主日讀經反思 Sunday Scripture Meditation (29/04/2012)
本主日乙年讀經︰
宗徒大事錄 4:8-12
聖詠 118[117]:1,8,9,21-23,26,28,29
若望一書 3:1-2
若望福音 10:11-18
默想︰
「在天下人間，沒有賜下別的名字，使我們賴以得救」。不少人會認為伯多祿這說法很特別，又有些人會覺得他浮誇；然而，在伯多祿所處的歷史實況當中，他說這話絕無半點特別，也絕對不是浮誇。由於他對耶穌的體驗，尤其對耶穌復活的體驗，使他能夠肯定地這樣說了。在他的猶太信仰與文化傳統當中，伯多祿能夠肯定，耶穌就是那位應許的默西亞。
很多人不認識耶穌或不能接受祂，致使他們偏離耶穌，
以其他方式、不同的宗教，尋找救恩。亦有很多人，無論有沒有宗教信仰，都喜歡以各種不同的「主義」形式，尋求救援；例如：享樂主義、人道主義、資本主義、共產主義、消費主義等等；因為這些「主義」聲稱能帶給他們幸福或能幫助解決世界上的問題。這些現象顯示，人在心底裏渴望的，始終就是得到幸福，尤其現世的幸福。耶穌卻指示另類的途徑 真福的道路 神貧的人是有福的。
主耶穌，祢在世上時的生活和教導，向我們顯示了：除祢以外，別無救恩。願我們常能活在祢內，得享祢的救贖。
【摘自和平四月號】
Acts 4: 8-12
Psalm 118: 1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29
1 John 3: 1-2
John 10: 11-18
“Of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.” Many people will find this an extraordinary claim and others will find it arrogant. In the historical circumstances, however, for Peter it was neither extraordinary nor arrogant. His experience of Jesus, especially in the Resurrection, had led him to this affirmation. Within the tradition of his Jewish faith and culture, he was affirming that Jesus was the promised Messiah.
Many people do not know Jesus or accept Him so that, in fact, they seek salvation of some kind apart from Jesus, in many different religions. Many others, whether they profess any religion or not, seek some form of salvation in one of the many “-isms” which promise experiences of blessedness or solutions to the world’s problems: hedonism, humanism, capitalism, communism, consumerism, and so on. Behind all these, there lies the desire of the human heart for happiness, especially happiness in this world. Jesus, however, took a different path, the path of the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
Lord Jesus, Your life and teaching have revealed to us that there is no salvation apart from You. Grant us the grace to live in close union with You and enjoy the grace of Your salvation.
Shalom – Thoughts for Prayer
