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。

 

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

STUBBORN TRUST - PERSISTENT SUPPLICATION

First Reading (Gen 28: 20-21, 23-32): Abraham pleaded for Sodom
Second Reading (Col 2: 12-14): We are buried and raised to life with Christ 
in Baptism
Gospel (Lk 11: 1-13): How we should pray
Chinese classics:”
-“The person and the mirror were gone The mirror came back but the person did not. The shadow of the Lady on the Moon could not be restored, only the bright moon shone in the empty sky.” (1)
-“Man proposes, Heaven disposes” (2)

“I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened... If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Lk 11: 9-13)

Jesus used six different phrases and approaches to repeatedly stress this important fact: our prayer is effective, God really is pleased to listen to our petitions.

Faith assures us that if we have the confidence that moves mountains (Mk 11:23) and ask in the name of Christ (Jn 14: 13), our prayers will bring results. God will answer our prayers and fulfill our desires.

If our requests are not answered it may be due to two reasons. First, our request may not be appropriate (Jas 4:2-3), secondly, what we ask for will do us no good, or even might harm us. It is much like children who ask parents for a knife or a harmful toy. Would parents give it to them?

But no matter what or how, God will give us whatever gift is suitable and best for us.
In this connection, Christians’ prayer should be similar to the prayer of Jesus, who asked God that ‘God's will be done... ’ On the Mount of Olives Jesus prayed, “Not my will but yours be done” (Lk 22:42). This was also Mary's prayer, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word.” (Lk 1: 38)

As for those who pray with perseverance, the results are like those of the man in the Bible who believed that if he continued to beg for bread at midnight, he would eventually get all that he requested. “Even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence+ he will get up and give him whatever he needs.”(Luke 11:8)

When we persist in prayer we show that we love God. It is an act of firm belief in God's promise that manifests our unshakable trust in God.

In families whose members are filled with love for each other, children have the strongest and unconditional trust in their parents. In true sincere friendship, friends will trust each other's commitment to each other. Behind such faith and trust, we also believe in God's sometimes imperceptible care, blessing and support.

When Jesus came to face his passion, though he could not see what lay ahead, even in the midst of terrible suffering he still showed his steadfast reliance on his heavenly Father. Though St. Monica could see no indication of when her son Augustine would change for the better, she unceasingly prayed for him. She firmly believed that God would one day lead him to conversion.

Have we ever prayed persistently, daily, earnestly, all life long, for something or someone, for an ideal, for our world about which we are so concerned? Have we ever had unshakable faith and placed everything in the hands of God, trusting completely in the Lord's promise that “those who seek will find?”

There is a Chinese story called “The Reunion of the Broken Mirror.” The story illustrates human perseverance and hope in the future, including the unwavering reliance on the arrangements of Heaven above.

The Southern Dynasty was in a state of war and turmoil. Xu De Yan knew that as a matter of course his beautiful wife, the Princess Le Chang, would be kidnapped. So he broke a mirror in half and gave one piece to his wife and kept one himself. He hoped that the two halves of the mirror would reunite them later. After the war ended, Xu De Yan brought his half of the mirror to the market and met a man selling a broken mirror. He took out his half and put it together with that of the man's. They made a perfect match. He wrote this poem on the mirror. “The person and the mirror were gone. The mirror came back but the person did not. The shadow of the Lady of the Moon could not be restored, only the bright moon shone in the empty sky.”(1) When the Princess Le Chang saw the reunion of the two halves of the mirror, she recognized that it was Xu De Yan and was reunited with him.

These are the main concepts about prayer that Jesus talks about today: a firm grasp of life, an unmovable pursuit of ideals, fullness of faith in the future, stubborn reliance on God's care for all creatures and trust that 'those who seek will surely find.' So we persevere in our petitions, awaiting God with earnestness and patience.

A friend of mine has a very good habit . Whenever he meets with a problem, he deliberately does not think about the problem. He first puts everything else aside and goes to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. Only after that does he think about how to solve the problem. He reasons that he does not want to face the problem alone. He chooses rather to face it with God.

It is said that some counseling groups use a team approach. Whenever a group member goes to a lecture or a workshop, another group member will pray before the Blessed Sacrament for the working member. We may endeavor to put forth all our energies, but it is God who transforms and moves people. It is the best footnote to the adage, “Man propose, but God disposes.”(2)

(1)鏡與人俱去，鏡歸人不歸；無復姮娥影，空留明月輝。
(2) 謀事在人，成事在天。