常年期第廿七主日
問世間，情是何物？
讀經一：(創2:18-24)：造女人，建立婚姻制度
讀經二：(希2:9-11)：耶穌為造福人類，甘願受苦
福 音：(谷10:2-16)：離婚的問題；祝福兒童
中國文化： 城南小陌又逢春，只見梅花不見人；玉骨久成泉下土，
墨痕猶鎖壁間塵。
城上斜陽畫角哀，沈園非復舊池台；傷心橋下春波綠，
曾是驚鴻照影來。
從創造之初，天主就造了一男一女。因此，人要離開自己的父母，與他的妻子結合，兩人成為一體。這樣，他們不再是兩個人，而是一體了。所以，天主所結合的，人不可拆散。（谷10:6-9）
「天主所結合的，人不可拆散」。不過在現實生活中，卻有不少人，要拆散天主所結合的。他們或者是成為別人的「第三者」，去拆散別人；或者是自己拆散自己，兩人都找到一些可以說服自己的理由或藉口，就此協議「散伙」。
我數年前曾跟別人開玩笑，我說，經由我手中所祝福的婚姻，都是穩健的，都是情比金堅的。
今天，我不敢再開這個玩笑了，因為有些「金」已熔掉了，我已經見到由我親手主持和祝福的婚姻，接二連三地劃上了句號。
二十年前，全世界的離婚率，不過是六、七分之一，今天，有些「先進」地方的離婚率，已達到二分之一。在婚姻禮儀後，我們隨時可以和新人開玩笑地說聲「再見」！
我們不得不承認，天主使人結合的力量，有時卻敵不過兩個已死的心。這時，我們會更明白聖奧斯定的話：「天主創造你時，不需要你；但天主要救你時，卻需要你。」
人們要維持婚姻的持久和幸福，何嘗不是這樣？沒有夫婦二人衷誠的、堅忍的、長久的合作，全能的天主對他們的婚姻，又能奈何得了什麼？
天主教神學對神人關係有兩種不同的講法，一種強調神的主動，一種強調人的主動。
我看過一張海報這樣寫：「如果天主不向人伸手，人不可能接觸到天主。」這是完全正確的神學觀。
但我寧可這樣相信：「天主的手已經伸向所有人；只要人願意伸出手來，就可以接觸到天主。」也許這句話有更多聖奧斯定神學的味道。
天主的恩典，如天上沛降的甘霖，潤澤了所有的地方；他的愛，如和煦的太陽，普照、溫暖一切。只要我們準備妥當，我們就可以獲得最多的雨露，並在陽光的照耀下，快樂地成長。
雖然離婚已是今日社會相當普遍的現象，但對某些恩愛的夫妻來說，婚姻和愛情卻是終生的，連死亡都不能減少他們之間的深情和終身的思慕。
在今日的現實生活中，許許多多慶祝銀婚和金婚的夫婦，是多麼令人羨慕！在歷史上，愛國詩人陸游對愛情的忠貞，也是令人敬佩的。
陸游原來娶了表妹唐琬為妻，彼此感情很好，只因為陸母不喜歡，所以兩人被迫離異。陸游有一次和唐琬在沈園重逢，大家都感到十分難受；陸游以《釵頭鳳》一詞相贈，表出心中的哀愁。不久，唐琬終於抑鬱而死。
四十年後，陸游已經七十多歲，再訪沈園時，深深感到風物不殊，而人面已非；對著殘破的庭院，他倍覺悽涼，於是寫了兩首詩：
城上斜陽畫角哀，沈園非復舊池台；傷心橋下春波綠，曾是驚鴻照影來。
夢斷香消四十年，沈園柳老不吹綿；此身行作稽山土，猶弔遺蹤一泫然。
再過了十多年，陸游已經八十一歲，老得連走路也難了，但沈園和唐琬仍然深深地刻印在他的心間。於是他再寫了兩首詩，其中一首這樣說：
城南小陌又逢春，只見梅花不見人；玉骨久成泉下土，墨痕猶鎖壁間塵。
陸游一生心繫人民和祖國，但這一切並沒有減少他對所愛的人的深情、濃情、激情、痴情，及專一而永久的愛情。
婚姻需要愛，更需要情。如果生活已變得平淡，周而復始，一切都是那麼的理所當然，那麼的機械化，那麼，夫婦之間找一些讓「舊情復熾」的機會，去重燃雙方的情，那是配合天主「結合」之恩的人間好方法。
求主使一切有情人，都能在主的愛內「成為一體」，互種深情，彼此思念，直到永遠。
常年期第廿七主日
問世间，情是何物？
读经一：(创2:18-24)：造女人，建立婚姻制度
读经二：(希2:9-11)：耶稣为造福人类，甘願受苦
福 音：(谷10:2-16)：離婚的問题；祝福儿童
中国文化： 城南小陌又逢春，只见梅花不见人；玉骨久成泉下土，
墨痕犹锁壁间尘。
城上斜阳画角哀，沈园非复旧池台；伤心橋下春波绿，
曾是惊鸿照影来。
从创造之初，天主就造了一男一女。因此，人要離開自己的父母，与他的妻子结合，两人成为一体。这样，他们不再是两個人，而是一体了。所以，天主所结合的，人不可拆散。（谷10:6-9）
「天主所结合的，人不可拆散」。不過在现实生活中，却有不少人，要拆散天主所结合的。他们或者是成为别人的「第三者」，去拆散别人；或者是自己拆散自己，两人都找到一些可以说服自己的理由或藉口，就此协议「散伙」。
我数年前曾跟别人開玩笑，我说，经由我手中所祝福的婚姻，都是稳健的，都是情比金坚的。
今天，我不敢再開这個玩笑了，因为有些「金」已熔掉了，我已经见到由我亲手主持和祝福的婚姻，接二连三地劃上了句号。
二十年前，全世界的離婚率，不過是六、七分之一，今天，有些「先进」地方的離婚率，已达到二分之一。在婚姻礼仪后，我们随時可以和新人開玩笑地说声「再见」！
我们不得不承认，天主使人结合的力量，有時却敌不過两個已死的心。这時，我们会更明白圣奥斯定的话：「天主创造你時，不需要你；但天主要救你時，却需要你。」
人们要维持婚姻的持久和幸福，何尝不是这样？没有夫妇二人衷诚的、坚忍的、长久的合作，全能的天主对他们的婚姻，又能奈何得了什么？
天主教神学对神人关系有两种不同的讲法，一种强调神的主动，一种强调人的主动。
我看過一张海报这样写：「如果天主不向人伸手，人不可能接触到天主。」这是完全正确的神学观。
但我宁可这样相信：「天主的手已经伸向所有人；只要人願意伸出手来，就可以接触到天主。」也许这句话有更多圣奥斯定神学的味道。
天主的恩典，如天上沛降的甘霖，润泽了所有的地方；他的爱，如和煦的太阳，普照、温暖一切。只要我们准备妥当，我们就可以获得最多的雨露，并在阳光的照耀下，快乐地成长。
虽然離婚已是今日社会相当普遍的现象，但对某些恩爱的夫妻来说，婚姻和爱情却是终生的，连死亡都不能减少他们之间的深情和终身的思慕。
在今日的现实生活中，许许多多庆祝银婚和金婚的夫妇，是多么令人羡慕！在历史上，爱国诗人陆游对爱情的忠贞，也是令人敬佩的。
陆游原来娶了表妹唐琬为妻，彼此感情很好，只因为陆母不喜欢，所以两人被迫離异。陆游有一次和唐琬在沈园重逢，大家都感到十分难受；陆游以《钗头凤》 一词相赠，表出心中的哀愁。不久，唐琬终於抑郁而死。
四十年后，陆游已经七十多岁，再访沈园時，深深感到风物不殊，而人面已非；对著残破的庭院，他倍觉凄凉，於是写了两首诗：
城上斜阳画角哀，沈园非复旧池台；伤心橋下春波绿，曾是惊鸿照影来。
梦断香消四十年，沈园柳老不吹綿；此身行作稽山土，犹弔遗踪一泫然。
再過了十多年，陆游已经八十一岁，老得连走路也难了，但沈园和唐琬仍然深深地刻印在他的心间。於是他再写了两首诗，其中一首这样说：
城南小陌又逢春，只见梅花不见人；玉骨久成泉下土，墨痕犹锁壁间尘。
陆游一生心系人民和祖国，但这一切并没有减少他对所爱的人的深情、浓情、激情、痴情，及专一而永久的爱情。
婚姻需要爱，更需要情。如果生活已变得平淡，周而复始，一切都是那么的理所当然，那么的机械化，那么，夫妇之间找一些让「旧情复炽」的机会，去重燃双方的情，那是配合天主「结合」之恩的人间好方法。
求主使一切有情人，都能在主的爱内「成为一体」，互种深情，彼此思念，直到永遠。
TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
What is Love on this Earth?
First Reading (Gen 2:18-24): Creation of woman and establishment of marriage
Second Reading (Heb 2: 9-11): Jesus willingly suffered for the welfare of humankind
Gospel (Mk 10:2-16): The problem of divorce; the blessing of children
Chinese culture: -“It's spring again along the paths of the south of the city. Only plum flowers and not my beloved is in sight; her bones have long become the soil underneath the earth. Traces of my calligraphy are still covered by the dust on the walls.”(1) -
“In the city the sun is setting and the horn sounds sad. Shum Garden cannot recover its old ponds and terraces. Sadly I look down at the green spring waves under the bridge, once they reflected her grace and beauty.”(2)
”From the beginning of creation, God made them male and f For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Mk 10: 6-9).
”What God has joined together, let no one separate.” And yet, in the real world, there are not a few people who want to undo what God has joined together. Some of them become a ‘third person’ and break up others' marriages. Others separate themselves from their original spouses – both parties find convincing reasons or excuses and mutually agree to separate.
A few years ago I sometimes joked that marriages I had blessed were solid as rock and would remain that way. Today I would not dare to make such a claim, for some of those ‘rocks’ have fallen apart. I have seen marriages that I blessed fail, one after another. Twenty years ago, the divorce rate throughout the world was 20-30%. Today, in some so-called developed countries, the divorce rate already has reached 50%. Right after the wedding ceremony, we can even laugh and say farewell to the newly-weds!
We cannot deny that, even though God's power brought these two people together, sometimes it is defeated by these same two people who lose hope. This might help us better understand St. Augustine's words, ‘When God created you he did not need you, but to save you, God needs you.’
Isn't it the same for two people who want to sustain a happy and long-lasting marriage? Without the couple's sincere, patient and persevering cooperation, what can Almighty God do for their marriage?
Catholic theology speaks of the relationship between God and human beings in two different ways, one stresses God's initiative, the other emphasizes human initiative. I once saw a poster which said, ‘If God does not reach out to us human beings, we are not able to touch God.’ That is an entirely correct theological viewpoint. But I prefer to believe it this way: ‘God’s hand has already reached out to every person; we only need to stretch out our hands and we will be able to touch God.’ Perhaps that is more in keeping with the spirit of Augustine's theology. God's grace is like the rain falling from heaven, nourishing every corner of the earth. God's love is like the sunshine, warming and shining on the whole world. If we have prepared ourselves well, we are ready to receive the plentiful rain and under the warmth of the sun, grow happily to maturity.
Though divorce has become a common phenomenon in today's society, there are still couples whose love for each other and their marriage bond is for life. Even death cannot diminish their everlasting love and mutual admiration for each other. In the actual world today, there are many, many couples who celebrate their Silver and Golden wedding anniversaries, to our great admiration!. Among those whom we admire for their great passion of conjugal love was a patriotic poet, Lou You.
Lou You had married his cousin Tang Yuan. They loved each other dearly but Lou You's mother was against the marriage and the lovers were forced to separate. One day Lou You met Tang Yuan in the Shen Garden. Both of them felt very sad. As a gift to Tang Yuan and to express his sorrow and misery, Lou You wrote a piece of poetry called “Phoenix on the Hairpin.” Soon after this encounter Tang Yuen died of depression. Forty years later Lou You, by then over seventy, again visited Shen Garden. He felt that though people had changed, his own deep feelings had not. As he looked at the neglected courtyard, he felt his loneliness and brokenness intensely. He then wrote two poems: “In the city the sun is setting and the horn sounds sad, Shen Garden cannot recover its old ponds and terraces; Sadly I look down at the green spring waves under the bridge. Once they reflected her grace and beauty.”(2)
‘It is forty years since your death and our dreams were broken. The willows in Shen Garden have grown old and sway no more; This body is moving towards death But still I mourn my losing you with tears.” (Lou You, “Shen Garden”)
Another ten years passed and Lou You was already 81 years old, so old that he could hardly walk. But Shen Garden and Tang Yuan still were deeply engraved in his heart. He wrote another two poems. In one of them he wrote: “It is spring again along the paths of the south of the city Only plum flowers and my beloved is not in sight;
Her bones have long become the soil underneath the earth, Traces of my calligraphy are still covered by the dust on the walls.”(1)
Lou You was a patriot all his life. He loved his country and the people, but this did not diminish what he felt for his beloved: deep love, tenderness, devotion, passion, and everlasting love.
Marriage requires love and also needs affection. If life has become dull and appears to have become routine and mechanical, and we realize we are tending to take life for granted, it may be time for a couple to look for opportunities to revive their original ardour and “re-ignite” the flame of love again. This is surely a good way to cooperate with the grace God gifted them with at the time of their marriage.
Let us pray to God to bless all lovers, that in the love of God, they can become ‘one,’ loving and caring for each other until all eternity.
(1)城南小陌又逢春，只見梅花不見人；玉骨久成泉下土， 墨痕猶鎖壁間塵。
(2)城上斜陽畫角哀，沈園非復舊池台；傷心橋下春波綠， 曾是驚鴻照影來。
