主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(17/10/2010)

本主日讀經︰
依撒意亞先知書 60:1-6
聖詠　19:2-5
默示錄　1:3-8
若望福音 17:11,17-23

默想︰

初世紀，教會只慶祝救恩史的重大事件，尤其復活節。慢慢地，基督徒明白到在我們的宗教裏，有很多事情值得慶祝，值得我們喜樂地謝恩。

每位基督徒都有傳教的使命，所以，在這一個主日，教會慶祝傳教節。在誦讀的書信中，我們看到基督徒傳教使命的基礎。天主賦予我們的每個恩寵也是一項任務，是有待我們履行的使命。與此同時，每一項任務也應視之為，兼且要被悅納為是一份恩賜。今天福音以一悲觀的思想作結束：「但是，人子來臨時，能在世上找到信德嗎？」在過去數年，教會受盡醜聞困擾，我們應將耶穌的話銘記於心，深入體會信德這鴻恩及其要求的任務。藉著慶祝傳教節，教會提醒我們應樂於與人分享信仰，期待有一天，所有人都會接受耶穌為救主，認天主為父及生命、希望與福佑之源。正如保祿吩咐弟茂德的，我們務要宣講真道，不論順境逆境，總要堅持不變。

主耶穌，請賜予我們智慧和勇氣，特別是以我們的使徒生活作見證，去傳揚祢的福音。

【摘自和平十月號】


Readings (Year C) page 97:
Isaiah 60: 1-6
Psalm 19: 2-5 All the earth proclaims the glory of God.
Revelation 1: 3-8
John 17: 11, 17-23

Do you know what your aim or mission in life is? Jesus' aim and mission was to glorify his heavenly Father. All he said and did gave glory to his Father. On the eve of his sacrifice and in the presence of his disciples, Jesus made his high priestly prayer: "Holy Father, keep them in your name that they may be one as we are one". Jesus prayed for the unity of his disciples. Jesus' prayer for his people is that we be united with God the Father in his Son and through his Holy Spirit and be joined together, in unity with all who are members of Christ's body. Jesus saw glory in the cross rather than shame. Obedience to his Father's will was his glory. Jesus kept his Father's word even when tempted to forgo the cross. His strength was not in himself but in his Father who kept him. We, too, must take up our cross and follow the Lord Jesus whenever he may call us. He will give us the strength and power of the Holy Spirit to live as his disciples. John Henry Newman wrote: "God has created me, to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission-- I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for nothing. Therefore, I will trust him. Whatever, wherever I am. I cannot be thrown away." Do you trust in God and in his call for your life? Jesus prayed that his disciples would be sanctified and consecrated in God's truth and holiness. The scriptural word for consecration comes from the same Hebrew word which means holy or set apart for God. This word also means to be equiped with the qualities of mind and heart and character for such a task or service. Just as Jesus was called by the Father to serve in holiness and truth, so we, too, are called and equipped for the task of serving God in the world as his ambassadors. God's truth frees us from ignorance and the deception of sin. It reveals to us God's goodness, love, and wisdom. And it gives us a thirst for God's holiness. The Holy Spirit is the source and giver of all holiness. As we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, he transforms us by his purifying fire and changes us in the likeness of Christ. Is your life consecrated to God?

"Lord, take my life and make it wholly pleasing to you. Sanctify me in your truth and guide me by your Holy Spirit that I may follow you faithfully wherever you lead."

Daily Scripture Readings & Meditations