復活期第二主日

超越證據

讀 經 一：(宗4:32-35)：信徒的共同生活
讀 經 二：(若一5:1-6)：人賴天主必戰勝世界
福 　 音：(若20:19-31)：耶穌復活後顯現給門徒及多默
中國文化：天之將喪斯文也，後死者不得與於斯文也；天之未喪斯文也，匡人其如予何？ 讀聖賢書，所學何事？

「你因為看見了我才信嗎？那些沒有看見而信的，才是有福的！」(若20:29)

這裏說的「不見而信」並不是盲從，也不是迷信，而是一種超越證據、超越視覺、超越感官的信仰。

「看見」並不一定產生信仰。在耶穌的時代，「看見」耶穌的人並不少，但並不是人人都相信他，許多人還反對他。所以耶穌才會感慨地說：「吃過我飯的人，也舉腳踢我。」(若13:18)

連見到耶穌顯聖蹟的人，也不一定對他有很深、很持久的信德。看看在歡迎耶穌入耶路撒冷城的群眾中，及在高叫「釘死他」的群眾中，有多少是相同的人？這邊廂剛歡迎了耶穌，那邊廂卻高叫要釘死他。西方有一首名曲叫「善變的女人」，其實，善變的是人，是大部分的人，也許包括了你和我！

耶穌復活了，不信他的人還是不信他；他們並沒有因為耶穌的復活而改變主意，反而賄賂兵士，叫他們散播謠言，說是耶穌的門徒偷去了他的屍體（參看瑪28:13）。誰可以想象得到，人們的心竟然會因為有了確鑿的「證據」而變得更硬呢！

所以信並不一定需要證據。在我們的生活中，便充滿著超越證據、超越感官的「信」。

例如在婚姻盟誓中，那些說「無論環境順逆、疾病健康」，都答應要和對方永遠廝守的人，不也是有點豪氣干雲、義無反顧地甘心步入龍潭虎穴的味道嗎？在孩子身上投下大量資源、時間、精神、愛心的父母，又有多少證據，可以證明他們會得到孩子的回報呢？在朋友推心置腹的交流中，他們又為什麼不怕有一天可能會被出賣呢？

這一切都超越了證據，是確確實實的「不見而信」??不需要證據而相信。

如果我們對耶穌、對天主真的需要證據，這證據就在教會的團體中，也在我們的心中。

初期的信徒，大多是在教會團體中獲得信仰：「全體信徒都同心合意、沒有一個說自己的財物是專屬於自己的，一切都歸公用……。他們當中，沒有人缺乏什麼。」（宗4:32-34）

他們還時常團聚、擘餅、祈禱，懷著歡樂的心一起進食。這是一個快樂、積極、活潑的團體，一個因信仰而結合的團體，一個復活的團體。他們在其中經驗到的，是復活基督的臨在，一種真真實實的臨在??儘管「看不見」他。

另外的一種證據就在我們心中。

本來信的人本身已有某種程度的信仰傾向，他們對生命欣賞，對大自然驚訝，對自己身為萬物之靈的身份加以肯定，對精神界或靈界有一種微妙的直覺。

信仰要求的是他對這信仰作進一步的肯定和培養，努力去「激發」自己的信德。

當我們懷著欣賞的心情，花上長一點的時間去注視天空時，或當我們懷著深情去投入大自然時，我們不是感到主的臨在嗎？當我們以愛心去為人服務時，我們不是想到基督嗎？當我們在理想和信仰的催迫下從事有意義的工作時，我們不是感到有主同在、為主工作嗎？

在聖體前、在領主後、在讀經中，只要我們肯多花一點時間去「激發」信德、相信主的臨在，他的臨在不是也會越來越顯明嗎？

有一次，匡地方的人因為誤會而留難孔子，孔子卻淡然地說：「天之將喪斯文也，後死者不得與於斯文也；天之未喪斯文也，匡人其如予何？」意思是：如果老天爺要消滅中國的文化，我這個「後死者」就不會接觸、明白和接受了這文化；但既然我已接觸到、明白到、接受了這文化，那就是老天爺不要這文化消滅的具體「證據」。既然是這樣，匡人又能奈何我什麼呢？

孔子不需要證據去讓自己為國為民而奮鬥，他的人格和學養，本身就是上天給他的證據。「讀聖賢書，所學何事？」他所學到的，正是他在受教養時來自於師長、受自於上天的大道；他自覺要去繼承和傳揚的，也正是這些上天交給他的文化遺產。

我們的心靈確有超乎我們想像的力量，讓我們刻意去發展它吧！

复活期第二主日

超越证据

读 经 一：(宗4:32-35)：信徒的共同生活
读 经 二：(若一5:1-6)：人赖天主必战胜世界
福 　 音：(若20:19-31)：耶稣复活后显现给门徒及多默
中国文化：天之将丧斯文也，后死者不得与於斯文也；天之未丧斯文也，匡人其如予何？ 读圣贤书，所学何事？

「你因为看见了我才信吗？那些没有看见而信的，才是有福的！」(若20:29)

这裏说的「不见而信」并不是盲从，也不是迷信，而是一种超越证据、超越视觉、超越感官的信仰。

「看见」并不一定產生信仰。在耶稣的時代，「看见」耶稣的人并不少，但并不是人人都相信他，许多人还反对他。所以耶稣才会感慨地说：「吃過我饭的人，也举脚踢我。」(若13:18)

连见到耶稣显圣迹的人，也不一定对他有很深、很持久的信德。看看在欢迎耶稣入耶路撒冷城的群众中，及在高叫「钉死他」的群众中，有多少是相同的人？这边厢刚欢迎了耶稣，那边厢却高叫要钉死他。西方有一首名曲叫「善变的女人」，其实，善变的是人，是大部分的人，也许包括了你和我！

耶稣复活了，不信他的人还是不信他；他们并没有因为耶稣的复活而改变主意，反而贿赂兵士，叫他们散播谣言，说是耶稣的门徒偷去了他的尸体（参看玛28:13）。谁可以想象得到，人们的心竟然会因为有了确凿的「证据」而变得更硬呢！

所以信并不一定需要证据。在我们的生活中，便充满著超越证据、超越感官的「信」。

例如在婚姻盟誓中，那些说「无论环境顺逆、疾病健康」，都答应要和对方永遠厮守的人，不也是有点豪气干云、义无反顾地甘心步入龙潭虎穴的味道吗？在孩子身上投下大量资源、時间、精神、爱心的父母，又有多少证据，可以证明他们会得到孩子的回报呢？在朋友推心置腹的交流中，他们又为什么不怕有一天可能会被出卖呢？

这一切都超越了证据，是确确实实的「不见而信」??不需要证据而相信。

如果我们对耶稣、对天主真的需要证据，这证据就在教会的团体中，也在我们的心中。

初期的信徒，大多是在教会团体中获得信仰：「全体信徒都同心合意、没有一個说自己的财物是专属於自己的，一切都归公用……。他们当中，没有人缺乏什么。」（宗4:32-34）

他们还時常团聚、擘饼、祈祷，怀著欢乐的心一起进食。这是一個快乐、积极、活泼的团体，一個因信仰而结合的团体，一個复活的团体。他们在其中经验到的，是复活基督的临在，一种真真实实的临在??尽管「看不见」他。

另外的一种证据就在我们心中。

本来信的人本身已有某种程度的信仰倾向，他们对生命欣赏，对大自然惊讶，对自己身为万物之灵的身份加以肯定，对精神界或灵界有一种微妙的直觉。

信仰要求的是他对这信仰作进一步的肯定和培养，努力去「激发」自己的信德。

当我们怀著欣赏的心情，花上长一点的時间去注视天空時，或当我们怀著深情去投入大自然時，我们不是感到主的临在吗？当我们以爱心去为人服务時，我们不是想到基督吗？当我们在理想和信仰的催迫下从事有意义的工作時，我们不是感到有主同在、为主工作吗？

在圣体前、在领主后、在读经中，只要我们肯多花一点時间去「激发」信德、相信主的临在，他的临在不是也会越来越显明吗？

有一次，匡地方的人因为误会而留难孔子，孔子却淡然地说：「天之将丧斯文也，后死者不得与於斯文也；天之未丧斯文也，匡人其如予何？」意思是：如果老天爷要消灭中国的文化，我这個「后死者」就不会接触、明白和接受了这文化；但既然我已接触到、明白到、接受了这文化，那就是老天爷不要这文化消灭的具体「证据」。既然是这样，匡人又能奈何我什么呢？

孔子不需要证据去让自己为国为民而奋斗，他的人格和学养，本身就是上天给他的证据。「读圣贤书，所学何事？」他所学到的，正是他在受教养時来自於师长、受自於上天的大道；他自觉要去继承和传扬的，也正是这些上天交给他的文化遗產。

我们的心灵确有超乎我们想像的力量，让我们刻意去发展它吧！

Second Sunday of Easter

Beyond Proof

First Reading : ( Acts 4:32-35 ): The believers held everything in common.
Second Reading : ( 1 Jn 5:1-6 ) : Our faith in God brings victory over the world.
Gospel : ( Jn 20:19-31 ) : Jesus appeared to the Apostles and Thomas
Chinese classics:
“If Heaven had wished to let this cause of truth perish, then I, a future mortal, should not have had such an involvement with that cause. While Heaven does not let the cause of truth perish, what can the people of Kuang do to me?”(1)
- Why study the books of the sages?”(2)

“Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe!” (Jn 20:29)

What is referred to here as 'believing without seeing' does not mean to follow blindly, nor does it refer to superstitious belief. It really refers to a faith which far exceeds proof, visions or the senses. 'Seeing' does not necessarily result in faith. During the time of Jesus, those who 'saw' Jesus were quite numerous, but not everyone believed in him. Many people even opposed him. That was why Jesus, with deep emotion, said, “The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.”(Jn 13:18)

Even those who had seen Jesus perform miracles did not necessarily have deep and lasting faith in him. Look at the crowd who welcomed Jesus enter Jerusalem and the crowd who called out “let him die on the cross,” were not many of them the same people? On the one hand, they had just welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem, on the other hand they loudly shouted for his crucifixion. There is a well-known Western song called Fickle Lady. Actually, most human beings are fickle, perhaps including you and me!

Jesus rose from the dead. Those who had not believed in him remained the same. They did not change their mind even after Jesus had risen. On the contrary, they bribed the soldiers and told them to spread rumours, saying that it was Jesus' disciples who stole his body (see Mt 28:13). Who would have imagined that those whose hearts were already hardened would harden their hearts even more when they had concrete 'proof'! Therefore belief does not necessarily require proof. Our everyday lives are filled with beliefs that go beyond the evidence of our senses.

For instance, in the marriage covenant, people promise that 'in good times or bad, in sickness or health', they would care for each other until death. Don't they also have a certain amount of heroism and chivalry, willingly agreeing to 'enter the dragon's lake and the tiger's den' i.e., take the risk of great danger? As for parents who invest large amounts of resources, time, energy and love, in their children's future, what assurance do they have that their children will repay them? Why are those who have intimate friends not afraid that one day one might be betrayed? All these situations go beyond proof; they are examples of 'believing without seeing.' There is no need for proof in order to believe.

If we really require proof about Jesus or God, there is such proof in the church itself and in our own hearts. The majority of the early Christians found their faith in the Christian community, “The whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common... there was not a needy person among them.” (Acts 4:32-34) They also frequently gathered together with great joy 'for the breaking of bread,' and for praying and eating together. They were a happy, lively, enthusiastic group of people, united by their faith. They were a resurrected community, and though they 'did not see him,' they experienced Christ's real presence, the presence of the risen Christ in their midst.

Another kind of proof lies in our hearts. Actually, those who have faith already have a certain tendency to believe. They appreciate life, they marvel at nature, they affirm their own identity as the noblest of all creatures. They have a sense of the non-material, the world of the spirit. What faith requires is that we should affirm and nurture our faith and make every effort to cultivate it further.

If we spend a little more time looking at the sky closely with admiration, or when with deep emotion we find ourselves in the depths of nature, do we not feel the presence of God? When we serve others with love, do we not think of Christ? When, urged on by our ideals and faith, we are committed to a meaningful task, do we not feel that God is with us and we are working for Him? Before the Blessed Sacrament, or after receiving Holy Communion, or when reading Scripture, if we are willing to spend a little more time to activate our faith to a greater awareness of God’s presence, would we not become more and more alerted to God's presence in us?

Once, the people of Kuang misunderstood Confucius and made things very difficult for him. Confucius calmly said, “If Heaven had wished to let this cause of truth perish, then I, a future mortal, should not have had such an involvement with that cause. While Heaven does not let the cause of truth perish, what can the people of Kuang do to me?”(1) What he meant was if heaven wants to destroy the Chinese culture, I, a 'future mortal' would not be able to touch, understand or accept that culture. But since I have understood, accepted, and been touched by this culture, it is clear 'proof' that heaven does not want to destroy it. This being the case, what can the people of Kuang do to me?

Confucius did not need any proof before working hard for his country and his people. His moral character and intellectual capacity were proof enough from heaven. “Why should we study the books of the sages?”(2) What he had learned came from teachers who had taught him and from following the way of heaven above. He felt he should continue to spread the cultural heritage that heaven had handed down to him.

Our heart has strength beyond our imagination! Let us deliberately develop it!

(1)天之將喪斯文也，後死者不得與於斯文也；天之未喪斯文也，匡人其如予何？
(2)讀聖賢書，所學何事？