Leaving behind our baggages

Third Sunday of Lent Year A

Today’s readings and the readings for the next two weeks are taken from Year A Cycle as it is closely tied to the Scrutinies of the candidates for baptism which will be celebrated shortly afterwards.

In today’s gospel story, we come to meet, know and understand Jesus better through the eyes of the Samaritan woman. What is so radical about this story was that Jesus broke through all the social, religious and political taboos that segregated Samaritans and women in the disclosing the mystery of his person. She gives a positive response and comes gradually to discover who he is and she not only comes to faith in him but also shares this faith with other Samaritans who, in turn, come to accept him and his message. Thus, the Samaritan woman becomes a model for our candidates for baptism as well as each of us.

The Samaritan woman is thrice marginalized. First, she is a Samaritan and Jews do not have any interaction at all with the Samaritans who were considered unclean. Secondly, she is a woman. Any good pious Jew would not stop to have a faith discussion with a woman, Jewish or Samaritan, as women were thought to be created only for the sole purposes of motherhood and wife. Thirdly, our Samaritan woman had a questionable background. Even among the women and Samaritans of her town, her own people, she was considered a sinner. She has been with several men and the present man whom she is living with is not her husband. So she comes to the well alone at noon to avoid the crowd of women who usually come to the well during the cool morning.

In spite of all these barriers, Jesus engages in a conversation with her and draws her into a faith relationship with himself. He announces to her that he is the “Living water” that promises eternal life to whoever who drinks from it.

Each of us may have our own problems and difficulties. We may suffer from loneliness or grief over the death of a loved one. Some of us are angry with some members of this parish or even with the Church. We come with our worries about the future, about our work, about our family. Jesus comes to each of us as he comes to the Samaritan woman. Jesus never forces his way into our life but allows us to invite him in one step at a time. But only if we allow him to enter our lives can we begin to find healing because he is the living water – he is the bread of life – he is the only one who will continue to love us and forgive us even if we are sinners and don’t deserve to be loved.

At the end of the gospel story, the Samaritan leaves the water jug behind. She doesn’t need it anymore because she has found the true water of life. As we have come to discover Jesus, let us too leave behind our other securities, our fears and our worries as we prepare to receive Christ who gives himself to us in his body and blood.

A year full of blessings!

Chinese New Year 2011

I’m quite sure that many will sigh with relief that the year of the ferocious tiger is over as we usher in the gentle peaceful year of the rabbit. For many, the cute adorable little rabbit is a much more welcomed sight than the frightening image of a tiger. Just the other day, I checked the internet to find out information about the Year of the Rabbit and this is what one website had to say about the year: “This year of the Metal Rabbit promises to bring much needed peace and tranquility.” Did you hear that? A year of peace and tranquility? This is truly good news for many of us who are so often afraid of turmoil and disturbances. Many would be hopping with joy like a rabbit knowing that it will be a year of good fortune, happiness and luck.

We often equate good fortune, happiness and luck as things that are subject to fate. There are greater forces beyond us that determine whether we would have a good year or a bad year. The type and number of crystals that we should display in our house or wear around our wrists; the colour of our hair; the animal zodiac and its influence throughout the year; the number of gold fish that I should rear in my aquarium.

Today’s gospel reading also speak about joy, it is the gospel of the 8 beatitudes. But it is a different kind of joy. A joy that can be found even in pain; a joy that can be experienced in the midst of problems; a joy that we can possess even when we possess nothing. It is the joy of the kingdom of God. It is a joy of trusting and believing in God and not in our own successes. The joy of the beatitudes can never be taken away from us because it is the joy of knowing that God is with us in both good as well as bad times. It is truly joyful news to know that even when things don’t seem to be going right in our lives, God is with us!

On this first day of the new year, I’m not going to tell you what’s your fortune for this year, whether you would be experiencing lots of good luck or bad. No. I have a much better prediction for year. It’s going to be great year, a year full of blessings, a year of true joy. Why? Because God has promised to be with you. If God is with you at all times, you don’t need good luck or good fengshui or good omens. God will be you sustaining you, giving you strength to bear with all the burdens of life. God will be with you to help you through the darkest moments. God will be with you guiding you when you feel lost. God will be with you comforting you in your loneliness and pain. God will be with you healing you, forgiving you and blessing you with his grace.

Happy New Year. May your year be full of blessings!

另一非传统的道德

常年期第四主日

从小我们就学到要坚强并不让别人欺负我们. 我们永不认输. 如果别人对我们无情, 我们必会更无情回敬使他们知难而退. 当与无理取闹和专横的人交往时, 我们也加以回敬不让他们爬上我们的头上来. 这是国与国之间的交涉政策. 在1999年, 纽约的贸易中心被恐怖份子所炸毁. 第二年, 美国就侵犯亚富尼期坦. 在2003年侵入伊拉克. 这是强国如美国的哲学观 – “让他们知道谁是老大!”

为基督来说, 这想法就与天国的价值观背道而驰了. 天国的价值观或真福八端记载在今天的福音中: “神贫的人是有福的; 温良的人是有福的; 哀恸的人是有福的; 饥渴慕义的人是有福的; 怜悯的人是有福的; 心里洁净的人是有福的; 缔造和平的人是有福的; 为义而受迫害的人是有福的.”

对耶稣来说, 那些弱小的, 无权力的, 温和的及那些耐心忍受痛苦和迫害的才是有福. 这肯定很难理解的. 事实上, 如果我们以世俗的想法看待这些价值观, 我们是不可能明白的.

但是, 圣保禄告诉我们: “天主偏召选了世上愚妄的, 为羞辱那些有智慧的; 召选了世上懦弱的, 为羞辱那坚强的; 甚而天主召选了世上卑贱的和受人轻视的; 以及那些一无所有的, 为消灭那些有的.” 权势, 暴力, 仇恨和抱负最终也得回同样的结果那就是权势, 暴力, 仇恨和抱负. 耶稣告诉我们 – “凡持剑的, 必死于剑下.”

为此, 耶稣给了我们另一非传统的道德或价值观. 那是将我们的世界转变为天主的国的价值观. 在那充满和平, 喜乐及爱的国度里天主最终掌控一切. 耶稣以率真的道德准绳反击贪婪. 以弱小的反击强势; 以怜悯和宽恕反击复仇的; 以诚实反击欺诈; 以和平反击暴力.

我们当中有人或许会想: “这对天主来说是容易的. 他是神. 他不需要像我们一样受苦.” 然而, 天主, 确实经历了. 他成了我们当中的一个. 耶稣成为谦逊, 无权力和反暴力的最佳典范. 耶稣过的是贫穷的生活. 他是温和的. 他为丧失所爱的人悲悼. 他可望正义. 他表露怜悯. 他常怀着纯正的意向. 他是个缔造和平的人及最后忍受迫害, 痛苦甚至在敌人手中接受死亡. 看来好象他的敌人最后得到胜利. 但是我们知道是耶稣得到最后的胜利. 暴力和权势失败了. 软弱和怜悯获得了最后的胜利.

今天, 如果你在寻求天主, 那么就求谦逊, 无能, 因为你会发觉当祢软弱时, 正是祢刚强有力的时候

A set of alternative ethics

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time A

One of the things that we have learnt from a very young age is to be strong and not let others take advantage of us. We must never lose out. If others are harsh to us, we must learn how to be harsher to them so that they will not repeat their actions. When dealing with unreasonable and bossy people, we too must be equally aggressive so that they do not climb over our heads. This is how countries often deal with one another. In 1999, the twin towers of New York were destroyed by terrorists. The following year, America invaded Afghanistan and in the year 2003, Iraq. This is the philosophy of big and powerful countries like America – “Show them who’s the boss!”

For us Christians, this way of thinking goes against every value of the Kingdom of God. The values of the Kingdom or the beatitudes are listed out in the gospel today: “Happy are the poor in spirit; happy the gentle; happy those who mourn; happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right; happy the merciful, happy the pure in heart, happy the peacemakers, happy the persecuted.” According to Jesus, it is the weak, the powerless, the gentle and the ones who patiently endures suffering or persecution that is blessed. This is certainly hard to understanding. In fact, it is impossible to understand these values if we were think like the rest of the world.

But St. Paul tells us: “it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen – those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything.” Power, violence, hatred and revenge will finally result in the same thing – power, violence, hatred and revenge. Jesus tells us – “those who live by the sword will die by the sword.”

And so Jesus gives us an alternative set of ethics/values. It is the values that will transform our world into the Kingdom of God – the kingdom where God will ultimately be in control- the kingdom of peace, joy and love. Jesus counters the ethics of greed with an ethics of simplicity. He counters the ethics of power with the ethics of weakness. He counters the ethics of seeking revenge with the ethics of mercy and forgiveness. He He counters the ethics of dishonesty with an ethics of honesty. counters the ethics of violence with the ethics of peace.

Some of us may think: “This is easy for God to say. He’s God. He doesn’t need to suffer as we do.” But this is exactly what God had experienced in the flesh. God became one of us. Jesus becomes the perfect example of humility, powerlessness and non-violence. Jesus lived a life of poverty. He was gentle. He mourned over the loss of loved ones. He hungered for righteousness. He showed mercy. He was always pure in his intentions. He was a peacemaker and finally he endured persecution, suffering and even death at the hands of his enemies. It seemed that his enemies were victorious at the end. But we all know that it was really Jesus who was victorious. Violence and power had failed. Weakness and mercy had prevailed and won the day.

Today, if you are seeking the Lord, then seek integrity, seek humility, seek powerlessness, for then you will discover that it is when you are weak, you will be truly strong.

黑暗及光明

常年期第三主日

我们当中有许多人害怕黑暗. 鬼魂和恶魔喜欢隐藏在黑暗中. 盗贼藏在黑暗中伺机攻击受害子. 黑暗象征我们一切恐惧及焦虑. 黑暗象征我们的无知. 黑暗象征我们的破损.

然而, 我们当中却喜欢黑暗. 我们在黑暗隐藏我们的自私, 我们的不宽恕, 我们的骄傲, 我们的仇恨, 我们的偏见. 没有人知道我们在黑暗中的行为. 除了天主外, 没有人知道 … 罪恶就是黑暗.

但是, 世界的真光已来到! 基督真光已将临世上并照耀世界. 今天依撒意亚的预言应验了: “那坐在黑暗中的百姓, 看见了诰光; 那些坐在死亡阴影之地的人, 为他们出现光明.”

为那些生活在恐惧中的人, 那些生活在无知中的人, 这道光肯定带给他们真正的喜悦. 这就是依撒意亚所说的: “祢加强了他们的快乐, 扩大了他们的欢喜.”

为那些喜欢黑暗的人, 那些偏爱黑暗中的舒适多过于光的人, 光肯定是不受欢迎的. 这就是为什么耶稣受到抵制. 也是为什么司祭, 经师和法利塞人那么抗拒耶稣. 这一群人很高兴留在黑暗中, 因它带给他们虚假的安全感. 黑暗让他们支配别人. 然而, 基督真光却揭露这虚假的安全感.

今天我们仍在黑暗及光明之间挣扎. 在我们的人生中有那些黑暗之处? 或许, 黑暗代表我们的一些恐惧和焦虑. 它或许是我们对其他友族的成见. 它或许是我们的心不甘情不愿与教会的人合作. 我选择与其些人合作而杯葛所有另一人所组办的活动. 初期的基督徒也为这些纷争而挣扎. “我是属阿颇罗的.” “我是属刻法的.” 保禄却提醒他们若要称自己为基督徒, 若要称自己我属光明的人, 他们之间不该有任何分裂.

主内的兄弟姐妹, 我们都是光明的子民, 不再住在黑暗中. 身为光明的子民, 我们彼此之间的关系改变了. 像当初的门徒, 我们被召进入基督的新团体. 既然我们都是光明的子民, 让我们确保我们生活在光明中 – 继续为团体中的合一而努力, 排除心中一切的成见, 不宽恕及仇恨, 排除我们生命中的一切黑暗.

Darkness and Light

Third Ordinary Sunday Year A

Many of us are afraid of the dark. Ghosts and demons like to hide in the dark. Robbers hide in the dark waiting to jump on some unsuspecting victim. Darkness represents all our fears and anxieties. Darkness represents our ignorance. Darkness represents our brokenness.

But some of us like the dark too. We can hide things in the dark – our selfishness, our unforgiveness, our pride, our hatred, our prejudice. No one knows what we do in the dark. No one knows except God… Sin is darkness.

But the Light of the World has come! Christ the Light has come into the world and now the world is ablaze with that light. Today the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: “The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned.”

For the people who were living in fear, for the people who were living in ignorance, this light must have been a real source of joy. This is what Isaiah has written: “You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase.”

But for those who like the dark, those who prefer the comfort of the dark to that of the revealing light, the light must have been unwelcomed. This is the reason why Jesus met with so much resistance. This is the reason why he was rejected by the priests, the scribes and the Pharisees. These groups were happy remaining in the dark, because the dark gave them a false sense of security. The darkness allowed them to have control over others. But Christ the Light has come to expose the falsity of this security.

Today we continue to struggle with darkness and light. What are some of the dark areas of our life? Perhaps, darkness represents some of our fears and anxieties. Perhaps it is our prejudice against certain people especially those of other races. Perhaps it is our unwillingness to work with certain people in the Church. I prefer to work with this person but I will boycott all activities organized by this other person. The early Christians also struggled with these kinds of division. “I am for Apollos”, “I am for Cephas”. Paul reminded them that if they wish to call themselves Christians, if they wish to call themselves people of the light, there can be no such divisions.

My brothers and sisters in Christ. We are children of the Light and no longer a people who live in darkness. As people of the light, our relational ties with one another are transformed. Each of us are called like the first disciples into the new community of Christ. Since we are children of light let us ensure that we continue to live in the light – that we continue to work towards unity within our community, that we continue to remove all forms of prejudice, unforgiveness and hatred from our hearts, that we remove all forms of darkness from our lives.

谦逊是意识到使命

常年期第二主日

“看, 天主的羔羊, 除免世罪者!” 洗者若翰就是这样向自己的门徒指出耶稣. 若翰的宣告真正地显示他的谦逊.

在另一部福音的章节中, 耶稣形容洗者若翰为妇女所生的, 没有一个比他更大的. 换句话说, 在耶稣的眼中, 若翰是在许多先知中是最大的. 事实上, 许多人相信若翰就是那个也是同一的厄里亚返回为默西亚的来临准备道路. 在历史上, 洗者若翰肯定是位拥有许多门徒的有名人物. 这就是为什么福音及宗徒大事录常有提到的原因.

如今, 这位充满神恩的, 却退后让位给他等待已久的那一位.这就是真正的谦逊. 谦逊并不是否认个人的天赋或才华. 谦逊并不是告诉别人个人的不好. 不是的. 真正的谦逊是意识到生命的使命及目的. 在今天的福音的尾端, 若翰告诉我们他的使命: “我看见了, 我便作证: 他就就是天主子.”

为基督作证也是我们的使命. 我们必须向别人指出 “万国的真光.” 我们必须向别人指出 “除免世罪的天主羔羊.” 我们不该把注意力引向我们. 身为基督徒并不是声望的竞争. 我们常遇到归光荣于自己的诱惑 – 把天主的恩宠归功于自己. 如果我们不小心, 我们会开始以为我们可以解决世上所有的难题.

骄傲使我们忘记天主. 骄傲使我们以为我们可以掌控一切. 骄傲使我们忘记我们的真正身份 – 天主的子女为天主所爱并不是因我们堪当而是因为天主是仁慈的. 骄傲使我们以为我们不需要任何人或天主, 单靠自己也可以获得幸福.

真正的谦逊是承认我们在世的真正身份及使命. 我们是仆人, 不是主人. 我们是使徒, 并不是那派遣的. 我们是天主救恩的事奉者, 并不是救世者.

让我们在这台弥撒中继续感谢天主, 赐予认识耶稣的恩典. 让我们把我们的眼目常凝视耶稣因他来为使天主的 “救恩达于地极.”