四旬期第五主日

 

再生之恩

 

讀經一：(厄37:12-14)：我要把我的神注入你們內，使你們復活

讀經二：(羅8:8-11)：藉聖神而重生

福　音：(若11:1-45)：復活拉匝祿

中國文化： 生我者父母，知我者鮑子也。

 

若望福音第11章記載了一個很長的故事，就是耶穌復活拉匝祿的故事。

 

耶穌是人類的救主。雖然所有的人都是他的朋友，但他亦有自己親密的朋友，有濃厚的民族感情。他很愛猶太人，所以有一次他為了耶路撒冷的即將滅亡而哭泣。在他的好朋友中，拉匝祿、瑪爾大和瑪利亞這一家人，就是他最好的朋友之一。

 

今日的故事是，當拉匝祿病重時，瑪利亞兩姊妹便派人到耶穌那裡說：「你心愛的人病了。」耶穌聽到後，便起程到她們家裡去。當耶穌到達她們家的時候，拉匝祿已經埋葬了四天之久。

 

瑪爾大對耶穌說：「主啊，若你早在這裡，我的兄弟便不會死。不過就是現在，我知道你無論向天主求甚麼，他必要賜給你。」耶穌對她說：「你的兄弟必定要復活。」瑪爾大以一句標準的答案回答說：「我知道在末日復活時，他必要復活。」耶穌對她說：「我就是復活，就是生命；信從我的，即使死了，仍要活著。凡活著而信從我的人，必永遠不死，你信麼？」她回答說：「主，我信你是要來到世界上的那位天主子、默西亞。」

 

接著，耶穌便與瑪爾大去到墳前，那時瑪利亞已在那裡。她一見耶穌，便俯伏在他腳前說：「主！若是你在這裏，我的兄弟決不會死！」耶穌看見她和與她一起的猶太人哭泣，便心神感傷、難過起來。於是便說：「你們把他放在哪裏？」他們回答說：「主，你來看看吧！」那時，耶穌忍不住悽然淚下。於是猶太人說：「看，他多麼愛他啊！」不過，這時亦有些人以諷剌的口吻說：「這人曾使胎生的瞎子復明，難道不能使這人不死麼？」耶穌又再次傷感起來。

 

當耶穌來到墓前便說：「推開這石頭吧！」瑪爾大向他說：「主！已經臭了，因為已有四天了！」耶穌對她說：「我不是告訴過你，如果你信，便會看到天主的光榮嗎？」他們把墓門的石頭推開，耶穌讚美感謝了天父以後，便大聲說：「拉匝祿！出來吧！」這位死了四天，人們說已經腐臭了的拉匝祿便從死者中復活，出來了。（參考若11:1-45）

 

耶穌是生命、是復活，誰相信他就不會死；即使死了，也要復活。

 

生命的恩典很重要。父母生育我們，基督救贖我們，這都是生命之恩。不過，另有一種恩典也是相當重要的，就是幫我們明白生命、了解生命意義的恩典。

 

在司馬遷的《史記》中，有一則叫「管鮑之交」的故事，很能道出生命中的這另一個重要層次。

 

管仲與鮑叔牙兩位是朋友，但管仲在許多人眼中卻不是好朋友，而是一個勢利小人。後來管仲飛黃騰達，司馬遷形容他的成就是「九合諸侯，一匡天下」。不過，就在他發達時，他記起了他的朋友鮑叔牙。他認為自己之有今日，全是因為鮑叔牙的緣故。

 

他想起以前與鮑叔牙一起做生意的時候，每次他都多取一些利錢，而鮑叔牙卻不認為他貪心，因為知道他窮困。當生意失敗時，鮑叔牙也不認為管仲沒有才幹，因為他相信凡做事，都一定有利和有不利的時候。有一次打仗，管仲三戰三走，別人都斷定他是懦夫，但鮑叔牙卻不是這樣想，他認為管仲的走，純綷是因為他有母親在堂、不能輕生，所以骨子裡管仲應是一位孝子，而不是一位懦夫。後來，公子糾吃了敗仗，另一位大臣召忽為這次戰敗而自殺謝罪，管仲卻不甘心自刎，而寧可屈辱地做俘虜、坐牢，所以人人都說他無恥；但鮑叔牙卻認為他只是不拘小節，因為他要留下有用之身去幹一番大事業，使功名彰顯於天下。

 

鮑叔牙處處維護管仲、欣賞管仲、鼓勵管仲，使管仲最終能出人頭地。於是管仲說了一句擲地有聲的話：「生我者父母，知我者鮑子也。」即是說，管仲認為生他的雖是他的父母，但使他活得成功，給予他第二生命的，卻是鮑叔牙。

 

對於耶穌，我們能否如管仲所說：「生我者父母，知我者基督。」或者更好說：「生我者父母，給予我永恒生命的卻是基督」呢？

父母給予我們生命，我們要終生感謝，但耶穌給予我們另一個生命，一個更豐富的生命、永恒的生命，我們不是更應該無窮無盡地感謝嗎？

 

慈愛的天父，我們誠心懇求你，求你把新生命賜給我們，幫助我們時常在基督內開始一個新的生命，一個重生的生命。讓我們懂得上愛天主、下愛世人。讓我們懂得愛我們自己、愛別人、愛世界、愛我們自己整個的生命。並讓我們能好好活出這一個豐盛的生命！

四旬期第五主日

 

再生之恩

 

读经一：(厄37:12-14)：我要把我的神注入你们内，使你们复活

读经二：(罗8:8-11)：藉圣神而重生

福　音：(若11:1-45)：复活拉匝禄

中国文化： 生我者父母，知我者鲍子也。

 

若望福音第11章记载了一個很长的故事，就是耶稣复活拉匝禄的故事。

 

耶稣是人类的救主。虽然所有的人都是他的朋友，但他亦有自己亲密的朋友，有浓厚的民族感情。他很爱犹太人，所以有一次他为了耶路撒冷的即将灭亡而哭泣。在他的好朋友中，拉匝禄、玛尔大和玛利亚这一家人，就是他最好的朋友之一。

 

今日的故事是，当拉匝禄病重時，玛利亚两姊妹便派人到耶稣那里说：「你心爱的人病了。」耶稣听到后，便起程到她们家里去。当耶稣到达她们家的時候，拉匝禄已经埋葬了四天之久。

 

玛尔大对耶稣说：「主啊，若你早在这里，我的兄弟便不会死。不過就是现在，我知道你无论向天主求甚么，他必要赐给你。」耶稣对她说：「你的兄弟必定要复活。」玛尔大以一句标准的答案回答说：「我知道在末日复活時，他必要复活。」耶稣对她说：「我就是复活，就是生命；信从我的，即使死了，仍要活著。凡活著而信从我的人，必永遠不死，你信么？」她回答说：「主，我信你是要来到世界上的那位天主子、默西亚。」

 

接著，耶稣便与玛尔大去到坟前，那時玛利亚已在那里。她一见耶稣，便俯伏在他脚前说：「主！若是你在这裏，我的兄弟决不会死！」耶稣看见她和与她一起的犹太人哭泣，便心神感伤、难過起来。於是便说：「你们把他放在哪裏？」他们回答说：「主，你来看看吧！」那時，耶稣忍不住凄然淚下。於是犹太人说：「看，他多么爱他啊！」不過，这時亦有些人以讽剌的口吻说：「这人曾使胎生的瞎子复明，难道不能使这人不死么？」耶稣又再次伤感起来。

 

当耶稣来到墓前便说：「推開这石头吧！」玛尔大向他说：「主！已经臭了，因为已有四天了！」耶稣对她说：「我不是告诉過你，如果你信，便会看到天主的光荣吗？」他们把墓门的石头推開，耶稣赞美感谢了天父以后，便大声说：「拉匝禄！出来吧！」这位死了四天，人们说已经腐臭了的拉匝禄便从死者中复活，出来了。（参考若11:1-45）

 

耶稣是生命、是复活，谁相信他就不会死；即使死了，也要复活。

 

生命的恩典很重要。父母生育我们，基督救赎我们，这都是生命之恩。不過，另有一种恩典也是相当重要的，就是帮我们明白生命、了解生命意义的恩典。

 

在司马迁的《史记》 中，有一则叫「管鲍之交」的故事，很能道出生命中的这另一個重要层次。

 

管仲与鲍叔牙两位是朋友，但管仲在许多人眼中却不是好朋友，而是一個势利小人。后来管仲飞黄腾达，司马迁形容他的成就是「九合诸侯，一匡天下」。不過，就在他发达時，他记起了他的朋友鲍叔牙。他认为自己之有今日，全是因为鲍叔牙的缘故。

 

他想起以前与鲍叔牙一起做生意的時候，每次他都多取一些利钱，而鲍叔牙却不认为他贪心，因为知道他穷困。当生意失败時，鲍叔牙也不认为管仲没有才干，因为他相信凡做事，都一定有利和有不利的時候。有一次打仗，管仲三战三走，别人都断定他是懦夫，但鲍叔牙却不是这样想，他认为管仲的走，纯綷是因为他有母亲在堂、不能轻生，所以骨子里管仲应是一位孝子，而不是一位懦夫。后来，公子纠吃了败仗，另一位大臣召忽为这次战败而自杀谢罪，管仲却不甘心自刎，而宁可屈辱地做俘虏、坐牢，所以人人都说他无耻；但鲍叔牙却认为他只是不拘小节，因为他要留下有用之身去干一番大事业，使功名彰显於天下。

 

鲍叔牙处处维护管仲、欣赏管仲、鼓励管仲，使管仲最终能出人头地。於是管仲说了一句掷地有声的话：「生我者父母，知我者鲍子也。」即是说，管仲认为生他的虽是他的父母，但使他活得成功，给予他第二生命的，却是鲍叔牙。

 

对於耶稣，我们能否如管仲所说：「生我者父母，知我者基督。」或者更好说：「生我者父母，给予我永恒生命的却是基督」呢？

父母给予我们生命，我们要终生感谢，但耶稣给予我们另一個生命，一個更丰富的生命、永恒的生命，我们不是更应該无穷无尽地感谢吗？

 

慈爱的天父，我们诚心恳求你，求你把新生命赐给我们，帮助我们時常在基督内開始一個新的生命，一個重生的生命。让我们懂得上爱天主、下爱世人。让我们懂得爱我们自己、爱别人、爱世界、爱我们自己整個的生命。并让我们能好好活出这一個丰盛的生命！

Fifth Sunday of Lent

 

The Grace of Rebirth

 

First Reading : ( Ezra 37:12-14 ) : I will put my spirit within you and you shall live.

Second Reading : ( Rom 8:8-11 ) : Born again through the Spirit

Gospel : ( Jn 11:1-45) : Lazarus was raised from the dead

Chinese Classics

“My parents give me physical life but it is Bao who really knows me.” (1)

 

In Chapter Eleven of John's Gospel there is a long account of Jesus raising Lazarus to life.

 

Jesus is the Saviour of all humankind. Although all people are his friends, he had his own close friends and a special love for his compatriots. He very much loved the Jews which was why on one occasion he wept because he knew Jerusalem would one day be destroyed. Among his good friends, the family of Lazarus, Martha and Mary was one of his closest friends.

 

Today's story is about one time when Lazarus was seriously sick. His two sisters sent people to Jesus saying, ‘He whom you love is ill.’ When Jesus heard this he started out for their home. By the time he arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

 

Martha said to Jesus ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha answered him quite correctly, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?' She answered him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.

 

Jesus and Martha went to the gravesite. Mary was already there. When she saw Jesus she knelt at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he grieved greatly. He was deeply moved and said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They answered, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus began to weep. He could not contain himself. The Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the man born blind have prevented this man’s death?’ Jesus continued to grieve deeply.

 

When Jesus came to the tomb he said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Jesus looked up, praised and thanked his Father, he cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ (Ref Jn 11:1-45)

 

Jesus is life and resurrection. Those who believe in him will not die, and. even if they die they will be raised to life.

 

The gift of life is very important. Our parents give us life, Christ has saved us. These gifts are the gifts of life. We are blessed also with the grace to help us understanding life itself and the meaning of life.

 

There is a story called “The Friendship between Guan and Bao” in Si Ma Qian's “Shiji (The Historical Records)”. It illustrates very well another important level about life.

 

Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya were friends. However, in the eyes of many people, Guan Zhong was not a good friend but a snob. Later Guan Zhong became very successful. Described his accomplishments as “Reuniting the feudal lords and uniting the world.” In his prosperity Guan Zhong remembered his friend, Bao Shu ya. He thought his present success was due entirely to Bo Shu ya.

 

He remembered when earlier they were business partners he often took more interest than his due. However, Bao Shu ya never considered this greedy because he realized that Guan Zhong was very poor. When the business failed Bao Shu ya did not think that Guan Zhong lacked aptitude because he believed that in every endeavour there were both gains and losses. Once during a war Guan Zhong deserted the battlefield three times. Others considered him a coward but Bao Shu ya never thought so. He reckoned that because Guan Zhong's old mother was still alive, he should not endanger his life and die in battle. Deep down Guan Zhong were a filial pious son and not a coward. Later the Prince lost the battle and the minister Zhou Hu, assumed responsibility, then committed suicide to apologize for the defeat. Guan Zhong did not volunteer to follow suit. Rather he accepted humiliation and became a prisoner of war. Everyone said he had no shame. However, Bao Shu ya thought that Guan Zhong did not follow the norm because he wanted to do greater things later to show the world his achievements.

 

Bao Shu ya always protected Guan Zhong, encouraged and appreciated him until eventually he made a name for himself. That was why Guan Zhong said emphatically, “My parents give me physical life but it is Bao who really knows me.” That is to say, his parents had given him birth but it was Bao who helped him achieve success and gave him a second life.

 

Concerning Jesus can we say the same with Guan Zhong, ‘My parents gave me birth but it is Christ who knows me’ or even say My parents gave me temporal life but it is Christ who has given me eternal life.’

 

We must always be grateful that our parents have given us life, but Jesus gave us another life, which is richer and is eternal. Should we not have unlimited gratitude?

 

Heavenly Father, we sincerely entreat you to give us new life. Help us to start a new life in Christ, a rebirth. May we understand how to love God and all humankind. May we understand how to love ourselves, others, the world, our entire life. Let us enrich our lives. May we be enabled to live life to the fullest.

 

(1) 生我者父母，知我者鮑子也。