聖週五

 

肩擔古今愁

 

讀經一：(依52:13-53:12)：受苦之僕

讀經二：(希4:14-16:5:7-9)：基督同情人的弱點

福　音：(若18:1-19:42)：耶穌的受難始末

中國文化： 足踏塵世路，肩擔古今愁。

堅貞為民、精誠為國，獨往寧擔天下謗；

淡泊忘貧、憂勞忘疾，但悲不見九州同。

王師北定中原日，家祭毋忘告乃翁。

 

在我們紀念耶穌受難的這一日，我很想和大家分享一下我對耶穌心情的一些領會。

 

耶穌的生命充滿了愛，是一種大慈、大悲的愛。他愛這個世界，愛他碰到的每一個人，並願意背起整個世界的重擔。他好像先知依撒意亞所預言的上主之僕：「受盡侮辱、被人遺棄，真是一個苦命的人。他飽嘗痛苦，被人鄙棄，我們都視他如無物。但他所肩負的是我們的痛苦，所受的是我們的痛楚。我們還以為他受了懲罰，給天主擊傷及貶抑。但是他被刺透是因為我們的叛逆，他被打傷是因為我們的罪惡。因為他受了懲罰，我們才得到安全，因為他受到創傷，我們才得到痊愈。我們都好像迷途的羔羊，各走各路，但是上主卻將我們的罪過加在他的身上。」(參考依53章)

 

我想起的一句話，就是「足踏塵世路，肩擔古今愁」，這就是耶穌。他來到這個世界，背負了古往今來所有的罪惡、所有的哀愁。有一首描寫陸游的對聯，表達了詩人也有這種情懷：「堅貞為民、精誠為國，獨往寧擔天下謗；淡泊忘貧、憂勞忘疾，但悲不見九州同。」

 

陸游非常愛國，一心希望國家能收復失去的領土。他的堅持，許多人是不了解的；能夠偏安不好嗎，管它什麼還我河山？因而許多人毀謗他，他只好獨自承擔這一切。他窮，但他不怕過淡薄的生活；他忙，甚至忘記了自己的病痛。他最擔心的只有一個問題：國家民族的統一。所以他死前寫了一首《示兒》詩給他的兒子當作遺囑：「死去原知萬事空，但悲不見九州同；王師北定中原日，家祭毋忘告乃翁。」

 

我想這些先聖先賢的心境與耶穌的心境都是一樣的，都充滿了愛，大慈、大悲、大願的愛；對世界、對蒼生、對我們每一個人，都充滿了愛。不過，這個充滿了愛的耶穌，他面對的生命卻是可悲的，甚至比陸游的命運更可悲。

 

為甚麼人們要把他置於死地呢﹖除了他的仇人和那些想把他除去而後快的人外，還有老百姓。這些老百姓在我們讀的受難始末中，曾瘋狂地喊叫：「釘死他，釘死他!」其實，這些人不少在過去三年是曾經聽過耶穌講道理，受過耶穌恩惠的。他們當中可能有些本來是啞的，耶穌治好了他們，現在他們卻辱罵耶穌；有些可能是跛子，被耶穌治好後，現在卻走來，握著拳頭，大聲的嚷著要除掉他，要把他釘在十字架上。

 

他們寧可要一個江洋大盜巴拉巴，都不要耶穌！

 

當耶穌披著紫紅袍，頭帶茨冠，血流滿面，望著這些群眾對他的審判、定罪、侮辱時，我們能領會到他的心情於萬一嗎？如果我們是活在二千年前的巴肋斯坦，我們又會不會握著拳頭高喊「釘死他」呢!

 

即使在今天，耶穌的死又是否與我們沒有關係呢? 我們犯過的罪、做過的錯事，不也是耶穌被釘死的原因嗎？

 

耶穌的表現還有一樣是令我們十分驚訝的，就是當他身懸十字架的時候，他頭戴棘冠，不能望天，只能低頭望著那些恥笑他的、咒罵他的人。那些人說：「你下來吧！」當然是用諷刺的口吻說：「你下來吧！讓我們可以信你。」

 

我小時候讀到這一段時，我很焦急，我在想：「耶穌，你為什麼不下來﹖你下來吧！讓這些惡人啞口無言，讓所有人看到一個大奇蹟，然後他們就要跪下叩首，稱你為王！」

 

但這畢竟只是我幼小心靈的天真期望。耶穌沒有下來，他望著這群人，講了一句石破天驚的話：「父，寬恕他們！因為他們不知道自己做的是甚麼。」

 

耶穌自己當時的感受又是什麼呢﹖眾叛親離固然痛苦，但更令他傷心欲絕的，是他感到連天父也無影無蹤，所以他大聲呼喊：「我的天主！我的天主！你為甚麼捨棄了我?」當他懸十字架，上不到天，下不到地的時候，他滿以為至少還有一個父親可以照顧他、幫助他，但那時候的天主，卻是靜默無聲。耶穌的吶喊，顯得十分空洞，一點回音都沒有，他只是在自言自語，是完全無助的自言自語，他的天父，保持著絕對的沉默。

 

這就是我們的救主，一個身為天主的人，孤獨地死去的救主。我們今日默想耶穌受難時，要記著這個事實：一個無罪的人，一個不該死的人為我們死了，承擔了我們的罪過。

 

耶穌基督，我們真的願意感謝你，感謝你承擔了我們的罪，為我們犧牲了你自己。你贖回了我們的生命，我們的生命是屬於你的，今天我們要完全為你好好地活出我們未來的生命、整個的生命。

圣周五

 

肩担古今愁

 

读经一：(依52:13-53:12)：受苦之仆

读经二：(希4:14-16:5:7-9)：基督同情人的弱点

福　音：(若18:1-19:42)：耶稣的受难始末

中国文化： 足踏尘世路，肩担古今愁。

坚贞为民、精诚为国，独往宁担天下谤；

淡泊忘贫、忧劳忘疾，但悲不见九州同。

王师北定中原日，家祭毋忘告乃翁。

 

在我们纪念耶稣受难的这一日，我很想和大家分享一下我对耶稣心情的一些领会。

 

耶稣的生命充满了爱，是一种大慈、大悲的爱。他爱这個世界，爱他碰到的每一個人，并願意背起整個世界的重担。他好像先知依撒意亚所预言的上主之仆：「受尽侮辱、被人遗弃，真是一個苦命的人。他饱尝痛苦，被人鄙弃，我们都视他如无物。但他所肩负的是我们的痛苦，所受的是我们的痛楚。我们还以为他受了惩罚，给天主击伤及贬抑。但是他被刺透是因为我们的叛逆，他被打伤是因为我们的罪恶。因为他受了惩罚，我们才得到安全，因为他受到创伤，我们才得到痊愈。我们都好像迷途的羔羊，各走各路，但是上主却将我们的罪過加在他的身上。」(参考依53章)

 

我想起的一句话，就是「足踏尘世路，肩担古今愁」，这就是耶稣。他来到这個世界，背负了古往今来所有的罪恶、所有的哀愁。有一首描写陆游的对联，表达了诗人也有这种情怀：「坚贞为民、精诚为国，独往宁担天下谤；淡泊忘贫、忧劳忘疾，但悲不见九州同。」

 

陆游非常爱国，一心希望国家能收复失去的领土。他的坚持，许多人是不了解的；能够偏安不好吗，管它什么还我河山？因而许多人毁谤他，他只好独自承担这一切。他穷，但他不怕過淡薄的生活；他忙，甚至忘记了自己的病痛。他最担心的只有一個問题：国家民族的统一。所以他死前写了一首《示儿》 诗给他的儿子当作遗嘱：「死去原知万事空，但悲不见九州同；王师北定中原日，家祭毋忘告乃翁。」

 

我想这些先圣先贤的心境与耶稣的心境都是一样的，都充满了爱，大慈、大悲、大願的爱；对世界、对苍生、对我们每一個人，都充满了爱。不過，这個充满了爱的耶稣，他面对的生命却是可悲的，甚至比陆游的命运更可悲。

 

为甚么人们要把他置於死地呢？除了他的仇人和那些想把他除去而后快的人外，还有老百姓。这些老百姓在我们读的受难始末中，曾疯狂地喊叫：「钉死他，钉死他!」其实，这些人不少在過去三年是曾经听過耶稣讲道理，受過耶稣恩惠的。他们当中可能有些本来是哑的，耶稣治好了他们，现在他们却辱骂耶稣；有些可能是跛子，被耶稣治好后，现在却走来，握著拳头，大声的嚷著要除掉他，要把他钉在十字架上。

 

他们宁可要一個江洋大盗巴拉巴，都不要耶稣！

 

当耶稣披著紫红袍，头带茨冠，血流满面，望著这些群众对他的审判、定罪、侮辱時，我们能领会到他的心情於万一吗？如果我们是活在二千年前的巴肋斯坦，我们又会不会握著拳头高喊「钉死他」呢!

 

即使在今天，耶稣的死又是否与我们没有关系呢? 我们犯過的罪、做過的错事，不也是耶稣被钉死的原因吗？

 

耶稣的表现还有一样是令我们十分惊讶的，就是当他身悬十字架的時候，他头戴棘冠，不能望天，只能低头望著那些耻笑他的、咒骂他的人。那些人说：「你下来吧！」当然是用讽刺的口吻说：「你下来吧！让我们可以信你。」

 

我小時候读到这一段時，我很焦急，我在想：「耶稣，你为什么不下来？你下来吧！让这些恶人哑口无言，让所有人看到一個大奇迹，然后他们就要跪下叩首，称你为王！」

 

但这毕竟只是我幼小心灵的天真期望。耶稣没有下来，他望著这群人，讲了一句石破天惊的话：「父，宽恕他们！因为他们不知道自己做的是甚么。」

 

耶稣自己当時的感受又是什么呢？众叛亲離固然痛苦，但更令他伤心欲绝的，是他感到连天父也无影无踪，所以他大声呼喊：「我的天主！我的天主！你为甚么舍弃了我?」当他悬十字架，上不到天，下不到地的時候，他满以为至少还有一個父亲可以照顾他、帮助他，但那時候的天主，却是静默无声。耶稣的呐喊，显得十分空洞，一点回音都没有，他只是在自言自语，是完全无助的自言自语，他的天父，保持著绝对的沉默。

 

这就是我们的救主，一個身为天主的人，孤独地死去的救主。我们今日默想耶稣受难時，要记著这個事实：一個无罪的人，一個不該死的人为我们死了，承担了我们的罪過。

 

耶稣基督，我们真的願意感谢你，感谢你承担了我们的罪，为我们牺牲了你自己。你赎回了我们的生命，我们的生命是属於你的，今天我们要完全为你好好地活出我们未来的生命、整個的生命。

Good Friday

 

He Took on the Burden of Past and Present Grief

 

First Reading : ( Is 52:13-53 :12 ) : The suffering servant

Second Reading : ( Heb 4:14-16;5:7-9 ) : Christ took on our human weakness

Gospel : ( Jn 18:1-19,42 ) : The Passion and Death of Jesus

Chinese Classics

-“Treading on the path of this world, Shouldering the sorrows of the ancient and modern times.” (1)

-“Faithful to the people, Earnest about the country, Bearing the blames of the whole world alone; Living a simple life and forgetting about poverty, Worrying and labouring hard and forgetting about sickness, But my sorrow is not seeing the nine counties united.” (2)

-“The day that the imperial arms win back the Central Plain, Mind you sacrifice and let your old man know.” (3)

 

As we commemorate the day of Jesus' Passion. I want to share with you my understanding of Jesus' feeling.

 

Jesus' life was filled with love, a great and merciful love. He loved the world as well as everyone he met. He was willing to take on the burdens of the whole world. He was like the Servant of the Lord described by the Prophet Isaiah.‘He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.’ (Ref Is: Chap 53)

 

I am reminded of the lines: “Treading on the path of this world, Shouldering the sorrows of the ancient and modern times.”(1) This is Jesus who came into this world and took on the sins and suffering of all time. Lu You shared similar feelings and expressed them in one of his couplets: “Faithful to the people, Earnest about the country, Bearing the blames of the whole world alone; Living a simple life and forgetting about poverty, Worrying and labouring hard and forgetting about sickness, But my sorrow is not seeing the nine counties united.”(2)

 

Lu You loved his country very much and hoped the country would recover its lost territories. Many people did not understand his insistence. They found nothing wrong with living in one region and did not care whether the country was ever won back. They ruined his reputation so he could only carry out his patriotic responsibilities alone. He was poor but he did not mind to live a simple life. He was so busy that he forgot his illness. He cared for only one thing, the unity of the country and race. Before he died, he wrote a poem for his son called “To My Son”. It was meant as a last will for his son: “Death ends all, that is sure, But what grieves me is not to have seen our land united; The day that our imperial arms win back the Central Plain, Mind you sacrifice and let your old man know.”(3)

 

I think our ancestors' feelings were similar to those of Jesus. Both are filled with love and mercy towards all humankind. But this Jesus filled with such love faced a life much more tragic than that of Lu You.

 

Why did people want to put Jesus to death? Besides his enemies and those who wanted to do away with him so quickly there were the common people. When we read the account of the Passion, we hear them shouting, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ Actually during the previous three years many of them had heard Jesus' teaching and received graces from him. Some of them might have been dumb and had been healed by him. Now they curse him. Some might have been lame and had been healed by Jesus. Now they raise their fists and shout ‘away with him, he should be crucified.’

 

They would rather have the infamous thief Barabbas released rather than Jesus!

 

When Jesus put on the purple robe any crown of thorns, blood covering his face, and looked on those who were judging, condemning, mocking him, can we understand his feelings? If we had lived in Palestine two thousand years ago, would we have raised our fists and shouted “crucify him?”.

 

Until today, does Jesus' death have and relation to ourselves? Are not our sins and wrongdoing the reason for Jesus' death?

 

We are astonished by Jesus' attitude. He hung on the cross wearing the crown of thorn, unable even to look up to the sky, he could only lower his head to look at the people who ridiculed and cursed him. Some said “Come down now!”. Of course this was said sarcastically. “Come down now so that we may believe in you.”

 

When I was young and read this passage, I was very anxious and thought, “Jesus, why didn't you come down? Come down! Do not let those evil people continue shouting. Strike them dumb! Work a great miracle. Then they will all bow down and worship you as King!”

 

But that was only a childish hope. Jesus did not come down. He looked at the crowd of people and said: ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’

 

At that time what were Jesus' own feelings? Everyone had turned against him. What was even more painful, he felt that there was no sign of God's presence. Therefore he cried out loudly ‘My God! my God ! Why have you forsaken me?’ When he hung on the cross and could neither go up or down, he thought he still had a Father who cared for him and would assist him. But at that time God was silent. The cry of Jesus was totally hollow and empty, God gave no response whatsoever. Jesus was helplessly only talking to himself. His Father maintained total silence.

 

This is our Saviour, the divine Lord, a Saviour who died alone. When today we recall Jesus' sufferings, we should remember this fact: an innocent person, one who did not deserve death, died for us so as to bear the burden of our sins.

 

O Jesus Christ, we want to truly thank you, thank you for bearing our sins and sacrificing yourself. for us. You redeemed our lives and so our lives belong to you. Today and for the rest of our lives, we will live our lives entirely for you.

 

(1) 足踏塵世路，肩擔古今愁。

(2) 堅貞為民、精誠為國，獨往寧擔天下謗；淡泊忘貧、憂勞忘疾，但悲不見九州同。

(3) 王師北定中原日，家祭毋忘告乃翁。