四旬期第四主日

洞在清溪何處邊﹖

讀經一：(撒上16:1,6-7,10-13)：達味受傅為以色列王
讀經二：(弗5:8-14)：要成為光明之子
福　音：(若9:1-41)：耶穌治好胎生瞎子
中國文化： 隱隱飛橋隔野煙，石磯西畔問漁船；
桃花盡日隨流水，洞在清溪何處邊？
南岐安癭。

今日若望福音第9章講了一個很精彩的故事：一個胎生瞎子的故事。

有一次，耶穌與門徒行路時，遇見一個胎生瞎子。門徒懷著偏見問耶穌：「師傅，究竟是誰犯了罪，是他自己或是他的父母，使他生來便雙目失明呢？」耶穌回答說：「不是他自己也不是他的父母犯罪，而是天主要在這事上顯示他的作為。」接著，耶穌便醫好了這個瞎子。後來當人遇見瞎子時，就問他說：「你的眼睛是如何被治好的？」他答說：「是一位名叫耶穌的人，和了些泥，抹在我的眼上，叫我去洗一洗。我洗了，就看見了。」剛巧那天是安息日。

法利塞人知道這事後，便對這事件作了一個「定性的」判斷，他們認為行這事的人不可能來自天主，因為他不守安息日。但有另一些法利塞人反問：「一個罪人如何能作出這種奇事？」他們之間於是起了爭執。

他們再詢問那瞎子的意見，那瞎子告訴他們，他把耶穌當作先知。那些猶太人於是又找瞎子的父母來詢問。但瞎子的父母害怕猶太人，不敢直接回答他們，只是說：「這是我們的兒子，他生來就瞎眼，如今他究竟怎樣看見，我們卻不知道。你們問他吧，因他已是成年人了。」

猶太人再問那瞎子，並向他說：「歸光榮天主吧！我們知道這人是罪人。」那瞎子雖然是個不學無術的文盲，卻懂得反唇相稽。他說：「他是否罪人，我不知道，我只知道一件事，就是我本來是胎生的瞎子，現在卻看見了。」猶太人最後仍是不相信耶穌，理由是不知道他是從哪裡來的。

這個瞎子於是說了一番很有哲理的話：「這真奇怪，你們不知道他是從哪裏來的，他卻開了我的眼睛。我們都知道天主不俯聽罪人，只俯聽那恭敬天主，並承行他旨意的人。自古以來，從未聽說有人能開胎生瞎子的眼睛。這人若不是由天主來的，他甚麼也不能作。」猶太人聽後，十分生氣，向他說：「你整個生於罪惡中，竟來教訓我們？」便把他趕出去了。

瞎子被趕走後，又遇到耶穌。耶穌很有感觸地說：「我來到世上是為了審判，叫那些看不見的看得見，叫那些看得見的，反而成為瞎子。」

有些和耶穌在一起的法利塞人一聽這話，就很不以為然地說：「難道我們也是瞎子嗎！」耶穌回答說：「你們如果是瞎子，就沒有罪；但你們如今說，我們看得見，你們便有罪了。」（參考若9:1-41）

這故事真的十分發人深省。我們是瞎子嗎？若我們真的承認自己是瞎子，便有機會復明；若自以為是，便沒有機會復明了。

有一個小故事，叫「南岐安癭」，也和上述的聖經故事有異曲同工之妙。

南岐位於四川一個偏僻的山中，山中的水很甜，但凡喝了的人都會患上「大頸泡」（脖子粗大症），所以南岐的人個個都患有大頸泡。一天，一個外方人來到南岐，所有的村民都覺得很奇怪，為什麼這外方人的頸這樣細小。這外方人告訴村民，他們的頸是有病的，得趕快醫治。但所有的南岐人都譏笑他說：「我們所有人的脖子都是這樣的，何必要去醫治呢？你的脖子才有問題啊！」

這個故事的教訓是：這群人「終莫知其醜」。即是說，最後他們仍是不知道自己有病，不知道自己的醜陋。

我們都是活在一種文化、一種偏見中。我們所擁有的，有好亦有壞，有對亦有錯，有美亦有醜。若我們肯張開眼睛，去看我們自己的長處及短處，我們才能去蕪存菁。但若我們只知閉上眼睛，我們也會「終莫知其醜。」

張旭有一首詩名叫《桃花溪》，很有啟發性：「隱隱飛橋隔野煙，石磯西畔問漁船：桃花盡日隨流水，洞在清溪何處邊？」望過去，遠遠有一座橋；在迷濛的煙霧中，我們問船上的漁夫：桃花片片隨水漂流，但桃花源究竟在甚麼地方呢？我們如何找到真福的、生命的泉源？如何找到生命的意義？如何找到天主？

我們需要張開眼睛；我們需要懇求天主幫助我們張開眼睛。只要我們在天主前承認自己是盲的，我們便可以得救。

其實，我們每個人都是盲的，我們每人的心中都有很多暗角：有我們看不見的，有我們故意不去看的，也有我們沒有能力去看的。今天，就讓我們懇求上主開啟我們的眼睛，去看到他要我們看的事物。

四旬期第四主日

洞在清溪何处边？

读经一：(撒上16:1,6-7,10-13)：达味受傅为以色列王
读经二：(弗5:8-14)：要成为光明之子
福　音：(若9:1-41)：耶稣治好胎生瞎子
中国文化： 隐隐飞橋隔野烟，石矶西畔問渔船；
桃花尽日随流水，洞在清溪何处边？
南岐安瘿。

今日若望福音第9章讲了一個很精彩的故事：一個胎生瞎子的故事。

有一次，耶稣与门徒行路時，遇见一個胎生瞎子。门徒怀著偏见問耶稣：「师傅，究竟是谁犯了罪，是他自己或是他的父母，使他生来便双目失明呢？」耶稣回答说：「不是他自己也不是他的父母犯罪，而是天主要在这事上显示他的作为。」接著，耶稣便醫好了这個瞎子。后来当人遇见瞎子時，就問他说：「你的眼睛是如何被治好的？」他答说：「是一位名叫耶稣的人，和了些泥，抹在我的眼上，叫我去洗一洗。我洗了，就看见了。」刚巧那天是安息日。

法利塞人知道这事后，便对这事件作了一個「定性的」判断，他们认为行这事的人不可能来自天主，因为他不守安息日。但有另一些法利塞人反問：「一個罪人如何能作出这种奇事？」他们之间於是起了争执。

他们再询問那瞎子的意见，那瞎子告诉他们，他把耶稣当作先知。那些犹太人於是又找瞎子的父母来询問。但瞎子的父母害怕犹太人，不敢直接回答他们，只是说：「这是我们的儿子，他生来就瞎眼，如今他究竟怎样看见，我们却不知道。你们問他吧，因他已是成年人了。」

犹太人再問那瞎子，并向他说：「归光荣天主吧！我们知道这人是罪人。」那瞎子虽然是個不学无术的文盲，却懂得反唇相稽。他说：「他是否罪人，我不知道，我只知道一件事，就是我本来是胎生的瞎子，现在却看见了。」犹太人最后仍是不相信耶稣，理由是不知道他是从哪里来的。

这個瞎子於是说了一番很有哲理的话：「这真奇怪，你们不知道他是从哪裏来的，他却開了我的眼睛。我们都知道天主不俯听罪人，只俯听那恭敬天主，并承行他旨意的人。自古以来，从未听说有人能開胎生瞎子的眼睛。这人若不是由天主来的，他甚么也不能作。」犹太人听后，十分生气，向他说：「你整個生於罪恶中，竟来教训我们？」便把他赶出去了。

瞎子被赶走后，又遇到耶稣。耶稣很有感触地说：「我来到世上是为了审判，叫那些看不见的看得见，叫那些看得见的，反而成为瞎子。」

有些和耶稣在一起的法利塞人一听这话，就很不以为然地说：「难道我们也是瞎子吗！」耶稣回答说：「你们如果是瞎子，就没有罪；但你们如今说，我们看得见，你们便有罪了。」（参考若9:1-41）

这故事真的十分发人深省。我们是瞎子吗？若我们真的承认自己是瞎子，便有机会复明；若自以为是，便没有机会复明了。

有一個小故事，叫「南岐安瘿」，也和上述的圣经故事有异曲同工之妙。

南岐位於四川一個偏僻的山中，山中的水很甜，但凡喝了的人都会患上「大颈泡」（脖子粗大症），所以南岐的人個個都患有大颈泡。一天，一個外方人来到南岐，所有的村民都觉得很奇怪，为什么这外方人的颈这样细小。这外方人告诉村民，他们的颈是有病的，得赶快醫治。但所有的南岐人都讥笑他说：「我们所有人的脖子都是这样的，何必要去醫治呢？你的脖子才有問题啊！」

这個故事的教训是：这群人「终莫知其丑」。即是说，最后他们仍是不知道自己有病，不知道自己的丑陋。

我们都是活在一种文化、一种偏见中。我们所拥有的，有好亦有坏，有对亦有错，有美亦有丑。若我们肯张開眼睛，去看我们自己的长处及短处，我们才能去芜存菁。但若我们只知闭上眼睛，我们也会「终莫知其丑。」

张旭有一首诗名叫《桃花溪》 ，很有启发性：「隐隐飞橋隔野烟，石矶西畔問渔船：桃花尽日随流水，洞在清溪何处边？」望過去，遠遠有一座橋；在迷蒙的烟雾中，我们問船上的渔夫：桃花片片随水漂流，但桃花源究竟在甚么地方呢？我们如何找到真福的、生命的泉源？如何找到生命的意义？如何找到天主？

我们需要张開眼睛；我们需要恳求天主帮助我们张開眼睛。只要我们在天主前承认自己是盲的，我们便可以得救。

其实，我们每個人都是盲的，我们每人的心中都有很多暗角：有我们看不见的，有我们故意不去看的，也有我们没有能力去看的。今天，就让我们恳求上主開启我们的眼睛，去看到他要我们看的事物。

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Joseph, The Man of Integrity

First Reading (Is 7:10-14) : A virgin shall conceive and bear a son
Second Reading (Rm 1:1-7 ) : Jesus Christ is the Son of God, descendent of David
Gospel (Mt 1:18-24) : The virgin shall conceive and bear a son.
Joseph understands God's will
Chinese Classics
The Master said, “When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, admit that you do not know it, - this is true knowledge.” (1)

The teaching in today's Scripture is from a very special story told by the Prophet Isaiah. The story is about a Jewish king called Ahaz. The king had absolutely no faith in God. Once God said to him, ‘Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.’(Ref Is 7:10-12)

“Not to put the Lord to the test” was a very impressive excuse. It would seem that Ahaz was saying one need only to trust in God and need not ask God for a miracle as proof. But actually he had no faith in God. He was afraid that if God showed him a sign he must believe in God. For him, to believe in God would be very distressing.

Because to believe in God one must change one's life and make sacrifices so it was better not to believe and ignore the sign.

We are the same. We do not want to believe in God, nor other people, nor even ourselves. Actually if we open our eyes and look carefully at Nature, look at the moon and the stars, the mountains and streams, the flowers and the birds, insects and fish – all the beauty of creation -. we will for certain see God.

I remember once I was with a group of young people by the seaside in a park in Taiwan. We were lying relaxed on the rocks on the beach, enjoying the beauty of nature and just chatting with each other. We watched the view of the sunset to the rising of the moon, and the murky hue of evening to the silvery Milky Way. We were admiring the scene and talking, enjoying it all immensely. In the midst of the quiet and beauty, one of the group suddenly said, “ Father, why are there still people who do not believe in God?”

That was a good question! If only we would open our minds and look at Nature closely, we could not but feel the greatness of God. Somehow, we do not want to look or take the time or space to look.

Scripture says, ‘The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.’ (Ps 19:2) . In the letter to the Romans Paul also said, “Ever since the creation of the world, they have been understood and seen through the things he has made’ (Ref Rom 1:20)

But we still choose to close our eyes. We refuse to see that our parents' good health is a gift from God, friendship and affection are given us by God. We do not wish to admit that peoples' repentance or the sudden heroism of a selfish person are miracles of God. We even refuse to acknowledge that under God's guidance we ourselves have performed some good deeds in the past.

In fact we realize with some surprise that we have accomplished many good things. On the contrary, we seem to remember only our failures and weaknesses.

“I do not wish to plead, I do not want to test God” is our excuse. The reason is: I do not want to see what great things God has done in me with His never-ending grace. I do not want to see the beauty of the world nor acknowledge that I myself am full of life and energy. The reason is if I acknowledge all this I must respond to God and live a new life in God. Such a response is frightening for me, I really am too weary for that.

Today's Scripture is enlightening in another aspect. It is the story about Joseph. Scripture says that Joseph was a man of integrity. After he knew that Mary, his espoused wife, was pregnant, he did not want to accuse her publicly. He planned to break the marriage contract and put her away quietly.

Joseph had to face a very big difficulty. His fiancee suddenly was somehow pregnant without his knowledge. Based on the law of the time, he had the right to accuse Mary and allow her to be stoned to death. He did not know what had happened and did not understand it. He chose to send her away quietly. (Rf Mt 1:18-24).

He knew that he did not understand. He did not speculate, even less did he want to judge Mary.

Confucius said, “When you know a thing, to hold that you know it, and when you do not know a thing, admit that you do not know it, - this is true knowledge.”(1) This should be the moral stance of an intellectual. It is also a principle we should follow when dealing with people.

Many people attempt to guess other peoples' intentions when they know nothing about it. They do not have any evidence. They speculate and make guesses, fabricating evidence. “When you know a thing, to hold that you know it” is all right. But some people would willingly say that they know something when they do not. That kind of person lacks the open-mindedness of Confucius or the upright conduct of Joseph.

Joseph is called a man of integrity. His actions indeed showed his righteousness. When he was unable to understand he submitted all his doubts to God.

Later, when all the truth was revealed he acted courageously. He knew that Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit and he accordingly married her at once. It was beyond his understanding what it meant to be “conceived of the Holy Spirit”, still he believed the angel. He believed the Scripture, ‘A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’,which means, ‘God is with us.’ He believed that what was written in the Scriptures was realized in his home and in Mary, his betrothed.

At this time of Advent, let us have faith in God. Let us pray to God to help us to believe in Him, to believe in other people and to believe in ourselves.

(1)知之為知之，不知為不知，是知也。