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The Resurrection of the Lord

Reflection

Do we see what he sees?

The Resurrection of the Lord

Acts 10:34A, 37-43

Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Colossians 3:1-4

Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

John 20:1-9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

May Tam

The saying, “seeing is believing” which relies solely on sensory perception as the guarantor of truth, can no longer be considered as the touchstone of credibility anymore. For computer technology is now able to simulate, exaggerate, enhance or distort reality and thus can deceive the human eye. Even without such technology, our physical eyes can only see the surface of things and sheer physical seeing cannot plumb the depths where the truth lies.

In light of this consideration, let us try to understand the different episodes in each of the Gospels today. While the resurrection of Jesus undergirds our Christian faith, no human eye has been privileged to witness Jesus’ rising from the tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other women, Peter and the beloved disciple or the two disciples on the way to Emmaus, all witness only the telltale signs, namely, the empty tomb, the burial wrappings and the hearsay from others. In the case of Mary Magdalene, the other women, Peter and the other beloved disciple, they all see and share the same sensory experience. Mary Magdalene thinks it is a tomb robbery (rf Jn 20:2); the other women are too frightened to say anything (rf Mk 16:8); Peter is bewildered and confused (rf Lk 24;12). Only the beloved disciple comes to believe: “He saw and believed” (Jn 20:8).

What does the beloved disciple see that makes him believe Jesus is alive again? He does not actually see the risen Jesus with his naked eyes. If seeing is believing; then his conviction would make little sense. And yet he believes even in the darkness of incomprehension with mere superficial signs. St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians says: “May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe” (Eph 1, 17-18). Yes, it is with these “eyes of the heart” which the beloved disciple sees and make him believe.

What are the eyes of the heart? For the Hebrews, the heart is not a blind and wanton generator of emotions but the seat of discernment and decisions. It is here that believing takes place and a heart that loves begets faith. Faith and believing belong to the domain of the heart which precedes intellectual understanding and reasoning. In fact, it is the love of God that generates a certain intellectual light – wisdom that opens the eyes of the heart to see beyond what is visible. It illumines so that one can recognize the truth even before the mind could grasp its full meaning. Jesus Himself says this, “. . . seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, neither do they understand” (Mt 13:13). Realizing that, St. Augustine says: “I believe in order to understand”. But how often do we ourselves say or hear “I will believe when I understand”. It turns out, in most cases, we rarely understand and thus, rarely believe.

Each one of us can be the beloved disciple if we choose not to understand God but to love and trust Him first. Come to know Him personally and then we can see what the beloved disciple sees. Until we have Him in our hearts rather than in our heads, we cannot believe.

May Tam

Bachelor of Social Science (University of Hong Kong), Master of Theological Studies (University of Toronto).

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四旬期第二主日 (丙年)

主日聖言及反省

山在聖經裡所象徵的意義

四旬期第二主日

創世紀 15:5-12,17-18

那時候,上主領亞巴郎到外面,說:「請你仰觀蒼天,數點星辰,你能夠數清嗎?」又對他說:「你的後裔也將這樣。」亞巴郎相信了上主,上主就以此算為亞巴郎的正義。上主又對亞巴郎說:「我是上主,我從加色丁人的烏爾,領你出來,是為將這片土地,賜給你作為產業。」亞巴郎說:「我主上主!我怎能知道我要佔有這片土地,作為產業?」上主對亞巴郎說:「你給我拿來一隻三歲的母牛,一隻三歲的母山羊,一隻三歲的公綿羊,一隻斑鳩和一隻雛鴿。」亞巴郎便把這一切拿來,每樣從中間剖開,將一半與另一半相對排列,只有飛鳥沒有剖開。有鷙鳥落在獸屍上,亞巴郎就把牠們趕走。太陽快要西沉時,亞巴郎昏沉地睡著,忽覺陰森萬分,就害怕起來。當日落天黑的時候,看,有冒煙的火爐,及燃燒著的火炬,由那些肉塊中間經過。在這一天,上主與亞巴郎立約,說:「我要賜給你後裔的這片土地,就是從埃及河直到幼發拉底河。」——上主的話。

斐理伯書 3:17-4:1

弟兄姊妹們:你們要一同效法我,也要注意那些按照我們的表樣,生活行動的人。我曾多次對你們說過,現在再含淚對你們說:因為有許多人,行事為人,是基督十字架的敵人;他們的結局是喪亡;他們的天主是肚腹;以羞辱為光榮;他們只思念地上的事。至於我們,我們的家鄉原是在天上;我們等待主耶穌基督、我們的救主,從那裡降來;他必以他使一切屈服於自己的大能,改變我們卑賤的身體,相似他光榮的身體。為此,我所親愛和懷念的弟兄、我的喜樂、我的冠冕、我可愛的諸位,你們應這樣屹立在主內。——上主的話。

路加福音 9:28-36

那時候,耶穌帶著伯多祿、若望和雅各伯,上山祈禱。正當耶穌祈禱時,他的面容改變,他的衣服潔白發光。忽然,有兩個人,即梅瑟和厄里亞,同耶穌談話。他們顯現在光耀中,談論耶穌的去世,即耶穌在耶路撒冷,必要完成的事。伯多祿和他的同伴,都昏昏欲睡。他們一醒過來,就看見耶穌的光耀,及在耶穌旁邊侍立的兩個人。那兩個人正要離開時,伯多祿對耶穌說:「老師,我們在這裡真好!讓我們搭三個帳棚:一個為你,一個為梅瑟,一個為厄里亞。」伯多祿原來不知道要說什麼。伯多祿說這話的時候,有一片雲彩遮蔽了耶穌、梅瑟和厄里亞。他們進入雲彩時,門徒就害怕起來。從雲中有聲音說:「這是我的兒子,我所揀選的,你們要聽從他!」這聲音發出後,只見耶穌獨自一人。當時,門徒都守了秘密,把所見的事,一點也沒有告訴任何人。

Edmond Lo

生於香港荃灣的我,自小喜愛觀看多霧的大帽山。它像一個張開雙臂的巨人, 熊抱著我們的鄉村小鎮。若能登山瞭望, 遠看圍繞山腳下的市鎮, 田野, 港口, 附近的島嶼和遠處的海洋, 感覺是怎樣的呢?若可以放下繁重的學校功課到山上的樹林任意闖蕩, 這是多麼稱心如意的快事!山頂常年被雲霧遮蓋, 低垂的雲層底下究竟隱藏著甚麼?天主是不是就住在那裡?

這就是當年的我, 一個小男孩, 坐在荃灣官立小學教室裡,望著窗外聳立的大帽山, 所作的白日夢……。

山在聖經裡是一個特殊的地方,每一個認真的聖經讀者,都不能忽略它在聖經裡所象徵的意義:山,是一個讓人心靈提升的地方; 山,能讓人從生活的重擔獲得釋放; 山,雄奇高峻,讓人看得更廣,望得更遠; 山,甚至讓人超凡入聖,與造物者連結和融合。

正因為這樣,耶穌一生很多重要時刻, 都發生在山上:魔鬼的試探,山中聖訓,今天福音讀經帶出的耶穌顯聖容,祂在橄欖山上的山園祈禱,十字架的苦難和聖死,和祂最後從山上升天。

轉看舊約經文,山的啓示在舊約裡同樣豐富:摩黎雅山是亞巴郎獻依撒格的地點,後來撒羅滿王亦在此興建耶路撒冷聖殿;在西乃山上,天主頒下十誡並和以色列人結立盟約; 在曷勒布山上,天主在「暴風大作」, 「裂山碎石」, 「烈火」和「輕微細弱的風聲」中向先知厄里亞顯露了自己(列王紀上19:11-12)。

在聖經中,遙遠和連綿起伏的山,卻成了天主和人相近之地;山勢縱然峻峭,遙不可及,當中卻有唾手可得的天主聖言和律法;青山縱然隱蔽重疊,難於尋覓,在山的至聖至高之處, 真誠尋找天主的人卻要看見天主的面容。

Edmond Lo

As a Catholic speaker, writer and RCIA Catechist, Edmond is very active in promoting and defending the Catholic faith. He has a MBA, a CPA-CMA, and a MTS (Master of Theological Studies) from U.T., St. Augustine’s Seminary. Having worked many years as the CFO of a non-profit organization, he retired at 55 to follow his special vocation of evangelization. The activities he conducts include the CMCC Bible Study Program, the Catechism Revisited Program, the FLL Spiritual Formation Program, Living in the Holy Tradition, RCIA, family groups and retreats, etc. Edmond is a member of the FLL Core Team. He writes Sunday Mass reflections regularly for the weekly FLL NewSpiration. His personal blog: http://elodocuments.blogspot.com/.
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耶稣复活主日

主日圣言及反省

我们看见他看见的吗?

耶稣复活主日

宗徒大事录 10:34,37-43

那时候,伯多禄说:「你们都知道:在若翰宣讲洗礼以后,从加里肋亚开始,在全犹太所发生的事:天主怎样以圣神和德能,傅了纳匝肋人耶稣,使他巡行各处,施恩行善,治好一切受魔鬼压制的人,因为天主同他在一起。 「耶稣在犹太人地区,及在耶路撒冷所行一切,我们都是见证人。但是,他们却把耶稣悬在木架上,杀死了。第三天,天主使他复活了,叫他显现出来,不是给所有百姓,而是给天主所预先拣选的见证人,就是给我们这些、在他从死者中复活后,与他同食共饮的人。 「他吩咐我们向百姓讲道,指证他就是天主所立:生者与死者的判官。一切先知都为他作证:凡信他的人,赖他的名字,都要获得罪赦。」

圣保禄宗徒致格林多人前书 5:6-8

弟兄姊妹们: 你们岂不知道:少许的酵母,能使整个面团发酵吗?你们应把旧酵母除净,好使你们成为新和的面团,正如你们原是无酵饼一样,因为我们的逾越节羔羊基督,已被祭杀,作了牺牲。所以,我们过节,不可用旧酵母,也不可用奸诈和邪恶的酵母,而只可用纯洁和真诚的无酵饼。

圣马尔谷福音 24:13-35

就在一周的第一天,耶稣的门徒中,有两个人,往一个村庄去,村名厄玛乌,离耶路撒冷约六十『斯塔狄』。他们彼此谈论所发生的一切事。正谈话讨论的时候,耶稣亲自走近他们,与他们同行。他们的眼睛却被蒙蔽住了,以致认不出耶稣来。耶稣对他们说:「你们走路,彼此谈论的是些什么事?」他们就站住,面带愁容。
一个名叫克罗帕的,回答耶稣说:「在耶路撒冷作客的,独有你不知道这几天在那里所发生的事吗?」
耶稣问他们说:「什么事? 」
他们回答说:「就是有关纳匝肋人耶稣的事。他本是一位先知,在天主及众百姓前,行事说话都有权力。我们的司祭长及首领,竟解送了他,判了他死罪,钉他在十字架上。我们原指望他就是那要拯救以色列的。可是……此外还有:这些事发生到今天,已是第三天了。我们中有几个妇女,惊吓了我们;她们清早到了坟墓那里,没有看见他的遗体,回来说她们见了天使显现,天使说他复活了。我们中也有几个,到过坟墓那里,所遇见的事,如同妇女们所说的一样,但是,没有看见他。」
耶稣于是对他们说:「唉!无知的人哪!为信先知们所说的一切话,你们的心竟是这般迟钝!默西亚不是必须受这些苦难,才进入他的光荣吗?」他于是从梅瑟及众先知开始,把全部经书论及他的话,都给他们解释了。
当他们走近他们要去的村庄时,耶稣装作还要前行。他们强留他说:「请同我们一起住下吧!因为快到晚上,天已垂暮了。」耶稣就进去,同他们住下。
当耶稣与他们坐下吃饭的时候,就拿起饼来,祝福了,擘开,递给他们。他们的眼睛开了,这才认出耶稣来;但耶稣却由他们眼前隐没了。他们就彼此说:「当他在路上与我们谈话,给我们讲解圣经的时候,我们的心不是火热的吗?」
他们于是立即动身,返回耶路撒冷,遇见那十一位门徒,及同他们一起的人,正聚在一起,彼此谈论说:「主真复活了,并显现给西满!」两人就把在路上的事,及在分饼时,他们怎样认出了耶稣,述说了一遍。 ──上主的话。

May Tam

「眼见为实」这句说话,是指单依赖感官的知觉来证实事实的真相; 但这已不能作为事情是否可信的标准了。因电脑科技现在可以模拟、夸大、增强或扭曲现实,欺骗人的眼睛。就算没有这些科技,我们的眼睛也只能看到事情的表面,只靠肉眼并不能看到在深处的真理。

鉴于上述的情况,让我们今天尝试从每一本福音来理解耶稣的复活。耶稣复活是我们基督宗教信仰的基础,但没有任何人曾亲眼目睹耶稣自坟墓中复活。玛利亚玛达肋纳和其他女人、伯多禄和耶稣所爱的那个门徒或那两位前往厄玛乌途中的门徒,他们见到的只是一些显示性的迹象,如空的墓穴、殓布,和他人的转告。玛利亚玛达肋纳、其他女人、伯多禄和耶稣所爱的那个门徒,他们都看见和有着同样感官上的经验。玛利亚玛达肋纳以为墓被盗了(参阅若20:2);其他女人因为害怕,什么也没有说(参阅谷16:8);伯多禄面对所发生的事感到困惑和混乱(参阅路24:12)。只有耶稣所爱的那个门徒相信:他「一看见就相信了」(若 20:8)。

究竟耶稣所爱的那个门徒看见了什么令他相信耶稣已复活了?他实际上没有看见复活的耶稣。如果要看见才相信的话,那么,他的坚信便不合情理了。但竟然在毫无头绪的黑暗中,只有表面的情况下,他相信了。圣保禄在致厄弗所人书中写道:「光照你们心灵的眼目,为叫你们认清他的宠召有什么希望,在圣徒中他嗣业的光荣,是怎样丰厚;他对我们虔信的人,所施展的强有力而见效的德能是怎样的伟大(厄1:17-18)。对,所爱的门徒是用「心灵的眼目」来看才能相信。

什么是心灵的眼目?对希伯来人来说,心不是一个盲目和胡乱制造情绪的器官,而是明辨和做决定的地方。相信源自心间,能爱的心衍生信德。信德和信念属于心的范畴,先有信德和信念,然后才有明智的理解和理性的思考。其实,是天主的爱产生某些明智的光─那能开启心目的智慧,看到目力不及的地方。这智慧发光发亮,尽管在思维上还未能完全明白是什么意义,人已能认识真理。耶稣自己说过 「… 他们看,却看不见;听,却听不见,也不了解 」(玛 13:13)。了解到这一点,圣奥斯定说:「我相信才能明白」。但我们是否经常会说或听到「我明白了便会相信」。而然, 在大部分情形之下,我们发现自己不常明白,故此,不常相信。

如果我们选择不要求明白天主,却首先去爱和信赖祂,我们都可以成为耶稣所爱的那个门徒。当我们用心去认识天主后,我们便能看见那门徒所看见的。直至我们把耶稣放进心里,而不是在知理上,我们是无法相信的。

May Tam

Bachelor of Social Science (University of Hong Kong), Master of Theological Studies (University of Toronto).

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