常年期第四主日
真人、真知、真權威
讀經一：(申18:15-20)：天主要派遣先知為他代言
讀經二：(格前7:32-35)：要一心一意事奉主
福 音：(谷1:21-28)：在葛法翁講道驅魔
中國文化： 巧言令色，鮮矣仁。有真人而後有真知。有意不患無詞。
耶穌和門徒到了葛法翁，他隨即在安息日進入會堂教導眾人。人們對他的教導都感到驚訝，因為他教導他們，像一位有權威的人，與經師們不同。當時，在會堂裡有一個附魔的人大聲說：「納匝肋人耶穌！我們與你有什麼相干？你竟來毀滅我們！我知道你是誰，你是天主的聖者。」耶穌斥責他說：「不准說話，離開他走吧！」邪魔使那人痙攣了一陣，大聲叫著，就從他身上走了。(谷1:21-28)
今天馬爾谷福音所記載的，是耶穌受洗和召選了幾位門徒以後，進入會堂所作的第一次公開講道，並行了第一個驅魔的奇跡。
馬爾谷是伯多祿的徒弟，他就是從伯多祿這位親身目擊耶穌言行的宗徒，而得知耶穌公開生活的具體情況的。
這時伯多祿剛剛成為耶穌的門徒，對耶穌最初的言、行，自然有很深刻的印象。他清楚的記得，人們對耶穌的教導都感到很驚訝，因為他教導他們，「像一位有權威的人」，他還對「有權威」這三個字加上了一個很特別的註解：「不像經師們一樣」。
其實，論在人們面前的權威，經師們該是最有權威的人，因為他們有淵博的學識，有崇高的地位，有被人尊敬的悠久傳統。他們素來都是解經、講道的權威，甚至是至高無上的權威。
不過很有趣的卻是，在平凡、樸實的老百姓眼中，這些原來大有權威的人，在耶穌跟前竟然大幅度貶了值！對老百姓來說，耶穌的講道才有權威、才能使人們心悅誠服。對比起來，經師們的講道不過是一些陳誆濫調，一些空洞遙遠的聲音，一些沒有靈魂和生命的花言巧語。它們正是孔子所謂的「巧言令色，鮮矣仁」。
耶穌講道的權威在哪裡呢？首先當然因為他是天主子，是那位有無上權威的天主。但耶穌當時的頭上並沒有「光圈」，當時的人也不知道他是天主，所以群眾認為他的講道有權威當是另有所指。據我看來，他的權威可能就是指他的講道能直指人心、觸及生命、使人感動。
莊子認為「有真人而後有真知」，即是說，只有真真實實的人，才會洞悉世情、通曉世事，而有真真實實的學問。耶穌是真天主又是真人，他這個「真人」不單有真知，也有真情；不單熱愛世人，也熱愛世界；不單能樂人之所樂，也能憂人之所憂，並且還有悲天憫人的大情、大愛。這樣的人，自然能說出感動人的話。
耶穌的話，也一定是從心中湧出來的，他不單用嘴巴說話，也用身體、用眼神、用充滿情感的聲調，去說出那來自他內心深處的肺腑之言。
我在小學的時候，老師教我們作文的秘訣是「有意不患無詞」，即是說，只要你心中有重要的東西要向人說，你就不怕找不到好的詞句。相反地，如果你只是學了一大堆修辭學，什麼風花雪月能說上一大堆，卻沒有什麼好的東西要急著向人說，那你離開寫好文章的境界還遠得很。
耶穌是我們的救主，他是道路、真理、生命；他愛我們愛到了極點，並要我們去活出一個更豐富的生命。所以他自然就有很多很多的話，十分十分的迫切要跟我們說。這樣的人，說起話來又怎麼會不感動人呢！
當耶穌講話時，他看到的、想到的，都是群眾。正如聖奧斯定所說：「天主創造你時不需要你，但他要救你時卻需要你。」沒有我們的回應和合作，連全能的天主都救不了我們。耶穌要給我們救恩，要帶我們走上正路，他又怎可以不獲得我們的合作、贏得我們的共鳴？
耶穌為天父存在，也為世界、為世人而存在；他的心全在我們身上。所以他說的全是生命之言。他花盡心思、嘔心瀝血，也無非是要使我們明白、讓我們感動、助我們回頭。這時，人們聽到的，已經不單是一些說出來的話語，還有的是在這些話語背後的真情和大愛。而這正是耶穌講道的權威和感人的所在。難怪連魔鬼也不得不承認：「我知道你是誰，你是天主的聖者。」
耶穌的講道－－及一切以基督名義而作的講道－－是為信仰生命作證。它源於生命、上體天心，可以使信者悅服，使不信者醒覺，使敵對者驚訝，使魔鬼逃遁。
常年期第四主日
真人、真知、真权威
读经一：(申18:15-20)：天主要派遣先知为他代言
读经二：(格前7:32-35)：要一心一意事奉主
福 音：(谷1:21-28)：在葛法翁讲道驱魔
中国文化： 巧言令色，鲜矣仁。有真人而后有真知。有意不患无词。
耶稣和门徒到了葛法翁，他随即在安息日进入会堂教导众人。人们对他的教导都感到惊讶，因为他教导他们，像一位有权威的人，与经师们不同。当時，在会堂里有一個附魔的人大声说：「纳匝肋人耶稣！我们与你有什么相干？你竟来毁灭我们！我知道你是谁，你是天主的圣者。」耶稣斥責他说：「不准说话，離開他走吧！」邪魔使那人痉挛了一阵，大声叫著，就从他身上走了。(谷1:21-28)
今天马尔谷福音所记载的，是耶稣受洗和召选了幾位门徒以后，进入会堂所作的第一次公開讲道，并行了第一個驱魔的奇迹。
马尔谷是伯多禄的徒弟，他就是从伯多禄这位亲身目击耶稣言行的宗徒，而得知耶稣公開生活的具体情况的。
这時伯多禄刚刚成为耶稣的门徒，对耶稣最初的言、行，自然有很深刻的印象。他清楚的记得，人们对耶稣的教导都感到很惊讶，因为他教导他们，「像一位有权威的人」，他还对「有权威」这三個字加上了一個很特别的注解：「不像经师们一样」。
其实，论在人们面前的权威，经师们該是最有权威的人，因为他们有渊博的学识，有崇高的地位，有被人尊敬的悠久传统。他们素来都是解经、讲道的权威，甚至是至高无上的权威。
不過很有趣的却是，在平凡、朴实的老百姓眼中，这些原来大有权威的人，在耶稣跟前竟然大幅度贬了值！对老百姓来说，耶稣的讲道才有权威、才能使人们心悦诚服。对比起来，经师们的讲道不過是一些陈诓滥调，一些空洞遥遠的声音，一些没有灵魂和生命的花言巧语。它们正是孔子所谓的「巧言令色，鲜矣仁」。
耶稣讲道的权威在哪里呢？首先当然因为他是天主子，是那位有无上权威的天主。但耶稣当時的头上并没有「光圈」，当時的人也不知道他是天主，所以群众认为他的讲道有权威当是另有所指。据我看来，他的权威可能就是指他的讲道能直指人心、触及生命、使人感动。
庄子认为「有真人而后有真知」，即是说，只有真真实实的人，才会洞悉世情、通晓世事，而有真真实实的学問。耶稣是真天主又是真人，他这個「真人」不单有真知，也有真情；不单热爱世人，也热爱世界；不单能乐人之所乐，也能忧人之所忧，并且还有悲天悯人的大情、大爱。这样的人，自然能说出感动人的话。
耶稣的话，也一定是从心中涌出来的，他不单用嘴巴说话，也用身体、用眼神、用充满情感的声调，去说出那来自他内心深处的肺腑之言。
我在小学的時候，老师教我们作文的秘诀是「有意不患无词」，即是说，只要你心中有重要的东西要向人说，你就不怕找不到好的词句。相反地，如果你只是学了一大堆修辞学，什么风花雪月能说上一大堆，却没有什么好的东西要急著向人说，那你離開写好文章的境界还遠得很。
耶稣是我们的救主，他是道路、真理、生命；他爱我们爱到了极点，并要我们去活出一個更丰富的生命。所以他自然就有很多很多的话，十分十分的迫切要跟我们说。这样的人，说起话来又怎么会不感动人呢！
当耶稣讲话時，他看到的、想到的，都是群众。正如圣奥斯定所说：「天主创造你時不需要你，但他要救你時却需要你。」没有我们的回应和合作，连全能的天主都救不了我们。耶稣要给我们救恩，要带我们走上正路，他又怎可以不获得我们的合作、赢得我们的共鸣？
耶稣为天父存在，也为世界、为世人而存在；他的心全在我们身上。所以他说的全是生命之言。他花尽心思、呕心沥血，也无非是要使我们明白、让我们感动、助我们回头。这時，人们听到的，已经不单是一些说出来的话语，还有的是在这些话语背后的真情和大爱。而这正是耶稣讲道的权威和感人的所在。难怪连魔鬼也不得不承认：「我知道你是谁，你是天主的圣者。」
耶稣的讲道－－及一切以基督名义而作的讲道－－是为信仰生命作证。它源於生命、上体天心，可以使信者悦服，使不信者醒觉，使敌对者惊讶，使魔鬼逃遁。
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
True Human - True Knowledge - True Authority
First Reading (Deut 18:15-20 ) : God will send a prophet to speak for Him.
Second Reading (1 Cor 7:32-35 ) : We must serve the Lord with whole heart and will
Gospel (Mk 1:21-28 ) : Preaching and exorcising in Capernaum
Chinese Classics :“The Master said, ‘Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with virtue.’ ”(1)
They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. ( Mk 1:21-28 )
Mark records in today's Gospel the account of Jesus' first public preaching in the synagogue of Capernaum and his first miracle of casting out devils. This was after he had been baptized and called the first apostles. Mark was a disciple of Peter. He heard concrete details of Jesus' Public Life from the Apostle Peter who had witnessed Jesus' deeds and words with his own eyes and ears.
At the time Peter had just become Jesus' disciple, so what Jesus said and did left an indelible impression on him. He remembered clearly people's amazement at Jesus' teaching, because Jesus taught them “as one having authority.” He emphasized the authority by adding, “not as the scribes.” In fact in speaking of authority before the ordinary people, the scribes should have had the most authority. They possessed the widest scope of knowledge and had a high status. Traditionally people respected them highly. For many years it was they who had had the highest authority to preach and interpret the Scriptures.
What was interesting was that in the eyes of the general public who were simple, ordinary people, the scribes, supposedly the authorities, could not compare with Jesus' assuredness. For the ordinary person, it was Jesus' preaching that was authoritative, demanding his listeners' attention and acquiescence. In comparison, the scribes' preaching seemed empty, shallow words with little substance, without spirit or life. It was very much as Confucius had said once, “Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.”(1)
From where did the authority of Jesus' preaching come? First of all, of course, it was because he was the Son of the Almighty God. But Jesus had no halo around his head, nor did the people know he was God. So when they said Jesus' preaching ‘had authority’, it had a different meaning. For myself, I think his authority might well have come from the fact that his preaching went straight to people's hearts, touched their lives and deeply moved them. Chuang Tzu reckoned that “There must be a true human being first then there will be true knowledge.”(2) What he meant was that only a true human person could see through the ways of the world, thoroughly understand current affairs, and so possess true knowledge. Jesus Christ was truly God and truly human. This ‘truly human person’ not only possessed true knowledge, he also showed true love. He not only loved all human persons, he loved the world. He not only could be happy with those who were happy, he could be sad with those who were sad. Moreover, his great love for human beings was cosmic and all embracing. It was natural that a person like that could move people with what he said. Jesus' words certainly flowed from his heart. He not only spoke with his mouth, he spoke with his body, his eye-contact, and with a voice full of love. And he spoke words that were hidden deeply within his heart.
When I was in primary school, our teacher taught us that the secret to writing a good essay was that “a good meaning will not fear for inadequate words.” (3) This means that once you have something important you want say to people, you will not need to worry that you won’t be able to find the appropriate words. On the other hand, if you
only have learned the art of rhetoric, even if you have a beautiful romantic theme, you may have no important message to pass on to others. And so you still would be far from writing an interesting essay.
Jesus is our Savior. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He loves us to the extreme. And he wants us to live as full a life as possible. Therefore it is natural for him to have many, many things he urgently wishes to tell us. How could a person like Jesus not be able to touch peoples' hearts when he speaks? When he spoke, the only ones he saw and thought of were the people before him. It was as St. Augustine said, “God did not need you when He created you, but He needs you in order to save you.” Without our cooperation and response, even Almighty God is unable to save us. Jesus wants to give us salvation, wants to lead us to the right path. How is it possible he would not elicit our cooperation and sympathetic understanding?
Jesus exists for the Father, for the world and for us, his heart rests entirely with us. Therefore, what he speaks are all words of life. He contemplated deeply and exhaustively, strained his heart and mind because he wants us to understand and to be touched, and so help us turn back to God. At that time, what people heard was not only words, but Jesus' great love behind the words. And that exactly was the source of his authority and ability to move his listeners. Even the evil one could not but acknowledge Jesus' uniqueness: “I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”
The preaching of Jesus – and all that is preached in his name – is the testimony of a life of faith. Its source is life and leads to God. It moves believers to obey, non-believers to be more aware, enemies to be filled with amazement and the evil one to flee.
(1) 巧言令色，鮮矣仁。
(2) 有真人而後有真知
(3) 有意不患無詞
