主日讀經反思 Sunday Scripture Meditation (17/07/2011)

本主日讀經︰
智慧篇　12:13,16-19
聖詠　86[85]:5-6,9-10,15-16
羅馬書　8:26-27
瑪竇福音　13:24-43

默想︰

耶穌在瑪竇福音13:24-30，教我們腳踏實地，看清楚人間天國的面貌。我們必須將耶穌的教訓應用到地上的教會，因為當中實在有不少「莠子」。耶穌提到，撒莠子的，是仇人。如果仇人是教會以外的人，教會仍能保持團結，抵抗外敵；但如果仇人是教會中人，教會就會慘被剝弱，苦不堪言。再者，如果仇人是教會中人，仇人的勢力往往還會坐大。

教會的性醜聞案例說明了這一點：教會內的確存在著這種不正當行為，而處理的人亦顯得笨拙。可是，亦有不少純粹為著貪念或報復而虛構案情。這些偽造案情的人，通常自稱天主教友，但幹的就是仇人的工作：他們打劫教會用來賙濟貧苦的錢財，混淆真假。

主耶穌，請可憐祢的教會，從一切仇人中，將我們救出。

我主，因為你又良善又慈憫，凡呼號你的，你必待他寬仁。
詠86：5


【摘自和平七月號】


Readings (Year A) page 106:
Wisdom 12: 13, 16-19
Psalm 86: 5-6, 9-10, 15-16
Romans 8: 26-27
Matthew 13: 24-43 or 24-30

In the parable in Mt. 13: 24-30, Jesus teaches us to be realistic about the nature of the kingdom of heaven, at least in its earthly phase. We must apply what he says to the Church on earth, for there is much “bad seed” sown among the good seed. Jesus speaks about “an enemy” and his work of sowing the bad seed. When the enemy of the church is an outsider, the Church can be strong in facing up to him. When, however, the enemy is within the Church, the Church itself seems to be weakened and so suffers much. Indeed, once there are enemies within the Church itself, they seem to multiply.

The sexual scandal which has afflicted the Church shows this: there have been many real scandals, real cases of abuse and real cases of weakness on the part of authorities in dealing with such abuse. But many false cases have been brought against individuals out of sheer greed in order to get money or out of revenge. Those who bring such false cases usually claim to be Catholics, but their activities are the work of an enemy: their injustice robs the Church of the patrimony of the poor and the falsity of their claims calls into question the truth of real cases of abuse.

Lord Jesus, have mercy on your Church. Save us from all our enemies.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer