主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(22/08/2010)

本主日讀經︰
依撒意亞先知書　66:18-21
聖詠　117[116]:1,2
希伯來書　12:5-7,11-13
路加福音　13:22-30

默想︰

天主創造了宇宙萬物，也給了人類生存的環境。藉著自然、人的理智、良心，天主與人交往。天主在人前施行了奇妙偉大的事，所以人不能說沒有見過祂的能力和超越。天主的大方和慈善超過人的想像，祂也願意人們對彼此大方、慈善。地球上的部分資源是有限的，如石油、天然氣、土地，所以更加需要節約、善用、公平地分配。若是一個人有滿倉糧食，鄰居一家卻在忍饑挨餓，難道他不需要趕快救濟鄰居，就想自己有資格在天國裏坐席？天主的創造和愛是為了地上所有的民族，強大的不應該獨佔任何資源；因為弱小的也有生存發展的權利。任何不履行正道的國家，只會自取滅亡。天主時常懲戒、鞭打，期望人民改過遷善，結出義德的和平果實。耶穌來除了顯示天主是愛，也要訓斥虛僞的人。他們自認認識耶穌，聽過祂的教訓，卻沒有悔過。對於固執於惡的人，耶穌都無能爲力。對於上主的鞭打和耶穌的斥責，人要歡喜地接受，因為上主懲戒祂所愛的，祂對待人民如同對待子女。

仁慈的主，凡改過遷善的，祢都沛降祝福，使他們結出義德的和平果實。我們感謝稱頌祢。

【摘自和平八月號】


Readings (Year C) page 52:
Isaiah 66: 18-21
Psalm 117: 1, 2 Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Hebrews 12: 5-7, 11-13
Luke 13: 22-30

Meditation

“Will there be only a few saved?” That question put to Jesus might stand for all of the ‘theory’ questions we ask of God or of ourselves in times of doubt, in anxiety, in fear, maybe in self-justification or just in curiosity. Jesus didn’t answer directly, and neither does our Father, because it’s really irrelevant: counting heads doesn’t matter. And comparing ourselves with other people, favourably or not, is also irrelevant. What matters is not learning an item of information but acting rightly, choosing the right road, the right door to enter, the company of Jesus. It’s a narrow door, Jesus said. To find it and keep going requires perseverance and staying with Him on the way. There are no ‘easy rides’ and no short cuts to avoid the pain of the world, the suffering of people, Jesus’ way of the cross. We go His way and with Him, or we don’t get there. There are no complimentary tickets to salvation, no reserved seats at the banquet of the Kingdom. It’s been said: “If you have not paradise in the depth of your heart, don’t hope to enter there.” People who think themselves to be important, to be the best, the first, the chosen, will find themselves last because they’ve lost the way, perhaps even lost the Way.

Lord Jesus, keep me close to You on my journey, keep reminding me that Yours is the road I need to go by, and that You are the gateway to my fullness of life, my peace and my joy with the Father.