主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation (13/02/2011)

本主日讀經︰
德訓篇　15:16-21
聖詠　119[118]:1-2,4-5,17-18,33-34
格林多前書　2:6-10
瑪竇福音　5:17-37

默想︰

舊約德訓篇的智者在個人沉思反省中領悟到全善全能的天主是永遠信實的，祂給予人全部的自由。祂將生死善惡放在人面前，人願意那樣，祂就賜給他那樣。唯獨祂從未吩咐人作惡，也從未准許人犯罪。人雖然知道要恪守規律，但往往愚昧軟弱，犯罪之後卻又心存僥倖，不知悔改，妄想天主自會寬赦。不曉得這等同試探天主，一再冒犯天主。

其實慈愛的天主賞賜給人的恩寵，遠遠超過我們堪當承受的。天主洞悉人心，明白人面對誘惑時，容易失足跌倒，迷失方向。為此，祂給我們啓示祂那深不可測的智慧，只為使我們能獲得光榮。祂創世時已為我們預定了這屬於祂的智慧。從舊約時期先知的呼喚、智慧文學智者的教誨，祂一直以智慧真理啟示引領萬民。這智慧的高峯就是祂在聖子耶穌基督內親自降生成人，以言以行教曉我們敬畏祂，追尋道路、真理、生命。只要我們願意遵守基督的教誨，人便能虛心與主交往，關懷他人，與世界共融，與主契合。

父啊！唯有祢的聖子聖言能幫助我們去辨別自己的心思念慮；求祢派遣聖神繼續不斷保守，帶領我們，讓我們能善用自由意志，誠心樂意承行祢的旨意。

【摘自和平二月號】


Readings (Year A) page 54:
Sirach 15: 15-20
Psalm 119: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
1 Corinthians 2: 6-10
Matthew 5: 17-37

Today's Gospel tells us that we do not keep the Law through our external behaviour but through our inner attitudes, our basic values. Even now, some people in confession are sorry because their sins offend God or are instances of personal failure, but often they show little awareness of how their sins hurt other people. For Jesus, we cannot separate our relationship with God and our relationship with people. If we cannot find God in our brothers and sisters, we cannot say that we really love God. "As often as you did not do it to them, you did not do it to me." Or in the words of the First Letter of John: "If you refuse to love, you must remain dead; to hate your brother is to be a murderer" (1 Jn 3:15). There are not a few who feel that if they just keep the Commandments they are good Catholics. They often like to ask, "Is this a sin?", that is, is it against the law? Is it a mortal sin or is it a venial sin? If it is "only" a venial sin, then I can do it. But true Christians do not ask whether something is legal or illegal. Their only concern is how they can serve and love their brothers and sisters more and more. It is not then a question of what I have to do. It is a question of how much more I can do, how much more I want to do. The requirements of the law are way behind.

Love - and do what you like! (St Augustine)

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer