常年期第七主日

無罪身心健，大地任我行

讀經一：(依43:18-19,21-22,24-25)：天主免除人的罪過
讀經二：(格後1:18-22)：天主的許諾在基督內成了「是」。
福　音：(谷2:1-12)：治好癱子
中國文化： 管鮑之交：生我者父母，知我者鮑子也。惜緣。畫鬼易。

那時，有四個人抬著一個癱子，來到耶穌那裡；因為人太擠擁，不能把病人送到他面前，於是在耶穌所在的地方，揭開了屋頂，就把病人連同擔架縋下去。耶穌看見他們的信心，就對癱子說：「孩子，你的罪赦了！……我吩咐你：起來，拿起你的擔架，回家去罷！」那個人就立刻站起來，當著眾人拿起擔架，出去了。(谷2:3-12)

今天的福音故事有四點引起我們特別的注意：第一、這個故事發生的地方是葛法翁城的一個民居，那裡「許多人擁上來，甚至連門前也擠得水洩不通」。第二、這位來求醫的癱子，不是自己來的，而是由他的四個朋友把他抬來的；我們不知道這個癱子對耶穌的信心怎樣，但那四個人對耶穌顯然是有信心的。第三、耶穌把這人的罪和他的疾病連在一起，也把病愈和赦罪連在一起。第四、耶穌藉這個治愈癱子的奇蹟，來證明他是有赦罪權柄的天主。

葛法翁是一個相當熱鬧的城市，是耶穌和門徒聚腳的地方，聖經甚至稱之為「他的城」。耶穌曾在這裡的會堂講道，在這裡驅過魔，剛剛還治好過伯多祿岳母的病，和使「許多患各種病症的人」痊愈。所以當群眾一知道耶穌「又進了葛法翁」時，自然也就蜂湧而來，為了聽道，為了瞻仰耶穌的丰采，也許亦為了看看耶穌將要行的奇蹟。

果然，有人把一個癱子抬來了，是他的朋友把他抬來的。耶穌「看見他們的信心」，就行了這個使癱子行走的奇蹟。

故勿論這位癱子對耶穌有沒有信心，但肯定的是，如果沒有這四位朋友，沒有這四位朋友不嫌麻煩的堅持??抬上屋頂、揭開房頂、把病人連擔架的縋下去??耶穌大概不會顯這個奇蹟，這個癱子大概也沒有康復的機會。

我們祈求很多恩典，希望奇蹟降臨在我們身上。我們有時忘記了，我們可以求恩典，但更可以「成為恩典」；我們自己就可以是奇蹟發生的原因，可以促成奇蹟的出現。

換句話說，我們可以成為「帶恩者」，而不只是受恩者。

大家可能聽過「管鮑之交」的故事。管仲相桓公、霸諸侯、一匡天下，功業彪炳。就在他意氣風發的時候，他想起了他的好朋友鮑叔牙，而說了千古傳誦的一句話：「生我者父母，知我者鮑子也。」意思是：生我的是爹媽，但明白我、幫助我、使我重新振作、如獲新生的，卻是我的朋友鮑叔牙。

鮑叔牙就是管仲的恩典，是上天送給管仲的無價之寶。沒有父母，就沒有管仲的肉身生命；但沒有鮑叔牙，也就沒有管仲的政治、軍事和他的功業生命。就好像今天的福音，沒有這四位朋友，這位癱子未必會獲得痊愈。

我們需要朋友。朋友之間，彼此都是天主送給對方的恩典。當我們對這友誼加以珍惜的時候，這就叫做「惜緣」。

然後就是奇蹟要發生的時候了。耶穌先說：「你的罪赦了。」在旁的幾位熟讀經書、熱心維謢宗教聖潔的經師立刻起了反感。他們想：「這個人在胡說八道什麼呢？除了天主以外，誰能赦罪呢？這不是褻瀆的話嗎？」(參看谷2:7)

人的身心相連、靈肉相倚，心理健康影響生理健康，生理情況反映靈性現狀；心病要心藥，靈病要靈醫。耶穌是全人的、整個人的救主，他不單救人的靈魂，也救人的肉身；他不單關心民間的疾苦，也痛恨惡勢力的囂張。他要醫治這個身體癱瘓的人，他得先除去這個人靈魂上的束縛。

「你的罪赦了，你的心靈已得治愈，你已經可以重拾自由，重獲新生，逍遙於天地之間，翱翔於六合之外；在今天、於來世，與造物者遊，和那位造你、救你的天主心心相印。」

天主的經師居然認不出這位降生為人的天主，並視耶穌赦罪的言語為「褻瀆」。耶穌於是做了一個最簡單的證明：嘴裡說說赦罪的話，或在眾目睽睽之下，叫這個癱子起來行走，這兩者哪個比較容易？答案當然是：說說比較容易。這和中國人所說「畫鬼易，畫犬馬難」，有異曲同工之妙。沒有人見過鬼，你畫得怎樣都好，誰又有資格可以說「不」呢？但如果你畫狗畫馬畫得不像，便人人都可以看得出來了。

耶穌於是對癱子說：「起來，拿起你的擔架，回家去罷！」那個癱子果然拿起了擔架，出去了。

剩下的，是一群目瞪口呆的群眾，和一片讚美天主之聲。「我們從來沒有見過這樣的事！」(谷2:12)

常年期第七主日

无罪身心健，大地任我行

读经一：(依43:18-19,21-22,24-25)：天主免除人的罪過
读经二：(格后1:18-22)：天主的许诺在基督内成了「是」。
福　音：(谷2:1-12)：治好瘫子
中国文化： 管鲍之交：生我者父母，知我者鲍子也。惜缘。画鬼易。

那時，有四個人抬著一個瘫子，来到耶稣那里；因为人太挤拥，不能把病人送到他面前，於是在耶稣所在的地方，揭開了屋顶，就把病人连同担架缒下去。耶稣看见他们的信心，就对瘫子说：「孩子，你的罪赦了！……我吩咐你：起来，拿起你的担架，回家去罢！」那個人就立刻站起来，当著众人拿起担架，出去了。(谷2:3-12)

今天的福音故事有四点引起我们特别的注意：第一、这個故事发生的地方是葛法翁城的一個民居，那里「许多人拥上来，甚至连门前也挤得水泄不通」。第二、这位来求醫的瘫子，不是自己来的，而是由他的四個朋友把他抬来的；我们不知道这個瘫子对耶稣的信心怎样，但那四個人对耶稣显然是有信心的。第三、耶稣把这人的罪和他的疾病连在一起，也把病愈和赦罪连在一起。第四、耶稣藉这個治愈瘫子的奇迹，来证明他是有赦罪权柄的天主。

葛法翁是一個相当热闹的城市，是耶稣和门徒聚脚的地方，圣经甚至称之为「他的城」。耶稣曾在这里的会堂讲道，在这里驱過魔，刚刚还治好過伯多禄岳母的病，和使「许多患各种病症的人」痊愈。所以当群众一知道耶稣「又进了葛法翁」時，自然也就蜂涌而来，为了听道，为了瞻仰耶稣的丰采，也许亦为了看看耶稣将要行的奇迹。

果然，有人把一個瘫子抬来了，是他的朋友把他抬来的。耶稣「看见他们的信心」，就行了这個使瘫子行走的奇迹。

故勿论这位瘫子对耶稣有没有信心，但肯定的是，如果没有这四位朋友，没有这四位朋友不嫌麻烦的坚持??抬上屋顶、揭開房顶、把病人连担架的缒下去??耶稣大概不会显这個奇迹，这個瘫子大概也没有康复的机会。

我们祈求很多恩典，希望奇迹降临在我们身上。我们有時忘记了，我们可以求恩典，但更可以「成为恩典」；我们自己就可以是奇迹发生的原因，可以促成奇迹的出现。

换句话说，我们可以成为「带恩者」，而不只是受恩者。

大家可能听過「管鲍之交」的故事。管仲相桓公、霸诸侯、一匡天下，功业彪炳。就在他意气风发的時候，他想起了他的好朋友鲍叔牙，而说了千古传诵的一句话：「生我者父母，知我者鲍子也。」意思是：生我的是爹妈，但明白我、帮助我、使我重新振作、如获新生的，却是我的朋友鲍叔牙。

鲍叔牙就是管仲的恩典，是上天送给管仲的无价之宝。没有父母，就没有管仲的肉身生命；但没有鲍叔牙，也就没有管仲的政治、军事和他的功业生命。就好像今天的福音，没有这四位朋友，这位瘫子未必会获得痊愈。

我们需要朋友。朋友之间，彼此都是天主送给对方的恩典。当我们对这友谊加以珍惜的時候，这就叫做「惜缘」。

然后就是奇迹要发生的時候了。耶稣先说：「你的罪赦了。」在旁的幾位熟读经书、热心维謢宗教圣洁的经师立刻起了反感。他们想：「这個人在胡说八道什么呢？除了天主以外，谁能赦罪呢？这不是亵渎的话吗？」(参看谷2:7)

人的身心相连、灵肉相倚，心理健康影响生理健康，生理情况反映灵性现状；心病要心药，灵病要灵醫。耶稣是全人的、整個人的救主，他不单救人的灵魂，也救人的肉身；他不单关心民间的疾苦，也痛恨恶势力的嚣张。他要醫治这個身体瘫痪的人，他得先除去这個人灵魂上的束缚。

「你的罪赦了，你的心灵已得治愈，你已经可以重拾自由，重获新生，逍遥於天地之间，翱翔於六合之外；在今天、於来世，与造物者游，和那位造你、救你的天主心心相印。」

天主的经师居然认不出这位降生为人的天主，并视耶稣赦罪的言语为「亵渎」。耶稣於是做了一個最简单的证明：嘴里说说赦罪的话，或在众目睽睽之下，叫这個瘫子起来行走，这两者哪個比较容易？答案当然是：说说比较容易。这和中国人所说「画鬼易，画犬马难」，有异曲同工之妙。没有人见過鬼，你画得怎样都好，谁又有资格可以说「不」呢？但如果你画狗画马画得不像，便人人都可以看得出来了。

耶稣於是对瘫子说：「起来，拿起你的担架，回家去罢！」那個瘫子果然拿起了担架，出去了。

剩下的，是一群目瞪口呆的群众，和一片赞美天主之声。「我们从来没有见過这样的事！」(谷2:12)

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Healthy the Person Sinless in Body and Spirit, Free to Wander the Earth at Will

First Reading (Is 43:18-19,21-22,24-25): God forgives our sins
Second Reading (2 Cor 1:18-22 ) : In Christ God's promise is fulfilled
Gospel ( Mk 2:1-12) : Jesus heals a paralytic
Chinese Classics:
-“The friendship between Kwun and Poa:It was my parents who gave me birth, but only Poa can understand me”(1).
- “Cherish relationships.” (2)
-“Drawing a ghost is easy.”(3)

“Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven. I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out. ( Mk 2:3-12)

Today's Gospel story brings to our attention the following points:
1) The story took place in the city of Capernaum where there were many people: “so many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door”
2) The paralyzed man who came for help did not come alone. Rather, four friends brought him in on a stretcher. Therefore, we may not be sure about the paralytic's faith in Jesus, but we can be quite sure of the faith of his four friends.
3) Jesus associated the person's illness with sin, and associated the healing with the forgiveness of sin.
4) By performing a miracle to cure the paralyzed man, Jesus proved he is the Lord who has the power to forgive sin.

Capernaum was a bustling city and the place where Jesus and his disciples often gathered – the Bible even calls it “his city”. Jesus preached in the synagogue there, exorcised devils there, and there cured Peter’s mother-in-law and also “many who were sick with various diseases.” So the crowd knew “when he returned to Capernaum” and flocked to listen to his preaching and perhaps see him perform a miracle. So the paralyzed man came too, brought by his friends. And “when Jesus saw their faith” he performed the miracle to assure that the paralyzed man would walk again.

We don't know about the paralyzed man's faith in Jesus, but we are sure of this, without the help of those four friends who did not mind the inconvenience – going up to the roof, finding a way to ‘dig through it;’ letting down the crippled man into the room -- Jesus probably would not have performed this miracle, and the paralytic would not have had an opportunity to regain his health.

We may pray for many graces and hope miracles will happen. We may sometimes forget that while we can pray for God's favour (gift), we also can become ‘gift’ for others. We ourselves can be the cause for miracles to appear. In other words, we also can be ‘facilitators of God's favour’ and not just ‘receivers of God’s gifts.’

Many of us may have heard the story about “The friendship between Kwun and Poa. Kwun Chung was prime minister to Woon Kung, leader of the leaders of tehe allied states. He planned to restore the country. He was at the height of his career. Once when Kwun Chung was feeling particularly pleased with himself, he suddenly thought of his good friend, Poa Suk Nga. He said something that would be remembered for centuries after: “My parents gave me birth. But only Poa can understand me.”(1) What he meant was that although his parents had raised him, the one who really understood him, assisted and encouraged him, and helped him build up a new life and career, was his friend, Poa Suk Nga.

Poa was a gift to Kwun – a priceless gift from heaven. Without his parents Kwun would not have had physical life. But without Poa, Kwun would not have had a political or military life, or his career. Like the Gospel passage today, without his four friends the paralyzed man perhaps would not have recovered.

We need friends. Among friends we are ‘gifts’ of God' to each other. When we treasure friendship in this way, a Chinese saying calls it “cherishing relationships.”(2)

The moment for the miracle had come. Jesus said “your sins have been forgiven.” Nearby there were some learned scribes who knew the Scriptures well. They also were zealous to protect the purity of the Holy Word. They immediately reacted, thinking, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ( Mk 2:7 )

Body and heart, spirit and flesh, are linked together and are interdependent. Psychological health influences physical well-being, one's physical condition sometimes mirrors a spiritual state. Mental problems need their own kind of cure, illness of the spirit needs spiritual healing. Jesus, the perfect human being, is savior of all humankind, not only saving our spirits, but our bodies too. He not only cares about the suffering of ordinary mortals, he hates the relentless spread of the power of evil. He wanted to cure the paralytic of his bodily constraints, but he first wanted to remove the constraints on the soul. ‘Your sins have been forgiven and your soul has been healed. You have regained your freedom, and can live a new life. You are free to ‘wander the earth and the heavens at will.’ Today and hereafter you can walk with the Creator and be completely at one with the God who created you and saved you’.

The scribes of the Lord did not recognize the God who had become human for the sake of humankind, so they regarded Jesus' words as ‘blasphemous.’ Jesus then gave a simple proof: ‘which is easier of the two, to say words of forgiveness, or to tell the paralytic in the presence of all to get up and walk?’ Of course the answer is to say the words is easier. This is somewhat like the Chinese saying, “Drawing a ghost is easy; drawing dogs and horses is difficult.” (3) No one has seen a ghost, so whatever you draw, no one can say, ‘it shouldn't be that way.’ But if you cannot draw a dog or horse correctly, people who have seen either, will judge you harshly.

So Jesus said to the paralytic, “stand up, take your mat and go to your home!” And that is what he did, he took up his stretcher and went out. There was left behind a shocked and wide-eyed audience, together praising God with loud acclaim. “They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” ( Mk 2:12 )

(1)管鮑之交：生我者父母，知我者鮑子也。
(2)惜緣。畫鬼易。