駱駝穿過針孔

那時候，耶穌對門徒說：「我實在告訴你們：富人難進天國。我再告訴你們，駱駝穿過針孔，比富人進天國還容易。」門徒聽了，就非常驚異說：「這樣，誰還能得救呢？」耶穌注視他們說：「為人這是不可能的；但為天主，一切都是可能的。」

那時，伯多祿開口對他說：「看，我們捨棄了一切，跟隨了你；那麼，將來我們可得到什麼呢？」耶穌對他們說：「我實在告訴你們：你們這些跟隨我的人，在重生的世代，人子坐在自己光榮的寶座上時，你們也要坐在十二寶座上，審判以色列十二支派；並且，凡為我的名，捨棄了房屋、或兄弟、或姊妹、或父親、或母親、或妻子、或兒女、或田地的，必要領取百倍的賞報，並承受永生。有許多在先的要成為在後的，在後的要成為在先的。」
瑪竇福音 19:23-30

在今天的福音中，耶穌繼續談及財富如何影響人能否得救。耶穌用了一個很形象化的比喻：「駱駝穿過針孔，比富人進天國還容易。」我們聽到耶穌這句話，可能有些不舒服。即使我們不算富有，大概也希望看見那些憑著自己努力的人能賺取應得的財富。如果一個人付出血汗，賺得很多金錢，這有什麼不妥？

福音所指的「富裕」是什麼意思？這是指一個人擁有大量財產，而他身邊的人卻連基本需要也未能滿足。在這樣的情形下，我怎能繼續握著「我的」財產不放呢？如果天國是一個仁愛和公義的國度，我又怎能稱自己是天國的一分子呢？福音中所指的富裕是拒絕跟貧窮的人分享，這樣的態度與天國所要求的格格不入。耶穌說的話跟當時猶太人的理解很不同，他們認為財富是天主對於義人的一種賞報，如今竟然變成進入天國的阻礙，這真是很難接受的事。耶穌很明白大家的憂慮，因此祂安慰他們，天主自會施恩寵幫助人得救：「為天主，一切都是可能的。」財富本身不是邪惡的，但「因為你的財寶在那裡，你的心也必在那裡」（瑪竇福音 6:21）如果我們富有，我們要謹記耶穌的話，按聖神的旨意，把擁有的跟其他人分施。

聽過耶穌的話，伯多祿提出問題，他們那些為跟隨耶穌而捨棄一切的人，能得到什麼呢？耶穌告訴他跟隨祂的人可以放心，不只可以「承受永生」，連所捨棄的也將有「百倍的賞報」。天主並不虧待人，選擇答覆天主召叫的人，其實並沒有放棄什麼，反而得到更大的福報，天主的旨意總是要使人更好更幸福。

資料來源:
平日福音分享
 Tuesday of week 20 of Ordinary Time – Gospel

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Matthew 19:23-30

In today's Gospel, Jesus continues to talk about the effects of wealth on one's salvation. Jesus uses an imagery to make His point: "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God." Even if we are not rich ourselves, we would still admire people who become wealthy by their own hard work. His words may make us feel a bit uncomfortable. What is wrong with having lots of money earned by one's own sweat and labour?

What does the Gospel mean by being rich? To be rich here means to have a large surplus of money and possessions while around one are people who do not have what they need to live a life of dignity. How can I continue to hold on to “my” possessions when such a situation prevails? How can I claim to belong to the kingdom, the reign of God, which is a kingdom of love and justice? To be rich in the Gospel means refusing to share what you have with those who have not. As long as you behave like that, you cannot be eligible for the Kingdom. There is a radical incompatibility. To the Jews at Jesus' time, wealth was a sign of God's blessings. But now, they are told wealth becomes an obstacle for one's own salvation. This is very difficult to accept. Jesus understands our anxieties, and so He consoles the disciples and said: "for God all things are possible." Wealth itself is not evil, but "For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." (Matthew 6:21) If we are wealthy, let us remember Jesus' words to use our wealth according to the will of the Holy Spirit.

After listening to Jesus' words, Peter raised a question, for those who forsake everything in order to follow Jesus, what would be there for them? Jesus asked His followers not to worry. Not only will they "inherit eternal life", but also "receive a hundred times more". God never mistreats people. For those who answer His call, they would not lose anything, instead they would be more blessed, for God always wills the good of His people.

Reference:
平日福音分享
 Tuesday of week 20 of Ordinary Time – Gospel

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