Friday, May 20, 2016

信德助人看見歷史是天主的詩篇

說歷史是天主的詩篇(見前文),是天主的手筆,意味著整個人類歷史都在天主眷顧和掌握之中。(但這說法不代表預定論 - Predeterminism。)這道理正是聖經最後一本書《默示錄》的主旨。默示錄是一本奇妙和引人入勝的寶書,由開始至完結都在描述著天上聖祭的展開。在天上聖祭展開的同時,地上的邪惡卻層出不窮地出現(殉道者的喊冤、不公義、饑荒、地震、天災、戰爭、海上和地上怪獸所象徵的暴政等)。它的訊息是:無論人類歷史上充滿了多少不公義與痛苦,天主仍眷顧一切,掌握一切,最後正義會戰勝邪惡,天人結合(十九章的羔羊婚宴,即基督與教會的完滿結合),新天新地出現。

聖經是天主直接給人啟示人生真理的書。由於天主是人的父親(所以耶穌教人祈禱,一開始便專稱天主為「天父」),祂和我們是一家人,所以聖經也被看作天父親切地寫給祂的家人的家書。為了讓我們看見家書的作者為神的本領,讓我們信奉祂,天主使用獨一無二的預象法 (typology)來寫作。這預象法就是我在前文已論述過的。除了前文所用默基瑟德 (Melchizedek) 的例子外,我在此再補充三個簡單些的聖經例案:

(1) 亞巴郎祭子的有關形象巧妙地預告著耶穌基督的十字聖祭:兩聖經片段都涉及一位父親引領著一位服從父親的獨生子,背著樹木,上山做祭獻(同是摩尼亞山即耶路撒冷所在),前片段中,祭獻被終止,山羊替代獨生子做祭品;後片段中,獨生子耶穌親自完成贖罪祭,使全人得救。

(2) 羅厄方舟和洪水有關形象巧妙地預告著教會和聖洗:水的清洗使罪惡的大地煥然一新,預告著聖洗聖事滌除人罪,帶來新的生命;方舟載渡創造物進入洪水冲洗後的新天地,代表著人在教會內,藉她的牧放和餵養而進天鄉。

(3) 以色列人四十年曠野飄流,有關形象巧妙地預告著人類在塵世飄流的日子,若人堅持信從天主,最終必像以色列人般,能進入流奶流蜜的福地即天國。

我深愛歷史,也愛哲學和文學。但這麽多年後,我找到了一本寶書,它不但蘊藏著我深愛的歷史、哲學、和文學的一切,而且遠遠超越和比它們優越。這本書叫聖經。難怪聖熱羅尼莫 (St. Jerome) 在論及這寶書時這樣說:「能夠置身這些事物中,細心默想,縱使不再認識其它事情,不再尋求其它事情,感覺上這不就是在地上預先品嘗了天國之樂嗎?」願您也因聖經而飽嘗天國之樂!

Thursday, May 19, 2016

History Is Divine Poetry

“An inexhaustible treasury of heavenly doctrine” – St. John Chrysostom on the sacred Scripture (S. Chrys. in Gen. Hom. xx, 2). Of the numerous jewels and gems that I discovered so joyfully over the years in the inexhaustible treasury of the sacred Scripture, the Divine Author’s ability to write typologically is one that continues to stir in me the deepest awe and reverence.

Typology, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “discerns in God’s works of the Old Covenant prefigurations of what He accomplished in the fullness of time in the person of His incarnate Son” (CCC 128).

History doesn’t just happen. God uses history to reveal important truths about Himself to us, especially truths about Jesus, our Savior. He uses created things (historical figures, peoples, events, institutions, other signs and images) to prefigure and foretell uncreated realities that are eternal and invisible (heaven, salvation, everlasting life, purification of sin, Jesus’ kingship, etc.) Dr. Scott Hahn, a world-renowned Catholic scriptural scholar, a mentor and guardian that God sent to help me and thousands of other people to understand the Bible, observes that history doesn’t just repeat itself, it rhymes because it is divine poetry (see S. Hahn, A Father Who Keeps His Promises, p.22).

In the Mass readings of Sunday, May 29, 2016, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, we hear how wonderfully God’s divine poetry rhymes using two important biblical figures: Melchizedek, an Old Covenant person born more than 1800 years before Jesus, and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Melchizedek was the first priestly figure to appear in the Bible who was also a king, a righteous person, and a man of peace (Gn 14:18, Hebrews 7:2). Like Jesus the eternal High Priest (cf. Hebrews 8:1-2) who instituted the Holy Eucharist in the last supper using bread and wine and whom he prefigured, Melchizedek brought with him “bread and wine” to bless Abram.

Like Christ the King, whose Heavenly Kingdom as foretold by Daniel prevailed over all earthly kingdoms (cf. Daniel 2:31-45), whom Pilate unknowingly labelled “king of the Jews” (John 19:19-22), and who was confirmed as “Lord of lords and King of kings” in John’s apocalyptic vision (Revelation 17:14), Melchizedek was a royal figure - the king of Salem, an ancient city which eventually became Jerusalem. Melchizedek, king of Salem, was a prefiguration of Jesus, King of the Heavenly Jerusalem.

Like Jesus, the righteous man who suffered for us, the unrighteous (cf. 1 Peter 3:18), Melchizedek was a righteous man - the “righteous king” of Salem (Hebrews 7:2).

“Salem” means “peace”. Like Jesus, the “Prince of Peace”, Melchizedek as king of Salem was the “king of peace” (Hebrews 7:2).

History is divine poetry. It doesn’t just repeat itself, it rhymes.

I love reading. I have studied history and fictions, arts and sciences. I have benefited much from the wisdom of scholars, poets, philosophers, politicians, and founders of religions. But of all the books that I read, there has never been one that resembles even remotely the inexplicable power of the Bible – an amazing book whose Author demonstrated a knowledge that transcended time and space, a plot of perfect coherence, and a mysterious but powerful writing skill that used ancient, historical persons, signs and images to foretell perfectly the most important historical person ever born to humanity – Jesus, our Lord. The knowledge and skill prove to me beyond the shadow of a doubt the divinity of the Author of the Bible.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Bread Turning Into Flesh and Blood - a Miracle Involving Pope Francis

Many of you have attended, or have been attending, my church programs. Due to my personal interest in the Scriptures and Catholicism, the approach I use in explaining the Catholic faith is usually intellectual and theological in nature, always referring back to the Scriptures and magisterial teachings to support my point of view. I use the same approach even when Marian topics are discussed, never venturing into Fatima, Lourdes, and other well-known Marian apparitions; not because I don't believe them but because my personal repertoire in experiencing miracles and supernatural phenomenons is very limited.

Like many of you, I have seen not a few videos, photos, and articles about Eucharistic miracles. In most cases, the consecrated host inexplicably turned into human flesh and blood. (For non-Catholic friends, based on scriptural teachings and the Catholic tradition, the Catholics believe that when the bread - otherwise referred to as the "host" - is consecrated or blessed by the priest in the Mass, it changes into the flesh and blood of Christ or "the body of Christ" - a supernatural change that is called "transubstantiation".) But I find this one involving our current Pope really intriguing. Dr. Ricardo Castanon, a staunch atheist in his whole life, was asked by Pope Francis, who was at the time the auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires, to do a scientific lab test on the host-turned bloody substance. The miracle was so convincing and had had such a profound impact on Dr. Castanon that he subsequently converted to become a Catholic.

Watch video on this Eucharistic miracle involving Pope Francis.

I thought I should share this miracle with my contacts, which is not something I usually do. Hope it would inspire you the way it inspired me. At the same time let's keep in mind that while God sometimes gives us miracles to strengthen our faith, as Christians what sustains us and keeps us going is first and foremost our faith in Christ, "For Jews demand signs (miracles) and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (1 Corinthians 1:22-23).

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. (John 6:53-56)