福傳和見證(1.10)

by | Feb 6, 2010 | Gospel Reflection

讓我們繼續黙想根據福音的生活規範和盡力實踐這些生活規範。

I) 「你們是世界的光；建在山上的城，是不能隱藏的。人點燈，並不是放在斗底下，而是放在燈台上，照耀屋中所有的人。照樣，你們的光也當在人前照耀，好使他們看見你們的善行，光榮你們在天之父」(瑪5:14-16)。

解釋：如果我們根據福音生活，我們便是世界的光。

生活例子：聖方濟‧亞西西被稱為「活福音」。任何人看見他都會感覺到天主臨在於他。

很多人因聖人而獲得信德，對那些認識他的行為的人，聖人仍是一顆光亮的耀星。

規勸：聖保祿邀請我們仿傚基督和穿上祂的精神，就是徹底實踐福音的精神。事實上，加爾各答的真福德蘭修女指示她的修女徹底實踐福音。因而仁愛女修會的修女在世界各地都很出名和極受人尊敬。他們是生活的基督，他們以偉大的愛照顧在貧窮中最貧窮的人。

II) 「你們是世界的光；建在山上的城，是不能隱藏的。人點燈，並不是放在斗底下，而是放在燈台上，照耀屋中所有的人。照樣，你們的光也當在人前照耀，好使他們看見你們的善行，光榮你們在天之父」(瑪5:14-16)。

解釋：每當我們作仁愛的工作，我們便成為世界的光。耶穌以祂的教導和行動說明：「我是世界的光」，展示給所有人真正的愛。聖若望說：「天主是愛」(若一4:16)。所以我們應同樣去作愛德的工作。

生活例子：周先生告訴我他信基督教的兒子曾問他說：「父親，若果其他人沒有看見你去聖堂參與彌撒，他們會否知道你是天主教教友?」周先生回答：「他們會知道的，很多人因為我的行為知道我是天主教教友，尤其是當他們看見我十分關心有需要的人」。耶穌說：「如果你們之間彼此相親相愛，世人因此就可認出你們是我的門徒」(若13:35)。

規勸：愛德是基督追隨者的特徵。

不要讓一天過去若果那天沒有作愛德的事工，可以幫助人，可以為人祈禱。這是耶穌告訴聖女傅天娜‧克瓦爾斯卡要做的。

III) 「我告訴你們：除非你們的義德超過經師和法利塞人的義德，你們決進不了天國」(瑪5:20)。

解釋：經師和法利塞人的行為表面很好，但事實上却是很壞的。他們驕傲和貪婪。他們遵守很多規範來表現他們像是比其他人好從而得到人們的欣賞和讚美。他們亦找出很多途徑去壓搾窮寡婦的金錢。耶穌以強烈言詞去揭發他們的偽善，就如：「禍哉，你們經師和法利塞假善人﹗因為你們給人封閉了天國：你們不進去，也不讓願意進去的人進去」(瑪23:13)。若果我們像經師和法利塞人，我們便永不屬於天主的國。

生活例子：讓我們閱讀法利塞人和稅吏的比喻。他們進去耶路撒冷的聖殿祈禱。法利塞人不承認自己的過錯並且甚至吹噓他的善工，雖然稅吏自貶為罪人。天主喜愛這稅吏和垂允他的祈禱。

規勸：如果我們想進天國，我們應提防各種驕傲和貪婪。耶穌告訴我們應暗中做善事，不求他人欣賞和讚美，否則我們便不得到天父的賞報。

為求獲得恩寵去實踐耶穌的教導的祈禱文

主耶穌，由我所做的和所說的，使我成為世界的光。使我展示給其他人基督的精神，賜我持續遵守基督所做的或如果祂取代我的位置而會做的。

主耶穌，使我常常做中悅祢的事，無論他人怎樣想我。使我成為祢在人們前現在及至永遠的真實見證者。

福傳和見證的規章

根據聖本篤，這以下是十二等級的謙遜。參加福傳與見證的應實踐這些謙遜的行為:

甲) 內在的謙遜

1—尊敬天主和小心不要犯誡命。

2—除了守十誡，應服從天主旨意。

3—因為愛天主而服從自己的長上。

4—在困難的事情上要忍耐地服從。

5—在告誡以外，把自己秘密的過失告訴自己的長上。

6—客氣地接受被免去的職務或接受低下的工作，考慮自己不能勝任更重要的工作。

7—考慮自己是大罪人，反省自己罪惡深重和沒有迴應天主的恩寵，並且思想若別人得到同樣恩寵，他們會表現比我們好。

乙) 外在的謙遜

8—避免獨自被注視和受讚揚。

9—保持沈默直至我們被詢問或有重要事情要說。

10—克制發笑：避免慣常的發笑或譏笑。

11—謙遜地和溫和地說話。

12—謙虛的姿勢。

(Fr Melchiore Arnoldi PIME)

(待續)

EVANGELIZATION AND WITNESS (1.10)

by | Feb 6, 2010 | Gospel Reflection

Let us continue to meditate on the norms of life of the Gospel and try our best to practise them

1. “You are the light of the world. A city built on the hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under the tub; he puts it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way, your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praie to your Father in heaven” (Mt 5:14-16).

EXPLANATION. We are the light of the world if we live according to the Gospel.

EXAMPLE OF LIFE: Saint Francis of Assisi was called “the living Gospel”. Anyone on seeing him could feel the presence of God in him.

Many people were led to faith through him. He is still a shining star for those who get to know his beaviour.

EXHORTATION: Saint Paul invites us to imitate Christ and be clothed with his spirit, which is the spirit of the Gospel, practised to the last detail.Actually Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta ordered her sisters to practise the Gospel to the last detail. Therefore they have become very famous and highly esteemed all over the world.. They are the living Christ among the poorest of the poor, whom they care with great love.

B)”You are the light of the world . A city built on the hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp top ut it under the tub; he puts it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house4. In the same way, your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praie to your Father in heaven”(Mt 5:14-16).

EXPLANATION: We become the light of the world whenever we do charitable works. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” through his teachings and actions, showing true love to all. Saint John says, “God is charity” (1 Jn 4:16).So, we should do the same.

EXAMPLE OF LIFE: Mr Chau told me that his son, a Protestant, asked him, “Dad, would people recognize you as a Catholic, if they do not see you going to the church for Mass?” “Yes”-he answered-“ Quite a number of people discovered that I am a Catholic because of my behaviour, especially when they see me caring so much for the needy”. Jesus said, “ If you love one another, people will recognize you as my disciples” (Jn 13:35)..

EXHORTATION: Charity should be the characteristic of Christ’s followers.

Let no day pass without an act of charity, either by helping others , either by praying for others. This is what Jesus told Saint Faustina Kowalska to do.

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C)”I tell you, if your virtue is not deeper than that of the Scribes and the Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:20).

EXPLANATION: The behaviour of the scribes and of the Pharisees was apparently very good, but actually very bad. They were proud and greedy. They observed a lot of norms to show that they were better than others and so to obtain admiration and praie from people. They found also several way to squeeze money from the poor widows. Jesus uncovered their hypocrisy with strong words, such as these, “Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yurselves nor allowing others to go in who want to” (Mt 23:13). If we are like the scribes and the Pharisees will never belong to the kingdom of God.

EXAMPLE OF LIFE: Let us read the parable of the of the Pharisee and the Publican. They went to the Temple of Jerusalem to pray. The Pharisee admitted no fault and even boasted for his merits, despising the Publican who considered himself to be a sinner. The Lord liked the publican and granted his petitions.

EXHORTATION: We should avoid all kinds of pride and greed, if we want to enter into the kingodm of God. Jesus tells us to do good in secret, not aiming ad men’s admiration and praises, otherwise we will get no reward from the heavenly Father.

PRAYER TO OBTAIN THE GRACE OF PRACTISING THIS TEACHING OF JESUS

Lord Jesus, make me become the light of the world by what I do and what I say. Make me show to others the spirit of Christ abiding in me by doing what Christ did or will do in my place.

Lord Jesus, make me do always what is pleasing to you , regardless of what people will think of me. Make me become your true witness among men now and forever.