本主日乙年讀經︰
宗徒大事錄 3:13-15,17-19
聖詠 4:2,7,9
若望一書 2:1-5
路加福音 24:35-48
默想︰
在第二篇讀經，若望告訴我們：遵守天主誡命的人，才可以說
自己愛天主。若翰馬殊在企鵝叢書對若望著作的詮釋，用了這
樣一句精彩的說話，來總結福音闡述對天主的「認識」︰若望
所指的「認識」不單純是指運用腦力去思考，而是指心靈上和
意志上的回應，即接受並信賴天主所做的一切，願意在感恩中
服膺，將愛奉獻。
盡力去尋求對天主的認識，使得我們從中，至少得到一些在書
本上得來的對天主的認識。不過我們對天主的信仰，不能只停留在對一個美麗的故事或一個高尚的人物，所進行的學術性或
賞識性或藝術性的欣賞。
成熟的信仰是以熱情奔放的情懷去擁抱的生活方式。當然，這
種生活方式對我們是有要求的。但漸漸地我們會變得那麼溶入
這種生活方式，我們不會認為自己在做的，有甚麼特別。我們
不會時常停下來欣賞自己的成就。不過，偶然我們都會因為看
到自己的生活有了更深的意義和價值，而感到安慰。
天父，請幫助我以熱情的言語和積極的行動去愛祢。
Acts 3: 13-15, 17-19
Psalm 4: 2, 4, 7-8, 9
1 John 2: 1-5
Luke 24: 35-48
In today’s second reading John tells us that we can truly say that we love God only when we keep His commandments. In a memorable sentence in his “Penguin New Testament Commentary of John” (Penguin Books 1968 p.34) John Marsh sums up the meaning of “knowing” God as it is presented in the Gospel, “The knowledge John would bring to men is not pure intellection; it is a response of mind and heart and will to an acceptance of and trust in what God has done, in the gratitude of obedience and the devotion of love.”
The very existence of a commentary like Marsh’s proves the absolute necessity that at least some of us should know as much as possible about God and that all of us would benefit by at least some “book knowledge” of Him. Our Christian belief does not, however, stop at a scholarly or admiring or artistic appreciation of a beautiful story or a noble character.
In its fullness our belief is an active embrace of a way of life. This way of life may, indeed, make demands on us. Progressively, however, it engrosses us so that, for much of the time, we may not think that we are doing anything particularly unusual. We won’t be pausing from time to time to gaze admiringly at our achievements. Only rarely, satisfyingly, will it strike us that our lives have been upgraded in meaning and value.
Heavenly Father, help me to love You in the warmth of my words and in the energy of my action.
Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer
