常年期第十七主日

萬眾歸一

讀經一：(列下4:42-44)：增餅奇跡
讀經二：(弗4:1-6)：應保持教會的合一
福　音：(若6:1-15)：增餅奇蹟
中國文化： 大同篇：大道之行也，天下為公。選賢與能，講信修睦。

身體只有一個，聖神也只有一個，正如你們蒙受召叫是為了同一個希望一樣。只有一個主，一個信仰，一個洗禮；只有一個天主，他是眾人之父。他超越一切，貫通一切，且在一切之內。」(弗4:4-6)

在聖經中，很少有像上述的經文，有那麼多的「一」字連在一起，可見保祿很重視合一的問題。

中國人嚮往大同，相信整個世界都是為所有人和每一個人而存在的。所以總是夢想著有那麼的一個國度、一種境界，那裡人人可以人盡其才、事事可以物盡其用。並希望無論是男女老少，健康的、病弱的，都得到適當的愛護和照顧，直至養生送死都無所憾。那裡沒有陰謀詭計，沒有鼠魔竊賊，真是一個路不拾遺、夜不閉戶的世外桃源。

用《大同篇》原來的說話就是：

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。男有分，女有歸。貨，惡其棄於地也，不必藏於己；力，惡其不出於身也，不必為己。是故謀閉而不興，盜竊亂賊而不作。故外戶而不閉。是謂大同。

但大同的基礎是什麼呢？天下諸色人等彼此之間的差異是那麼的多，智愚賢不肖之間的分別又是那麼的大，這個大同夢又怎麼可以夢境成真呢？

保祿提出了一個堅定而永久的答案：天主；只有在天主內，世界大同才有可能。

人間存在著分裂，那是鐵一般的事實，就連在基督的教會內，也免不了時有分裂的悲劇。教區與教區之間、修會與修會之間、善會與善會之間、神職人員與神職人員之間、教友與教友之間……，誰知道究竟存在著多少的競爭、猜疑、不睦、勾心鬥角？

為了錢、為了權、為了名譽、為了面子、為了爭取教友、為了意識形態的差異，甚至為了信仰上大多數人都自以為是的「正統性」，多少教會內的好朋友會因此而反目？

我就曾經聽過一位基督新教的教牧，因為在某個中國的問題上，和另一位教牧鬧翻了，而從最好的朋友，變成了陌路人。他曾經為此而感慨萬端地說：「原來所謂在基督內的兄弟情，竟然是這樣的脆弱！」

保祿一定也看過，甚至親身經驗過這種脆弱的兄弟關係，所以他才說：「我這在主內為囚犯的懇求你們，行動務要與你們所受的寵召相稱，凡事要謙遜、溫和、忍耐，在愛德中彼此擔待，盡力以和平的聯繫，保持心神的合一。」(弗4:1-3)

有基督徒的名，就要有基督徒的實，「行動務要與我們所受的寵召相稱」。而基督徒最重要的任務，就是為教會、為世界謀求合一。
合一絕對不易達到，但基督徒一定要為此而努力，為此而作見證。條件就是必須要有內心的謙虛，有愛德的修養，尤其要「彼此擔待」，並要努力去為合一創造條件。

保祿在這裡沒有提出方法，但他突出了六大合一的理由：因為我們只有一個身體、一個聖神、一個希望、一個主、一個信德、一個洗禮。

世界上有什麼東西比這六大點更大、更重要的呢？是禮儀之爭嗎？是六四之恨嗎？是不同的意識型態嗎？是不同的階級、國籍、文化嗎？是開放或保守思潮的差異嗎？是民主、自由、人權、公義的定義和內容嗎？

如果我們相信天主是眾人之父，是我們所有人的父親，為什麼我們竟不以兄弟姊妹之情，彼此相待呢？如果天主超越一切、貫通一切、且在一切之內，為什麼我們卻看不到在別人身上的天主呢？為什麼我們不相信，別人也跟我們一樣，都是滿懷善意的？為什麼我們不可以在天主內化解一切？為什麼我們不可以讓我們的矛盾，在天主內成為我們每人的挑戰，好讓我們大家都能互相學習、彼此改變、互相豐富呢？

世界大同、萬眾歸一，這是基督徒的堅持，也是中國人的夢想。讓我們為此而祈禱，也為此而努力！

常年期第十七主日

万众归一

读经一：(列下4:42-44)：增饼奇迹
读经二：(弗4:1-6)：应保持教会的合一
福　音：(若6:1-15)：增饼奇迹
中国文化： 大同篇：大道之行也，天下为公。选贤与能，讲信修睦。

身体只有一個，圣神也只有一個，正如你们蒙受召叫是为了同一個希望一样。只有一個主，一個信仰，一個洗礼；只有一個天主，他是众人之父。他超越一切，贯通一切，且在一切之内。」(弗4:4-6)

在圣经中，很少有像上述的经文，有那么多的「一」字连在一起，可见保禄很重视合一的問题。

中国人向往大同，相信整個世界都是为所有人和每一個人而存在的。所以总是梦想著有那么的一個国度、一种境界，那里人人可以人尽其才、事事可以物尽其用。并希望无论是男女老少，健康的、病弱的，都得到適当的爱护和照顾，直至养生送死都无所憾。那里没有阴谋诡计，没有鼠魔窃贼，真是一個路不拾遗、夜不闭户的世外桃源。

用《大同篇》 原来的说话就是：

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。男有分，女有归。货，恶其弃於地也，不必藏於己；力，恶其不出於身也，不必为己。是故谋闭而不兴，盗窃亂贼而不作。故外户而不闭。是谓大同。

但大同的基础是什么呢？天下诸色人等彼此之间的差异是那么的多，智愚贤不肖之间的分别又是那么的大，这個大同梦又怎么可以梦境成真呢？

保禄提出了一個坚定而永久的答案：天主；只有在天主内，世界大同才有可能。

人间存在著分裂，那是铁一般的事实，就连在基督的教会内，也免不了時有分裂的悲剧。教区与教区之间、修会与修会之间、善会与善会之间、神职人员与神职人员之间、教友与教友之间……，谁知道究竟存在著多少的竞争、猜疑、不睦、勾心斗角？

为了钱、为了权、为了名誉、为了面子、为了争取教友、为了意识形态的差异，甚至为了信仰上大多数人都自以为是的「正统性」，多少教会内的好朋友会因此而反目？

我就曾经听過一位基督新教的教牧，因为在某個中国的問题上，和另一位教牧闹翻了，而从最好的朋友，变成了陌路人。他曾经为此而感慨万端地说：「原来所谓在基督内的兄弟情，竟然是这样的脆弱！」

保禄一定也看過，甚至亲身经验過这种脆弱的兄弟关系，所以他才说：「我这在主内为囚犯的恳求你们，行动务要与你们所受的宠召相称，凡事要谦逊、温和、忍耐，在爱德中彼此担待，尽力以和平的联系，保持心神的合一。」(弗4:1-3)

有基督徒的名，就要有基督徒的实，「行动务要与我们所受的宠召相称」。而基督徒最重要的任务，就是为教会、为世界谋求合一。
合一绝对不易达到，但基督徒一定要为此而努力，为此而作见证。条件就是必须要有内心的谦虚，有爱德的修养，尤其要「彼此担待」，并要努力去为合一创造条件。

保禄在这里没有提出方法，但他突出了六大合一的理由：因为我们只有一個身体、一個圣神、一個希望、一個主、一個信德、一個洗礼。

世界上有什么东西比这六大点更大、更重要的呢？是礼仪之争吗？是六四之恨吗？是不同的意识型态吗？是不同的阶级、国籍、文化吗？是開放或保守思潮的差异吗？是民主、自由、人权、公义的定义和内容吗？

如果我们相信天主是众人之父，是我们所有人的父亲，为什么我们竟不以兄弟姊妹之情，彼此相待呢？如果天主超越一切、贯通一切、且在一切之内，为什么我们却看不到在别人身上的天主呢？为什么我们不相信，别人也跟我们一样，都是满怀善意的？为什么我们不可以在天主内化解一切？为什么我们不可以让我们的矛盾，在天主内成为我们每人的挑战，好让我们大家都能互相学习、彼此改变、互相丰富呢？

世界大同、万众归一，这是基督徒的坚持，也是中国人的梦想。让我们为此而祈祷，也为此而努力！

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Healthy the Person Sinless in Body and Spirit, Free to Wander the Earth at Will

First Reading (Is 43:18-19,21-22,24-25): God forgives our sins
Second Reading (2 Cor 1:18-22 ) : In Christ God's promise is fulfilled
Gospel ( Mk 2:1-12) : Jesus heals a paralytic
Chinese Classics:
-“The friendship between Kwun and Poa:It was my parents who gave me birth, but only Poa can understand me” (1).
- “Cherish relationships.” (2)
-“Drawing a ghost is easy.”(3)

“Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven. I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out. ( Mk 2:3-12)

Today's Gospel story brings to our attention the following points:
1) The story took place in the city of Capernaum where there were many people: “so many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door”
2) The paralyzed man who came for help did not come alone. Rather, four friends brought him in on a stretcher. Therefore, we may not be sure about the paralytic's faith in Jesus, but we can be quite sure of the faith of his four friends.
3) Jesus associated the person's illness with sin, and associated the healing with the forgiveness of sin.
4) By performing a miracle to cure the paralyzed man, Jesus proved he is the Lord who has the power to forgive sin.

Capernaum was a bustling city and the place where Jesus and his disciples often gathered – the Bible even calls it “his city”. Jesus preached in the synagogue there, exorcised devils there, and there cured Peter’s mother-in-law and also “many who were sick with various diseases.” So the crowd knew “when he returned to Capernaum” and flocked to listen to his preaching and perhaps see him perform a miracle. So the paralyzed man came too, brought by his friends. And “when Jesus saw their faith” he performed the miracle to assure that the paralyzed man would walk again.

We don't know about the paralyzed man's faith in Jesus, but we are sure of this, without the help of those four friends who did not mind the inconvenience – going up to the roof, finding a way to ‘dig through it;’ letting down the crippled man into the room -- Jesus probably would not have performed this miracle, and the paralytic would not have had an opportunity to regain his health.

We may pray for many graces and hope miracles will happen. We may sometimes forget that while we can pray for God's favour (gift), we also can become ‘gift’ for others. We ourselves can be the cause for miracles to appear. In other words, we also can be ‘facilitators of God's favour’ and not just ‘receivers of God’s gifts.’

Many of us may have heard the story about “The friendship between Kwun and Poa. Kwun Chung was prime minister to Woon Kung, leader of the leaders of tehe allied states. He planned to restore the country. He was at the height of his career. Once when Kwun Chung was feeling particularly pleased with himself, he suddenly thought of his good friend, Poa Suk Nga. He said something that would be remembered for centuries after: “My parents gave me birth. But only Poa can understand me.” (1) What he meant was that although his parents had raised him, the one who really understood him, assisted and encouraged him, and helped him build up a new life and career, was his friend, Poa Suk Nga.

Poa was a gift to Kwun – a priceless gift from heaven. Without his parents Kwun would not have had physical life. But without Poa, Kwun would not have had a political or military life, or his career. Like the Gospel passage today, without his four friends the paralyzed man perhaps would not have recovered.

We need friends. Among friends we are ‘gifts’ of God' to each other. When we treasure friendship in this way, a Chinese saying calls it “cherishing relationships.” (2)

The moment for the miracle had come. Jesus said “your sins have been forgiven.” Nearby there were some learned scribes who knew the Scriptures well. They also were zealous to protect the purity of the Holy Word. They immediately reacted, thinking, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” ( Mk 2:7 )

Body and heart, spirit and flesh, are linked together and are interdependent. Psychological health influences physical well-being, one's physical condition sometimes mirrors a spiritual state. Mental problems need their own kind of cure, illness of the spirit needs spiritual healing. Jesus, the perfect human being, is savior of all humankind, not only saving our spirits, but our bodies too. He not only cares about the suffering of ordinary mortals, he hates the relentless spread of the power of evil. He wanted to cure the paralytic of his bodily constraints, but he first wanted to remove the constraints on the soul. ‘Your sins have been forgiven and your soul has been healed. You have regained your freedom, and can live a new life. You are free to ‘wander the earth and the heavens at will.’ Today and hereafter you can walk with the Creator and be completely at one with the God who created you and saved you’.

The scribes of the Lord did not recognize the God who had become human for the sake of humankind, so they regarded Jesus' words as ‘blasphemous.’ Jesus then gave a simple proof: ‘which is easier of the two, to say words of forgiveness, or to tell the paralytic in the presence of all to get up and walk?’ Of course the answer is to say the words is easier. This is somewhat like the Chinese saying, “Drawing a ghost is easy; drawing dogs and horses is difficult.” (3) No one has seen a ghost, so whatever you draw, no one can say, ‘it shouldn't be that way.’ But if you cannot draw a dog or horse correctly, people who have seen either, will judge you harshly.

So Jesus said to the paralytic, “stand up, take your mat and go to your home!” And that is what he did, he took up his stretcher and went out. There was left behind a shocked and wide-eyed audience, together praising God with loud acclaim. “They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” ( Mk 2:12 )

(1)管鮑之交：生我者父母，知我者鮑子也。
(2)惜緣。畫鬼易。