主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(24/10/2010)

本主日讀經︰
德訓篇　35:15-17,20-22
聖詠　34[33]:2-3,17-19,23
弟茂德後書　4:6-8,16-18
路加福音　18:9-14

默想︰

成長過程中我們常會聽到有關做人處世的教導是「不要執輸」。不執輸意味事事要爭取走在別人之前，處處要第一，這樣才能為今生爭到最好的，才不枉此生。今天的讀經，耶穌卻教導我們要懂得在天主前謙虛自下，求天主父接納我們，俯聽我們的祈禱。

天主， 可憐我這個罪人罷！（路18:13)

也許我們會問：何罪之有？教會四規我都一一依從；任何敬禮天主的活動我都積極參加。我還是個罪人嗎？問題是我們以甚麼心態取悅天主。基督降生，要從罪惡中拯救我們。祂向我們啟示取悅天主、得永生的途徑，就是跟祂學習：「貶抑自己，聽命至死」（斐 2:8）。聽命要求我們放下驕傲與自滿，以謙卑的心誠心誠意恭敬天主，因為謙卑人的祈禱，穿雲而上（參閱德 35:20）。

天主，在信仰的成長路上，我們都會因自滿、自以為是而遠離了祢。祈求祢使我們時刻學習耶穌基督的謙卑，全心、全意、全力、全靈地事奉祢，並把這學習作為我們終生的功課。因主基督之名而求。阿孟。


【摘自和平十月號】


Readings (Year C) page 43:
Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18
Psalm 34: 2-3, 17-18, 19, 23 The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18
Luke 18: 9-14

Meditation

What a contrast between these two men in the Gospel! One of them observes the Law of God perfectly (at least he thinks he does), while the other is unquestionably a sinner, an outcast tax collector who has probably defrauded people countless times. Yet one goes away afterwards “at rights with God”, and it is not the religious person. The Pharisee almost seems to feel that God should be grateful to him for being among a small minority of “good” people. He does not need God; God needs him.

The tax collector, on the other hand, has no illusions of the kind of person he is. He also knows – which the Pharisee does not – that he will never get anywhere except by the mercy of a compassionate God. The most terrible thing is not to be a sinner but to be in denial about one’s sinfulness. Is it not this which makes the saint so saintly? The tax collector’s awareness of his sinfulness brought him closer to God and made him aware of how dependent he was on God’s love and grace.

Give me the grace, O Lord, to acknowledge my sinfulness and to know that Your loving mercy is always close at hand.


Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer