主日讀經反思 Sunday Scripture Meditation (23/1/2011)
本主日讀經︰
依撒意亞先知書 8:23-9:3
聖詠 27[26]:1,4,13-14
格林多前書 1:10-13,17
瑪竇福音 4:12-23
默想︰
根據瑪竇所述，耶穌一開始宣講，便召叫門徒。最初被召的四位門徒，根本未算是一個團體，莫說是教會了。可是，就是這四位成員，成了教會的核心；而伯多祿、雅各伯和若望，更成了十二宗徒的中心人物。當耶穌顯聖容及在山園祈禱時，這三位門徒陪伴在側。有趣的是，在最初被召的四位門徒當中的安德肋，除了在馬爾谷福音13:3中與伯多祿、雅各伯和若望一同向耶穌提問，因而引發耶穌談及聖殿被毀及未來的災艱外，就沒有再跟其餘三位聯在一起了。
在聖神降臨和教會形成之前，這四位門徒經歷了許多徹頭撤尾，刻骨銘心，完全將他們的生命轉變的經驗。他們每一位都跟耶穌建立起獨特而親密的關係。耶穌循循善誘，悉心教導，對他們關懷備至，寵愛有加，還以他們的名字召叫了他們跟隨祂，做祂的宗徒。在耶穌公開生活期間，他們常伴耶穌左右；並與耶穌一起共進最後晚餐。他們能親眼見到復活的耶穌，接觸交談；聖神在五旬節，更降臨他們身上。
主耶穌，我們感謝祢賜予我們的信德之恩，並感謝祢召叫了我們做祢的門徒。請引導我們與祢建立更親密的關係。
【摘自和平一月號】
Readings (Year A) page 23:
Isaiah 8: 23 – 9: 3
Psalm 27: 1, 4, 13-14 The Lord is my light and my salvation.
1 Corinthians 1: 10-13, 17
Matthew 4: 12-23
According to Matthew, as soon as Jesus began to preach the Gospel, he started gathering disciples around him. These four disciples did not yet constitute a community, much less the Church. Yet it is important to see the nucleus of the Church in this initial group, especially as Peter, James and John would form a core group within the Twelve Apostles. They would accompany Jesus on the Mount of the Transfiguration and in the Agony in the Garden. It is intriguing to see that Andrew, one of these first four, is not associated with the others afterwards in that core group apart from Mark 13:3,where he joined with Peter, James and John in asking the question which led to Jesus' teaching about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world.
These four men had many life-changing experiences before they came to Pentecost and became the Church. They all had a very special, intimate relationship with Jesus, who taught them patiently and lovingly and eventually called them by name to be his Apostles. They shared in Jesus' public life; they were present at the Last Supper. They encountered the Risen Jesus and received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost,
Lord Jesus, we thank you for the grace of faith and our vocation to be Your disciples. Draw us to greater intimacy with You.
Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer
