復活期第五主日 2019年05月19日


復活期第五主日

以天地之心,愛世間之人

讀經一:(宗14:21-27):保祿沿途堅定信徒的心
讀經二:(默21:1-5):在新天新地中再沒有淚水
福 音:(若13:31-33,34-35):彼此相愛的命令
中國文化:以父母之心為心,天下無不友之兄弟;以祖宗之心為心,天下無不和之族人;以天地之心為心,天下無不愛之民物。

孩子們!我同你們在一起的時候不多了。我給你們一條新命令:你們該彼此相親相愛;如同我怎樣愛了你們,你們也該照樣彼此相愛。如果你們彼此相親相愛,眾人就會因此認出你們是我的門徒。
(若13:33-35)

上面的話,是耶穌在「臨別贈言」中開始所說的話。在很大程度上,這可以說是耶穌的「遺囑」,是耶穌離開這個世界前,要給自己最親愛的人所留下的最重要的話。他說這些話的時候,我們可以想像得出,他的心是充滿了多少的柔情、多少的憂心,和多少的期盼!

在耶穌的臨別贈言中,他心心念念要我們牢記和實踐的,就是要彼此「相親相愛」,並說這是一條「新」命令。究竟這命令「新」在什麼地方呢?難道古教或舊約不教人相親相愛嗎?難道外教人就不懂得相親相愛嗎?耶穌的命令究竟「新」在什麼地方呢?

這命令的「新」,就在於它的愛的方式的新穎和獨特。即是說,我們不是單單的相親相愛,也不是好像時下的流行曲中所說的泛泛的「愛」,而是如同耶穌怎樣愛了我們,我們也要「照樣」彼此相愛。要好像耶穌那樣的去愛。

如果我們細心分析一下耶穌怎樣愛人,我們便可以發現他愛人的方式十分「新」,十分獨特。

第一、耶穌在我們是罪人時愛了我們;第二、耶穌在我們不可愛時愛了我們;第三、耶穌無條件地愛了我們;第四、耶穌為愛我們,甚至死在十字架上,成就了一種完全的、徹底的、無盡的愛。用他自己的話來形容:「人若為自己的朋友捨掉性命,再沒有比這更大的愛情了。」(若15:13)何況,我們原來還夠不上作耶穌的朋友!

世上許多人愛人,都是因為這個人「可愛」。耶穌愛我們卻不是因為我們可愛,而是因為他要愛;不管我們可愛與否,他都要愛我們。女作家冰心有一次問她的母親:「媽!你為什麼愛我?」她的母親很簡單的回答她說:「不為什麼,只因為你是我的女兒!」這種不為什麼而去愛的行為,就和耶穌的愛有幾分相似。

但母親愛女兒,還是因為在母與女兩者之間,有一條割不斷的紐帶:因為那是親骨肉,因為那裡存在著十月懷胎和三年哺養的恩情。而耶穌和我們之間,卻沒有這種關係。但耶穌還是愛了我們所有人和每一個人,毫無例外。

做基督徒,就要按照耶穌愛人的樣子去愛,這是一條「新命令」,一條「命令」,一條我們沒有選擇餘地的命令--我們必須按照耶穌愛的方式,去彼此相親相愛,親密地、深情地、熱切地相愛!

今天默示錄所說的「新天新地」,那個「不再有死亡,也不再有悲傷、哭泣和痛苦」的新天地,必然也是一個充滿了愛的天地,一個充滿了耶穌式的愛的天地,那裡只有欣賞,沒有挑剔;只有體諒,沒有譴責;只有分享,沒有霸佔;只有愛,沒有恨。那是超越一切的愛,因為那是天地之主的愛。

清朝金纓在他的《格言聯璧》中,收錄了這麼一段話:「以父母之心為心,天下無不友之兄弟;以祖宗之心為心,天下無不和之族人;以天地之心為心,天下無不愛之民物。

耶穌之心,就是天地之心、宇宙之心,用這個心去愛,世上當然便沒有不可愛之人。這是一個新天新地,一個以愛德生命為基礎的新天地。

教會作為基督的奧體,已成為新人,一群以愛作為標記的新人:「眾人就會因此認出你們是我的門徒」。我們作為基督門徒的標記,再不是身上配帶的十字架,也不是手中的唸珠,更不是一張領洗紙。我們是基督的門徒,不是因為我們參加主日的彌撒,不是因為我們屬於一個公教家庭。不是,什麼都不是。基督門徒的唯一標記就是「愛」,彼此相親相愛,好像基督那樣的相愛。

這個新人類的教會必須負起建設新天地、新人類的責任,成為新天地、新人類的工匠,並從自身開始,以耶穌愛的精神,把這愛的新命令推廣到普世,使世間無一人或無一物不被籠罩在天地之主的大愛之下。

 

复活期第五主日

以天地之心,爱世间之人

读经一:(宗14:21-27):保禄沿途坚定信徒的心
读经二:(默21:1-5):在新天新地中再没有淚水
福 音:(若13:31-33,34-35):彼此相爱的命令
中国文化:以父母之心为心,天下无不友之兄弟;以祖宗之心为心,天下无不和之族人;以天地之心为心,天下无不爱之民物。

孩子们!我同你们在一起的時候不多了。我给你们一条新命令:你们該彼此相亲相爱;如同我怎样爱了你们,你们也該照样彼此相爱。如果你们彼此相亲相爱,众人就会因此认出你们是我的门徒。
(若13:33-35)

上面的话,是耶稣在「临别赠言」中開始所说的话。在很大程度上,这可以说是耶稣的「遗嘱」,是耶稣離開这個世界前,要给自己最亲爱的人所留下的最重要的话。他说这些话的時候,我们可以想像得出,他的心是充满了多少的柔情、多少的忧心,和多少的期盼!

在耶稣的临别赠言中,他心心念念要我们牢记和实踐的,就是要彼此「相亲相爱」,并说这是一条「新」命令。究竟这命令「新」在什么地方呢?难道古教或旧约不教人相亲相爱吗?难道外教人就不懂得相亲相爱吗?耶稣的命令究竟「新」在什么地方呢?

这命令的「新」,就在於它的爱的方式的新穎和独特。即是说,我们不是单单的相亲相爱,也不是好像時下的流行曲中所说的泛泛的「爱」,而是如同耶稣怎样爱了我们,我们也要「照样」彼此相爱。要好像耶稣那样的去爱。

如果我们细心分析一下耶稣怎样爱人,我们便可以发现他爱人的方式十分「新」,十分独特。

第一、耶稣在我们是罪人時爱了我们;第二、耶稣在我们不可爱時爱了我们;第三、耶稣无条件地爱了我们;第四、耶稣为爱我们,甚至死在十字架上,成就了一种完全的、彻底的、无尽的爱。用他自己的话来形容:「人若为自己的朋友舍掉性命,再没有比这更大的爱情了。」(若15:13)何况,我们原来还够不上作耶稣的朋友!

世上许多人爱人,都是因为这個人「可爱」。耶稣爱我们却不是因为我们可爱,而是因为他要爱;不管我们可爱与否,他都要爱我们。女作家冰心有一次問她的母亲:「妈!你为什么爱我?」她的母亲很简单的回答她说:「不为什么,只因为你是我的女儿!」这种不为什么而去爱的行为,就和耶稣的爱有幾分相似。

但母亲爱女儿,还是因为在母与女两者之间,有一条割不断的纽带:因为那是亲骨肉,因为那里存在著十月怀胎和三年哺养的恩情。而耶稣和我们之间,却没有这种关系。但耶稣还是爱了我们所有人和每一個人,毫无例外。

做基督徒,就要按照耶稣爱人的样子去爱,这是一条「新命令」,一条「命令」,一条我们没有选择余地的命令--我们必须按照耶稣爱的方式,去彼此相亲相爱,亲密地、深情地、热切地相爱!

今天默示录所说的「新天新地」,那個「不再有死亡,也不再有悲伤、哭泣和痛苦」的新天地,必然也是一個充满了爱的天地,一個充满了耶稣式的爱的天地,那里只有欣赏,没有挑剔;只有体谅,没有谴責;只有分享,没有霸占;只有爱,没有恨。那是超越一切的爱,因为那是天地之主的爱。

清朝金缨在他的《格言联璧》 中,收录了这么一段话:「以父母之心为心,天下无不友之兄弟;以祖宗之心为心,天下无不和之族人;以天地之心为心,天下无不爱之民物。

耶稣之心,就是天地之心、宇宙之心,用这個心去爱,世上当然便没有不可爱之人。这是一個新天新地,一個以爱德生命为基础的新天地。

教会作为基督的奥体,已成为新人,一群以爱作为标记的新人:「众人就会因此认出你们是我的门徒」。我们作为基督门徒的标记,再不是身上配带的十字架,也不是手中的念珠,更不是一张领洗纸。我们是基督的门徒,不是因为我们参加主日的弥撒,不是因为我们属於一個公教家庭。不是,什么都不是。基督门徒的唯一标记就是「爱」,彼此相亲相爱,好像基督那样的相爱。

这個新人类的教会必须负起建设新天地、新人类的責任,成为新天地、新人类的工匠,并从自身開始,以耶稣爱的精神,把这爱的新命令推广到普世,使世间无一人或无一物不被笼罩在天地之主的大爱之下。

 

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Love All People in the World with the Heart of Heaven and Earth

First Reading (Acts 14: 21-27): Paul travelled all over strengthening the disciples' faith
Second Reading (Rev 21: 1-5): There are no more tears in the new heaven and new earth
Gospel (Jn 13: 31-35): The commandment to love one another
Chinese Classics:
“-To love with the heart of a parent, no brother in this world is unkind. To love with the heart of an ancestor, no clansman in this world is unfriendly. To love with the heart of Heaven and Earth, no creature in this world is unlovable.” (1)


Little children, I am with you only a little longer. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (Jn 13: 33 – 35)

The above words are the beginning of Jesus' 'Last Discourse.' In a general way we can say these words are Jesus' 'last will and testament,' the most important words he spoke to his beloved disciples shortly before he left this world. We can imagine that when Jesus said these words his heart was full of tenderness, some sadness, but also a glimmer of hope.

In these parting words what Jesus wanted us to remember and carry out in our lives was that 'we must love one another.' He said this was a 'new' commandment. Actually what was 'new' about this commandment? Could it be that the old laws or the Old Testament did not teach people to love one another? Did not non-believers know how to love each other? In what way was Jesus' commandment 'new'?

What was 'new' about this commandment was the original and unique way in which we are to love. That is to say, we not only are to love one another, and certainly not in the way in which popular songs sing about 'love,' but we are to love in the same way Jesus has loved us. We must love others 'as I have loved you.'

If we examine carefully how Jesus loves us human beings, we will discover that the manner in which he loves us is indeed 'new' and special.

First, Jesus loves us even though we are still sinners. Secondly, Jesus loves us who are not lovable at all. Third, Jesus loves us unconditionally, and fourth, for love of us he was even willing to die on the cross. He 'became' total, complete and limitless love. In his own words he said,No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. (Jn 15:13) And originally we could not even qualify as his friends!
Many people in the world love other people, usually because they are 'lovable.' Jesus loves us not because we are lovable but because he IS love. Whether we are lovable or not, he wants to love us. The female writer Bing Xin once asked her mother, “Mother, why do you love me?” Her mother answered simply, “Not for any reason, it is only because you are my daughter.” That kind of love, with no need for reasons, is a little like the way in which Jesus loves us.

A mother loves her daughter because there is an inseparable link between her and her daughter, because there is a flesh-and-blood relationship, because there is a bond starting from the mother's long months of pregnancy followed by several years nursing her child. There is not that kind of relationship between Jesus and us. Still Jesus loves all of us and each one of us without any exception.

Those who are Christians must love others as Jesus loves. That is the 'new commandment', a 'command' we have no choice but to follow. We must love one another according to the way in which Jesus has loved -deeply, intimately, earnestly.

The new heaven and new earth we read about in today's second reading from the Book of Revelation is where death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more. This new heaven and new earth must be filled with love, filled with the kind of love that Jesus has shown us. There there is only appreciation and no pettiness, understanding and no blame, sharing but no possessiveness, no hatred but only love. There the manner of loving surpasses all other, because it is the love of the Lord of heaven and earth.

Jin Ying of the Tsing Dynasty recorded these lines in his 'Maxims of Jade': “To love with the heart of a parent, no brother in this world is unkind. To love with the heart of an ancestor, no clansman in this world is unfriendly. To love with the heart of Heaven and Earth, no creature in this world is unlovable.” (1)

The heart of Jesus is all-embracing and universal. For those who love with that kind of heart there is no one in the world who is unlovable. That is the new heaven and new earth with the foundation based on love.

The church, the Mystical Body of Christ, has become a new people known by the sign of love: By this everyone will know that you are my disciples.The sign that we are Christ's disciples is not that we wear a crucifix or hold a rosary in our hands, even less that we have a baptismal certificate. We are disciples of Christ not because we participate in the Eucharist on Sunday, or because we belong to a Christian family. None of these is the essential point. The one and only sign of a Christian is 'love,' love for one another in the manner of Christ's love.

This new humanity of the church must take up the responsibility of building up the new heaven and new earth. We must become artisans of a renewed humanity. Each person must begin with oneself and, imbued with the spirit of Jesus' love, spread the new commandment of love throughout the entire universe, so that all people and all created things are enveloped in the love of the Lord of creation.

 

(1)以父母之心為心,天下無不友之兄弟;以祖宗之心為心,天下無不和之族人;以天地之心為心,天下無不愛之民物。

 

 

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徐錦堯@fr.luketsui.idv.hk 2024