主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(13/03/2011)

本主日讀經︰
創世紀　2:7-9; 3:1-7
聖詠　51[50]:3-4,5-6,12-13,14,17
羅馬書　5:12,17-19
瑪竇福音　4:1-11

默想︰

忽發奇想：若復活節是為紀念救主耶穌為世界的罪，死而逾越，是否若世人沒有罪，便沒有復活節及四旬期？若罪惡是誘惑的後果，是否沒有誘惑便沒有罪？誘惑又從何而來？

四旬期剛展開，選經將人的目光放到誘惑上，甚至貴為天主子的耶穌亦受到一般人所受的誘惑與試探，絕未倖免。但祂與原祖的最大分別，似乎就在如何面對及處理：向誘惑低頭妥協或憑藉天主聖言作出抉擇，是成敗的關鍵。亞當一念之差所失去的，耶穌憑一份堅持賺了回來！

果子不過是果子，餅不過是餅，沒有人的元素介入，似乎沒有誘惑可言。可見一切均盡在人的內心，無形無狀的誘惑隨人心而變異。教會要求我們在四旬期往心靈深處尋根，若發覺自己在追悔埋怨為誘惑所害時，當反思有沒有效法救主的榜樣。
主，唯有倚賴祢的聖言，作我步履前的明燈，我們才可免致顛仆於誘惑中。請教導我們能像祢聖子一樣，在試探中作出合乎祢聖意的抉擇。

【摘自和平三月號】　


Readings (Year A) page 4:
Genesis 2: 7-9; 3: 1-7
Psalm 51: 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Romans 5: 12-19
Matthew 4: 1-11

Today’s Gospel story follows immediately on Jesus’ baptism and endorsement by his Father as his “Beloved Son” to whom we are to listen. Note that Jesus is led into the desert by the Spirit of God. The purpose clearly is not to lead him to do evil but as a testing of his fitness for his coming mission. Each of the three temptations touches on Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, which had been revealed during his baptism. “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

It is important to realize that all temptations – and these tests are no exception – come to us under the guise of some kind of goodness. In each of the three tests today, Jesus is being led on to do something which would seem to enhance his mission as Lord and Saviour. In fact, these three tests are really symbols of real tests that we find in the life of Jesus. Jesus did produce large quantities of bread on two occasions but not for himself but rather to feed the hungry. He rejected calls from his opponents to prove who he was by performing some striking signs. After one of the feedings (as told in John’s gospel), he had the crowd at his feet and they wanted to make him king. Instead, he fled to the mountains to pray to his Father and packed his ambitious disciples off in a boat and into a storm which gave them something else to think about – survival.

The way of the Father is the only way that will lead him – and us – to the life that never ends and when all tears will be wiped away.
Lead us not into temptation. Amen.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer