主日讀經反思 Sunday Scripture Meditation (18/3/2012)

本主日乙年讀經︰
編年紀下　36:14-16,19-23
聖詠　137[136]:1-2,3,4-5,6
厄弗所書　2:4-10
若望福音　3:14-21

默想︰

為很多現代人來說，相信天主是一件難事，因為他們認為天主沒有答允他們的祈禱；而且如果世界上真的有一位愛人的天主，怎麼還有那許多的災難，人與人之間的互相踐踏等等的慘苦？在今天的福音，我們聽到一個完全相反的訊息：「天主竟這樣愛了世界，甚至賜下了自己的獨生子」。聖保祿又說：「富於寬恕的天主，因著他愛我們的大愛……我們是他的化工」。今天的福音主要記述聖史若望在寫學者尼苛德摩，這位猶太人首領，在夜訪耶穌跟祂對話之後，他個人所抒發的感想。耶穌是光，要親近這光，尼苛德摩需要離開黑暗，才能相信，才能得永生。尼苛德摩就像多時的我們，處於光和黑暗之間，渴望進入耶穌的光。福音中的耶穌讓我們看到天主在我們中間。耶穌的十字架是顯示父和子，徹底深愛對方的最輝煌記號。耶穌願意受苦受死，聖父願意忍痛，看著事情發生。當中有分離亦有結合。

主啊！請祢帶我離開那使我看不見祢的黑暗，請祢將我帶入祢復活的光明，讓我能夠多點明白祢受苦受死的逾越奧蹟。請祢加深我對祢的信德，助我活出真實的信仰。

【摘自和平三月號】


Readings (Year B) page 56:
2 Chronicles 36: 14-16, 19-23
Psalm 137: 1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
Ephesians 2: 4-10
John 3: 14-21

Trust, or even any belief in God, for many people in our modern world is a big problem. Not only personal prayers and questions seemingly not answered, but natural disasters, massacres, extreme suffering, brutality between people - God seems to "allow" it all to happen. Why? How can this be, how can there be a loving God?
In contrast, we hear the gospel today saying that "God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son." And St Paul talking about God loving us with so much love, and that we are "God's work of art."

That gospel is part of a conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus, the learned and religious man who came to meet with Him at night-time. Coming to the Light, Nicodemus had to tear himself away from the darkness, and so come to believe and to have eternal life. He was, like all of us, a mixture of shadow and light, but wanting to be enlightened.

The bible isn't an "answer-book" for my questions, but Jesus in the gospels is the visibility of God among us. His cross is the brightest sign of how much God loves, showing how Father and Son each give to each other, to the full. Jesus submits to suffering and death, His Father submits to watching Him die. There is separation and desertion; but also communion and intimacy.

Lord, take me out of my darkness, where I cannot see You; take me into your Easter Light where I may see the meaning of your Passover passion, death and rising. Draw me, Lord, into deeper faith in You. Amen.

Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer