主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation　(17/4/2011)

本主日讀經︰
依撒意亞先知書　50:4-7
聖詠　22[21]:8-9,17-18,19-20,23-24
斐理伯書　2:6-11
瑪竇福音　26:14-27:66

默想︰

耶穌基督是君王！在與總督對話時，耶穌正面地肯定祂自己君王的地位。總督的士兵也譏諷式地稱呼祂為君王。祂在十字架上時，頭上的罪狀牌更寫明祂是君王。但這位君王用以抵抗出賣、否認、不義和強權的武器，是君王對天主的順命。祂在山園向我們展示了順命的祈禱：「但不要照我，而要照祢所願意的」。在受難始末中，祂成了依撒意亞先知所形容的順命僕人：「對於侮辱和唾汚，我没有遮掩我的面」；因為祂是聆聽天主的人，在任何境況中都完全依賴天主。這樣順命的君王，才是天主所喜悅的，喜悅到要「賜給了他一個名字，超越其他所有的名字」。

讓我們為世上的一切執政者向耶穌基督祈禱。願他們都能以基督祢為榜樣，在執行地上君王的職務時，將天主愛人民的聖意，置於自己的私慾之上。願基督祢以祢順命於天主的聖德，光照一切執政者的心神，使他們能聽到天主在他們良心中的呼聲，也使他們能聆聽到人民正義訴求中的天主聲音，使他們的君王工作成為帶領人民走向真理的工程，正如基督祢在苦難中所達到的一樣。


【摘自和平四月號】


Readings (Year A) page 8:
Isaiah 50: 4-7
Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Philippians 2: 6-11
Matthew 26: 14-27; 66㎝

The Church Father, St. Ephraem, exclaimed: “Your word, Lord, has many shades of meaning, just as those who study it have many different points of view.” Modern studies have taught us even more clearly the truth of Ephraem’s observation.

The different accounts of Palm Sunday are a good example. In the Synoptic Gospels Jesus sends his disciples into Jerusalem earlier to get the donkey on which he rides into Jerusalem. In John’s account however, while walking into Jerusalem Jesus himself gets the donkey and mounts it to continue his entry into Jerusalem.
Matthew and Luke present temptations in the life of Jesus in the very dramatic story of the Temptations in the Desert. John is more concerned with the human reality of Jesus facing on-going temptation, opposition and misunderstanding from the people he encountered in daily life, even his relatives and disciples. The devil tempted Jesus with the kingdoms of the world, and people expected Jesus to be a king. Jesus directly sought to correct this idea outside Jerusalem by himself getting the donkey, as if he were teaching his disciples and the people, saying: “If you expect me to be a king, remember what kind of king I must be, one who is not worldly but humble and riding on a donkey.”

Lord, guide us in understanding the deeper meaning of Your holy word.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer