主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation（2010年11月28日）

本主日讀經︰
依撒意亞先知書　2:1-5
聖詠　122[121]:1-2,3-4,6-7,8-9
羅馬書　13:11-14
瑪竇福音24:37-44

默想︰

本年世界各地水災頻仍，令很多災民措手不及。常見的自然現象，我們可以提防，但如何去準備迎接突如其來的生死一擊呢？

今天，教會展開新的禮儀年，福音有特別的主題。耶穌說：「就如在洪水以前的時日，人們照常吃喝婚嫁」，不理洪水要來的警告。耶穌藉此提醒我們要保持醒寤，時刻準備好迎接料想不到、翻天覆地的轉變。聖保祿在書信中，一再強調：「我們該由睡夢中醒來了」，因為我們的救恩，現今比當初信的時候更臨近了。

短短的將臨期，是恩寵的時刻：呼籲我們警醒，作好準備，迎接救主，並挑戰我們在商業社會鼓吹瘋狂購物度聖誕，即彷如諾厄時日的風氣中，把持信仰，為真理作見證。

依撒意亞先知預言，上主來臨要帶來平安，指示我們在光明中行走。耶穌已經來了，已經將祂的平安賜予我們。但耶穌仍然天天繼續來臨，使萬有與天主和好。
主耶穌，來吧！


【摘自和平十一月號】


Readings (Year A) page 4:
Isaiah 2: 1-5
Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Romans 13: 11-14
Matthew 24: 37-44

We've seen the suddenness and unpredictability of floods in many places this year, and how unprepared people were. For the usual and expected phenomena of nature it's possible to be prepared, but how can you prepare for the once-in-a-lifetime extreme occurrences?
As this year's Advent begins, there's a special topicality about our gospel reading for today. "In those days before the flood," Jesus said, people were just carrying on their ordinary way of life, uncaring even though they had been warned about the coming disaster. But His word to us, to stay awake, is about something much more dramatic and life-changing than any natural phenomenon. And no one knows the timing of it. St Paul's letter re-enforces for us this message of wakefulness, for the new day is closer now than when we first believed.

And the four weeks of Advent are a graced reminder of the "Coming" which extends to the whole of our lives and indeed the world's life. But we have a great challenge! How are we to give witness to this, amid the frenzy of the overlapping weeks of pre-Christmas commercial advertising and people hurriedly preparing for the festival?

In the prophecy of Isaiah, the coming of the Lord would be a time of peace when His people would walk in His ways, in the light of the Lord. Jesus has come, has brought His peace. But Jesus is still coming today. And He is to come again for the final reconciliation of creation and of all peoples with God.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer