主日讀經反思 Sunday Scripture Meditation (15/01/2012)

本主日讀經︰
撒慕爾紀上　3:3-10,19
聖詠　40[39]:2,4,7-8,8-9,10
格林多前書　6:13-15,17-20
若望福音　1:35-42

默想︰

東方禮教會流傳一種風格獨特的藝術作品 - 聖像畫，強烈的色彩襯托著金萡，其中一個重點題材是聖母畫像：一個比例大大的聖母抱著一個小小的耶穌，但特點是聖母的手總是指向耶穌，將人的注意力導向唯一的救主。

今天舊約的厄里與新約的洗者若翰不謀而合地擔當了這中介的角色，將一心侍奉追隨主的人，導向認識並有效地回應上主的召叫。的確，在尋求認識主的道路上，遇上猶疑或未清晰的情況，誰人可免，但為有心人，上主不會避而不見，只會啟蒙，扶上一把。

在福傳事業與聖召看似飽受現代資訊壓力而處於令人擔憂的今天，我們更當為此而祈禱；不但期待別人能奉獻自己，加入莊稼工人的行列，亦不忘獻出自己的一份；不過份視自己的下一代為個人擁有品，而淹沒了他們對聖召的自由回應；不過份謙虛而拒與慕道者同行，分享自己的信仰經驗，呵護並強化他們正萌芽的信仰嫩苗。

主，我們特別為獻身各種福傳事工及回應聖召的兄弟姊妹祈禱，祢願意他們作世人認識祢的中介，願祢恆常保守他們的信望愛三德，使他們能有效地導引世人歸向祢，唯一的天主。


【摘自和平一月號】


Readings page 16:
Samuel 3: 3-10, 19
Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
Corinthians 6: 13-15, 17-20
John 1: 35-42

“Come and see”, was Jesus' answer when asked “Where do you live?” Instead of just telling those two disciples of John the Baptist, Jesus invited them to a personal experience of what it was like to be with Him. And those two men stayed with Him the rest of that day, and indeed became His followers and stayed with Him for the rest of their lives.

Jesus wants us too to know Him personally. He calls us to be His companions. Christian companionship, fellowship, community-feeling is more than “feeling good,” being together, doing things together. What bonds us together is each one's own personal relationship with Jesus, our own experience of Him, which we become conscious of especially in our private prayer. This personal prayer is related to and complementary to our public prayer in groups and liturgies. We need both kinds, and both in their different ways are channels for learning to know Jesus better, to hear and listen to His calling, and to His invitation to “come and see” for ourselves.
Having seen for ourselves, we will then (like Andrew) want to share our great discovery with others … a discovery we've been granted by Jesus' invitation.

“Speak Lord, Your servant is listening: You have the message of eternal life.”


Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer