Posts

A Complainer or a Contributor Art Thou?

Image
I sometimes wonder whether some of us are complainers or contributors. It seems easy and convenient to complain and demand many things from the church, especially where one’s convenience or comfort is at stake, and some even seem to have a sense of entitlement to various services and assistance that the church, in their mind, is expected to offer. But how many of us are contributing a fair and just share for the growth and mission of the church?


For example, every once in a while, I hear of complains that the church toilet is dirty or some part is damaged, but how many are willing to help maintain proper cleanliness; or contribute to the cost of ensuring that the toilets are clean or even to the cost for repairs to be made? Some also complain that the weather is so hot, and that the church should be air-conditioned, but when such persons are asked whether they would be willing to contribute to the purchasing, maintenance, repairs and other expenses such as electricity for such air-con…
Post a Comment
Read more

Watch What Thou Sayest

We sometimes assume that certain folks do not understand what we say, especially when we use a foreign language in their presence. For example, few would expect an Englishman these days, who has been residing in London for most of his life, to be able to speak Bahasa Malaysia or Malay language. But sometimes, what we assume may not necessarily be true, and we may end up embarrassed or red-faced.

One day, two students from Malaysia, studying at a University in London, were riding on a bus from their apartment to a supermarket to purchase some supplies. When the bus arrived at a certain stop, an Englishman boarded the bus. The two Malaysians were seated near the centre of the bus, and as the Englishman walked past them to take a seat at the back of the bus, one student remarked to the other: “tengok itu babi lalu?” (Translated as “look at that pig passing by” and it was a derogatory statement towards the Englishman). The Englishman did not say anything as he walked past, took a seat nea…
Post a Comment
Read more

Art Thou Reckless?

Image
Nowadays, I see more and more people driving at high speeds, especially on the highway (North-South highway, LEKAS highway (some of the many highways in Malaysia), doesn't matter. You get Formula-1 wannabes). The speed limit is 90 Km/h or 110 Km/h, depending on which highway one is using, but these people seem to be going much faster than the speed limit. Sometimes, you get drivers who cut across from the left lane, right to the centre lane and to the right lane - almost in one motion, as if they are doing "sapu jalan tepi ke tepi" (driving the car as if sweeping the road sideways, in case you do not know the Malay language).

Why do people need to do such dangerous things on the road? Perhaps they are in a hurry; perhaps they want to show how canggih or sporty their vehicle is; perhaps they are suffering from acute diarrhoea and they need to get to the toilet quickly before they explode in their pants;  or perhaps some people have become more impatient, possibly due to th…
Post a Comment
Read more

Oops! A Boo Boo in What Was Said

Image
One day after celebrating the morning Mass, a couple approached me and asked me to pray over them because it was their wedding anniversary. The wife requested me to pray especially for her because they were already married for 5 years, and despite many attempts, they had not been able to conceive. I prayed over them as requested, and wished them all the best.

Then one day, after about five months, I was invited to a party. I was having a chat with some people, when a woman approached me, with a noticeable bump in the "oven". The woman was the one I had prayed over, and she excitedly said to me: “Father, thank you so much. You know, because of you I am pregnant already!” Straight away, the people near me were shocked, some of their jaws even dropped, some with eyes bulging, there were even some gasps audible, when they heard such startling news. I looked at the woman in disbelief and bewilderment, and fortunately for me, the woman, horrified upon realising her care…
Post a Comment
Read more

什么是圣人？

当我们还是学童时，所接触到的圣人故事，几乎都把圣人摆在一个超乎常人的层次。他们都有异常优良的品行，有的甚至从小就具备了。也有少数的大半辈子就如我们常人一般。然而，就在一个特殊的时刻（通常是很戏剧性的一个，牵涉到一个预像，甚至有可能是被天主摔下马），他们的品行就从此变得超好。

神迹的发生、英雄事迹和探险故事，不时都显得有趣，但有一点可以确定的是：圣人们都和我们常人不一样。

在第二次梵蒂冈大公会议后，强调了讲道必须以圣言为基础，通常占据一个中心点的圣人们退出了讲道活动。同时，减少了使用教会日历，使得一些天主教徒相信，圣人们都不再重要了。他们已不再是新式天主教教义的核心。

当然，圣人一直以来都是天主教教义的核心（对东正教而言也是如此）。要了解他们的地位，我们应看看他们是如何在教会里占有一席之地，而更加重要的是他们对于我们现今生活有何意义。


ALL BAPTIZED TO BE SAINTS 凡受洗的皆可成圣

凡加入基督徒团体的人，以及尝试活出耶稣生活、死亡及复活之成果的人，圣保禄皆称他们为圣。保禄写信给不同教会的“圣人们”，就是他所谓的任何受洗于耶稣的生活及死亡的人。在保禄的看法中，圣人就是那些被圣化的人。

保禄和其他早期的基督徒不断的写信、思考，及利用大部分的时间祈祷有关基督来临的意义，因为在当时他们全心期待耶稣将会很快地再次降临。

这就是为什么保禄宗徒选择了独身主义，同时也是为何他不鼓励奴隶寻求自由。为何要如此劳神呢？就在任何时刻，天主永恒的王国将在基督光荣来临时成立。如果世界将如此继续下去，为何要结婚生子呢？当奴隶及主人都将面对凯旋归来的基督，而祂将转化所有的关系成为充满爱和宇宙化的生活，为何还要在乎自己奴隶的身份呢？


MARTYRS 殉道圣人

早期的教会后来才开始明了基督的归来，并不会如他们所想的那样快就会发生。同期的罗马帝国视基督徒为社会安定的威胁。一些有关基督徒的传闻是真的：他们的确有说奴隶和主人是同等的，女人和小孩不是男人的附属品。而另一些传言却不是真的：基督徒被指责施行人类祭献、乱伦和食用人肉。

随着很多的基督徒被囚禁起来，不少正直的男人及女人因此殉道，自我觉悟的基督徒教会进入了新的阶段。那些有关耶稣的生活与勇气，以及对祂复活所带来的希望，同时启示了基督徒及非基督徒。虽然不足以说他们见证了这个信仰（但他们的确做到了）。他们显示了他们如耶…
Post a Comment
Read more

做刻苦和弃绝自己：确定与否？

我觉得对一些教友特别是在封斋期和星期五所实行的所谓做刻苦和弃绝自己一事感到非常可笑。有些教友认为每星期五不吃肉就是该善功的好榜样；更有一些认为，让自己在某程度上沦为潦倒无助，或是做了各种各样的牺牲，就可以讨的天主的欢心。你认为类似情况就是做刻苦和弃绝自己的行径吗？难道这种善功是拿来开玩笑？

让我先澄清我没有反对自我刻苦和弃绝自己的行径。我要提醒大家，实行自我刻苦和弃绝自己的善功，不要像在演戏那样，做个别人看，更不是自我安慰地满足自己的欲望，而是要发自内心深处，真正的忏悔己罪。

到底自我刻苦和弃绝自己的真正意义在哪里？请参阅玛16:24，耶稣说，“谁若愿意跟随我，该弃绝自己，背着自己的十字架来跟随我。”主耶稣告诉我们最终所做的一切事情，不应该是以自己的议程或是兴趣的驱使；反而要弃绝一切罪过，邪恶，骄傲，自私自利的行为，更不能为了显耀自己，要无条件地全心全意跟随祂。我们所付出的努力应该惠及大众和光荣天主；不是完成我们自己的意愿而是遵照天主的计划而进行。

总而言之，我们应该相信，期望，和高高兴兴地跟随主耶稣，更不惜付出任何代价，在任何困境和艰难中坚信祂一定会引领我们更接近祂。我们是否愿意放下一切疑惑，欲望和需要，让祂真正成为我们生命中的唯一供给者？有人认为那是不可能的，但是，天主想要的，那有不能实现的事！
Post a Comment
Read more

宽恕我们的罪过

过去一段时期，我时常注意到小孩们如何玩乐和互相交流。很多时候我注意到小孩们比较坦率和更容易宽恕，不计前嫌。事隔多年，我记得一群小孩正在玩游戏。突然间就大吵起来。有的很生气地说，“我不要与你做朋友了。”其他的也离开现场。奇怪的是，过了一阵子，那些小孩又在一起玩了， 好像刚才完全没有发生任何事情那样。

正当两个成年人发生口角或是出手大打后，他们是否会好像那些小孩一般那么大量和有宽容心，不计前嫌？从我的观察中，发觉成年人不是那么大量和容易宽恕。那为什么会有如此的僵局？大多的因素是在我们成长过程中，形成了爱面子或怕输的态度，更因偏见和自尊高傲的作崇，认为自己是受害者，他们就不容易放下骄傲态度，去互相宽恕。

但是，主耶稣在宽恕的课题上如何教导我们？祂很简单地教导我们宽恕犹如我们马路上的双行道，互相往来。从天主经中耶稣说，“求你宽恕我们的罪过如同我们宽恕别人一样。”在路加福音12:58-59 中，耶稣还特地提醒我们：当你和你的对头去见官长时，尚在路上，你得设法与他了结，怕他拉你到法官前，法官把你交给刑役，而刑役把你押在狱中。我告诉你：非等你还清最后的一分钱，断不能从那里出来。同时再参考这段福音：那时候柏多禄对耶稣说，“主啊，若我的弟兄得罪了我，我该宽恕他多少次？直到七次吗？”耶稣对他说，“我不对你说直到七次，而是到七十个七次。”（玛18：21-22 ）这两句福音告诉我们不应该只期望得到主和别人的宽恕，而我们也要主动地宽恕别人。

当然，宽恕别人不是那么容易的事情，尤其对方已经严重的伤害了我们。但是耶稣被钉在十字架上时，祂仍然求天父宽恕兵士们：父啊，宽恕他们吧因为他们不知道自己在做什么! 有些人会辩驳说：耶稣是全能的主，当然容易宽恕别人。

但是我们不要忘记，当时的祂是以人的身份履行天父的旨意，同样是有血有肉而且是活生生的犹太人。在那种困境和苦难中，祂选择宽恕仇人，彰显出人性的美，不再报仇雪恨，不再对敌，而把自己的痛苦都献给了天父。耶稣明显地告诉我们祂的苦难经历并非什么大事。只是自私自利的我们小题大做，把芝麻绿豆般的事情大肆渲染罢了。

如今我们是否会放下一切仇恨，把骄傲，自私和偏见抛到脑后，学习宽恕和原谅？不要让一切不愉快的事情重现在脑海中，过去的就让它烟消云散，不要再让仇恨折磨自己，接受天父赐给我们的平安，喜悦和自由，彻底宽恕仇人，效法耶稣给我们的好榜样。
Post a Comment
Read more