主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(9/5/2010)

本主日讀經︰
宗徒大事錄　15:1-2,22-29
聖詠　67[66]:2-3,5,6,8
默示錄　21:10-16,22-23
若望福音　14:23-29

默想︰

我有一個親戚往法國朝聖，在巴黎聖母院大教堂參與彌撒，感到自己就在天堂。讀經二告訴我們，一座沿於古代的瑰麗聖堂，不是唯一可以令我們感受到置身天堂的地方。教會成員本身就構成地上的天堂，是邁向光榮的天上聖殿，基督奧體的活成員。在危難當前或受打壓的情況下，即使沒有富麗堂皇的聖殿，或簡陋的聖堂，只要仍有教會成員在，就是地上可見的天堂。讀經一摘錄了一小節非常重要的宗徒會議，提醒我們：即使教會如何神聖，也有世俗的一面。爭執、辯論、失策在在證明基督奧體的成員也只不過是人。保祿、巴爾納伯、伯多祿及雅各伯，費盡唇舌說服議會因時制宜，廢除過時的古教禮規，不要令有心歸依基督的新信眾卻步，儘管這些規矩本身有其原本的意思。在煩亂、膽怯的時候，我們可從今天的福音吸取支持和力量：耶穌的心神仍活於教會，時刻啟發我們的心神，教我們做可愛、勇敢、嚮往天堂福樂的快樂人；雖然現今地上教會的光輝尚未如極貴重的寶石。

親愛的長兄耶穌，祢地上的家庭成員，渴望預嘗天堂生活的美好，請祢常與我們同在。

【摘自和平五月號】


Readings (Year C) page 54:

Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29
Psalm 67: 2-3, 5, 6, 8 O God, let all the nations praise you!
Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23
John 14: 23-29

Meditation

A close relative of mine, while on pilgrimage in France, attended Mass in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. She knelt right in front of the altar. She told me, "I thought I was in heaven." Yes, we as believing members of the Church, make up heaven on earth. We are the living, loving Body of Christ destined for and moving towards glory. Even in an extremity of danger and persecution we would still be Heaven on Earth!
The first reading is a very short excerpt taken from the deliberations of the crucial Council of Jerusalem. It reminds us that, heavenly as the Church is, it is also earthly. Disagreements, controversies and failures bear witness to the fact that we, members as we are of Christ's body, are still human.
It took all the powers of persuasion of Paul, Barnabas, Peter and James to ensure that entry to the Church was not made more difficult than necessary by a narrow and nostalgic insistence on a tradition, good in itself but unsuitable for a new surge towards people of goodwill who did yet not fully know God.
In moments of anxiety and uncertainty we can find strength in today's Gospel. Jesus is the living heart and mind who inspires our hearts and minds to be loving, courageous and heavenly, even though we are not quite yet the Church in glory.

Jesus, elder brother, be with us Your earthly family as we endeavour to live the heavenly life.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer