常年期第七主日

海納百川，有容乃大

讀經一：(撒上26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23)：達味不願加害撒烏耳
讀經二：(格前15:45-49)：人雖屬土，最後要與基督同樣屬天
福　音：(路6:27-38)：愛德的金科玉律
中國文化：養子方知父母恩。樹欲靜而風不息，子欲養而親不在。
匹夫見辱，拔劍而起，挺身而鬥，此不足為勇也。天下有大勇者，猝然臨之而不驚，無故加之而不怒；此其所挾持者甚大，而其志甚遠也。歷盡劫波兄弟在，相逢一笑泯恩仇。

我對你們說：應愛你們的仇人，善待憎恨你們的人；要祝福詛咒你們的人，為譭謗你們的人祈禱。有人摑你的面，把另一面也轉給他；有人拿去你的外衣，連內衣也讓他拿去……你們願意別人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人。（路6:27-31）

福音有句話經常被外教朋友當作笑柄，這句話就是：「有人摑你的面，把另一面也轉給他」。瑪竇福音更清楚：「如果有人打你的右頰，你把左頰也轉給他。」（瑪5:39）

外教朋友會挑戰我們說：「耶穌對你們基督徒所說的話，你們做得到嗎？我現在打你，你會不還手嗎？」

要明白耶穌上述的話，我們需要有一種觀念上的轉變，要有一種新思維，要昇進另一種待人接物的新階段。有人稱這種觀念上的轉變為典範的轉變，或範式的變換（paradigm shift）。

範式的轉變帶領我們進入一個思維新境界，我們好像是配上了另一副新眼鏡去看世界、看人生；我們已進到了人生的另一階段，例如從做子女的階段，進入到做父母的階段。

中國人說：「養子方知父母恩」，「方知」這兩個字是在說明，未做父母的人，是極難明白為人父母者的心情的，「只有」在我們自己做了父母之後，我們才能真正體會到，我們的父母當時是多麼的愛我們。但往往，這是一個追不回來的時間，補救不了的遺憾，因為已經是「樹欲靜而風不息，子欲養而親不在」了！

這就是典範的變換或範式的轉變。人往往只有在進入了一種新的生活之後，才能站在那個角度下去思考，才能有這種新的思維、新的思想。

耶穌在這裡說的，不是一種個別的行為，他不是教人問：「你打我，我怎麼辦？」他說的正是上面所描述的那種待人接物的新典範、新境界；他正在邀請我們進入的，是一個全新的生命之境，一個無限寬容、無限體諒的新天地。在那裡沒有斤斤計較，沒有冤冤相報，沒有仇，也沒有恨。生命是一個永恆的微笑，永遠的愛和包容。

「我現在打你，你怎麼辦？」這只是開玩笑，並不是耶穌所說的生活新態度，我們可以不必理會這種玩笑。

對於思維上的不同範式或人生的不同態度，蘇軾曾在他的《留侯論》中舉了一個有關勇氣的例子去說明：「匹夫見辱，拔劍而起，挺身而鬥，此不足為勇也。天下有大勇者，猝然臨之而不驚，無故加之而不怒；此其所挾持者甚大，而其志甚遠也。」這裡所說的匹夫、小人物，甚至是懦夫的想法，和那些真有大勇氣的人的想法，是截然不同的。他們屬於兩類不同的人，也就有兩類不同的思維範式。

別人欺負你、侮辱你，你就憤然起來和他較量，跟他打鬥，這不過是「匹夫之勇」。大勇的人挾持大、抱負大、志向也大，他有的是大胸襟、大氣魄，也即是耶穌所邀請我們要擁有的那種器量、風度、氣質和修養。這種人看得深、看得通、看得廣、看得遠、看得透。這跟「匹夫」們的復仇或好勇鬥狠實在有天淵之別。

有些人胸襟廣闊，許多事都可以一笑置之。魯迅所謂「歷盡劫波兄弟在，相逢一笑泯恩仇」，說的也是這種胸襟、風度和器量。

我們活在一個物化的世界中，只懂求實用、講回報，任何行為，都要求有「著數」。我們變得過分理性，常問「為什麼」。其實最偉大的生命，最動人的故事，往往就發生在「不為什麼」之時。偉大的親情和偉大的愛情就是這樣的。

我們如何才能提昇自己的生命，以達到上述的境界呢？福音給我們提供了兩條可行的路：第一、是進入上主的心中，求上主變化我們，使我們能用上主客觀而清明的眼睛去看世界，用上主無限而偉大的愛心去包容世人。第二、是進入對方的心中，亦即要能設身處地，去在別人的處境下思考：「你們願意別人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人。」

這兩條都是使我們能走向寬容，讓自己的心胸更加廣闊的康莊大道。

常年期第七主日

海纳百川，有容乃大

读经一：(撒上26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23)：达味不願加害撒乌耳
读经二：(格前15:45-49)：人虽属土，最后要与基督同样属天
福　音：(路6:27-38)：爱德的金科玉律
中国文化：养子方知父母恩。树欲静而风不息，子欲养而亲不在。
匹夫见辱，拔劍而起，挺身而斗，此不足为勇也。天下有大勇者，猝然临之而不惊，无故加之而不怒；此其所挟持者甚大，而其志甚遠也。历尽劫波兄弟在，相逢一笑泯恩仇。

我对你们说：应爱你们的仇人，善待憎恨你们的人；要祝福诅咒你们的人，为毁谤你们的人祈祷。有人掴你的面，把另一面也转给他；有人拿去你的外衣，连内衣也让他拿去……你们願意别人怎样待你们，你们也要怎样待人。（路6:27-31）

福音有句话经常被外教朋友当作笑柄，这句话就是：「有人掴你的面，把另一面也转给他」。玛窦福音更清楚：「如果有人打你的右颊，你把左颊也转给他。」（玛5:39）

外教朋友会挑战我们说：「耶稣对你们基督徒所说的话，你们做得到吗？我现在打你，你会不还手吗？」

要明白耶稣上述的话，我们需要有一种观念上的转变，要有一种新思维，要升进另一种待人接物的新阶段。有人称这种观念上的转变为典范的转变，或范式的变换（paradigm shift）。

范式的转变带领我们进入一個思维新境界，我们好像是配上了另一副新眼镜去看世界、看人生；我们已进到了人生的另一阶段，例如从做子女的阶段，进入到做父母的阶段。

中国人说：「养子方知父母恩」，「方知」这两個字是在说明，未做父母的人，是极难明白为人父母者的心情的，「只有」在我们自己做了父母之后，我们才能真正体会到，我们的父母当時是多么的爱我们。但往往，这是一個追不回来的時间，补救不了的遗憾，因为已经是「树欲静而风不息，子欲养而亲不在」了！

这就是典范的变换或范式的转变。人往往只有在进入了一种新的生活之后，才能站在那個角度下去思考，才能有这种新的思维、新的思想。

耶稣在这里说的，不是一种個别的行为，他不是教人問：「你打我，我怎么办？」他说的正是上面所描述的那种待人接物的新典范、新境界；他正在邀请我们进入的，是一個全新的生命之境，一個无限宽容、无限体谅的新天地。在那里没有斤斤计较，没有冤冤相报，没有仇，也没有恨。生命是一個永恒的微笑，永遠的爱和包容。

「我现在打你，你怎么办？」这只是開玩笑，并不是耶稣所说的生活新态度，我们可以不必理会这种玩笑。

对於思维上的不同范式或人生的不同态度，苏轼曾在他的《留侯论》 中举了一個有关勇气的例子去说明：「匹夫见辱，拔劍而起，挺身而斗，此不足为勇也。天下有大勇者，猝然临之而不惊，无故加之而不怒；此其所挟持者甚大，而其志甚遠也。」这里所说的匹夫、小人物，甚至是懦夫的想法，和那些真有大勇气的人的想法，是截然不同的。他们属於两类不同的人，也就有两类不同的思维范式。

别人欺负你、侮辱你，你就愤然起来和他较量，跟他打斗，这不過是「匹夫之勇」。大勇的人挟持大、抱负大、志向也大，他有的是大胸襟、大气魄，也即是耶稣所邀请我们要拥有的那种器量、风度、气质和修养。这种人看得深、看得通、看得广、看得遠、看得透。这跟「匹夫」们的复仇或好勇斗狠实在有天渊之别。

有些人胸襟广闊，许多事都可以一笑置之。鲁迅所谓「历尽劫波兄弟在，相逢一笑泯恩仇」，说的也是这种胸襟、风度和器量。

我们活在一個物化的世界中，只懂求实用、讲回报，任何行为，都要求有「著数」。我们变得過分理性，常問「为什么」。其实最伟大的生命，最动人的故事，往往就发生在「不为什么」之時。伟大的亲情和伟大的爱情就是这样的。

我们如何才能提升自己的生命，以达到上述的境界呢？福音给我们提供了两条可行的路：第一、是进入上主的心中，求上主变化我们，使我们能用上主客观而清明的眼睛去看世界，用上主无限而伟大的爱心去包容世人。第二、是进入对方的心中，亦即要能设身处地，去在别人的处境下思考：「你们願意别人怎样待你们，你们也要怎样待人。」

这两条都是使我们能走向宽容，让自己的心胸更加广闊的康庄大道。

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

The Sea Absorbs Hundreds of Rivers but has the Capacity for Many More

First Reading (1 Sam 26: 2, 7-9, l2-l3, 22-23): David did not wish to harm Saul
Second Reading (1 Cor 15: 45-49): Human beings are from the earth. But with Christ, in the end they also belong to heaven
Gospel (Lk 6: 27-38): The “Golden Rule” of Love
Chinese Classics:-
-“Only when raising your child will you realize the love and care of your parents.” (1)
-“The tree wishes to be still but the wind will not cease. The son wishes to care for his parents but they are no longer there.” (2)
-“An ordinary man when humiliated would pull out his sword, stand up and fight. This is not enough to be termed courage. In this world the really courageous man would not fear when suddenly faced with danger, and would not get angry even when accused unreasonably. What people like that contemplate and long for are greater and deeper, and their life ambitions are also much higher.” (3)
-“Having gone through many hardships and catastrophes to find one's brother still alive, when they meet a simple smile wipes away all debts of gratitude and revenge.”(4)

“I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt... Do to others as you would have them do to you.”(Lk 6: 27-31)

In the Gospel there is a sentence that non-believers always ridicule. That is the sentence “If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.” Matthew's gospel is even clearer: “If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” (Mt 5:39)

A non-believer will challenge us, saying, ‘Can you Christians really do what Jesus said? If I strike you now, will you really not hit me back?’

To understand Jesus' words as quoted above, we need a shift in our thinking, a new way of looking at things. We need to raise our outlook to a higher level of how to treat others. Some term this change in our thinking ‘a paradigm shift’.

A paradigm shift leads us into a new state of mind. It is as if we have put on new glasses and see life and the world in an entirely new way. We enter into a new phase of life, like moving from the stage of childhood to that of parenthood.

In the Chinese saying, “Only when you have raised your child will you realize the love and care of your parents,”(1) the words 'only when' say clearly that before adults become parents, they will find it very difficult to understand the feelings of their parents 'When' we have become parents, then we will truly understand how much our parents love us. But often we cannot go back to that period in time. It remains a life-long regret we cannot rectify. It is as the Chinese adage says, “The tree wishes to be still but the wind never ceases. The son wishes to care for his parents but they are no longer there.” (2)

This is what is meant by a paradigm shift. Only after we have entered into this new kind of life can we take a different stance to ponder anew, (put ourselves in another's shoes) and have this kind of a new way of contemplating and thinking.

When Jesus talked this way he was not referring to one individual action. He was not teaching us to ask ourselves, 'If you strike me, what about me?' What he was talking about was the paradigm shift we just mentioned: a new way of treating both people and material things, a new way of opening ourselves to the world. He was inviting us to enter into a totally new level of life, a new universe of limitless forbearance and mutual forgiveness. There would no longer be petty revenge, feuding, hatred or enmity. Life would be full of laughter, everlasting love and tolerance.

‘If I strike you, what will you do?’ This is just joking, it is not the attitude of life that Jesus was talking about. We need pay no attention to that kind of talk.

Regarding different modes of thought and attitude towards life, Su Shi had this example of courage in his ‘Essays on Posterior Ministers:’ An ordinary man when humiliated, would pull out his sword, stand up and fight. This is not enough to be termed courage. In this world the really courageous man will not fear when suddenly faced with danger, and will not get angry even when he is accused unreasonably. What people like that contemplate and long for are greater and deeper, and their life ambitions are also much higher.”(3) The attitude of an ordinary person or the man on the street or even the coward is vastly different from that of a truly courageous person. They belong to two different kinds of people, with two different modes of thinking and acting.

When another person insults or ridicules you, and you grow angry and even fight, you are only being foolhardy.( 'having the bravery of a horse'). The courageous person may also be chivalrous, with high aspirations and determination, strong feelings and moral strength, that is, with the kind of magnanimity, bearing and disposition of the virtuous person that Jesus invites all of us to be. That kind of person has a farsighted viewpoint that is broad, deep and sees through people. Such a person is totally different from a foolhardy one who tries to take revenge or pretends to be brave.

There are broad-minded people who can put aside unpleasant incidents with a smile. Lu Zun had this kind of stature and personality. He was described in this way: “Having gone through many hardships and catastrophes to find one's brother still alive, when they met, a simple smile wiped away all debits of gratitude and revenge.” (4) That is the kind of magnanimity, broadmindedness and virtue we are talking about.

We live in a materialistic world and we only know how to be practical and to think about what will bring returns; we want our behavior to be 'worth' something. We become too rational, always asking 'Why'? Actually the most worthwhile life and most touching story most often happens 'for no reason'. Great solicitude for others and great love are like that.

So how can we raise our life to reach such a level? The Gospel suggests to us two possible ways. First of all, we must enter into the heart and mind of God, asking God to help us change, so that we can see this world objectively and clearly from God's viewpoint of love and tolerance for others. Secondly, we must try to enter into the other's viewpoint, which means putting ourselves into the shoes of others, trying to see life and events from their point of view: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”These are the two ways that will enable us to be magnanimous and broad-minded in a life that leads to far-reaching horizons.

(1)養子方知父母恩。
(2)樹欲靜而風不息，子欲養而親不在。
(3)匹夫見辱，拔劍而起，挺身而鬥，此不足為勇也。 天下有大勇者，猝然臨之而不驚，無故加之而不怒；此其所挾持者甚大，而其志甚遠也。
(4)歷盡劫波兄弟在，相逢一笑泯恩仇。