主日讀經反思 Sunday Scripture Meditation (26/02/2012)

本主日乙年讀經︰
創世紀　9:8-15
聖詠　25[24]:4-5,6,8-9
伯多祿前書　3:18-22
馬爾谷福音　1:12-15

默想︰

每年四旬期教會都特別提醒信友悔改皈依，不但慕道者要加緊準備自己，在復活節進入新生，教友也需要不斷更新。以色列民的歷史給我們示範了，人雖然活在天主的恩愛內，仍會不斷跌倒犯罪。所以，人若要走向美善的天主，活出天主的肖像，便要下定決心，遠離罪惡。

今天的讀經指出，人縱然軟弱，但天主的仁慈及恩愛，「由亙古以來就常存在」；因此祂願意接受人的有限，甚至主動與人立約，以彩虹作標記，提醒自己不再用洪水毀滅世界。最後更派遣了自己的獨生子來到世上，以苦難犧牲來引領人歸向祂。
基督徒是天主在世的見證，我們除了求天主的寬恕外，也能仰仗天主的寬恕去寬恕他人。在生活當中，在有意無意之間，我們可能都會有不滿他人的時候，有時會在言語和行動上攻擊得罪我們的人，並視之為理所當然。謹讓我們都能以十字架為標記，提醒自己要學習包容，要忍耐慈祥地諄諄引導他們改惡遷善。

天主，請教導我們更好地活出祢的愛。


【摘自和平二月號】

Readings (Year B) page 8:
Genesis 9: 8-15
Psalm 25: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
1 Peter 3: 18-22
Mark 1: 12-15

"My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky" is the first line of a poem of the same name by William Wordsworth. By its beauty alone the rainbow brings joy to the world. The rainbow is a sign that the rain has passed and that the sun is about to shine and this is a further reason for joy. It is a sign of hope for better hours to come. For those who believe in a loving God the rainbow is an even further cause of joy, the sign of an even greater hope.

The sign of the rainbow assured Noah on God's word of honour that never again would such a catastrophe as the massive flood occur. The evil power of sin, symbolized by the flood would never again come close to submerging God's plan of salvation. Indeed the very waters of the flood bore up the ark which was God's way of saving Noah and his family.

In our turn we are saved by the waters of baptism. It was after his baptism that Jesus went out to the desert to mount his first assault on the power of evil. United with Jesus in baptism we will have a share in defeating the power of evil. We need to be changed, to be converted before we can "come on board" for the struggle alongside Christ. By our baptism that process has already started.

Be with us, Lord, in the struggle You began in the desert so near to Your place of baptism.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer