子夜彌撒 2019年12月24日


子夜彌撒
 
柔弱的嬰兒,強力的天主
 
讀經一:(依9:1-3,5-6):有一個嬰孩為我們誕生了
讀經二:(鐸2:11-14):度相稱救恩的生活
福 音:(路2:1-14):耶穌誕生在白冷
中國文化: 造物無言卻有情,每於寒盡覺春生;
千紅萬紫安排著,只待新雷第一聲。
 
「天使向牧童說:不要害怕!看!我給你們報告一個為全民族的大喜訊。今天在達味城中,為你們誕生了一位救世者。他是主默西亞,這是給你們的記號:你們將要看見一個嬰兒,裹著襁褓,躺在馬槽裡。」(路2:10-12)
 
「我告訴你們一個大喜訊。」這大喜訊,依撒意亞先知已給我們預言過:在黑暗中生活的人民看見了一道皓光,住在死亡陰影下的人,已有光輝照耀著他們,上主會把他們的枷鎖、肩上的橫木及壓迫者的短棍都一一折斷。因為有一嬰兒誕生了,有一個兒子賞賜給我們,他就是要來的君王,他是奇妙的謀士,強力的天主,永恒之父,和平之王。(參考依9:1-3,5-6)
 
這就是喜訊:「我們會見到一道皓光。」我們將會開始在基督內看到生命的秘密,看到宇宙的奇妙,看到我們未來的幸福。我們將不會活在死亡的陰影下,我們將會在光中行走,這就是喜訊。
 
我們的枷鎖、肩上的橫木、壓迫者的短棍,都要一一折斷。世界將充滿正義,仁愛與和平,這就是喜訊,這就是我們在這個將臨期內不斷聽到的喜訊:小山羊將與豺狼同睡,刀劍將會鑄成鋤頭,槍矛將會變成鐮刀。未來的世界將會是一個「大道之行也,天下為公」的世界。
 
這些都是我們夢想的喜訊,而這些夢想已經一一變為事實了,因為默西亞已經來臨,救主已經在我們中間出現。從今以後,我們可以自由去看、自由去愛、自由去認識、自由去交往、自由去付出。
 
這就是我們的喜訊,是基督、默西亞、我們的救主給我們親自帶來的喜訊。
 
但若我們再看清楚一些今日的聖經,我們就不會陷入一種烏托邦主義,以為上主白白的給了我們的一切,我們都會白白地、永遠地享有。不是的,聖經不單單講這些。
 
在天使向牧童報喜訊的說話中,有一件事我們要看清楚,就是我們會看到「一個嬰兒用襁褓包裹著,臥在馬槽內」。喜訊、救恩、默西亞的記號是襁褓、是嬰兒。
 
這位君王、默西亞、救世主是一個柔弱的嬰兒,北風吹來,他會冷到流鼻涕,他的面會凍到由紅變黑,他會傷風感冒。因為他窮,他沒有漂亮的衣服,包裹著他的只有襁褓、爛布,他臥著的不是名牌子嬰兒床,是馬槽。馬槽,不過是一個裝載馬吃的草料的「兜」,這個馬槽就是救主的搖籃。
 
這就是救主的記號:全能大力的天主只不過是一個柔弱的嬰兒。這柔弱的嬰兒卻被稱為奇妙的謀士、強力的天主、永恒之父、和平之王。就是這嬰兒要為我們帶來皓光,為我們折斷我們的枷鎖、肩上的橫木、壓迫者的短棍。
 
這令我想起一首詩,是清朝的張維屏所寫的:「造物無言卻有情,每於寒盡覺春生;千紅萬紫安排著,只待新雷第一聲。」意思是,造物主雖然不作聲,但卻有情有義,他愛這個世界,他為世界安排好了四時的運行。在冬天過去,春天來臨時,他老早已安排了一個千紅萬紫的世界,只等待天上新雷一響,萬物便會欣欣向榮。
 
的確,我們的天主是一位「無言而有情」的天主,他不直接管理世界,但世界卻是在他內而運行的。
 
耶穌也是這樣的一位天主,他是一位柔弱的嬰兒,但這位柔弱嬰兒卻掌握著整個世界,掌握著每一個人的命運。他愛我們每一個人,因為他是我們的救主。
 
讓我們在今日救主降生的神聖之夜,好好默想這神聖奧蹟。我們的生命是一個十分平凡的生命,但在這平凡的生命中,有救主與我們同在,他的字名叫厄瑪奴耳,意思是天主與我們同在。一個柔弱而堅強的上主,一個我們可感受到而確實是掌握著我們命運的上主與我們同在。
 
讓我們一起讚美他、朝拜他!
子夜弥撒
 
柔弱的婴儿,强力的天主
 
读经一:(依9:1-3,5-6):有一個婴孩为我们诞生了
读经二:(铎2:11-14):度相称救恩的生活
福 音:(路2:1-14):耶稣诞生在白冷
中国文化: 造物无言却有情,每於寒尽觉春生;
千红万紫安排著,只待新雷第一声。
 
「天使向牧童说:不要害怕!看!我给你们报告一個为全民族的大喜讯。今天在达味城中,为你们诞生了一位救世者。他是主默西亚,这是给你们的记号:你们将要看见一個婴儿,裹著襁褓,躺在马槽里。」(路2:10-12)
 
「我告诉你们一個大喜讯。」这大喜讯,依撒意亚先知已给我们预言過:在黑暗中生活的人民看见了一道皓光,住在死亡阴影下的人,已有光辉照耀著他们,上主会把他们的枷锁、肩上的横木及压迫者的短棍都一一折断。因为有一婴儿诞生了,有一個儿子赏赐给我们,他就是要来的君王,他是奇妙的谋士,强力的天主,永恒之父,和平之王。(参考依9:1-3,5-6)
 
这就是喜讯:「我们会见到一道皓光。」我们将会開始在基督内看到生命的秘密,看到宇宙的奇妙,看到我们未来的幸福。我们将不会活在死亡的阴影下,我们将会在光中行走,这就是喜讯。
 
我们的枷锁、肩上的横木、压迫者的短棍,都要一一折断。世界将充满正义,仁爱与和平,这就是喜讯,这就是我们在这個将临期内不断听到的喜讯:小山羊将与豺狼同睡,刀劍将会铸成鋤头,枪矛将会变成镰刀。未来的世界将会是一個「大道之行也,天下为公」的世界。
 
这些都是我们梦想的喜讯,而这些梦想已经一一变为事实了,因为默西亚已经来临,救主已经在我们中间出现。从今以后,我们可以自由去看、自由去爱、自由去认识、自由去交往、自由去付出。
 
这就是我们的喜讯,是基督、默西亚、我们的救主给我们亲自带来的喜讯。
 
但若我们再看清楚一些今日的圣经,我们就不会陷入一种乌托邦主义,以为上主白白的给了我们的一切,我们都会白白地、永遠地享有。不是的,圣经不单单讲这些。
 
在天使向牧童报喜讯的说话中,有一件事我们要看清楚,就是我们会看到「一個婴儿用襁褓包裹著,卧在马槽内」。喜讯、救恩、默西亚的记号是襁褓、是婴儿。
 
这位君王、默西亚、救世主是一個柔弱的婴儿,北风吹来,他会冷到流鼻涕,他的面会冻到由红变黑,他会伤风感冒。因为他穷,他没有漂亮的衣服,包裹著他的只有襁褓、烂布,他卧著的不是名牌子婴儿床,是马槽。马槽,不過是一個装载马吃的草料的「兜」,这個马槽就是救主的摇篮。
 
这就是救主的记号:全能大力的天主只不過是一個柔弱的婴儿。这柔弱的婴儿却被称为奇妙的谋士、强力的天主、永恒之父、和平之王。就是这婴儿要为我们带来皓光,为我们折断我们的枷锁、肩上的横木、压迫者的短棍。
 
这令我想起一首诗,是清朝的张维屏所写的:「造物无言却有情,每於寒尽觉春生;千红万紫安排著,只待新雷第一声。」意思是,造物主虽然不作声,但却有情有义,他爱这個世界,他为世界安排好了四時的运行。在冬天過去,春天来临時,他老早已安排了一個千红万紫的世界,只等待天上新雷一响,万物便会欣欣向荣。
 
的确,我们的天主是一位「无言而有情」的天主,他不直接管理世界,但世界却是在他内而运行的。
 
耶稣也是这样的一位天主,他是一位柔弱的婴儿,但这位柔弱婴儿却掌握著整個世界,掌握著每一個人的命运。他爱我们每一個人,因为他是我们的救主。
 
让我们在今日救主降生的神圣之夜,好好默想这神圣奥迹。我们的生命是一個十分平凡的生命,但在这平凡的生命中,有救主与我们同在,他的字名叫厄玛奴耳,意思是天主与我们同在。一個柔弱而坚强的上主,一個我们可感受到而确实是掌握著我们命运的上主与我们同在。
 
让我们一起赞美他、朝拜他!
Feast of Christmas: Midnight Mass
 
The Delicate Infant, The Mighty God
 
First Reading (Is 9: 1-3,5-6): A child has been born for us
Second Reading (Tit 2:11-14): Live a life worthy of salvation
Gospel (Lk 2:1-14) : Jesus was born in Bethlehem
Chinese Classics
“The creator does not speak but has compassion, At the end of winter, spring is felt; Thousand and million shades of red and purple are in place, Just waiting for the first sound of the new thunder.” (1)
 
The angel said to the shepherds, ‘Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ (Lk 2:10-12)
 
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Ref Is 9:1-3,5-6)
 
This is the good news: ”We will see a bright light.” We will begin to see the secret of a life in Christ. We will see the wonders of the universe and see our happy future. We will not live under the shadow of death, we will walk in the light. This is truly the good news.
 
The yoke of our burden, the bar across our shoulders, the rod of our oppressors, will be broken one by one. The world will be filled with justice, love and peace. This is the good news that we hear repeatedly in the Advent season: the lamb will sleep with the wolf, swords will be beat into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks. The future world will be a world where ”all people live in harmony, all the earth belongs to all the people.” “.
 
All this is the good news that we dream about. It has truly been turned into reality, step by step. It is because the Messiah has come, the Savior has already appeared among us. From now on, we can freely see, love, recognize, free to befriend others and to give to them.
 
This is our good news, the news that Christ, the Messiah, our Savior, has himself brought to us.
 
However, if we read today's Scripture carefully we will not fall into a state of utopia thinking that God gives us all of this at no cost and we will enjoy it freely and forever. Not at all - that is not the only message that the Bible tells us.
 
From what the angel told the shepherds, there is one thing we must look at clearly. This is that we will find “a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in the manger”. The symbols of the good news, the savior, the Messiah, are wrapping cloths and a baby.
 
The King, the Messiah and Savior, is a weak infant. When the north wind blew, the cold would give him a running nose. His face would be chilled to the point of changing color. He would have caught cold. Because he was poor he did not have fancy clothes. He was wrapped up in ragged clothing. He did not have a famous brand-name baby cot but a manger which is only a trough for horses at feeding time. This trough was the cradle of our Savior.
 
These are the symbols of the Savior: The all-mighty God was only a weak infant. This infant was called a wonderful person of wisdom, powerful God, eternal Father, Prince of Peace. It is this infant who will bring to us light. He will break our fetters and the rods of the oppressors.
 
This reminds me of a poem written by Zhang Wei Ping of the Ching Dynasty: He said, “The creator does not speak but has compassion, At the end of winter, spring is felt; Thousand and million shades of red and purple are in place, Just waiting for the first sound of the new thunder.”(1) What the poem means is that the Creator may not speak a word but He is loving and compassionate. God loves this world and for the world has set in place the four seasons. On the heels of winter comes spring and the world is arranged in a million colours. Everything is ready waiting for the first sound of the new thunder. When it comes, all things will prosper and thrive.
 
In truth, our God is a God who “does not speak but has feelings”. God does not directly manage the world but the world evolves within God.
 
Jesus also is this kind of a Creator. He was a small baby, but he is the infant who holds the whole world and the destiny of each individual in his hands. He loves each individual because he is our Savior.
 
Let us ponder the marvelous miracle of this sacred night of our Savior's birth. Our lives may be very ordinary but in these ordinary lives our Savior is with us. His name is Emmanuel which means “God is with us.” A little but powerful God, a God we can truly feel and grasp, watches over our destiny and is with us.
 
Let us praise God and honor Him!
 
(1) 造物無言卻有情,每於寒盡覺春生;千紅萬紫安排著,只待新雷第一聲。

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徐錦堯@fr.luketsui.idv.hk 2024