主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation（09/01/2011）

本主日讀經︰
依撒意亞先知書　42:1-4,6-7
聖詠　29[28]:1-2,3-4,9-10
宗徒大事錄　10:34-38
瑪竇福音　3:13-17

默想︰

耶穌受洗，聖神臨於祂身上。讀經一帶我們重温依撒意亞先知的預言：上主要將祂的神傾注在祂所揀選的人，使他成為萬民之光，將正義伸張，使人能享受天主的安慰。耶穌接受洗禮，標誌著祂決意履行父的委託，正式開始傳教。當我們慶祝耶穌受洗這個重要的生命時刻，讓我們祈求能更深入地明白個中奧秘，及這奧秘與我們自身的關係。耶穌受洗，標誌著新的開始：天主在我們中間，默默耕耘，改變人心。從天上而來的聲音，在邀請我們分享耶穌與聖父之間的關係。我們領洗加入教會，不但是隆重的儀式，更是成為基督奧體的一員。我們須不斷反省這深邃意義：受洗就是參與基督的死亡和復活，成為祂使命的一部分。正如耶穌在約旦河受洗，聖神臨於祂身上，同樣地，當我們接受洗禮時，聖神亦臨於我們身上。我們被委以耶穌的使命，亦同時領受了一份超凡的能力，去將使命完成。這是天主聖神在我們內，使我們成聖：扶助我們做萬民之光，伸張正義，使人得享天主的安慰。

天父，求祢教我們讓聖神的德能在我們身上工作，發揮超乎我們所能想像的效果。

【摘自和平一月號】


Readings (Year A) page 4:
Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7
Psalm 29: 1-2, 3-4, 9-10 The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Acts 10: 34-38
Matthew 3: 13-17

Meditation

At His baptism, Jesus saw the Spirit of God descending on Him. Today’s liturgy also refers us back to Isaiah’s prophecy about how the Lord would put His spirit on His chosen servant, to bring justice and healing and be a light for the nations. Jesus’ baptism was the start of His public ministry, His dedication to doing the work of His Father.

As we celebrate this important event of Jesus’ life, let’s pray for a deeper understanding of its mystery, and of its relevance to ourselves. It is a sign and symbol of something new in the world, God among us gently and quietly bringing change of heart and life. It is an invitation for us to share in that relationship of Jesus with His Father, announced from the heavens.

For all of us who have been baptized, that event in our lives was much more than a ceremony making us members of Christ’s body, the Church. Whether we remember the day or not, we reflect on its meaning, the meaning of being baptized into Christ, into His death and rising, becoming part of His mission.

As for Him at the Jordan River, the Spirit of God was given also to us then. We have been committed to the Lord’s work, and to do this we have received a power beyond anything we could dream of, a power that perhaps we undervalue, underestimate. The Holy Spirit is in us, making us holy. And we’ve been commissioned to be light for all peoples, justice and healing for the world.

Lord, our Christian mission, is in Your power, not our own.


Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer