四旬期第四主日

洞在清溪何處邊﹖

讀經一：(撒上16:1,6-7,10-13)：達味受傅為以色列王
讀經二：(弗5:8-14)：要成為光明之子
福　音：(若9:1-41)：耶穌治好胎生瞎子
中國文化： 隱隱飛橋隔野煙，石磯西畔問漁船；
桃花盡日隨流水，洞在清溪何處邊？
南岐安癭。

今日若望福音第9章講了一個很精彩的故事：一個胎生瞎子的故事。

有一次，耶穌與門徒行路時，遇見一個胎生瞎子。門徒懷著偏見問耶穌：「師傅，究竟是誰犯了罪，是他自己或是他的父母，使他生來便雙目失明呢？」耶穌回答說：「不是他自己也不是他的父母犯罪，而是天主要在這事上顯示他的作為。」接著，耶穌便醫好了這個瞎子。後來當人遇見瞎子時，就問他說：「你的眼睛是如何被治好的？」他答說：「是一位名叫耶穌的人，和了些泥，抹在我的眼上，叫我去洗一洗。我洗了，就看見了。」剛巧那天是安息日。

法利塞人知道這事後，便對這事件作了一個「定性的」判斷，他們認為行這事的人不可能來自天主，因為他不守安息日。但有另一些法利塞人反問：「一個罪人如何能作出這種奇事？」他們之間於是起了爭執。

他們再詢問那瞎子的意見，那瞎子告訴他們，他把耶穌當作先知。那些猶太人於是又找瞎子的父母來詢問。但瞎子的父母害怕猶太人，不敢直接回答他們，只是說：「這是我們的兒子，他生來就瞎眼，如今他究竟怎樣看見，我們卻不知道。你們問他吧，因他已是成年人了。」

猶太人再問那瞎子，並向他說：「歸光榮天主吧！我們知道這人是罪人。」那瞎子雖然是個不學無術的文盲，卻懂得反唇相稽。他說：「他是否罪人，我不知道，我只知道一件事，就是我本來是胎生的瞎子，現在卻看見了。」猶太人最後仍是不相信耶穌，理由是不知道他是從哪裡來的。

這個瞎子於是說了一番很有哲理的話：「這真奇怪，你們不知道他是從哪裏來的，他卻開了我的眼睛。我們都知道天主不俯聽罪人，只俯聽那恭敬天主，並承行他旨意的人。自古以來，從未聽說有人能開胎生瞎子的眼睛。這人若不是由天主來的，他甚麼也不能作。」猶太人聽後，十分生氣，向他說：「你整個生於罪惡中，竟來教訓我們？」便把他趕出去了。

瞎子被趕走後，又遇到耶穌。耶穌很有感觸地說：「我來到世上是為了審判，叫那些看不見的看得見，叫那些看得見的，反而成為瞎子。」

有些和耶穌在一起的法利塞人一聽這話，就很不以為然地說：「難道我們也是瞎子嗎！」耶穌回答說：「你們如果是瞎子，就沒有罪；但你們如今說，我們看得見，你們便有罪了。」（參考若9:1-41）

這故事真的十分發人深省。我們是瞎子嗎？若我們真的承認自己是瞎子，便有機會復明；若自以為是，便沒有機會復明了。

有一個小故事，叫「南岐安癭」，也和上述的聖經故事有異曲同工之妙。

南岐位於四川一個偏僻的山中，山中的水很甜，但凡喝了的人都會患上「大頸泡」（脖子粗大症），所以南岐的人個個都患有大頸泡。一天，一個外方人來到南岐，所有的村民都覺得很奇怪，為什麼這外方人的頸這樣細小。這外方人告訴村民，他們的頸是有病的，得趕快醫治。但所有的南岐人都譏笑他說：「我們所有人的脖子都是這樣的，何必要去醫治呢？你的脖子才有問題啊！」

這個故事的教訓是：這群人「終莫知其醜」。即是說，最後他們仍是不知道自己有病，不知道自己的醜陋。

我們都是活在一種文化、一種偏見中。我們所擁有的，有好亦有壞，有對亦有錯，有美亦有醜。若我們肯張開眼睛，去看我們自己的長處及短處，我們才能去蕪存菁。但若我們只知閉上眼睛，我們也會「終莫知其醜。」

張旭有一首詩名叫《桃花溪》，很有啟發性：「隱隱飛橋隔野煙，石磯西畔問漁船：桃花盡日隨流水，洞在清溪何處邊？」望過去，遠遠有一座橋；在迷濛的煙霧中，我們問船上的漁夫：桃花片片隨水漂流，但桃花源究竟在甚麼地方呢？我們如何找到真福的、生命的泉源？如何找到生命的意義？如何找到天主？

我們需要張開眼睛；我們需要懇求天主幫助我們張開眼睛。只要我們在天主前承認自己是盲的，我們便可以得救。

其實，我們每個人都是盲的，我們每人的心中都有很多暗角：有我們看不見的，有我們故意不去看的，也有我們沒有能力去看的。今天，就讓我們懇求上主開啟我們的眼睛，去看到他要我們看的事物。

四旬期第四主日

洞在清溪何处边？

读经一：(撒上16:1,6-7,10-13)：达味受傅为以色列王
读经二：(弗5:8-14)：要成为光明之子
福　音：(若9:1-41)：耶稣治好胎生瞎子
中国文化： 隐隐飞橋隔野烟，石矶西畔問渔船；
桃花尽日随流水，洞在清溪何处边？
南岐安瘿。

今日若望福音第9章讲了一個很精彩的故事：一個胎生瞎子的故事。

有一次，耶稣与门徒行路時，遇见一個胎生瞎子。门徒怀著偏见問耶稣：「师傅，究竟是谁犯了罪，是他自己或是他的父母，使他生来便双目失明呢？」耶稣回答说：「不是他自己也不是他的父母犯罪，而是天主要在这事上显示他的作为。」接著，耶稣便醫好了这個瞎子。后来当人遇见瞎子時，就問他说：「你的眼睛是如何被治好的？」他答说：「是一位名叫耶稣的人，和了些泥，抹在我的眼上，叫我去洗一洗。我洗了，就看见了。」刚巧那天是安息日。

法利塞人知道这事后，便对这事件作了一個「定性的」判断，他们认为行这事的人不可能来自天主，因为他不守安息日。但有另一些法利塞人反問：「一個罪人如何能作出这种奇事？」他们之间於是起了争执。

他们再询問那瞎子的意见，那瞎子告诉他们，他把耶稣当作先知。那些犹太人於是又找瞎子的父母来询問。但瞎子的父母害怕犹太人，不敢直接回答他们，只是说：「这是我们的儿子，他生来就瞎眼，如今他究竟怎样看见，我们却不知道。你们問他吧，因他已是成年人了。」

犹太人再問那瞎子，并向他说：「归光荣天主吧！我们知道这人是罪人。」那瞎子虽然是個不学无术的文盲，却懂得反唇相稽。他说：「他是否罪人，我不知道，我只知道一件事，就是我本来是胎生的瞎子，现在却看见了。」犹太人最后仍是不相信耶稣，理由是不知道他是从哪里来的。

这個瞎子於是说了一番很有哲理的话：「这真奇怪，你们不知道他是从哪裏来的，他却開了我的眼睛。我们都知道天主不俯听罪人，只俯听那恭敬天主，并承行他旨意的人。自古以来，从未听说有人能開胎生瞎子的眼睛。这人若不是由天主来的，他甚么也不能作。」犹太人听后，十分生气，向他说：「你整個生於罪恶中，竟来教训我们？」便把他赶出去了。

瞎子被赶走后，又遇到耶稣。耶稣很有感触地说：「我来到世上是为了审判，叫那些看不见的看得见，叫那些看得见的，反而成为瞎子。」

有些和耶稣在一起的法利塞人一听这话，就很不以为然地说：「难道我们也是瞎子吗！」耶稣回答说：「你们如果是瞎子，就没有罪；但你们如今说，我们看得见，你们便有罪了。」（参考若9:1-41）

这故事真的十分发人深省。我们是瞎子吗？若我们真的承认自己是瞎子，便有机会复明；若自以为是，便没有机会复明了。

有一個小故事，叫「南岐安瘿」，也和上述的圣经故事有异曲同工之妙。

南岐位於四川一個偏僻的山中，山中的水很甜，但凡喝了的人都会患上「大颈泡」（脖子粗大症），所以南岐的人個個都患有大颈泡。一天，一個外方人来到南岐，所有的村民都觉得很奇怪，为什么这外方人的颈这样细小。这外方人告诉村民，他们的颈是有病的，得赶快醫治。但所有的南岐人都讥笑他说：「我们所有人的脖子都是这样的，何必要去醫治呢？你的脖子才有問题啊！」

这個故事的教训是：这群人「终莫知其丑」。即是说，最后他们仍是不知道自己有病，不知道自己的丑陋。

我们都是活在一种文化、一种偏见中。我们所拥有的，有好亦有坏，有对亦有错，有美亦有丑。若我们肯张開眼睛，去看我们自己的长处及短处，我们才能去芜存菁。但若我们只知闭上眼睛，我们也会「终莫知其丑。」

张旭有一首诗名叫《桃花溪》 ，很有启发性：「隐隐飞橋隔野烟，石矶西畔問渔船：桃花尽日随流水，洞在清溪何处边？」望過去，遠遠有一座橋；在迷蒙的烟雾中，我们問船上的渔夫：桃花片片随水漂流，但桃花源究竟在甚么地方呢？我们如何找到真福的、生命的泉源？如何找到生命的意义？如何找到天主？

我们需要张開眼睛；我们需要恳求天主帮助我们张開眼睛。只要我们在天主前承认自己是盲的，我们便可以得救。

其实，我们每個人都是盲的，我们每人的心中都有很多暗角：有我们看不见的，有我们故意不去看的，也有我们没有能力去看的。今天，就让我们恳求上主開启我们的眼睛，去看到他要我们看的事物。

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Walking in the light

First Reading (2 Chron 36:14-16,19-23): Under God's wrath people were punished but saved through God's mercy
Second Reading (Eph 2:4-10 ): We were dead through sin but saved by God's grace
Gospel ( Jn 3:14-21 ) : Those who walk in Truth also walk in the Light.
Chinese Classics:
- “Chai King Kung refused his subordinates' attempts to please and flatter him” (1)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”( Jn 3:16-21 )

Jesus came into the world to save the whole world and to bring salvation to all of humankind. It is sad that we human beings not only did not accept him, but rejected him and nailed him to the cross. People in the past treated Jesus in this way; at present people treat him in the same way.

Rejecting Christ not only means that people do not believe him or acknowledge him as Savior. More importantly, aside from whether they believe in him or not, there are always some people who do not wish to walk in his light. They do not want to live in him or live according to God's will. This is because they hate the light.

Before we talk about the above Scripture passage, let us read a story in Li Tze. Chai King Kung was sight-seeing on “Cow Mountain”. When he saw the beautiful mountains and rivers, he became sad and started to cry. He cried because he did not want to die and leave this beautiful scenery behind. Two officials, Sze Hung and Leung Yau Gui, cried with King Kung and tried to please him by saying, “As subordinates our positions are low. Even so, we do not want to die, let alone you, our noble lord, who is king of the country.” Only On Tze laughed loudly. Chai King Kung chided him and asked him why he laughed. On Tze replied, “If humans could live forever, then the king of Chai should be your dead ancestor or Woon Kung. Would your turn to be king of Chai ever come? Isn't it laughable that you don't even understand such a simple and obvious truth, and besides that, there are two flattering officials who 'spice it up with salt and vinegar (go even further)'”. Listening to this, Chai King Kung was ashamed. He raised his glass of wine to punish himself and also punished the two officials, Sze Hung and Leung Yau Gui.

The world is made up of superiors and kings, and subordinates who busily “pat the horse's hip”(flatter their superiors). Perhaps in ignorance, superiors who are insufficiently alert may continue to live in the “darkness” of ignorance. Most of those who try to curry favor with their superiors know the truth, and are either afraid or unwilling to walk the path of truth. In John's words in today's Scripture, light had come into the world, but they 'did not come to the light'.

To believe in God and accept Jesus is not that difficult. People who live according to innate human nature already have accepted God and Christ. It is a very natural thing. God is the source of life. We human beings and all of creation come from God. When God created human beings and the universe, all creation was orderly. This sense of orderliness, or the “laws of nature” were engraved upon our inmost beings and within all of creation.

Christ came to tell us that God desires all men and women to live according to this natural law and treat all creatures with care and kindness. This is how we obey God and let God be Lord of our hearts, ruling our lives and the world. This is the “kingdom of heaven,” where God reigns and where God's will is done on earth among all of humankind. We need to recognize, understand and accept this natural order within humanity and creation, look at it in the light and freely acknowledge it. Without prejudice or selfishness let us realize this is the truth and act accordingly.

For Christ is that light. He revealed it and spoke of it clearly. He declared to us the truth of human life and gave us the golden rule of happiness. If this revelation conflicts with what is more advantageous to ourselves, we may refuse to accept Truth.

Some examples are Herod Antipas who would not admit he was wrong when he married his sister-in-law; St. Paul who did not consider it wrong to persecute the Christians; the Hong Kong Democratic Party which does not see that it might be questionable to support popular movements against China under Hong Kong's “One Country Two Systems” political-economic structure; Chinese officials who did not find it too harsh to put political pressure on Hong Kong’s Governor, Chris Patten, at the time of the 1997 turnover; Yuan Mu who saw no problem in announcing that “Not a single person was killed at Tianamen Square”, nor did Chai Ling find it wrong to tell the press that “During the 1989 demonstrations, four thousand people were killed at Tianamen Square”.

What about us? When we are in a heated argument with neighbors, do we admit there might be discrepancies in our reasoning? Throughout history in the many religious disagreements, did not those who promoted reforms often use defensive apologetics and explanations to analyze and defend their own beliefs?

Only if we make use of a model of thinking like the following will we feel we are being truly sincere: “Although I may not be entirely correct, still I think...” Or, when I really believe the other's reasoning is quite faulty, I might simply say, “Although some of his points are correct, still I think...”

When we sing the hymn “A Light within the World”, let us hope that we can meditate deeply on the meaning of the words, and courageously face the implications for our lives of full and objective Truth.

(1)齊景公拒絕屬下向他諂媚逢迎。