四旬期第五主日

再生之恩

讀經一：(厄37:12-14)：我要把我的神注入你們內，使你們復活
讀經二：(羅8:8-11)：藉聖神而重生
福　音：(若11:1-45)：復活拉匝祿
中國文化： 生我者父母，知我者鮑子也。

若望福音第11章記載了一個很長的故事，就是耶穌復活拉匝祿的故事。

耶穌是人類的救主。雖然所有的人都是他的朋友，但他亦有自己親密的朋友，有濃厚的民族感情。他很愛猶太人，所以有一次他為了耶路撒冷的即將滅亡而哭泣。在他的好朋友中，拉匝祿、瑪爾大和瑪利亞這一家人，就是他最好的朋友之一。

今日的故事是，當拉匝祿病重時，瑪利亞兩姊妹便派人到耶穌那裡說：「你心愛的人病了。」耶穌聽到後，便起程到她們家裡去。當耶穌到達她們家的時候，拉匝祿已經埋葬了四天之久。

瑪爾大對耶穌說：「主啊，若你早在這裡，我的兄弟便不會死。不過就是現在，我知道你無論向天主求甚麼，他必要賜給你。」耶穌對她說：「你的兄弟必定要復活。」瑪爾大以一句標準的答案回答說：「我知道在末日復活時，他必要復活。」耶穌對她說：「我就是復活，就是生命；信從我的，即使死了，仍要活著。凡活著而信從我的人，必永遠不死，你信麼？」她回答說：「主，我信你是要來到世界上的那位天主子、默西亞。」

接著，耶穌便與瑪爾大去到墳前，那時瑪利亞已在那裡。她一見耶穌，便俯伏在他腳前說：「主！若是你在這裏，我的兄弟決不會死！」耶穌看見她和與她一起的猶太人哭泣，便心神感傷、難過起來。於是便說：「你們把他放在哪裏？」他們回答說：「主，你來看看吧！」那時，耶穌忍不住悽然淚下。於是猶太人說：「看，他多麼愛他啊！」不過，這時亦有些人以諷剌的口吻說：「這人曾使胎生的瞎子復明，難道不能使這人不死麼？」耶穌又再次傷感起來。

當耶穌來到墓前便說：「推開這石頭吧！」瑪爾大向他說：「主！已經臭了，因為已有四天了！」耶穌對她說：「我不是告訴過你，如果你信，便會看到天主的光榮嗎？」他們把墓門的石頭推開，耶穌讚美感謝了天父以後，便大聲說：「拉匝祿！出來吧！」這位死了四天，人們說已經腐臭了的拉匝祿便從死者中復活，出來了。（參考若11:1-45）

耶穌是生命、是復活，誰相信他就不會死；即使死了，也要復活。

生命的恩典很重要。父母生育我們，基督救贖我們，這都是生命之恩。不過，另有一種恩典也是相當重要的，就是幫我們明白生命、了解生命意義的恩典。

在司馬遷的《史記》中，有一則叫「管鮑之交」的故事，很能道出生命中的這另一個重要層次。

管仲與鮑叔牙兩位是朋友，但管仲在許多人眼中卻不是好朋友，而是一個勢利小人。後來管仲飛黃騰達，司馬遷形容他的成就是「九合諸侯，一匡天下」。不過，就在他發達時，他記起了他的朋友鮑叔牙。他認為自己之有今日，全是因為鮑叔牙的緣故。

他想起以前與鮑叔牙一起做生意的時候，每次他都多取一些利錢，而鮑叔牙卻不認為他貪心，因為知道他窮困。當生意失敗時，鮑叔牙也不認為管仲沒有才幹，因為他相信凡做事，都一定有利和有不利的時候。有一次打仗，管仲三戰三走，別人都斷定他是懦夫，但鮑叔牙卻不是這樣想，他認為管仲的走，純綷是因為他有母親在堂、不能輕生，所以骨子裡管仲應是一位孝子，而不是一位懦夫。後來，公子糾吃了敗仗，另一位大臣召忽為這次戰敗而自殺謝罪，管仲卻不甘心自刎，而寧可屈辱地做俘虜、坐牢，所以人人都說他無恥；但鮑叔牙卻認為他只是不拘小節，因為他要留下有用之身去幹一番大事業，使功名彰顯於天下。

鮑叔牙處處維護管仲、欣賞管仲、鼓勵管仲，使管仲最終能出人頭地。於是管仲說了一句擲地有聲的話：「生我者父母，知我者鮑子也。」即是說，管仲認為生他的雖是他的父母，但使他活得成功，給予他第二生命的，卻是鮑叔牙。

對於耶穌，我們能否如管仲所說：「生我者父母，知我者基督。」或者更好說：「生我者父母，給予我永恒生命的卻是基督」呢？
父母給予我們生命，我們要終生感謝，但耶穌給予我們另一個生命，一個更豐富的生命、永恒的生命，我們不是更應該無窮無盡地感謝嗎？

慈愛的天父，我們誠心懇求你，求你把新生命賜給我們，幫助我們時常在基督內開始一個新的生命，一個重生的生命。讓我們懂得上愛天主、下愛世人。讓我們懂得愛我們自己、愛別人、愛世界、愛我們自己整個的生命。並讓我們能好好活出這一個豐盛的生命！

四旬期第五主日

再生之恩

读经一：(厄37:12-14)：我要把我的神注入你们内，使你们复活
读经二：(罗8:8-11)：藉圣神而重生
福　音：(若11:1-45)：复活拉匝禄
中国文化： 生我者父母，知我者鲍子也。

若望福音第11章记载了一個很长的故事，就是耶稣复活拉匝禄的故事。

耶稣是人类的救主。虽然所有的人都是他的朋友，但他亦有自己亲密的朋友，有浓厚的民族感情。他很爱犹太人，所以有一次他为了耶路撒冷的即将灭亡而哭泣。在他的好朋友中，拉匝禄、玛尔大和玛利亚这一家人，就是他最好的朋友之一。

今日的故事是，当拉匝禄病重時，玛利亚两姊妹便派人到耶稣那里说：「你心爱的人病了。」耶稣听到后，便起程到她们家里去。当耶稣到达她们家的時候，拉匝禄已经埋葬了四天之久。

玛尔大对耶稣说：「主啊，若你早在这里，我的兄弟便不会死。不過就是现在，我知道你无论向天主求甚么，他必要赐给你。」耶稣对她说：「你的兄弟必定要复活。」玛尔大以一句标准的答案回答说：「我知道在末日复活時，他必要复活。」耶稣对她说：「我就是复活，就是生命；信从我的，即使死了，仍要活著。凡活著而信从我的人，必永遠不死，你信么？」她回答说：「主，我信你是要来到世界上的那位天主子、默西亚。」

接著，耶稣便与玛尔大去到坟前，那時玛利亚已在那里。她一见耶稣，便俯伏在他脚前说：「主！若是你在这裏，我的兄弟决不会死！」耶稣看见她和与她一起的犹太人哭泣，便心神感伤、难過起来。於是便说：「你们把他放在哪裏？」他们回答说：「主，你来看看吧！」那時，耶稣忍不住凄然淚下。於是犹太人说：「看，他多么爱他啊！」不過，这時亦有些人以讽剌的口吻说：「这人曾使胎生的瞎子复明，难道不能使这人不死么？」耶稣又再次伤感起来。

当耶稣来到墓前便说：「推開这石头吧！」玛尔大向他说：「主！已经臭了，因为已有四天了！」耶稣对她说：「我不是告诉過你，如果你信，便会看到天主的光荣吗？」他们把墓门的石头推開，耶稣赞美感谢了天父以后，便大声说：「拉匝禄！出来吧！」这位死了四天，人们说已经腐臭了的拉匝禄便从死者中复活，出来了。（参考若11:1-45）

耶稣是生命、是复活，谁相信他就不会死；即使死了，也要复活。

生命的恩典很重要。父母生育我们，基督救赎我们，这都是生命之恩。不過，另有一种恩典也是相当重要的，就是帮我们明白生命、了解生命意义的恩典。

在司马迁的《史记》 中，有一则叫「管鲍之交」的故事，很能道出生命中的这另一個重要层次。

管仲与鲍叔牙两位是朋友，但管仲在许多人眼中却不是好朋友，而是一個势利小人。后来管仲飞黄腾达，司马迁形容他的成就是「九合诸侯，一匡天下」。不過，就在他发达時，他记起了他的朋友鲍叔牙。他认为自己之有今日，全是因为鲍叔牙的缘故。

他想起以前与鲍叔牙一起做生意的時候，每次他都多取一些利钱，而鲍叔牙却不认为他贪心，因为知道他穷困。当生意失败時，鲍叔牙也不认为管仲没有才干，因为他相信凡做事，都一定有利和有不利的時候。有一次打仗，管仲三战三走，别人都断定他是懦夫，但鲍叔牙却不是这样想，他认为管仲的走，纯綷是因为他有母亲在堂、不能轻生，所以骨子里管仲应是一位孝子，而不是一位懦夫。后来，公子纠吃了败仗，另一位大臣召忽为这次战败而自杀谢罪，管仲却不甘心自刎，而宁可屈辱地做俘虏、坐牢，所以人人都说他无耻；但鲍叔牙却认为他只是不拘小节，因为他要留下有用之身去干一番大事业，使功名彰显於天下。

鲍叔牙处处维护管仲、欣赏管仲、鼓励管仲，使管仲最终能出人头地。於是管仲说了一句掷地有声的话：「生我者父母，知我者鲍子也。」即是说，管仲认为生他的虽是他的父母，但使他活得成功，给予他第二生命的，却是鲍叔牙。

对於耶稣，我们能否如管仲所说：「生我者父母，知我者基督。」或者更好说：「生我者父母，给予我永恒生命的却是基督」呢？
父母给予我们生命，我们要终生感谢，但耶稣给予我们另一個生命，一個更丰富的生命、永恒的生命，我们不是更应該无穷无尽地感谢吗？

慈爱的天父，我们诚心恳求你，求你把新生命赐给我们，帮助我们時常在基督内開始一個新的生命，一個重生的生命。让我们懂得上爱天主、下爱世人。让我们懂得爱我们自己、爱别人、爱世界、爱我们自己整個的生命。并让我们能好好活出这一個丰盛的生命！

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Follow the Tides of Life

First Reading ( Jer 31:31-34):God made a new covenant with the new Israelites
Second Reading ( Heb 5:7-9 ) : Jesus learned obedience through his sufferings
Gospel ( Jn 12:20-33):The parable of the grain of wheat
Chinese Classics
- “A hero does not shed tears easily.”(1)
- “If you have not endured the bone-chilling winter, how can you smell the fragrance of the plum flowers!”(2)
- “Ability does not last forever, nor does talent.”(3)
- “Be content and follow the tides of life. Then, sadness and happiness cannot affect you.”(4)

“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Heb 5:7-9 )

Here, the Chinese translation talks about “weeping and calling out loudly in grief”. According to Studium Biblicum's translation, it means 'to manifest one's sadness by weeping and loudly expressing one's grief.' Another Christian translation says it similarly, 'weeping loudly and calling out in great sadness.' It stresses “crying out one's pain and shedding tears”. What it emphasizes is sadness, tears, crying out in great distress, openly expressing one's sorrow.

There is a Chinese saying, “A hero does not shed tears easily.” (1)Christ would not have shed such tears without reason. But in this instance, he not only wept, he called out loudly, he wailed. Among human beings one would seldom go beyond such agonized wailing. It is an expression of ultimate agony and sorrow.

Jesus was a man, truly human like all of us, except for his sinlessness. Because he was human, he could feel fear, and be afraid of death. When he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane his fear was so extreme that his sweat became like blood. “In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.” (Lk 22:44 ) One can see it is not an exaggeration when sometimes in Chinese literature such graphic terms are used, for example, 'crying unto shedding blood' or 'the cuckoo bird's tear has become blood.'

Even before this, Jesus' suffering was no small thing. After his triumphant procession into Jerusalem, during his last speech to the crowd, he said, “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say - 'Father, save me from this hour?” ( Jn 12:27 )But he did not forget to add immediately, “It is for this reason that I have come to this hour. ” It seems that his heart and his brain were functioning separately!

As Jesus faced his passion and death, his heart and emotions were troubled and full of fear. These were real emotions and true feelings, much as any of us would have in similar circumstances. But his mind, his thoughts and beliefs, his whole life attitude, would not allow him to contemplate escape. He 'knew' it was for this that he had been born into the world, so when the time had come, he had no reason to flee.

A courageous person is not necessarily unafraid, but is able to face his fear and truly overcome it. There is a legend about a general who before leaving for war, was so frightened that his legs shook. He jokingly addressed his legs, “Tonight you can shiver as much as you want, because tomorrow I must go into battle.”

Christ also was afraid but he was obedient. His submission to his Father was not achieved lightly. His was a lifetime of ongoing struggle before he achieved perfect obedience. He had to endure many struggles before he could overcome himself and attain perfect obedience.

St. Paul said, “Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered” ( Heb 5:8 ) The emphasis here is on 'learning'. Jesus learned to obey and finally succeeded. Before he achieved this, he went through suffering and agony during his entire life. He disciplined himself until he learned to obey. It is something like the saying, ‘every family has its own problems and hardship.’

Life is like a book, it is like refining gold in a big furnace. “If you have not endured the bone-chilling winter, how can you smell the fragrance of the plum flowers!”(2)

Life has its own basic rules and rhythm, success and failure, illness and health, aging and death, etc. It will not be changed because of our preferences nor be lost because of our efforts. Of course we can and should strive with all our strength, use our early years to write the poem of our life so that our lives are useful and happy. We must strive to accomplish our goal in life, but in the end we must accept life as it unfolds, saying a sincere 'yes' to life and committing ourselves to living wholeheartedly!

No matter what life is like, we must commit ourselves to it and accept it. Though there may be risks ahead, we must carry on with life courageously.

To accept and affirm life does not imply a weak acceptance of fate. It is rather going beyond fate, and in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, accepting it first and then trying our best to change. This demands of us that we stand on our own two feet, then go forward one step at a time. Ultimately this is the attitude we should have to life.

At first we do not understand life fully. We charge ahead and meet life headlong. We think we can conquer fate, and if we persist to the end, we will be able to change everything. But in the end, we find that “Ability does not last forever, nor does talent”(3). No matter who we are, we find there are things we could not or cannot do, or occasions when no matter what we do, it comes to nothing. At such times, we can only follow what life dictates. As Chuang Tzu said, “We must be content and follow the tides of life. Then, sadness and happiness will not affect us.”(4) Only then do we realize that this is the way to true happiness, and we can be happy in any circumstances of life.

As to this, even Jesus had to learn. How much more so we ordinary human beings!

(1)英雄有淚不輕彈。
(2)不經一番寒徹骨，那得梅花撲鼻香！
(3)力不可終恃，才不可終恃。
(4)安時而處順，哀樂不能入也。