主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　（18/4/2010）

本主日讀經︰
宗徒大事錄　5:27-32,40-41
聖詠　30[29]:2,4-6,11-13
默示錄　5:11-14
若望福音　21:1-19

默想︰

「十二金牌召岳飛」是一個出名的民族英雄故事。精忠報國的岳飛，勇戰沙場，可惜奸臣當道，以十二面金牌命屢戰屢勝的岳飛班師回朝，並以「莫須有」的罪名，將他處死。這個可歌可泣的故事，令人對「服從」產生不同的評價。有人認為岳飛在節節勝利之下，應長驅直進，收復中原，回朝是愚忠。但亦有人認為岳飛的服從，彰顯了紀律與愛國精神。

今天的宗徒大事錄記大司祭審問宗徒為甚麼不服從命令，硬要把耶穌的道理傳遍耶路撒冷。伯多祿和宗徒們毫不猶豫，一起作答：「聽天主的命應勝過聽人的命」。
人生充滿要求我們服從的命令。反觀岳飛、伯多祿諸位的作法，我們如何自決呢？

親愛的主耶穌，感謝祢！感謝祢復活後多次的顯現，堅定了宗徒們的心志，也堅定了我們在今天對祢的信靠。感謝祢給我們明明地說了：「我是道路、真理、生命」（若14:6；參若11:25），教我們在服從上有了明確的方向。

仰仗祢復活的光照，親愛的主耶穌，我們祈求在一切事情上，都能活出只為取悅祢的服從。

【摘自和平四月號】


Readings (Year C) page 21:
Acts 5: 27-32, 40b-41
Psalm 30: 2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Revelation 5: 11-14
John 21: 1-19

Meditation

The Old Testament does not contain any clear doctrine of the resurrection. In the religious life of Israel, especially as it is manifested in the Psalms, however, there is a very definite hope of salvation, of liberation from all suffering and distress. This strong hope is an antecedent to the doctrine of the resurrection, which was manifested and affirmed by Jesus' resurrection from the dead.

God is called our "rock". Indeed, the word "Rock" serves as a name, title or "definition" for God, the source of our security and strength.

The image of God as our rock occurs very frequently in the Psalms. We almost certainly must understand it as a resurrection image. We may think of death as a swamp or marsh which threatens to swallow us up in a bottomless pit. We can attain security and safety, however, by clinging to the rock which is God. Jesus put all his trust in God and the grace of the resurrection came as reward and vindication. If strength gives courage, the best courage of the Christian is ultimately that which is born of the resurrection of Jesus.

Father in Heaven, fill our hearts with the joy of Jesus' resurrection so that our Christian hope may give us strength and courage to live out the Gospel spirit, constantly and faithfully.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer