四旬期第三主日

為有源頭活水來

讀經一：(出17:3-7)：梅瑟擊石出水
讀經二：(羅5:1-2,5-8)：我們藉著信仰基督得與天主和好
福　音：(若4:5-26,39-42)：向撒瑪黎雅婦人談論活水
中國文化： 半畝方塘一鑑開，天光雲影共徘徊；
問渠那得清如許，為有源頭活水來。
一日不讀書，便言語無味；三日不讀書，便面目可憎。
同君一席話，勝讀十年書。

今天的讀經是關於活水的。

耶穌有一次行得疲倦，到了一個撒瑪黎雅人的地方（撒瑪黎雅人被猶太人視為外邦人，是猶太人瞧不起的一群），在井邊遇見一個撒瑪黎雅婦人，耶穌於是向這女人要水喝。這女人覺得很奇怪，為何一個猶太人竟然會向一個撒瑪黎雅婦人要水喝？隨後，耶穌便開始與婦人談論有關活水的道理。

耶穌說：「喝這井水的人仍會感到口渴，但誰若喝我給的水，便永遠不會口渴：並且這水將會在他內成為泉源，湧出活水，使他得到永生。」

接著耶穌便和這女人作了一番辯論：究竟要在甚麼地方朝拜天主？這女人向耶穌說：「你們的祖先說要在耶路撒冷朝拜天主，但我們的祖先卻說在這座山上。」

耶穌的回答簡單而直接：「女人，你相信我吧！時候到了，你們將不在這座山上，也不在耶路撒冷朝拜父。真正朝拜天父的人，要以心神和真理朝拜他。因為，這樣的朝拜正是父所要的。天主是神，所以朝拜他的人，也應該以心神和真理去朝拜！」（參考若4:5-26,39-42）

這是一番很出名的話。天主不是住在聖堂的圍牆內，也不是被局限在天主教或基督教的圈子中。天主是神，是無所不在的至上神。他無始無終，超越時間與空間的限制。朝拜這位神，必須以心神、以真理去朝拜。

當耶穌和這婦人談話時，門徒們帶了食物回來，但耶穌卻說不感到饑餓，因為他的食物就是履行天父的旨意，完成父交給他的工作。能夠和人談論生命的重要問題，這就是他的食物。

經文提到的活水，使我想起宋朝朱熹亦寫過一首關於活水的詩，題目是《觀書有感》，表達他在讀書時的一種感覺或感受。

在朱熹的書房門外，有一個小池塘，這池溏的水很澄清，天上的雲倒映在水中，十分漂亮。於是，朱熹便寫了這首詩：「半畝方塘一鑑(鏡)開，天光雲影共徘徊；問渠(她)那得清如許，為(因為)有源頭活水來。」意思是，眼前的小池塘雖然只有半畝大小，但卻波平如鏡，十分清澈；天上的雲倒映在池水上，好像在跳舞。若要問這水為何能這樣清澈？那是因為她有一個活水泉，不斷有活水流入。

朱熹認為書便是活水，是活水的泉源。所以古人也說：「一日不讀書，便言語無味；三日不讀書，便面目可憎。」

人要不斷讀書，才會不斷有新思想、新朝氣、新靈感灌注在我們的生命內。沒有書，連我們的生命也會變得枯燥乏味，所以書便成了我們的活水泉，是令我們容光煥發的「護膚品」。

今天讀經講的活水有三層意義：

第一、基督自己便是活水。他是生命的泉源，若我們能進入他的心中，我們便如暢泳在活水泉內，在活水的汪洋中。基督是生命的泉源，也是生命的活水。

第二、基督的教訓便是活水。他的說話給我們指示了方向，讓我們看出應如何走我們生命的道路。他說：「我就是道路、真理及生命。」他的教訓可以光照我們的生命，他的說話就成為我們生命的活水。

第三、耶穌的榜樣也是活水。他不單告訴我們道路及方向，更親自實行出來，讓我們看到如何可以按天主的旨意去生活。他不單是個指路人，還是個帶路人。

讓我們今天就走近基督，走近這活水泉，讓基督進入我們的生命中，也讓我們自己投入基督的生命中。我們要在基督內暢飲這活水，使我們不再口渴，讓這活水從我們的生命流出，以滋潤自己的生命。

更希望作為一個基督徒，以後當我們與人交往、談話時，我們的言語及行為都能滋潤別人、解別人的口渴。讓人有「同君一席話，勝讀十年書」的感受。

四旬期第三主日

为有源头活水来

读经一：(出17:3-7)：梅瑟击石出水
读经二：(罗5:1-2,5-8)：我们藉著信仰基督得与天主和好
福　音：(若4:5-26,39-42)：向撒玛黎雅妇人谈论活水
中国文化： 半亩方塘一鉴開，天光云影共徘徊；
问渠那得清如许，为有源头活水来。
一日不读书，便言语无味；三日不读书，便面目可憎。
同君一席话，胜读十年书。

今天的读经是关於活水的。

耶稣有一次行得疲倦，到了一個撒玛黎雅人的地方（撒玛黎雅人被犹太人视为外邦人，是犹太人瞧不起的一群），在井边遇见一個撒玛黎雅妇人，耶稣於是向这女人要水喝。这女人觉得很奇怪，为何一個犹太人竟然会向一個撒玛黎雅妇人要水喝？随后，耶稣便開始与妇人谈论有关活水的道理。

耶稣说：「喝这井水的人仍会感到口渴，但谁若喝我给的水，便永遠不会口渴：并且这水将会在他内成为泉源，涌出活水，使他得到永生。」

接著耶稣便和这女人作了一番辩论：究竟要在甚么地方朝拜天主？这女人向耶稣说：「你们的祖先说要在耶路撒冷朝拜天主，但我们的祖先却说在这座山上。」

耶稣的回答简单而直接：「女人，你相信我吧！時候到了，你们将不在这座山上，也不在耶路撒冷朝拜父。真正朝拜天父的人，要以心神和真理朝拜他。因为，这样的朝拜正是父所要的。天主是神，所以朝拜他的人，也应該以心神和真理去朝拜！」（参考若4:5-26,39-42）

这是一番很出名的话。天主不是住在圣堂的围墙内，也不是被局限在天主教或基督教的圈子中。天主是神，是无所不在的至上神。他无始无终，超越時间与空间的限制。朝拜这位神，必须以心神、以真理去朝拜。

当耶稣和这妇人谈话時，门徒们带了食物回来，但耶稣却说不感到饥饿，因为他的食物就是履行天父的旨意，完成父交给他的工作。能够和人谈论生命的重要問题，这就是他的食物。

经文提到的活水，使我想起宋朝朱熹亦写過一首关於活水的诗，题目是《观书有感》 ，表达他在读书時的一种感觉或感受。

在朱熹的书房门外，有一個小池塘，这池溏的水很澄清，天上的云倒映在水中，十分漂亮。於是，朱熹便写了这首诗：「半亩方塘一鉴(镜)開，天光云影共徘徊；問渠(她)那得清如许，为(因为)有源头活水来。」意思是，眼前的小池塘虽然只有半亩大小，但却波平如镜，十分清澈；天上的云倒映在池水上，好像在跳舞。若要問这水为何能这样清澈？那是因为她有一個活水泉，不断有活水流入。

朱熹认为书便是活水，是活水的泉源。所以古人也说：「一日不读书，便言语无味；三日不读书，便面目可憎。」

人要不断读书，才会不断有新思想、新朝气、新灵感灌注在我们的生命内。没有书，连我们的生命也会变得枯燥乏味，所以书便成了我们的活水泉，是令我们容光焕发的「护肤品」。

今天读经讲的活水有三层意义：

第一、基督自己便是活水。他是生命的泉源，若我们能进入他的心中，我们便如畅泳在活水泉内，在活水的汪洋中。基督是生命的泉源，也是生命的活水。

第二、基督的教训便是活水。他的说话给我们指示了方向，让我们看出应如何走我们生命的道路。他说：「我就是道路、真理及生命。」他的教训可以光照我们的生命，他的说话就成为我们生命的活水。

第三、耶稣的榜样也是活水。他不单告诉我们道路及方向，更亲自实行出来，让我们看到如何可以按天主的旨意去生活。他不单是個指路人，还是個带路人。

让我们今天就走近基督，走近这活水泉，让基督进入我们的生命中，也让我们自己投入基督的生命中。我们要在基督内畅饮这活水，使我们不再口渴，让这活水从我们的生命流出，以滋润自己的生命。

更希望作为一個基督徒，以后当我们与人交往、谈话時，我们的言语及行为都能滋润别人、解别人的口渴。让人有「同君一席话，胜读十年书」的感受。

Third Sunday of Lent

Source of Living Water

First Reading : ( Ex 17:3-7 ) : Moses struck the rock and water came out
Second Reading : ( Rom 5:1-2,5-8 ) : By faith in Christ we are reconciled to God
Gospel : (Jn 4:5-26,39-42 ) : Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman about living water .
Chinese Classics
-“The square pond of half a mou opens up like a mirror. Sky light and shadows of clouds move together to and fro. Let us ask: How can it be so crystal? Because there is living water coming from the fountainhead.” (1)
-“Not studying for a day, my speech becomes dull; Not studying for three days, my looks become repulsive.(2)
-“Listening to you for a few hours, far exceeds studying for ten years.” (3)

Today's reading is about living water.

Once when Jesus was tired from a long journey, he came to a place where the Samaritans lived (Samaritans were regarded as pagans and looked down upon by the Jews). A Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water and Jesus asked her for a drink. The woman thought this was strange, why would a Jew ask a Samaritan woman for a drink? Jesus then started a discussion with the woman about the meaning of living water.

Jesus said: ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’

Jesus then started to discuss with the woman about where we should worship God. The woman said to Jesus, “Your ancestors said all must worship God in Jerusalem, but our ancestors said we should worship on this mountain.”

Jesus' answer was simple and direct: ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. The true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ (Ref Jn 4: 5-26, 39-42)

These are very famous words. God is not within a church's four walls, nor is God limited to within the confines of the Catholic or Christian religions. God is spirit, Supreme Lord who is everywhere. God has neither beginning nor end, God is beyond the limitation of space and time. One must worship God in spirit and in truth.

While Jesus was talking with the woman, the disciples returned with food, but Jesus said he was not hungry. His food was to carry out his Father's will and complete the work God had given him to do. His food was to be able to discuss this important issue of life.

The mention of “living water” in today's reading reminds me of a poem about living water written by Zhu Xi of the Sung Dynasty called “Feelings Arising from Reading Books.” It is about his feelings and emotions when reading books.

Outside Zhu Xi's study was a little pond which was so clear that it could reflect the clouds in the sky. It was a beautiful scene that inspired Zhu Xi to write this poem: “The square pond of half a mou opens up like a mirror. Sky light and shadows of clouds move together to and fro. Let us ask: How can it be so crystal clear? Because there is living water coming from the fountainhead.”(1) The meaning was that though the pond was a small one, no bigger than half a mou, it was as calm and as clear as a mirror. The clouds in the sky were reflected in it and seemed to be dancing. If one were to ask why the water could be so crystal clear, it was because there was a fountainhead from where fresh water flowed incessantly.

Zhu Xi thought that a book was living water and the source of living water. That was why the ancient sages said, “Not studying for a day, my speech becomes dull; Not studying for three days, my looks become repulsive.”(2)

We humans must study continuously before we can have new ideas, new vitality and new inspirations. Without books, life itself becomes dry and dull. Therefore, books become our living water, the “health products” which cause us to shine and radiate.

There are three levels of meaning about living water in today's reading:

First, Christ himself is living water. He is the source of life and if we can enter into his heart, we will be as if immersed in a stream of living water, like being in the midst of an ocean.

Second, Christ's teaching is living water. His words point us in a direction that helps us in life so that we can see how to walk on our life's journey. He said: ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.’ His teaching can enlighten our lives and his words become the living water of life.

Third, Jesus' example is also living water. He not only told us the way, he carried it out himself, He let us see how we can live according to God's will. He not only pointed this out, he guides us himself.

Let us today draw near to Christ, approach the living water, and allow Christ to enter into our lives and we ourselves enter into Christ's life. We must drink of the living water that is Christ so that we will never thirst again. Let this living water flow out from our lives and nourish us.

Let us hope that hereafter when we Christians interact with others, our words and actions will nourish other peoples' lives and slake their thirst. May people feel that “Listening to you for a few hours, far exceeds studying for ten years.”(3)

(1)半畝方塘一鑑開，天光雲影共徘徊；問渠那得清如許，為有源頭活水來。
(2)一日不讀書，便言語無味；三日不讀書，便面目可憎。
(3)同君一席話，勝讀十年書。