主日讀經反思 Sunday Scripture Meditation

本主日讀經︰
德訓篇　27:33-28:9
聖詠　103[102]:1-2,3-4,9-10,11-12
羅馬書　14:7-9
瑪竇福音　18:21-35

默想︰

耶穌以一個惡僕的故事勸勉我們要從心底裏寬恕得罪我們的弟兄姊妹（參瑪18:35）。耶穌明察人心的虛浮：當我們的實際利益受到侵佔時，在那一刻我們往往最堅持自己的道理，要做到寬恕之道是難上加難。在報章上間中看到一些為爭家產訴訟於公堂的新聞。爭產的主角不是沒有家財，他們會告訴你這樣做是為了得回他們應得的。那甚麼是應得到的？我們不是當事人不便作判斷。正如那僕人，主人雖免去他所欠的錢，他極可能事後給主人解僱了。為面對以後的生活，他需要保障自己，於是追討欠他錢財的同伴。這看來倒也合理。不過，他把欠錢的同伴下在監裏。那一刻他只看到自己的需要，沒有理會別人的困難。主人了解僕人的困難，但僕人沒有了解同伴的困難。如果每個人都能設身處地為他人所處的境況著想，寬恕之道是不難做到。

聖保祿警戒羅馬教會「不應只掛念肉性的事，以滿足私慾」（羅13:14），要記著每人都要向天主交自己的賬（羅14:12）。

天主，祢仁慈地寬恕我的罪宥，賜給我滿盈的生命，願祢的慈愛永遠臨於敬畏祢的人。因主耶穌基督之名。阿孟。

【摘自和平九月號】


Readings (Year A) page 77:
Sirach 27: 30 – 28: 9
Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
Romans 14: 7-9
Matthew 18: 21-35

The insecure Peter, as usual looking for approval asks, 'How often must I forgive my brother¡? 'Seven times' seemed to be a very generous offer and he expected a clap on the back for it because he knew Jesus put a high priority on forgiveness. The parable of the 'Unforgiving servant' is designed to subvert Peter's and our usual way of thinking. The parable exaggerates the amount the servant owed his master/king. It was ten times the king's annual income! Whereas the amount his fellow servant owed him was a mere '100 days' wages of a labourer.

Why do we forgive others? We forgive because we have been forgiven by God. Being forgiven we know we are loved - knowing we are loved we can love others and forgive. Peter realised this even in his lifetime. Having failed, denying the Lord he was forgiven so completely that he could not/would not boast he loved Jesus ten times more than the others. He didn't need to compete anymore. Knowing our own egoistic tendencies to selfishness makes us observe ourselves and learn to forgive ourselves and others.

The awareness we are forgiven sinners is a blessing in our spiritual life. The great difference between Jesus and the Pharisees was that he wanted to set people free from their past. The Pharisees, however, labeled people with their past, as prostitutes, tax-collectors, sinners! Jesus reverenced people in the present and gave them the capacity to love themselves again and to be good again.

“For every saint, there is a past, and every sinner has a future!” Lord, You know me through and through. Thank you for your boundless, unconditional love.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer