主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(02/05/2010)

本主日讀經︰
宗徒大事錄　14:21-27
聖詠　145[144]:8-9,10-11,12-13
默示錄　21:1-5
若望福音　13:31-33,34-35

默想︰

初期教會在復活基督光照下，以恆常祈禱堅持信仰。他們雖然人單力弱，又遇上阻礙重重，然而保祿語重心長，鼓勵初期門徒說：「我們必須經過許多困難，纔能進入天主的國」。此外，在默示錄，若望也記述在新耶路撒冷聖城，天主要親自與祂的人民同在，並要拭去他們眼上的一切淚痕，更新一切，帶來新天新地。這對於歴代因信守真理而與世俗抗爭，生活在艱苦患難的基督徒是何等暖心安慰，因為知道忠信的天主會信守盟約，與祂的子民同在！

今日的若望福音記載耶穌「臨別贈言」的開首語。耶穌的苦難成為天主的光榮，將正義啟示給萬民，把救恩給予世人。最後耶穌向門徒頒布愛的誡命，教他們該彼此相親相愛，如同祂愛了他們一樣。為此我們基督徒該仿效耶穌基督的大愛，以愛聯繫彼此的生命，並以此作為團體生活方式，同心同意侍奉天主，彰顯祂的光榮。惟將愛德實踐才能使穿上新衣的新耶路撒冷子民走在一起，共同建立充滿喜樂的新天新地。

主，祢聖子基督的復活，令我們親見祢的救恩；求祢幫助我們革除舊習，善度新生，在困苦中持守不渝，為祢的真理作證。

【摘自和平五月號】


Readings (Year C) page 44:

Acts 14: 21-27
Psalm 145: 8-9, 10-11, 12-13 I will praise your name forever, my king and my God.
Revelation 21: 1-5
John 13: 31-33a, 34-35

Meditation

In the Gospel Jesus speaks of the foundation and heart of His teaching and message. These are His parting words to His disciples before His passion and death. What is this message? Is it to be faithful in keeping the Ten Commandments and leading a “good” life? Not exactly. Does He warn us to be sure to be in church every Sunday and to go to confession regularly? Not really. Does He tell us to use all our energies in loving God? Surprisingly, no! What He does tell us is to love other people – and to love them in the same way that He has loved us. This, He calls a “new” commandment.

The Hebrew Testament told us to love God with our whole heart and soul and so on; and to love our neighbours as ourselves. Jesus has added a new element in telling us that the true test of discipleship is to love other people in the same way that He has loved us. And we might remember that these words lead the way to the “greatest possible love” that a person can show, that is, by letting go of one’s very life for others. This Jesus will very dramatically portray in the terrible suffering and degradation which He will submit to out of love for us, out of love for ME. Am I ready to do that for others?

Lord, let all know that we are Your followers, that we have love for one another.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer