of the Church, God invites us to come home. We are invited to take a good look into the empty tomb. We are asked to confront our deepest fear, to look at our problems, to face the pain of broken relationships because if we look deep enough, we too may “see and believe.” We can look at our problems with the eyes of Peter and see the absence of God, the absence of Jesus. On the other hand, we can look at our problems and sufferings with the eyes of the beloved disciple and recognize the presence of God even in his absence.

If we stay away from the people who hurt us, our relationships will never be healed. But if we have to courage to face our deepest fears, if we have the courage to return to our broken relationships and to remember them, we will be healed and set free. We will be surprised by the miracle of the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene, Peter and the beloved disciple went to the tomb expecting to be reminded of the death of Jesus. But on their arrival, they were surprised by life – the life of the resurrection.

When we are able to face the tombs of our lives, we too will be surprised by God. This God who raised Jesus from the dead will raised us up from the tombs of our pain, suffering and fears. May you find healing and liberation on this Easter Day.

天主在那里?

受难日

上个月, 全世界对地震和海啸在日本所造成的破坏感到震撼不已. 在许多人的脑海里的第一问题是: “当这事发生时, 天主在那里?” 紧接与第一条问题有关的: “假如有一位憎恨邪恶不喜人受苦的天主, 为什么允许这惨事发生?”

这些都是难于解答的问题. 如果我们尝试为这些问题找直捷了当的答案, 我们将有两个结论. 首先,我们会给予直捷的解答, 把一切的指责归咎于别人 – 那些负罪的亡者, 或恶魔, 或命运, 甚至天主. 而第二的解答,我们不能找到满意的答案. 因此怀疑天主的存在. 为此, 我们感到绝望和自怜.

然而身为基督徒, 我们有第三个选择. 我们可以选择去相信并承认天主的临在并将继续临在于一切人类的苦难中. 当孩童成为孤儿时,天主也成了孤儿. 当父母亲们丧失了他们的儿女时, 是天主丧失他的子女. 当巨浪卷走了成千
上万的人时, 天主也首当其冲.

痛苦是实际存在的. 我们不能假设它的不存在. 然而, 痛苦和死亡已有了新的意义. 天主本身成为人 – 耶稣基督. 而耶稣经历了最恶劣, 难以想象的苦楚. 天主死在十字架上. 他为什么要死呢? 因为在第一个受难日所发生的, 人不再指责天主离我们而去并且不能了解我们的苦难.

每当我们看到人的痛苦时, 我们的信德使我们相信天主也与他的子民受苦. 每当我们受到排斥, 经历了孤独, 痛苦, 病痛或苦楚时, 天主也和我们一样受尽了排斥, 孤独, 痛苦, 病痛和苦楚.

当然, 这并不使一切痛苦在我们当中此时此刻消失. 但是, 知道天主与我们一同受苦使我们意识到我们的苦楚只是全人类所经历的一部分. 这苦楚是耶稣在十字架上亲自背负的. 当我们意识到这一点时, 我们就不再替魔鬼作证, 为所发生在我们身上的一切不断地埋怨天主, 别人及环境. 当我们觉察到十字架的德能, 我们就成为耶稣的见证人. 我们对别人的需要变得敏感. 我们变得更有同情心更了解别人所受的痛苦. 我们成为救赎十字架的见证人因为我们已体验过不幸和痛苦.

当耶稣还在十字架上受苦时, 他没有忘记别人.他没有要别人同情他. 但, 在那最痛苦的时刻, 耶稣以爱向四周的人伸出双手. 为他的仇敌求宽恕. 为他的母亲觅得安身之所. 为他的门徒, 他确保他们会继续以团体, 教会互爱互助.
让我们祈求天主以十字架的德能改变我们的不幸及痛苦. 祈求主除去我们的愤怒, 自怜及悲伤好使我们能以爱及无私为他人付出自己.

Where was God when this happened?

Good Friday Year A

Over a month ago, the whole world was shocked by the extent of the destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan. The immediate question that rose in many people’s mind was this: “Where was God when this happened?” The second question is related to the first: “If there is a God who hates evil and human suffering, why did God allow this tragedy to happen?”

These are difficult questions. If we try to find quick answers for these questions, we may be lead to two conclusions. Firstly, we may try to give simplistic solutions by putting the blame on someone – whether it be the sinfulness of those who died, or the Devil, or destiny, or even God. The second conclusion may be that we are not able to find any satisfactory answers and so we begin to doubt the existence of God. We are led to despair and self-pity.

But for us Christians, there is a third option. We can choose to believe and recognize that God was present there and continues to be present in all human suffering and pain. When children became orphans, God became orphaned. When mothers and fathers lost their children, it was God who lost his children. When the waves swept away thousands of people, it was God who was swept away too.

Suffering is a reality. We can never pretend that it doesn’t exist. But suffering and death has now taken on a new meaning. God himself became man – Jesus Christ. And Jesus has undergone the worst kind of suffering and pain imaginable. God died on the cross. Why did he have to die? Because of what happened on the first Good Friday, man can no longer accuse God of being distant from us and of not being able to understand our suffering.

Every time we see human suffering, our faith makes us recognize that God suffers along with His people. Every time each of us experiences rejection, loneliness, pain, sickness or suffering, God also experiences that rejection, loneliness, pain, sickness and suffering just like us.

This of course does not make pain and suffering disappear from our midst in the here and now. But knowing that God suffers along with us makes us aware that our suffering and pain are part of a greater suffering and pain experienced by the whole of humanity. It is this pain and suffering, which Jesus takes upon himself on the cross. When we become aware of this, we no longer become witnesses of the devil who continues to blame God, other people and circumstances for whatever befalls us. When we become aware of the power of the cross, we become witnesses of Jesus. We become sensitive to the needs of others. We become more compassionate and understanding of the suffering of others. We become witnesses of the redeeming cross because we too have experienced suffering and pain.

Jesus, while suffering on the cross, did not forget about others. He did not ask others to pity him. But during those last agonizing hours, Jesus reached out in love to the people around him. For his enemies, he asked for forgiveness. For his mother, he found a new home. For his disciples, he made sure that they would continue to support each other as a community and as Church.

Let us then ask God to transform our suffering and pain by the power of the cross. May he take away our anger, self-pity and bitterness, so that we may give ourselves in love and selflessness to others.

弥撒并永不是 “例行公事”

圣周四

我们大多数每主日到圣堂参与弥撒同时它已成为我们生命重要的部分. 为许多人弥撒常被看成对天主的祭献 – 感谢天主赏赐一切的时刻同时也向他恳求所需的时刻. 弥撒已成为 “例行公事”和 “毫无挑战” 而当它是理所当然.

今天的礼仪破除这些错误的想法. 弥撒并永不是 “例行公事”. 每一台弥撒都是一种挑战去活出基督门徒的生活. 那么, 什么是弥撒的真正意义呢?

首先, 弥撒庆祝改变及解救. 这可在读经一看到. 天主吩咐梅瑟和以色列子民要继续庆祝逾越节以纪念天主从埃及拯救解放他们. 然而, 逾越节不只是纪念过去的事迹. 它同时也是庆祝此时此刻天主赐予的救赎大恩. 因此, 几时我们举行弥撒圣祭, 我们就是举行我们的救赎奥迹.

我们想起天主如何拯救我们及仍不断从黑暗及邪恶的势力中拯救我们并藉着他的圣子耶稣基督牺牲的体血赏赐我们新生命.

第二, 弥撒宣告基督的死亡和我们的死亡. 这是圣保禄在读经二所说的话. 几时耶稣对他的门徒说: “你们要这样做来纪念我.” 他不只是指领圣体罢了. “这样做”的意思是模仿基督的生活. “这样做” 应是 “悔改和相信.” “这样做” 应是 “全心, 全意, 全灵爱天主及爱我们的近人如同爱自己.” “这样做” 应是宽恕我们仇人如同天父宽恕我们一样.” “这样做” 应是 “弃绝自己, 背起十字架跟随耶稣.” 弥撒圣祭指向耶稣在十字架上爱的牺牲. 耶稣牺牲性命为使众人获得性命. 我们参与每台弥撒也受到挑战, 牺牲自己的性命. 死于我们的罪恶, 自私, 死于偏见及仇恨 – 为别人牺牲.

第三, 弥撒是服务的召唤 – 有如耶稣服务门徒一样. 今年, 当建议神父洗辅祭的脚时, 受到一些人的反对. 有人认为辅祭年纪太小. 有的觉得大人物该坐上来. 我想我们都误解了. 如果耶稣今天在这里的话, 他会洗妓女, 离了婚的人, 冷淡教友, 爱滋病患, 说谎者和罪人的脚. 与其争着坐上位, 争论洗什么人的脚, 不如效法耶稣谦抑自下为那不堪当的人洗脚. 在弥撒中, 骄傲与权势没有立足的空间. 在弥撒中, 只有谦逊服务.

今天, 让我们感谢耶稣给我们赐下弥撒的恩宠. 如果我们真正明白弥撒的意义, 我们就永不会当之理所当然. 为此, 让我们去并活出弥撒的意义!

The Mass is never normal

Holy Thursday

Most of us come for Mass every Sunday and this has become part and parcel of our lives. For many people, Mass is often seen as a time we sacrifice to God – a time to give thanks for all that he has done for us and also a time to pray for our needs. Mass has become so “normal” and “unchallenging” that we sometimes take it for granted.

Today’s liturgy breaks these false notions. The Mass is never ‘normal.’ Every Mass is a challenge to live out our lives as disciples of Christ. What then is the true meaning of the Mass?

First of all the Mass celebrates change and liberation. We see this in the First Reading. God commands Moses and the Israelites to continue celebrating the Feast of the Passover so that they will remember how God saved them and liberated them from Egypt. But the Passover wasn’t only to commemorate an event of the past, it was also celebrating the saving grace of God which is given at the present moment. Therefore, whenever we celebrate the Mass we are celebrating the mystery of our salvation. We are reminded how God has saved us and is still saving us from the powers of darkness and evil and giving us new life through his Son Jesus Christ, who gives his own body and blood for us to share.

Secondly, the Mass proclaims the death of Christ and likewise our death too. These are the words of St. Paul in the second reading. Whenever Jesus told his disciples: “do this as a memorial of me,” he is not only speaking of the act of receiving communion. To “do this” means to model our lives on the life of Christ. To “do this” would be to ‘repent and believe.’ To “do this” would be to “love God with our entire heart, mind and soul and to love our neighbour as ourselves.” To “do this” would be to “forgive our enemy as we have been forgiven by our Heavenly Father.” To “do this” would be ‘to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus.” The Mass points to Jesus sacrifice of love on the cross. Jesus gave up his own life so all may live. We who participate at every Mass are also challenged to give up our lives, to die to our sinfulness and selfishness, to die to our prejudice and hatred - to die for others.

Thirdly, the Mass is a call to service – to serve as Jesus served his disciples. When it was proposed that the priest wash the feet of the altar servers this year, there was some objections. Some felt that the altar servers were too young. Others felt that there were more worthy persons who should sit up here and have their feet wash. I think that we have gotten the whole thing wrong. If Jesus was here today, he would be washing the feet of prostitutes, divorcees, lapsed Catholics, AIDS patients, liars and sinners. Instead of fighting for places of honour and power, instead of arguing who is worthy to have his feet washed this year, we should be copying the example of Jesus – who humbled himself to wash the feet of those who were unworthy. In the Mass, there is no room for pride or power. In the Mass, there is only room for humble service.

Today, let us thank Jesus for the gift of the Mass. If we really understood its meaning whenever we celebrate it, we will never again take it for granted. Let us therefore, go and live the Mass!

痛苦和喜悦

圣枝主日

今天的礼仪充满着差异及矛盾. 弥撒开始时, 我们欢欣地列队进堂, 提醒我们耶稣荣进耶路撒冷时受到热烈的欢迎. 但是,当我们进入圣堂, 气氛却转为庄严忧郁. 这气氛的转变是因为耶稣实现了依撒意亚先知在读经一中所提及的受苦仆人的预言. 而这气氛的转变是有意安排的. 它的目的为唤醒我们对天主 – 对耶稣的错误观念. 让我仔细地从读经中去了解耶稣.只有在更深一层认识耶稣的当儿, 我们才能明了身为耶稣门徒的任务.

在进入耶路撒冷时, 耶稣受到热烈的欢迎. 人们挥动棕榈枝有如我们今日儿童们挥动旗子来欢迎到访的高官显要. 耶稣受到君王凯旋而归的欢迎. 人们期待着耶稣带领他们推翻罗马政府. 但耶稣几天后的表现使他们大失所望. 耶稣不但没有扮演一位强有势的政治领袖却以谦卑仆人的身份出现.

群众喊说: “因上主的名而来的, 当受赞颂.” 他们认为财富, 权势和声望都是天主的恩赐. 然而, 耶稣却指示受祝福的, 应该是随时准备承行天父旨意的人. 耶稣不但没有受到人们给予的光荣而受尽凌辱拒绝有如读经一中所描述的受苦的仆人. 耶稣却在十字架上受到天主的光荣.

耶稣是天主 – 无上权威者 – 那创造整个宇宙的那一位. 而耶稣却自谦自卑取得人的形体 – 一个受造的人. 耶稣选择在十字架上牺牲自己为使罪人得到救赎. 当耶稣选择成为最小时, 天主却高高地举扬他.

耶稣的受难史充满讽刺意味. 耶稣受到暴力逮捕但他却提醒他的门徒拒绝一切暴力行为. 耶稣被控于亵渎之罪; 其实批评他的人才是犯了亵渎侮辱了天主降生成人的耶稣. 耶稣, 无罪的, 却判了死刑而那杀人犯, 巴辣巴却获得释放.

我们的生活也应当以耶稣为典范. 世界会嘲笑我们并称我们为傻子. 但这是跟随耶稣的代价. 如果我们要成为耶稣的门徒, 我们就必须准备跟随他的脚步. 身为基督的门徒, 我们的生活该当与世界价值观有所抵触. 在世界重权势的地方, 我们就必须谦顺为怀. 在仗恃武力为达到理想的实施的世界, 我们必须是缔造和平的人. 在注重声望的世界里, 我们必须准备接受不了解我们的人的批评和侮辱.

在这台弥撒中, 让我们祈求与耶稣稳步同行的恩宠. 有时我们想放弃. 有时我们想与天主商讨免去受苦之杯. 有时我们会绝望地呐喊: “我的天主, 祢为什么舍弃了我?” 然而, 如果我们坚持到底, 上主必会赐那不朽的光荣. 让我们随耶稣上十字架.

Sorrow and Joy

Palm Sunday Year A

Today’s liturgy is full of contrasts and contradictions. At the beginning of the mass, we had the joyful atmosphere of the procession, reminding us of the warm welcome that Jesus received upon entering Jerusalem. But as we entered the church, the mood turns somber. The mood swings to one of sorrow as we see Jesus fulfil the prophecy of the Suffering Servant made by Isaiah in the first reading. This change of atmosphere is certainly intentional. It is intended to awaken us from our misconceptions of who God is – of who Jesus is. Let us take a closer look at the readings to understand Jesus better. When we are able to understand Jesus a little better, we will also understand our roles as his disciples much better.

Jesus is given a grand welcome when he enters Jerusalem. People are waving palm leaves in the same way that children in modern times wave flags to welcome an important state dignitary. The people’s welcome of Jesus was quite similar. Jesus received the welcome of a triumphant and home-coming king. The people were expecting Jesus to lead them in a rebellion to overthrow the Roman government. But his actions within the next few days would disappoint them. Instead of portraying himself as a strong political leader, Jesus takes on the role of a humble servant.

The crowds shouted: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” They considered wealth, power and popularity as blessings from God. But Jesus will show that to be truly blessed, one must be prepared to do the will of the Father. Instead of glory received from people, Jesus would suffer humiliation and rejection from them as the Suffering Servant in the first reading. He will be glorified by God on the cross.

Jesus is God – the Absolute Being – the one who created the entire universe. Yet, Jesus chose to humble himself to take the form of a human being – a creature. Jesus chose to give his life on the cross so that we sinners may receive salvation. When he chose to make himself the smallest, God chose to glorify him and raise him up to the highest position in all the universe.

The passion reading is also full of irony. Jesus is arrested in a violent way but reminds his disciples to reject all forms of violence. Jesus is accused of blasphemy but his critics are actually the ones guilty of blasphemy for having insulted Jesus, God made man. Jesus, the innocent one, is put to death while the murderer, Barrabbas is set free.

Our lives must also follow the example of Jesus. The world may laugh at us. The world may call us fools. But that is the cost of following Jesus. If we want to be disciples of Jesus, we must be prepared to follow his footsteps. As disciples of Christ, our lives must be in contradiction of the values of the world. Where the world values power, we must value humility. Where the world values strength and even physical force in order enforce an ideal, we must be peacemakers. Where the world values popularity, we must be prepared to receive criticism and insults from those who do not understand us. We must be living contradictions.

During this Mass, let us pray for the grace to walk steadily with Jesus. There will be times we will feel like giving up. There will be times we will feel like negotiating with God to ask him to take the cup of suffering from us. There will be times we will cry out in near despair: “My God, why have you forsaken me?” But if we were to persevere, the Lord will give us the glory that will never wither. Let us follow Jesus to the cross.

死亡不再是最终的 - 生命才是

四旬期第五主日

许多人都怕死. 我相信我们每个人在某阶段上曾对死亡的恐惧挣扎过. 而对死亡的恐惧来自 未知. 我们死后将是怎样的? 我们将上天堂还是下地狱? 或许, 今世只不过如此? 或许, 死后并没有来生.

我们华人也没分别. 在死的话题上我们显得激动. 也许, 在我们的生活当中并没有空间给天主或宗教直到我们年老或生病. 当我们年轻力壮时, 我们忙着尝试争取好教育或赚取更多财富. 只有当我们上了年纪, 当死亡逼近, 我们才开始发觉该是准备的时刻了. 忽然之间, 天主变得重要.

然而一件事是肯定的 – 那就是我们都会死. 死亡意谓着与我们所爱的人分离. 死亡意谓结束我们的一切计划. 肯定的, 这种死亡并不是天主所要的. 这可能是为什么耶稣为他的朋友拉匝禄的死而悲伤. 生命, 永恒的生命是天主在起初造人类的计划. 死亡藉着罪恶进入世界. 这是因为罪恶本身就是死亡 - 罪恶摧毁我们的灵魂和毁灭所有的爱.

对于死亡我不能给圆满的答案. 我不能解释死亡, 没有人可以做到这一点. 我们可以做到的是,以,另一角度看死亡并续以今生现实生命的延伸. 换句话说,我们只可以通过复活的角度了解死亡.

因着基督的来临, 死亡已有了另一新的意义. 基督的复活改变了死亡. 死亡不再是最终的 - 生命才是. 而我们信从耶稣的人将分享这永恒的生命 – 死亡永不能摧毁的生命. 耶稣告诉我们: “我就是复活. 就是生命. 信从我的即使死了, 仍要活着; 凡活着而信从我的人, 必永远不死.”

使我们担忧的死亡并不是肉体的死亡而是在我们还没放进坟墓前的死亡. 肉体的死亡不能夺走我们永恒的生命但我们如何生活却能够. 当我们的生命没有了意义我方向时, 我们可说已死了. 当我们把东西看得比人更重要时, 我们也已经死了. 当我们的生命被许多事情如我们的工作, 我们的财产, 我们的家庭, 我们个人问题充塞着而容纳不下天主时, 我们也是死了. 当我们认为我们短暂的人生比耶稣所应许的永生来得更重要时, 我们也已经是死的了.

亲爱的候洗者, 还有两个星期, 你们就要受洗了. 在这圣洗圣事中, 你们将与基督同死. 这样你们才可分享他所应许给每个人的永生. 耶稣保证,他就是复活. 就是生命 凡信从他的即使死了仍要活着. 你们相信吗? 如果相信的话, 就请你们上前接受第三次也是最后一次的考核礼罢.

Death is no longer final – Life is!

Fifth Sunday of Lent Year A

Many people are frightened of death. I believe all of us at one stage of another would also have struggled with the fear of death. What frightens us most about death is that of the unknown? What happens to us after we die? Will we go to heaven or will we go to hell? Or perhaps, this life is all there is to it? Perhaps, there may be no life after death. What then?

The Chinese are no different. We get very excited over the topic of death. Perhaps, there is no room for God or religion until we grow old or become sick. When we are young and healthy, we’re too busy trying to obtain a good education or trying to get rich. It’s only when we are much older, when death looms around the corner, that the realization comes that we must make some preparation. Suddenly, God becomes all important.

But one thing is certain – we all die. Death means painful separation from the people whom we love. Death means the end of all our projects and plans. Certainly, this kind of death was never intended by God. This may be the reason why Jesus himself grieves over the death of his friend Lazarus. Life, eternal life, is part of God’s plan for mankind from the beginning. Death entered into this world with sin. This is because sin is death itself – sin kills our spirit and destroys love.

I would not presume to explain away death. I cannot explain death, no human can do that. The best we can do is to see death in perspective by looking at the realities of life as something that extends beyond our time here on earth. In other words, we can only understand death by seeing it in the perspective of the resurrection.

Death has now taken on a new meaning with the coming of Christ. The resurrection of Christ transforms death – death is no longer final – life is. And we who believe in Jesus will also come to share in this life – eternal life – a life that can never be destroyed by death. Jesus tells us: “I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

What should worry us more than physical death is a ‘death’ that happens to us long before we are placed in the grave. Physical death by itself cannot rob us of eternal life but the way we live our lives can. We are already dead when our lives are without purpose or direction. We are already dead when things are more important than persons. We are already dead when our lives are filled with so many things – our work, our properties, our family, our personal problems – there is no room for God. We are already dead when we consider our present short life as more important than the eternal life promised by Jesus.

My dear elect, it is only 2 weeks to your baptism. In baptism, you will die with Christ so that you may have a share of the eternal life which he promises to everyone. Jesus has promised us that he is the resurrection and the life, and that if anyone who believes in him, even though he dies he will live. Do you believe this? If you do, then prepare to come forward for the third and final rite of scrutiny.