復活期第五主日

 

春在枝頭已十分

 

讀經一：(宗6:1-7)：選立七位執事

讀經二：(伯前2:4-9)：以基督為基石

福　音：(若14:1-12)：我是道路、真理、生命

中國文化： 盡日尋春不見春，芒鞋踏破壟頭雲；

歸來偶過桃花下，春在枝頭已十分。

 

天主教的信仰是一個全面的、整合的信仰。意思是：我們相信來世，也相信今生；重視精神的生命，也重視肉身的生命；我們相信那些看得見的，也相信那些看不見的。我們要在今世活一個更豐盛的生命，但是我們絕對沒有忘記，我們在完結這生命以後，會進入另一個永恆的生命。

 

其實，如果用更準確的語言來說，來世的生命便是今世生命的延續，因為我們只有「一個」生命。

 

耶穌在若望福音14章向門徒說：「你們的心不要亂，你們要信賴天主，也要信賴我，在我父的家裡有很多居住的地方。我快要離開你們，我離開你們是為你們預備地方，我去為你們預備地方以後，就要回來接你們到我那裡去。好讓我在哪裡，你們也在那裡，我要去的地方，你們都要去。」十二門徒之一的多默就對耶穌說：「主啊！我們不知道你往哪裡去，又怎知那條路呢？」

 

接著耶穌就回答了他一句很出名的話：「我就是道路、真理、生命。除非經過我，誰也不能到父那裡去。」(參考若14:1-12)

 

耶穌就是道路、真理、生命。他是真理，他講出生命的秘密、宇宙的奧蘊；他告訴我們，原來的生命是怎樣的，甚麼是豐盛的生命，父母應該怎樣對待子女，子女應該怎樣對待父母，我們應該怎樣對待朋友，甚至應該怎樣對待仇人。

 

耶穌是真理，他講出生命的秘密，這秘密是天父創造世界的時候，已經規定了的。例如：世界應是乾淨的；人要相親相愛；快樂在於分享，而不在於霸佔；人際關係的金科玉律是愛及寬恕，而不是無休止的仇恨、敵對和鬥爭。這些都是天主為人生定下的真理。

 

耶穌是真理，因為他講出真理、活出真理，他本身就是真理。當我們說自己信耶穌的時候，我們就應該按照耶穌的話去生活，耶穌很強調這點。他責備那些只懂叫「主啊！主啊！」而不按照上主的話、不按照天主的聖意去生活的人，這些人其實並沒有信；因為信而不行就等如不信。所以「信耶穌得永生」這句話只說對了一半，我們信耶穌時，還須按照耶穌真理的話去生活，我們才會得到真實的生命：今世豐富的生命，將來永恆的生命。

 

耶穌也是那條道路，因為通過他所講的真理，通過他自己，我們可以到天父那裡，可以進入永恆的真福生命中。

 

「除非經過我，否則誰也不能到父那裡去。」耶穌是到父那裡去的唯一途徑。他是天人之間的中保，天人之間的唯一橋樑。信耶穌、接納耶穌、按照耶穌的話去生活，我們便能通到父那裡去。他是道路。

 

當耶穌說這番話時，斐理伯宗徒忽然生出一個疑問：「主，你時常講述你的父，現在請你將父顯示給我們，我們就心滿意足了。」

 

斐理伯不明白耶穌所說的橋樑和道路的道理，他只想直接看見天主、看見父。耶穌就說：「斐理伯，我和你們一起這麼長的時間，你還不認識我嗎？看見我就是看見父。你為甚麼還說要將父顯示給你呢？你不相信我在父內，父在我內嗎？誰看見了我，就是看見了父。」

 

耶穌就是天父的「聖事」，藉著耶穌，我們認識父，可以到父那裡去。看見耶穌，就是看見父，這就是「聖事」。

 

有一首頗有「聖事」意境的詩這樣說：「盡日尋春不見春，芒鞋踏破壟頭雲；歸來偶過桃花下，春在枝頭已十分。」這首詩是說：我整日想找春天，卻找不到；我踏破鐵鞋走遍各處，還是見不到春天的蹤影。我終於回到家門，但就在我回家時，我偶然經過門前的桃花樹下，原來春天已在這裡，春天老早已在我家的門口。

 

在基督身上，我們其實已經見到天父，但我們仍然去找。其實，我們生命中本來已有基督：在教會的聚會中有基督，在聖經中有基督，連在最小的兄弟姊妹身上也有基督。因為耶穌說：「你對我最小的兄弟姊妹所做的，就是對我做的。」(瑪25:40)

 

同樣，當我們閉上眼睛進入內心深處時，天主在那裡；當我們仰觀天空時，天主也在那裡；當我們細心觀看這世界所發生的一切時，我們亦能看到主在那裡向我們招手。「春在枝頭已十分」，原來基督是從未離開過我們，天主也一直在我們身邊。

 

讓我們張開我們的眼睛，放開我們的懷抱，去感受基督的臨在，去觸摸上主的親臨。而在基督的身上，我們便會接觸到父，因為耶穌基督就是道路、真理、生命。他是生命的真理，他是通向生命的道路。讓我們接納他、相信他、按照他的話去生活。

复活期第五主日

 

春在枝头已十分

 

读经一：(宗6:1-7)：选立七位执事

读经二：(伯前2:4-9)：以基督为基石

福　音：(若14:1-12)：我是道路、真理、生命

中国文化： 尽日寻春不见春，芒鞋踏破垄头云；

归来偶過桃花下，春在枝头已十分。

 

天主教的信仰是一個全面的、整合的信仰。意思是：我们相信来世，也相信今生；重视精神的生命，也重视肉身的生命；我们相信那些看得见的，也相信那些看不见的。我们要在今世活一個更丰盛的生命，但是我们绝对没有忘记，我们在完结这生命以后，会进入另一個永恒的生命。

 

其实，如果用更准确的语言来说，来世的生命便是今世生命的延续，因为我们只有「一個」生命。

 

耶稣在若望福音14章向门徒说：「你们的心不要亂，你们要信赖天主，也要信赖我，在我父的家里有很多居住的地方。我快要離開你们，我離開你们是为你们预备地方，我去为你们预备地方以后，就要回来接你们到我那里去。好让我在哪里，你们也在那里，我要去的地方，你们都要去。」十二门徒之一的多默就对耶稣说：「主啊！我们不知道你往哪里去，又怎知那条路呢？」

 

接著耶稣就回答了他一句很出名的话：「我就是道路、真理、生命。除非经過我，谁也不能到父那里去。」(参考若14:1-12)

 

耶稣就是道路、真理、生命。他是真理，他讲出生命的秘密、宇宙的奥蕴；他告诉我们，原来的生命是怎样的，甚么是丰盛的生命，父母应該怎样对待子女，子女应該怎样对待父母，我们应該怎样对待朋友，甚至应該怎样对待仇人。

 

耶稣是真理，他讲出生命的秘密，这秘密是天父创造世界的時候，已经规定了的。例如：世界应是干净的；人要相亲相爱；快乐在於分享，而不在於霸占；人际关系的金科玉律是爱及宽恕，而不是无休止的仇恨、敌对和斗争。这些都是天主为人生定下的真理。

 

耶稣是真理，因为他讲出真理、活出真理，他本身就是真理。当我们说自己信耶稣的時候，我们就应該按照耶稣的话去生活，耶稣很强调这点。他責备那些只懂叫「主啊！主啊！」而不按照上主的话、不按照天主的圣意去生活的人，这些人其实并没有信；因为信而不行就等如不信。所以「信耶稣得永生」这句话只说对了一半，我们信耶稣時，还须按照耶稣真理的话去生活，我们才会得到真实的生命：今世丰富的生命，将来永恒的生命。

 

耶稣也是那条道路，因为通過他所讲的真理，通過他自己，我们可以到天父那里，可以进入永恒的真福生命中。

 

「除非经過我，否则谁也不能到父那里去。」耶稣是到父那里去的唯一途径。他是天人之间的中保，天人之间的唯一橋梁。信耶稣、接纳耶稣、按照耶稣的话去生活，我们便能通到父那里去。他是道路。

 

当耶稣说这番话時，斐理伯宗徒忽然生出一個疑問：「主，你時常讲述你的父，现在请你将父显示给我们，我们就心满意足了。」

 

斐理伯不明白耶稣所说的橋梁和道路的道理，他只想直接看见天主、看见父。耶稣就说：「斐理伯，我和你们一起这么长的時间，你还不认识我吗？看见我就是看见父。你为甚么还说要将父显示给你呢？你不相信我在父内，父在我内吗？谁看见了我，就是看见了父。」

 

耶稣就是天父的「圣事」，藉著耶稣，我们认识父，可以到父那里去。看见耶稣，就是看见父，这就是「圣事」。

 

有一首颇有「圣事」意境的诗这样说：「尽日寻春不见春，芒鞋踏破垄头云；归来偶過桃花下，春在枝头已十分。」这首诗是说：我整日想找春天，却找不到；我踏破铁鞋走遍各处，还是见不到春天的踪影。我终於回到家门，但就在我回家時，我偶然经過门前的桃花树下，原来春天已在这里，春天老早已在我家的门口。

 

在基督身上，我们其实已经见到天父，但我们仍然去找。其实，我们生命中本来已有基督：在教会的聚会中有基督，在圣经中有基督，连在最小的兄弟姊妹身上也有基督。因为耶稣说：「你对我最小的兄弟姊妹所做的，就是对我做的。」(玛25:40)

 

同样，当我们闭上眼睛进入内心深处時，天主在那里；当我们仰观天空時，天主也在那里；当我们细心观看这世界所发生的一切時，我们亦能看到主在那里向我们招手。「春在枝头已十分」，原来基督是从未離開過我们，天主也一直在我们身边。

 

让我们张開我们的眼睛，放開我们的怀抱，去感受基督的临在，去触摸上主的亲临。而在基督的身上，我们便会接触到父，因为耶稣基督就是道路、真理、生命。他是生命的真理，他是通向生命的道路。让我们接纳他、相信他、按照他的话去生活。

Fifth Sunday of Easter

 

Spring is There Completely on the Branch

 

First Reading: (Acts 6: 1-7) Establishment of the Seven Deacons

Second Reading (1 Pet:2: 4-9): Christ is the Rock

Gospel: (Jn 14: 1-12): I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life

Chinese Classics:

- “Days after days search for spring and not seeing spring, Straw sandals broken reaching for the clouds on the mound. Returning home, by chance, went past the peach blossoms, Spring is completely there on the branches.” (1)

 

The faith of the Catholic Church is a holistic, unified faith. This means that we believe in a future life and also in the present life; we emphasize the spiritual life and also a physical life; we believe in what we can see as well in the invisible. We want to live the present life in its fullness, yet we definitely do not forget that after we have finished the present life we will enter into another eternal life.

 

In fact, in more accurate terms, the forthcoming life is the extension of our present life because we really have only 'one' life.

 

In the fourth chapter of St. John's Gospel Jesus said to the disciples, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’

 

Jesus replied with these well- known words, ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ (Ref Jn 14:1-12)

 

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is the Truth, he speaks of the secrets of life, the wonders of the universe; he tells us about the origin of life and what a full life is, how parents should treat their children and how children should treat their parents, how we should treat our friends, even how to treat our enemies.

 

Jesus is the Truth. He described the secrets of life and how order was already determined when the Father created the world. For example, the world should be clean; people should love each other; happiness comes from sharing, not grasping, the ‘Golden Rule’ of human relationships should be love and forgiveness, not unceasing hostility and opposition. These are the truths that God set down for our life.

 

Jesus is the Truth because he spoke truth and lived in truth, for he himself is the Truth. When we say we believe in Jesus we should live according to his words. Jesus stressed this. He condemned those who only know to cry out, ‘Lord! Lord!’ but do not live according to God's word or according to God's will. Such people actually do not have faith because without deeds there really is no belief. Therefore ‘believing Jesus, you shall have eternal life’ is only half correct, for when we believe in Jesus, we also must live according to his words of truth. Only then can we obtain true life: abundent life now and eternal life in future.

 

Jesus is also the Way because only through the truth that he taught and through himself can we go to the Father and enter the eternal life of blessedness.

 

‘Unless you go through me, you cannot go to my Father.’ Jesus is the only Way to the Father. He is the advocate between Heaven and Earth, the only bridge between Heaven and Earth. By believing and accepting Jesus and living according to his words can we reach the Father. Jesus is the Way.

 

When Jesus said this, Philip suddenly brought up another question, ‘Lord, you always tell us about your Father. Show us the Father and it is enough for us.’

 

Philip did not realize what Jesus meant by being the bridge and the way. He only wanted to see God directly, to see the Father. Jesus said, ‘Philip, I have been with you for such a long time and you still do not know me? Who sees me sees the Father. Why do you still say, ‘show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? Whoever sees me sees the Father also.’

 

Jesus is the ‘sacrament’ of the Father, through Jesus, we recognize the Father and can go to the Father. When we see Jesus, we see the Father. This is ‘sacrament’.

 

There is a poem which shares a similar meaning as ‘Sacrament’. “Days after days searched for spring and not seeing spring, Straw sandals broken reaching for the clouds on the mound. Returning home, by chance, went past the peach blossoms, Spring is there completely on the branches.”(1) The poem is about a man who went searching for spring for a long time and could not find it. He went everywhere and his sandals were broken but still there was no trace of spring. Finally, he went home. When he was walking past the door, there under the peach blossom tree, he realized that spring had come. Spring was there right at his door.

 

Actually it is with Jesus that we have seen the Father already, yet we continue to look for Him. In fact, in our life we already have Christ: in Church assemblies there is Christ, in the Scriptures there is Christ, even in the least of our brothers and sisters there is Christ. Because Jesus said, ‘just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ (Mt 25:40)

 

In the same way, when we close our eyes and enter into the depths of our heart, God is there. When we look up to the sky God is there, when we look around carefully at all that happens in the world, we can also see God calling to us. ‘Spring is completely there on the branches.’ In fact God has never left us, God has been at our side all the time.

 

Let us open our eyes widely, open our hearts to feel the presence of Christ and feel God's presence. Through Christ we will reach the Lord, because Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the truth of life and the way to life. Let us accept him, believe in him and live according to his words.

 

(1) 盡日尋春不見春，芒鞋踏破壟頭雲； 歸來偶過桃花下，春在枝頭已十分。