五旬節

聖神的教會

讀經一：(宗2:1-11)：聖神降臨
讀經二：(迦5:16-25)：應按聖神的引導行事為人
福　音：(若15:26-27;16:12-15)：聖神指引信徒明白真理
中國文化： 凡學問之法，不患無才，難於拒師，核道實義，證定是非也。 梓匠輪輿，能與人規矩，不能使人巧。

我還有許多事要告訴你們，但是你們現在不能承擔。當那一位真理之神來到時，他要指引你們明白全部真理。(若16:12-13)

聖神是真理之神，他來，是為了讓我們能明白真理、接受真理、活出真理。

為了讓聖神早一點來到門徒中，耶穌甚至說：「我去為你們『有益』，因為我若不去，護慰者便不會到你們這裡來。」(若16:7)

耶穌和門徒一起生活已經三年了，該是離開門徒回歸父家的時候了，也該是聖神來作他的化工的時候了。

如果耶穌繼續和門徒在一起，門徒們是比較難於成熟的。

在我九歲那年，父親去世。我帶著七歲的妹妹，由大澳這個小鄉村，往香港這個大城市去，要去九龍深水埗九江街探訪我的姑母。我們迷了路，大家都很驚慌。我本來就想哭，但我的妹妹卻首先哭了起來，我便不能哭、也不敢哭，還要強作鎮定。因為我雖然沒有靠山，但卻有一個人要靠我！

從那天開始，我踏上了一條靠自己的路，踏上了一條要保護別人的路。我要自立、自強，我再沒有父親可以依靠。早年喪父，就這樣成了天主給我的一種祝福，幫助我在小小的年紀時，已經知道要培養出堅強的性格。

當基督在世的時候，門徒一遇到問題，就可以問耶穌、靠耶穌。因為在耶穌身上有最好的、最圓滿的答案。

但可惜的是，這些都不是門徒們的答案！他們很難把這些答案運用在自己身上，更未必知道如何才能夠舉一反三，在不同的環境中加以變化、變通，而靈活地運用這些答案。

當他們遇到困難時，他們也可以投奔耶穌；耶穌會安慰、鼓勵、支持他們。但當耶穌不在跟前時，他們便可能不知道如何安慰自己、鼓勵自己，或者如何彼此安慰、彼此鼓勵；更不知道應該如何安慰、鼓勵、支持別人。

以基督為中心的教會，主要是一個有形的教會。這個教會二千年前有耶穌，今日有教宗、主教、神父；他們都成了教友的靠山。二千年前的門徒在耶穌前很難成長，二千年後的教友在神長前，要成長也不容易。因為有靠山！

當耶穌不在時，門徒再不能靠誰了，便只有靠自己，只有彼此依靠。所以當他們遇到信徒應否行割損禮這個大難題時，他們就召開了教會歷史上的第一次大公會議。他們要在聖神的引導下，自己去解決問題（宗15章）。

耶穌也曾這樣對他們說：「我還與你們同在的時候，給你們講論了這些事；但那護慰者，就是父因我的名所要派遺來的聖神，他必要教訓你們一切，也要使你們『想起』，我對你們所說的一切。」(若14:25-26)

聖神要教訓我們一切、啟示我們一切；他也要使我們『想起』耶穌所教訓的一切。

當我們在一個特定的情況中，運用自己的智慧，在基督精神的啟發，和在聖神的推動下，去考慮、判斷、決定，並願為此而承擔責任及後果時，耶穌的教訓便變成了我們的思想信念和處事方法。原來屬於耶穌的東西，已經變成了我們的東西。

我們成長了！

我們的教會是一個以耶穌為中心的教會，也是一個以聖神為動力的教會，我們要在兩者中找到一個平衡點。

王充在《論衡》中說：「凡學問之法，不患無才，難於拒師，核道實義，證定是非也。」拒師就是和老師辯論；核道就是要將所學到的「道」加以考核；要用事實、生活去驗證這道的具體內容。

孟子也說：「梓匠輪輿，能與人規矩，不能使人巧。」意思是說，那些木工師傅，他能夠把規矩準則教授給你，卻無法使你成為一個有高超技巧的木工師傅。要有高超的技巧，是必須在實踐中，慢慢學習和浸淫的。

耶穌能教給我們規矩準則，但只有聖神才可以使我們成為能工巧匠！

耶穌的教會要我們聆聽，聖神的教會要我們思想。兩者加在一起，我們就有了一個健康的、成熟的教會。

五旬节

圣神的教会

读经一：(宗2:1-11)：圣神降临
读经二：(迦5:16-25)：应按圣神的引导行事为人
福　音：(若15:26-27;16:12-15)：圣神指引信徒明白真理
中国文化： 凡学問之法，不患无才，难於拒师，核道实义，证定是非也。梓匠轮舆，能与人规矩，不能使人巧。

我还有许多事要告诉你们，但是你们现在不能承担。当那一位真理之神来到時，他要指引你们明白全部真理。(若16:12-13)

圣神是真理之神，他来，是为了让我们能明白真理、接受真理、活出真理。

为了让圣神早一点来到门徒中，耶稣甚至说：「我去为你们『有益』，因为我若不去，护慰者便不会到你们这里来。」(若16:7)

耶稣和门徒一起生活已经三年了，該是離開门徒回归父家的時候了，也該是圣神来作他的化工的時候了。

如果耶稣继续和门徒在一起，门徒们是比较难於成熟的。

在我九岁那年，父亲去世。我带著七岁的妹妹，由大澳这個小乡村，往香港这個大城市去，要去九龙深水埗九江街探访我的姑母。我们迷了路，大家都很惊慌。我本来就想哭，但我的妹妹却首先哭了起来，我便不能哭、也不敢哭，还要强作镇定。因为我虽然没有靠山，但却有一個人要靠我！

从那天開始，我踏上了一条靠自己的路，踏上了一条要保护别人的路。我要自立、自强，我再没有父亲可以依靠。早年丧父，就这样成了天主给我的一种祝福，帮助我在小小的年纪時，已经知道要培养出坚强的性格。

当基督在世的時候，门徒一遇到問题，就可以問耶稣、靠耶稣。因为在耶稣身上有最好的、最圆满的答案。

但可惜的是，这些都不是门徒们的答案！他们很难把这些答案运用在自己身上，更未必知道如何才能够举一反三，在不同的环境中加以变化、变通，而灵活地运用这些答案。

当他们遇到困难時，他们也可以投奔耶稣；耶稣会安慰、鼓励、支持他们。但当耶稣不在跟前時，他们便可能不知道如何安慰自己、鼓励自己，或者如何彼此安慰、彼此鼓励；更不知道应該如何安慰、鼓励、支持别人。

以基督为中心的教会，主要是一個有形的教会。这個教会二千年前有耶稣，今日有教宗、主教、神父；他们都成了教友的靠山。二千年前的门徒在耶稣前很难成长，二千年后的教友在神长前，要成长也不容易。因为有靠山！

当耶稣不在時，门徒再不能靠谁了，便只有靠自己，只有彼此依靠。所以当他们遇到信徒应否行割损礼这個大难题時，他们就召開了教会历史上的第一次大公会议。他们要在圣神的引导下，自己去解决問题（宗15章）。

耶稣也曾这样对他们说：「我还与你们同在的時候，给你们讲论了这些事；但那护慰者，就是父因我的名所要派遗来的圣神，他必要教训你们一切，也要使你们『想起』，我对你们所说的一切。」(若14:25-26)

圣神要教训我们一切、启示我们一切；他也要使我们『想起』耶稣所教训的一切。

当我们在一個特定的情况中，运用自己的智慧，在基督精神的启发，和在圣神的推动下，去考虑、判断、决定，并願为此而承担責任及后果時，耶稣的教训便变成了我们的思想信念和处事方法。原来属於耶稣的东西，已经变成了我们的东西。

我们成长了！

我们的教会是一個以耶稣为中心的教会，也是一個以圣神为动力的教会，我们要在两者中找到一個平衡点。

王充在《论衡》 中说：「凡学問之法，不患无才，难於拒师，核道实义，证定是非也。」拒师就是和老师辩论；核道就是要将所学到的「道」加以考核；要用事实、生活去验证这道的具体内容。

孟子也说：「梓匠轮舆，能与人规矩，不能使人巧。」意思是说，那些木工师傅，他能够把规矩准则教授给你，却无法使你成为一個有高超技巧的木工师傅。要有高超的技巧，是必须在实踐中，慢慢学习和浸淫的。

耶稣能教给我们规矩准则，但只有圣神才可以使我们成为能工巧匠！

耶稣的教会要我们聆听，圣神的教会要我们思想。两者加在一起，我们就有了一個健康的、成熟的教会。

PENTECOST SUNDAY

The Church of the Holy Spirit

First Reading : ( Acts 2:1-11 ) : The descent of the Holy Spirit
Second Reading : ( Gal 5:16-25 ) : We should live and act under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit
Gospel : ( Jn 15:26-27;16:12-15 ) : The Holy Spirit guides believers to understand Truth
Chinese Classics
“-The way to learning is not fearing inaptitude; the difficulty lies in resisting the teacher, examining the meaning of the way, then proving whether it is true or not.”(1)
“-When a carpenter teaches how to bend wood to make chairs, he can teach the principles, but he cannot make people skillful.” (2)

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (Jn 16:12-13) The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. He comes to help us understand Truth, accept it and live by it. That the Holy Spirit could come more quickly to the apostles, Jesus even said, “It is to your ‘advantage’ that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you.” (Jn 16:7)

Jesus and his disciples had already lived together for three years. When it was time that Jesus should leave them and return to the Father, it then was time that the Holy Spirit should come to take up his task. If Jesus continued on with the disciples, it would be more difficult for them to mature.

My father died when I was 9 years old. One day I had to take my 7-year-old sister from the little village of Tai O to the big city of Hong Kong to visit my aunt on Kau Kong St, in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon. We lost our way and both of us were very afraid. I really wanted to cry but I noticed my sister started to cry first. I knew I couldn't cry, dared not cry and had to force myself to remain calm. Because although I had no one to rely on, there was someone else relying on me.

From that day on I have walked a path of self-reliance, relying on myself alone in order to protect others. I had to be independent and strong myself, I would not have a father to rely on again. In this way the early death of my father was a blessing from God. It helped me from early on to know I must cultivate a strong, self-reliant character.
While Christ was still on earth, as soon as the disciples had questions, they could ask Jesus and rely on him. Because in Jesus himself were the best and most complete answers.

But unfortunately those were not the apostles' own answers! They found it difficult to apply the answers to their own lives. Even less did they know how to apply them to other concrete situations, or adapt or change them to fit different kinds of circumstances. When they had difficulties, they had turned to Jesus. Jesus would comfort, encourage and support them. But when Jesus was no longer by their side, they probably did not know how to comfort or encourage themselves individually or each other; even less know how to comfort, encourage and support others.

A church whose center is Christ is mainly a visible church. 2000 years ago that church had Jesus; today it has the pope, bishops and priests. They have become the ones upon whom Catholics rely. 2000 years ago, while Jesus was present, it was hard for the apostles to become mature; today, 2000 years later, Catholics sometimes find it difficult to mature in the faith themselves because they are too dependent on the hierarchy!

When Jesus was no longer present, the apostles had no one on whom to depend, so they had to rely on themselves and on each other. Therefore, when a problem arose about whether or not all the faithful should be circumcised, they called the first Council in the history of the church, the Council of Jerusalem. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they had to solve the problem themselves. (cf. Acts, chap. 15).

Earlier, Jesus had said to them, “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and ‘remind’ you of all that I have said to you.” (Jn. 14:25-26). The Holy Spirit will teach us everything, reveal everything to us, and ‘remind’ us of all that Jesus taught us.

When we are in a specific situation we must use our own wisdom. Inspired by the spirit of Christ and the movement of the Spirit, we must consider, judge and make a decision, and then take responsibility for the results. Then Jesus' teaching becomes part of our thinking and helps us solve the problem. Actually, what belonged to Jesus has become part of ourselves! We have become mature!

Our church is a church with Jesus at the centre. It also is a church which is moved by the Holy Spirit. We must find a balance between these two.

Wong Chong in the ‘Analects’ said, “The way to learning is not fearing inaptitude. The difficulty lies in resisting the teacher, examining the meaning of the way, and proving whether it is true or not.” (1) ‘Resisting the teacher’ means to debate with the teacher, ‘examining the way’ means to critically assess the theories that have been learned and verify them with facts, then live them out in our lives.

Mencius also said, “When a carpenter teaches how to bend wood to make chairs, he can teach the principles but he cannot make people skillful.”(2) That is, carpenters can teach another the principles of carpentry but they cannot make one a highly skillful carpenter. For that one must actually take up the trade, immerse oneself in it and learn the skills gradually.

Jesus gave us rules and the way but only the Holy Spirit can help us learn the necessary skills!

Jesus' church asks us to listen, the church of the Holy Spirit asks us to think. With both of these together we will have a healthy and mature church.

(1)凡學問之法，不患無才，難於拒師，核道實義，證定是非也。
(2)梓匠輪輿，能與人規矩，不能使人巧。