保祿支持建制或帶來解放?

由一個自以為肩負神聖任務去迫害基督徒的狂熱法利塞人，變為一位站在受害者一方的基督信仰護衛者，聖保祿宗徒這轉變，一方面被推崇為將福音喜訊帶給外邦人，另一方面，卻有人質疑，保祿透過傳福音為全人類帶來釋放，似乎是指向末世基督的再來，忽視了當前社會為人民帶來的壓迫，反而叫人服從權威，安守本份，不求改變。

「天主怎樣召選了各人，各人就該怎樣生活下去」，「各人在什麼身份上蒙召，就在天主前安於這身份」（格前7:17-24）。

過去有學者認為，保祿被指所關心的，是剛建立的新教會的穩定和成長，以及猶太人和外邦人的和諧共處，卻無視平等和公義問題。事實上，歷史中有不少例子，顯示教會或政權，透過引用這些經文，將不公平和壓迫性的現象合理化，如支持奴隸制、壓迫被殖民者和原住民、歧視女性等、反對人民抗爭行動，令社會保持現狀。

然而，近年有聖經學者指出，這是出於對保祿的誤解，歷史中的保祿並非這樣。我們有需要從當時保祿所處身的環境（即當時的羅馬帝國）和他的整體神學觀（十字架神學）去解讀他的說話，而不應斷章取義。

當時，羅馬執政者宣稱自己代表天主去管治猶太人，要所有被統治的人民服從。保祿雖然認為現世政權有它的權利（如收稅），但從沒有叫人完全臣服這政權，他叫人「辨別什麼是天主的旨意」，「什麼是悅樂天主的事」（羅12:2）。」保祿不認同當時羅馬統治是「黃金歲月」，反而指它是受「敗壞的控制」（羅８:2１）、生活「在乖僻敗壞的世代中」(斐2:15）、必招致「天主的義怒」（得前1:10)。保祿更向信徒指出，雖然受凌辱，他們「有勇氣，在艱鉅的格鬥中，宣講了天主的福音（得前2:2）。」可見，保祿欲建立的團體，是在面對帝國的威權時，懂得辨別善惡和真假權威；在壓迫當前，知道如何抗衡及堅持信念。

此外，保祿為了基督，「自願損失一切，拿一切當廢物，為賺得基督」(斐3:8)。他甘願放棄羅馬公民的特權，由一位有學識、智慧、權力、地位、富裕的猶太自由人，變為一位失去社會地位和事業前景者，經歷了極大的社會地位轉移和落差。
這經驗令保祿更體會到十字架的意義。天主選擇了「空虛」和「貶抑」自己，取了奴僕的形體，聽命至死，且死在十字架上（斐2:5-11）。因此，即使在獄中受刑，保祿只視為「參與基督的苦難」（3:10）。可見他明白到在天主前，任何人都無可誇耀，一律平等，而基督對權力、地位和金錢的看法與世俗並不一樣。　

保祿建立的團體的確來自不同階層、黨派、婚姻關係。但他無意支持階級主義、視貧窮人於不顧、貶低女性，或樂於維持現狀。反而，從他的書信中，看到他關心卑微貧困者，願意身體力行委身與他們同行。

保祿致信羅馬教會時，教導基督徒「彼此要同心合意，不可心高妄想，卻要俯就卑微的人，不可自作聰明」（羅12:16）。在談及召叫門徒建立教會時，保祿向格林多教會指出，天主偏召選那些愚妄的、懦弱的、卑賤的、受人輕視的，以及那些一無所有的，為了羞辱那有智慧的、堅強的、富有的，為使所有人在天主前都無所誇耀（格前1:27-28, 4:7-11）。在同一書信中，保祿更批評較富有的信徒扭曲了主的晚餐的意義，只顧自己醉飽，認為這就是主的祝福，卻無視那些飢餓的人，在禮儀中輕蔑貧困者(11:21-22)。

這種為貧困卑微者帶來釋放的神學觀點，為眾多基督徒帶來希望。放在昔日羅馬政權管治，或今天霸權者壓抑人民權利的角度看，都無法合理化那些為鞏固一己權力，而容許因種族、性別、階級或宗教等因素而造成的歧視和壓迫。因為面對不公義，保祿不是叫人安於現狀，而是勸喻：「你們不可與此世同化，反而應以更新的心思變化自己（羅12:2）。」

(刊於 公教報2009.3.15)

以行動推動和平

新年剛到，又是分享新年願望的時候。很多人被問及新年願望時，往往會說期望世界和平，而今年由於金融海嘯經濟不景，相信不少人的新年願望會加上經濟好轉，生活得到改善，使內心也得到和平。
　　
祝願世界和平看似流於空泛，年年如是，但對某些人來說卻是實在且生死攸關的期盼。慘被戰火和暴力蹂躪的中東伊拉克和巴勒斯坦、非洲剛果和蘇丹、亞洲印度和巴基斯坦某些地區等地的人民，因別國侵佔、被佔據土地、內戰、宗教狂熱份子破壞等原因，而時刻過著惶恐的日子。所以，當我們祈求世界和平時，有必要更具體瞭解和關懷世界狀況和各地人民的生活，而不只是對不幸者表達一種「模糊的同情或膚淺的哀傷」（《社會事務關懷》通諭）。

其實，和平並非只是指向沒有戰爭，而是具有更深遠的意義。它代表生命的豐盛，是天主祝福人類的效果，令人感到幸福和喜樂；而和平是建基於每個人與天主的基本關係，這關係的特點是正義。因此，當人破壞了這關係，讓不公義和暴力出現在人際關係和社會關係中的時候，則和平不復再。

1968年，教宗保祿六世將每年的一月一日訂定為「世界和平日」，正是要提醒世人和平的真正意義和以行動推動和平的重要性。他在第一篇「和平日文告」中便曾指出，「如果不承認也不尊重和平深固的基礎，沒有人可以正確地談及和平。此基礎就是國際間、國內、人與人之間、和人民與統治者之間的誠信、正義、和愛；而這基礎也表現於個人和民族在政治、文化、道德、和宗教等各方面的自由上。」即是說，缺乏了誠信、正義、和愛這些元素，即使社會表面上建立了一個有秩序和合法的制度，但這制度是在壓迫下強行建立的，則和平並不存在。

轉眼間，世界和平日的建立已過了四十年。雖然愈來愈多國家領袖都口中高喊要維持世界和平、國內要維持和諧生活，但現實中的所作所為卻非如是。不少參與聯合國的大國和活躍於國際舞台的政治領袖，或以似是而非的動聽言詞強行出兵入侵他國傷及無辜，或以經濟手段制裁與自己意識形態迥異的國家或操控發展中國家的權力和經濟結構，又或以不容他國干預內政為名肆無忌憚地拘捕維護弱者權益的維權人士或敢於出言勸諫的異見人士。這些行為在保祿六世眼中都可能是「能言善道的假口才」，「用來掩蔽一個缺乏真實精神和目的的和平」。

要改變這種實況，必須令社會更新、改變人心，以人類的彼此關懷來引導。保祿六世昔日曾語重心長地邀請教會內外人士把和平日這天奉獻給真正的和平，即正義與平等的和平。他指出基督徒可以從祈禱這特殊武器取得力量，既誠心地反省心中可能隱藏的怨恨和暴力之根，從而提高道德精神，亦要推動人更新社會。到了今日，作為基督徒的我們更要確認和見證祈禱的力量，因為真正的祈禱能使人察亮心中的眼睛，效法耶穌基督憐愛別人，推動人以具體行動促進和平、抗衡破壞正義的勢力、修補因暴力和貪戀權力而破壞了的人際及社會關係，讓自己成為天主的助手締造和平的世界。

原文刊於2008年1月4日<公教報>

家庭．工作．人的價值

一位核數師朋友於數年前辭去薪金優厚的工作，原因是工作時間太長，每天都要加班至晚上八、九時甚至更夜，完全沒有私人時間陪伴家人或休息閒暇，終於她下定決心跟非人生活說再見。辭掉工作後她有年多時間在非本行業任兼職工作，薪金自然大打折扣，但她卻感到生活比從前寫意得多。早前再見她，她說已轉回老本行，但她選擇了比從前低兩級的工作職位，即薪金亦較低。然而，工作量卻比較輕，雖然間中亦要加班，但平日晚上可以回家晚膳或報讀與工作無關的興趣課程，亦可在假日做運動和遠足，看到她變得更健康和開朗也為她高興。

這位朋友在工作和家庭及閒暇生活之間作了選擇，不是非此即彼的選擇，卻反映了她認同工作不是生活的全部（雖然她工作時也很認真和盡責），她清楚自已對優質生活及與家人建立關係的追求，亦考慮到家人在精神和物質生活的需要，最後決定寧可放棄高職位工作，而選擇了可維持基本良好生活的工作，既能學以至用，亦可在工作和家庭生活之間作平衡。

這可說是一個幸運的例子，從這朋友身上可體現工作的主觀幅度，如教會社會訓導所言：人以有計劃的和理性的方式來工作和從事各種活動，為自己作決定，並且邁向自我實現的方向。這種工作的主觀意義賦予工作獨特的尊嚴，令工作不至淪為簡單的商品或生產過程中非人性化工具。正是這位朋友的有意識地對工作的選擇，令我們看到「人是工作的主體」，而不是被工作所操控。

然而，不是所有人都像筆者這位朋友那麼幸運，可找到一份合意的工作。同是工作的主體，不少基層工友卻慘被雇主奪去應具有尊嚴的工作環境和合理對待，就如王女士的例子。王女士十年前從國內來港與家人團聚，由於學歷不高，且已步入中年，只找到工時薪酬少的清潔工。這些年來為賺取足夠的金錢養家，王女士的工作時間愈做愈長，但薪金卻不見得高了多少。工作時間長固然影響自己的休息時間，更影響與丈夫子女的溝通相聚時間。

社會訓導固然指出，人是工作的目標，無論做甚麼樣的工作，即使一般被視為最單調、最受輕視、純服務性的工作，都不損其價值。因此，無論從事會計或清潔，從教會角度來看，該工作均具有同樣的價值，工作者亦具有同等的尊嚴。然而，這是教會的理想，社會的主流價值可不是這樣看，不同工種和類別的工作有迥然不同的待遇，有時，待遇之差甚至令人質疑這是否一個人辛勞工作後應有的回報。就如王女士，她對社會的貢獻不比從事其他工作的人少，事實上她承擔了別人不願擔當的工作，但薪金卻連基本維生也不能，以至要多做兩份兼職，弄至每天放工回家均疲憊不堪。這都是歸咎於社會人士對人的價值和工作的價值有不同的看法，亦無視工作報酬對維持家庭生活的重要性。

自許文明發達的香港社會，對人和工作分等級愈來愈嚴重。我們的社會到什麼時候才真正體會到人是具尊嚴的個體，是工作的主體，而不是工作的機器和奴隸呢！

(刊於公教報 2008年12月7 日)

145th anniversary of St. Vincent de Paul Society 聖雲先會慶祝145周年

今年是香港聖雲先會成立145年，國際總會會長來港參與慶典，並選了我的堂區聖猶達堂探訪，瞭解我們的工作和出席我們的會議．　　　　　　　　　　

不經不覺加入聖雲先會已經兩年，我所屬的堂區的聖雲先會於2007年初才成立，起初見有人在堂區派單張呼籲教友加入，我便主動上前表示有興趣．過往我主要參與的社會牧職主要是倡議政策和培育，比較少做直接服務．自從在美國讀書期間透過Care Through Touch Institute做了兩年義工服務，在三藩市和柏克萊的不同社區中心服務無家者，回港後我希望一邊繼續正義和平關社事工，另一方便親身接觸貧窮社群，服務他們與他們同行，這也跟我在美國修讀的兩科有關，這兩科都是有關靈修生活與倫理生活／解放行動．

參與聖雲先會的兩年間，除了探訪老人院外，亦跟進了幾個個案，長期與受助者接觸，瞭解他們的需要和進展，同時與他們建立朋友關係．其實，知道了他們的處境後，真的不能不佩服他們的堅強和樂觀面對現實，雖然有時也有氣餒和挫敗感的時候．但願透過與他們建立關係，我（與其他會員）能將天主的愛帶給他們．

Celebration of Fr. Hurley's 50th Anniversary of Ordination

This year is Fr. James Hurley's 50th anniversary of ordination. The Justice and Peace Commission organized a celebration with him and I attended the dinner, sitting next to him.

Fr. Hurley was the eccelesiastical adviser of JP from Dec 1990 to September 1996, that is, just before the handover of sovereignty of Hong Kong from Britain to China. Six years is not a short period. That period was the first six years when I worked in JP, and I got quite acquaintance with Fr. Hurley. Since that period was the political transitional period of Hong Kong, many social issues became very sensitive. Very often, Fr. Hurely acted as a bridge between JP and the Diocese, especially when the relationship between JP and the Diocese was not that close at that time.

I was especially impressed by an event in 1996 about the political structure of the transitional government. JP held a different opinion from the Diocese and the issue was put on the mass media. Finally, Fr. Hurley help us to communicate with the leaders of the Church and arranged a special meeting to discuss the issue. An agreement between the two parties was reached after the dialogue. I think Fr. Hurley contributed a lot in this issue and also gave me much encouragement to continue to work at JP.

Fr. Hurley has been involved in social justice issues long before joining JP as our adviser. He has been the chaplain of the Federation of Catholic Students in the 60s and 70s. He also involved actively in Amnesty International and has been a factory worker so as to experience the life of the workers' class. He also set up a justice and peace group in the parish where he was a parish priest. I appreciated his enthusiamism in social justice a lot.

The next day after the dinner, Fr. Hurley called me twice to thank me. He left voice message to me but I missed the call. Then he called again. When I was able to contact him, he said he just wanted to say thank you. He is such a considerate person! He is a priest who makes you feel being respected whenever you talk with him. I can feel the sincere attitudes from what he does.

I remember a Benedictine monk once said, "I want to treat everyone I meet as if I meet Jesus." I think that's also what Fr. Hurley has put into practice all these years.

Leisure Walk at Mai Po Wetland Park

I joined the Walk for Nature with two friends organized by the World Wildlife Fund on a Sunday morning, and had chance to visit Mai Po Wetland Park. The day was sunny and beautiful. This area is famous for wetland and the varieties of birds and plants.

Mai Po is reagrded as wetland under the Convention of Ramsan. To be recognized as wetland, there must be more than 20,000 birds in the area. Wetland is differnt from ocean and land, water is shallow here and suitable for various kinds of animals, birds and plants to stay. Many birds from different part of the world migrate to Mai Po at certain season and then fly to other places. However, due to weather change, temperature becomes higher and higher, thus less birds fly to Mai Pao and stay here for a period of time.

Apart from raising fund for WWF, the walkathon also aimed at raising awareness on the enviromental issues and promoting a sustainable lifestyle. Therefore, there were games and exhibition on certain spots, so as to share information on global warming, saving energy, water-saving, legal lumbering, healthy food and so on.

One interesting game is to calcuate the "Carbon footprint." We can help saving energy and protecting enviroment in our daily lives. For example:

Clothes

- send unwanted clothes to charity groups and buy less unnecessary things

- use less plastic bags and bring your own recycle bag

Eat

- eat less meat and more vegetables

- avoid buying food transparted from afar

Home

- turn off unused appliances

- set the temperature of the air-conditioner 1 degree celsius higher, you can reduce 200kg of carbon dioxide in a month, or just turn off the air-conditioner

Travel

- take public transport

- walk more whenever possible

- take train for travelling instead of by air

I think I am quite enviromental friendly and always remind myself of leading a sustainable lifestyle. But I need to promote this awarness to more people. Otherwise, the earth is till suffering from sickness.

After a few hours walk, I found the place so relaxing and beautiful. If we want to keep the nature like this, we must be proactive to share the message of enviromental protection to other people. We must start doing from ourselves.

Eid Party

I attended an Eid Party today being organized by the Catholic Labor Centre and its ethnic minorty women's group. After fasting for a month, the Pakistani women organized this party to celebrate the end of this religious event and also share their culture with the volunteers of the project who are mainly local Chinese. They prepared delicious Pakistan food for the participants.

When I arrived the Centre, I saw many Pakistani women with their children had already filled the whole room. They were chatting with each other in Urdu, the Pakistan language. I found a seat who was next to a South Asian. He introduced himself as James who was teaching at the Social Work Department of HKU. I asked him whether he was a volunteer too. He said two of his students were interns of the Centre during summer. He told me how he knew this Pakistan project in a rally and was interested in the work they did. That's why he tried to arrange students to do internship in the Labour Centre. As we chat, I found that we met each other long time ago, when I worked in Justice and Peace Commission and attended a meeting on Asian Human Rights Charter. What a coincident that we met again! I also talked with the two social work students and was interested in the workshops they organized for the Pakistani women, helping them to raise their self-awareness, self-esteem and health knowledge. Besides, I also gave pictures which was taken when I visited homes of Pakistani women and conducted interviews with them. They were excited and look happy when they saw the photos.

The most impressive moment was the time when members of the women group shared their feelings and their changes after joining the group. Many of them said that they discovered their value and talents after joining the group and started doing embroidery work.

“Before I joined the group I often thought that I didn’t have value, but after joining this group I know that I can share my talents with others.”

“Before I just stayed at home, but now I join this group and can earn money through my work. I am very happy now and realise my value and talents.”

“I can widen my scope, know more about the society and Chinese by joining this group. I know some friends here and can make something for Chinese people in Hong Kong.”

“Though we have different cultures, Chinese and Pakistani can live in harmony without discrimination.”

We can see many of them undergo changes and gain more self-confidence and self-esteem through the women’s group.

I am very happy that I have chance to join this party, meeting the Pakistani women and their children again, hearing sharing from their hearts, getting to know some volunteers , the social work students and their teacher James, enjoying their delicious food, and so on.

I think it is a valuable time to learn more about their culture and build relationships through this social gathering. For me, it is a moment full of gratitude in which God allows me to appreciate more culture of another country and religion.