圖片：天主教香港教區

周守仁樞機2024年復活節文告

傳遞希望的陌生人

「他們就彼此說：『當他在路上與我們談話，給我們講解《聖經》的時候，我們的心不是火熱的嗎？』他們遂即動身，返回耶路撒冷」。（路加福音24:32-33）

逃離

原始復活事件的實際情況，跟今天我們看到色彩繽紛、明亮和充滿希望的復活節裝飾截然不同，它沒有那麼亮麗和有著希望。相反，在原始耶穌復活事件的敘述中，我們可以看到困惑、極度失望甚至是絕望。

例如，有兩位門徒離開耶路撒冷，前往家鄉厄瑪烏，他們對耶穌未能拯救以色列、反過來更被羅馬人殺害而非常失望（路加福音24:21）。既然再不能對耶穌寄以希望，兩人便決定離開他的團體。為甚麼要為一個失敗者、以及一個與他緊密相連的團體，而給自己的福祉和生命冒上風險呢？

燃著熱情的心

對那些不了解或不相信基督信仰的人來說，這兩位門徒決定離開是合情合理的。但對於我們基督徒來說，卻知道這不是故事的結局。復活的主在兩位門徒回家的路上向他們顯現，兩人當刻卻不認得他。主與他們同行、說明他們所愛的師傅就是他們期待的默西亞，並使他們記起與主耶穌的最後晚餐，他們便感到內心再次因對主的熱情而變得火熱。

兩位門徒決定動身返回那令人困擾和失望的耶路撒冷，與耶穌的信仰團體重新建立聯繫，對主復活的消息團體仍感到繚亂、難以置信、困惑而又喜樂。這消息好得令人難以置信。誰會相信這個完全不合邏輯、超乎預期的結局？ ！但這正是他們對主復活的經歷，原始的復活事件！

相信善的力量

因此，當我們慶祝耶穌復活時，我們不是去慶祝一個平凡的春日慶節。因為如果那是一個可以預期的驚喜，那它就再不是驚喜了。就如二千多年前上主在耶路撒冷外所做的一樣，祂現在也要告訴我們，邪惡的力量不能阻礙上主使生命從死亡中復活過來，也阻不了希望從絕望中冒起，或是正義戰勝不公。我們要相信，依循天主全知的計劃，在合適的時間，善終能勝惡。

返回去的勇氣

除了相信，願意懷著那份扎根於內心的希望回到備受困擾的地方，也是同樣重要。任何俗世的圖謀，都不能打垮那份對上主所懷有的希望，因上主是生命與愛的主。上主已經叫耶穌從死者中復活，亞肋路亞！當我們心懷這份希望，來面對那些在生命及感知世界中感到哀傷或對良善存疑的人時，便有力量去陪伴他們。兩位門徒雖然明知會面臨種種威脅，仍決定回到耶路撒冷，陪伴他們那深受困擾的團體。

以分享微薄資源來互相支持的力量

我們或許都聽過「相濡以沫」這成語，它描述兩條魚在乾了的水池中掙扎，互相用口沫來潤濕對方身體以維持生命。有一說提出接著上天似乎給感動了，雨開始下來，拯救了這兩條在危難中的魚兒。

現今世界被自以為是的意識形態和像漣漪般擴散出去的戰事深深地傷害著，疲弱的地方經濟奮力掙扎以求復元，還有一些似是毫無能力創造希望的主流社會政治論述，面對以上情況，我們仍可在互相陪伴時去分享自己微薄的資源，好使所有人都能夠在等待雨水和拯救到來前保存生命。絕不要低估心存善念和希望去分享微薄資源的力量。

畢竟，在這風高浪急的大海中，我們都同坐一條船，除了生命與愛的上主之外，我們還可以互相依靠。我們的信仰讓我們知道，上主一直與我們同在，祂透過不同的人和方法來祝福我們、尤其是那些我們最意想不到的人。或許，當我們能夠對驚喜保持開放，就能夠保持希望。反過來，如果我們只容許自己所預期的可能性出現，生活和未來便會變得乏味和沉悶。

成為傳遞希望的陌生人

當門徒看到他們的老師死去，他們最初的反應是極度失望，可能還感到憤怒和被欺騙。然而，當他們打開心扉，聆聽那位與他們同行的陌生人時（路加福音24:15），希望和力量溫暖了他們的內心，更開始取代了困擾著他們的失望和怨懟。

我們是否能夠成為別人身邊的那位「陌生人」，讓他們知道我們為何仍然抱有希望，並與他們分享我們微薄的資源嗎？面對遭逢經濟不景、經歷各種不公義、又或被邊緣化的人，我們如何通過陪伴、共同努力以及相信協同善意的力量，為他們帶來希望？我相信天主必會倍增出於善意的微薄付出，令更多人得以飽餐，就如五餅二魚增餅的奇蹟，最後能讓眾多的人吃飽。（瑪竇福音14:13-21）。

願我們在這個艱難時刻體驗到希望，透過相互陪伴、分享實質和靈性資源，以及一同給予和平與無條件對話的堅持，好能為最終的治癒和復元做好準備！祝大家有一個快樂而又充滿希望的復活節！

＋周守仁樞機

Easter Message 2024

The Stranger Who Brings Hope

“Then they said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?’ So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem” (Luke 24:32-33)

Running away

Unlike the colourful, bright, and hope-filled Easter decors we see today the actual happenings surrounding the first Easter were likely not so bright and hopeful. Instead, confusion, profound disappointment and hopelessness were readily identifiable in the original Easter narratives.

For example, the two disciples left Jerusalem for their hometown, Emmaus, with great disappointment in Jesus for failing to redeem Israel (Luke 24:21). Instead, he let himself be killed by the Romans. Since he proved to be a lost cause, they decided to leave his community. Why risk their welfare and lives for someone who had lost, and for a community so much identified with him?

Hearts ignited with a passion

The two disciples’ decision of leaving probably sounds sensible to those who do not know or embrace the Christian faith. But for us Christians, we know that it was not the end of their story. The risen Lord appeared to them on their way to their hometown without being recognised. Having walked with them, explained why their dear teacher was their expected Messiah, and reminded them of the last supper with him, they could feel their hearts were once again ignited with a passion for their Lord.

What they decided to do was to return to the troubling and disappointing Jerusalem, and re-connect with the faith community of Jesus, still dazzled with disbelief, joy, and confusion over the news of their risen Lord. That was too good to be true. Who would believe this outcome, which was totally illogical and beyond expectation?! But this was exactly the experience of the resurrection of their Lord, the first Easter!

Believing in the power of goodness

So, when we celebrate Easter, we do not celebrate a mundane Spring festival. For if the surprise was something that could be anticipated, it would not be a surprise at all. And God is telling us, as God did over 2000 years ago outside Jerusalem, that no evil power could stop God from raising life from death, hope from despair, and justice over injustice. What is needed is our faith in the triumph of good over evil in due course, following God’s omniscient plan.

Courage to return

Besides believing, our willingness to return to the troubling spots with the implanted hope in our hearts is equally significant. The same hope in the God of life and love who cannot be defeated by any worldly plots. God has raised Jesus from the dead, Alleluia! When we have this hope operating from our hearts, we may have the power to accompany those who are dejected or doubtful of goodness in their lives and their perceived world. The two disciples decided to return to Jerusalem to accompany their troubled community, knowing that they were facing definite threats at the same time.

The power of supporting each other with meagre resources

We probably are aware of the Chinese idiom “相濡以沫,” which is about two fish struggling in a drying-up puddle, while trying to keep each other alive and moistened by spitting on each other’s bodies. According to one source, it seemed that the heaven was moved, and rain started pouring down once again, saving the two fish from peril.

When we are faced with a world deeply hurt by self-righteous ideologies and wars with widened ripple effects, or a weakened local economy that is struggling to recover, or some dominant socio-political narratives that do not seem at all hope-yielding, we can still accompany each other with our meagre resources, so that all of us can stay alive while waiting for the rain and salvation to arrive. Never underestimate the power of sharing meagre resources with goodwill and hope.

After all, for those of us, seated in the same boat sailing over a challenging sea, we can have each other to count on, besides the God of life and love. And our faith tells us that God is always with us, blessing us through different people and means, particularly those we least expect. Maybe if we remain open to surprises, then we can stay hopeful. Otherwise, life and the future will be dull and boring if we only allow our envisaged possibilities to come into the picture.

Be the stranger who brings hope

When the disciples looked at the death of their teacher, their initial reactions were great disappointment and possibly anger while feeling cheated. However, when they opened their minds and listened to that seemingly stranger walking with them (Luke 24:15), their hearts warmed up with energy and hope, starting to replace disappointment and resentment that were disturbing them.

Can we be that ‘stranger’ to others, sharing our reasons to remain in hope and our meagre resources with them? How can we provide hope to those suffering under a weak economy or different forms of injustice and marginalisation through our accompaniment, collective efforts, and trust in the power of collaborative goodwill? I believe God will multiply whatever meagre provisions are provided out of goodwill so that more can be fed, like the miracle of feeding the multitude with only two fish and five loaves (Matthew 14:13-21).  

May we experience the power of hope at this difficult time through mutual accompaniment, sharing of physical and spiritual resources, and a collective conviction for peace and unconditional dialogue paving the way for eventual healing and recovery! A happy and hope-filled Easter to you all!            

+ Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J.

來源：天主教香港教區