四旬期第五主日

順服生命

讀經一：(耶31:31-34)：天主與新以民訂立新約
讀經二：(希5:7-9)：基督在苦難中學會服從
福　音：(若12:20-33)：「一粒麥子」的比喻
中國文化： 英雄有淚不輕彈。不經一番寒徹骨，那得梅花撲鼻香！
力不可終恃，才不可終恃。安時而處順，哀樂不能入也。

「基督在世時，曾涕泣哀號，向那能救他脫離死亡的天主，獻上祈禱和懇求；並因他的虔敬，獲得了俯允。他雖然是天主子，仍然藉著所受的苦難，學會了服從。他達到完美境界後，為所有服從他的人，成了獲得永恆救恩的根源。」（希5:7-9）

這裡說的「涕泣哀號」，按思高版本是「以大聲哀號和眼淚」，基督教版本是「大聲哀哭、流淚。」所強調的都是哀、哭，而且是大聲的悲哭、大聲的哀號。

有謂「英雄有淚不輕彈」，基督更不會無緣無故地灑下男兒的眼淚。但現在他不但流淚，而且是大聲哀哭、呼號。想人間痛苦至極的呼天搶地，也應不外如是。這是極度痛苦、傷心的悲鳴。

耶穌是人，和我們一樣是百分百的人，只是沒有罪過。

他是人，所以他也怕，他怕死。

耶穌在山園祈禱時，因為「極度恐慌」，以致連流出的汗，都變成血（路22:44）。可見中國文學中所說的「泣血」，或「杜鵑啼血猿哀鳴」等描寫，絕非憑空的杜撰。

其實，在這以前，耶穌的痛苦已經不小了。他在榮進耶路撒冷後對民眾的最後講詞中，就有這樣的一些話：「現在我心神煩亂，我可說什麼呢﹖我說：父啊，救我脫離這時辰吧！」（若12:27）

當然，耶穌並沒有忘記加上一句：「但正是為此，我才到了這時辰。」

似乎，耶穌的心和腦是分開作用的！

他的心、他的感覺在面對痛苦和死亡時，極不好受，這是他的真情實感，是他真真實實的感覺，這感覺我們也有。但他的腦、他的思想、他的信念、他整個人的人生態度卻不容他逃避。他「知道」他正是為此而降生，為此而到了這個時辰。他沒有逃避的理由。

勇敢的人並非不害怕，而是能夠面對害怕、正確地面對害怕。

傳說有一位將軍在出征前，他的雙腿顫抖得十分厲害。他就很幽默地對自己的雙腿說：「你今晚盡情顫抖吧，明天就要出征了！」

基督也怕，但他服從。他對天父的服從並不是輕易得到的，他一樣要經過多番掙扎，才能戰勝自己，達到服從。

保祿說：「他雖然是天主子，卻由所受的苦難，學習了服從。」（希5:8）

這裡強調的是「學習」。耶穌學習服從，也學到了服從。是生命的苦難、一連串的苦難，是那種「家家有本難唸的經」的那些苦難，鍛鍊了耶穌，使他學到了服從。

生命是一本書，生活是一個精煉金子的大熔爐。不經一番寒徹骨，那得梅花撲鼻香！

生命自有它基本的規律和節奏，如成敗得失，生老病死等等，它不會隨我們的意願而轉移，不會因我們的努力而消失。我們可以、而且應該努力奮鬥，用我們的青春去譜寫生命的詩篇，用我們的熱血去完成生命的壯舉。但最終，我們還是要順服生命，對生命說出一個深沉的「是」，對它作一個最大的肯定。

無論生命如何，我們肯定它；無論生活如何，我們接受它；無論前路有多少險阻，我們還是要挺起胸腔、勇敢上路。

順服生命、肯定生命，這不是對命運的懦弱，這是超越命運，是在任何狀況下，都能先接受，然後設法改變。這要求我們先要站穩我們自己的立足點，然後再起步。這是對生命的最終態度。

起初，我們還未完全認識生命，我們會勇闖、硬碰，認為人定勝天，以為堅持到底就可以改變一切。但最終，我們會發現「才不可終恃，力不可終恃」，發現無論是誰，都總有不可為、不能為、或為而無所成的時候。這時，我們只有順服生命，像莊子說的：「安時而處順，哀樂不能入也。」這時，我們才掌握了真正的快樂之道??在生命的任何狀況下都快樂。

在這點上，連耶穌都要學習，何況我們這些凡夫俗子？

四旬期第五主日

顺服生命

读经一：(耶31:31-34)：天主与新以民订立新约
读经二：(希5:7-9)：基督在苦难中学会服从
福　音：(若12:20-33)：「一粒麦子」的比喻
中国文化： 英雄有淚不轻弹。不经一番寒彻骨，那得梅花扑鼻香！
力不可终恃，才不可终恃。安時而处顺，哀乐不能入也。

「基督在世時，曾涕泣哀号，向那能救他脱離死亡的天主，献上祈祷和恳求；并因他的虔敬，获得了俯允。他虽然是天主子，仍然藉著所受的苦难，学会了服从。他达到完美境界后，为所有服从他的人，成了获得永恒救恩的根源。」（希5:7-9）

这里说的「涕泣哀号」，按思高版本是「以大声哀号和眼淚」，基督教版本是「大声哀哭、流淚。」所强调的都是哀、哭，而且是大声的悲哭、大声的哀号。

有谓「英雄有淚不轻弹」，基督更不会无缘无故地洒下男儿的眼淚。但现在他不但流淚，而且是大声哀哭、呼号。想人间痛苦至极的呼天抢地，也应不外如是。这是极度痛苦、伤心的悲鸣。

耶稣是人，和我们一样是百分百的人，只是没有罪過。

他是人，所以他也怕，他怕死。

耶稣在山园祈祷時，因为「极度恐慌」，以致连流出的汗，都变成血（路22:44）。可见中国文学中所说的「泣血」，或「杜鹃啼血猿哀鸣」等描写，绝非凭空的杜撰。

其实，在这以前，耶稣的痛苦已经不小了。他在荣进耶路撒冷后对民众的最后讲词中，就有这样的一些话：「现在我心神烦亂，我可说什么呢？我说：父啊，救我脱離这時辰吧！」（若12:27）

当然，耶稣并没有忘记加上一句：「但正是为此，我才到了这時辰。」

似乎，耶稣的心和脑是分開作用的！

他的心、他的感觉在面对痛苦和死亡時，极不好受，这是他的真情实感，是他真真实实的感觉，这感觉我们也有。但他的脑、他的思想、他的信念、他整個人的人生态度却不容他逃避。他「知道」他正是为此而降生，为此而到了这個時辰。他没有逃避的理由。

勇敢的人并非不害怕，而是能够面对害怕、正确地面对害怕。

传说有一位将军在出征前，他的双腿颤抖得十分厉害。他就很幽默地对自己的双腿说：「你今晚尽情颤抖吧，明天就要出征了！」

基督也怕，但他服从。他对天父的服从并不是轻易得到的，他一样要经過多番挣扎，才能战胜自己，达到服从。

保禄说：「他虽然是天主子，却由所受的苦难，学习了服从。」（希5:8）

这里强调的是「学习」。耶稣学习服从，也学到了服从。是生命的苦难、一连串的苦难，是那种「家家有本难念的经」的那些苦难，锻炼了耶稣，使他学到了服从。

生命是一本书，生活是一個精炼金子的大熔炉。不经一番寒彻骨，那得梅花扑鼻香！

生命自有它基本的规律和节奏，如成败得失，生老病死等等，它不会随我们的意願而转移，不会因我们的努力而消失。我们可以、而且应該努力奋斗，用我们的青春去谱写生命的诗篇，用我们的热血去完成生命的壮举。但最终，我们还是要顺服生命，对生命说出一個深沉的「是」，对它作一個最大的肯定。

无论生命如何，我们肯定它；无论生活如何，我们接受它；无论前路有多少险阻，我们还是要挺起胸腔、勇敢上路。

顺服生命、肯定生命，这不是对命运的懦弱，这是超越命运，是在任何状况下，都能先接受，然后设法改变。这要求我们先要站稳我们自己的立足点，然后再起步。这是对生命的最终态度。

起初，我们还未完全认识生命，我们会勇闯、硬碰，认为人定胜天，以为坚持到底就可以改变一切。但最终，我们会发现「才不可终恃，力不可终恃」，发现无论是谁，都总有不可为、不能为、或为而无所成的時候。这時，我们只有顺服生命，像庄子说的：「安時而处顺，哀乐不能入也。」这時，我们才掌握了真正的快乐之道??在生命的任何状况下都快乐。

在这点上，连耶稣都要学习，何况我们这些凡夫俗子？

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Follow the Tides of Life

First Reading ( Jer 31:31-34):God made a new covenant with the new Israelites
Second Reading ( Heb 5:7-9 ) : Jesus learned obedience through his sufferings
Gospel ( Jn 12:20-33):The parable of the grain of wheat
Chinese Classics
- “A hero does not shed tears easily.”(1)
- “If you have not endured the bone-chilling winter, how can you smell the fragrance of the plum flowers!”(2)
- “Ability does not last forever, nor does talent.”(3)
- “Be content and follow the tides of life. Then, sadness and happiness cannot affect you.”(4)

“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Heb 5:7-9 )

Here, the Chinese translation talks about “weeping and calling out loudly in grief”. According to Studium Biblicum's translation, it means 'to manifest one's sadness by weeping and loudly expressing one's grief.' Another Christian translation says it similarly, 'weeping loudly and calling out in great sadness.' It stresses “crying out one's pain and shedding tears”. What it emphasizes is sadness, tears, crying out in great distress, openly expressing one's sorrow.

There is a Chinese saying, “A hero does not shed tears easily.” (1) Christ would not have shed such tears without reason. But in this instance, he not only wept, he called out loudly, he wailed. Among human beings one would seldom go beyond such agonized wailing. It is an expression of ultimate agony and sorrow.

Jesus was a man, truly human like all of us, except for his sinlessness. Because he was human, he could feel fear, and be afraid of death. When he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane his fear was so extreme that his sweat became like blood. “In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.” (Lk 22:44 ) One can see it is not an exaggeration when sometimes in Chinese literature such graphic terms are used, for example, 'crying unto shedding blood' or 'the cuckoo bird's tear has become blood.'

Even before this, Jesus' suffering was no small thing. After his triumphant procession into Jerusalem, during his last speech to the crowd, he said, “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say - 'Father, save me from this hour?” ( Jn 12:27 )But he did not forget to add immediately, “It is for this reason that I have come to this hour. ” It seems that his heart and his brain were functioning separately!

As Jesus faced his passion and death, his heart and emotions were troubled and full of fear. These were real emotions and true feelings, much as any of us would have in similar circumstances. But his mind, his thoughts and beliefs, his whole life attitude, would not allow him to contemplate escape. He 'knew' it was for this that he had been born into the world, so when the time had come, he had no reason to flee.

A courageous person is not necessarily unafraid, but is able to face his fear and truly overcome it. There is a legend about a general who before leaving for war, was so frightened that his legs shook. He jokingly addressed his legs, “Tonight you can shiver as much as you want, because tomorrow I must go into battle.”

Christ also was afraid but he was obedient. His submission to his Father was not achieved lightly. His was a lifetime of ongoing struggle before he achieved perfect obedience. He had to endure many struggles before he could overcome himself and attain perfect obedience.

St. Paul said, “Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered” ( Heb 5:8 ) The emphasis here is on 'learning'. Jesus learned to obey and finally succeeded. Before he achieved this, he went through suffering and agony during his entire life. He disciplined himself until he learned to obey. It is something like the saying, ‘every family has its own problems and hardship.’

Life is like a book, it is like refining gold in a big furnace. “If you have not endured the bone-chilling winter, how can you smell the fragrance of the plum flowers!”(2)

Life has its own basic rules and rhythm, success and failure, illness and health, aging and death, etc. It will not be changed because of our preferences nor be lost because of our efforts. Of course we can and should strive with all our strength, use our early years to write the poem of our life so that our lives are useful and happy. We must strive to accomplish our goal in life, but in the end we must accept life as it unfolds, saying a sincere 'yes' to life and committing ourselves to living wholeheartedly!

No matter what life is like, we must commit ourselves to it and accept it. Though there may be risks ahead, we must carry on with life courageously.

To accept and affirm life does not imply a weak acceptance of fate. It is rather going beyond fate, and in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, accepting it first and then trying our best to change. This demands of us that we stand on our own two feet, then go forward one step at a time. Ultimately this is the attitude we should have to life.

At first we do not understand life fully. We charge ahead and meet life headlong. We think we can conquer fate, and if we persist to the end, we will be able to change everything. But in the end, we find that “Ability does not last forever, nor does talent” (3). No matter who we are, we find there are things we could not or cannot do, or occasions when no matter what we do, it comes to nothing. At such times, we can only follow what life dictates. As Chuang Tzu said, “We must be content and follow the tides of life. Then, sadness and happiness will not affect us.”(4) Only then do we realize that this is the way to true happiness, and we can be happy in any circumstances of life.

As to this, even Jesus had to learn. How much more so we ordinary human beings!

(1)英雄有淚不輕彈。
(2)不經一番寒徹骨，那得梅花撲鼻香！
(3)力不可終恃，才不可終恃。
(4)安時而處順，哀樂不能入也。