常年期第六主日

基本抉擇，生命方向

讀經一：(德15:16-21)：只要人願意，就能遵守上主的誡命
讀經二：(格前2:6-10)：天主的智慧使人得光榮
福　音：(瑪5:17-37)：山中聖訓之：新法律成全舊法律
中國文化： 南轅北轍：此數者愈善而離楚愈遠耳。

耶穌說：「你們不要以為我來是要廢除法律或先知。我來不是要廢除，而是要成全。我告訴你們：除非你們的義德超過經師和法利塞人的義德，你們決進不了天國。」

你們一向聽人說：不可殺人，但我告訴你們，你們要尊敬你們的弟兄，不要叫他們「傻瓜」或「白痴」。若你到祭壇前要獻上祭品，在那裡忽然想起你的弟兄有什麼怨你之事，就把你的禮品留在祭壇前，先去與你的弟兄和好，然後再來獻禮品。

你們一向聽人說：不可姦淫。我卻對你們說，連心內也不應想這事。別人告訴你們不要發虛誓，我卻對你們說，什麼誓也不要發。你們的話該是：是就說是，非就說非，其他多餘的，便是出於邪惡。」(參考瑪5:17-37)

在「山中聖訓」中，我們聽到耶穌說話的語氣很特別，他不單是說一些教訓、倫理原則，或做人的道理，而是說一種選擇。我們要在「別的人」所說的話，和耶穌所說的話之間，作出選擇。

今日《德訓篇》也說：「只要你願意，便能遵行上主的誡命，你是否忠信，完全出於你的自決。上主在你面前放置了水與火，生死與善惡都放在你面前。」(德15:16-18)

基督徒要走的路並非只是「做」一些好事，「躲避」一些壞事。信仰要求我們選擇一個「方向」。正如一個人要向東走或向西走，要住在山上或住在海邊，要移民他國或留在本地，這都是一種選擇、一個方向。

這些選擇，在我們生命中有很多。小型的選擇，例如今天吃什麼早餐？穿什麼衣服？看什麼電影？買哪本書？有些較大的選擇：如結婚、移民、選擇職業等。此外更有些大得多的選擇，例如做人的原則：要為朋友赴湯蹈火？或為自己的利益而出賣朋友？至於認為生命有意義或無意義？要信天主或不信天主？這就是所謂的「基本抉擇」了。

《戰國策》有一則故事，叫「南轅北轍」，很能表明「抉擇」是什麼。它說：有一個人在北方的太行山遇到一個駕車的人。他問駕車者去哪裡。那人答說去楚國。他告訴那人，楚國是在南方，這是朝北方走，走錯了。但那駕車者說：不怕的，因為「吾馬良」，我有一匹好馬。於是他繼續往北行，又遇到第二個人。那人問駕車者去哪裡。他說：往楚國。那人說：你正在向北方行，但楚國卻是在南方呢，你走錯了！但那駕車者又說：不怕的，因為「吾用足」，我有很多旅費。於是他繼續往北走，又遇到第三個人。那人又問他要往哪裡去。駕車者答說往楚國。那人又告訴他走錯路了。但駕車者還是說：不怕的，因為「吾御者善」，替我開車的人技術高明。

其實，若這個人的馬兒好、旅費足、駕車技術高超，這些因素愈好便愈會帶他遠離楚國，即所謂「此數者愈善而離楚愈遠耳」，因為他走的方向不對頭。

傳說由意大利到法國的一條鐵路，要經過阿爾卑斯山，所以要鑿一條很長的隧道。這條隧道從兩邊一起同時進行開鑿，希望到中間二者能會合連接起來。但到了中間時，卻差了一點點而接駁不上。為補救這個錯誤，工程師傾家蕩產也不成功，最後唯有自殺。

只有開山的高科技是不足夠的，重要是能把接口駁上。這就是方向。我們有最好的車是不夠的，重要的是知道往哪裡走。這就是基本的選擇。

「只要你願意，便能遵行上主的誡命。」要不要上主，願不願意聽上主的話，這是基本的選擇。這是「水與火」的選擇，「生死與善惡」的選擇。這就是「基本抉擇」。

耶穌說：「我來不是為廢除法律，我不是來廢除，而是來完成。你們要超過經師與法利塞人的義德，才能進天國。」

不殺人是不足夠的，要尊敬他們。獻禮品是好的，但要先與弟兄修好，才有資格向上主獻上禮品。不要以為是教會及法律禁止犯姦淫，而是要手潔心清，連思想也要聖潔。不要再強調發真誓或發虛誓，而是連誓也不要發，因為我們的說話要「是就說是、非就說非」，要用自己的人格去擔保說話的真實無妄，而不是靠發誓去保證。

這就是「山中聖訓」的重點。我們要從今日開始，基本選擇天主，選擇天主的法律，選擇天主作為我們生命中的標準、步履前的明燈，然後度一個聖潔的生活，活出聖潔的生命。

 

常年期第六主日

基本抉择，生命方向

读经一：(德15:16-21)：只要人願意，就能遵守上主的诫命
读经二：(格前2:6-10)：天主的智慧使人得光荣
福　音：(玛5:17-37)：山中圣训之：新法律成全旧法律
中国文化： 南辕北辙：此数者愈善而離楚愈遠耳。

耶稣说：「你们不要以为我来是要废除法律或先知。我来不是要废除，而是要成全。我告诉你们：除非你们的义德超過经师和法利塞人的义德，你们决进不了天国。」

你们一向听人说：不可杀人，但我告诉你们，你们要尊敬你们的弟兄，不要叫他们「傻瓜」或「白痴」。若你到祭坛前要献上祭品，在那里忽然想起你的弟兄有什么怨你之事，就把你的礼品留在祭坛前，先去与你的弟兄和好，然后再来献礼品。

你们一向听人说：不可奸淫。我却对你们说，连心内也不应想这事。别人告诉你们不要发虚誓，我却对你们说，什么誓也不要发。你们的话該是：是就说是，非就说非，其他多余的，便是出於邪恶。」(参考玛5:17-37)

在「山中圣训」中，我们听到耶稣说话的语气很特别，他不单是说一些教训、伦理原则，或做人的道理，而是说一种选择。我们要在「别的人」所说的话，和耶稣所说的话之间，作出选择。

今日《德训篇》 也说：「只要你願意，便能遵行上主的诫命，你是否忠信，完全出於你的自决。上主在你面前放置了水与火，生死与善恶都放在你面前。」(德15:16-18)

基督徒要走的路并非只是「做」一些好事，「躲避」一些坏事。信仰要求我们选择一個「方向」。正如一個人要向东走或向西走，要住在山上或住在海边，要移民他国或留在本地，这都是一种选择、一個方向。

这些选择，在我们生命中有很多。小型的选择，例如今天吃什么早餐？穿什么衣服？看什么电影？买哪本书？有些较大的选择：如结婚、移民、选择职业等。此外更有些大得多的选择，例如做人的原则：要为朋友赴汤蹈火？或为自己的利益而出卖朋友？至於认为生命有意义或无意义？要信天主或不信天主？这就是所谓的「基本抉择」了。

《战国策》 有一则故事，叫「南辕北辙」，很能表明「抉择」是什么。它说：有一個人在北方的太行山遇到一個驾车的人。他問驾车者去哪里。那人答说去楚国。他告诉那人，楚国是在南方，这是朝北方走，走错了。但那驾车者说：不怕的，因为「吾马良」，我有一匹好马。於是他继续往北行，又遇到第二個人。那人問驾车者去哪里。他说：往楚国。那人说：你正在向北方行，但楚国却是在南方呢，你走错了！但那驾车者又说：不怕的，因为「吾用足」，我有很多旅费。於是他继续往北走，又遇到第三個人。那人又問他要往哪里去。驾车者答说往楚国。那人又告诉他走错路了。但驾车者还是说：不怕的，因为「吾御者善」，替我開车的人技术高明。

其实，若这個人的马儿好、旅费足、驾车技术高超，这些因素愈好便愈会带他遠離楚国，即所谓「此数者愈善而離楚愈遠耳」，因为他走的方向不对头。

传说由意大利到法国的一条铁路，要经過阿尔卑斯山，所以要凿一条很长的隧道。这条隧道从两边一起同時进行開凿，希望到中间二者能会合连接起来。但到了中间時，却差了一点点而接驳不上。为补救这個错误，工程师倾家荡產也不成功，最后唯有自杀。

只有開山的高科技是不足够的，重要是能把接口驳上。这就是方向。我们有最好的车是不够的，重要的是知道往哪里走。这就是基本的选择。

「只要你願意，便能遵行上主的诫命。」要不要上主，願不願意听上主的话，这是基本的选择。这是「水与火」的选择，「生死与善恶」的选择。这就是「基本抉择」。

耶稣说：「我来不是为废除法律，我不是来废除，而是来完成。你们要超過经师与法利塞人的义德，才能进天国。」

不杀人是不足够的，要尊敬他们。献礼品是好的，但要先与弟兄修好，才有资格向上主献上礼品。不要以为是教会及法律禁止犯奸淫，而是要手洁心清，连思想也要圣洁。不要再强调发真誓或发虚誓，而是连誓也不要发，因为我们的说话要「是就说是、非就说非」，要用自己的人格去担保说话的真实无妄，而不是靠发誓去保证。

这就是「山中圣训」的重点。我们要从今日開始，基本选择天主，选择天主的法律，选择天主作为我们生命中的标准、步履前的明灯，然后度一個圣洁的生活，活出圣洁的生命。

 

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

An Earth-shattering and ‘Heaven- Battering’ Utterance: “I Will”

First Reading (Lev 13:1-2,45-46) : The treatment of a leper
Second Reading: (1Cor 10:31-11:1) : Christians' behavior should not cause others to fall
Gospel (Mk 1:40-45) : Jesus heals a leper
Chinese Classics:
- “The feeling of commiseration is essential to human beings.”(1)
- “Emperor Chun Wai said, ‘Why not eat meat and congee?”(2)
- “Reading a million volumes of books is not as good as traveling a million miles”(3)

A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. (Mk 1:40-42)

‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ How simple and touching is this conversation. Yet a vivid miracle had already taken place at the exchange of a request and an act of will, and a common understanding of intent.

‘Friend, can I help you?’ ‘What can I do for you?’ These are examples of ‘I will do’ in our own lives. Sometimes, miracles in our lives come about from such simply voiced ‘I will do.’. Parents love their children this way, friends treat each other thus. That simple heartfelt ‘I will do’ has healed so many wounds, eased so much pain, dissolved so much hatred!

In today's Gospel, Jesus' ‘I do!’ cured a leper – a person who in the society of those days, no matter what his status or state in life, was the most pitiful of people. To understand better the situation of lepers then let us study today's first reading from the book of Leviticus: “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. The person who has the leprous disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head be disheveled; and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.” ( Lev 13:1-2,45-46 )

Lepers in the Jewish society of the time were indeed pitiful. They were expelled from healthy persons' society, could not be part of the masses, could not live with the rest of the populace. They were abandoned by society, truly “marginalized people”. They even had to hang a bell around their neck and call out constantly, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ so healthy people would not come close and perhaps become infected.

So today we see a leper coming forward to Jesus, kneeling down and earnestly begging Jesus to heal him. He had not the least doubt of Jesus' power to heal. He knew that if Jesus willed it, he would be healed. In reality Jesus not only had the power, he also had the will, because he saw the suffering of the leper and heard his plea. ‘His merciful heart was moved with pity.’

Mencius said, “The feeling of commiseration is essential to people.”(1) (The Works of Mencius, Book 2, Kung Sun Chow, Part I, Chap. 6). How much more so Jesus, the most perfect human being, whose heart was filled with such great compassion and mercy.

The Cultural Revolution was a great disaster in Chinese history. However, the rationale for asking intellectuals to go to the mountains and countryside to be closer to ordinary people was a correct one. Sometimes, we do not have sympathy because we have neither seen nor heard, nor been in touch with the person or situation. Some intellectuals or wealthy persons live in ‘ivory towers’ with little or no understanding of the difficulties or sufferings of ordinary people.

Once there was an Emperor in Jun dynasty who heard that the starving people had “no rice” to eat. He asked, “Why don't they eat meat congee? He thought if they had no rice, wasn't it better to eat congee with meat flavoring? This is a classic example of a stupid emperor who knew nothing about the sufferings of his own people.

Today there is a training programme to help people learn how to develop greater empathy and understanding for other people. Its purpose is to raise awareness through life experience. It is called ‘Exposure’ or ‘Exposure-immersion’, that is, not only experiencing, but really immersing oneself deeply, ‘tasting’ a situation, actually living in the new, unknown circumstances, really hearing the other, trying to see life as another sees it, even perhaps living with those people for a period of time. The story is told of a Filipino nun who wanted to change society. After she arrived in the area, she did nothing except live quietly with the people there. After two years she began to carry out her blueprint to change society.

“Reading a million volumes of books is not as good as traveling a million miles.”(3) This sentiment is not only confined to knowledge. It applies also to developing sympathetic feelings for all created things and finding effective ways of showing kindness to others. Jesus felt sympathy and compassion for the leper. That was why he said, “I will.” Those two words “I will” were full of God’s saving grace and were as sweet as light showers.

After this ‘I do choose’, Jesus ‘stretched out his hand and touched him’. This touch should have rendered Jesus ‘unclean’ as that is what was said, that the one who touched an unclean person would be rendered unclean himself. But Jesus' touch of love brought only healing and salvation, both body and mind fully cleansed and restored to health.

The South American Bishops' Conference voted for the ‘Preferential option for the poor’. This spirit must have come directly from Jesus. Here we see Jesus' attention so fixed on the piteous, poor suffering person before him that he even forgot his own security and danger.

Are we also willing to say to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’?

(1)惻隱之心，人皆有之。
(2)晉惠帝：何不食肉糜？
(3)讀萬卷書，不如行萬里路。