將臨期第二主日
悔改迎天國，兼善作新民
讀經一：(依11:1-10)：默西亞的王國
讀經二：(羅15:4-9)：基督拯救眾人
福 音：(瑪3:1-12)：你們悔改罷！因為天國臨近了。
中國文化： 日日新，又日新，作新民。
窮則獨善其身，達則兼善天下。
那時候，洗者若翰出現在猶太曠野宣講說：你們悔改吧！因為天國近了。這若翰就是依撒意亞先知所預言的那個人??在曠野裡有呼喊者的聲音：你們該預備上主的道路，修直他的途徑！(參考瑪3:1-12)
這位若翰是誰？聖經形容他是曠野之聲，是曠野中的一個聲音。他呼喊、宣講、感召，他希望每一個人都能預備自己，以迎接基督的來臨。
迎接基督的來臨不只是拍掌、歡呼，而是要預備上主的路，修直他的途徑。換句話說，我們要改變我們整個的生命，以迎接基督的來臨。
悔改基本的意義不單是心中發痛悔，悔改要包括痛悔及改過。
修和聖事或告解聖事的步驟有五個：即省察、痛悔、定改、告明、補贖。省察是反省、回顧、反思。發覺生命出現問題時，感到悲傷、痛苦，後悔自己做了不該做的事。但只悲痛、後悔是不足夠的。更要定改，決定去改、決心去改，尤其要躲避犯罪的機會、努力做應做的事。然後到神父面前告解（告明）及做神父罰的補贖，為我們所做的錯事作賠補。
這就是悔改：既後悔且決心改過。
若翰知道有些人是悔而不改，所以他見到很多法利塞人及撒杜塞人來受洗時，便對他們說：「蛇蠍敗類！誰教你們逃避那即將來臨的忿怒呢？若有悔意，就結出與悔改相稱的果實吧！」
結出與悔改相稱的果實，即是說，我們不但要有悔意、要定改，還要結果實。若翰繼續說：「你們心裡不要想：我們的祖宗是亞巴郎。」單有亞巴郎作靠山，是沒有用的。每人都必須為自己負責，負責自己永恒的得救，結出與悔改相稱的果實。
為迎接基督的來臨，就要預備一條路，或修直這條路。所謂基督徒，按保祿宗徒的想法，是要與基督同死、同生；要穿上基督，成為新人。如中國人所說：「苟日新，又日新，作新民」（大學），即是每日都要悔改，每日都要更新、改變自己。
若翰的宣講除「悔改」外，還有天國。他說：「你們悔改吧，因為天國近了。」
我們不要以為天國就是天堂，悔改之後便會上天堂。這並非若翰宣講的目的。依撒意亞先知書已經為這「天國」作了一番扼要的描述：「由葉瑟的樹幹將生出一支嫩芽，它身上發出一株幼苗。上主的神要臨於他，賜給他智慧及聰敏之神、超見和剛毅之神、明達和敬畏上主之神。」(依11:1-10)
依撒意亞先知指的就是基督，將要來臨的默西亞。
當基督來臨，默西亞來到人間的時候，景況會如何呢？依撒意亞在11章繼續說：「豺狼將與羔羊共處，虎豹將與山羊同宿，牛犢與幼獅一同飼養，一個幼童即可帶領它們。母牛與母熊將一起牧放，它們的幼雛將一同伏臥。獅子將與牛一樣吃草，嬰兒將遊戲於蝮蛇的洞口。在我的整個聖山上，再沒有人作惡，也沒有誰害人。」
這就是天國的境界。我們歡迎基督的來臨，我們也歡迎基督所帶來的新境界——天國的境界。
但這天國是要我們與基督一起創建的，他邀請我們每日唸「願你的國來臨」，即是願人人按天父的意旨去生活，願人人得到精神、肉身的食糧，願人人可以互相寬恕、接納。為我們基督徒來說，這是我們的信念、理想和方向。
但我們所見到的世界卻不是這樣的。我們要怎樣做？無可奈何地生活嗎？失望嗎？
唐朝白居易說得好：「窮則獨善其身，達則兼善天下。」我們見到的世界雖然不是如此，但我們可以預備自己成為上主的工具，成為天國的工匠。等到時機來臨時，我們便可與若翰一起成為曠野之聲，向世界宣講悔改的道理，宣佈天國的來臨。
我們要告訴世界，豺狼與羔羊一起共處是有可能的。在天主的聖山上、在天國裡、在新人類中，再沒有誰犯罪、沒有誰害人。這境界是可能出現的。如果我們悔改，好好準備自己，如果我們肯修直途徑，結出與悔改相稱的果實，一切都有可能。
天國最終是必會來臨的。
将临期第二主日
悔改迎天国，兼善作新民
读经一：(依11:1-10)：默西亚的王国
读经二：(罗15:4-9)：基督拯救众人
福 音：(玛3:1-12)：你们悔改罢！因为天国临近了。
中国文化： 日日新，又日新，作新民。
穷则独善其身，达则兼善天下。
那時候，洗者若翰出现在犹太旷野宣讲说：你们悔改吧！因为天国近了。这若翰就是依撒意亚先知所预言的那個人??在旷野里有呼喊者的声音：你们該预备上主的道路，修直他的途径！(参考玛3:1-12)
这位若翰是谁？圣经形容他是旷野之声，是旷野中的一個声音。他呼喊、宣讲、感召，他希望每一個人都能预备自己，以迎接基督的来临。
迎接基督的来临不只是拍掌、欢呼，而是要预备上主的路，修直他的途径。换句话说，我们要改变我们整個的生命，以迎接基督的来临。
悔改基本的意义不单是心中发痛悔，悔改要包括痛悔及改過。
修和圣事或告解圣事的步骤有五個：即省察、痛悔、定改、告明、补赎。省察是反省、回顾、反思。发觉生命出现問题時，感到悲伤、痛苦，后悔自己做了不該做的事。但只悲痛、后悔是不足够的。更要定改，决定去改、决心去改，尤其要躲避犯罪的机会、努力做应做的事。然后到神父面前告解（告明）及做神父罚的补赎，为我们所做的错事作赔补。
这就是悔改：既后悔且决心改過。
若翰知道有些人是悔而不改，所以他见到很多法利塞人及撒杜塞人来受洗時，便对他们说：「蛇蝎败类！谁教你们逃避那即将来临的忿怒呢？若有悔意，就结出与悔改相称的果实吧！」
结出与悔改相称的果实，即是说，我们不但要有悔意、要定改，还要结果实。若翰继续说：「你们心里不要想：我们的祖宗是亚巴郎。」单有亚巴郎作靠山，是没有用的。每人都必须为自己负責，负責自己永恒的得救，结出与悔改相称的果实。
为迎接基督的来临，就要预备一条路，或修直这条路。所谓基督徒，按保禄宗徒的想法，是要与基督同死、同生；要穿上基督，成为新人。如中国人所说：「苟日新，又日新，作新民」（大学），即是每日都要悔改，每日都要更新、改变自己。
若翰的宣讲除「悔改」外，还有天国。他说：「你们悔改吧，因为天国近了。」
我们不要以为天国就是天堂，悔改之后便会上天堂。这并非若翰宣讲的目的。依撒意亚先知书已经为这「天国」作了一番扼要的描述：「由叶瑟的树干将生出一支嫩芽，它身上发出一株幼苗。上主的神要临於他，赐给他智慧及聪敏之神、超见和刚毅之神、明达和敬畏上主之神。」(依11:1-10)
依撒意亚先知指的就是基督，将要来临的默西亚。
当基督来临，默西亚来到人间的時候，景况会如何呢？依撒意亚在11章继续说：「豺狼将与羔羊共处，虎豹将与山羊同宿，牛犊与幼狮一同饲养，一個幼童即可带领它们。母牛与母熊将一起牧放，它们的幼雏将一同伏卧。狮子将与牛一样吃草，婴儿将游戏於蝮蛇的洞口。在我的整個圣山上，再没有人作恶，也没有谁害人。」
这就是天国的境界。我们欢迎基督的来临，我们也欢迎基督所带来的新境界——天国的境界。
但这天国是要我们与基督一起创建的，他邀请我们每日念「願你的国来临」，即是願人人按天父的意旨去生活，願人人得到精神、肉身的食粮，願人人可以互相宽恕、接纳。为我们基督徒来说，这是我们的信念、理想和方向。
但我们所见到的世界却不是这样的。我们要怎样做？无可奈何地生活吗？失望吗？
唐朝白居易说得好：「穷则独善其身，达则兼善天下。」我们见到的世界虽然不是如此，但我们可以预备自己成为上主的工具，成为天国的工匠。等到時机来临時，我们便可与若翰一起成为旷野之声，向世界宣讲悔改的道理，宣布天国的来临。
我们要告诉世界，豺狼与羔羊一起共处是有可能的。在天主的圣山上、在天国里、在新人类中，再没有谁犯罪、没有谁害人。这境界是可能出现的。如果我们悔改，好好准备自己，如果我们肯修直途径，结出与悔改相称的果实，一切都有可能。
天国最终是必会来临的。
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Willing to be a Forerunner
First Reading: (Is 40:1-5,9-11): The prophet preached the good new to the Israelites
Second Reading:(2 Pet 3:8-14): The Apostles encouraged the faithful to live holy and devoted lives to wait for the Lord
Gospel: (Mk 1:1-8): The mission of John the Baptist
Chinese Classics: “In golden threads she weaves her bitter despair, Year after year making bridal robes which other girls wear.”(1)
The first verse of Mark's gospel is “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
The 'Gospel' is not a book, it is 'Good News', 'Good tidings.' It tells us about an "Event." There is good news to tell. An exciting event has just taken place.
This good news is about Jesus Christ. He himself IS the good news. He is going to share this good news with us, to share HIMSELF with us.
Why did Jesus want to speak about himself to us? Because he is the Son of God, because he is the unique one expected for so many years in the Old Testament. He is the great prophet, a loyal Israelite. He is the son of Yahweh, with a close relationship with Yahweh. He is completely loyal to Yahweh, totally carrying out the will of his Father throughout his life.
Jesus is the Son of God, God the Father is the center of his life. A life with God at the center itself is good news. When people accept God as the center of life, then God will be king in their hearts. They will be saved, their lives will be fulfilled. This is the greatest good news anyone can hear.
When a person is obedient to God as Jesus was, life has reached its climax. Jesus' good news becomes that person's good news. Those Christians themselves also will have become good news.
To prepare humankind to receive the joy of this good news, God sent a forerunner, a herald, John the Baptist.
The Prophet Isaiah had predicted “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Mk 1: 2-3 ; see also Is 40:3 ; Mal 3:1)
And so John came. He “appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins” (Mk 1:4-5) John said to his disciples, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.” (Mk 1:7)
John baptized people in the desert regions. He had many followers, people who admired him. He was a great Master of his time. He could have enhanced his own reputation, strengthened his own fame, set up a kingdom and extended its boundaries, and sought his own advantage.
But he was willing to be just a forerunner.
This forerunner was a man with an esteemed reputation. He had many disciples. He attracted many people who admired him for his virtue, personality and lifestyle.
Most of us never have thought of being only a forerunner. Our culture and education teach us to strive to be main characters. Only when this fails are we forced to be forerunners.
For example, in our society when there is a political campaign, the most important aim of the candidates is to win over opponents. In our schools, teachers teach us to strive for the highest honors. Ancient scholars in China “studied for 10 years” under extremely severe conditions just to take part in the imperial examination and become a government official. Only then could they return home full of honor and glory.
All this teaches us to be self-centered, to concentrate totally on ourselves. We want to be main characters, enjoy the praise of others, accept other peoples’ cheers and applause.
We do not live in a culture that fosters becoming forerunners. We have rarely seen examples of people who want to be forerunners
On the contrary, we think that “In golden threads she weaves her bitter despair, Year after year making bridal robes which other girls wear”(2)is a kind of misery and misfortune. To be in such a situation makes one sigh with helplessness.
A forerunner or bridesmaid is precisely the one who “makes bridal robes which other girls wear”. After making the most beautiful bridal robe, she is not fortunate enough to wear the bridal robe. All she can do is help someone else put it on. (Qin Taoyu, A Poor Girl)(3)
Of course, there are exceptions. Parents are comforted by seeing their children growing up. Teachers feel honored by the success of their students. Both parents and teachers take on the role of forerunners. They play a role in bringing their children or students to the forefront and on the stage, and are happy and content to forfeit the center stage themselves to witness the results of their efforts for others.
Jealousy can cause us to see another's success as one's own failure. But the spirit of a forerunner enables one to be happy at the success of others and be filled with gratitude, because this can fill up our inadequacies and accomplish what we can't do ourselves.
For the glory of God, for the good of all people, of our society and nation, we need more people willing to be forerunners, to lead more people to contribute their talents for the good of others. Such persons' accomplishments are of benefit to all of us.
It is worthwhile indeed for us to be forerunners.
(1) 中國文化： 苦恨年年壓金線，為他人作嫁衣裳。
(2) 「苦恨年年壓金線，為他人作嫁衣裳」
(3) 前驅，也就是「為他人作嫁衣裳」，是在造了最漂亮的嫁衣裳以後，自己卻無緣身披嫁衣，只是把它披在別人的身上。
