主日讀經反思 Sunday Scripture Meditation (29/01/2012)

本主日乙年讀經︰
申命紀　18:15-20
聖詠　95[94]:1-2,6-7,8-9
格林多前書　7:32-35
馬爾谷福音　1:21-28

默想︰

「今天你們該聽從他的聲音，不要再那樣心頑」。聖詠作者邀請信眾滿懷信心地來到上主面前，歡樂歌舞，感恩讚頌；因為大家都是天主的子民。作者其後以先知的口吻代天主發言說：「你們的祖先試探我，考驗我」。

天主不反對祂的子民歡樂、感恩或讚頌，聖詠作者把歡樂慶祝聯到以色列和天主的整體關係，這個更廣的層面。總括來說，因為天主廣施慈恩而舉行慶祝，當中實在包含著一些應盡的責任；特別是正如今天聖詠所提到的，我們有責任從歷史中吸取教訓。

現在我們明白到，認識歷史還不夠，我們必須改變歷史。這於團體或個人層面，都是一樣。教會在過去數年，經歷了沉痛的打擊，理應持續從中反省，不斷學習，去做個更忠於福音教導的僕人。聖依納爵留給教會的珍貴遺產之一，是意識省察：即每天反省自己的靈性生命質素，不斷在邁向天主的路上，自強不息，改革更新。

主耶穌，教我們的心靈常能向祢所啟示的真理開放，好讓我們都能享受祢要賜給我們的救恩。

【摘自和平一月號】


Readings page 36:
Deuteronomy 18: 15-20
Psalm 95: 1-2, 6-7, 7-9
1 Corinthians 7: 32-35
Mark 1: 21-28

"O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts." The Psalmist invites the Community to come joyfully and gratefully into the Lord's presence, full of confidence that they are God's people. Then, however, the Psalmist assumes a prophet's role, speaking in the place of God: "Your fathers put me to the test."

God does not reject the joy of the community, their thanksgiving or their praise. The Psalmist, however, sets such celebration in the wider context of Israel's total relationship with God. To sum it up, celebration of all God's great gifts brings with it certain obligations, especially, as this Psalm suggests, the obligation to learn from history.

We now realize that it is not enough to understand history, we must change history. This is true on both a community and an individual level. A community like the Church, which has lived through such painful experiences in the last several years, must continually reflect on its own history and learn to be a more faithful servant of the Gospel. One of St. Ignatius' great legacies to the church is the consciousness examen, a daily reflection on the quality of one's spirituality to teach us how to progress in the way of the Lord.

Lord Jesus, grant that our hearts may always be open to the truth which you have revealed for our salvation.


Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer