聖枝主日

 

真人基督

 

讀經一：(依50:4-7)：上主的僕人

讀經二：(斐2:6-11)：耶穌貶抑自己，聽命至死

福　音：(瑪26:14-27:66)：耶穌受難始末

中國文化： 橫眉冷對千夫指，俯首甘為孺子牛。

自反而縮，雖千萬人，吾往矣。

 

今天是聖枝主日，我們慶祝基督榮進耶路撒冷。祝聖聖枝後，傳統上許多教友會拿一枝聖枝回家。在這裡，我想和大家分享一下應怎樣看待這些聖枝或其他聖物。

 

很久以前，我有一位朋友，他拿了兩枝聖枝回家。我問他為甚麼拿兩枝，他說要把一枝放在門口，一枝放在窗口，這樣鬼就不會進來了。我便跟他說，如果鬼要進入你的家，牠可以由天花板上落下來，也可以由地板鑽出來。我的朋友這樣看聖枝，確實有多少迷信成分。

 

也有一次，在一間天主教學校的廁所裡，學生傳出鬧鬼，於是校方便在廁所內安放了一個十字架。但問題仍未解決。因為學生說當他們如廁時，在看到十字架的那一格廁所就沒有鬼，但看不到十字架的那一格便有鬼了，耶穌的力量彷彿不能穿透牆壁似的。這樣看聖物也有些迷信色彩。

 

其實，真正保護我們的不是聖物，而是聖物所代表的天主。

 

聖枝是我們歡迎基督，願意他成為我們生命之主的記號。我們願意服從耶穌，按他的教訓生活。換句話說，我們整個生命是與基督結合的。這樣，基督自然會祝福我們。

 

我要強調的，是基督保護，而不是聖枝或十字架本身有什麼「法力」。

 

所以當我們高舉聖枝，或者要帶聖枝回家時，我們要記著，這是一個我們歡迎耶穌，願意接受耶穌為王的標記。

 

今天是聖枝主日，也是基督受難主日。所以榮進耶路撒冷的基督，也就是要受苦受死的基督。

 

今天在聖道禮中，依撒意亞先知這樣形容受苦的默西亞、上主的僕人：

 

我主上主每日清晨喚醒我，使我好像學徒一樣悉心受教。他開啟了我的耳朵，而我沒有抗拒，也沒有退避。人擊我背，我就迎之以背，拔我鬍鬚，我就迎之以腮。侮辱我、唾棄我，我也沒有遮掩我的臉面。由於我主上主的支持，我不怕蒙羞。我面不改容，好似一塊燧石。(依50:4-7)

 

讀到這裡，我便想起魯迅的一句名言：「橫眉冷對千夫指，俯首甘為孺子牛」。孟子也說：「自反而縮，雖千萬人，吾往矣。」意思是說：如果我反省到我的所言所行都是對的話，那麼，即使有千萬人反對我，我也可以勇往直前、無所畏懼。如果我是對的，即使世俗說我錯，我也可以橫眉冷對千萬人的指責，面不改容，好似一塊燧石。這便是我們的救主耶穌、我們的君王。

 

我們的君王就是上主的僕人，他沒有抗拒上主的召叫，沒有逃避在他面前準備了的羞辱。保祿在斐理伯書第2章接著說：「耶穌雖具有天主的形體，但他並沒有堅持與天主平等。相反，他空虛自己，取了奴僕的形體，降生成人，與我們完全一樣。他謙抑自下，服從至死，且死在十字架上。」

 

耶穌是百分之百的天主，但他降生成人，成為百分之百的人。他經歷了人生的一切遭遇和苦痛。今日我們讀受難始末時，我們會看到這個百分百的天主，並沒有用他任何天主的能力，去使自己少受一分一毫的苦。

 

而我們呢，我們不想做人，我們想做神；我們本來罪有應得，但我們卻不想受苦。在痛苦面前，我們多麼希望我們有消滅、或至少有減輕痛苦的能力！

 

如果世上有一個「罪無應得」的人，這個人就是耶穌。但他為了我們的罪，受了我們應受的苦。他空虛自己，取了奴僕的形體，降生成人，服從至死，而且死在十字架上。

 

我們所歡迎的耶穌、擁戴的君王，原來是這樣的一個僕人，一個完全回應天主召叫的人。

 

在上主的聖意中，基督要歷盡人的艱辛，走人的路，做一個百分之百的人。

 

曾經有一個神學生問一位神學教授：「你信耶穌是天主嗎？」教授回答說：「你問錯了問題。你應該問：你信耶穌是天主又是人嗎？」是的，耶穌是真天主，但有時我們卻忽略了他也是真人。他經歷過我們所經歷的一切：生老病死，成敗得失；他被人出賣過、譏笑過，他嘗過饑餓，經驗過失落，他甚至曾經流過淚。

 

在今天耶穌榮進耶路撒冷的慶典中，讓我們擁戴我們的救主，這個真人基督。讓我們也要求耶穌幫助我們成為真人，勇敢地回應上主的召叫，接受生命中的一切，也在一個具體而真實的生命中，去完成上主給我們的任務。

圣枝主日

 

真人基督

 

读经一：(依50:4-7)：上主的仆人

读经二：(斐2:6-11)：耶稣贬抑自己，听命至死

福　音：(玛26:14-27:66)：耶稣受难始末

中国文化： 横眉冷对千夫指，俯首甘为孺子牛。

自反而缩，虽千万人，吾往矣。

 

今天是圣枝主日，我们庆祝基督荣进耶路撒冷。祝圣圣枝后，传统上许多教友会拿一枝圣枝回家。在这里，我想和大家分享一下应怎样看待这些圣枝或其他圣物。

 

很久以前，我有一位朋友，他拿了两枝圣枝回家。我問他为甚么拿两枝，他说要把一枝放在门口，一枝放在窗口，这样鬼就不会进来了。我便跟他说，如果鬼要进入你的家，它可以由天花板上落下来，也可以由地板钻出来。我的朋友这样看圣枝，确实有多少迷信成分。

 

也有一次，在一间天主教学校的厕所里，学生传出闹鬼，於是校方便在厕所内安放了一個十字架。但問题仍未解决。因为学生说当他们如厕時，在看到十字架的那一格厕所就没有鬼，但看不到十字架的那一格便有鬼了，耶稣的力量彷佛不能穿透墙壁似的。这样看圣物也有些迷信色彩。

 

其实，真正保护我们的不是圣物，而是圣物所代表的天主。

 

圣枝是我们欢迎基督，願意他成为我们生命之主的记号。我们願意服从耶稣，按他的教训生活。换句话说，我们整個生命是与基督结合的。这样，基督自然会祝福我们。

 

我要强调的，是基督保护，而不是圣枝或十字架本身有什么「法力」。

 

所以当我们高举圣枝，或者要带圣枝回家時，我们要记著，这是一個我们欢迎耶稣，願意接受耶稣为王的标记。

 

今天是圣枝主日，也是基督受难主日。所以荣进耶路撒冷的基督，也就是要受苦受死的基督。

 

今天在圣道礼中，依撒意亚先知这样形容受苦的默西亚、上主的仆人：

 

我主上主每日清晨唤醒我，使我好像学徒一样悉心受教。他開启了我的耳朵，而我没有抗拒，也没有退避。人击我背，我就迎之以背，拔我胡须，我就迎之以腮。侮辱我、唾弃我，我也没有遮掩我的脸面。由於我主上主的支持，我不怕蒙羞。我面不改容，好似一块燧石。(依50:4-7)

 

读到这里，我便想起鲁迅的一句名言：「横眉冷对千夫指，俯首甘为孺子牛」。孟子也说：「自反而缩，虽千万人，吾往矣。」意思是说：如果我反省到我的所言所行都是对的话，那么，即使有千万人反对我，我也可以勇往直前、无所畏惧。如果我是对的，即使世俗说我错，我也可以横眉冷对千万人的指責，面不改容，好似一块燧石。这便是我们的救主耶稣、我们的君王。

 

我们的君王就是上主的仆人，他没有抗拒上主的召叫，没有逃避在他面前准备了的羞辱。保禄在斐理伯书第2章接著说：「耶稣虽具有天主的形体，但他并没有坚持与天主平等。相反，他空虚自己，取了奴仆的形体，降生成人，与我们完全一样。他谦抑自下，服从至死，且死在十字架上。」

 

耶稣是百分之百的天主，但他降生成人，成为百分之百的人。他经历了人生的一切遭遇和苦痛。今日我们读受难始末時，我们会看到这個百分百的天主，并没有用他任何天主的能力，去使自己少受一分一毫的苦。

 

而我们呢，我们不想做人，我们想做神；我们本来罪有应得，但我们却不想受苦。在痛苦面前，我们多么希望我们有消灭、或至少有减轻痛苦的能力！

 

如果世上有一個「罪无应得」的人，这個人就是耶稣。但他为了我们的罪，受了我们应受的苦。他空虚自己，取了奴仆的形体，降生成人，服从至死，而且死在十字架上。

 

我们所欢迎的耶稣、拥戴的君王，原来是这样的一個仆人，一個完全回应天主召叫的人。

 

在上主的圣意中，基督要历尽人的艰辛，走人的路，做一個百分之百的人。

 

曾经有一個神学生問一位神学教授：「你信耶稣是天主吗？」教授回答说：「你問错了問题。你应該問：你信耶稣是天主又是人吗？」是的，耶稣是真天主，但有時我们却忽略了他也是真人。他经历過我们所经历的一切：生老病死，成败得失；他被人出卖過、讥笑過，他尝過饥饿，经验過失落，他甚至曾经流過淚。

 

在今天耶稣荣进耶路撒冷的庆典中，让我们拥戴我们的救主，这個真人基督。让我们也要求耶稣帮助我们成为真人，勇敢地回应上主的召叫，接受生命中的一切，也在一個具体而真实的生命中，去完成上主给我们的任务。

Passion Sunday

 

Jesus Christ, Truly Human

 

First Reading : ( Is 50:4-7 ) : The servant of the Lord

Second Reading : ( Phil 2:6-11 ) : Jesus humbled himself and became obedient unto death

Gospel : ( Mt 26:14-27:66 ) : The Passion and death of Jesus

Chinese Classics

“Coolly I face a thousand pointing fingers, Then bow to be an infant's willing ox.” (1)

“If on self-examination, I find that I am upright, I will go forward against thousands and tens of thousands.” (2)

 

Today is Palm Sunday when we celebrate Jesus' glorious entry into Jerusalem. There is a tradition that after the palm branches have been blessed, Catholics take a branch home. I want to share with you how we should look upon these palm branches and other blessed articles.

 

Many years ago I had a friend who took home two palm branches. I asked him why he took two and he said he would place one at the door and one at the window, so that the evil spirits would not be able to come in. I said to him, if an evil spirit wants to enter your home, it could enter from the ceiling or through the floor. My friend’s way of looking on palm branches was somewhat superstitious.

 

Another time in a Catholic school there was a rumor among the students that an evil spirit had appeared in the W.C. The school authorities placed a cross in the lavatory but the problem was not totally resolved. According to the students, the cubicle where one could see the crucifix was not haunted, only the ones where the crucifix could not be seen. It seemed that Jesus' power could not go through the wall. Certainly this way of looking at blessed articles was also superstitious.

 

Actually what really protects us is not a blessed article but God who is symbolized by it.

 

Palm branches are a symbol of our welcoming Christ and our willingness to let him be Lord of our lives. We want to obey Jesus and live according to his teachings. In other words, our whole life is united to Christ. In that way Christ of course will bless us.

 

What I want to emphasize is that it is Christ's protection, not the palm branch or crucifix itself has ‘power’.

 

Therefore when we raise up the palm branches or take one home, we should remember that these are symbols of our welcome to Jesus and our willingness to accept him as our king and our boss.

 

Today is Palm Sunday and also Passion Sunday. The Christ who entered Jerusalem gloriously is also the Christ who suffered and died.

 

In today's first Reading the Prophet Isaiah describes the suffering Messiah, the Servant of the Lord:

 

Morning by morning the Lord GOD wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. (Is 50:4-7)

 

Here I remember a well-known saying of Lu Xun: “Coolly I face a thousand pointing fingers, Then bow to be an infant's willing ox.” (1) Mencius also said something similar: “If on self-examination, I find that I am upright, I will go forward against thousands and tens of thousands.” (2) The meaning here is that, if on reflection I find that my words and actions match, then even though there are thousands and millions of people against me, I can still go forward courageously and fearlessly. If I am right, even though the world says I am wrong, I can still face the rancour of thousands and millions of people coolly with a face set like a stone. This is our Saviour Jesus Christ, our King.

 

In Chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians But our King is the Servant of the Lord. He did not resist God's call nor evade the shame prepared for him. In Chapter two of the Epistles to the Philippians Paul said, “Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death -- even death on a cross.”

 

Jesus is true God, but he was born into the world and became true human being. He experienced all human pain and suffering during his lifetime. Today when we read the Passion and Death of Jesus we will see this true God who did not use one iota of his divine power to lessen his pain.

 

What about us? We are not satisfied with being human, we want to be God. We deserve punishment for sin, but we do not want to suffer. In the presence of pain we hope we can destroy or at least relieve the strength of the suffering.

 

If there is one who does not deserve punishment for sin in the world it is Jesus, yet to redeem our sins, he suffered the pain that we should suffer. He emptied himself, took on the form of a servant and became human. He was obedient to death and died upon the cross.

 

This Jesus whom we welcome is such a King, yet he is a servant who fully responded to God's call.

 

According to God's will Christ had to undergo all the sufferings of humankind, walk the path of all humans in order to be a true human being.

 

There once was a theology student who asked a professor, “Do you believe Jesus is God?” The professor answered “You asked the wrong question. You should ask, do you believe Jesus is both God and man?” Yes, Jesus is truly God, but sometimes we fail to remember that he was also truly human. He experienced all that we experienced, life and death, success and failure; he was betrayed, ridiculed, he experienced hunger, disappointment; he even shed tears.

 

Today amid the celebration of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem let us acknowledge our Savior, this truly human Christ. Let us also ask Jesus to help us become truly human, courageously answer God's call, accept everything in life, and fulfill the mission that God wills for us.

 

(1) 橫眉冷對千夫指，俯首甘為孺子牛。

(2) 自反而縮，雖千萬人，吾往矣。