常年期第十主日

耶穌的親屬

讀經一：(創3:9-15)：原祖違命
讀經二：(格後4:13-5:1)：宗徒所注視的目標
福　音：(谷3:20-35)：耶穌受人毀謗，耶穌的真親屬
中國文化： 予何人哉？十年以來，父母不得以為子，妻孥不得以為夫，手足不得以為兄弟，交遊不得以為朋友。予何人哉？

耶穌的母親和他的兄弟來了，站在外面，託人去叫他。當時，群眾正圍坐在他身邊，他們對他說：「看，你的母親和你的兄弟在外面找你！」耶穌回答他們說：「誰是我的母親？誰是我的兄弟？」然後環視坐在他周圍的人說：「看，我的母親，我的兄弟！凡奉行天主旨意的，就是我的兄弟、姊妹和母親。」（谷3:31-35）

耶穌是真天主，也是真人。既是真人，就有真人的煩惱，包括來自親人的煩惱。

電影「驅魔人」中的一位神父，他不能專心驅魔的一個原因，是他有一種內咎感：他的母親因為一個人獨居的緣故，所以死了幾天以後，神父才發現她。他覺得愧對母親。

我在台灣有一位神父朋友，他的母親想從大陸移居台灣，和他一起居住。他不能拒絕她，也不願拒絕她；但接受她來與自己同住，又確是感到十分為難。所以只好婉轉的告訴母親，如果她來台後，便整天都要一個人獨處，因為他這個做神父的兒子有太多公務，根本沒有時間常常承歡膝下……。母親後來終於明白了，這個做神父的兒子，真有不能經常陪伴和照顧母親的苦衷，所以沒有去台灣。

明末鎮守遼東的名將袁崇煥，曾經慨嘆說：「予何人哉？十年以來，父母不得以為子，妻孥不得以為夫，手足不得以為兄弟，交遊不得以為朋友。予何人哉？直謂之：大明境內一亡命之徒可也！」

一個大將軍，為了國家民族，為了工作、責任和理想，要做「亡命之徒」，連至親的人也要陪自己作出一定程度的犧牲。這是人生中多麼無奈的事！

耶穌既是人，他有沒有親人的煩惱呢？

今天的福音說他的親屬因為聽見人們傳說「他瘋了」(谷3:21)，便來干預他，要他在傳福音的工作上有所節制，因為他為了福音，「連進食都不能」。（谷3:20）實在太過分了。

其實，在耶穌的親人中，不單有些人不了解他，更有些人不相信他。若望福音便明明的說：「原來，連他的兄弟們也不相信他。」（若7:5）

就連他至愛的母親，也在他十二齡講道時曾經誤解過他，不明白耶穌為什麼要這樣做：「孩子，為什麼你這樣對待我們？看，你的父親和我，一直痛苦的找你。」（路2:48）

但耶穌是愛他們的，他和親人也有良好的關係，因為親情原是天性的一部分，彼此的關懷也是天主的聖意。所以在耶穌傳教時，他的母親和兄弟姊妹便曾多次找他；即使對他有某種程度的干預，最終其實也是為了愛。

這裡所說的兄弟姊妹指的是堂兄弟姊妹，因為聖母是貞女，她只有一個兒子，就是她因聖神懷孕而生的耶穌。

但耶穌對「家人」也有他深一層的看法。他說：「凡奉行天主旨意的，就是我的兄弟、姊妹和母親。」

親情是好的，但在天主內的結合和共融，在承行主旨上的同心攜手、互相勉勵，卻可以使美麗的親情，錦上添花。

在這裡，耶穌絲毫沒有貶低血肉親情之意，也絕非如某些基督徒基要派人士所言，說耶穌並不重視他和自己母親的血緣關係。相反地，我們可以從耶穌的話看出來，聖母之值得我們恭敬，並不純粹因為她是耶穌之母，更因為她是一位完全奉行天主旨意的人。她從領報開始，一直到站在耶穌的十字架下，無時無刻不在奉行天父的旨意。

辛勞、誤會、不瞭解、胸中的大志未被至親的人領會，這些都是耶穌經歷過的無奈，由親人而來的痛苦。他們中那些不信他的人，相信會使耶穌更感難受。也許這也是我們不少人的感受：我們不是有時也是只能幫助別人，幫助許許多多別的人，反而對自己的家人卻無能為力嗎？

讓我們像耶穌一樣，勇敢接受由親人而來的困難，同時擴闊我們親人的範圍，把一切懷善意的、按天主愛的計劃而生活的人們，也納入我們熱切關懷的「親人」中。

 

常年期第十主日

耶稣的亲属

读经一：(创3:9-15)：原祖违命
读经二：(格后4:13-5:1)：宗徒所注视的目标
福　音：(谷3:20-35)：耶稣受人毁谤，耶稣的真亲属
中国文化： 予何人哉？十年以来，父母不得以为子，妻孥不得以为夫，手足不得以为兄弟，交游不得以为朋友。予何人哉？

耶稣的母亲和他的兄弟来了，站在外面，托人去叫他。当時，群众正围坐在他身边，他们对他说：「看，你的母亲和你的兄弟在外面找你！」耶稣回答他们说：「谁是我的母亲？谁是我的兄弟？」然后环视坐在他周围的人说：「看，我的母亲，我的兄弟！凡奉行天主旨意的，就是我的兄弟、姊妹和母亲。」（谷3:31-35）

耶稣是真天主，也是真人。既是真人，就有真人的烦恼，包括来自亲人的烦恼。

电影「驱魔人」中的一位神父，他不能专心驱魔的一個原因，是他有一种内咎感：他的母亲因为一個人独居的缘故，所以死了幾天以后，神父才发现她。他觉得愧对母亲。

我在台湾有一位神父朋友，他的母亲想从大陆移居台湾，和他一起居住。他不能拒绝她，也不願拒绝她；但接受她来与自己同住，又确是感到十分为难。所以只好婉转的告诉母亲，如果她来台后，便整天都要一個人独处，因为他这個做神父的儿子有太多公务，根本没有時间常常承欢膝下……。母亲后来终於明白了，这個做神父的儿子，真有不能经常陪伴和照顾母亲的苦衷，所以没有去台湾。

明末镇守辽东的名将袁崇焕，曾经慨叹说：「予何人哉？十年以来，父母不得以为子，妻孥不得以为夫，手足不得以为兄弟，交游不得以为朋友。予何人哉？直谓之：大明境内一亡命之徒可也！」

一個大将军，为了国家民族，为了工作、責任和理想，要做「亡命之徒」，连至亲的人也要陪自己作出一定程度的牺牲。这是人生中多么无奈的事！

耶稣既是人，他有没有亲人的烦恼呢？

今天的福音说他的亲属因为听见人们传说「他疯了」(谷3:21)，便来干预他，要他在传福音的工作上有所节制，因为他为了福音，「连进食都不能」。（谷3:20）实在太過分了。

其实，在耶稣的亲人中，不单有些人不了解他，更有些人不相信他。若望福音便明明的说：「原来，连他的兄弟们也不相信他。」（若7:5）

就连他至爱的母亲，也在他十二龄讲道時曾经误解過他，不明白耶稣为什么要这样做：「孩子，为什么你这样对待我们？看，你的父亲和我，一直痛苦的找你。」（路2:48）

但耶稣是爱他们的，他和亲人也有良好的关系，因为亲情原是天性的一部分，彼此的关怀也是天主的圣意。所以在耶稣传教時，他的母亲和兄弟姊妹便曾多次找他；即使对他有某种程度的干预，最终其实也是为了爱。

这里所说的兄弟姊妹指的是堂兄弟姊妹，因为圣母是贞女，她只有一個儿子，就是她因圣神怀孕而生的耶稣。

但耶稣对「家人」也有他深一层的看法。他说：「凡奉行天主旨意的，就是我的兄弟、姊妹和母亲。」

亲情是好的，但在天主内的结合和共融，在承行主旨上的同心携手、互相勉励，却可以使美麗的亲情，锦上添花。

在这里，耶稣丝毫没有贬低血肉亲情之意，也绝非如某些基督徒基要派人士所言，说耶稣并不重视他和自己母亲的血缘关系。相反地，我们可以从耶稣的话看出来，圣母之值得我们恭敬，并不纯粹因为她是耶稣之母，更因为她是一位完全奉行天主旨意的人。她从领报開始，一直到站在耶稣的十字架下，无時无刻不在奉行天父的旨意。

辛劳、误会、不了解、胸中的大志未被至亲的人领会，这些都是耶稣经历過的无奈，由亲人而来的痛苦。他们中那些不信他的人，相信会使耶稣更感难受。也许这也是我们不少人的感受：我们不是有時也是只能帮助别人，帮助许许多多别的人，反而对自己的家人却无能为力吗？

让我们像耶稣一样，勇敢接受由亲人而来的困难，同時扩闊我们亲人的范围，把一切怀善意的、按天主爱的计劃而生活的人们，也纳入我们热切关怀的「亲人」中。

 

TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Jesus's Relatives

First Reading ( Gen 3:9-15 ) : Our first parent disobeyed
Second Reading (2 Cor 4:13-5:1 ) : The apostles' goal
Gospel ( Mk 3:20-35 ) : Jesus endured slander. Jesus' true relatives
Chinese Classics :
“Who am I? These ten years my parents cannot call me their son, my wife cannot call me her husband, my brothers cannot call me their brother, my friends cannot call me their friend. Who am I?”(1)

Jesus' mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” ( Mk 3:31-35 )

Jesus is true God and also human. Since he was truly human, he had similar troubles to the rest of us. This included troubles from family members. In the movie “The Exorcist”, one of the reasons the priest could not concentrate on dispelling the demon was because of a sense of guilt: his mother had lived alone, and he only discovered her death until several days later. He felt ashamed about this.

I have a priest friend in Taiwan whose mother wanted to move from Mainland China to live with him in Taiwan. He could not refuse her nor did he want to. But he felt to have her live with him would be very difficult. So he tactfully told her that if she moved to Taiwan she would be alone most of the time, because his public duties as a priest often would prevent him from accompanying her anywhere. His mother understood that her son's position would prevent him from being with her and later decided not to move to Taiwan.

Yuen Shung Woon, a general who was guarding Liu Tung towards the end of the Ming Dynasty, sadly said, “Who am I? These ten years, my parents cannot call me their son, my wife cannot call me her husband, my brothers cannot call me their brother, my friends cannot call me their friend. Who am I?”A great General became like a person deceased for the sake of his nation, his duties, his responsibilities and ideals. And his dearest ones had to accompany him in this sacrifice. That is really one of life's most helpless situations!

When Jesus was on earth did he have trouble with his relations? In Mark's Gospel which we read today, Mark says that his relatives came looking for him because they heard that "he has gone out of his mind." ( Mk 3:21 ) They wanted to curtail his preaching because due to it “he could not even eat.” ( Mk 3:20 ). It was really too much!

It was true that among Jesus' relatives, some didn't understand him, and some did not have any faith in him. John's Gospel clearly says, “For not even his brothers believed in him.” ( Jn 7:5 ) When he was twelve years old and sat with the doctors of the Law in the temple, even his dearest mother did not understand why he had stayed behind. “My child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." ( Lk 2:48 ) But Jesus did love all his relatives all and had a good relationship with them. To love our families is natural, and mutual care for each other is surely God's will. When Jesus' mother, brothers and sisters more than once came looking for him when he was preaching, it may have seemed as if they were trying to prevent him, but it was really out of love. (Here ‘brothers and sisters' refer to Jesus' cousins as the Blessed Mother remained a virgin, having conceived Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.)

But Jesus had a wider perspective on the word ‘family’ or ‘relations’. He said, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Kinship is a good thing. But unity and communion in God, together striving to do God's will as best we can, mutually encouraging each other, adds an even greater luster to the precious gift of family love.

Jesus never neglected his family or devalued human relationships as some fundamentalist Christians sometimes say. On the contrary, from Jesus' words we see that the Blessed Mother is worthy of our respect not just because she is Jesus' mother but because she is the most faithful doer of the will of God. From the moment of her acceptance of the angel's message until she stood at the foot of the Cross, there was not one moment when she was not attuned to God's will for her.

Jesus experienced mistrust and misunderstanding, the pain of helplessness, be cause of his relatives. The fact that some closest to him did not believe in him certainly caused him pain. Perhaps many of us have endured the same suffering. Isn't it sometimes a fact that we can help many people only to find we have no way to help members of our own family?

Let us follow Jesus' example and courageously accept any pain that may arise from family relationships. At the same time let us broaden the concept of ‘relations’ and, following God's plan, draw into the circle of our loving care for ‘family’’ all persons of good will, indeed all human beings.

(1)予何人哉？ 十年以來，父母不得以為子，妻孥不得以為夫，手足不得以為兄弟，交遊不得以為朋友。予何人哉？