五旬節主日

 

當受傷不再成為威望的時候

 

讀經一：(宗2:1-11)：聖神降臨

讀經二：(格前12:3-7,12-13)：我們屬於同一的身體，各有神恩

福　音：(若20:19-23)：顯現給門徒

中國文化： 巨人的花園。

 

耶穌復活後，有一次顯現給門徒，對他們說：「願你們平安，就如父怎樣派遣了我，我也怎樣派遣你們。」接著，耶穌給他們吹了一口氣，說：「你們領受聖神吧！你們赦免誰的罪，誰的罪就得到赦免，你們不赦免誰的罪，誰的罪就不能得到赦免。」（參考若20:19-23）

 

不久，五旬節到了，宗徒大事錄說：「門徒都聚集在一處。忽然，從天上傳來一陣響聲，好像暴風吹來，充滿了他們所在的全座房屋。有些好像火一樣的舌頭出現，分別停留在每一個人的頭上，他們都充滿了聖神。」(宗2:1-4)

 

充滿聖神的後果是怎樣的呢？格林多前書說：「除非受聖神感動，沒有一個人能夠稱耶穌是主。神恩雖有區別，卻只有一個聖神；服務雖有多種，卻只有一個主；工作雖有區別，卻是同一的天主所推動眾人做的。聖神在各人身上的顯示，都是為了眾人的好處。」（參考格前12:3-7）

 

聖神在我們的生命中幫助我們去服務、工作，就像一個身體，肢體雖多，仍是一個身體：有些是眼睛，有些是手，有些是腳，有些是頭，按照聖神給我們的恩賜，我們去服務教會、服務世界。

 

我們的教會是一個聖神的教會，這教會建築在基督身上、由聖神所推動；她進入世界、聖化世界。在聖化世界的過程中，十分重要的一件事，就是寬恕與修和。

 

在這裡，我想同大家分享一個很有趣的童話故事：「巨人的花園」。

 

有一個巨人，他有一個很漂亮的花園。有一次，在他遠行時，小孩子們便進入了他的花園玩耍。巨人回來了，十分憤怒。「這個花園是我的！」他說：「你們都給我滾！」然後，他圍起他的花園，不再讓小孩子進來。

 

冬天來了，周圍都佈滿了白雪。過了不久，春天也到了，所有地方都開始欣欣向榮，只有巨人的花園仍然是嚴寒的冬天。因為哪裡沒有小孩子，哪裡就沒有春天了。

 

巨人很奇怪，為甚麼春天遲遲沒有來。一年又一年的過去，巨人的花園仍是只有永恆的冬天。他感到悶悶不樂。

 

一天，他偶然從屋裡望向花園，發現整個花園的花都開了。只是在一個很遠的角落裡，卻有一棵樹，仍然是鋪滿了白雪，樹枝上一朵花都沒有。原來許多小孩子已經偷偷地進入了他的花園，爬到樹上，凡是有小孩子的樹，都開滿了鮮花。只有很遠角落的那個小孩子，由於太矮小了，爬不到樹上，所以樹上還是沒有開花。

 

巨人明白了，原來自己的花園只有永恆的冬天，是因為沒有小孩子。於是他便靜悄悄地走進花園。小孩子見到巨人，都紛紛逃走。他們走了以後，那些樹又立刻變回冬天。

 

巨人走到很遠的那個小孩子身旁。小孩子正在哭，看不到巨人的到來。於是巨人便靜靜地將小孩子抱起來，把他放在樹上，樹便立刻開花了。於是，這小孩子便吻了巨人，巨人也熱情地擁抱著這個小孩子。其他的孩子見到巨人突然之間變得那樣慈祥和藹，都不再怕他了，大家又再次進入了花園。於是，整個花園又再充滿了春天的氣息。

 

巨人說；「好了，從今天開始，這個花園已經是屬於大家的了。大家可以隨時進來玩啦！」那天，巨人便把花園的圍牆拆掉了。但是，第二天，小孩子們再來玩耍的時候，巨人卻見不到他喜歡的那個小孩子。

 

許多年過去了，巨人已經很老。他再不用害怕冬天了，因為他知道，冬天之後，春天還是會再來的。

 

一天，當巨人坐在花園裡休息時，他忽然見到先前的那個小孩子進入了花園，他就急忙跑過去。但當他一見到這小孩子的手掌和雙腳上都有幾個釘痕時，他就很憤怒而激動地說：「誰傷害了你？我要去找他算賬！」小孩子說：「不必了，這是愛的傷痕啊！」

 

巨人於是說：「你是誰？」忽然間，他有一種很奇怪的感覺，便不由自主地在小孩子面前跪了下來。小孩子便向巨人微笑說：「許多年前，有一次你讓我在你的花園裡玩耍。今天，我就要帶你到我的花園裡去。」

 

就在那天的下午，當其他小孩子進入花園的時候，他們見到巨人睡在一棵樹下，已經死了，滿身鋪滿了鮮花。

 

寬恕是基督的教訓，亦是聖神的果實。

 

當權利決定一切，正義代表一切，而受過傷，又成為威望的時候，這個世界已不再明白甚麼叫寬恕、接受和愛了。

 

但基督告訴我們，聖神啟示我們，我們可以走另一條路，一條超過權利、超過公義、超過受傷的路，我們可以在任何情況下去寬恕、去接受、去愛。

 

只有寬恕和愛，才可徹底改變這個世界，和徹底治療我們生命的創傷。

五旬节主日

 

当受伤不再成为威望的時候

 

读经一：(宗2:1-11)：圣神降临

读经二：(格前12:3-7,12-13)：我们属於同一的身体，各有神恩

福　音：(若20:19-23)：显现给门徒

中国文化： 巨人的花园。

 

耶稣复活后，有一次显现给门徒，对他们说：「願你们平安，就如父怎样派遣了我，我也怎样派遣你们。」接著，耶稣给他们吹了一口气，说：「你们领受圣神吧！你们赦免谁的罪，谁的罪就得到赦免，你们不赦免谁的罪，谁的罪就不能得到赦免。」（参考若20:19-23）

 

不久，五旬节到了，宗徒大事录说：「门徒都聚集在一处。忽然，从天上传来一阵响声，好像暴风吹来，充满了他们所在的全座房屋。有些好像火一样的舌头出现，分别停留在每一個人的头上，他们都充满了圣神。」(宗2:1-4)

 

充满圣神的后果是怎样的呢？格林多前书说：「除非受圣神感动，没有一個人能够称耶稣是主。神恩虽有区别，却只有一個圣神；服务虽有多种，却只有一個主；工作虽有区别，却是同一的天主所推动众人做的。圣神在各人身上的显示，都是为了众人的好处。」（参考格前12:3-7）

 

圣神在我们的生命中帮助我们去服务、工作，就像一個身体，肢体虽多，仍是一個身体：有些是眼睛，有些是手，有些是脚，有些是头，按照圣神给我们的恩赐，我们去服务教会、服务世界。

 

我们的教会是一個圣神的教会，这教会建筑在基督身上、由圣神所推动；她进入世界、圣化世界。在圣化世界的過程中，十分重要的一件事，就是宽恕与修和。

 

在这里，我想同大家分享一個很有趣的童话故事：「巨人的花园」。

 

有一個巨人，他有一個很漂亮的花园。有一次，在他遠行時，小孩子们便进入了他的花园玩耍。巨人回来了，十分愤怒。「这個花园是我的！」他说：「你们都给我滚！」然后，他围起他的花园，不再让小孩子进来。

 

冬天来了，周围都布满了白雪。過了不久，春天也到了，所有地方都開始欣欣向荣，只有巨人的花园仍然是严寒的冬天。因为哪里没有小孩子，哪里就没有春天了。

 

巨人很奇怪，为甚么春天迟迟没有来。一年又一年的過去，巨人的花园仍是只有永恒的冬天。他感到闷闷不乐。

 

一天，他偶然从屋里望向花园，发现整個花园的花都開了。只是在一個很遠的角落里，却有一棵树，仍然是铺满了白雪，树枝上一朵花都没有。原来许多小孩子已经偷偷地进入了他的花园，爬到树上，凡是有小孩子的树，都開满了鲜花。只有很遠角落的那個小孩子，由於太矮小了，爬不到树上，所以树上还是没有開花。

 

巨人明白了，原来自己的花园只有永恒的冬天，是因为没有小孩子。於是他便静悄悄地走进花园。小孩子见到巨人，都纷纷逃走。他们走了以后，那些树又立刻变回冬天。

 

巨人走到很遠的那個小孩子身旁。小孩子正在哭，看不到巨人的到来。於是巨人便静静地将小孩子抱起来，把他放在树上，树便立刻開花了。於是，这小孩子便吻了巨人，巨人也热情地拥抱著这個小孩子。其他的孩子见到巨人突然之间变得那样慈祥和蔼，都不再怕他了，大家又再次进入了花园。於是，整個花园又再充满了春天的气息。

 

巨人说；「好了，从今天開始，这個花园已经是属於大家的了。大家可以随時进来玩啦！」那天，巨人便把花园的围墙拆掉了。但是，第二天，小孩子们再来玩耍的時候，巨人却见不到他喜欢的那個小孩子。

 

许多年過去了，巨人已经很老。他再不用害怕冬天了，因为他知道，冬天之后，春天还是会再来的。

 

一天，当巨人坐在花园里休息時，他忽然见到先前的那個小孩子进入了花园，他就急忙跑過去。但当他一见到这小孩子的手掌和双脚上都有幾個钉痕時，他就很愤怒而激动地说：「谁伤害了你？我要去找他算账！」小孩子说：「不必了，这是爱的伤痕啊！」

 

巨人於是说：「你是谁？」忽然间，他有一种很奇怪的感觉，便不由自主地在小孩子面前跪了下来。小孩子便向巨人微笑说：「许多年前，有一次你让我在你的花园里玩耍。今天，我就要带你到我的花园里去。」

 

就在那天的下午，当其他小孩子进入花园的時候，他们见到巨人睡在一棵树下，已经死了，满身铺满了鲜花。

 

宽恕是基督的教训，亦是圣神的果实。

 

当权利决定一切，正义代表一切，而受過伤，又成为威望的時候，这個世界已不再明白甚么叫宽恕、接受和爱了。

 

但基督告诉我们，圣神启示我们，我们可以走另一条路，一条超過权利、超過公义、超過受伤的路，我们可以在任何情况下去宽恕、去接受、去爱。

 

只有宽恕和爱，才可彻底改变这個世界，和彻底治疗我们生命的创伤。

Feast of Pentecost

 

When One's Own Hurt becomes Prestige No More

 

First Reading (Acts 2:1-11): The descent of the Holy Spirit

Second Reading (1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13): We all belong to the same body, each have their own gifts

Gospel (Jn 20:19-23): Jesus appeared to the Apostles

Chinese Classics: -“The Giant's Garden” (1)

 

After Jesus had risen from the death, he appeared once to the Apostles and said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (Ref Jn 20:19-23)

 

Shortly after the day of Pentecost came. The Acts of the Apostles states, “they were all together in one place, and suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:1-4)

 

What happens when people are filled with the Holy Spirit? The First Epistle to the Corinthians says, “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (Ref 1 Cor 12:3-7)

 

The Holy Spirit in our life helps us to serve and work, like a body, though it has many parts, it is still one body —there are eyes, hands, legs and head. According to the gifts of the Hoy Spirit each of us serves the church and the world.

 

Our church is a church of the Holy Spirit. This church is built on the body of Christ and moved by the Holy Spirit. It enters the world and sanctifies it. In the process of saving the world an important thing is forgiveness and reconciliation.

 

Here, I would like to share an interesting fairy tale with you, It is called “The Giant's Garden.”

 

There once was a giant who had a very beautiful garden. One day while he was away from home, the children came in and played in his garden. When the Giant returned he was very angry and shouted, “This is my garden! Get out!” Afterwards he fenced in the garden and would not let the children enter.

 

When winter came, everywhere was covered with snow. Not long after spring came. and everywhere blossomed except in the Giant's garden. There it was still severe winter. This was because spring never comes to a place where there are no children.

 

The Giant thought this was very strange. He could not understand why spring never came. Year after year in the Giant's garden it was still winter. He felt very depressed.

 

One day he accidentally looked out from his house and saw that all the trees in the whole garden had blossomed except for one in the far corner. That tree was still covered with snow, there were no flowers on its branches. The reason was that the children had sneaked into the garden and climbed up the trees. The trees blossomed when there were children. However, the child at the far corner was too short to climb up the tree and so that tree did not have any flowers.

 

Then the Giant understood, his garden was always winter because there were no children. Quietly the giant entered the garden. When the children saw him they ran away and after they had left, the trees turned back to winter again.

 

The Giant went to the child at the far corner. The child was crying and did not see the Giant coming. The Giant quietly held the child up and put him onto the tree. The flowers on the tree opened immediately. The child gave the Giant a kiss and the Giant lovingly held the child tightly. When the other children saw that the Giant had become gentle and kind so suddenly they were no longer afraid of him. They went into the garden again. So once again the entire garden was filled with the life and vigor of spring.

 

The Giant said, “Good, from now on the garden belongs to all of us. You can come and play whenever you like!” That day the Giant took away the fences. However, the next day when the children came to play the Giant could not see his favorite child.

 

Many years passed and the Giant grew old. He was not afraid of winter anymore because he knew that spring would always come after the winter.

 

One day, when the Giant was resting in the garden he suddenly saw his favorite child come into the garden. He hurriedly ran over to him. He saw that there were nail scars on the child's palms and feet. The Giant was very angry and said to the child, “Who hurt you? I will find them and take revenge.” The child replied, “There is no need, these are the scar of love.”

 

The Giant asked, “Who are you?” He suddenly had a strange feeling. He could not help but kneel down before the child. The child smiled at the Giant and said, “Many years ago you let me come into your garden. Today, I will bring you to my garden.”

 

That afternoon when the children went into the garden, they saw the Giant lying under a tree. He was dead, and his body was covered with flowers.

 

Forgiveness is the teaching of Christ and is also the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

 

When one's own rights decides everything and justice alone rules all, when one's own hurt has become prestige, the world cannot understand the meaning of forgiveness and the acceptance of love.

 

However Christ tells us and the Holy Spirit inspires us that we can choose another way, a way that transcends rights, justice and hurt, then we can forgive, accept love and love in return.

 

Only forgiveness and love can change this world completely, and heal the wounds of our lives entirely.

 

(1) 巨人的花園。