將臨期第三主日

天國臨格，世界大同

讀經一：(依35:1-6,10)：救恩的福樂
讀經二：(雅5:7-10)：要堅定你們的心，因為主已臨近了。
福　音：(瑪11:2-11)：你就是要來的那一位嗎？
中國文化： 大道之行也，天下為公。選賢與能，講信修睦。

瑪竇福音第11章記載：若翰在獄中聽到基督所行的，就派遣他的門徒去，對他說：「你就是要來的那一位，或是我們還要等候另一位？」耶穌回答他們說：「你們去把你們所見所聞的報告給若翰：瞎子看見，瘸子行走，癩病人得了潔淨，聾子聽見，死人復活，窮苦人得了喜訊。」(參考瑪11:2-6)

耶穌在上面是重複了依撒意亞先知的話：「荒野與不毛之地將要歡樂，沙漠將要歡喜，好像花朵盛開，盛開得好像百合，高興得歡呼高唱。他們要目睹上主的榮耀，看見天主的偉大，告訴膽怯的人：要鼓起勇氣，不要害怕！看！你們的天主要來，親自來拯救你們。」

依撒意亞先知繼續預言說：「那時瞎子要看見，聾子要聽到，跛的人有如小鹿跳躍，啞吧將會發聲歡呼。」(參考依35:1-6,10)

我們的信仰其實很可愛，很振奮人心。我們期待的，除了基督的來臨外，更有天國的來臨，一個新天地、新境界的來臨。伴隨著基督而來的，是快樂、希望，一切美好的事物都將變得可能。

信仰不只是純粹精神的事，也不只是純粹內心的事，它同時也是肉體性的、社會性的事，它關係到政治、經濟、文化及整個宇宙。

瞎子看見、瘸子行走、痲瘋病人得到潔淨、聾子聽見、死人復活、窮苦人得到喜訊：這些都是振奮人心的話。

我們當中有不少人是盲的、窮的、跛的、聾的，甚至死了的。在我們中，不少年富力強的人都有問題，有嚴重的問題。有人說，有些人其實在廿多歲時已經死了，只不過是要等到七、八十歲時才埋葬。

在我們的詞彙中，就有所謂行屍走肉的人，這些人比死人更可怕，他們不單自己死去，也會害死別人，去為自己陪葬。

我們等待基督的來臨，不單只等待基督，也等待基督所帶來的新境界，等待一個新希望、新人類的出現。其實人類一直都在等待著這一切。

中國人在《禮記》的「大同篇」中，已經表達了這種渴求：「大道之行也，天下為公，選賢與能，講信修睦。故人不獨親其親，不獨子其子，使老有所終，壯有所用，幼有所長，矜、寡、孤、獨、廢疾者皆有所養。」

這是中國古人的夢想。他們所希望的，是一個大同世界的出現。這個大同世界屬於所有人和每一個人。在那裡，賢能者為大眾服務；大家彼此有信義、講和平。我們不單親愛自己的父母，保護自己的子女，同時也親愛別人的父母，保護別人的子女。那時，不單老人、青年、兒童，甚至矜寡孤獨殘廢的人，都能過著幸福的生活。這就是中國人夢想的大同，耶穌宣講的天國。

依撒意亞先知所預言的天國境界，將會與基督一起來到人間，中國人幾千年的夢想也將會與基督一起變成事實。

但理想歸理想，現實就是現實；信仰和實際的生命可能是兩回事。所以雅各伯宗徒提醒我們：「弟兄們，你們要忍耐，等待主的來臨。你們要忍耐，堅定你們的心，因為上主快要來臨了。」(雅5:7-8)

我們不妨對世界充滿希望，但我們也要準備去面對一個不公平、不仁愛、不正義及充滿缺憾的世界。

信仰是很奇怪的，一方面我們要堅信、切望，但另一方面又要不致陷入空想主義。我們需要忍耐，要學習接受那些必然來臨的事實，接受那些人生充滿限制的事實。我們要接受一個十分有限的生存空間。

在那時，我們會煩惱、憂傷、沮喪，但正在這環境中，我們會再聽到依撒意亞先知所講的話：「荒野與不毛之地將會歡樂，沙漠將要歡喜。我們將會目睹上主的榮耀，看見天主的偉大，我們要鼓起勇氣，不要害怕。看！我們的天主要來，他要親自拯救我們。」

讓我們不斷依靠他，期待他的來臨。有一位孟加拉的無名詩人說：「一個人做夢，它始終是夢；一群人做夢，就會夢境成真了。」讓我們熱切地期待基督和與他一起而來的天國。

我們堅信更豐盛的、更圓滿的生命，是必要來臨的！

将临期第三主日

天国临格，世界大同

读经一：(依35:1-6,10)：救恩的福乐
读经二：(雅5:7-10)：要坚定你们的心，因为主已临近了。
福　音：(玛11:2-11)：你就是要来的那一位吗？
中国文化： 大道之行也，天下为公。选贤与能，讲信修睦。

玛窦福音第11章记载：若翰在狱中听到基督所行的，就派遣他的门徒去，对他说：「你就是要来的那一位，或是我们还要等候另一位？」耶稣回答他们说：「你们去把你们所见所闻的报告给若翰：瞎子看见，瘸子行走，癞病人得了洁净，聋子听见，死人复活，穷苦人得了喜讯。」(参考玛11:2-6)

耶稣在上面是重复了依撒意亚先知的话：「荒野与不毛之地将要欢乐，沙漠将要欢喜，好像花朵盛開，盛開得好像百合，高兴得欢呼高唱。他们要目睹上主的荣耀，看见天主的伟大，告诉胆怯的人：要鼓起勇气，不要害怕！看！你们的天主要来，亲自来拯救你们。」

依撒意亚先知继续预言说：「那時瞎子要看见，聋子要听到，跛的人有如小鹿跳跃，哑吧将会发声欢呼。」(参考依35:1-6,10)

我们的信仰其实很可爱，很振奋人心。我们期待的，除了基督的来临外，更有天国的来临，一個新天地、新境界的来临。伴随著基督而来的，是快乐、希望，一切美好的事物都将变得可能。

信仰不只是纯粹精神的事，也不只是纯粹内心的事，它同時也是肉体性的、社会性的事，它关系到政治、经济、文化及整個宇宙。

瞎子看见、瘸子行走、麻疯病人得到洁净、聋子听见、死人复活、穷苦人得到喜讯：这些都是振奋人心的话。

我们当中有不少人是盲的、穷的、跛的、聋的，甚至死了的。在我们中，不少年富力强的人都有問题，有严重的問题。有人说，有些人其实在廿多岁時已经死了，只不過是要等到七、八十岁時才埋葬。

在我们的词汇中，就有所谓行尸走肉的人，这些人比死人更可怕，他们不单自己死去，也会害死别人，去为自己陪葬。

我们等待基督的来临，不单只等待基督，也等待基督所带来的新境界，等待一個新希望、新人类的出现。其实人类一直都在等待著这一切。

中国人在《礼记》 的「大同篇」中，已经表达了这种渴求：「大道之行也，天下为公，选贤与能，讲信修睦。故人不独亲其亲，不独子其子，使老有所终，壮有所用，幼有所长，矜、寡、孤、独、废疾者皆有所养。」

这是中国古人的梦想。他们所希望的，是一個大同世界的出现。这個大同世界属於所有人和每一個人。在那里，贤能者为大众服务；大家彼此有信义、讲和平。我们不单亲爱自己的父母，保护自己的子女，同時也亲爱别人的父母，保护别人的子女。那時，不单老人、青年、儿童，甚至矜寡孤独残废的人，都能過著幸福的生活。这就是中国人梦想的大同，耶稣宣讲的天国。

依撒意亚先知所预言的天国境界，将会与基督一起来到人间，中国人幾千年的梦想也将会与基督一起变成事实。

但理想归理想，现实就是现实；信仰和实际的生命可能是两回事。所以雅各伯宗徒提醒我们：「弟兄们，你们要忍耐，等待主的来临。你们要忍耐，坚定你们的心，因为上主快要来临了。」(雅5:7-8)

我们不妨对世界充满希望，但我们也要准备去面对一個不公平、不仁爱、不正义及充满缺憾的世界。

信仰是很奇怪的，一方面我们要坚信、切望，但另一方面又要不致陷入空想主义。我们需要忍耐，要学习接受那些必然来临的事实，接受那些人生充满限制的事实。我们要接受一個十分有限的生存空间。

在那時，我们会烦恼、忧伤、沮丧，但正在这环境中，我们会再听到依撒意亚先知所讲的话：「荒野与不毛之地将会欢乐，沙漠将要欢喜。我们将会目睹上主的荣耀，看见天主的伟大，我们要鼓起勇气，不要害怕。看！我们的天主要来，他要亲自拯救我们。」

让我们不断依靠他，期待他的来临。有一位孟加拉的无名诗人说：「一個人做梦，它始终是梦；一群人做梦，就会梦境成真了。」让我们热切地期待基督和与他一起而来的天国。

我们坚信更丰盛的、更圆满的生命，是必要来临的！

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The Kingdom of Heaven Comes – the World will be United

First Reading: (Is 35: 1-6, 10): The blessing of salvation
Second Reading (Jas 5: 7-10): We must strengthen our hearts for the Lord is near
Gospel (Mt 11: 2-11): Are you the One who is to come?
Chinese classics:
-“When the perfect order prevails, the world is like a home shard by all. Virtuous and worthy men are elected to public office, and capable men hold posts of gainful employment in society. Peace and trust among all men are the maxims of living. (1)

The Eleventh Chapter of Matthew states, “When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ’Are you the one to come, or are we to wait for another?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” (ref Mt 11: 2-11)

Here Jesus was repeating what the Prophet Isaiah had said, “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come and save you.” (Is 35: 1-6)

Isaiah continues his prophecy saying, ”Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. (Ref Is 35: 6, 10)

Our faith is a lovely thing that lifts up our spirits. We await not only the return of Jesus Christ, but the coming of the kingdom of heaven – a new world and the coming of a new era. With Christ's arrival there can come happiness, hope and all beautiful things.

Faith is not only an internal, spiritual matter. It is also about our physical being and our society. It is related to politics, economics, culture and the whole universe.

The blind see, the cripple walks, lepers are cleansed, the deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, the poor have the good news preached to them. All of this uplifts our spirits.

Among us there are many who are blind, poor, crippled, deaf, or even dead. Among us there are also many physically strong people with severe problems. Some people say that there are also people who die in their twenties, but only are buried when they are in their seventies or eighties.

We have sayings such as ‘a walking cadaver.’ Those people are to be pitied more than the dead. They have not only died themselves but killed others as well, hoping others will be buried with them.

We await Christ's coming, not only his arrival but the arrival of a new era. Christ will bring a new hope and a new people. Truly all humankind has been waiting for this for a long time.

Chinese people have expressed their earnest desire for this state in “The Commonwealth State” in “The Record of Rites” “When the perfect order prevails, the world is like a home shared by all. Virtuous and worthy men are elected to public office, and capable men hold posts of gainful employment in society. Peace and trust among all men are the maxims of living. All men love and respect their parents and children as well as the parents and children of others. There is caring for the old; there are jobs for the adults; there are nourishment and education for the children. There is means of support for the widows and widowers, for all who find themselves alone in the world, and for the disabled.(1)

This is the dream of ancient Chinese people. What they hoped for was a world of communion. This united world would belong to each and every individual. In this united world people with talents would serve others, people would have mutual trust and speak of peace. We would not only respect our parents and love our children, but extend such respect and love to others' parents and children. Under such circumstances, the elderly and the young, children and even widows, orphans and marginalized persons can enjoy a good and safe life. This is the communion the Chinese dream about and the kingdom of heaven that Jesus talked about.

The kingdom of heaven that Isaiah prophesized will come into the world with Christ, the dream that the Chinese have held for thousands of years will become a reality with Christ. However, ideals and reality are two different things. Faith and daily life can be two different stories. Hence James reminded us, “Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” (Jas 5: 7-8)

Nonetheless, we should be hopeful about the world, and at the same time be prepared to be faced with an imperfect world lacking in fairness, love and justice.

Faith is a strange thing. On the one hand we must be strong and hopeful, on the other hand we need to avoid being over-idealistic. We must be patient and learn to accept the inevitable constraints of real life. We need to accept that actual life is full of limitations.

At such times we may feel annoyed, sad and frustrated. But it is in those circumstances that we can listen once more to Isaiah's words: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice. We shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is our God. He will come and save us.”

Let us rely on Jesus and look forward to Christ's arrival. An anonymous poet from Bangladesh said, “One person's dream remains a dream, but if a whole group of people dream, the dream will become reality.’ Let us passionately wait for Christ and the kingdom that will come with him.

We firmly believe th 33at a fuller, more perfect life will come one day!

(1)大道之行也，天下為公。選賢與能，講信修睦。