常年期第三主日

有容乃大

讀經一：(依8:23-9:3)：天主施恩於加里肋亞
讀經二：(格前1:10-13,17)：要同心合意，不要分黨分派
福　音：(瑪4:12-23)：耶穌在加里肋亞傳道
中國文化： 海納百川，有容乃大；壁立千仞，無欲則剛。

保祿向格林多人說：弟兄們，我以主基督的名義，請求大家言行一致。不要分黨分派，而要同心同德，團結起來。你們曾經各自聲稱：我是屬阿頗羅，我是屬刻法。難道基督已被分裂了嗎？難道是保祿為你們被釘在十字架上嗎？或是你們受洗是歸於保祿名下嗎？其實，基督派遣我不單是為施洗，而是為宣講福音，宣講那位被釘在十字架上的基督。他才是救主，我保祿不是，阿頗羅也不是。我們不可再分黨分派。(參考格前1:10-13,17)

在這世界上，我們很喜歡劃小圈子。各人有自己的小圈子，各群體也有自己的小圈子。有以不同的宗教劃分，有以不同的膚色劃分，有以不同的國家劃分。有時甚至在小圈子內也劃一些更小的小圈子。即使在大公的教會內也會劃分某修會的、某堂區的小圈子。更有在一個堂區內也分不同的小圈子，如聖母軍、聖母孝女會、聖體會、基基團等。

從這個角度看，縱使教會未被分裂，但所產生的問題也是令人傷腦筋的。曾聽過有些本堂神父抱怨，當堂區舉辦活動時，沒有善會支持，因為各善會都有自己的活動。這就是小圈子。

世上有很多小圈子。其實天主也劃圈子，不過，他的圈子是以穹蒼為界線。他的圈子就是穹蒼、就是宇宙。換句話說，在天主的聖心中，他只有一個圈子，一個包含所有大小圈子的圈子。

讓我們好好反省這個問題：究竟我為何要劃圈子、分你我呢？這可能是一個嫉妒的問題。我們認為別人的成就會影響我們。

依撒意亞先知的話可給我們一些啟發：「生活在黑暗中的人民看見了浩光，住在幽暗中的人們已有光輝照耀他們。」(依9:1)這句話亦被引用在本主日的瑪竇福音內：「耶穌聽到若翰被監禁以後，就隱退到加里肋亞去了。後又離開納匝肋，來到近海的葛法翁。這應驗了依撒意亞先知所說的話：則步隆地與納斐塔里地，通海大路，約旦河東，外方人的加里肋亞，坐在黑暗中的百姓看見了浩光；那些坐在死亡陰影之地的人，現在已有光輝照耀他們。」(瑪4:12-16)

「浩光」，就是當太陽如日中天時，所發出的光芒。它照亮了整個世界。當我們看到光線時，會否減少別人看到的光呢？同樣，當別人享受陽光時，會否令我們減少了對陽光的享受呢？不會，因為它是「浩光」，巨大的、無窮無盡的光。

我們要讓自己去接觸那些無限的、豐富的、偉大的東西，讓自己去接觸那位包容一切的天主。當我們能接觸到這包容一切的天主時，我們的心也會變得寬大，而不再需要劃小圈子了。

在晚上，讓我們抬頭看看漂亮的星空。晚上的星空很燦爛，因為有無數的星星，每顆星都是燦爛星空的組成部分，每顆星都發出自己的光芒。無論它是頭等星、二等星、或三等星，有多大的熱便發多少的光。它們不會因為自己的光芒而掩蓋了別的星光，亦不會因為自己微弱的星光而感到慚愧、自卑。大家一起組成燦爛的星空，多麼美麗！即使是流星，也可以在墜落時閃出一道亮光，為天空增添美麗。

為何我們的世界不是一個燦爛的星空？為何連我們的教會也燦爛不再？為什麼在一個小小的家庭內，兩兄弟也可以互相嫉妒？為何兩個好朋友，會只因為其中一個被上司欣賞，而致反目成仇？為何加音會嫉妒亞伯爾？是否別人的成功就是自己的失敗呢？

我們不可再分黨分派，不要再說我屬那一教會、那一堂區、那一國家、那一民族。我們都是同一個身體內的肢體、一個家庭內的成員、一個天父庇蔭下的兄弟姊妹、一個地球村裡的公民。無論是一等星、二等星，甚至流星，均有其自身的光芒，都可以使一個靜夜的天空顯得更加美麗。

今日世界需要的是寬容，寬而又能容。一切的排他主義、自我中心、自以為是的思想，無論是政治上的、宗教上的，都與今日世界大同或天下一家的精神格格不入。

林則徐先生說：「海納百川，有容乃大；壁立千仞，無欲則剛」。大海，因為能容納千百條河流的水，所以才成為「大」海。有容乃大，能包容的才能成為偉大。

上主！求你幫助我們能有一個如你一般的胸襟，去包容、接納、擁抱及欣賞！

常年期第三主日

有容乃大

读经一：(依8:23-9:3)：天主施恩於加里肋亚
读经二：(格前1:10-13,17)：要同心合意，不要分党分派
福　音：(玛4:12-23)：耶稣在加里肋亚传道
中国文化： 海纳百川，有容乃大；壁立千仞，无欲则刚。

保禄向格林多人说：弟兄们，我以主基督的名义，请求大家言行一致。不要分党分派，而要同心同德，团结起来。你们曾经各自声称：我是属阿颇罗，我是属刻法。难道基督已被分裂了吗？难道是保禄为你们被钉在十字架上吗？或是你们受洗是归於保禄名下吗？其实，基督派遣我不单是为施洗，而是为宣讲福音，宣讲那位被钉在十字架上的基督。他才是救主，我保禄不是，阿颇罗也不是。我们不可再分党分派。(参考格前1:10-13,17)

在这世界上，我们很喜欢劃小圈子。各人有自己的小圈子，各群体也有自己的小圈子。有以不同的宗教劃分，有以不同的肤色劃分，有以不同的国家劃分。有時甚至在小圈子内也劃一些更小的小圈子。即使在大公的教会内也会劃分某修会的、某堂区的小圈子。更有在一個堂区内也分不同的小圈子，如圣母军、圣母孝女会、圣体会、基基团等。

从这個角度看，纵使教会未被分裂，但所產生的問题也是令人伤脑筋的。曾听過有些本堂神父抱怨，当堂区举办活动時，没有善会支持，因为各善会都有自己的活动。这就是小圈子。

世上有很多小圈子。其实天主也劃圈子，不過，他的圈子是以穹苍为界线。他的圈子就是穹苍、就是宇宙。换句话说，在天主的圣心中，他只有一個圈子，一個包含所有大小圈子的圈子。

让我们好好反省这個問题：究竟我为何要劃圈子、分你我呢？这可能是一個嫉妒的問题。我们认为别人的成就会影响我们。

依撒意亚先知的话可给我们一些启发：「生活在黑暗中的人民看见了浩光，住在幽暗中的人们已有光辉照耀他们。」(依9:1)这句话亦被引用在本主日的玛窦福音内：「耶稣听到若翰被监禁以后，就隐退到加里肋亚去了。后又離開纳匝肋，来到近海的葛法翁。这应验了依撒意亚先知所说的话：则步隆地与纳斐塔里地，通海大路，约旦河东，外方人的加里肋亚，坐在黑暗中的百姓看见了浩光；那些坐在死亡阴影之地的人，现在已有光辉照耀他们。」(玛4:12-16)

「浩光」，就是当太阳如日中天時，所发出的光芒。它照亮了整個世界。当我们看到光线時，会否减少别人看到的光呢？同样，当别人享受阳光時，会否令我们减少了对阳光的享受呢？不会，因为它是「浩光」，巨大的、无穷无尽的光。

我们要让自己去接触那些无限的、丰富的、伟大的东西，让自己去接触那位包容一切的天主。当我们能接触到这包容一切的天主時，我们的心也会变得宽大，而不再需要劃小圈子了。

在晚上，让我们抬头看看漂亮的星空。晚上的星空很灿烂，因为有无数的星星，每颗星都是灿烂星空的组成部分，每颗星都发出自己的光芒。无论它是头等星、二等星、或三等星，有多大的热便发多少的光。它们不会因为自己的光芒而掩盖了别的星光，亦不会因为自己微弱的星光而感到惭愧、自卑。大家一起组成灿烂的星空，多么美麗！即使是流星，也可以在坠落時闪出一道亮光，为天空增添美麗。

为何我们的世界不是一個灿烂的星空？为何连我们的教会也灿烂不再？为什么在一個小小的家庭内，两兄弟也可以互相嫉妒？为何两個好朋友，会只因为其中一個被上司欣赏，而致反目成仇？为何加音会嫉妒亚伯尔？是否别人的成功就是自己的失败呢？

我们不可再分党分派，不要再说我属那一教会、那一堂区、那一国家、那一民族。我们都是同一個身体内的肢体、一個家庭内的成员、一個天父庇荫下的兄弟姊妹、一個地球村里的公民。无论是一等星、二等星，甚至流星，均有其自身的光芒，都可以使一個静夜的天空显得更加美麗。

今日世界需要的是宽容，宽而又能容。一切的排他主义、自我中心、自以为是的思想，无论是政治上的、宗教上的，都与今日世界大同或天下一家的精神格格不入。

林则徐先生说：「海纳百川，有容乃大；壁立千仞，无欲则刚」。大海，因为能容纳千百条河流的水，所以才成为「大」海。有容乃大，能包容的才能成为伟大。

上主！求你帮助我们能有一個如你一般的胸襟，去包容、接纳、拥抱及欣赏！

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Repent - Believe - Follow

First Reading ( Jon 3:1-5,10 ) : The people of Nineveh repented and turned to God
Second Reading (1Cor 7:29-31 ) : The present world will pass away
Gospel ( Mk 1:14-20 ) : Jesus began to proclaim the Good News
Chinese Classics : “The carriage heads south but should actually go north”(1)

Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news!” As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea. Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. Jesus saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. (Mk 1:14-20 )

One of our Christian beliefs is that if one repents, one must follow the gospel, and if one follows the gospel one must abandon all and immediately follow Jesus. When Simon, Andrew, James and John became Jesus' apostles, they had to go through these three steps to believe, leave all and follow. Let us note here that there are two elements, 1st, content and 2nd, direction. The content of the gospel is closely related to the context. Jesus preached in Galilee, but Galilee and Jerusalem were not allies, in fact they were almost totally opposed to each other. This was the context when Jesus began his public life.

Jerusalem was the capitol of Judea, the southern kingdom. It was the centre of the religious life of Israel. Some Israelites considered it the most traditional and orthodox centre of their faith.. Galilee, on the other hand, was part of the northern kingdom of Israel, which at one time had been conquered by the Gentiles. It was also a place where many Gentiles lived and the people were deeply influenced by Greek culture. As a result, the faith there was often questioned and criticized by more ‘orthodox’ Jews. These circumstances still held true in Jesus' time and also influenced the early Christian community.

On the other hand, it was in Galilee that Jesus based his operations and led most of his public life. There he preached through words and deeds and proclaimed the Good News (Gospel) of God's Kingdom. It was there he performed most of his miracles, exorcisms and healings. There too he chose his apostles and proclaimed the Kingdom of God. Many people even called him “Jesus the Galilean” (see Matthew 26:69).

Though “salvation is from the Jews” (Jn 4:22), this salvation must enter a much wider world, a world not constrained by any single race, culture, tradition or dominant thought. Because of this, the God to whom we are converted must be a God beyond all constraints, a God who can directly enter into each one's heart and save every one of us. The content of our faith is bound to be one that surpasses time, space, cultures, traditions, and even religions.

Therefore conversion points to a direction. It demands that we be converted, turn our entire selves to God and towards God who is our Source and Foundation.

In The Strategies of the Warring Kingdoms”(2) there is a story about “The carriage heads south but should actually go north.”(1)There was a man who should go south to the country Chu but he headed north instead. People told him time and again that he was going in the wrong direction. But he refused to listen to their kind reminders and did nothing to reverse his route. This was because he knew he had a good horse, sufficient fare for the journey and an expert carriage-driver. What he did not understand was that the more advantages he had, the less likely he was to reach his destination. The fact remained that even though all conditions were in his favour, if the direction was wrong, he would only stray further and further away. One cannot pay attention only to how to drive, one must also look where one is going!

The British historian Russell believed that in order to lead a perfect life, one must be motivated by love and guided by knowledge. There is no doubt that we must have a heart full of love, but we must also have the right direction to life. That is why faith does not ask us to perform good deeds only, or be a good person only. Faith is the choice of a direction, the choice of a new path directed towards God throughout one's life. Only this is true faith, and this kind of faith is conversion.

Conversion shows its truest form in following Christ as described in the gospel, “They immediately left their nets and followed him. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.” According to John's Gospel, this was how two of John the Baptist's disciples followed Jesus. When the two disciples heard John describing Jesus as the Lamb of God, they followed Jesus. Jesus saw that they were following him, so turned and asked them what they were seeking. Instead of answering Jesus' question they asked Jesus where he was going. So Jesus invited them to go and see. The Bible says, “They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.” ( Jn 1:39 )

Therefore, following Jesus is not simply about studying doctrine, being baptized, attending Mass, then obeying some of the commandments. Following Jesus means to live with Jesus, experience him, understand him as a person, imbibe his thinking and his spirit. It is to learn about Jesus and imitate him. It is as Paul said later, “Clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” ( Eph 4:24 ).

This is the true faith of Christians. It includes belief, repentance, conversion and discipleship, and an entire life of sublimation and transformation.

(1) 南轅北轍
(2) 《戰國策》