主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(10/07/2011)

本主日讀經︰
依撒意亞先知書　55:10-11
聖詠　65[64]:10,11,12-13,14
羅馬書　8:18-23
瑪竇福音　13:1-23

默想︰

通常第一篇讀經與福音的訊息是相連的，但今天全部選經都似乎有同一的訊息。在優美詠讚的答唱詠之下，這個聯繫更加強烈，鼓勵我們嘗試將訊息融入我們的生活當中。貫穿各篇經文的訊息，是臨於世界並恩賜世人生命的天主聖言。我們經常在舊約中讀到，天主在這個物質世界中工作，將它保存，使它結果。而天主的臨在又是那麼的信實可靠，致使人們可以務農為生，來養活一家，樂也融融。我們除了在舊約，看到天主的大能臨於植物與果實，牛羊和魚類之外，還看到祂的聖言期待進入人的心靈深處。新約的故事和比喻說明了這一點。在一般情況下，大地都會有它的出產；人卻不然！我們需要願意去做積極和天主合作的土壤，才可望獲得收成。我們需要開放自己，讓天主磨練和灌溉。天主聖言就好像農夫用來翻土，使泥土鬆軟的犁鏵，將我們磨練，助我們的生命茁壯成長。美滿的收成，不但證明天主的說話不單止是訊息，兼且是在彰顯天主的救贖計劃，正在圓滿地實現的盛典。

主，請祢開啓我們的心靈，去聆聽祢的聖言。

【摘自和平七月號】


Readings (Year A) page 94:
Isaiah 55: 10-11
Psalm 65: 10, 11, 12-13, 14
Romans 8: 18-23
Matthew 13: 1-23 or 1-9

Today all the three readings are connected. This unity is reinforced by a Responsorial Psalm which, in its beauty, can encourage us greatly in our attempts to incorporate the message of the readings into our lives.

The unity is based on the life-giving presence of God’s word in the world. It is regularly asserted in the Old Testament that God is at work in the physical world sustaining it and making it fruitful. His presence is so reliable and so effective that the farmer and the gardener can with confidence take up a profession that will in the vast majority of cases guarantee their families a reasonably comfortable life style.

In the Old Testament, moreover, God’s sustaining power is not confined to the world of corn and fruit, cattle and fish. His word seeks entry into the hearts and minds of men and women. This becomes abundantly clear in the stories and parables of the New Testament.

Granted normal conditions the fields and gardens of the world will produce their long awaited harvests almost automatically. Not so with us humans alas! We have to be willing, active cooperating soil before there is a harvest. We have to be open to God’s harrowing and sowing. The resulting harvest, however, will ensure that God’s word is not just a message. It will be an event, a happening revealing God’s plan of salvation successfully accomplished.

Open our hearts and minds Lord to hear Your holy word.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer