常年期第廿一主日 2005年08月21日


常年期第廿一主日

我的耶穌是誰?

讀經一:(依22:19-23):上主召厄里雅金作他的僕人
讀經二:(羅11:33-36):有誰知道上主的心意?
福 音:(瑪16:13-20):立伯多祿為教會的磐石
中國文化: 見山是山,見山不是山,見山又是山。
採菊東籬下,悠然見南山。


有一次耶穌問他的門徒說:「人們說人子是誰呢?」他們說:「有的說是洗者若翰,有的說是厄里亞,也有的說是耶肋米亞,或先知中的一位。」耶穌對他們說:「你們說我是誰呢?」西滿伯多祿回答說:「你是基督、永生天主子。」(參考瑪16:13-16)

「人們說我是誰?」我們聽過很多不同的答案。有些人相信耶穌,有些人不相信耶穌。在香港,有些人將「講耶穌」當作是「講廢話」、講與生活脫節的話。耶穌在不同人的眼中,有不同的稱呼,有不同的價值。

門徒最先是重複別人的話。他們說:有人「說」是洗者若翰,有人「說」是厄里亞,有人「說」是耶肋米亞或先知中的一位。

門徒大概已算給足耶穌面子,因為其實也有人說,這個耶穌是靠魔王貝耳則步驅魔的,他是一個罪人的朋友,一個貪飲貪食的人。但門徒沒有複述這些人對耶穌的稱呼。

耶穌不滿意這些答案。因為耶穌想問的,不單是別人說他是誰;他想知道門徒怎樣看他。

於是伯多祿回答說:「你是天主子」。這個伯多祿曾經聽過耶穌講道理,見過耶穌行奇蹟,和耶穌一起在驚濤駭浪中,步行海面。這個伯多祿也曾經親自聽到過耶穌的召叫:「從今以後你要做漁人的漁夫」。

「你是天主子」是伯多祿用口頭去講的話,是一個理所當然的答案,一個標準答案??連小孩子都會回答的答案。

直到聖神降臨後,伯多祿才在藏身的晚餐廳中,突然間勇敢地站起來,充滿聖神,公開宣講耶穌從死者中復活。

從那時開始,伯多祿是用自己的整個生命去宣講。直到他經歷了千辛萬苦,跨越了重重的挫折和風波,走到人生旅途盡頭的時候,他更用了自己的血為基督作見證。

傳說他是被釘在十字架上致命的。當時他對劊子手說:我不配像耶穌一樣釘在十字架上,如果要釘我的話,請你把我倒轉來釘。這就是伯多祿血的見證;他用血去宣講。

同樣的宣講,有本質的不同。一個是口頭的宣講,一個是生命的宣講,一個是血的宣講。

佛教徒有個很特別的說法:「見山是山,見山不是山,見山又是山。」當他第一次見到山時他會說:「這是山」。但當他慢慢去默想、探究真道的時候,便會發現山的定義開始模糊,山與非山之間的分別,並不明顯,因此他會發現:「見山不是山」。等到他真正悟道之後,他將這個山變成有生命的實體,並與自己的生命連繫上,這時他會發現:「見山又是山」。

第一個山和第三個山,是完全不同的山。第一個山是思維上的、感官上的山,第三個山是一個已有生命的山,是陶淵明「採菊東籬下,悠然見南山」的山,一個有生命的山,我們可以對它生出感情的山。

標準答案容易回答,但是用生命去了解的答案,用血去證實的答案,才是真實的答案,屬於我們的答案。

對你來說,耶穌又是誰呢?如果你說耶穌是「主」,你有沒有聽耶穌的話,按他的話去生活呢?你有為他的話而受過苦嗎?你經驗過在聽他的話時那種快樂和狂喜嗎?

你說耶穌聖體是食糧,是旅者之糧。你是否時常領受他?好好珍惜他?你是否時常朝拜聖體,與他交談呢?

你說耶穌是救主。你有沒有珍惜自己的生命、整個的生命:肉身的、靈性的、現世的和永恆的生命呢?你有沒有珍惜自己的和別人的生命,有沒有尊重自己和尊重別人呢?

你說耶穌給你帶來希望。但你對政治前景,對香港、中國,對你自己的前途是否懷有希望呢?你說耶穌是歷史的主宰。但你相信一切都在上主手中嗎?你能不能在面對未來時,可以無恐無懼,如同一個嬰孩睡在母親的懷中?

你說耶穌是主、是食物、是救主、是希望、是歷史的主宰,這些都是你在「說」;但你能夠用生命去證實你說的話嗎?你能用你自己的血在你的話上蓋上一個印嗎?

伯多祿用口開始,用生命去完成,用血蓋上了一個印。

我們也必須用耳朵開始,在聽了耶穌是誰之後,就用口去宣講,再用生命去印證,直至用血去寫出:「耶穌,你是我的主,我要為你而生,為你而死!」

常年期第廿一主日

我的耶稣是谁?

读经一:(依22:19-23):上主召厄里雅金作他的仆人
读经二:(罗11:33-36):有谁知道上主的心意?
福 音:(玛16:13-20):立伯多禄为教会的磐石
中国文化: 见山是山,见山不是山,见山又是山。
采菊东篱下,悠然见南山。


有一次耶稣問他的门徒说:「人们说人子是谁呢?」他们说:「有的说是洗者若翰,有的说是厄里亚,也有的说是耶肋米亚,或先知中的一位。」耶稣对他们说:「你们说我是谁呢?」西满伯多禄回答说:「你是基督、永生天主子。」(参考玛16:13-16)

「人们说我是谁?」我们听過很多不同的答案。有些人相信耶稣,有些人不相信耶稣。在香港,有些人将「讲耶稣」当作是「讲废话」、讲与生活脱节的话。耶稣在不同人的眼中,有不同的称呼,有不同的价值。

门徒最先是重复别人的话。他们说:有人「说」是洗者若翰,有人「说」是厄里亚,有人「说」是耶肋米亚或先知中的一位。

门徒大概已算给足耶稣面子,因为其实也有人说,这個耶稣是靠魔王贝耳则步驱魔的,他是一個罪人的朋友,一個贪饮贪食的人。但门徒没有复述这些人对耶稣的称呼。

耶稣不满意这些答案。因为耶稣想問的,不单是别人说他是谁;他想知道门徒怎样看他。

於是伯多禄回答说:「你是天主子」。这個伯多禄曾经听過耶稣讲道理,见過耶稣行奇迹,和耶稣一起在惊涛骇浪中,步行海面。这個伯多禄也曾经亲自听到過耶稣的召叫:「从今以后你要做渔人的渔夫」。

「你是天主子」是伯多禄用口头去讲的话,是一個理所当然的答案,一個标准答案??连小孩子都会回答的答案。

直到圣神降临后,伯多禄才在藏身的晚餐厅中,突然间勇敢地站起来,充满圣神,公開宣讲耶稣从死者中复活。

从那時開始,伯多禄是用自己的整個生命去宣讲。直到他经历了千辛万苦,跨越了重重的挫折和风波,走到人生旅途尽头的時候,他更用了自己的血为基督作见证。

传说他是被钉在十字架上致命的。当時他对刽子手说:我不配像耶稣一样钉在十字架上,如果要钉我的话,请你把我倒转来钉。这就是伯多禄血的见证;他用血去宣讲。

同样的宣讲,有本质的不同。一個是口头的宣讲,一個是生命的宣讲,一個是血的宣讲。

佛教徒有個很特别的说法:「见山是山,见山不是山,见山又是山。」当他第一次见到山時他会说:「这是山」。但当他慢慢去默想、探究真道的時候,便会发现山的定义開始模糊,山与非山之间的分别,并不明显,因此他会发现:「见山不是山」。等到他真正悟道之后,他将这個山变成有生命的实体,并与自己的生命连系上,这時他会发现:「见山又是山」。

第一個山和第三個山,是完全不同的山。第一個山是思维上的、感官上的山,第三個山是一個已有生命的山,是陶渊明「采菊东篱下,悠然见南山」的山,一個有生命的山,我们可以对它生出感情的山。

标准答案容易回答,但是用生命去了解的答案,用血去证实的答案,才是真实的答案,属於我们的答案。

对你来说,耶稣又是谁呢?如果你说耶稣是「主」,你有没有听耶稣的话,按他的话去生活呢?你有为他的话而受過苦吗?你经验過在听他的话時那种快乐和狂喜吗?

你说耶稣圣体是食粮,是旅者之粮。你是否時常领受他?好好珍惜他?你是否時常朝拜圣体,与他交谈呢?

你说耶稣是救主。你有没有珍惜自己的生命、整個的生命:肉身的、灵性的、现世的和永恒的生命呢?你有没有珍惜自己的和别人的生命,有没有尊重自己和尊重别人呢?

你说耶稣给你带来希望。但你对政治前景,对香港、中国,对你自己的前途是否怀有希望呢?你说耶稣是历史的主宰。但你相信一切都在上主手中吗?你能不能在面对未来時,可以无恐无惧,如同一個婴孩睡在母亲的怀中?

你说耶稣是主、是食物、是救主、是希望、是历史的主宰,这些都是你在「说」;但你能够用生命去证实你说的话吗?你能用你自己的血在你的话上盖上一個印吗?

伯多禄用口開始,用生命去完成,用血盖上了一個印。

我们也必须用耳朵開始,在听了耶稣是谁之后,就用口去宣讲,再用生命去印证,直至用血去写出:「耶稣,你是我的主,我要为你而生,为你而死!」

TWENTY-FRIST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Who is Jesus for me?

First Reading (Is 22:19-23): The Lord called Elisha to be God's wholehearted servant.
Second Reading (Rom 11:33-36): Who knows the will of God?
Gospel (Mt 16:13-20): Peter was appointed the Rock of the Church.
Chinese Classics
-“Seeing the mountain as mountain, Seeing the mountain not as a mountain, Seeing the mountain as mountain again.” (1)
-“I pick up chrysanthemums by the eastern hedge, And to my surprise I suddenly discover the southern mountains.” (2)

“One time Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ Jesus said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ (Mt 13:23-27)

‘Who do people say that I am?’ We have heard Peter's response. Some people believe in Jesus, some do not. In Hong Kong some people think that ‘talking about Jesus’ is meaningless, words unrelated to life. Views about Jesus, names he is called, how he is valued, differ from person to person.

The disciples first repeated what others had said of Jesus. They said, ‘Some say you are John the Baptist, some say that you are Elijah, that you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ Probably to prevent Jesus from ‘losing face’ they did not mention that actually some also said that Jesus was at the disposal of Beelzebub, the prince of devils, or that he was the friend of sinners or a gluttonous person. They did not repeat these remarks about Jesus.

Jesus was not satisfied with these replies. What Jesus really wanted to ask was not others' opinions but rather how the disciples saw him.

Then Peter answered him, ‘You are the Son of God.

This is the Peter who had listened to Jesus' preaching, witnessed his miracles and walked on the water with Jesus amid the churning waves. It was the same Peter who had personally heard Jesus' call: ‘From now on I will make you fishers of people.’

‘You are the Son of God’ were the words Peter said out loud, a natural, standard reply, an answer any child would give.

Peter was not always so courageous until after the coming of the Holy Spirit. Then he was suddenly filled with courage and preached openly about the crucified Jesus who had been raised from the dead.

From that time on Peter gave his entire life to preaching about Jesus. Until he had undergone great suffering and overcome failure and persecution and came to the end of his life journey, when he shed his own blood to witness to Christ.

There is a tradition that Peter was martyred by crucifixion. At that time he said to his executioners, ‘I am not worthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus. If you must nail me to the cross, please turn the cross upside down.’ This was Peter’s witness by blood, he reached by shedding his own blood.

The preaching may be the same but the essence is different. One is preaching by word of mouth, the other is preaching by one's life, a preaching by blood.

A Buddhist made this unusual observation: “Seeing the mountain as mountain, Seeing the mountain not as a mountain, Seeing the mountain as mountain again.” The first time he saw the mountain, he said, “Yes, this is a mountain.” But when he was reflecting and exploring the truth, he found that the definition of a mountain was very blurred. The distinction between a mountain and a non-mountain was not obvious. Therefore, he had this observation of “seeing the mountain not as a mountain”. When he finally realized the truth, he perceived the mountain as an experience with life and inextricably linked up with his own life. At that time, he was “Seeing the mountain as mountain again.”

The first mountain and the third mountain are completely different. The first mountain is a mountain of thoughts and senses. The third mountain is a mountain with a life of its own. It is the mountain that Tao Yuan Ming saw when picking chrysanthemums: “I pick up chrysanthemums by the eastern hedge, And to my surprise I suddenly discover the southern mountains.” It is a mountain with life, which we can come to feel.

An answer ‘up to standard’ is easily made, but only an answer true to life, even to the shedding of one's blood, is the true answer - that should be our answer.

Who is Jesus for you? If you answer Jesus is ‘Lord’, do you listen to Jesus and live according to his teachings? Have you ever suffered for his teaching? Have you ever experienced a kind of happiness, even passionate joy when you have listened and obeyed the words of Jesus?

You may say Jesus' Body and Blood is your spiritual food, nourishment for life's journey. But do you receive Holy Communion often and treasure it? Do you often pray before the Blessed Sacrament to converse with Jesus?

You say Jesus is your Savior. Do you treasure your own life, your entire life: physical, spiritual, the present and the future life? Do you have a high regard for your own life and the life of others, do you have respect for your own life and the lives of others?

You say that Jesus brings you hope. But do you harbor within your heart hope about the political situation, hope for Hong Kong, for China, for your own future? You say that Jesus is the Lord of history. But do you really believe that everything is in God's hands? Can you face the future with no fear whatsoever, like a child resting on its mother's bosom?

You say that Jesus is Lord, nourishment, savior, your hope, Lord of history. You say all of these things, but can you testify to your words by your life? Can you affix a seal to this with your blood?

Peter began his preaching with words but completed it with his life and sealed it with his blood.

We too must begin by listening with our ears, and after hearing who Jesus is, preach about him with our own words and seal this with our lives even to shedding our blood. ‘Jesus, you are our Savior, I will live for you and die for you.’

(1)見山是山,見山不是山,見山又是山。
(2)採菊東籬下,悠然見南山。

 

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徐錦堯@fr.luketsui.idv.hk 2024