五旬節 2019年06月09日


五旬節

聖神教導得魚忘筌,教會學習得精忘粗

讀經一:(宗2:1-11):聖神降臨
讀經二:(羅8:8-17):在聖神引導下,我們成為天主的兒女
福 音:(若14:15-16,23-26):聖神教導我們一切
中國文化:筌者所以在魚,得魚而忘筌;言者所以在意,得意而忘言。得其精而忘其粗,在其內而忘其外。

你們已不屬於肉性,而是屬於聖神,因為天主的聖神住在你們內。(羅8:9)

那護慰者,即父因我的名所要派遣來的聖神,必要教導你們一切,並且使你們記起,我對你們所說過的一切。(若14:26)

五旬節是耶穌死而復活後的第五十天,這天聖神降臨在宗徒們身上,他們就充滿了聖神的恩典,充滿了從天上而來的智慧和力量。他們開始勇敢地面向群眾,無懼當時猶太人傳統宗教的猜忌和攻擊,明明白白地宣講基督的喜訊。

就這樣,基督的教會公然成立了,她成了一個「傳信者的教會」,一個不斷宣講、不斷為基督作見證,當然也是不斷在擴展的教會。

今日的教會常把牧民工作放在第一位,把絕大部分的精神和力量都投放在禮儀、聖事、管理教友、從事教會的內在事務之上。毫無疑問,牧民工作確實是十分重要的,但這卻不是教會使命的全部;教會還有一個「傳福音」的使命,要成為一個「傳信者的教會」,在世界面前作基督福音的見證人,向所有人介紹這位降生救人的基督。

所以教會有必要把適當比例的資源和力量,投放在福傳或向外教人傳福音的事工上,她甚至要重新調整在她的使命中「牧民」和「福傳」兩者之間的比重,在從前幾乎是一面倒的關注內部的牧民工作中,加重福傳的比例,使福傳和牧民,能成為教會的「兩條腿」,獲得健康而平衡的發展。

但如果要全面地福傳,要滲透世界、深入千家萬戶地去福傳,就要有教友的通力合作,要發動全體教友的參與,要引發所有教友的力量。教會憲章甚至認為教會要「靠教友」,才能真正的「從內部聖化世界」。(教會憲章#31)

不過,無論是牧民或福傳,教會都要注意「形」和「神」這兩個元素。形就是信仰的外形、外表、標記,那是信仰的物質部分和看得見的部分;神就是信仰中那些內在的、精神的、看不見的、充滿聖寵和神恩的部分。

天主教在歷史的發展過程中,比較重視制度和組織,也就是較重視了信仰上「形」的一面,所以我們的宗教禮節井井有條,我們的教會管理有條不紊,整個教會由普世性的組織,至教區性、堂區性、善會性等等的制度和規模,都發展得十分完備,層層下達,如臂使指。連我們的聖樂和聖藝,都可以說得上是人類藝術文明的奇葩。梵二以前,我們甚至很自豪地認為天主教會是「人間最完美的社團」。

在這個背景下,適當地強調「神」的元素,使過去向「形」方面的傾斜,轉移到向「神」方面的強調、強化和關注,是有必要的。說到底,天主教畢竟真的是一個「屬神的」、「屬靈的」、「屬於聖神」的教會。耶穌不是也說過:「天主是神,朝拜他的人,應當以心神以真理去朝拜他」嗎?(若4:24)

一個屬神的教會,是一個重視神恩、嚮往精神生命的需要、接受聖神教導的教會。關於這位聖神,耶穌曾說過,他要「教導你們一切,並且使你們記起,我(耶穌)對你們所說過的一切。

耶穌復活升天後,當教會遇到問題時,她已經沒有耶穌在身旁,耶穌再也不能直接幫助教會去面對這些問題,於是教會只能回憶耶穌的話,從耶穌的話中去找尋靈感和力量。

但當教會這樣「記起」耶穌的話時,耶穌的話已經在教會中起了微妙的變化,那是教會對耶穌的話的再詮釋。那時,教會已能找出耶穌說話的原有精神,並將之應用在新的情況中。這就是「神」,是耶穌的話的「精神」,這就是聖神在教會中所起的作用,這種作用甚至能發展、豐富耶穌原來的話,並使這些話充滿了生機和活力。

莊子《外物》篇說:「筌者所以在魚,得魚而忘筌;言者所以在意,得意而忘言。」意思是:筌這種捕魚工具是為了捕魚的,捕到魚就可以忘記筌了;言語是用來傳達思想和情意的,領會了別人說話的精神,就可以把原話忘掉,而不必再執著於這些言語。

這就是《列子》所謂「得其精而忘其粗,在其內而忘其外」的工夫,這就是聖神的化工。藉著聖神,教會已經能再次和耶穌結合在一起,就好像昔日天主聖子曾藉聖神而降生成人,居我人間一樣。

 

五旬节

圣神教导得魚忘筌,教会学习得精忘粗

读经一:(宗2:1-11):圣神降临
读经二:(罗8:8-17):在圣神引导下,我们成为天主的儿女
福 音:(若14:15-16,23-26):圣神教导我们一切
中国文化:筌者所以在魚,得魚而忘筌;言者所以在意,得意而忘言。得其精而忘其粗,在其内而忘其外。

你们已不属於肉性,而是属於圣神,因为天主的圣神住在你们内。(罗8:9)

那护慰者,即父因我的名所要派遣来的圣神,必要教导你们一切,并且使你们记起,我对你们所说過的一切。(若14:26)

五旬节是耶稣死而复活后的第五十天,这天圣神降临在宗徒们身上,他们就充满了圣神的恩典,充满了从天上而来的智慧和力量。他们開始勇敢地面向群众,无惧当時犹太人传统宗教的猜忌和攻击,明明白白地宣讲基督的喜讯。

就这样,基督的教会公然成立了,她成了一個「传信者的教会」,一個不断宣讲、不断为基督作见证,当然也是不断在扩展的教会。

今日的教会常把牧民工作放在第一位,把绝大部分的精神和力量都投放在礼仪、圣事、管理教友、从事教会的内在事务之上。毫无疑問,牧民工作确实是十分重要的,但这却不是教会使命的全部;教会还有一個「传福音」的使命,要成为一個「传信者的教会」,在世界面前作基督福音的见证人,向所有人介绍这位降生救人的基督。

所以教会有必要把適当比例的资源和力量,投放在福传或向外教人传福音的事工上,她甚至要重新调整在她的使命中「牧民」和「福传」两者之间的比重,在从前幾乎是一面倒的关注内部的牧民工作中,加重福传的比例,使福传和牧民,能成为教会的「两条腿」,获得健康而平衡的发展。

但如果要全面地福传,要渗透世界、深入千家万户地去福传,就要有教友的通力合作,要发动全体教友的参与,要引发所有教友的力量。教会宪章甚至认为教会要「靠教友」,才能真正的「从内部圣化世界」。(教会宪章#31)

不過,无论是牧民或福传,教会都要注意「形」和「神」这两個元素。形就是信仰的外形、外表、标记,那是信仰的物质部分和看得见的部分;神就是信仰中那些内在的、精神的、看不见的、充满圣宠和神恩的部分。

天主教在历史的发展過程中,比较重视制度和组织,也就是较重视了信仰上「形」的一面,所以我们的宗教礼节井井有条,我们的教会管理有条不紊,整個教会由普世性的组织,至教区性、堂区性、善会性等等的制度和规模,都发展得十分完备,层层下达,如臂使指。连我们的圣乐和圣艺,都可以说得上是人类艺术文明的奇葩。梵二以前,我们甚至很自豪地认为天主教会是「人间最完美的社团」。

在这個背景下,適当地强调「神」的元素,使過去向「形」方面的倾斜,转移到向「神」方面的强调、强化和关注,是有必要的。说到底,天主教毕竟真的是一個「属神的」、「属灵的」、「属於圣神」的教会。耶稣不是也说過:「天主是神,朝拜他的人,应当以心神以真理去朝拜他」吗?(若4:24)

一個属神的教会,是一個重视神恩、向往精神生命的需要、接受圣神教导的教会。关於这位圣神,耶稣曾说過,他要「教导你们一切,并且使你们记起,我(耶稣)对你们所说過的一切。

耶稣复活升天后,当教会遇到問题時,她已经没有耶稣在身旁,耶稣再也不能直接帮助教会去面对这些問题,於是教会只能回憶耶稣的话,从耶稣的话中去找寻灵感和力量。

但当教会这样「记起」耶稣的话時,耶稣的话已经在教会中起了微妙的变化,那是教会对耶稣的话的再诠释。那時,教会已能找出耶稣说话的原有精神,并将之应用在新的情况中。这就是「神」,是耶稣的话的「精神」,这就是圣神在教会中所起的作用,这种作用甚至能发展、丰富耶稣原来的话,并使这些话充满了生机和活力。

庄子《外物》 篇说:「筌者所以在魚,得魚而忘筌;言者所以在意,得意而忘言。」意思是:筌这种捕魚工具是为了捕魚的,捕到魚就可以忘记筌了;言语是用来传达思想和情意的,领会了别人说话的精神,就可以把原话忘掉,而不必再执著於这些言语。

这就是《列子》 所谓「得其精而忘其粗,在其内而忘其外」的工夫,这就是圣神的化工。藉著圣神,教会已经能再次和耶稣结合在一起,就好像昔日天主圣子曾藉圣神而降生成人,居我人间一样。

 

FEAST OF PENTECOST


The Holy Spirit Teaches Us to Catch the Fish and Forget the Fish Traps
The Church Learns How to Obtain the Finest and Put Aside the Coarse

First Reading (Acts 2:1-11): The descent of the Holy Spirit
Second Reading ) Rom 8:8-17): Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we become the children of God
Gospel (Jn 14: 15-16, 23-26): The Holy Spirit teaches us all things
Chinese culture:
-“A fish trap is a means for catching fish, but once we catch the fish the trap can be for-gotten. Words are a means for grasping ideas, but when the idea is grasped, the words can be forgotten.”(1) ( The sayings of Chuang Tze, Chap 26, Externals)
-“Get the finest and forget the coarse. Emphasize the essence and forget the externals.”(2) Lie Zi

You are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you.”(Rom 8:9)

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (Jn 14: 26)


The day of Pentecost took place on the fiftieth day after Jesus rose from the dead. On that day the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. They were filled with the Spirit's grace and empowered from above with wisdom and strength. Immediately they began to face the crowd courageously, no longer afraid of the jealousy and attacks of the Jews and their religious traditions. They began to proclaim the good news of Christ.

In that way Christ's church was established openly and became the 'church of evangeliz-ers.' It would be a church always evangelising, always witnessing to Christ, and natu-rally always expanding.

Today the church gives priority to its pastoral role. Most of her energy is given to lit-urgy, the sacraments, looking after the faithful, over and above its internal affairs. Un-doubtedly pastoral care is extremely important but this is not the entire mission of the church. The church still has a mission to 'evangelise,' to become 'the church of evange-lisers,' showing the world that she is a witness to Christ's gospel and introducing all people to the incarnate Christ who saved us.

The church therefore must use its resources and energies in proper proportion to evange-lization and the tasks related to preaching the Gospel to non-Christians. She may even need to adjust the weight she gives to both the ministries of pastoral care and those of evangelization, perhaps giving less attention to the former in favor of the latter, so that both become like 'two pillars' of the church, enabling it to develop in a balanced and healthy manner.

If, however, the church is to take up evangelisation in a comprehensive manner, enter into the world, and preach to all families in every corner of the world, she must have the full co-operation and participation of the laity, eliciting from the laity all their capabilities. 'The Constitution on the Church' even says that the church ‘must rely on the laity’ in order to truly 'sanctify the world from within.' (Const. on the Church, Art. 31).

However, whether in pastoral care or in evangelisation, the church must pay attention to both external and spiritual aspects. 'External' refers to the tangible and visible part of our faith, for example, signs, external forms, material elements. 'Spiritual' encompasses the part that is internal, spiritual, invisible, filled with grace and spiritual gifts.

As the history of the church has developed, she has attached relatively greater importance to organisation and structure, that is, put greater emphasis on the 'externals' of the faith. Hence, our rituals are very orderly; and the management of our church is very systematic. The organisation of the whole church, its structures and regulations, from the universal level to the diocesan and parish levels, even to pious organizations, etc. have developed quite adequately. We can say that even the church's music and art can be counted as a fine contribution to the art and culture of humankind. Before the Second Vatican Council we took great pride in considering the Catholic Church 'the most perfect human institu-tion'.

With that as a background, it is now appropriate to emphasize the spiritual elements of the church. It is indeed necessary to move from the previous emphasis to giving priority to an intensification and concern for 'spiritual' aspects. The truth of the matter is that the Catholic Church is a spiritual entity, spirit-directed and guided by the Holy Spirit. Did not Jesus say that “God is spirit, and those who worship God must worship in spirit and truth?” (Jn 4:24).

A church guided by the spirit is one that stresses spiritual gifts and the needs of our spiritual lives, and is receptive to the teachings of the Holy Spirit. Jesus once said this about the Holy Spirit: “The Spirit will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (Jn 14:24)

After Jesus' resurrection and ascension, he was no longer by the side of the church when problems arose. He then could not directly help the church face its problems. The church could only recall Jesus’ teachings and from these recollections seek inspiration and strength.

When the church thus 'recalled' the teachings of Jesus, within the church those teachings would have already undergone subtle 'changes.' That is, the church was expounding fur-ther on the words of Jesus. She was able to ferret out the original spirit of Jesus' words and apply them to a new situation. That is 'spirit', the 'spirit' of the words of Jesus. That is the role of the Holy Spirit in the church. The Spirit helps the church to under-stand, develop and enrich the original words of Jesus, enabling them to be filled with vi-tality and vigor.

Zhuang Zi wrote in 'Externals' in The Sayings of Zhuang Zi (Chap. 26) “A fish trap is a means for catching fish, but once we catch the fish, the trap can be forgotten. Words are a means for grasping ideas, but when the idea is grasped, the words can be forgotten. “(1) The fish-trap is a tool for catching fish. When we have caught the fish, we can for-get about the fish-trap. Words are used to communicate ideas and feelings. When we have comprehended the meaning of the speaker, we can forget about the exact wording and need not hold on to it.

This is what Lie Zi meant by “Get the finest and forget the coarse. Emphasize the inside and forget the outside.”(2) This is also the work of the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit the church can be united to Jesus anew. It is as in an earlier time when through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Son of God became incarnate, took on a human form and lived among us.


(1)筌者所以在魚,得魚而忘筌;言者所以在意,得意而忘言。
(2) 得其精而忘其粗,在其內而忘其外。

 

 

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