主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(03/10/2010)

本主日讀經︰
哈巴谷先知書　1:2-3;2:2-4
聖詠　95[94]:1-2,6-7,8-9
弟茂德後書　1:6-8,13-14
路加福音　17:5-10

默想︰

路加福音從第九章開始，便多次提醒讀者，耶穌是朝著耶路撒冷前行，而第十七章十一節則是這個行程最後階段的開始。從這個背景看，便較容易了解為何今天的福音好像很雜亂，沒有一個主題，因為它是為前面幾個朝向耶路撒冷前行的階段作綜合，亦為進入最後的階段作準備，而這個綜合和準備的核心，就是有關信仰的態度。

耶穌在邁向耶路撒冷的旅程中，通過祂的言與行，啟示給人天國的喜訊。天主的慈愛與寬容，在進入旅程的最後階段之前，耶穌要提醒門徒和信眾，祂所做和祂所講論的一切，都是為加強他們的信德。這信德的力量之一，可以使人做出超乎他能想像的事情。

不過，這信德的基礎和目標，並不在於完成的事情，而在於對天主的認識。因此，耶穌又立即提醒人，不要以自己所做的而邀功，沒有天主的助佑，人是一事無成的。

這種把一切放在天主內的信德和謙遜有一個中心方向，就是耶路撒冷；而在這最後階段的行程，耶穌樹立了向天父徹底交付自己的榜樣。耶路撒冷就是這交付的具體標記，而這交付的行動需要天主賜予的信德，也因此，人必須有絕對的謙遜。

主耶穌，求祢也增加我們的信德，並教導我們效法祢的謙遜，好讓我們也能在朝向自己的耶路撒冷旅程中，向天父徹底交付自己。


【摘自和平十月號】


Readings (Year C) page 10:
Habakkuk 1: 2-3; 2: 2-4
Psalm 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9 If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
2 Timothy 1: 6-8, 13-14
Luke 17: 5-10

Meditation

Large crowds are following Jesus. What are they looking for? Another sensational miracle? Jesus turns round and says words that sound quite shocking: “If anyone comes to me without hating father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and his own life, that person cannot be my follower/disciple.” What are we to make of such an extraordinary statement? Jesus tells us to hate our family members – and love our enemies? It is quite obvious from the overall context of Luke’s gospel that Jesus could not mean us literally to hate our parents, brothers and sisters – or ourselves.

On the contrary we are called to have love and compassion for every single person, irrespective of who they are or what their relationship may be to us. What Jesus is saying is that those who are truly disciples of Jesus recognize that, as children of one God, we all belong to one family, that we are all brothers and sisters to each other. We are therefore bound also to love our close family members – but not at the expense of others in greater need of our help. There may be times – and they can be painful experiences – when we would have to reject family members who want us to join them in behaviour that is harmful, unjust or unloving to others. To do so would not be really loving them.

If you love only those who love you, what entitlement have you to a reward?

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer