常年期第廿二主日 2016年08月28日


常年期第廿二主日

婚姻顯人神關係,喫虧乃修己真福

讀經一:(訓3:19-21,30-31):應當謙和
讀經二:(希12:18-19,22-24):新約的天主與人親近
福 音:(路14:1,7-14):為人應謙遜
中國文化:殷浩非以長勝人,處長亦勝人。滿招損、謙受益。滿者損之機,虧者盈之漸。損於己則益於彼,外得人情之平,內得我心之安;既平且安,福即在是矣!


你被人邀請赴婚宴時,不要選上座,以免有比你更尊貴的客人也被請來……你被請時,應坐末位,等那請你的主人走來對你說:「朋友,請上座吧!」那時你在同席的人面前才有光彩。因為凡自高自大的,必被貶抑;凡自謙自卑的,必被高舉……你設宴時,要請那貧窮的、殘廢的、瘸腿的、失明的人。這樣,你就有福了,因為他們無力報答你;但當正義的人復活時,你將會得到報答。(路14:7-14節錄)

在耶穌所講的天國比喻中,多次引用婚宴來作例子,這使我們更能明白天主和我們的關係,並非只是一種神與人的、上與下的、崇拜的關係,而也是一種親密的人際關係,一種愛的關係,一個愛的盟約。而這關係、這盟約,是聖經慢慢顯示和揭露出來的。

聖經不是一本可以斷章取義的書,要了解聖經,必須從整本聖經去了解,尤其從福音的光照下去了解。

舉例來說,如果我們單從古經某些章節和段落去看天主,我們很可能會誤以為天主只是一個「家神」(是亞巴郎家的神),或是一個「族神」(是以色列民族的神),或者是一個「戰神」(用來替以色列民打仗的神)。其實,天主絕不是這樣的!事實上,到了先知時代,以色列人已經逐漸醒覺到,天主不再只是他們的天主,他更是所有人的天主,是名副其實的「萬民之神」。

到了耶穌時代,他進一步告訴我們,天主不只是一個高高在上、赫赫威嚴的神,他更是我們的「父」,一個愛我們、關心我們、有慈父心腸的父親。

當耶穌用上了婚宴或甚至婚姻這個意象去描寫天國境界或人神關係的時候,他還要進一步地、更深入地告訴我們:天主是我們的「愛人」,這是一個願意以仁慈、憐愛、恩寵、救恩與我們同在的天主,他親自揀選了我們,使我們能與他相結合!這也是耶穌多次強調過的天國的境界。

在這樣一個天國的、愛的氛圍中,大家本來都應彼此尊敬、禮讓,但有一次當耶穌在一個法利塞人首長的家裡用膳時,卻注意到那些被邀請赴宴的人,都愛爭上座,所以他告誡那些人,提醒他們別爭上座,以免因為有更重要的人物被請來赴宴,而被主人趕到末座去!

然後,耶穌給了他們一個很好的座右銘:「凡自高自大的,必被貶抑;凡自謙自卑的,必被高舉。

謙虛是基督徒的重要美德之一。基督降生成人,本來就是一個「自空」的過程,一個謙虛的典範。《世說新語》記載了王濛稱讚殷浩的話,也是在肯定謙虛的重要和難得:「殷浩非以長勝人,處長亦勝人。」即是說,殷浩不單有勝過別人的長處,就是在處理自己的長處方面,亦比別人優勝。因為這個殷浩為人十分謙厚,待人十分謙恭;他即使是有過人的長處,但還是不失為一個謙謙的君子。

鄭板橋有一段「喫虧是福」的話,更把這個「滿招損,謙受益」的古訓,描寫得十分精彩。他說:「滿者損之機,虧者盈之漸。損於己則益於彼,外得人情之平,內得我心之安;既平且安,福即在是矣!

這段話的意思是:太滿溢了,就會開始減損;什麼都沒有時,才有慢慢多起來和變得豐富的可能。如果你吃虧了,就表示有人得益;有人得益,我們又何必太過難受呢?謙虛的人專注於使別人得益、使別人快樂,但同時自己卻又能心安理得,這真是一舉數得的事,那不是一種「福」嗎?

其實,當耶穌進一步叫人宴請那些「貧窮的、殘廢的、瘸腿的、失明的人」的時候,他心中想著的,就是一個天國的境界。在那裡,人人都會為別人設想,大家都只求盡其在我,而不求報答。在那裡,人們不單謙恭、禮讓、時常想到別人,那更是一個充滿了愛與關懷的團體。

如果人和天主的關係,就好像愛人或戀人一般的關係,大家已經互相結合、共融起來,那麼,人與人之間在天主內,也一定會達到最高的共融境界。那裡沒有貧窮、殘廢等的「邊緣人」,因為大家都是活在天國的最核心之中,大家都是暢泳在天主愛的無涯汪洋裡。

 

常年期第廿二主日

婚姻显人神关系,吃亏乃修己真福

读经一:(训3:19-21,30-31):应当谦和
读经二:(希12:18-19,22-24):新约的天主与人亲近
福 音:(路14:1,7-14):为人应谦逊
中国文化:殷浩非以长胜人,处长亦胜人。满招损、谦受益。满者损之机,亏者盈之渐。损於己则益於彼,外得人情之平,内得我心之安;既平且安,福即在是矣!


你被人邀请赴婚宴時,不要选上座,以免有比你更尊贵的客人也被请来……你被请時,应坐末位,等那请你的主人走来对你说:「朋友,请上座吧!」那時你在同席的人面前才有光彩。因为凡自高自大的,必被贬抑;凡自谦自卑的,必被高举……你设宴時,要请那贫穷的、残废的、瘸腿的、失明的人。这样,你就有福了,因为他们无力报答你;但当正义的人复活時,你将会得到报答。(路14:7-14节录)

在耶稣所讲的天国比喻中,多次引用婚宴来作例子,这使我们更能明白天主和我们的关系,并非只是一种神与人的、上与下的、崇拜的关系,而也是一种亲密的人际关系,一种爱的关系,一個爱的盟约。而这关系、这盟约,是圣经慢慢显示和揭露出来的。

圣经不是一本可以断章取义的书,要了解圣经,必须从整本圣经去了解,尤其从福音的光照下去了解。

举例来说,如果我们单从古经某些章节和段落去看天主,我们很可能会误以为天主只是一個「家神」(是亚巴郎家的神),或是一個「族神」(是以色列民族的神),或者是一個「战神」(用来替以色列民打仗的神)。其实,天主绝不是这样的!事实上,到了先知時代,以色列人已经逐渐醒觉到,天主不再只是他们的天主,他更是所有人的天主,是名副其实的「万民之神」。

到了耶稣時代,他进一步告诉我们,天主不只是一個高高在上、赫赫威严的神,他更是我们的「父」,一個爱我们、关心我们、有慈父心肠的父亲。

当耶稣用上了婚宴或甚至婚姻这個意象去描写天国境界或人神关系的時候,他还要进一步地、更深入地告诉我们:天主是我们的「爱人」,这是一個願意以仁慈、怜爱、恩宠、救恩与我们同在的天主,他亲自拣选了我们,使我们能与他相结合!这也是耶稣多次强调過的天国的境界。

在这样一個天国的、爱的氛围中,大家本来都应彼此尊敬、礼让,但有一次当耶稣在一個法利塞人首长的家里用膳時,却注意到那些被邀请赴宴的人,都爱争上座,所以他告诫那些人,提醒他们别争上座,以免因为有更重要的人物被请来赴宴,而被主人赶到末座去!

然后,耶稣给了他们一個很好的座右铭:「凡自高自大的,必被贬抑;凡自谦自卑的,必被高举。

谦虚是基督徒的重要美德之一。基督降生成人,本来就是一個「自空」的過程,一個谦虚的典范。《世说新语》 记载了王蒙称赞殷浩的话,也是在肯定谦虚的重要和难得:「殷浩非以长胜人,处长亦胜人。」即是说,殷浩不单有胜過别人的长处,就是在处理自己的长处方面,亦比别人优胜。因为这個殷浩为人十分谦厚,待人十分谦恭;他即使是有過人的长处,但还是不失为一個谦谦的君子。

郑板橋有一段「吃亏是福」的话,更把这個「满招损,谦受益」的古训,描写得十分精彩。他说:「满者损之机,亏者盈之渐。损於己则益於彼,外得人情之平,内得我心之安;既平且安,福即在是矣!

这段话的意思是:太满溢了,就会開始减损;什么都没有時,才有慢慢多起来和变得丰富的可能。如果你吃亏了,就表示有人得益;有人得益,我们又何必太過难受呢?谦虚的人专注於使别人得益、使别人快乐,但同時自己却又能心安理得,这真是一举数得的事,那不是一种「福」吗?

其实,当耶稣进一步叫人宴请那些「贫穷的、残废的、瘸腿的、失明的人」的時候,他心中想著的,就是一個天国的境界。在那里,人人都会为别人设想,大家都只求尽其在我,而不求报答。在那里,人们不单谦恭、礼让、時常想到别人,那更是一個充满了爱与关怀的团体。

如果人和天主的关系,就好像爱人或恋人一般的关系,大家已经互相结合、共融起来,那么,人与人之间在天主内,也一定会达到最高的共融境界。那里没有贫穷、残废等的「边缘人」,因为大家都是活在天国的最核心之中,大家都是畅泳在天主爱的无涯汪洋里。

 

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

Marriage Reveals the Relationship between God and Human Beings
Accepting Loss Disciplines Oneself for True Blessing

First Reading (Eccles 3: 19-21, 20-21): We should be modest and gentle
Second Reading (Heb 12:18-19, 22-24):The New Testament God is close to humankind
Gospel (Lk 14: 1, 7-14): We should be humble and hospitable for others

Chinese classics:
-“Yin Hou excels others not only by his talents but also in how he handles his talents.”(1)
-“Pride leads to loss, modesty brings gain.”(2)
-“He who is proud loses opportunities. He who is modest accumulates gain. You benefit just because I lose. In this way, it harmonizes my relationship with you externally. And internally, I have peace of heart. When there are peace and harmony, blessing is there. “ (3).

“When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host... When you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted…When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. (Lk 14: 7-14 summarized)

When Jesus told the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven he often used the example of a wedding banquet. These increase our understanding of God's relationship with us. It is not just a relationship between the Supreme Being and human persons, a superior with an inferior, a relationship of worship only, but an intimate relationship, one of love, a covenant of love. This relationship, this covenant, was shown and revealed gradually throughout the Bible.

The Bible cannot be interpreted out of context. To understand it, we must try to understand the whole Bible, especially through the light shed by the Gospels.

Let us give an example. If we look at God only from certain passages in the Old Testament we may think that God is the 'God of Abraham,' the God of one group of people only, or a 'tribal god' (the God of the Israelites') or a 'god of war' (leading the Israelites into battle). Actually God is not at all like that! From the time of the prophets on, the Israelites gradually began to realize that God was not only 'their' God, but was everyone's God, 'God of All Peoples.'

By the time of Jesus, God went a step further. God was not only far beyond any other, a God of great majesty, but was our “Father” who loved and cared for us with the heart of a father.

When Jesus used the parable of a wedding feast or of marriage itself to describe the Kingdom of God and God's relationship with us human beings, he wanted to deepen our understanding further by telling us that God is our “Lover”. God is a God who wants to be with us, with kindness, sympathy, grace and salvation. God has especially chosen us so that we can be united with Him. This is the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus emphasized so often.

In this kind of Heavenly Kingdom there is an atmosphere of love. People really should be treating each other with respect, humbly deferring to one another. But one time when Jesus was at dinner in the home of a leading Pharisee he noticed that some of the guests were competing with one another for the places of honor. So he warned them that if they continued to do this they might be quite embarrassed if a guest more important than they arrived and they were asked to move to another place to make room for the more honored guest. Later Jesus gave them an excellent admonition: “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Humility is an important virtue for a Christian. The birth of Christ into the world was a ‘self-emptying’ process in which Christ is a model of humility. In ‘New Meanings in Old Sayings’ Huang Meng praised Yin Hou, affirming the importance of his rare characteristic of modesty. “Yin Hou excels others not only by his talents but also in how he handles his talents.”(1) In other words, Yin Hou was superior to others not only by his merits, the way in which he handled his merits was also much better than others did. He was a very humble person and treated people very politely. Even with all his merits he was modest and was a true gentleman.

There is an ancient saying, “Pride leads to loss, modesty brings gain. (2)“ In ‘To Accept Loss is a Blessing,’ Zheng Ban Qiao cleverly elaborated on this, saying, “He who is proud loses opportunities. He who is modest accumulates gains. You benefit just because I lose. In this way, it harmonizes my relationships with you externally. And internally, I have peace of heart. When there is peace and harmony, blessing is there.” (3)

This quotation means that when there is too much or too full, things start to diminish. When there is nothing, things begin to add up and become plentiful. If you have accepted loss, it indicates someone has gained. If someone has benefited, why should one feel bad? A humble person focuses on what benefits others and makes others happy. At the same time the person feels peace of heart. Is this not ‘killing two birds with one stone’ and is it not a blessing?

In fact, when Jesus went on to suggest we should even invite “the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind,” he again had in mind the Kingdom of Heaven. There everyone is considerate of one another, thinking of others rather than seeking reward for oneself. Not only is everyone humble and considerate, always deferring to others, but it is a community filled with love and care for one another.

If human beings' relationship with God is like that of lovers with each other, then among all of humankind there will be community and the highest possible degree of unity. There will be no marginallized people like the lame and the poor because all will live at the very center of the Kingdom of Heaven, submerged in the ocean of God's love.

(1)殷浩非以長勝人,處長亦勝人。
(2) 滿招損、謙受益。滿者損之機,虧者盈之漸。
(3) 損於己則益於彼,外得人情之平,內得我心之安;既平且安,福即在是矣!

 

 

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