主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　（2010年12月12日）

本主日讀經︰
依撒意亞先知書　11:1-10
聖詠　72[71]:2,7-8,12-13,17
羅馬書　15:4-9
瑪竇福音　3:1-12

默想︰

作好準備迎接救主降生的第二主日，經訓提示，最好的準備莫如改惡遷善（福音）；彼此忍耐、安慰、接納（讀經二）；建設人間天國（讀經一，聖詠）。

若翰洗者用了很嚴厲的言詞斥責法利塞人和撒杜塞人的偽善，指他們是「毒蛇的種類」！若翰呼籲真正預備上主道路的人，結與悔改相稱的果實。悔改受洗只是一個開始，若隨之而來沒有相稱的行為，使別人因我們的表現而認識天主的國度，使天主的國臨現於世，我們的悔改不是真正的悔改。相稱的生活行為，要見證基督「以聖神及火」洗了我們；分受祂的使命：拯救哀號的貧民，扶持無援的窮人，憐恤不幸和貧乏的群眾，救護窮苦貧病者的生命（詠72:12-13）。當日保祿勸猶太人和外邦人和好的說話，為我們也合用。換言之，相稱的生活行為，包括放下一己的成見，彼此忍耐、安慰和接納。為迎接基督的誕生，最好的準備莫如在天主的大家庭中，「彼此同心合意，好一心一口光榮我們的主耶穌基督的天主和父」。

主，請幫助我們在彼此身上，迎接祢的誕生。


【摘自和平十二月號】


Readings (Year A) page 25:
Isaiah 35: 1-6a, 10
Psalm 146: 6-7, 8-9, 9-10 Lord, come and save us.
James 5: 7-10
Matthew 11: 2-11

Meditation

The prophet Isaiah assures us that when the Messiah comes, the desert will rejoice and bloom. Yes, we shall obtain the joy and gladness Isaiah speaks about and our sorrow and sadness shall flee away. But according to St James, we have to be patient until the coming of our Lord. He offers us some very wise words: "Be patient … steady your hearts … Do not grumble against one another …" It is only when each one of us really surrenders to our Lord and invites Him to come and live in us and act in us everyday, that we can be channels of His life and love to one another.

Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of our Lord. And Jesus Himself asks us to prepare the way for Him just as John the Baptist did. John's whole life was one of patience and faithfulness. Let us then break down the walls of distrust, fear, hurt, anger, suspicion, selfishness and invite Jesus into our hearts. In this way, our Eucharist today will be really a celebration of hope!

Come, Lord Jesus, and help me generously to pour myself out in acts of kindness to others. Amen.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer