將臨期第二主日

悔改迎天國，兼善作新民

讀經一：(依11:1-10)：默西亞的王國
讀經二：(羅15:4-9)：基督拯救眾人
福　音：(瑪3:1-12)：你們悔改罷！因為天國臨近了。
中國文化： 日日新，又日新，作新民。
窮則獨善其身，達則兼善天下。

那時候，洗者若翰出現在猶太曠野宣講說：你們悔改吧！因為天國近了。這若翰就是依撒意亞先知所預言的那個人??在曠野裡有呼喊者的聲音：你們該預備上主的道路，修直他的途徑！(參考瑪3:1-12)

這位若翰是誰？聖經形容他是曠野之聲，是曠野中的一個聲音。他呼喊、宣講、感召，他希望每一個人都能預備自己，以迎接基督的來臨。

迎接基督的來臨不只是拍掌、歡呼，而是要預備上主的路，修直他的途徑。換句話說，我們要改變我們整個的生命，以迎接基督的來臨。

悔改基本的意義不單是心中發痛悔，悔改要包括痛悔及改過。

修和聖事或告解聖事的步驟有五個：即省察、痛悔、定改、告明、補贖。省察是反省、回顧、反思。發覺生命出現問題時，感到悲傷、痛苦，後悔自己做了不該做的事。但只悲痛、後悔是不足夠的。更要定改，決定去改、決心去改，尤其要躲避犯罪的機會、努力做應做的事。然後到神父面前告解（告明）及做神父罰的補贖，為我們所做的錯事作賠補。

這就是悔改：既後悔且決心改過。

若翰知道有些人是悔而不改，所以他見到很多法利塞人及撒杜塞人來受洗時，便對他們說：「蛇蠍敗類！誰教你們逃避那即將來臨的忿怒呢？若有悔意，就結出與悔改相稱的果實吧！」

結出與悔改相稱的果實，即是說，我們不但要有悔意、要定改，還要結果實。若翰繼續說：「你們心裡不要想：我們的祖宗是亞巴郎。」單有亞巴郎作靠山，是沒有用的。每人都必須為自己負責，負責自己永恒的得救，結出與悔改相稱的果實。

為迎接基督的來臨，就要預備一條路，或修直這條路。所謂基督徒，按保祿宗徒的想法，是要與基督同死、同生；要穿上基督，成為新人。如中國人所說：「苟日新，又日新，作新民」（大學），即是每日都要悔改，每日都要更新、改變自己。

若翰的宣講除「悔改」外，還有天國。他說：「你們悔改吧，因為天國近了。」

我們不要以為天國就是天堂，悔改之後便會上天堂。這並非若翰宣講的目的。依撒意亞先知書已經為這「天國」作了一番扼要的描述：「由葉瑟的樹幹將生出一支嫩芽，它身上發出一株幼苗。上主的神要臨於他，賜給他智慧及聰敏之神、超見和剛毅之神、明達和敬畏上主之神。」(依11:1-10)

依撒意亞先知指的就是基督，將要來臨的默西亞。

當基督來臨，默西亞來到人間的時候，景況會如何呢？依撒意亞在11章繼續說：「豺狼將與羔羊共處，虎豹將與山羊同宿，牛犢與幼獅一同飼養，一個幼童即可帶領它們。母牛與母熊將一起牧放，它們的幼雛將一同伏臥。獅子將與牛一樣吃草，嬰兒將遊戲於蝮蛇的洞口。在我的整個聖山上，再沒有人作惡，也沒有誰害人。」

這就是天國的境界。我們歡迎基督的來臨，我們也歡迎基督所帶來的新境界——天國的境界。

但這天國是要我們與基督一起創建的，他邀請我們每日唸「願你的國來臨」，即是願人人按天父的意旨去生活，願人人得到精神、肉身的食糧，願人人可以互相寬恕、接納。為我們基督徒來說，這是我們的信念、理想和方向。

但我們所見到的世界卻不是這樣的。我們要怎樣做？無可奈何地生活嗎？失望嗎？

唐朝白居易說得好：「窮則獨善其身，達則兼善天下。」我們見到的世界雖然不是如此，但我們可以預備自己成為上主的工具，成為天國的工匠。等到時機來臨時，我們便可與若翰一起成為曠野之聲，向世界宣講悔改的道理，宣佈天國的來臨。

我們要告訴世界，豺狼與羔羊一起共處是有可能的。在天主的聖山上、在天國裡、在新人類中，再沒有誰犯罪、沒有誰害人。這境界是可能出現的。如果我們悔改，好好準備自己，如果我們肯修直途徑，結出與悔改相稱的果實，一切都有可能。

天國最終是必會來臨的。

将临期第二主日

悔改迎天国，兼善作新民

读经一：(依11:1-10)：默西亚的王国
读经二：(罗15:4-9)：基督拯救众人
福　音：(玛3:1-12)：你们悔改罢！因为天国临近了。
中国文化： 日日新，又日新，作新民。
穷则独善其身，达则兼善天下。

那時候，洗者若翰出现在犹太旷野宣讲说：你们悔改吧！因为天国近了。这若翰就是依撒意亚先知所预言的那個人??在旷野里有呼喊者的声音：你们該预备上主的道路，修直他的途径！(参考玛3:1-12)

这位若翰是谁？圣经形容他是旷野之声，是旷野中的一個声音。他呼喊、宣讲、感召，他希望每一個人都能预备自己，以迎接基督的来临。

迎接基督的来临不只是拍掌、欢呼，而是要预备上主的路，修直他的途径。换句话说，我们要改变我们整個的生命，以迎接基督的来临。

悔改基本的意义不单是心中发痛悔，悔改要包括痛悔及改過。

修和圣事或告解圣事的步骤有五個：即省察、痛悔、定改、告明、补赎。省察是反省、回顾、反思。发觉生命出现問题時，感到悲伤、痛苦，后悔自己做了不該做的事。但只悲痛、后悔是不足够的。更要定改，决定去改、决心去改，尤其要躲避犯罪的机会、努力做应做的事。然后到神父面前告解（告明）及做神父罚的补赎，为我们所做的错事作赔补。

这就是悔改：既后悔且决心改過。

若翰知道有些人是悔而不改，所以他见到很多法利塞人及撒杜塞人来受洗時，便对他们说：「蛇蝎败类！谁教你们逃避那即将来临的忿怒呢？若有悔意，就结出与悔改相称的果实吧！」

结出与悔改相称的果实，即是说，我们不但要有悔意、要定改，还要结果实。若翰继续说：「你们心里不要想：我们的祖宗是亚巴郎。」单有亚巴郎作靠山，是没有用的。每人都必须为自己负責，负責自己永恒的得救，结出与悔改相称的果实。

为迎接基督的来临，就要预备一条路，或修直这条路。所谓基督徒，按保禄宗徒的想法，是要与基督同死、同生；要穿上基督，成为新人。如中国人所说：「苟日新，又日新，作新民」（大学），即是每日都要悔改，每日都要更新、改变自己。

若翰的宣讲除「悔改」外，还有天国。他说：「你们悔改吧，因为天国近了。」

我们不要以为天国就是天堂，悔改之后便会上天堂。这并非若翰宣讲的目的。依撒意亚先知书已经为这「天国」作了一番扼要的描述：「由叶瑟的树干将生出一支嫩芽，它身上发出一株幼苗。上主的神要临於他，赐给他智慧及聪敏之神、超见和刚毅之神、明达和敬畏上主之神。」(依11:1-10)

依撒意亚先知指的就是基督，将要来临的默西亚。

当基督来临，默西亚来到人间的時候，景况会如何呢？依撒意亚在11章继续说：「豺狼将与羔羊共处，虎豹将与山羊同宿，牛犊与幼狮一同饲养，一個幼童即可带领它们。母牛与母熊将一起牧放，它们的幼雏将一同伏卧。狮子将与牛一样吃草，婴儿将游戏於蝮蛇的洞口。在我的整個圣山上，再没有人作恶，也没有谁害人。」

这就是天国的境界。我们欢迎基督的来临，我们也欢迎基督所带来的新境界——天国的境界。

但这天国是要我们与基督一起创建的，他邀请我们每日念「願你的国来临」，即是願人人按天父的意旨去生活，願人人得到精神、肉身的食粮，願人人可以互相宽恕、接纳。为我们基督徒来说，这是我们的信念、理想和方向。

但我们所见到的世界却不是这样的。我们要怎样做？无可奈何地生活吗？失望吗？

唐朝白居易说得好：「穷则独善其身，达则兼善天下。」我们见到的世界虽然不是如此，但我们可以预备自己成为上主的工具，成为天国的工匠。等到時机来临時，我们便可与若翰一起成为旷野之声，向世界宣讲悔改的道理，宣布天国的来临。

我们要告诉世界，豺狼与羔羊一起共处是有可能的。在天主的圣山上、在天国里、在新人类中，再没有谁犯罪、没有谁害人。这境界是可能出现的。如果我们悔改，好好准备自己，如果我们肯修直途径，结出与悔改相称的果实，一切都有可能。

天国最终是必会来临的。

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Welcome the Kingdom of Heaven with Repentance
By Enriching Others We Become New Persons

First Reading (Is 11: 1-10); The Kingdom of the Messiah
Second Reading (Rom 15: 4-9): Christ has saved all people
Gospel (Matt 3: 1-12): Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near
Chinese Classics:
-“If you can one day renovate yourself, do so from day to day. Yea, let there be daily renovation to become new people.” (1)
-“If poor, they attended to their own virtue in solitude; if advanced to dignity, they made the whole world virtuous as well.” (2)

“In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Ref Mt 3: 1-12)

Who is this John? Scripture describes him as a voice in the wilderness, a loud shout coming from the desert. He called out, he preached, he invited the people. He hoped that every individual could prepare themselves to receive the coming of Christ.

To receive Christ it is not enough to applaud him, welcome him, but one must prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. In other words, we must change our entire lives and prepare to accept the coming of Christ.

The fundamental concept of repentance is not only remorse, it also must include sorrow and a desire to change.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession includes five elements: examination of conscience, contrition, willingness to change, telling our sins to the priest and doing the penance the priest gives us. To examine means to reflect, recall, ponder deeply. When we become aware of past misconduct, we are filled with remorse, sadness and sorrow for the deeds we should not have done. But even this sorrow and regret are not enough. We must want to change, be determined to change and make a resolution to change. We must also avoid opportunities for future sin, instead, act as we ought. We then tell our sins to the priest and accept the penance the priest gives us in reparation for all our sins.

This is true repentance: to be remorseful and determined to renew oneself.

John knew that there were some people who might be sorry but would not change, therefore when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? If you would repent, bear fruit worthy of repentance.”

To bear good fruit worthy of repentance means we must not only be remorseful and change our ways, we must also bear fruit. John continued, “Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor.’ To only rely on Abraham is of no use. Each individual must be responsible for individual actions, be responsible for his/her own eternal salvation and bear good fruit worthy of repentance.

To welcome the coming of Christ, we should prepare a path or repair the one which is already there. According to the Apostle Paul, to be a Christian means to die with Christ and live with him. We have taken on Christ and thus have become a new person. This is exemplified by a Chinese saying in “The Great Learning.” “If you can one day renovate yourself, do so from day to day. Yea, let there be daily renovation to become new people.”(1) We should repent every day, be renewed daily and change ourselves.

Besides the concept of repentance, John also talked about the kingdom of heaven. He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

We should not think that this kingdom of heaven is the same as the heaven we often talk about, ‘after you repent you will go to heaven.’ That was not the purpose of John's preaching. The Prophet Isaiah described this ‘kingdom of heaven’ clearly: “A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. (Is 11: 1-10)

Isaiah was pointing to Christ, the Messiah who was soon to come.

What will it be like when Christ comes, when the time of the Messiah has arrived? Chapter 11 of the Book of Isaiah continues: “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain.”

This is a picture of the Kingdom of Heaven. We rejoice in the coming of Christ, we welcome the new circumstances - the Kingdom of Heaven - that Christ brings.

But we must build this Kingdom of Heaven together with Christ who invites us to pray daily, “May your Kingdom come.” That is, may all people live according to God's will, may all receive spiritual and physical nourishment, may all people be able to forgive and accept each other. For us who are Christians, that is our belief, our ideal and our direction for life.

But the world we see around us is not like that. What then should we do? Can we continue to live as we do? Will we lose hope?

In the Tang Dynasty Bai Ju Yi wrote, “If poor, they attended to their own virtue in solitude; if advanced to dignity, they made the whole world virtuous as well.”(2) The world we see is not like this but we can prepare ourselves to be God's instruments and workers in the kingdom. When the right time comes along, we can join John the Baptist to become a voice in the wilderness, preaching to the world about repentance and proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom.

We want to tell the world that it really is possible for the wolves and sheep to live together. On God's holy mountain, in the kingdom of heaven, in the new life of humankind, there will no longer be those who sin or harm others. That kind of circumstances really can come about. If we repent and prepare ourselves, if we are willing to make straight the path and bring forth fruit worthy of repentance., all of this is possible.

In the end the Kingdom of Heaven must come.

(1)日日新，又日新，作新民。
(2)窮則獨善其身，達則兼善天下。