主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(15/08/2010)

本主日讀經︰
默示錄　11:19; 12:1-6,10
聖詠　45[44]:11-12,15,16
格林多前書　15:20-26
路加福音　1:39-56

默想︰

我們在世的生命很重要，因為在天主眼中非常珍貴。聖母升天展示了教會現世的使命在完成後將要達到的至善，也預先確證天主子民在人生旅途中的效果和安慰。在世的教會備受迫害，正如默示錄所載：那女人生了一個男孩子，祂就是那要以鐵杖牧放萬民的。但教會愈是遭受迫害就愈是如格林多前書所說的充滿生命力。聖母的初果是基督，然後是在基督再來時屬於基督的人，再後才是結局；那時，基督將消滅一切率領者、一切掌權者和大能者，把自己的王權交於天主父。貞女瑪利亞蒙召升天，是天主子民在人生旅途中的希望，而這希望是每個人冥冥之中對母親的獨特感情：聖母美麗高貴（因為耶穌是天主，所以耶穌的母親一定很美）、她很謙遜（自稱是婢女）、很有愛心（關心依撒伯爾及沒有酒的新人）、很愛耶穌（尋找十二齡及出來講道的耶穌）、很窮（因為是木匠的妻子）、很苦（未婚有孕，丈夫擬休之；丈夫早逝）、很勇敢（跟隨耶穌到十字架下）及很愛門徒（在聖神降臨時與門徒一起祈禱）。

蒙召升天的母親瑪利亞，求您在天上以您的愛，熾熱我們的心靈。

【摘自和平八月號】


Readings (Year C) page 126:
Revelation 11: 19a; 12: 1-6a, 10ab
Psalm 45: 10, 11, 12, 16 The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold.
1 Corinthians 15: 20-27
Luke 1: 39-56

Meditation

The Magnificat is an inspiring – and surprising – hymn of praise that Mary sings to God. It tells us that as well as a woman of faith she was strong and bold. Although she is humble before God there is nothing weak or submissive about her. Her song praises a God who comes to shake up the world and turn things upside down. The mighty and arrogant will be pulled off their thrones and the lowly lifted up and empowered. Those who lack the necessities of life will be fed and the self-satisfied sent away with nothing. In other words, Mary’s God cannot and must not be used to prop up the status quo or ‘the way things are’. Her God is a God of earthly as well as heavenly justice and He cares deeply about the social, political, and economic orders that people create. Paul echoes a similar attitude” Christ’s work is not finished until the entire world is subjected to God and brought into harmony with divine law – and we are part of that mission. And Mary herself must not be held captive to an otherworldly and uninvolved sort of devotion and spirituality. Mary provides a model of a courageous woman who is willing to endure pain, struggle, persecution, and rejection in order to fulfill her role in God’s plan for the redemption of the world. The ‘woman clothed with the sun’ inspired us to be courageous people who are committed to a just and peaceful world as well as the salvation of sours.

Lord, may I serve you with the commitment and faith of Mary.