主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation (21/08/2011)

本主日讀經︰
依撒意亞先知書　22:19-23
聖詠　138[137]:1-3,6,8
羅馬書　11:33-36
瑪竇福音　16:13-20

默想︰

天主稱厄里雅金為「我的僕人」。依撒意亞多次提到「上主的僕人」，而我們明白依撒意亞乃在暗指這位「上主的僕人」，就是天主的真正僕人、耶穌基督；天國臨於這位默西亞身上。耶穌亦自稱「天上地下的一切權柄都交給了我」
（瑪28:18）。今天的禮儀，將天主稱厄里雅金為祂的僕人，以及福音中伯多祿接受天國鑰匙、束縛與釋放的權力相連。伯多祿明認耶穌是默西亞、基督。耶穌稱他有福，並指伯多祿之所以明白，是由於天父：這是由於天主的啟示，而非單靠人的理智認知。當我們將這些要素集中起來，便能更清楚明白伯多祿及他的繼承人，即在他以後的教宗們的使命所包含的奧秘和重要性。天主揀選厄里雅金做「我的僕人」，「將達味家室的鑰匙放在他肩上；他開了，沒有人能關；他關了，沒有人能開」。同樣地，默西亞耶穌將祂的王權交給伯多祿，祂要在伯多祿、這磐石上建立教會。

天父，請祝福祢所揀選的僕人，我們的教宗本篤十六世。請賜予他勇氣和智慧，履行作伯多祿繼承人的使命。


【摘自和平八月號】


Readings (Year A) page 48:
Isaiah 22: 19-23
Psalm 138: 1-2, 2-3, 6, 8
Romans 11: 33-36
Matthew 16: 13-20

God calls Eliakim "my servant". As in the many other passages where Isaiah speaks about a "servant of God", we understand this "servant of God" as a symbol of Jesus the Messiah, the true Servant of God, in whom the kingdom of God is present and who declared "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Mt 28:18). Today, the Liturgy sets this passage in conjunction with the Gospel passage about Peter receiving the keys of the kingdom of heaven and the power of binding and loosing. Peter has confessed Jesus as the Messiah, Christ. Jesus calls him blessed, and points to God the Father as the source of Peter's understanding: it is not a mere human understanding, but a revelation from God.

When we draw all these elements together, we understand more clearly the mystery and significance of the ministry of Peter and his successors, the Popes. God chose Eliakim as his "servant" and gave him the "power of the keys", the authority of binding and loosing. In the same way, and with the same authority, Jesus the Messiah confers his messianic authority on Peter, the rock on whom he builds his Church.

Father in heaven, bless Your chosen servant, Benedict our Pope, with the courage and wisdom he needs to fulfill his Petrine mission.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer