常年期第十七主日

頑強的信賴，不斷的懇求

讀經一：(創18:20-21,23-32)：亞巴郎為索多瑪求情
讀經二：(哥2:12-14)：洗禮中與基督一同埋葬一同復活
福　音：(路11:1-13)：應當怎樣祈禱
中國文化：鏡與人俱去，鏡歸人不歸；無復姮娥影，空留明月輝。謀事在人，成事在天。

我告訴你們：你們求，就必給你們；你們找，就必找到；你們敲門，就必給你們開門。因為凡求的，就必得到；尋找的，就必找到；敲門的，就一定給他開門……你們雖然不好，尚且知道拿好東西給自己的兒女，何況在天之父，豈不更會將聖神賜給那些求他的人嗎？（路11:9-13）

耶穌用了六句不同的話，六種不同的講法，重重複複的向我們說出一個重要的事實：我們的祈禱是有效的，天主樂於俯聽我們的祈禱。

信仰告訴我們，如果我們有移山的信德（谷11:23），如果我們因基督的名字而祈求（若14:13），我們的祈禱是一定有功效、有結果的；天主一定會答應我們的祈禱、滿全我們的願望。

如果我們得不到所求，可能有兩個原因：第一、是我們「求的不當」（雅4:2-3）；第二、是我們所求的對我們無益，甚至對我們有害，好像小孩子向父母求一柄利刀或一些危險的玩具，父母又怎會給他？

但無論如何，天主一定會將最好的恩典、最適合我們的恩典，賞賜給我們。

所以基督徒的祈禱一定要像耶穌一樣，以承行天主的旨意為依歸，他在山園祈禱時就說：「不要隨我的意願，惟照你的意願成就罷！」（路22:42），這也是聖母瑪利亞的祈禱：「看！上主的婢女，願照你的話成就於我罷！」（路1:38）

對於恆心祈禱的人，結果就像經上那位半夜求餅的人一樣，一定會獲得所求的一切，因為「那人即使不是為了他是朋友，也會因為他厚著臉皮一直請求，而起來把他所需要的一切拿給他。」(路11:8)

恆心祈禱是我們愛上主的表現，是對天主諾言的堅信，和對上主不可動搖的信賴的一種行動。

在充滿愛的家庭中，子女對父母一定有最強的、無條件的信賴；在真誠的友誼中，朋友一定會堅信對方的承諾。而在這些信賴和信任的背後，人們還會相信在冥冥中，有上主的照顧、祝福和支持。

耶穌在面對自己的苦難時，雖然看不到前景，但在極度痛苦中，仍然表現出對天父有頑強的信賴。聖婦莫尼加雖然看不到她的兒子奧斯定何時會回頭，還是不斷的為他祈禱，堅信上主自有助他改過之日。

我們有沒有為一件事、為一個人、為一個理想、為我們所關懷的世界，而不斷的祈禱、天天的祈禱、熱切的祈禱、一生的祈禱呢？我們有沒有真的以不可動搖的信心，去懇切的祈求那「有求必應」的上主，把一切都交託在他的手中呢？

中國有個「破鏡重圓」的故事，說的也是人對未來的希望和執著，當中包含了對上天安排的堅決信賴。

話說南朝時的徐德言在戰亂中，知道自己美麗的妻子樂昌公主一定會被人俘虜，於是預先把一面鏡子敲成兩半，各執一半，期望以後可以藉鏡子的復合而重聚。戰後，徐德言拿著自己的那半面破鏡到市場去，果然看到有人正在賣破鏡，他於是拿出自己那半面破鏡，和那人的破鏡合起來，剛好是天衣無縫。他於是在鏡上題了一首詩：「鏡與人俱去，鏡歸人不歸；無復姮娥影，空留明月輝。」樂昌公主見到這面重圓的鏡子，終於和徐德言相認和復合了。

對生命的無限執著，對理想的堅定追求，對未來充滿信心，再加上對照顧一切的上主的頑強信賴，堅信他所許必踐，因而不斷向他傾訴、懇求和耐心的等待，這就是今日耶穌所說祈禱的深意。

我有一位朋友，他有一個很好的習慣，就是每當遇到問題時，他會故意不去想這問題，而是首先放下一切，先去朝拜聖體、祈禱，然後才去思考如何解決問題。他的理由是：他不要自己單獨去面對問題，他選擇了要和天主一起去面對！

也曾聽說過，有一些以團隊形式出現的培育小組，每當其中一個組員去作培育的工作，例如演講，或作工作坊時，例必有另一組員在朝拜聖體，為那位正在工作中的組員祈禱。我們可以不斷的努力，但畢竟感化人、感動人的卻是天主。這真是「謀事在人，成事在天」的最好註腳。

常年期第十七主日

顽强的信赖，不断的恳求

读经一：(创18:20-21,23-32)：亚巴郎为索多玛求情
读经二：(哥2:12-14)：洗礼中与基督一同埋葬一同复活
福　音：(路11:1-13)：应当怎样祈祷
中国文化：镜与人俱去，镜归人不归；无复姮娥影，空留明月辉。谋事在人，成事在天。

我告诉你们：你们求，就必给你们；你们找，就必找到；你们敲门，就必给你们開门。因为凡求的，就必得到；寻找的，就必找到；敲门的，就一定给他開门……你们虽然不好，尚且知道拿好东西给自己的儿女，何况在天之父，岂不更会将圣神赐给那些求他的人吗？（路11:9-13）

耶稣用了六句不同的话，六种不同的讲法，重重复复的向我们说出一個重要的事实：我们的祈祷是有效的，天主乐於俯听我们的祈祷。

信仰告诉我们，如果我们有移山的信德（谷11:23），如果我们因基督的名字而祈求（若14:13），我们的祈祷是一定有功效、有结果的；天主一定会答应我们的祈祷、满全我们的願望。

如果我们得不到所求，可能有两個原因：第一、是我们「求的不当」（雅4:2-3）；第二、是我们所求的对我们无益，甚至对我们有害，好像小孩子向父母求一柄利刀或一些危险的玩具，父母又怎会给他？

但无论如何，天主一定会将最好的恩典、最適合我们的恩典，赏赐给我们。

所以基督徒的祈祷一定要像耶稣一样，以承行天主的旨意为依归，他在山园祈祷時就说：「不要随我的意願，惟照你的意願成就罢！」（路22:42），这也是圣母玛利亚的祈祷：「看！上主的婢女，願照你的话成就於我罢！」（路1:38）

对於恒心祈祷的人，结果就像经上那位半夜求饼的人一样，一定会获得所求的一切，因为「那人即使不是为了他是朋友，也会因为他厚著脸皮一直请求，而起来把他所需要的一切拿给他。」(路11:8)

恒心祈祷是我们爱上主的表现，是对天主诺言的坚信，和对上主不可动摇的信赖的一种行动。

在充满爱的家庭中，子女对父母一定有最强的、无条件的信赖；在真诚的友谊中，朋友一定会坚信对方的承诺。而在这些信赖和信任的背后，人们还会相信在冥冥中，有上主的照顾、祝福和支持。

耶稣在面对自己的苦难時，虽然看不到前景，但在极度痛苦中，仍然表现出对天父有顽强的信赖。圣妇莫尼加虽然看不到她的儿子奥斯定何時会回头，还是不断的为他祈祷，坚信上主自有助他改過之日。

我们有没有为一件事、为一個人、为一個理想、为我们所关怀的世界，而不断的祈祷、天天的祈祷、热切的祈祷、一生的祈祷呢？我们有没有真的以不可动摇的信心，去恳切的祈求那「有求必应」的上主，把一切都交托在他的手中呢？

中国有個「破镜重圆」的故事，说的也是人对未来的希望和执著，当中包含了对上天安排的坚决信赖。

话说南朝時的徐德言在战亂中，知道自己美麗的妻子乐昌公主一定会被人俘虏，於是预先把一面镜子敲成两半，各执一半，期望以后可以藉镜子的复合而重聚。战后，徐德言拿著自己的那半面破镜到市场去，果然看到有人正在卖破镜，他於是拿出自己那半面破镜，和那人的破镜合起来，刚好是天衣无缝。他於是在镜上题了一首诗：「镜与人俱去，镜归人不归；无复姮娥影，空留明月辉。」乐昌公主见到这面重圆的镜子，终於和徐德言相认和复合了。

对生命的无限执著，对理想的坚定追求，对未来充满信心，再加上对照顾一切的上主的顽强信赖，坚信他所许必踐，因而不断向他倾诉、恳求和耐心的等待，这就是今日耶稣所说祈祷的深意。

我有一位朋友，他有一個很好的习惯，就是每当遇到問题時，他会故意不去想这問题，而是首先放下一切，先去朝拜圣体、祈祷，然后才去思考如何解决問题。他的理由是：他不要自己单独去面对問题，他选择了要和天主一起去面对！

也曾听说過，有一些以团队形式出现的培育小组，每当其中一個组员去作培育的工作，例如演讲，或作工作坊時，例必有另一组员在朝拜圣体，为那位正在工作中的组员祈祷。我们可以不断的努力，但毕竟感化人、感动人的却是天主。这真是「谋事在人，成事在天」的最好注脚。

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

The Sea Absorbs Hundreds of Rivers but has the Capacity for Many More

First Reading (1 Sam 26: 2, 7-9, l2-l3, 22-23): David did not wish to harm Saul
Second Reading (1 Cor 15: 45-49): Human beings are from the earth. But with Christ, in the end they also belong to heaven
Gospel (Lk 6: 27-38): The “Golden Rule” of Love
Chinese Classics:-
-“Only when raising your child will you realize the love and care of your parents.” (1)
-“The tree wishes to be still but the wind will not cease. The son wishes to care for his parents but they are no longer there.” (2)
-“An ordinary man when humiliated would pull out his sword, stand up and fight. This is not enough to be termed courage. In this world the really courageous man would not fear when suddenly faced with danger, and would not get angry even when accused unreasonably. What people like that contemplate and long for are greater and deeper, and their life ambitions are also much higher.” (3)
-“Having gone through many hardships and catastrophes to find one's brother still alive, when they meet a simple smile wipes away all debts of gratitude and revenge.”(4)

“I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt... Do to others as you would have them do to you.”(Lk 6: 27-31)

In the Gospel there is a sentence that non-believers always ridicule. That is the sentence “If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.” Matthew's gospel is even clearer: “If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” (Mt 5:39)

A non-believer will challenge us, saying, ‘Can you Christians really do what Jesus said? If I strike you now, will you really not hit me back?’

To understand Jesus' words as quoted above, we need a shift in our thinking, a new way of looking at things. We need to raise our outlook to a higher level of how to treat others. Some term this change in our thinking ‘a paradigm shift’.

A paradigm shift leads us into a new state of mind. It is as if we have put on new glasses and see life and the world in an entirely new way. We enter into a new phase of life, like moving from the stage of childhood to that of parenthood.

In the Chinese saying, “Only when you have raised your child will you realize the love and care of your parents,”(1) the words 'only when' say clearly that before adults become parents, they will find it very difficult to understand the feelings of their parents 'When' we have become parents, then we will truly understand how much our parents love us. But often we cannot go back to that period in time. It remains a life-long regret we cannot rectify. It is as the Chinese adage says, “The tree wishes to be still but the wind never ceases. The son wishes to care for his parents but they are no longer there.” (2)

This is what is meant by a paradigm shift. Only after we have entered into this new kind of life can we take a different stance to ponder anew, (put ourselves in another's shoes) and have this kind of a new way of contemplating and thinking.

When Jesus talked this way he was not referring to one individual action. He was not teaching us to ask ourselves, 'If you strike me, what about me?' What he was talking about was the paradigm shift we just mentioned: a new way of treating both people and material things, a new way of opening ourselves to the world. He was inviting us to enter into a totally new level of life, a new universe of limitless forbearance and mutual forgiveness. There would no longer be petty revenge, feuding, hatred or enmity. Life would be full of laughter, everlasting love and tolerance.

‘If I strike you, what will you do?’ This is just joking, it is not the attitude of life that Jesus was talking about. We need pay no attention to that kind of talk.

Regarding different modes of thought and attitude towards life, Su Shi had this example of courage in his ‘Essays on Posterior Ministers:’ An ordinary man when humiliated, would pull out his sword, stand up and fight. This is not enough to be termed courage. In this world the really courageous man will not fear when suddenly faced with danger, and will not get angry even when he is accused unreasonably. What people like that contemplate and long for are greater and deeper, and their life ambitions are also much higher.”(3) The attitude of an ordinary person or the man on the street or even the coward is vastly different from that of a truly courageous person. They belong to two different kinds of people, with two different modes of thinking and acting.

When another person insults or ridicules you, and you grow angry and even fight, you are only being foolhardy.( 'having the bravery of a horse'). The courageous person may also be chivalrous, with high aspirations and determination, strong feelings and moral strength, that is, with the kind of magnanimity, bearing and disposition of the virtuous person that Jesus invites all of us to be. That kind of person has a farsighted viewpoint that is broad, deep and sees through people. Such a person is totally different from a foolhardy one who tries to take revenge or pretends to be brave.

There are broad-minded people who can put aside unpleasant incidents with a smile. Lu Zun had this kind of stature and personality. He was described in this way: “Having gone through many hardships and catastrophes to find one's brother still alive, when they met, a simple smile wiped away all debits of gratitude and revenge.” (4) That is the kind of magnanimity, broadmindedness and virtue we are talking about.

We live in a materialistic world and we only know how to be practical and to think about what will bring returns; we want our behavior to be 'worth' something. We become too rational, always asking 'Why'? Actually the most worthwhile life and most touching story most often happens 'for no reason'. Great solicitude for others and great love are like that.

So how can we raise our life to reach such a level? The Gospel suggests to us two possible ways. First of all, we must enter into the heart and mind of God, asking God to help us change, so that we can see this world objectively and clearly from God's viewpoint of love and tolerance for others. Secondly, we must try to enter into the other's viewpoint, which means putting ourselves into the shoes of others, trying to see life and events from their point of view: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”These are the two ways that will enable us to be magnanimous and broad-minded in a life that leads to far-reaching horizons.

(1)養子方知父母恩。
(2)樹欲靜而風不息，子欲養而親不在。
(3)匹夫見辱，拔劍而起，挺身而鬥，此不足為勇也。 天下有大勇者，猝然臨之而不驚，無故加之而不怒；此其所挾持者甚大，而其志甚遠也。
(4)歷盡劫波兄弟在，相逢一笑泯恩仇。