主日讀經反思　Sunday Scripture Meditation (28/08/2011)

本主日讀經︰
耶肋米亞先知書　20:7-9
聖詠　63[62]:2,3-4,5-6,8-9
羅馬書　12:1-2
瑪竇福音　16:21-27

默想︰

「你所體會的，不是天主的事，而是人的事」（瑪16:23） 耶穌來到人間，但保有神性。伯多祿的反應是一般人的自然反應，但耶穌的神性超越肉身，祂亦希望門徒能超越肉身，如同祂在山園祈禱時，超越肉身的軟弱：「但不要照我，而要照你所願意的」。我們在生活中要面對很多人的事，但分辨天主的意思，追隨耶穌的行徑，才能把人的事提升到天主的事，而為天人合一的滿全。「人縱然賺得了全世界，卻賠上了自己的靈魂，為他有甚麼益處？」（瑪16:26），是與上文呼應。人拼命追求人的事，追求物質享受，擷取資源，過度開發，破壞與環境的和諧，造成氣候變遷與生態浩劫。近年環境的反撲，更提醒我們這世界是天主的創造，人的貪慾將導致失去靈魂與失去美麗的世界。我們惟有養成守齋與克慾，背起自己的十字架，盡天主子女的義務，才能保全靈魂。「你們不可與此世同化，反而應以更新的心思變化自己，為使你們能辨別甚麼是天主的旨意，甚麼是善事，甚麼是悅樂天主的事，甚麼是成全的事」（羅12:2）。

天主，請賜我們以言以行取悅祢的恩寵。

【摘自和平八月號】


Readings (Year A) page 57:
Jeremiah 20: 7-9
Psalm 63: 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Romans 12: 1-2
Matthew 16: 21-27

In his book entitled The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran theologian once wrote: "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." According to Bonhoeffer, true discipleship is costly. It is costly because it demands that we take up our cross and follow Christ to the extent of sharing in his sufferings and in even losing our lives for his sake. It is a discipleship of self-giving and sacrifice for others.

Many Christians, says Bonhoeffer, prefer to live out a 'cheap' form of discipleship. They want a Christianity that provides them with the maximum benefits with minimum effort on their part. A 'cheap' form of discipleship avoids anything that has to do with sacrifice, hardships and suffering. It is a discipleship of comfort and convenience.

All the readings today, remind us once again about 'costly' discipleship. In the first reading, we can sense the struggle that Jeremiah goes through in doing the will of God as a prophet. He is ridiculed, laughed at and threatened by people, and yet he cannot but proclaim the message of God to them.

St. Paul, speaks of the challenges we face in offering ourselves as living sacrifices to God and in not being influenced by the values of the world. In the Gospels, Jesus calls us as his disciples to live out a "costly discipleship", that is, to be willing to die to ourselves and to follow him in our daily lives.

Lord, help me to be a true disciple of Yours.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer