生活聖言 (2011年7月)

「你們醒寤祈禱罷!免陷於誘惑;心神固然切願,但肉體卻軟弱。」(瑪26:41)

耶穌在革責瑪尼山園中,內心憂悶悲傷,當祂看見伯多祿、雅各伯和若望抵不住睡意而沉睡的時候,就向他們說了上面這句話。祂帶了這三位宗徒前來(他們曾見證耶穌在大博爾山上顯聖容),希望他們跟自己一起祈禱,預備心靈,共渡這個困難的時刻,何況那將要發生的事,對他們來說,也是一個嚴峻的考驗。

「你們醒寤祈禱罷!免陷於誘惑;心神固然切願,但肉體卻軟弱。」

雖然這句話看來是耶穌對宗徒的叮囑,但在當時的境況下,它尤其反映出耶穌的心境和祂怎樣預備自己的心靈去面對考驗。耶穌面臨苦難之際,以整個心神竭力祈禱,去對抗恐懼和可怕的死亡,祂為了承行天父的旨意,把自己完全投入聖父的愛內,並幫助祂的宗徒也這樣做。

在這裡,為面對考驗的人,耶穌是他們的模範,同時,在困境中,祂好像是我們的長兄,在我們身旁扶助我們。

「你們醒寤祈禱罷!免陷於誘惑;心神固然切願,但肉體卻軟弱。」

耶穌經常勸導我們要醒寤,祂指的是永遠不要讓自己被精神上的困倦所戰勝,卻常常要裝備自己,去迎接天主的聖意,在日常生活中去領會生命的真義,尤其在困難和痛苦中,懂得去領悟天主的愛。

醒寤與祈禱是不能分割的,因為祈禱為克服考驗是不可缺少的。藉著聖神的力量,必定可以戰勝人性的軟弱(肉體的軟弱)。

「你們醒寤祈禱罷!免陷於誘惑;心神固然切願,但肉體卻軟弱。」

那麼,我們該怎樣把這句聖言付諸實行呢?在日常生活中,我們的心靈要有所準備:我們每天都會碰上或大或小的考驗。它們可以是普通的考驗,或者是每個基督徒總會遇到的典型的考驗。耶穌告訴我們,醒寤警惕是克服任何考驗的首要條件。我們應該懂得去明認,體會到這些天主容許給我們的考驗,並不是要我們感到氣餒,而是在克服它們時,我們將會在靈性生活上邁向更成熟的階段。

同時,我們需要祈禱,因為在考驗時,我們主要會遇到兩種誘惑:一方面會認為自己可以單獨去克服;另一方面是相反的態度,就是害怕自己應付不來,認為這個考驗已超越自己的力量。可是耶穌卻向我們保證,如果我們醒寤警惕,而且以信德祈求天主,那麼,天父一定不讓我們欠缺聖神的力量。

盧嘉勒

註:本月生活聖言已於1990年4月份發表

Word of Life – July 2011

“Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mt 26:41)

These are words that Jesus address­ed to Peter, James and John when he found them overcome by sleep dur­ing his agony in Gethsemane. He took these three apostles with him — the same three that had witnessed his transfiguration on Mount Tabor — to have them close to him during that extremely difficult time. This was their opportunity to prepare themselves through prayer together with Jesus, because the events about to take place would be a terri­ble trial for them as well.
“Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

In order to understand these words, we should keep in mind the cir­cumstances in which they were said. What Jesus was giving his disciples was more than words of advice. We should see these words as reflecting his state of mind, that is, how he was prepar­ing himself for the trial.

Facing his imminent passion, he prayed with all his soul, wrestled with the fear and horror of his death and totally entrusted himself to the love of the Father so that he might be faith­ful to God’s will to the end and help his apostles to do the same.

We see Jesus here as the model for all those who must face trials and, at the same time, the brother who stands by our side in those difficult times.
“Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus often gave exhortations to be vigilant. For him, to be on guard meant not to ever let ourselves be over­come by spiritual “sleepiness.” It meant to be always ready to welcome the will of God, to discern its signs in everyday life and above all to be able to see difficulties and sufferings in the light of God’s love.

Vigilance and prayer are inseparable, because prayer is indispensable for overcoming trials. The fragility of human nature (“the flesh is weak”) can be overcome by the power coming from the Spirit.
“Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

How then should we live this month’s passage? We too should ready ourselves to meet trials: the small and big ones of each day. They are the trials which we cannot help but en­counter from one day to the next. Now the first condition for overcom­ing a trial, any trial, Jesus advises, is to be on guard, to “watch.” It is a matter of discerning, of realizing, that God per­mits them not to discourage us, but so we can grow spiritually as we over­come them.

And at the same time we must pray. Prayer is necessary because there are two particular temptations to which we are vulnerable in these moments. One is to think we can go it alone. The other is the opposite feeling, that is, the fear of not making it, as if the trial were greater than our strength. Jesus instead assures us that our heavenly Father will not leave us without the power of the Holy Spirit if we stay on guard and we ask him with faith.

Chiara Lubich

主日講道 – 常年期第十五主日 (2011年7月10日)

恭讀聖瑪竇福音 13:1-23
在那一天,耶穌從家裡出來,坐在海邊;有許多群眾,集合到他面前。耶穌只好上船,坐下;群眾都站在岸上。耶穌就用比喻,給他們講論了許多事,說:「看,有個撒種的,出去撒種。他撒種的時候,有的落在路旁;飛鳥來,把種子吃了。
「有的落在石頭地裡,那裡沒有多少土壤;因為土壤不深,雖然很快發了芽,但太陽一出來,就被曬焦,又因為沒有根,就枯乾了。
「有的落在荊棘中;荊棘長起來,便把它們窒息了。
「有的落在好地裡,就結了果實:有一百倍的,有六十倍的,有三十倍的。
「有耳的,聽吧!」
門徒來問耶穌說:「為什麼你用比喻,對他們講話?」
耶穌回答門徒說:「因為天國的奧妙,是給你們知道,而不是給他們知道。因為凡有的,還要給他,使他富足;但是,凡沒有的,連他所有的,也要由他奪去。為此,我用比喻,對他們講話,因為他們看是看,卻看不見;聽是聽,卻聽不見,也不瞭解;這樣在他們身上,正應驗了依撒意亞的預言,說:
「『你們聽是聽,但不瞭解;看是看,但不明白。因為這百姓的心,遲鈍了,耳朵難以聽見。他們閉了眼睛,免得眼睛看見,耳朵聽見,心裡瞭解而轉變,使我醫好他們。』
「但你們的眼睛,是有福的,因為看得見;你們的耳朵,是有福的,因為聽得見。我實在告訴你們:有許多先知和義人,希望看見你們所看見的,而沒有看到;希望聽見你們所聽見的,而沒聽到。
「那麼,你們聽這撒種者的比喻吧!凡聽天國的話,而不瞭解的,那惡者就來,把撒在他心裡的奪去:這是指那撒在路旁的。
「那撒在石頭地裡的,即是指人聽了天國的話,立刻高興接受;但在心裡沒有根,不能持久,一旦為這話發生了艱難和迫害,就立刻跌倒了。
「那撒在荊棘中的,即是指人聽了天國的話,卻有世俗的焦慮,和財富的迷惑,把話蒙住了,結不出果實。
「那撒在好地裡的,即是指那聽了天國的話,而瞭解的人;他當然結出果實,有結一百倍的,有結六十倍的,有結三十倍的。」
—基督的福音。

(15th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 13:1-23

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: `You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. 15 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

—The Gospel of the Lord.

往神父講道目錄

神父講道 – 中華殉道諸聖及真福 (慶日) (週六) (2011年7月9日)

中華殉道諸聖及真福 (慶日)
恭讀聖瑪竇福音 5:1-12
耶穌一見群眾,就上了山,坐下;他的門徒上他跟前來,他遂開口教訓他們說:「神貧的人是有福的,因為天國是他們的。哀慟的人是有福的,因為他們要受安慰。溫良的人是有福的,因為他們要承受土地。飢渴慕義的人是有福的,因為他們要得飽飫。憐憫人的人是有福的,因為他們要受憐憫。心裏潔淨的人是有福的,因為他們要看見天主。締造和平的人是有福的,因為他們要稱為天主的子女。為義而受迫害的人是有福的,因為天國是他們的。幾時人為了我而辱罵迫害你們,捏造一切壞話毀謗你們,你們是有福的。你們歡喜踴躍罷!因為你們在天上的賞報是豐厚的,因為在你們以前的先知,人也曾這樣迫害過他們。」
—基督的福音。

(Saturday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time)

(Chinese Martyrs)

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:1-12

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.

—The Gospel of the Lord.

往神父講道目錄