[:en]

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).

[:zh]

四旬期第三主日 (丙年)

主日聖言及反省

為什麼壞事會發生在好人身上?為什麼事情看似無緣無故要發生便發生?

四旬期第三主日

出谷紀 3:1-8,13-15
那時候,梅瑟為他的岳父,米德楊的司祭耶特洛放羊。有一次,梅瑟趕羊往曠野去,到了天主的山曷勒布。上主的使者,從荊棘叢中的火焰,顯現給梅瑟。梅瑟遠遠看見那荊棘被火焚燒,而荊棘卻沒有燒毀。梅瑟心裡說:「我要到那邊,看看這個奇異的現象,為什麼荊棘沒有被燒毀?」上主見梅瑟走來觀看,天主便由荊棘叢中叫他說:「梅瑟!梅瑟!」梅瑟回答說:「我在這裡。」天主說:「不可到這邊來!將你腳上的鞋脫下,因為你所站立的地方是聖地。」又說:「我是你父親的天主、亞巴郎的天主、依撒格的天主、雅各伯的天主。」梅瑟因為怕看見天主,就把臉遮起來。上主說:「我看見我的百姓,在埃及所受的痛苦;聽見他們因工頭的壓迫,而發出的哀號;我已注意到他們的痛苦。所以我要下去,拯救百姓脫離埃及人的手;領他們離開那地方,到一個美麗寬闊的地方,流奶流蜜的地方。」梅瑟對天主說:「當我到以色列子民那裡,向他們說:『你們祖先的天主,打發我到你們這裡來』的時候,他們必要問我:他叫什麼名字?我要回答他們什麼呢?」天主向梅瑟說:「我是自有者。」又說:「你要這樣對以色列子民說:那『自有者』打發我到你們這裡來。」天主又對梅瑟說:「你要這樣對以色列子民說:上主、你們祖先的天主、亞巴郎的天主、依撒格的天主和雅各伯的天主,打發我到你們這裡來;這是我的名字,直到永遠;這是我的稱號,直到萬世。」——上主的話。
格林多前書 10:1-6,10-12
弟兄姊妹們:我願意提醒你們,我們的祖先都曾在雲柱下,都從海中走過,都曾在雲中和海中受了洗,而歸於梅瑟,都吃過同樣的神糧,都飲過同樣的神飲;原來他們所飲的,是來自伴隨他們的屬神磐石:那磐石就是基督。可是,他們中多數人,都不是天主所喜悅的,因而倒斃在曠野裡。這些事都是我們的鑑戒,為叫我們不要像他們一樣貪戀惡事。你們也不可像他們一樣抱怨;他們中有些人抱怨過,因而被毀滅者所消滅。發生在他們身上的這一切事,都是為給人作鑑戒,並記錄下來,為勸戒我們這些生活在末世的人。所以,凡自以為站得穩的,務要小心,免得跌倒。——上主的話。
路加福音 13:1-9
那時候,有幾個人,把有關加里肋亞人的事,即比拉多把他們的血,攙和於他們的祭品的事,報告給耶穌。耶穌回答說:「你們以為這些加里肋亞人,比其他所有加里肋亞人更有罪,才遭此禍害嗎?不是的。我告訴你們:如果你們不悔改,你們都要同樣喪亡。「就如史羅亞塔倒下,壓死了十八個人,你們以為他們比耶路撒冷其他所有居民,罪債更大嗎?不是的。我告訴你們:如果你們不悔改,你們都要同樣喪亡。」耶穌講了這個比喻,說:「有一個人將一棵無花果樹,栽種在自己的葡萄園內。他來在樹上找果子,但沒有找到,便對園丁說:你看,我三年來,在這棵無花果樹上找果子,竟沒有找到。你砍掉它吧,為什麼讓它白佔土地?「園丁回答說:主人,再留它這一年吧!等我在它周圍掘上土,加上糞;將來,如果結果子,便算了;不然的話,你就把它砍掉。」

May Tam

我得承認我很費力才能明白這個主日的福音讀經。這讀經難以理解, 是因為它觸發了我們心中一個生活上經常問的問題:「為什麼壞事會發生在好人身上?」(參看路13:1)。是難明白的,因為耶穌沒有給我們答案. 衪反而用另一個故事帶出一個同樣困難的問題:「為什麼事情看似無緣無故要發生便發生?」(參看路13:4)

要恰當地理解這問題,也許我們應該考慮故事的背景。在耶穌時代, 在追隨祂的群眾心目中, 都普遍抱著「因果報應」這觀念, 認為受害者得到的是他們應得的。人們基本上認為公義的上主以悲慘的事來懲罰人那看不見的罪過 (參看約4:7-8)。直至今天, 這觀念仍然普遍存在。

所以耶穌對於因暴行而被殺的人,或因自然災害而意外死亡的人,沒有憤怒的回應。他的信息很明確:悲劇不等同上主的懲罰,也不要自我放心, 因為「如果你們不痛改前非,也都要同樣喪亡」(路13:3.5)。重點不在於「為什麽」,而是「何時」。既然我們被生命的脆弱和死亡的突然來臨威脅着,那麽悔改就更形迫切。災難不管有多悲慘,都只是暫時性的,但喪失靈魂卻是永遠的。這並不是說人命損失不重要, 耶穌只是想我們在還有時間的時候,能明辨緩急輕重,及時抓緊上主的恩典。雖然天主可能用苦難為淨化和成聖我們的工具,不幸的事也可以令我們更懂得反省和 開放心靈,但悲劇時常是出人意外地發生的, 到那時候,恐怕我們已沒有機會與上主修和了。

那緊急的召叫源於愛。天主的愛比葡萄園園丁的忍耐力更大。悔改不單是為殺人的, 犯姦淫的, 說謊的或不信主的人。悔改是一種經常的態度和認知, 明白自己的狀況和與天主的關係。當我們遭遇痛苦時, 便會認識到那個甘願為我們的罪而受苦難的天主,如何以超越人性所能理解的愛去愛我們。

May Tam

May Tam, Bachelor of Social Science (University of Hong Kong), Master of Theological Studies (University of Toronto).
[:cn]

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).

[:]