主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(29/08/2010)

本主日讀經︰
德訓篇　3:19-21,30-31
聖詠　68[67]:4-5,6-7,10-11
希伯來書　12:18-19,22-24
路加福音　14:1,7-14

默想︰

歌頌謙遜的書籍和文章很多。讀經一給我們肯定，若我們謙和地執行我們的工作，必受愛戴，並能取悅於天主。謙遜可從不同角度觀之，斐理伯書2:1-11講述耶穌空虛自己，取了奴僕形體的篇章，可以幫助我們明白今天讀經一，尤其福音所闡述的謙遜。
《熱羅尼莫聖經詮釋》作者，詮釋斐理伯書2:1-11時，對化謙遜為行動，有上佳的提議。他說：「謙遜在舊約，只不過是指一種在天主前的正確態度。在基督宗教裏，謙遜是指追隨基督的典範，在生活中實踐基督的謙遜，亦即活出在人前謙下的質素」。只要有更多人願意仿效耶穌的謙遜，就不會有爭坐首席的醜態。《熱羅尼莫聖經詮釋》的作者續說：「保祿認為基督徒的愛德要變成一種生活動力：不只顧自己，也顧及別人」。路加福音常強調耶穌關懷貧窮及不幸的人。如果謙遜等於忘我，或至少等於忘卻自己的一部分，謙遜的人備受愛戴，理所當然！

主耶穌，讓我的心能像祢那樣溫良謙遜。

【摘自和平八月號】


Readings (Year C) page 62:
Sirach 3: 17-18, 20, 28-29
Psalm 68: 4-5, 6-7, 10-11 God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.
Hebrews 12: 18-19, 22-24a
Luke 14: 1, 7-14

Meditation

Countless books and articles have been written about that lovable virtue, humility. Lovable? Today's first reading assures us that if we conduct our human affairs with humility we will be loved and that we will win God's favour too. Philippians 2:1-11 will help us to understand the aspects of humility that are presented to us in the first reading and, especially in the Gospel today. This passage tells us that Jesus emptied himself and became a slave for us.
In the New Jerome Biblical Commentary the writer on Philippians gives us some very helpful suggestions on humility in action when dealing with this passage. After telling us that in the Old Testament humility "is no more and no less than the appropriate human stance before God", he continues. "In Christianity the free adopting of a lowly, unassertive stance before fellow human beings becomes a distinctive virtue after the pattern established by Christ." There would be no undignified scrambling for places of honour at dinners if Jesus' attitude was more widely accepted.
The commentator goes on to write, "For Paul, Christian love flows from the free disposition to unseat concern for self as the driving force of life and replace it with a practical concern for others." This is continually stressed by Luke in his Gospel as Jesus' concern for the poor and disadvantaged.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer