常年期第十六主日/ 丙年 行動與默觀
創十八1-10;
哥一24-28;
路十38-42
「 小德蘭福傳之友 」曾慶導神父 讀經反省(2022.7.17)
耶穌基督+
今天的第一篇讀經和福音都教導我們「好客之道」。「好客之人無意中可能接待了上主的天使」這一句西諺,就是從今天亞巴郎和撒辣好客的故事引申出來的,彰顯了行為正直的人必蒙上主眷顧的真理。這鼓勵我們多行善事、多多關懷弱小。
但今天福音的故事,我們乍讀之下,可能會替瑪爾大(曼德)打抱不平:瑪利亞(瑪麗)怎麽可以撇下瑪爾大,讓她一人忙碌,自己卻不動一根指頭,只顧著和耶穌聊天?而主耶穌也好像是非不分,居然站在瑪利亞那一邊批評瑪爾大(雖然是很溫和地)!但主耶穌真的是非不分,不明究理嗎?
有客人到我們家裡來吃飯,總不能沒有人陪客,主人全家都在廚房裡做飯,讓客人一個人坐在客廳裡呆呆地等吧?陪客交談和在廚房裡張羅都是必不可缺的「待客」之道,就如今天亞巴郎一樣,他吩咐妻子撒辣和僕人做餅、煮肉,自己則在樹下侍候客人。客人來作客,應該得到主人精神和物質兩方面的款待。這不表示精神比物質更重要,或物質比精神更重要。人是精神和肉身的合一體。
主耶穌今天溫和批評瑪爾大的原因,不是因為她忙碌工作,而是她工作的態度有些問題,這態度使她口出怨言,生氣地批評瑪利亞甚至批評主耶穌。一方面,她可能認為自己的工作是最重要的,而認為瑪利亞沒有做事,或瑪利亞所做的沒有價值。這是一個「自傲」的態度。另一方面,她可能認為自己在廚房裡的工作比較低賤,沒有多大的意義和光榮,是一個「負擔」,因此做得心不甘情不願,能少做一點就少做一點,甚至為主耶穌多做一點也是負擔及委屈。別人(瑪利亞)所做的才是「高貴」的,這種缺乏敬業樂業的精神,是源自一個自悲自憐的心態。自傲和自憐是一體兩面,表現出來的就是批評別人沒做事,或埋怨「世界對我不公平」!
傳統上也常把瑪爾大和瑪利亞看作兩種不同的靈修方式,瑪爾大代表的是行動的靈修,如在外宣講、行聖事、扶弱濟貧的社會服務或家庭生活。瑪利亞代表的是默觀的靈修,如在隱修院的修士修女,或每天花時間在靜默所禱上。行動與默觀的見證其實都是教會需要的,也是每個人都需要的。「行動」的重要是「有目共睹」的,所以在今天看重「生產力」的價值觀裡,我們容易犯的錯誤是瑪爾大的錯誤:把默觀祈禱和克苦的隱修生活看作沒有用、沒有做事。其實隱修土們的祈禱和克苦是現世需要,或者說更需要做的「事」。現在的人很多不懂得祈禱或不祈禱,而隱修士們每天長時間地為世界祈禱,可以說,他們的祈禱不知多少次使世界避免了可怕的災難(參看下一主日的讀經)。此外,隱修士每天過艱苦的生活,他們守齋、有意識地避免世間的享受等,在在都是效法受苦的基督,和祂一同受苦,如讀經二說的:「為了基督的身體——教會,補充基督的苦難所欠缺的。」(這裡保祿並不是說基督為救贖世人所受的苦不夠,而是根據基督奧體的道理來說的。基督升天後不能受苦,但在祂為「頭」的奧體教會內,祂仍能受苦,參宗九4-5。基督的這種苦楚直到世界窮盡是受不完的,這就是保祿所說的,基督所欠缺的,而信友可補充、應補充的痛苦。)
靈修上還有一個講法,就是「先作門徒,後作宗徒」,有如先修身齊家,再去治國平天下。主耶穌的門徒和師傅一起生活了三年,先作學徒,才被派遣去向「萬民」傳福音。保祿三次向外邦人傳教前,也先在阿拉伯地方避靜祈禱。我們要作傳福音的宗徒前,也同樣應與基督建立親密的個人關係,先傾聽主要我們做的,才能把基督的福音帶給別人。沒有前者,是無法做好後者的。這就是為什麽主耶穌今天說瑪利亞選了「最好的一份」。沒有這一份,其他都是妄談。沒有深沉的祈禱默觀生活,我們「行動」的能源是會很快枯竭的,很快就會像瑪爾大一樣煩躁、埋怨、批評。無論如何,行動與默觀不是對立的,而是一體的兩面。
最後,我們每星期來參與彌撒,實際上也是在做瑪利亞的事,特別在彌撒的聖道禮儀,我們坐在耶穌腳前聆聽祂的聖言,是為了在彌撒結束後的生活中,能按照主的教訓行動。在彌撒中,我們更享用了——不是瑪爾大準備的,而是主耶穌以自己的體血所作的——盛宴,好能使我們有活力地、喜樂地行動!
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路10:38-42
那時候,耶穌進入一個村莊。有一個名叫瑪爾大的女人,把耶穌接到家裡。她有一個妹妹,名叫瑪利亞,坐在主的腳前,聽他講話。
瑪爾大為侍候耶穌,忙碌不已,便上前來,說:「主!我的妹妹丟下我一個人工作,你不介意嗎?請叫她來幫助我吧!」
主回答瑪爾大說:「瑪爾大,瑪爾大!你為了許多事,操心忙碌,其實需要的,唯有一件。瑪利亞選擇了更好的一份,是不能從她奪去的。」——上主的話。
反省
瑪爾大,人如其名(名字有「主母」的意思),很有服侍的神恩。為了能夠好好款待耶穌,她願意把最好的獻給天主,然而,「內心忙亂」卻使她招待客人美好的初衷,在忙碌中慢慢失落了。
所以,耶穌提醒瑪爾大:「你為了許多事,操心忙碌,其實需要的,唯有一件。瑪利亞選擇了更好的一份,是不能從她奪去的。」事實上,耶穌並沒有對瑪爾大和瑪利亞兩姊妹的招待方式作比較,亦沒有貶抑瑪爾大的熱心。問題不在於瑪爾大忙碌工作,而在於她心裡忙亂,由於掛心的事太多、壓力過大,以致無法專心來到耶穌的跟前親近主。
所以,耶穌這番話是邀請我們認識祂,建立親密的關係。祂並非要我們不用努力服務,而是在服務中不忘聆聽天主聖道,好使我們的服務是有焦點的,忙而不亂。我們可以先有瑪利亞聆聽聖道的心,也有瑪爾大服侍耶穌的手,因為祂透過這兩種方式召叫我們,跟祂建立親密的關係。
實踐
服務是愛主的表現,聆聽天主的話也是。我們的生命應該兼備瑪爾大和瑪利亞,既有瑪爾大辛勤付出的時候,更需要親近主,重拾安寧靜謐,獲享瑪利亞的福分。每天在開始工作之前,先祈禱親近耶穌,閱讀和默想天主聖言,讓心靈得著滋潤和力量,才能明白祂的心意。當我們選擇先親近耶穌,其餘時間和心力的服務才有真正的喜樂,才能寓工作於祈禱,寓祈禱於工作。
7 July 2022 Catholic Mass Bible Reading https://youtu.be/dahHNBySnTc
First reading Genesis 18:1-10
The Lord appeared to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre while he was sitting by the entrance of the tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up, and there he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, and bowed to the ground. ‘My lord,’ he said ‘I beg you, if I find favour with you, kindly do not pass your servant by. A little water shall be brought; you shall wash your feet and lie down under the tree. Let me fetch a little bread and you shall refresh yourselves before going further. That is why you have come in your servant’s direction.’ They replied, ‘Do as you say.’ Abraham hastened to the tent to find Sarah.’ ‘Hurry,’ he said ‘knead three bushels of flour and make loaves.’ Then running to the cattle Abraham took a fine and tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then taking cream, milk and the calf he had prepared, he laid all before them, and they ate while he remained standing near them under the tree. ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ they asked him. ‘She is in the tent’ he replied. Then his guest said, ‘I shall visit you again next year without fail, and your wife will then have a son.’
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 14(15):2-5
The just will live in the presence of the Lord. Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks without fault; he who acts with justice and speaks the truth from his heart; he who does not slander with his tongue. The just will live in the presence of the Lord. He who does no wrong to his brother, who casts no slur on his neighbour, who holds the godless in disdain, but honours those who fear the Lord. The just will live in the presence of the Lord. He who keeps his pledge, come what may; who takes no interest on a loan and accepts no bribes against the innocent. Such a man will stand firm for ever. The just will live in the presence of the Lord.
Second reading Colossians 1:24-28
It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church. I became the servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God’s message to you, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his saints. It was God’s purpose to reveal it to them and to show all the rich glory of this mystery to pagans. The mystery is Christ among you, your hope of glory: this is the Christ we proclaim, this is the wisdom in which we thoroughly train everyone and instruct everyone, to make them all perfect in Christ.
Gospel Acclamation cf.Ac16:14
Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. Alleluia!
Gospel Luke 10:38-42
Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’
Gospel of the Lord
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7月17日 活出基督
每當我們共聚在主的祭台前,拿起餅、祝福、分開,交給別人說:“這是基督的身體”,我們知道耶穌就在我們中間。耶穌在我們中間,不是模糊的遠古記憶,而是真正的更新改變我們。當我們吃基督的身體,就發現自己像基督一樣,也是被揀選、被祝福的,也體認自己的破碎,深信我們的生命是為了別人。如此,我們也像耶穌一樣,成為世人的生命之糧。 ~via盧雲神父
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讚美耶穌
凡是能夠承行天主的道理的人是有福的
嗡 斯巴亞 嗡 巴威
阿拉伊亞加布倫
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