常年期第十二主日

掌握有涯的生命，追尋無涯的基督

讀經一：(匝12:10-11)：人們要瞻仰他們所刺透的那位
讀經二：(迦3:26-29)：凡信耶穌的都是天主的兒女
福　音：(路9:18-24)：伯多祿明認基督
中國文化：吾生也有涯，而知也無涯。

人們說我是誰呢？……你們說我是誰呢？……凡願意跟隨我的，就該捨棄自己，天天背著自己的十字架跟隨我。因為，誰要保全自己的生命，必會喪失生命；但是，誰為我的緣故犧牲自己的生命，必能保全生命。（路9:18-24節錄）

耶穌的問題有兩個：他要門徒知道別人怎樣看他或說他，他更想知道門徒自己又是怎樣看他。

要傳教、要為耶穌作見證，我們不能不認識我們要傳的對象，尤其是我們周圍的大氣候、大環境。我們更不能不意識和醒覺到別人的所思、所感，他們所看到的、所觀察到的、所感受到的和所領會到的。

福傳，不單是我們要傳什麼、講什麼的問題，也是別人能夠明白到什麼、理解到什麼的問題。不單是我們怎樣生活、怎樣工作的問題，也是別人看到、觀察到我們在生活什麼、作什麼，或者是我們如何把所說的，變成所行的問題。

門徒給耶穌的回答很正面，他們告訴耶穌：有人說他是洗者若翰，有人說他是厄里亞，也有人認為他可能是「古代的一位先知復活了」。(路9:19)

其實門徒沒有告訴耶穌的是：也有人說他不過是木匠的兒子；是個貪吃、貪喝的人；是靠魔王去驅魔的……。連有一位門徒（納塔乃耳），在跟隨耶穌之前，還是瞧不起耶穌出身的地方，因此他語帶輕蔑地對斐理伯說：「從納匝肋還能出什麼好事嗎？」（若1:46）

但無論別人說什麼，耶穌更關心的，是門徒們怎樣看他。於是伯多祿代表其他門徒回答他說：「你是天主的受傅者。」(路9:20)

受傅者就是受過傅油禮的人。猶太人古時的先知、司祭、君王等有崇高地位的人，便是受過傅油禮的人。承認耶穌是受傅者，就是承認耶穌有崇高的身分和地位。事實上，希臘文的「基督」，或希伯來文的「默西亞」，原來的意義就是指「受傅者」。

認識耶穌，認出他就是尊貴的受傅者、是我們的救世主，並不是容易事；從前不容易，今天也不容易。

例如，從耶穌驅魔這個事件來看，就有人看得出耶穌是從天主來的，卻也有人看到他和魔王是一夥的！

生命十分複雜，真真假假有時也極難分辨。我們很多時都會把真當假，把假當真；把天使當魔鬼，把魔鬼當天使。我們自己會犯錯，我們的朋友、家人、團體會犯錯，我們的國家、民族、教會，甚至整個人類，都一樣會犯錯，都曾經犯過錯。

要避免犯錯，或更好說，要能夠從錯誤中走出來，只有靠耶穌。今天福音給我們的一個提示就是：捨棄自己，天天背著自己的十字架，跟隨耶穌。

捨棄自己，就是不要把自己絕對化，而要對耶穌全部開放。只有耶穌是真理、道路、生命；我們不是，我們的國家、民族、文化、教會都不是。無論誰，若自以為擁有全部的真理，就注定要自絕於真理。何況，即使我們真的擁有全部的真理，我們對這些真理的了解，也未必是全面的。

在捨棄自己和對耶穌全面開放的生活態度中，我們要透過四個途徑去獲得真理：第一、我們自己會努力找尋真理，藉著思考和默想，也透過生活和行動；第二、我們也會聆聽別人的經驗，相信別人也在找尋真理，而且也可能找到真理；第三、我們會服從教會的訓導，因為她是耶穌授權去捍衛真理的信仰團體，這個教會也在誠懇地、不斷地找尋真理；第四、參考世界的智慧，因為天主也會把真理啟示給世界。

上述四個因素??即個人、他人、教會、世界??並不是互不關聯的，它們還該彼此互動，互相肯定、互相提昇，也互相批判。我們更要不斷的回顧我們所走過的追尋真理之路，以期在我們個人及團體生活的歷史軌跡中，追尋那逐漸顯露出來的耶穌和他的真理。

我們堅信耶穌——天主的受傅者，我們也堅信能走到生命的終極美善境界。但我們也懷著謙虛的心，以開放的態度，去和一切「懷善意的人們」，找尋這位天主的受傅者。

雖然我們認同莊子的「吾生也有涯，而知也無涯」的觀點，但我們仍願以有涯的生命，去追尋那無涯的基督，並相信只要有基督與我們同在，那麼，在這個追尋的盡頭，就一定是幸福無涯的永生。

常年期第十二主日

掌握有涯的生命，追寻无涯的基督

读经一：(匝12:10-11)：人们要瞻仰他们所刺透的那位
读经二：(迦3:26-29)：凡信耶稣的都是天主的儿女
福　音：(路9:18-24)：伯多禄明认基督
中国文化：吾生也有涯，而知也无涯。

人们说我是谁呢？……你们说我是谁呢？……凡願意跟随我的，就該舍弃自己，天天背著自己的十字架跟随我。因为，谁要保全自己的生命，必会丧失生命；但是，谁为我的缘故牺牲自己的生命，必能保全生命。（路9:18-24节录）

耶稣的問题有两個：他要门徒知道别人怎样看他或说他，他更想知道门徒自己又是怎样看他。

要传教、要为耶稣作见证，我们不能不认识我们要传的对象，尤其是我们周围的大气候、大环境。我们更不能不意识和醒觉到别人的所思、所感，他们所看到的、所观察到的、所感受到的和所领会到的。

福传，不单是我们要传什么、讲什么的問题，也是别人能够明白到什么、理解到什么的問题。不单是我们怎样生活、怎样工作的問题，也是别人看到、观察到我们在生活什么、作什么，或者是我们如何把所说的，变成所行的問题。

门徒给耶稣的回答很正面，他们告诉耶稣：有人说他是洗者若翰，有人说他是厄里亚，也有人认为他可能是「古代的一位先知复活了」。(路9:19)

其实门徒没有告诉耶稣的是：也有人说他不過是木匠的儿子；是個贪吃、贪喝的人；是靠魔王去驱魔的……。连有一位门徒（纳塔乃耳），在跟随耶稣之前，还是瞧不起耶稣出身的地方，因此他语带轻蔑地对斐理伯说：「从纳匝肋还能出什么好事吗？」（若1:46）

但无论别人说什么，耶稣更关心的，是门徒们怎样看他。於是伯多禄代表其他门徒回答他说：「你是天主的受傅者。」(路9:20)

受傅者就是受過傅油礼的人。犹太人古時的先知、司祭、君王等有崇高地位的人，便是受過傅油礼的人。承认耶稣是受傅者，就是承认耶稣有崇高的身分和地位。事实上，希腊文的「基督」，或希伯来文的「默西亚」，原来的意义就是指「受傅者」。

认识耶稣，认出他就是尊贵的受傅者、是我们的救世主，并不是容易事；从前不容易，今天也不容易。

例如，从耶稣驱魔这個事件来看，就有人看得出耶稣是从天主来的，却也有人看到他和魔王是一伙的！

生命十分复杂，真真假假有時也极难分辨。我们很多時都会把真当假，把假当真；把天使当魔鬼，把魔鬼当天使。我们自己会犯错，我们的朋友、家人、团体会犯错，我们的国家、民族、教会，甚至整個人类，都一样会犯错，都曾经犯過错。

要避免犯错，或更好说，要能够从错误中走出来，只有靠耶稣。今天福音给我们的一個提示就是：舍弃自己，天天背著自己的十字架，跟随耶稣。

舍弃自己，就是不要把自己绝对化，而要对耶稣全部開放。只有耶稣是真理、道路、生命；我们不是，我们的国家、民族、文化、教会都不是。无论谁，若自以为拥有全部的真理，就注定要自绝於真理。何况，即使我们真的拥有全部的真理，我们对这些真理的了解，也未必是全面的。

在舍弃自己和对耶稣全面開放的生活态度中，我们要透過四個途径去获得真理：第一、我们自己会努力找寻真理，藉著思考和默想，也透過生活和行动；第二、我们也会聆听别人的经验，相信别人也在找寻真理，而且也可能找到真理；第三、我们会服从教会的训导，因为她是耶稣授权去捍卫真理的信仰团体，这個教会也在诚恳地、不断地找寻真理；第四、参考世界的智慧，因为天主也会把真理启示给世界。

上述四個因素??即個人、他人、教会、世界??并不是互不关联的，它们还該彼此互动，互相肯定、互相提升，也互相批判。我们更要不断的回顾我们所走過的追寻真理之路，以期在我们個人及团体生活的历史轨迹中，追寻那逐渐显露出来的耶稣和他的真理。

我们坚信耶稣——天主的受傅者，我们也坚信能走到生命的终极美善境界。但我们也怀著谦虚的心，以開放的态度，去和一切「怀善意的人们」，找寻这位天主的受傅者。

虽然我们认同庄子的「吾生也有涯，而知也无涯」的观点，但我们仍願以有涯的生命，去追寻那无涯的基督，并相信只要有基督与我们同在，那么，在这個追寻的尽头，就一定是幸福无涯的永生。

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Respond to God's Call without Regret – Follow Jesus and Offer One's Whole Life

First Reading (1 Kgs 19: 16, 19-21): The Prophet Elisha is called
Second Reading (Gal 5: 1, 13-18): We should act according to the Holy Spirit
Gospel (Lk 9: 51-62): Without hesitation follow the Lord
Chinese classics:
“Every year it is difficult to face the new year, but face it we do yearly.”(1)
-“If my heart tells me it is good and meet, I will not regret to die nine times for it”.(2)
-“Those who do not incite the jealousy of others are mediocre people.” (3)
-“Eighty men served Mo Zi. They would all go through fire and withstand the sword. Death would not turn them back. This was brought about by a transformation.”(4)
-“Rooted on earth, face the heavens. Take up responsibility from heaven so as to enrich people. This is what we learn from reading the books of the Sages.” (5)
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‘Someone said to Jesus, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’...Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’ (Lk 9: 57-62)

Over the centuries many people have followed Jesus. Jesus himself was always very clear about what it means to remain with him and what will be the result of this undertaking.
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The Scripture passage quoted above also tells us the characteristics disciples of Jesus should possess.

First, Jesus' followers must be able to endure and tolerate hardship, even to having no pillow for their heads or money for food. They should be able to live without comforts and stand constant trials. Theirs is a long term testing. “Every year it is difficult to face the new year but face it we do yearly.”(1)

Secondly, for Jesus' followers, the kingdom of heaven must be their absolute priority. They must understand that when the appropriate time comes they must put all else aside for the sake of this priority. “Let the dead bury their own dead.” That is, they must let those who are part of the world take care of those worldly matters. Actually we all belong to 'this world' and deeply love our world. As Christians we should not avoid the things of this world or the responsibilities that go with this. However, we are “in the world but not of the world,” because we have another more important mission.

Thirdly, Jesus' disciples must follow him steadfastly, stay with him without hesitation, complaint or regret. Together with Jesus they must struggle all their lives, stand with him shoulder to shoulder, support him in all his endeavors. Their hearts should parallel that of Qu Yuan who said, “If my heart tells me it is good and meet, I will not regret to die nine time for it.”(2) The disciples' faith and steadfastness must endure until the end.

Jesus' words are very demanding. They are strict, serious and absolute, with no room for compromise. They can sound quite unfeeling, brooking no argument. This is because they were spoken by Jesus who himself was strict and uncompromising. He does not want his followers to score only 99 points but a full 100 %.

Actually Jesus was also a very versatile person. He had both a strict and a meek side to him.

On the one hand, Jesus was kind and humble, full of compassion and understanding of people. He touched children's heads gently, forgave the sinful woman her sin, performed the miracle of the 'Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes' to feed the crowd. He wept at the death of his friend and shed tears at the suffering of his own people. His words at the 'Last Discourse' shortly before he left the world are full of hope, love, sweetness and tenderness. At that evening meal full of love and warmth, he left us his heart, and his Body and Blood to be our food. Jesus has all the virtues Chinese culture holds in such high regard, such as gentleness, sincerity, and so on.

On the other hand, Jesus was a revolutionary. He challenged some of the traditional bad practices. He even said, “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. (Mt 10:34). Simeon believed that “Jesus is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed.” (Lk 2:34)

In Chinese popular wisdom, there is this saying, “Those who do not incite the jealousy of others are mediocre people.”(3). God called the Prophet Jeremiah “to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” (Jer 1:1) Is this not perhaps the responsibility and mission of prophets or any person with high ideals?

Most people are not able to smile and be friendly with others every day, nor is even an ideal organization always harmonious. Jesus did not come to this world only to build up a loving and united church, he wanted to look for people who shared the same vision as he and were willing to struggle hard and long to attain the ideals of the Kingdom of Heaven.

In the period of the Spring and Autumn Warring Kingdoms, Mo Zi formed a group to work for the ideals of love, peace and non-violence. All the people in this group were the kind of persons Jesus wanted. They were firm, persevering and patient. In the group there were many who did not fear death. “Eighty men served Mo Zi. They would all go through fire and withstand the sword. Death would not turn them back. This was brought about by transformation.” (4)
The 'transformation' was the result of what the Chinese mean by the saying, “What does one learn from reading the books of the sages?” Culture itself is a kind of power. The sages' books teach us to be wise, to be persons of integrity, and to live a life of magnanimity. “Rooted on earth, face the Heavens. Take up responsibility from Heaven so as to enrich people.” (5) Actually in itself all of this is extraordinarily attractive.

Following Jesus also has a great attraction. In Jesus we can fulfill our inmost selves, become people of integrity and wisdom; in Jesus we can live joyfully, filled with the grace of God and the happiness of peace. In Jesus we can spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth and help build the Kingdom of Heaven among us.

If this is the case, how can we ever regret having chosen Jesus? Why should we need to turn back to a life that we had given up, a life that had been full of wickedness and impurities ?

(1)年年難過年年過，處處無家處處家。
(2)亦余心之所善兮，唯九死其猶未悔。
(3)不遭人忌是庸才。
(4)墨子服役者八十人，皆可使赴火蹈刃，死不旋踵，化之所致也。
(5)讀聖賢書，所學何事。立地以上承天，承天道以隆人。