主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　（16/01/2011）

本主日讀經︰
依撒意亞先知書　49:3,5-6
聖詠　40[39]:2,7-8,8-9,10
格林多前書　1:1-3
若望福音　1:29-34

默想︰

我們如何對待別人，影響別人的回應態度。所以我們須常檢討自己的福傳與服務態度。原來我們傳福音時先天性仍是會斤斤計較，依撒意亞道出我們的待領狀況：「我白白勤勞了，我枉費了氣力而毫無益處；但是我的權利是在上主那裏，我的報酬在我的天主面前」。福音提醒我們每一個信友，都是蒙召成聖，參與基督的生命。在蒙召上，我們如若翰洗者，我們見了，我們便作證。所以在恩寵上我們是大的、多的及先的，自然地是有責任去善導後來的人，願意他們跟隨耶穌而不是自己。福音中，常看到當時的天主僕人如經師、法學士及司祭長等在不同的情況下威迫近人，做了相反領導人進天國的行為。這都是人性自我的「先天未『仁』」的再現，但由於天主的恩寵，所以我們在困境中仍敢於福傳，就是因為祂的愛在領導著及派遣著。只要我們將在基督奧體內所見的互動及所聞的傳揚開去，遇到的困難，便等於激勵，而不會退縮返回先天未「仁」的狀況。因此，在困難中更顯信德的真誠。

天父，求祢幫助我們努力不懈地福傳。


【摘自和平一月號】

Readings (Year A) page 14:
Isaiah 49: 3, 5-6
Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
1 Corinthians 1: 1-3
John 1: 29-34

Meditation

Like the Prophet Isaiah before him, John the Baptist knew his mission was to prepare the way for the Messiah. And when Jesus came to the Jordan river, John then recognized Him and publicly proclaimed that this man was the ‘Chosen One of God’. Pointing Him out, John said, “Look there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”

Those words prompted some of John’s disciples to go and follow Jesus; those very same words are still said to us each time we take part in the Eucharist liturgy. They are words that invite a reaction, a response. What is our response? The words we say in answer, “Lord, I am not worthy …”, are an act of faith and a plea for healing. But what about our actions, the way we live? In what ways do we respond like John’s disciples did, in going out to follow Jesus, to see where He was living, to spend time with Him?
Jesus Himself said that those who believe in Him are greater even than John the Baptist. So we might ask ourselves in what ways do we, in our lives and words and actions, proclaim that Jesus really is the “Chosen One of God”, the Messiah-Savior, and point Him out to other people as the Lamb of God and taker away of sin?

Lord Jesus, make us Your heralds and messengers not only in the words we say about You, but in the ways we recognize You and point You out to others.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer