常年期第十二主日

天主管什麼？

讀經一：(約38:1,8-11)：受造物顯天主的智慧
讀經二：(格後5:14-17)：在基督內成為新造的人
福　音：(谷4:35-41)：平息風浪
中國文化： 風雨晦明身外事，心中只有艷陽天。 至人無夢。
生於憂患，死於安樂。

他們叫醒他，對他說：「老師！我們要死了，你不管嗎？」耶穌醒來，斥責了風，又對海說：「不要作聲，靜下來！」突然，風平浪靜了。耶穌對門徒說：「你們為什麼這樣害怕？怎麼還沒有信心呢？」他們非常懼怕，彼此說：「這人到底是誰？連風和海都聽從他。」(谷4:38-41)

馬爾谷在第四章和第五章中，連續記載了三個耶穌顯的奇蹟，都是耶穌在人感到無助或無望的時候，運用自己的神力，去幫助那些有需要的人。

第一個就是今天福音的平息風浪，第二個是治好革辣撒的附魔人，第三個是治好患血漏病的婦人和復活雅依洛的女兒。

這些都在顯出，耶穌是宇宙之主、生命之主，他的權力遠遠凌駕在魔鬼及牠們的肆虐囂張之上。

平息風浪故事的背景很簡單。耶穌在做了一整天的傳道工作以後，已經相當疲倦，於是提議門徒渡海到對岸。在途中，他們遇到大風浪，這種風浪十分猛烈，在加里肋亞湖常有發生。但耶穌卻在船尾因為太疲倦而倚枕而睡，而且睡得十分濃、十分安穩；外面的風浪仿彿與他無關一樣。

有些活得無罪、快樂、平安、瀟灑而了無牽掛的人，他們真的可以達到「風雨晦明身外事，心中只有艷陽天」的灑脫境界。耶穌便是這樣的人。

他心中只有天父和天父的旨意。每天，他都會盡善盡美地完成那些按天父的旨意而行的「功課」，其他的一切外在因素，管他是天蹋了下來，都不能擾亂、動搖他的心。這大概便是莊子所 說的「至人無夢」吧？所以他睡得真的安穩至極，比嬰兒睡在母親的懷中還甜！

相反地，門徒們卻十分焦慮，他們要在危難中，努力和風浪搏鬥；但一切都徒勞。就在這時，他們想起了耶穌。

耶穌是他們生平所遇到最特別的人。耶穌的談吐、舉止，他的待人接物，他的聲音笑貌，無不令門徒們從心中折服。現在他們正處於危難中，很自然便想到他了。

有時，只有在災難中，我們才會學習到堅強，在災難中，我們才會想起天主。災難，確實是天主化了妝的祝福！

人生不單好像孟子所說：「生於憂患，死於安樂」。意思是，在憂患中，人才可以生活得豐盛、積極和進取，而在安樂中，人便會因缺乏挑戰而慢慢委縮、死去。

災難，更可以是信仰的來源，是我們投奔天主、全心倚賴天主的契機。

在災難中，我們才會易於想到天主；在人力的盡頭，全能大力的上主的形象，就會在我們的腦海中悠然而生了。

但我們的天主是什麼都管的嗎？

香港國籍司鐸協會曾邀請一位物理學博士，給神父們演講科學與宗教的問題。他指出，要科學家們相信神的存在並不太難。因為當科學家們看到宇宙的奇妙時，很難不聯想到有一位智慧之神。

其中他提到的四個「宇宙常數」，便是人類無法明瞭的大奧秘。這四個宇宙常數是這樣的精妙準確，其中的任何一個常數，只要相差億萬分之一，我們的世界已經不再是我們所認識、所活於其中的世界。

這位科學家說：我們無法相信這些都只是一個偶然。如果不是偶然，便一定需要有一位無限智慧的設計者??天主。是他設計了這個宇宙，是他製定了宇宙運行的規律，包括這四個精妙準確的常數。

令科學家們稍覺猶疑的，是這位掌管著天地萬物的大智慧之主，是否也會管我們日常的瑣事？對於這位無窮偉大的天主來說，「人算什麼？」他為什麼要管我們？我們有什麼值得他費心去管的？

在有一千億個銀河系的宇宙中，銀河系已經是毫不起眼，我們又如何可以在銀河系中找到太陽系，並在太陽系中找到我們的地球呢？而我們每個人，在地球上卻是連塵土都不如。

但天主確實在照顧著我們：「上主，你鑒察了我，也認清了我；我或坐或立，你全然認清了我……我或行走或躺臥，你已先知……你將我前後包圍，用你的手將我蔭庇。」（詠139:1-5）

對於這樣的天主，對這位照顧我們無微不至的天父，我們除了讚美和感謝之外，又能作什麼？

常年期第十二主日

天主管什么？

读经一：(约38:1,8-11)：受造物显天主的智慧
读经二：(格后5:14-17)：在基督内成为新造的人
福　音：(谷4:35-41)：平息风浪
中国文化： 风雨晦明身外事，心中只有艳阳天。至人无梦。
生於忧患，死於安乐。

他们叫醒他，对他说：「老师！我们要死了，你不管吗？」耶稣醒来，斥責了风，又对海说：「不要作声，静下来！」突然，风平浪静了。耶稣对门徒说：「你们为什么这样害怕？怎么还没有信心呢？」他们非常惧怕，彼此说：「这人到底是谁？连风和海都听从他。」(谷4:38-41)

马尔谷在第四章和第五章中，连续记载了三個耶稣显的奇迹，都是耶稣在人感到无助或无望的時候，运用自己的神力，去帮助那些有需要的人。

第一個就是今天福音的平息风浪，第二個是治好革辣撒的附魔人，第三個是治好患血漏病的妇人和复活雅依洛的女儿。

这些都在显出，耶稣是宇宙之主、生命之主，他的权力遠遠凌驾在魔鬼及它们的肆虐嚣张之上。

平息风浪故事的背景很简单。耶稣在做了一整天的传道工作以后，已经相当疲倦，於是提议门徒渡海到对岸。在途中，他们遇到大风浪，这种风浪十分猛烈，在加里肋亚湖常有发生。但耶稣却在船尾因为太疲倦而倚枕而睡，而且睡得十分浓、十分安稳；外面的风浪仿佛与他无关一样。

有些活得无罪、快乐、平安、潇洒而了无牵掛的人，他们真的可以达到「风雨晦明身外事，心中只有艳阳天」的洒脱境界。耶稣便是这样的人。

他心中只有天父和天父的旨意。每天，他都会尽善尽美地完成那些按天父的旨意而行的「功课」，其他的一切外在因素，管他是天蹋了下来，都不能扰亂、动摇他的心。这大概便是庄子所 说的「至人无梦」吧？所以他睡得真的安稳至极，比婴儿睡在母亲的怀中还甜！

相反地，门徒们却十分焦虑，他们要在危难中，努力和风浪搏斗；但一切都徒劳。就在这時，他们想起了耶稣。

耶稣是他们生平所遇到最特别的人。耶稣的谈吐、举止，他的待人接物，他的声音笑貌，无不令门徒们从心中折服。现在他们正处於危难中，很自然便想到他了。

有時，只有在灾难中，我们才会学习到坚强，在灾难中，我们才会想起天主。灾难，确实是天主化了妆的祝福！

人生不单好像孟子所说：「生於忧患，死於安乐」。意思是，在忧患中，人才可以生活得丰盛、积极和进取，而在安乐中，人便会因缺乏挑战而慢慢委缩、死去。

灾难，更可以是信仰的来源，是我们投奔天主、全心倚赖天主的契机。

在灾难中，我们才会易於想到天主；在人力的尽头，全能大力的上主的形象，就会在我们的脑海中悠然而生了。

但我们的天主是什么都管的吗？

香港国籍司铎协会曾邀请一位物理学博士，给神父们演讲科学与宗教的問题。他指出，要科学家们相信神的存在并不太难。因为当科学家们看到宇宙的奇妙時，很难不联想到有一位智慧之神。

其中他提到的四個「宇宙常数」，便是人类无法明了的大奥秘。这四個宇宙常数是这样的精妙准确，其中的任何一個常数，只要相差亿万分之一，我们的世界已经不再是我们所认识、所活於其中的世界。

这位科学家说：我们无法相信这些都只是一個偶然。如果不是偶然，便一定需要有一位无限智慧的设计者??天主。是他设计了这個宇宙，是他制定了宇宙运行的规律，包括这四個精妙准确的常数。

令科学家们稍觉犹疑的，是这位掌管著天地万物的大智慧之主，是否也会管我们日常的琐事？对於这位无穷伟大的天主来说，「人算什么？」他为什么要管我们？我们有什么值得他费心去管的？

在有一千亿個银河系的宇宙中，银河系已经是毫不起眼，我们又如何可以在银河系中找到太阳系，并在太阳系中找到我们的地球呢？而我们每個人，在地球上却是连尘土都不如。

但天主确实在照顾著我们：「上主，你鉴察了我，也认清了我；我或坐或立，你全然认清了我……我或行走或躺卧，你已先知……你将我前后包围，用你的手将我荫庇。」（咏139:1-5）

对於这样的天主，对这位照顾我们无微不至的天父，我们除了赞美和感谢之外，又能作什么？

TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

What Does God Oversee?

First Reading ( Job 38:1,8-11 ): All creatures reflect God's wisdom
Second Reading (2 Cor 5:14-17 ) : Becoming a new person in Christ
Gospel ( Mk 4:35-41 ) : The storm on the sea
Chinese Classics:
- “Wind or rain, overcast or bright, are external circumstances, Deep in my heart there is only the dazzling sun and the colourful sky.”
- “A perfect man has no dreams.”
- “Live in worries, die in contentment.”

“They woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" ( Mk 4:38-41 )

In the fourth and fifth chapters of Mark's Gospel, we find three miracles that Jesus performed. Jesus used his supreme power to perform them at a time when people felt helpless or hopeless. He did it to help people in need.

The first miracle was the calming of the storm as we read in today's Gospel. The second was exorcising the demoniac in the country of the Gerasenes, and the third was the cure of the woman with a hemorrhage and raising the daughter of Jairus to life. All of these miracles clearly reveal that Jesus is Lord of the universe and of all life. His power surpasses the devil's rampage.

The background of the story of the calming of the storm is simple. The whole day's preaching of the Gospel left Jesus weary and he suggested to his disciples they cross over to the opposite bank of the lake. On the way a heavy storm blew up, a common phenomenon on the Sea of Galilee. But Jesus slept so soundly that the noise of the wind and waves did not seem to affect him at all. For those who live innocent lives, who are happy, peaceful and without worry, they really can reach this state, so that “Wind or rain, overcast or bright, are external circumstances, Deep in my heart there is only the dazzling sun and the colourful sky.” Jesus was such a person.

In Jesus' heart there was only his heavenly Father and his Father's will. Each day he fulfilled his Father's will to perfection, doing his ‘homework’ so to speak. External circumstances, be it the sky falling, did not disturb or upset him. This is probably what Chuang Tse meant by “A perfect man has no dreams.” It was why Jesus could sleep so peacefully, sweeter than a baby resting in its mother's bosom.

The disciples, on the other hand, were very frightened; their struggle against the storm had been in vain and they were in danger. Then they thought of Jesus, who was the most unique person they had ever met. They respected everything about him: his words, his mannerisms, his voice and smile, how he treated others. Now that their lives were at risk they naturally thought of him.

Sometimes we learn to persevere only in times of danger, we think of God only when disaster looms. We can say then that disaster can be God's blessing in disguise. Life is like Mencius said, “Live in worries, die in contentment.” That is, in a time of worry, we can live a fuller life, be more positive and enterprising. In a time of contentment, we lack challenges and gradually can diminish and die. Times of disaster can be a source of faith, an opportunity to turn to God and rely on God entirely. It may be that it is only at times of difficulty that we think of God, when we are more aware of our own inability and helplessness, that the image of the all-powerful God returns to us. But is it true that our God really cares about everything?

The Hong Kong Diocesan Priests' Association once invited a physicist to talk to the priests about the relation between science and religion. He pointed out that it is not difficult for scientists to believe in the existence of God, because when they view the marvels of the universe, it is difficult not to think of an all-wise God. He mentioned “4 universal constants” whose mystery humans cannot fathom. A tiny difference in any of these constants would lead to a world and life so different that we would not recognize it. He continued to say, “We cannot believe that this is just coincidence. If it isn’t coincidence, then there must be a designer with unlimited wisdom – God. It was God who designed the universe with its laws of operation, including those 4 universal constants.”

What scientists might question is does a Creator of such limitless might and power also care for ordinary daily trivial matters? In the presence of such almighty grandeur, what are human beings? Why would God care for us? And why should we deserve such care? The Earth is only a very small planet in the Solar system which is just another small part of a vast Galaxy. An individual human being is less than speck of dust.

But God really does care for us. Psalm 139 (v. 1-5) says, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up.You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” ( Ps 139:1-5 )

Before a God who cares for us so much, our Father to whom nothing is too trivial, what else can we do other than render God praise and thanks!

(1) 風雨晦明身外事，心中只有艷陽天。 至人無夢。
(2)生於憂患，死於安樂。