主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation (27/06/2010)

本主日讀經︰
列王紀上　19:16,19-26
聖詠　16[15]:1-2,5,7-11
迦拉達書　5:1,13-18
路加福音　9:51-62

默想︰

本日讀經主題，環繞基督徒履行責任，需抱甚麼心態。

基督徒首要的責任是追隨基督，傳揚福音，而非著眼於世俗名利權勢，正如耶穌所講：「任憑死人去埋葬自己的死人吧！至於你，你要去宣揚天主的國」。又說：「手扶著犂而往後看的，不適於天主的國」；換言之，要進天國就要全情投入，以大無畏的精神走下去，不能畏首畏尾。

耶穌提醒我們：如果你要跟隨我，絕對是一條十字架的苦路，連悽身之所也沒有；需要勇氣、毅力忍受窮苦與迫害。祂沒有拒絕，也沒有接受前來跟祂說，無論祂往那裏去，都要跟隨的人，只說：「狐狸有穴，天上的飛鳥有巢；但人子卻沒有枕頭的地方」。耶穌要我們三思，考慮清楚究竟跟隨祂是甚麼意思。

今天的保祿書信給我們無限安慰。第一、每位跟隨耶穌的人，都是蒙召選的。第二、蒙召選是為叫我們藉此而獲得自由，不受世俗的掛慮或誘惑所束縛。這是我們的一大安慰，令我們更有勇氣去跟隨耶穌基督。

主，求祢助我拋開世俗牽掛，勇敢地以開放的心去跟隨祢。


【摘自和平六月號】


Readings (Year C) page 77:
1 Kings 19: 16b, 19-21
Psalm 16: 1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Galatians 5: 1, 13-18
Luke 9: 51-62

Meditation

Through concrete stories, Scripture teaches us lessons which nowadays we would express in more abstract terms - lessons about commitment and responsibilities, personality types and character differences, generosity and unconditional love, reluctance and narrowness of heart.

Luke presents us with three portraits, three parables of response. The first man is unconditionally generous: "Wherever you go...." But his offer is too human: it must be purified by Jesus' challenge before it can serve as a divine call. The second man receives a divine call from Jesus and immediately makes conditions. Though we may consider his request most reasonable, the point is that we cannot limit God's call by our own concerns. The third man is a combination of the first two. On his own initiative he offers to follow Jesus but with conditions. We must learn that we cannot bargain with God. God does not negotiate: God invites and gives endless grace and light.

Jesus desires that we be generous. We may indeed like Elisha, have some hesitation in answering God's call. But like Elisha, we can overcome that reluctance and then generously and unconditionally follow Jesus.

Teach me, O Lord, to be generous. To give and not to count the cost.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer