Friday, 26 December 2014

波斯王居魯士的人權宣言(Charter of Human Rights by Cyrus the Persian King)


公元前538年,居魯士(Cyrus) 攻陷巴比倫(Babylon),成為波斯王(Persian King)。居魯士同情受巴比倫壓迫的各民族,頒令讓各民族回鄉,並讓他們自由追隨各自的宗教。這樣,便結束了以色列及猶太民族超過五十年的流放命運。舊約中的厄斯德拉上下書(Ezra 1 and 2),講述了以色列及猶太民族回耶路撒冷及其後重建聖殿及社會秩序的經過及問題。

有關居魯士讓猶太人回鄉一事,大英博物館(British Museum)收藏品之中,有一座著名的居魯士銘筒(Cyrus Cylinder, 或稱居魯士圓筒),是在1879年大英博物館的考古隊,在美索不達米亞(Mesopotamia) 古巴比倫遺址(現在的伊拉克)發掘到的歷史文物。

銘筒上面刻有居魯士的詔書,估計是在公元前五百多年居魯士年代所作。這其實是一個泥製圓筒,上寫有古代阿卡德語楔形文字(Akkadian cuneiform script),內容是以居魯士大帝的名義,除了宣告他自己為王的功績之外,最重要的是宣布他對各個民族及宗教的尊重,他會讓人民自由崇拜自己的神,也不會讓官員壓迫其他民族及宗教。居魯士本人信奉巴比倫神名叫Mardurk,他自己認為這是他的神讓他立下這個政策。

這篇文告,被稱為歷史上第一篇人權宣言(First Human Rights Charter),伊朗(即古代的波斯國)就送了一個銘筒複製品到聯合國展示,並附有其英文及法文譯本。


Cyrus Cylinder. British Museum.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/c/cyrus_cylinder.aspx

Thursday, 18 December 2014

巴比倫王拿布高經由達尼爾認識天主 (Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian King got to know God via Daniel)

達尼爾書第三章98至100節,第四章一至十五節,及第四章31至34節,是巴比倫王拿布高(Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar),以第一人身所寫的詔書,宣告他自己的一個夢境及相關的經歷,及因而對天主的敬畏及臣服。這位巴比倫王拿布高(Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar),亦即攻陷猶太國耶路撒冷將猶太人充軍的國王。這位非猶太人認識天主,達尼爾起了決定性的作用。在我們了解這事之前,先了解一下達尼爾書及書中主角達尼爾。

達尼爾書及達尼爾

舊約聖經中的達尼爾書,是以書中的主角人物達尼爾(Daniel)命名。達尼爾是一位猶太貴族,他與其他一些優秀而出身貴族或王室的以色列人,被巴比倫國選出來,特意培養及教授巴比倫(又稱加色丁/Chaldeans)文化,讓他們在巴比倫王宮作侍從。達尼爾與其他三位同為猶大後裔的青年,很早已表現出他們的才智聰明,更重要的是,勇於表達他們無懼權勢而忠於教規。

達尼爾書的內容及寫法都很特別,有許多戲劇性的描述,曾一度令人懷疑這書的真實程度。目前天主教聖經內的達尼爾書有十四章,包含了稱為次經部份的第三章24-90節及第十三至十四章,而基督教聖經(稱但以里書)只有十二章,不含以上次經部分。

達尼爾書內容分兩部分,第一部分第一至六章,主要是從第三身的寫法,描述達尼爾這個猶太人在巴比倫王國與三位巴比倫國王拿布高(Nebuchadnezzar)、貝耳(Belshazzar)、及瑪待人達理阿(Darius the Mede)相處,並從中彰顯天主的大能的經歷。第二部分是第七至十四章,文字表達的形式與若望默示錄(Revelation) 相似,屬於末日預言文學(Apocalytic Literature),以第一身的預視形式預告一連串充軍(Exile)時代之後包括的重要事件。

達尼爾第一次為巴比倫王拿布高解夢說國運

故事說到巴比倫王拿布高在位二年,作了一個令他非常困擾但不肯說出內容的夢。在這個夢裏,一個頭是金,胸是銀,身是銅,腳是鐵,而腳趾是鐵及泥混在一起的人被一塊滾下來的石頭打中就全部碎了。

經由天主啟示之後,達尼爾不但能詳細說出這個夢境,也解釋了夢的啟示,即預言了巴比倫王拿布高雖是強勢的國王,他之後卻要興起一個比一個弱的國家,而最後由天主興起一個永不滅亡的國家,粉碎一切邦國。

因者這次解夢,拿布高王認同天主的大能,尊達尼爾為智者,並欲重用達尼爾參與管治巴比倫。達尼爾推薦了他的三位猶太年青同伴分管巴比倫的政務,自己則留在朝廷。

達尼爾三位同伴安然渡過烈火作見證

三位猶太年青人雖已參政,但卻不肯聽從拿布高王的命令,朝拜拿布高所立的金像,並因而受到挑撥陷害,被投入烈火中。但三人受到天主的護佑,在火中走動,不受傷害,更不斷讚美天主。拿布高最後認同三人的天主,並不讓異語人民對三人的天主出言不恭。

達尼爾再為拿布高王解夢勸他尊崇天主

後來,巴比倫王拿布高再有第二個夢境:他見到一棵高可摩天供養一切生物的粗壯大樹,然後一位自天降下的守衛呼喊,砍倒這棵樹,毀滅一切,將它根上的餘幹,捆在田野,讓他浸濕,與走獸分食青草,使他的心改變,不像人心,給他一個獸心,並在他身上經歷七段時期。

達尼爾一聽,已經知道這是天主因拿布高王高傲的判決,勸告他承認至高者(the Most High)統治世人的國度,厲行正義,補贖罪過,憐貧濟困。十二個月之後,當拿布高王在王宮的樓台上,自言自語為自己建設了強大的巴比倫國沾沾自喜時,這個夢境便實現了,夢境的內容,大概是指拿布高王一場精神錯亂的大病。病好後,拿布高王便發出本文開始所提到的詔書,宣認天主的大能。

預言帝國興亡及天主的國

在以上一段故事中(達1-4),令人討論最多的是拿布高王第一個夢境內所包含的預言。讓我們細閱這段生動的描述,這個記錄在達尼爾書第二章31至45節內的夢境:
「大王!你夢見一尊巨大的立像。這尊立像異常高大,非常光輝燦爛,立在君王面前,相貌可怕。這尊立像,頭是純金的,胸和臂是銀的,腹和股是銅的。脛是鐵的,腳一部份是鐵,一部份是泥的。大王,你在觀望,忽有一塊石頭,未經手鑿即滾下,擊中了立像,把鐵泥的腳,打得粉碎;同時鐵、泥、銅、銀和金立即完全粉碎,有如夏天禾場上的糠秕,被風吹去,無蹤無影;那塊擊碎立像的石頭卻變成了一座大山,佔據了全地。」

拿布高夢中的像與預告的國家興亡 (http://www.stafchurch.org/bibleStudies2013/EndtimeBibleStudy.htm)
“In your vision, O king, you saw a statue, very large and exceedingly bright, terrifying in appearance as it stood before you.  Its head was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs bronze,  its legs iron, its feet partly iron and partly clay.  While you watched, a stone was hewn from a mountain without a hand being put to it, and it struck its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces.  The iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold all crumbled at once, fine as the chaff on the threshing floor in summer, and the wind blew them away without leaving a trace. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth."

經過歷史印證,現今的解釋是,這個夢境預告了金頭的巴比倫(Babylon, 606-538BC)會被銀胸和臂的瑪待波斯帝國(Medo-Persia, 538-330BC)代替,再被銅腹和股的希臘(Greece, 330-160BC)取代,繼而是鐵脛羅馬帝國(Roman Empire, 160-476AD)。而最後的泥和鐵混合的腳則有說是分裂的羅馬,也有後來說是現代。無論如何,所有的王權,最後都是由代表天主力量的石頭粉碎,成為永不滅亡的天主國。

這段預言,後來達尼爾自己也在腦海看見,只不過出現的影像是四種巨獸:分別為獅子、熊、豹、及最後一個非常可怕有鐵牙,十隻角的獸(達尼爾書第七章)。現時多認為這與拿步高的夢中立像所預示的內容近似。


Wednesday, 17 December 2014

依撒意亞和猶大國王希則克雅(Isaiah and King Hezekiah of Judah)

依撒意亞(Isaiah)先知在南北分裂的時期,扮演著重要角色。依撒意亞是阿摩茲(Amoz)的兒子,在公元前765年出生於耶路撒冷,他在烏齊雅王(King Uzziah)逝世那年蒙召,經歷了約堂(Jotham)、阿哈次(Ahaz)及希則克雅(Hezekiah)三代君王(依撒意亞引言,思高聖經)。列王紀一書對他和希則克雅的關係著墨較多(列下第18至20章)。

第十三任君王希則克雅是猶大國第十三任君王,是一位與在上主同在的君主。他像達味一樣,行了上主視為正義的事,廢除邪神,守梅瑟的誡命,對外則擺脫了亞述王(King of Assyria)的羈絆,擊敗了培肋舍特人(the Philistines)。但他也犯了心高氣傲的問題,埋下了後來巴比倫人消滅猶大國的禍根。

猶大對抗亞述

在希則克雅第四年時,亞述王圍攻撒瑪黎雅(Samaria),並在希則克雅六年,滅了以色列國,俘虜了以色列人到亞述。八年後,希則克雅十四年,亞述王散乃黑黎布(Sennacherib)前來進攻猶大,希則克雅只好派使者去見亞述王,同意交出金銀,以換取亞述退兵。

亞述王收了錢,雖然同意退兵,卻另派大將軍到耶路撒冷,向君王及民眾恐嚇叫罵,又挑撥猶大對天主的忠誠,希則克雅派司祭去向依撒意亞求助。依撒意亞即預言會令亞述王『感到一種怕情,使他一聽到某種消息,就返回本國』,並要『使他在本國內喪身刀下。』(列下19:7)

之後,就發生了亞述營內一夜死了十八萬五千人遍地死屍的事,亞述王只好拔營回國到尼尼微(Nineveh)。一日,他在叩拜自己的神時,被他的兒子阿德辣默肋客(Adrammelech)和沙勒責爾(Sharezer)用劍刺死了。跟據思高聖經的注釋,亞述營內的事,可能是指瘟疫,而亞述王被兩個兒子刺死一事,亞述文獻記載這是發生於公元前681年,大概是這次戰爭之後的二十年。


英國Ely Cathedral彩色玻璃以大將軍在城外挑囂、希則克雅向天主祈求,及天使殺了亞述營內軍隊的故事 (Source: Steve Day Photostream; http://www.flickr.com/photos/therevsteve/12257794173/in/photostream/)

天主讓希則克雅病愈增壽

那時,希則克雅患了重病,依撒意亞告訴他不能久活了,希則克雅就向上主禱告,又大哭因未有子嗣,上主便傳話依撒意亞,要讓希則克雅病好,並增壽十五年,依撒意亞隨後叫人拿一塊無花果餅來,貼在瘡口上,希則克雅便好起來了。希則克雅登基時二十五歲,在耶路撒冷作王二十九年。算一算,這病應是在希則克雅三十九歲作王十四年時發生,大概也是亞述王攻打猶大那年,或約公元前七百年。


希則克雅向巴比倫使者炫耀及依撒意亞預言充軍

巴比倫王(King of Babylon)巴拉丹(Baladan)的兒子默洛達客巴拉丹(Berodach-Baladan)聽說希則克雅患重病又好了,便派人來見希則克雅,且送上禮物及書信。這令到希則克雅『非常高興』,讓巴比倫使者參觀了宮中及國內所有的一切。

依撒意亞知道了這事,便預言:『日子要到,凡你宮中所有的,及你祖先直到今日所積蓄的,都要被帶到巴比倫去,什麼也不會留下:上主說。此外,由你所出,即你所生的子孫中,也有一些要被擄去,在巴比倫王宮內充當太監。』

這個預言,最後在百多年後的公元前587年發生。自希則克雅的兒子默納舍轉向拜偶像起,猶大國之後的眾國王中,只有第十六任的約史雅是敬畏天主的明君,其他都作了天主視為惡的事(列下21-24),最後在漆德客雅為猶大王時,被巴比倫王拿布高攻陷耶路撒冷,毀滅房屋,劫去聖殿的一切,殺死朝臣,把猶太人從本鄉擄去充軍(列下25),猶太國滅亡,而猶太人民則開始了公元自前587至538年間五十年的充軍時代。


Tuesday, 16 December 2014

分裂後南北兩國的命運(The Fate of the Divided Northern and Southern Kingdom)

撒羅滿王後期的統治,除了引起以色列家分裂、拜偶像、爭奪王位等外,更埋藏了外患的種子,令以色列民族不斷面對外來的戰爭。 其中亞述(Assyria) 最後滅亡了北國以色列。讓我們來了解一下亞述。

公元前赫特人(Hittites,綠1600-1200BC), 亞述(Assyria,藍,1500-600BC), 巴比倫(Babylon,橙,2200-1600BC), and 埃及(Egypt,黃,2600-650BC) 所佔據的大約位置 (from Ancietn Near East Empires Map http://www.biblestudy.org/maps/ancient-near-east-empires.html) 

亞述這個名字,在創世紀一書中已出現過三次,頭兩次說明了它的所在地及祖先。第一次在第二章十四節,說明其中一條從伊甸流出灌溉樂園的第三支河,名叫底格里斯(Tigris),流入亞述東部(east of Assyria)。第二次是第十章十一節,說明它的族人是諾厄(Noah)的第二個兒子含(Ham)的後代。含的其中一個兒子雇士(Cush),生了尼默洛得(Nimrod),被稱為「上主面前有本領的獵人(a mighty hunter before the Lord)」,尼默洛得開始建國於巴比倫(Babel)、厄勒客(Erech)、和阿加得(Accad),都在史納爾地域(the land of Shinar),並去了亞述(Assyria),建設了尼尼微(Nineveh)、勒曷波特城(Rehobothir)等。


創世紀後,亞述這個國家又在列王紀下一書中以色列分裂後約二百年再出現。這時,分裂後的以色列北國有不斷的爭權奪位及外來的侵略。在北國雅洛貝罕(Jeroboam)後的第十六名國王默納恆(Menahem)為王時,曾向以色列富豪徴稅,以向亞述王普耳(Pul)進貢,避免亞述王的騷擾。第十八屆國王培卡黑(Pekah)時,以色列則被亞述王提革拉特卑肋色爾(Tiglath-Pileser)侵略多處地方,並把當地的以色列人民擄往亞述。其後曷舍亞(Hoshea)叛變,殺了培卡黑,成為第十九任國王時,則因與埃及親近,停止向亞述進貢,當時的亞述王沙耳瑪乃色(Shalmaneser)便揮軍侵入以色列國,圍攻撒瑪黎雅(Samaria)三年後,在公元前724年攻陷了撒瑪黎雅,將以色列人民擄往亞述的哈拉黑(Halah)、哈波耳(Habor)及瑪待(Medes)各城,至此以色列滅亡。(列下15:17-17:6)

這個統治十個支派的以色列北方國自931BC至724BC共經歷約二百年十九個君王,被亞述所滅。其中在位最短的君王是只有七天的齊默黎(Zimri),最長的是在位四十一年(783-743BC)的雅洛貝罕第二(Jeroboam II)。首都初期是提爾匝(Tirzah),後來在第六任君王敖默黎時,定都撒瑪黎雅(Samaria)。

亞述王國攻陷以色列北國時的版圖 (黃線是以色列被擄的遷移路線)from "Tracking the Tribes through Migration and Maps" at Vertical Thoughts by the United Church of God accessed http://www.ucg.org/bible/tracking-tribes-through-migrations-and-maps/. 


至於南方的猶大國又怎樣呢?上主曾說過會留下兩個支派給撒羅滿的猶大家族,因此南北分裂後這兩個支派就成為南方的猶大國。與以色列北國不同的是,除了兩個例外之外,猶大國的君王由第一任撒羅滿的兒子勒哈貝罕(Rehoboam)起至阿彼雅(Abijam)、阿撒(Asa),約沙法特(Jehoshaphat)、約蘭(Jehoram)、阿哈齊雅(Ahaziah)、約阿士(Jehoash)、阿瑪責雅(Amaziah)、阿匝黎雅(Azariah)又名烏齊雅(Uzziah)、約堂(Jotham)、阿哈次(Ahaz)、希則克雅(Hezekiah)、默納舍(Manasseh)、阿孟(Amon)、約史雅(Josiah)、約阿哈次(Jehoahaz)、約雅金(Jehoiakim)、耶苛尼雅(Jehoiachin)等十八位都是一代代父子傳下去世襲的君王。

兩個例外是第七任的阿塔里雅(Athaliah)太后及第二十任的漆德克雅(Zedekiah)。阿塔里雅太后是第五任的國王約蘭的妻子,第六任國王阿哈齊雅的母親,也是以色列王阿哈布及拜邪神的依則貝耳的女兒。由於阿哈齊雅與阿哈布一家親近,也像阿哈布一樣作了上主視為惡的事,他在被上主選的將軍耶胡消滅阿哈布一家時所殺。阿塔里雅太后便乘機參政六年之久,後來由百官擁立阿哈齊雅的兒子約阿士即位,猶大國才回歸達味家。而第二十任的漆德克雅本叫瑪塔尼雅(Mattaniah),是第十九任王耶苛尼雅的叔父,耶苛尼雅被巴比倫王(King of Babylon)所殺後,由巴比倫王所立為王。但這個合作為時很短,漆德克雅及猶大國就在公元前587年被巴比倫王拿布高(Nebuchadnessar)所毀滅。

猶大國自931BC至587BC共經過三百五十年歷二十任國王,首都一直是耶路撒冷(Jerusalem),最後被巴比倫所滅。

Saturday, 13 December 2014

分裂的以色列家十二支派(The Divided Israel Twelve Tribes)

以色列家十二支派自從由上主經先知撒慕爾(Samuel)立了出自本雅明(Benjaminite)的撒烏耳(Saul)為王(1030-1010BC),再經歷了猶大支派的達味(1010-970BC)及撒羅滿(970-931BC)後,便面對分裂為南、北的猶大(Judah)及以色列(Israel)兩國的命運。列王紀上第十一至十二章詳細解釋了這個分裂。

撒羅滿犯罪令天主發怒

首先是撒羅滿犯的罪。他為以色列王時,國勢強大,但他老年時,卻愛上了許多外國女子,包括上主吩咐以色列子民必須避開的摩阿步(Moabites)、阿孟(Ammonites)、厄東(Edomites)、漆冬(Zidonians)、及赫特各(Hittites)民族的女子,並因著這些女子,崇拜了其他的神。上主因而向撒羅滿發怒,把他的王國奪去,賜給他的一個臣僕。但因達味及耶路撒冷的緣故,不在他任內發生,而是在他的兒子手中奪去,並會給他的兒子留下一支派。

雅洛貝罕獲統治以色列十個支派

這個被選為奪去撒羅滿王國的人,叫做雅洛貝罕(Jeroboam)。他是乃巴特(Nebat)的兒子,出自厄弗辣大地(Ephrathite)的責勒達人(Zeredah),原是撒羅滿的臣僕,被撒羅滿派作監督若瑟族的一切工作。雅洛貝罕被上主所選成為以色列十二個支派中的十個支派的統治者,在撒羅滿仍為王時,史羅(Shionite)的先知阿希雅(Ahijah)已告知雅洛貝罕這件事,也因此雅洛貝罕曾被撒羅滿追殺,須暫時投奔埃及王史沙克(Shishak)。

當撒羅滿死後,他的兒子勒哈貝罕(Rehoboam)做了一個不得民心的決定,就是粗暴地拒絕了以雅洛貝罕為首的反對派前來減輕苦疫的要求。由於撒羅滿的兒子勒哈貝罕不肯答應雅洛貝罕減輕以色列人民苦疫的要求,以色列家族便離棄勒哈貝罕,擁立雅洛貝罕為王,統治全以色列,成為北方以色列國國王。而南方的猶大及本雅明家族,則仍由撒羅滿的兒子勒哈貝罕為王,並稱為猶大國。

北國不斷的各種背叛

可惜的是,北方的雅洛貝罕雖然從上主手上得到以色列的十個支派,卻未有聽從上主的話,他為了能長期稱王,避免以色列人上耶路撒冷回歸猶大支派的統治,私下製造了金牛犢讓以色列人朝拜,又另立司祭,建立神殿,親自獻祭等。從此,令北國的以色列遠離了天主。

分裂後的第一任北國國王雅洛貝罕拜金牛犢遠離天主並被先知告誡 (by Fragonard, Jean-Honoré, 1753, Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris; Web Gallery of Arts http://www.wga.hu/)

雅洛貝罕這樣做,惹怒了天主,也帶出了後來史羅的先知阿希雅第二次傳天主的話,要消滅雅洛貝罕家。(列上14:6-18)雅洛貝罕為以色列王在位二十二年(931-910BC)後他的兒子納達布(Nadab)繼位兩年後,被依撒加爾家族阿希雅的兒子巴厄沙(Baasha)背叛殺了雅洛貝罕全家,而巴厄沙則在提爾匝(Tirzah)為王。

至此,北方的以色列國的王位似乎成為不斷的叛變及爭奪的目標。北方的以色列國的首七任國王為:第一任的雅洛貝罕在位二十二年、第二任的納達布在位二年(910-909BC)、第三任國王巴厄沙在位二十四年(909-886BC)、第四任國王厄拉(Elah)在位二年(886-885BC)、第五任國王齊默黎(Zimri)在位七天(885BC)、第六任國王敖默黎(Omri)在位十二年(885-874BC)、第七任國王阿哈布(Ahab)在位二十二年(874-852BC)。其中雅洛貝與納達布、巴厄沙與厄拉、及敖默黎與阿哈布都是父子關係,而巴厄沙是叛變殺了雅洛貝罕一家、齊默黎是叛變殺了巴厄沙一家、敖默黎則是一名軍長在齊默黎叛變為王七天後被軍隊擁立的。(列王紀上15:25-16:34)

同時,這七任國王都帶領子民拜祭偶像,與天主遠離,直至第七任阿哈布為王時,出現了另一位著名的先知厄里亞(Elijah),在加爾默羅山重新彰顯雅威天主的大能。(請參閱:加爾默羅山與厄里亞 (Mount Carmel and Elijah)



Wednesday, 10 December 2014

智慧小統計 (Wisdom Statistics)

聖經中的「智慧」指的是什麼呢?

讓我們先做一個小統計。在一個"Bible Search Gateway" 的網站所提供的搜尋器, 計算在聖經中出現過的“wisdom” 或 “智慧” 字眼的次數。

該網站提供各種語言多個版本,這次選了四個版本,分別為:天主教聖經(New Revised Standard Catholic Version)、英王欽定本 (King James Version, KJV)、新國際版本 (New International Version, NIV), 及中文和合本 (Chinese Union Version)。  前三本都是英文版,用“wisdom”作關鍵字搜尋。而最後一本是中文,用“智慧” 作關鍵字搜尋 。第一本是天主教版本,而其它三本是基督教版本。 可惜該網站沒有我們常用的思高聖經。

這個小統計,看到“wisdom”在天主教聖經中出現三百多次,基督教版本出現二百多次,分別主要在於天主教聖經包含了至少兩部專講智慧的智慧篇 (Wisdom)和德訓篇 (Sirah)。 由於英文的“wise” 可譯作智慧的,因此中文所算出來的數目稍多。

而“wisdom” 一詞出現得最多的,依次是德訓篇 (Sirah),箴言 (Proverbs),智慧篇 (Wisdom)、訓道篇 (Ecclesiastes)、及約伯傳 (Job)。另外頗多次的是列王紀上 (1 Kings) 及編年紀下 (2 Chronicls)、及新約的聖保祿宗徒致格林多人前書 (1 Corinthians)。

Book New Revised Standard, Catholic New King James New International Version Chinese Union, Traditional
Old Testament 281 176 169 322
Exodus 0 7 3 12
1 Kings 15 16 16 19
2 Chronicles 10 10 10 10
Job 21 22 23 38
Psalm 7 9 7 17
Proverbs 50 52 55 114
Ecclesiastes 27 27 25 44
Wisdom 43 - - -
Sirach 68 - - -
Isaiah 6 6 6 13
Jeremiah 5 5 5 15
Ezekiel 5 5 4 7
Daniel 10 10 8 13
Subtotal 267 169 162 302
% Old Testament 95.02% 96.02% 95.86% 93.79%
New Testament 52 55 50 59
Matthew 3 3 3 4
Mark 1 1 1 2
Luke 7 8 7 7
Acts 4 4 4 3
1 Corinthians 17 17 16 21
Ephesians 3 5 3 4
Colossians 5 6 5 6
James 5 4 4 4
Revelation 4 4 4 4
Subtotal 49 52 47 55
% New Testament 94.23% 94.55% 94.00% 93.22%
Total (Old + New) 333 231 219 381


舊約中討論智慧的章節,是新約的三至六倍。New Jerome Biblical Commentary 中,談到智慧可包括四大類。第一是判斷上的智慧 (Judicial Wisdom), 例子是撒羅滿王判別兒子的母親時所展現的智慧。第二是有關自然環境的知識 (Knowledge)的智慧。第三是神學上的智慧 (Theological Wisdom)。第四則是人生經驗累積的智慧 (Experiential Wisdom)。第一、二、四類對於無論有沒有宗教信仰的人,都應沒有爭議。讓我們看看什麼是神學上的智慧。

舊約強調智慧從主而來,撒羅滿的智慧便是。箴言第十至二十二章十六節是撒羅滿的箴言集。一開始便點出智者和愚者的分別,並強調與主的關係:

『使人致富的,是上主的祝福;營營的辛勞,卻無補於事。』(箴10:22)
『上主的道路,是正人君子的保障;為作惡的人,卻是滅亡。』)箴10:29)



Note: Bible Search Gateway (https://www.biblegateway.com/)


Tuesday, 2 December 2014

撒羅滿王及聖經中的智慧 (King Solomon and Wisdom in the Bible)


達味王死後,達味與巴特舍巴的第二名兒子撒羅滿(Solomon)繼位為以色列王。撒羅滿王以智慧見稱,他繼位後,上主藉夢顯現給他,答應他不論求什麼,都必給他。撒羅滿首先讚美上主,感謝上主對達味家族的恩德,並謙認不知如何治理上主的大族,向天主求智慧,可統治上主的百姓,判斷善惡。撒羅滿只求智慧為天主服務,因而獲得天主的歡心,賞賜了聰明智慧的心,更賜了榮華富貴,及延長他的壽命。(列上3:4-15)

列王紀中隨即敘述了一個著名的故事顯示撒羅滿的智慧:兩名女子同時自稱母親而爭奪一名嬰孩時,撒羅滿王判令把嬰孩切開一半分給二人,真正的母親立刻阻止並放棄爭奪,寧失去嬰孩也不願嬰孩被殺害,從而認出誰是真正的母親。(列上3:16-28)

The Judgement of Solomon by Valentin de Boulogne (c. 1625, MusÈe du Louvre, Paris; Web Gallery of Art at http://www.wga.hu)

在第五章,再描述了天主賜給撒羅滿的智慧和聰明,心胸寬大,有如海邊的沙灘,並超過所有人,並『說過三千句箴言,作的詩歌有一千五百首』,也講論過草木、走獸和飛禽等。

智慧既是重要,舊約聖經中,確是有五部重要的智慧文獻 (Wisdom Literature),包括:箴言(Proverbs)、訓道篇(Ecclesiates or Qoheleth)、智慧篇 (Wisdom)、德訓篇 (Sirah)、及約伯傳 (Job)。另外更有不少與智慧有關的討論。其中箴言、訓道篇及智慧篇都收集了撒羅滿王的智慧之言。

箴言共三十一章,第十至二十二章16節及25至29章為撒羅滿的箴言,其餘是數位其他智慧人的箴言,而首九章則頌揚智慧,並勸告世人追求智慧,其中第九章以邀請赴宴為題,突出智慧及愚昧不同的呼喚:
智慧邀人赴宴,說:『「你們來,吃我的食糧,飲我配製的酒!你們應放棄無知,好使你們得以生存,並在明智的道路上邁進。」』(箴9:5-6)
愚昧邀人赴宴,則說:『「偷來的水,更香甜;背地吃的餅,更有味。」他卻不知冥城正在那裏,她的客人都在陰府的深處。』(箴9:17-18)
同時,也指出
『敬畏上主是智慧的肇基;認識至聖者就是睿智。』(箴9:10)
"The beginning of wisdom is fear of the LORD, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."


Sunday, 23 November 2014

達味王的罪 (The Sins of King David)


天主教教理第1841段提到拜占廷禮(Byzantine Liturgy)的赦罪經文, 引述聖經裏的例子表達寬恕的奧跡。這段由供司鐸用的經文是這樣的:

 「天主曾藉著先知納堂寬恕了懺悔的達味;也曾寬恕痛哭的伯多祿、用眼淚擦乾耶穌雙腳的妓女、以及稅吏和浪子。願這同一天主藉著我這罪人寬恕你,在今世及來世;願祂使你走到祂威嚴的審判座前時,不會受到任何譴責。祂當受頌揚,直到永遠。阿們。」

“May the same God, who through the Prophet Nathan forgave David when he confessed his sins, who forgave Peter when he wept bitterly, the prostitute when she washed his feet with her tears, the publican, and the prodigal son, through me, a sinner, forgive you both in this life and in the next and enable you to appear before his awe-inspiring tribunal without condemnation, he who is blessed for ever and ever. Amen.”


這段赦罪經文裏提到懺悔的達味,達味為何要懺悔呢? 達味是天主親選的第二任以色列王,他『統治了全以色列,對自己所有的人民秉行公義。』(撒下8:15),本是受主所喜愛的。他犯的罪,記載在撒慕爾下書第十一章。

當時,達味派了約阿步(Joab)和軍官、以色列人出征,自己則留在耶路撒冷。一天傍晚,達味看見了正在沐浴的巴特舍巴(Bathsheba),被她的美貌吸引,縱使明知她已成為他的下屬軍官赫特人(Hittite)烏黎雅(Uriah)的妻子,也是軍官厄理安(Eliam)的女兒,仍與她同寢。

達味看著沐浴中的巴特舍巴與後方騎馬的烏黎雅 (David watching the bathing Bathsheba and Uriah riding a horse at the far end; by P Bordone 1549; painting at Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne; http://www.wga.hu/html_m/b/bordone/bathsheb.html)

錯了第一步,令巴特舍巴懷了孕,達味把烏黎雅從戰場召回來,並兩次打發他回家,大概是希望他回家與妻子同床,以圖掩飾達味令巴特舍巴懷孕之事。但是烏黎雅是一個義氣之人,有感約櫃、以色列和猶太人都住在帳幕裏,而他的上司約阿步及下屬都仍在野外露宿,他也不願回家吃喝及和妻子睡覺。

烏黎雅的正義並沒有喚醒達味,反令達味起殺意,在給約阿步的信內,指明要讓烏黎雅受攻擊陣亡。烏黎雅終於戰亡,達味便於巴特舍巴的居喪期一滿,就把她接到宮中,如此,達味保全了巴特舍巴及腹中的孩子的名聲,但卻犯了殺害無辜的罪。

達味什麼時候才知道自己的錯呢?似乎是要在納堂先知(Prophet Nathan)明斥才感到有錯。在撒慕爾下書第十二章,納堂先知首先說一個富人強取了窮人唯一所擁有的小母羊來款待旅客的故事,比喻達味強槍烏黎雅的妻子,引起達味的反應後,繼而直斥其非,指出達味『輕視上主,作出他眼中視為邪惡的事』,更隨即指出對達味的懲罰, 包括:從此刀劍永不離開他家;由家裏激起災禍反對他;和讓他的妻妾與他的近人同寢。

然後,出現了懺悔和赦罪,
『達味對納堂說:「我得罪了上主!」納堂對達味說:「上主已赦免了你的罪惡,你不致於死;但因你在這事上蔑視了上主,給你生的那個孩子,必要死去。』(撒下12:13-14)
“Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David: “For his part, the LORD has removed your sin. You shall not die, but since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you will surely die.” (2 Samuel 12:13-14)

Monday, 10 November 2014

懺悔及修和 (Penance and Reconciliation)


天主教七件聖事可分為三組:入門(The Sacraments of Christian Initiation) -聖洗 (Baptism)、聖體(Eucharist)及堅振(Confirmation)-;治愈 (The Sacraments of Healing)-修和(Penance and Reconciliation)及病人傅油(Anointing of the Sick);及共融(The Sacraments at the Service of Communion) - 婚姻(Matrimony) 及聖秩聖事 (The Sacrament of Holy Orders)。今天先看治愈,特別是修和聖事。

治愈聖事的基礎,來自瑪爾谷福音第二章一至十二節,耶穌赦了癱子的罪,並治好他的病,讓他拿起他的床,『當著眾人的面走出去了』。

有關修和聖事,天主教教理則引述了伯多祿三次不認主(路22:56-60;若18:16-17; 若18:25-27)之後的懺悔:

『主轉過身來,看了看伯多祿;伯多祿就想起主對他說的話來:「今天雞叫以前,你要三次不認我。」伯多祿一到外面,就淒慘地哭起來了。』(路22:61-62);

懺悔中的伯多祿 (St Peter in Penitence)
(by El Greco; 1605; Painting at Hospital Tavera, Toledo, Spain; Photo from Web Gallery of Art http://www.wga.hu/index1.html)

及在主復活後與主的修好:

『耶穌對西滿伯多祿說:「若望的兒子西滿,你比他們更愛我嗎?」伯多祿回答說:「主,是的,你知道我愛你。」耶穌就對他說;「你餵養我的羔羊。」耶穌第二次又問他說:「若望的兒子西滿,你愛我嗎?」伯多祿回答說:「主,是的,你知道我愛你。」耶穌就對他說;「你牧放我的羊羣。」耶穌第三次又問他說:「若望的兒子西滿,你愛我嗎?」伯多祿因耶穌第三次問他說:「你愛我嗎?」便憂愁起來,遂向他說:「主啊!你一切都知道,你曉得我愛你。」耶穌對他說;「你餵養我的羊羣。」』(若21:15-17)

天主教教理歸納這聖事為懺悔(Penance)及和好(Reconciliation): 

第1423條解釋了皈依(Conversion)及懺悔 (Penance) 的部分,並在第1430至1439條指出內心的懺悔及以瑪竇福音第六章一至十八節之禁食(Fasting)、祈禱(Praying)及施捨(Almsgiving) 以表達人對自己、天主及他人關係的改善。

同時,也在第1424條指出有關告解(Confession),寬恕(Forgiveness)與和好 (Reconciliation) 的部分,並在1440至1458條要求信者必須告明及由神父赦罪。


Thursday, 6 November 2014

基督徒的罪與懺悔 (The Sins and Confession of a Christian)


懺悔禮是在彌撒開始時的一個重要環節。神父進堂致候禮後,率信眾進行懺悔,並求主赦罪,之後才繼續禱文及感恩祭的其他部分。我們在此時的懺悔的內容是什麼呢?

回想彌撒中裡的懺悔詞是這樣說的:「我向全能的天主和各位兄弟姊妹,承認我在思、言、行為上的過失。」英文彌撒內的用字是:“I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do".  此英文版本更具體地為「行為上的過失」加註,除了做了不該作的事之外(COMMISSION), 也包括未能做到的行為 (OMISSION)。


怎樣的思言行屬於過失呢?翻看天主教教理,第386條指出罪惡是指在『承認人與天主的深切關係』的前題下,人的『拒絕與反抗天主』一事。第390條引用創世紀第三章內以象徵語言所敘述有關人的墮落的起始,而在第397條,則解釋罪是人受了魔鬼的誘惑後,喪失了心中對主的信賴,而妄用了本身的自由,違背了天主的命令。因此,『每個罪都是一種違抗天主命令的行為,及對祂的仁愛缺乏信賴』。總的來說,重點是必須先認識了天主的啟示,才能認識罪,也令『罪』有別一般所指成長的缺陷、心理的弱點、錯誤等。

除了在感恩祭內的懺悔經,天主教教理具體地指出了督徒必須有『心靈的皈依、內心的懺悔』(第1430條),並以基督徒生活中的三種主要方式表達懺悔。這三種方式是禁食、祈禱和施捨,作為表達人對自己、天主及他人的關係的改善(第1434條)。在瑪竇福音第六章一至十八節內有耶穌對這三種方式的詳細解釋。

Friday, 3 October 2014

The first Ebola case in the United States (美國的第一宗伊波拉)

It was reported in the news on 1st October when the first case of Ebola virus infection was diagnosed in the United States.

The patient, a 42-year-old male, is a Liberia citizen visiting his family members in the United States. He was sent to Texas Health Presbyterian in Dallas on ambulance on 28 September with high fever and vomiting. He was taken to isolation immediately and blood test confirmed ebola virus infection on 30 September.

Retrospectively, it was revealed that he first attended the same hospital on 26 September reporting low grade fever for two days.  He was diagnosed to be a common viral infection and was sent home with antibiotics.  According to the patient's family (a sister), the patient did inform a nurse at the hospital when the first time he attended the hospital on 26 September.
Progression of Ebola Symptoms
(Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/02/ebola-symptoms-infection-virus_n_5639456.html)

Further on the contact tracing, the patient had his onset date on 24 September 2014 when he was in Dallas already.  Prior to that, he was in Liberia and left Monrovia in Liberia on 19 September travelling through Brussels and Washington DC and arriving in Dallas on 20 September.  

While in Liberia, the patient was a driver for shipping company.  It was reported that he might have contracted the virus from the daughter of his landlord when he took her to the hospital on September 15.  She was turned away and then died later at home with no exact date provided.  

In other words, the patient might have developed symptoms on day 9 with initially mild flu-like symptoms then progress to systemic symptoms, notably vomiting and high fever before admitted to an isolation facility.

He should have become infectious and spreading the virus since 24 September.  Contact tracing was focussed on his contacts between 24 to 28 September.  As for his travelling on United Airlines flight 951 from Monrovia to Washington Dulles and flight 822 to Dallas/Fort Worth, spread was unlikely as he was asymptomatic at that time.  It was also supported by information from CDC that he was not running a fever when his temperature was checked while boarding a plane in Monrovia.  

According to CDC, a person shall be put under investigation (Person Under Investigation, PUI) if he/she has both consistent symptoms and risk factors as follows: 

(a) Clinical criteria: fever and additional symptoms such as severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or unexplained hemorrhage; AND

(b) Epidemiologic risk factors within the past 21 days before the onset of symptoms, such as contact with blood or other body fluids or human remains of a patient known to have or suspected to have EVD; residence in, or travel to, an area where EVD transmission is active; or direct handling of bats or non-human primates from disease-endemic areas.

Reference: 

Bulluz, Julia.  15 Things you need to know about Ebola - A Dallas hospital failed to diagnose America's first-ever Ebola case.  Vox.  2 October 2014. (http://www.vox.com/cards/ebola-facts-you-need-to-know/texas-hospital-diagnoses-the-first-case-of-ebola-in-the-us#E6660684)

CDC.  Case definition for Ebola Virus Disease.  (http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/case-definition.html)

Greg Botelho.  U.S. Ebola patient: The travels and health travails of Thomas Eric Duncan.  CNN.  3 October 2014.  http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/01/health/us-ebola-patient/index.html?iid=article_sidebar




Sunday, 14 September 2014

撒烏耳王這個人 (King Saul this person)

舊約撒慕爾上下二書主要人物有三位:先知撒慕爾(Samuel the Seer),撒烏耳王(King Saul),和達味王(King David)。撒烏耳本是由上主揀選的第一位以色列王,撒慕爾上書第九章至第三十一章,講述了撒烏耳由被選,為王,至被放棄及死亡的經過。讓我們先看看撒烏耳上半生從少時到為王及被擯斥的一些描寫。

魁梧英俊的戰士撒烏耳

撒烏耳出自以色列十二支派之本雅門一系(Benjaminite),他的父親名克士(Kish),『是個英勇的戰士』("a powerful man"),而撒烏耳則被形容為『魁梧英俊,在以色列中沒有人比他更俊美的,比所有人高出一肩。』("who was a handsome young man. There was no other Israelite more handsome than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.")

從他在尋驢一事中對父親的關心,和僕人有商有量的敘述中,撒烏耳似乎是溫和得體的年輕人。先知撒慕爾受到天主的指示,為撒烏耳傅油,並立他為第一任以色列王,正式為以色列建立國王制度。撒烏耳最大的功績,是為王後在多次與培肋舍特人及周邊國家交戰中得勝。

米革瑪斯之戰

撒慕爾上書十三至十四章詳細描述了撒烏耳及他兒子約納堂(Joanthan)與培肋舍特人在本雅明境內的米革瑪斯之戰,為之後撒烏耳被擯斥作了鋪排,先了解一下這場戰爭,可對撒烏耳的為人多點認識。

米革瑪斯(Michmash)位於本雅明境內貝特爾東南死海西北,南面有革巴(Geba)、基貝亞(Gibeah),而耶路撒冷在基貝亞的南面。 基耳加耳(Gilgal)則在離米革瑪斯較遠的東南方。米革瑪斯和貝特爾山地(the hill country of Bethel)都是撒烏耳的根據地有二千人追隨他,而約納堂則領一千人在革巴。

米革瑪斯 (http://www.bibleplaces.com/michmash.htm)
米革瑪斯(Michmash)貝特爾(Bethel)革巴(Geba)及基貝亞(Gibeah)等地(http://www.bible-history.com/maps/images/1_samuel_michmash.jpg)

戰爭之始,是約納堂首先在基貝亞殺死了當地駐守的一位培肋舍特人官員,引發了培肋舍特人調動大軍,包括『戰車三千,騎兵六千,民兵多得如同海邊的沙』來攻打以色列人,並在米革瑪斯紮營。撒烏耳則在較東面的基耳加耳,以色列人都害怕培肋舍特人的大軍,四散逃走。

撒烏耳本在基耳加耳約了先知撒慕爾作獻祭,為向上主求援,等了七天,不見撒慕爾,可能是為安定軍心,便在撒慕爾未到時,自行決定先行奉獻全燔祭。聖經沒有解釋撒慕爾遲到的原因,但撒慕爾就對撒烏耳表達不滿,認為他沒有服從上主,並立即起身離開。撒烏耳得不到支持,只好帶領仍隨從他的六百人,到革巴與約納堂會合。同時培肋舍特人也正調動大軍分三路,向南圍剿撒烏耳一方。

約納堂從兩座石峰的懸崖到米革瑪斯培肋舍特人的前哨 (http://www.bibleplaces.com/michmash.htm)
在這個敵我軍力懸殊,再加上由於培肋舍特人一向不讓以色列境內有鐵匠,而令撒烏耳的人缺乏武器,約納堂運用了他的智慧,勇敢,並得到上主的助力,而大敗培肋舍特人。轉捩點是約納堂與一名同伴攀過革巴北面兩座石峰的懸崖,到米革瑪斯培肋舍特人的前哨,一口氣殺死了二十人,再加上同時發生的大地震,令敵方大為恐慌,方存大亂,這時躲藏的及本來幫培肋舍特人的希伯來人,都跑出來倒戈,因而令培肋舍特人大敗

撒烏耳的弱點

米革瑪斯之戰似乎顯露了一些撒烏耳的弱點。

首先,整場戰爭由開始至勝利,似乎都是由約納堂主導,撒烏耳總是在關心經由祭獻(撒上13:8-12)、司祭、及占卜(撒上14:2-3)等作決定。文中曾描述約納堂及撒烏耳分別與士兵相近的對話及兩人不同的反應。約納堂在勝算不高,打算到米革瑪斯前哨偷襲前,與同伴溝通他的想法,得到同伴回答『你儘可隨意行事,我只跟著你,隨你心意而行』後,約納堂便憑著觀察上主心意行事,而獲得勝利。反之,當撒烏耳在大勝之時,猶疑是否該乘勝追擊時,雖也得到士兵同樣的回說『你看怎樣好,就怎樣作罷』,則未能掌握時機,反而聽司祭說去求問天主,當得不到回應時,便因此錯失良機。

另外,撒烏耳也未有準確判斷情勢,作出不得軍心的決定,例如要求疲乏的士兵在大戰之日禁食,而約納堂則指出如不是如此,則可能更獲大勝;另又因沒有得到天主的回應,害怕有誰犯錯惹怒天主,便打算把立功的兒子約納堂處死,幸得軍民阻止,才不致釀成大錯。

書中對撒烏耳最直接的指責,大概就是兩次出自先知撒慕爾口中對撒烏耳的責備。第一次是當撒烏耳在基耳加耳因撒慕爾遲到而自行奉獻全幡祭,撒慕爾知道後,指責撒烏耳的糊塗,強調撒烏耳的王位已立不住了,因為他『沒有遵守上主吩咐的命令』,撒慕爾並『起身離開』。

第二次的指責,是撒烏耳得撒慕爾親口要求毀滅阿瑪肋克(Amalek)的一切時,撒烏耳放過了阿瑪肋克王(King of Amalek)阿加格(Agag)和最好的牲畜,他雖然解釋是為了作為祭獻,卻被撒慕爾嚴厲指責他拒絕了天主,並重申:『上主豈能喜歡全幡祭和犧牲,勝過上主的命令?聽命勝於祭獻,服從勝過綿羊的肥油脂。』(“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to the LORD’s command?  Obedience is better than sacrifice, to listen, better than the fat of rams.")


Reference: 
Bibleplaces.com.  Michmash, Geba and the "Pass".  Bibleplaces.com.
(http://www.bibleplaces.com/michmash.htm)

Geography and the Bible.
(http://www.bible-history.com/maps/books.php)



Tuesday, 9 September 2014

The Moving Castle of Ebola 伊波拉之移動城堡

Having looked at the various human ebola outbreaks in the past forty years, the next question is how do they move from one place to another, and what happens during those quiescent period?

To understand the first question, we first look at the life cycle of ebolavirus.  Though not yet fully understood, the virus primarily survives in fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family.
They cause infection to wild animals and mammals like apes only occasionally.  Infection in human occurs primarily because of human animal contact followed by human to human spread.  The following graph from CDC summarizes such transmission routes.
Ecology of Ebolavirus. CDC, US.            (http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/resources/virus-ecology.html)

This suggests that, even in the absence of reported human infection, the virus exists, probably widely in the fruit bat family.

Natural host fruit bat of Ebolavirus. UNC website. (http://news.unchealthcare.org/news/2014/june/dispatch-from-guinea-containing-ebola)
The World Health Organization has put together the geographical locations of where serological evidence, such as the detection of antibodies in serum suggesting prior infection, to ebolavirus.  As from the health map obtained from the WHO website, apart from those countries with known ebola outbreaks in central and western africa, there are evidence to show infection has occurred in other parts of Africa such as Medagasgar and in South East Asia.  This coincides the areas within which the ebola host fruit bats are found.  Of note is that the fruit bat is also found as far as the east coast of Australia.
Distribution of the natural host fruit bat of ebola virus and areas with known evidence of human or animal infections. WHO website.
The map also showed that the Reston ebolavirus, so far considered not causing human diseases, have caused infections in animals in Mainland China as well as all over the United States, the latter through importation of infected Monkeys rather than due to the presence of natural host.  Such evidence suggested that, during the period of apparent quiescent, infection still occurs in various areas where the natural hosts are found without causing devastating human outbreaks.

Photo credit:
University of North Carolina News Room on Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
http://news.unchealthcare.org/news/2014/june/dispatch-from-guinea-containing-ebola

Monday, 8 September 2014

The Four Waves of Ebola 四波伊波拉

Ebolavirus was first identified in 1976 in Africa.  Over the nearly forty years of history, it has been found to cause acute viral illness with sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sorethroat. Shortly after there will be gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting and diarrhoea), rash, organ damage and various bleeding disorders.  There will be decreased white cells and platelets as well as abnormal liver enzymes.

As regards its transmission, it is through contact of body fluids containing the virus.  There is an incubation period of 2 to 21 days.  People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus - can last much longer after their own recovery.

Ebolavirus belongs to the family of Filoviridae (the filovirus).  There are two other genus in this family, the Marburgvirus, and Cuevavirus.

Genus Ebolavirus comprises 5 distinct species. Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) seems to be causing the worst and deadliest outbreaks and Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV) and Bundibugyo ebolaviruses (BDBV) can also cause highly fatal diseases. The Reston ebolavirus (RESTV) is found in the Phillipines and Mainland China.   can infect humans but no known human illness or deaths have been reported.  The Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV) has been reported causing a non-fatal case in Cote d'Ivoire in 1994.

A summary of major Ebola outbreaks from Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-18/ebola-spurs-nigeria-surveillance-regional-border-limits.html)
The above graph, published at Bloomberg in an article on the subject by Zoker and Chen, has nicely shown the geographical relationships of the major outbreaks across the African continents over the past years.  When we look further into the species of the ebola virus causing these outbreaks, we can actually identify three different patterns caused by three out of the five species of Ebola virus.

The Four Waves of Spreading Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV)

This Zaire ebolavirus seems to be the most deadly species of the genus.  It was first detected (1976) in an outbreak in 1976 in the then Zaire, which subsequently changed to the present Democratic Republic of Congo, in Central Africa.  The species causing this outbreak was identified as the Zaire Ebola virus.  It caused 391 reported cases with 281 deaths, with a case-mortality rate of 88%.  It was placed under the Genus Ebola virus because cases were initially found in northern Zaire near the River Ebola.

The second wave (1994 to 1996) of Zaire Ebolavirus was detected in 1994 in Gabon - after an apparent 18-year quiescent period after the 1976 outbreak.  In 1995, an outbreak of the same virus also occurred in Zaire resulting in 315 cases with 254 deaths, with mortality again high at 81%.  The outbreak in Gabon continued till 1996 with 143 cases and 97 deaths and mortality at 68%.  One fatal case, presumably an imported case from Gabon, was detected in South Africa in 1996.

The third wave (2001 to 2008) of Zaire Ebolavirus outbreak occurred fiver years later in 2001 in Gabon again, and also newly found in Congo, the country located between Gabon and Zaire.  Zaire has undergo political change and had been renamed as the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1997, had its third Zaire Ebolavirus outbreak in 2007 to 2008.  The case numbers in Gabon, Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo were 65, 249, and 296 with case-mortality rate of 82%, 85% and 68% respectively.

Ebolavirus Outbreak Dec 2013 to Aug 2014 in West Africa (WHO) http://who.int/csr/disease/ebola/geographic-map-29-aug-2014.png?ua=1)

As we can see now, the current outbreak occurring in West Africa since December 2013 is basically the fourth wave (2013 to current) of the Zaire Ebolavirus outbreak.  Over the past five years of silent period, the virus has travelled through more than 3,000 km west to Guinea, with subsequent detection in Sierra Leone, Liberia, as well as Nigeria.  Based on the WHO statistics, as of 11 August 2014, the number of cases in these countries are:

  • Guinea - 510 cases, 377 deaths
  • Liberia - 670 cases, 355 deaths,
  • Sierra Leone - 783 cases, 334 deaths, and
  • Nigeria - 12 cases, 3 deaths.


Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV) primarily in Sudan and Uganda

Around the time of the first Zaire ebolavirus outbreak, a similar outbreak was also detected in a neighbouring country, Sudan (north to Zaire), due another species, named Sudan Ebolavirus.  The worst first outbreak in 1976 resulted in 284 cases with 151 deaths, with a case-fatality rate of 53%; followed by two smaller outbreaks in 1979 (34 cases and 65% deaths) and in 2004 (17 cases and 41% deaths).

Sudan ebolavirus was detected outside Sudan in Uganda, a country south to Sudan in Central Africa, in 2000 and again in 2011 to 2012.  In the first outbreak, there were 425 cases with 224 deaths (case fatality rate 53%).  The second one was smaller causing 32 cases and 22 deaths (69% deaths).  

Budibugyo eboavirus (BDBV) detected in 2007 and 2012

There is a third species, the Budibugyo ebolavirus, found to be able to cause human outbreaks and deaths.  It was first detected in Uganda in 2007 with 149 cases and 27 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 25%.  It was detected in Democratic Republic of Congo (the previous Zaire) in 2012 resulting in 57 cases including 29 deaths.

Reference: 

Ebolavirus outbreaks updates at World Health Organization

Elise Zoker and Caroline Chen.  Ebola Spurs Nigeria Surveillance, Regional Border Limits at Bloomberg access http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-18/ebola-spurs-nigeria-surveillance-regional-border-limits.html.


Sunday, 7 September 2014

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Namyeung (南陽聖母聖地/남양성모성지) Korea

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Namyeung (南陽聖母聖地/남양성모성지), also called "Rosary Hill" is in Korea.  It is 43km south to Seoul in Hwaseong (華城/화성) of Namyangdong (南陽洞/남양).  It is in the area of Suwon (水原/수원시)in Gyeonggi-do (京畿道/경기도).

At its official website, there are details in Korean and English to highlight the significance of this site as a pilgrimage stop.  Below I attempt to summarize some of them:

(a) Dedicated to Mary: It is the first site in Korea especially dedicated to the Holy Mother and was designated as a Holy Site on 7 October, the feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Rosary, in 1991.

(b) A Shrine: Historically, it is an execution site of Korean Martyrs during the 1866 Byeongin-nyeon Persecution  (丙寅年迫害).

(c) Its geographical design, from an aerial view, is like that of an icon of Holy Mother, the Our Lady of Vladimir.  The icon has been agreed as a high quality artistic piece surviving from the period of Byzantine.  As there was no master plan in the initial design of this site, this resemblance is considered a miracle contributed to special meaning to this site.
The aerial view of the site on the left and the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir on the right (http://www.namyangmaria.org/en/images/contentimg5.jpg)

(d) Rosary Path: The concept was based on the dynamics of the "4-Hour Rosary Prayer Movement" devoted to peace.  A half-a-mile 20-Decade Rosary Road is built with giant rosary beads by the road side for praying rosary.

(e) Statue of Holy Mother: Is is a highlight on the Rosary Road.

Statue of Mary
(http://www.namyangmaria.org/en/images/contentimg6.jpg)
(f) Way of the Cross: Apart from the Rosary, one other prayer activities here is to walk the Way of Cross with Mary, to experience the pain and suffering of Jesus and that of the Holy Mother at each station.  The path is paved with pebbles for barefoot walkers and each station is also equipped for easy kneeling in prayer.

(g) Garden of Merciful Jesus: At the end of the Way of the Cross, there locates the Garden of Merciful Jesus inspired by Pope John Paul II as in his speech during his canonisation of Sister Faustina, the faithful disciple of merciful God, "The message of mercy is not new, but in an era of violence and war Sister Maria Faustina is a gift of God for our age."  There stands the statue of Divine Mercy (described by Sister Faustina as "the vessel that draws the water of grace from the well"), as well as the crown of thorns, the nail and hammer, the hands and feet nailed to the cross, the spear-pierced heart of Suffering Jesus, and sculpture of the Holy Mother's "Pieta" and the busts of Saint Faustina and of Pope John Paul II.

(h) Pray for Life Protection:  There is a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe beside the Tomb of Aborted Children for a "continuous prayer movement to the atonement for an prevention of sinful abortions."  It was also explained that "Guadalupe means 'to smite the serpent's head'" with the serpent referred as abortion.

The address of the site is 112 sanctuaries in Hwaseong Namyang Suwon (contact: 031-356-5880).  Please see below for the website.  There are also videos in various languages posted.

Reference (and photos):
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Namyeung (남양성모성지)
http://www.namyangmaria.org/index_en.htm

Theotokos Vladimir (Our Lady of Vladimir)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theotokos_of_Vladimir