常年期第十一主日

無限向上的生命

讀經一：(出19:2-6)：預告立約
讀經二：(羅5:6-11)：藉基督人與天主和好
福　音：(瑪9:36-10:8)：派遣十二宗徒
中國文化： 天命之謂性，率性之謂道，修道之謂教。

耶穌看見群眾，就對他們動了慈悲的心，因為他們困苦流離，像沒有牧人的羊。於是耶穌對門徒說：「莊稼多，工人少；所以，你們應當求莊稼的主人，派遣工人來收割他的莊稼。」(瑪9:36-38)

慈悲心是基督徒最基本的特質之一，我們對這個世界、對我們周圍的人，都應該有慈悲心。

環顧周圍，雖然我們不敢說有許多異端邪說，但實在有些道理和思想，是真的對我們的生活有害的。例如有些人很相信「人不為己，天誅地滅」﹔有些人「不求天長地久，只求曾經擁有」﹔有些人說：「賭錢一定輸，不賭一定窮」﹔更有些人說：「有仇不報非君子，有冤不報枉為人」。

對這些人我們應該有慈悲的心，向他們說出生命的真理。我們要告訴他們：我們可以為別人而生存，也可以追求有永恆價值的東西；我們絕對可以老實地去活出我們的生命，也可以去寬恕。我們每人都可以活得崇高而偉大！

有不少人只看眼前，對他們來說，只有現世，沒有來世，只有物質，沒有精神。這些人的生命是可憐的，我們對他們也應有慈悲、憐憫的心。

許多人的生命是虛浮的，沒有根、也不能持久，他們的生活方式很快就會進入日久生厭的地步。

某次有個學生來跟我說：「神父，你要繼續教學生倫理和道德，不要怕被人說這是老套、過時的東西。」他曾經在天主教中學唸書，我曾教他倫理課。我問他為何突然有這感覺？他說他在中學畢業後，常去「的斯科」(的士高)尋歡作樂。起初他感到十分震撼和興奮，整個星期都感到十分開心，大有不進「的斯科」便枉過此生的感覺。但過了不多久，他便感到這一切的一切也不外如是，這些震撼他神經於一時的東西，並沒有充實他的生命，他的心還是得不到安頓。

這就是聖奧斯定所說的：「上主，如果我們找不到你，我們的心是不會得到安穩的。」面對這些只追求表面、追求虛浮的人，我們不是也應有憐憫、慈悲的心嗎？

許多人的生活經驗都是很狹窄的，他們不知道還有一個更廣、更大、更豐富的生命。

很久以前，我在路上看到很多海報，全是黑色，是一張張的大黑紙。我不明白海報為何只是黑紙一張，於是我走近去看個究竟。我發現在每張黑色海報下方，都有一段字體很小的文字：「這就是瞎子眼中的花朵。」意思是：對於瞎子來說，最美麗的花朵都是黑色的；在他們的天地中沒有顏色、沒有繽紛、沒有鮮艷奪目這回事。

其實，不少人的生命也不外是黑紙一張。他們看不到生命可以很豐富、很充實；他們不知道生命的天地也可以天空海闊。對於這些人，我們也應該有憐憫、慈悲的心腸。

天主願意所有人都獲得救恩，並願所有人都瞭解生命的秘密，活一個無限向上的生命。但是很多人不明白天主的心意。面對這些人，耶穌只能慨嘆：「莊稼多，工人少。」當我們聽到這話時，我們會不會說：「主，我在這裡，請你派遣我」？

耶穌繼續告訴門徒：「當你們宣講時，你們要說，天國臨近了！」天國不是天堂，天國是「上主為王」；這天國不單在天上，也在地上。

上主是創造宇宙、萬物、生命的主，他亦將生命的規律深植在一切的人和所有的物裏。我們的天主是一個「超越」而「內在」的天主。亦即中庸所說的：「天命之謂性，率性之謂道，修道之謂教。」

當我們發現物的本性和人的本性時，這就是天主聖意的所在。當我們按照人性和物性去生活時，我們就是按照天主的聖意去生活。天主便是這樣為王??王於我們的生命中。

當所有的人、所有的物都能各安其位、各按其序時，這也是天國臨現、天主為王的時候??他為王於整個宇宙中。所以宣講天國，就在於找尋天主的聖意、發現天主的計劃，並讓上主在一切之中為王。

耶穌說：「你們白白得來的，也要白白的施予。」(瑪10:8)信仰是我們白白得來的，我們要白白的去傳這個信仰。

我們白白得來的還有我們的時間、才能、愛心，和我們擁有的神恩。我們的一切都是天主的恩賜，我們要善用他給予我們的一切，將我們所擁有的東西交還給他，交還給這個世界，交還給我們周圍的人。讓我們好好地善用我們的時間、金錢、才能和愛心，活一個無限向上的生命，去報答創造我們、內在於我們生命中的天主。

常年期第十一主日

无限向上的生命

读经一：(出19:2-6)：预告立约
读经二：(罗5:6-11)：藉基督人与天主和好
福　音：(玛9:36-10:8)：派遣十二宗徒
中国文化： 天命之谓性，率性之谓道，修道之谓教。

耶稣看见群众，就对他们动了慈悲的心，因为他们困苦流離，像没有牧人的羊。於是耶稣对门徒说：「庄稼多，工人少；所以，你们应当求庄稼的主人，派遣工人来收割他的庄稼。」(玛9:36-38)

慈悲心是基督徒最基本的特质之一，我们对这個世界、对我们周围的人，都应該有慈悲心。

环顾周围，虽然我们不敢说有许多异端邪说，但实在有些道理和思想，是真的对我们的生活有害的。例如有些人很相信「人不为己，天诛地灭」；有些人「不求天长地久，只求曾经拥有」；有些人说：「赌钱一定输，不赌一定穷」；更有些人说：「有仇不报非君子，有冤不报枉为人」。

对这些人我们应該有慈悲的心，向他们说出生命的真理。我们要告诉他们：我们可以为别人而生存，也可以追求有永恒价值的东西；我们绝对可以老实地去活出我们的生命，也可以去宽恕。我们每人都可以活得崇高而伟大！

有不少人只看眼前，对他们来说，只有现世，没有来世，只有物质，没有精神。这些人的生命是可怜的，我们对他们也应有慈悲、怜悯的心。

许多人的生命是虚浮的，没有根、也不能持久，他们的生活方式很快就会进入日久生厌的地步。

某次有個学生来跟我说：「神父，你要继续教学生伦理和道德，不要怕被人说这是老套、過時的东西。」他曾经在天主教中学念书，我曾教他伦理课。我問他为何突然有这感觉？他说他在中学毕业后，常去「的斯科」(的士高)寻欢作乐。起初他感到十分震撼和兴奋，整個星期都感到十分開心，大有不进「的斯科」便枉過此生的感觉。但過了不多久，他便感到这一切的一切也不外如是，这些震撼他神经於一時的东西，并没有充实他的生命，他的心还是得不到安顿。

这就是圣奥斯定所说的：「上主，如果我们找不到你，我们的心是不会得到安稳的。」面对这些只追求表面、追求虚浮的人，我们不是也应有怜悯、慈悲的心吗？

许多人的生活经验都是很狭窄的，他们不知道还有一個更广、更大、更丰富的生命。

很久以前，我在路上看到很多海报，全是黑色，是一张张的大黑纸。我不明白海报为何只是黑纸一张，於是我走近去看個究竟。我发现在每张黑色海报下方，都有一段字体很小的文字：「这就是瞎子眼中的花朵。」意思是：对於瞎子来说，最美麗的花朵都是黑色的；在他们的天地中没有颜色、没有缤纷、没有鲜艳夺目这回事。

其实，不少人的生命也不外是黑纸一张。他们看不到生命可以很丰富、很充实；他们不知道生命的天地也可以天空海闊。对於这些人，我们也应該有怜悯、慈悲的心肠。

天主願意所有人都获得救恩，并願所有人都了解生命的秘密，活一個无限向上的生命。但是很多人不明白天主的心意。面对这些人，耶稣只能慨叹：「庄稼多，工人少。」当我们听到这话時，我们会不会说：「主，我在这里，请你派遣我」？

耶稣继续告诉门徒：「当你们宣讲時，你们要说，天国临近了！」天国不是天堂，天国是「上主为王」；这天国不单在天上，也在地上。

上主是创造宇宙、万物、生命的主，他亦将生命的规律深植在一切的人和所有的物裏。我们的天主是一個「超越」而「内在」的天主。亦即中庸所说的：「天命之谓性，率性之谓道，修道之谓教。」

当我们发现物的本性和人的本性時，这就是天主圣意的所在。当我们按照人性和物性去生活時，我们就是按照天主的圣意去生活。天主便是这样为王??王於我们的生命中。

当所有的人、所有的物都能各安其位、各按其序時，这也是天国临现、天主为王的時候??他为王於整個宇宙中。所以宣讲天国，就在於找寻天主的圣意、发现天主的计劃，并让上主在一切之中为王。

耶稣说：「你们白白得来的，也要白白的施予。」(玛10:8)信仰是我们白白得来的，我们要白白的去传这個信仰。

我们白白得来的还有我们的時间、才能、爱心，和我们拥有的神恩。我们的一切都是天主的恩赐，我们要善用他给予我们的一切，将我们所拥有的东西交还给他，交还给这個世界，交还给我们周围的人。让我们好好地善用我们的時间、金钱、才能和爱心，活一個无限向上的生命，去报答创造我们、内在於我们生命中的天主。

ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Living a Life that is ever striving upward

First Reading ( Ex 19:2-6) : Preview of the covenant
Second Reading (Rom 5 :6-11 ) : We have been reconciled with God through Christ.
Gospel ( Mt 9:36-10:8 ) : The sending of the twelve apostles
Chinese Classics:
“What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; in accordance with this nature is called The Path of Duty; the regulation of this path is called Instruction.” (1)

When Jesus saw the crowds, “His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd”. Therefore, He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’ ( Mt 9:36-38 )

Being compassionate is one of the fundamental qualities of Christians. We should be compassionate toward the world, as well as to all those around us.

Looking around, though we do not want to say that there are many heresies that can lead us astray, we have to admit that there are some theories and ways of thinking that are harmful to our lives. For example, some people firmly believe people should consider about themselves first, some say one should not seek the kind of love that lasts a lifetime, to possess or even to be ‘obsessed’ occasionally is enough. Some say if you gamble you are bound to lose, but if you do not, you surely will be poor. There are others who say that to live like a man one must take revenge on those who trespass against oneself.

Faced with people of this kind we must have compassion and let them know the truths of life. We must say to them that it is possible to live for others and also seek after things of eternal value. It is absolutely possible to live an honest life as well as to forgive. Each of us can live an exalted and valued life; we can be great!

Many people can only see what lies immediately before of them. For them there is only the present world, but not a world to come, only material but no spiritual existence. The kind of life that such people live is pathetic and we should be compassionate and sympathetic to them.

For many people life is superficial, without root and it cannot last. They very quickly become bored with such a lifestyle.

Once, a past student visiting me said to me, “Father, you must continue to teach your students ethics and morals. Do not be afraid of peoples’ criticism when they say that these things are old-fashioned and out-of-date”. This student had studied in my school before and I had taught him Ethics. I asked him why he suddenly felt this way. He told me that after he graduated from my school he started to look for fun in discos very often. At first it was exciting and the excitement could last for the whole week. He even had the feeling he would regret it throughout life if he did not visit discos that often. Nevertheless, it was not long before he started to feel it was really not that special. Once things that had shocked and excited him were no longer able to fulfill his life and he could not find peace of heart.

This is what St. Augustine said, “Lord, if we cannot find you, our hearts will not be safe and secure”. Facing people who only seek superficial, surface things, should we not also be empathetic and compassionate?

Many people have very limited life experience. They know nothing of a life that can be broader, bigger and richer.

Some time ago I saw a large number of posters along the way. They were all black – all of them just large black posters. I wondered why anyone would make posters like these, so I walked nearer to have a closer look. I found that there was a sentence at the bottom of each poster – “This is what a flower looks like in the eyes of the blind”. In other words, even the most beautiful flowers are nothing but all black in the eyes of the blind. There are no colors, no variety, nothing that attracts their attention in their world.

Life in fact is like a piece of black paper for many people. They do not see that life can be lived meaningfully and fruitfully nor do they see that there are many possibilities in life. We should also show compassion and kindness to them.

God wants to save each and every one of us and hopes that all of us will understand the secrets of life so that we can live a life that is striving ever forward. However, many people do not understand this thinking of God. With these people, Jesus could only exclaim, “The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.” When we hear this, will we say, “Lord, I am here. Please send me”?

Jesus continued to say to his disciples, "as you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of God has come near.” The Kingdom of God is not the same as Heaven. The Kingdom of God is where “God is King.” The Kingdom of God is not only found in Heaven, but also on earth.

God is the Creator of the universe, of all creatures and of life. God has planted the order of life deeply in every person and creatures, big and small. Our God is a transcendent as well as an immanent God. There is an applicable description in The Doctrine of the Mean, “What Heaven has conferred is called The Nature; in accordance with this nature is called The Path of Duty; the regulation of this path is called Instruction.(1)

When we live according to our nature and the nature of things, we are living according to God’s will. God is that kind of a king, a king that lives in our lives.

When all humankind and all creatures are acting according to their own nature and order, the Kingdom of God is realized and God is recognized as King, ruling over the whole universe.
Therefore to preach the Kingdom of God means to search for the will of God, to discover God’s plan and allow God to rule over everything.

Jesus says, ‘You received without payment; give without payment.’ (Mt 10:8) Faith is what we receive without payment. Therefore we must freely spread this faith to others.

We have also received freely our time, talents, love, as well as our spiritual gifts. All that we possess are gifts from God. We must use them well and return what we possess to God, to the world and to the people around us. Let us make good use of our time, money, talents and love, in order to live a life that is striving ever upwards so that we can repay our Creator, the God who has created us.

(1)天命之謂性，率性之謂道，修道之謂教。