常年期第三十三主日

善用神恩，發揮潛能

讀經一：(箴31:10-13,19-20,30-31)：賢淑婦女的表樣
讀經二：(得前5:1-6)：要清醒地等待主的再來
福　音：(瑪25:14-30)：塔冷通的比喻
中國文化： 猴子跳澗。

瑪竇福音形容天國好像一個遠行人，他按照不同人的不同能力，把不同數目的金幣交給自己的僕人，一個給了五個，一個給了兩個，一個給了一個，要他們好好的去保管和善用。主人回來時，便和他們結賬。

那領了五個金幣的，賺了五個；那領了兩個金幣的，也賺了兩個。只有那領了一個的，去把地掘開，將金幣藏起來，沒有賺到甚麼。
主人論功行賞，大大地獎賞了那賺了五個金幣，和那賺了兩個金幣的僕人，並罰了那個賺不到錢的僕人。(參考瑪25:14-30)
我們的天主很好、也很公道，他按照我們的才能委託我們辦事。我們每個人都有如大小不同的器皿，無論器皿是大是小，總是盛滿了天主給我們的恩寵之水。

天主給我們的一切，多一些就已經過剩，少一些又過少。每個人所得的，都恰到好處。

天主從來都不在我們之間作比較。如果我們有五個金幣，就要賺五個；有兩個，就要賺兩個；有一個，也可以賺一個。這樣，在天堂內，我們的功勞將會完全一樣。
但在我們中，卻總是會有些懶惰的、糊糊塗塗地度日的人。這卻是天主所不容許的。

保祿在得撒洛尼人前書中，也勸勉他的教友要清醒、謹慎。清醒、謹慎作甚麼？善用天主給我們的潛能，好像今天箴言篇中那位賢淑的婦女。她勤勞操作，愛天主、愛丈夫，也愛一切的人。「她遠勝珠寶。她的丈夫衷心信她，絕不至有所缺乏。她一生使丈夫幸福，不令他煩惱。她找來羊毛和細麻，愉快地親手操作。她手執紡錘，手指旋轉紗錠。她慷慨賙濟貧窮的人，伸手扶助困苦的人。」(箴31:10-31)

天主賞我們的一切，我們都該善用；有眼睛就要去看，有耳朵就要去聽，有翅膀就要去飛，有心就要去愛。當我們越善用恩賜時，我們就越能擁有和發揮、增加這些恩賜。

我在小修院時，多謝天主給我有些聰明，書能夠唸得不錯，所以我總喜歡幫助其他在學習中有困難的同學，亦因此我在會考中，成績相當不錯。因為我越能夠幫助別人，就越能夠充實自己。

反過來說，有些守財奴，他們不懂善用錢財，只有不斷在自己的銀行存摺中加上一個又一個的圈。從這角度看，那些錢財根本便不是屬於他的，而是屬於銀行的，因為他從未善用過一分一毫。

才能必須善用，才可以繼續擁有及增多。這就是「凡擁有的，還要給他，沒有的，連他原有的也要失落」的真正意義。（參考瑪25:29）

其實我們還擁有一些我們未知的潛能，它們只有在關鍵時才能發揮出來。我們會見到一些作母親的，當有重物把她們心愛的兒子壓著時，她們能夠發揮平常沒有的力量，把重物托起，救回自己的兒子。

記得有一次，在我很小的時候，與一群小孩子在大澳捉魚。一天晚上，我們遇到一條大蟒蛇，於是大家都拚命的跑，跑上岸後，其中一小孩驚魂未定，手提著滿滿的一桶水在喘氣。我們望著他都十分驚訝：「嘩！你的力量真大啊！」他一看見自己拿著這樣重的一桶水，就突然「呯」的一聲放下了。其實，他平時並沒有如此大的力量。

中國也有一個關於猴子跳澗的故事：有一個訓練猴子的人，希望能訓練那些猴子跳過一個深溪。那些勇敢的，不用怎麼訓練，一跳就過去了；有些就是不敢跳。於是他就開始鞭打那些不敢跳的猴子，有些猴子怕打，也就勉強的跳過去了。但是有些猴子，就是怎麼鞭打牠們，牠們都不肯跳。忽然，有一隻老虎跳出來，所有的猴子便都跳了過去。

其實天主給我們很多潛能，是需要我們加以發揮的。我們必須時常對自己說：我能夠，我可以；我可以活得痛快，可以活得好；我是天主的子女，我有天主給我足夠的能力，去活一個更豐盛的生命、一個愛主愛人的生命。
能夠這樣發揮潛能，就是善用天主給我們的金幣。

常年期第三十三主日

善用神恩，发挥潜能

读经一：(箴31:10-13,19-20,30-31)：贤淑妇女的表样
读经二：(得前5:1-6)：要清醒地等待主的再来
福　音：(玛25:14-30)：塔冷通的比喻
中国文化： 猴子跳涧。

玛窦福音形容天国好像一個遠行人，他按照不同人的不同能力，把不同数目的金币交给自己的仆人，一個给了五個，一個给了两個，一個给了一個，要他们好好的去保管和善用。主人回来時，便和他们结账。

那领了五個金币的，赚了五個；那领了两個金币的，也赚了两個。只有那领了一個的，去把地掘開，将金币藏起来，没有赚到甚么。
主人论功行赏，大大地奖赏了那赚了五個金币，和那赚了两個金币的仆人，并罚了那個赚不到钱的仆人。(参考玛25:14-30)
我们的天主很好、也很公道，他按照我们的才能委托我们办事。我们每個人都有如大小不同的器皿，无论器皿是大是小，总是盛满了天主给我们的恩宠之水。

天主给我们的一切，多一些就已经過剩，少一些又過少。每個人所得的，都恰到好处。

天主从来都不在我们之间作比较。如果我们有五個金币，就要赚五個；有两個，就要赚两個；有一個，也可以赚一個。这样，在天堂内，我们的功劳将会完全一样。
但在我们中，却总是会有些懒惰的、糊糊涂涂地度日的人。这却是天主所不容许的。

保禄在得撒洛尼人前书中，也劝勉他的教友要清醒、谨慎。清醒、谨慎作甚么？善用天主给我们的潜能，好像今天箴言篇中那位贤淑的妇女。她勤劳操作，爱天主、爱丈夫，也爱一切的人。「她遠胜珠宝。她的丈夫衷心信她，绝不至有所缺乏。她一生使丈夫幸福，不令他烦恼。她找来羊毛和细麻，愉快地亲手操作。她手执纺锤，手指旋转纱锭。她慷慨周济贫穷的人，伸手扶助困苦的人。」(箴31:10-31)

天主赏我们的一切，我们都該善用；有眼睛就要去看，有耳朵就要去听，有翅膀就要去飞，有心就要去爱。当我们越善用恩赐時，我们就越能拥有和发挥、增加这些恩赐。

我在小修院時，多谢天主给我有些聪明，书能够念得不错，所以我总喜欢帮助其他在学习中有困难的同学，亦因此我在会考中，成绩相当不错。因为我越能够帮助别人，就越能够充实自己。

反過来说，有些守财奴，他们不懂善用钱财，只有不断在自己的银行存摺中加上一個又一個的圈。从这角度看，那些钱财根本便不是属於他的，而是属於银行的，因为他从未善用過一分一毫。

才能必须善用，才可以继续拥有及增多。这就是「凡拥有的，还要给他，没有的，连他原有的也要失落」的真正意义。（参考玛25:29）

其实我们还拥有一些我们未知的潜能，它们只有在关键時才能发挥出来。我们会见到一些作母亲的，当有重物把她们心爱的儿子压著時，她们能够发挥平常没有的力量，把重物托起，救回自己的儿子。

记得有一次，在我很小的時候，与一群小孩子在大澳捉魚。一天晚上，我们遇到一条大蟒蛇，於是大家都拚命的跑，跑上岸后，其中一小孩惊魂未定，手提著满满的一桶水在喘气。我们望著他都十分惊讶：「哗！你的力量真大啊！」他一看见自己拿著这样重的一桶水，就突然「呯」的一声放下了。其实，他平時并没有如此大的力量。

中国也有一個关於猴子跳涧的故事：有一個训练猴子的人，希望能训练那些猴子跳過一個深溪。那些勇敢的，不用怎么训练，一跳就過去了；有些就是不敢跳。於是他就開始鞭打那些不敢跳的猴子，有些猴子怕打，也就勉强的跳過去了。但是有些猴子，就是怎么鞭打它们，它们都不肯跳。忽然，有一只老虎跳出来，所有的猴子便都跳了過去。

其实天主给我们很多潜能，是需要我们加以发挥的。我们必须時常对自己说：我能够，我可以；我可以活得痛快，可以活得好；我是天主的子女，我有天主给我足够的能力，去活一個更丰盛的生命、一個爱主爱人的生命。
能够这样发挥潜能，就是善用天主给我们的金币。

THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Make Good Use of God's Grace, Develop One's Hidden Potential

First Reading (Prov 3l: 10-13,19-20,30-31) : The example of a noble wife
Reading (1 Thess 5:1-6) : Stay awake and wait for the coming of the Lord.
Gospel (Mt 25:14-30) : The parable of the talents
Chinese Classics
The story of the “monkeys jumping across the brook” (1)

In Matthew's Gospel there is a parable comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a man who went on a long journey. Before leaving he distributed to each employee according to one's ability and ‘talents,’ to one five, to one two, to one only one talent. He instructed them to use them well, and on his return he would demand of each an account.

The one who had received five talents had gained five more; the one who had received two, had gained two more. Only the one who had received one talent gained nothing more.

On his return the employer praised and rewarded the one who had gained five more and also the one who had gained two more, but punished the one who had buried the talent and gained nothing thereby. (cf. Mt 25: 14-30)

Our God is good and also just and asks only that we develop the talents according to what he has given us throughout life.

God gives to each of us different gifts, some greater, some lesser, but like different sizes of glass, to the fullness of each one's capacity.

God never makes comparisons. If we have five talents, we should gain five more, if two talents, gain two, and if one, then we should gain one more. In that way when we reach heaven, the merits of all will be equal.

But there always will be some who are lazy and some who while away their days. God does not like that.

In the first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul encourages the faithful to be alert and prudent. Alert and prudent about what? To use the talents God has given each one, much as the virtuous wife in today's first Reading from the Book of Proverbs. She worked industriously, loved God and her husband, and all the people around her. “She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.’(Prov. 31:10-31)

God gives us all that we need and we should utilizes these gifts' use our eyes to see, our ears to hear, those with wings, to fly and hearts with which to love. When we use our gifts to the full, the more we can develop them and even gain more.

When I was in the minor seminary, I thank God he gave me a fairly good intelligence and also a good memory, so I was happy to help other class mates who had more difficulties in their studies. Also due to that I received good marks in school-leaving examinations. Because the more I could help others, I myself became more and more fulfilled.

Talents must be utilized if we are to develop them even more. That is meant by this: “For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’ (Mt 25:29)

Actually we have other potential of which we are unaware, only when we open ourselves more can we develop them further. We see some mothers who have heavy burdens and pressurize their loving sons to carry a burden much heavier than they had been able to do before.

I remember once in Tai O when I was small and fishing with a group of playmates. One evening we found a big snake, and all of us ran up to the shore to escape it. But one boy, perhaps out of fright, was panting from carrying a full bucket of water. We saw how afraid he was and called out: “Hey! You really are strong!” When he saw the heavy bucket of water he was carrying he suddenly dropped it with a noisy bang. Actually he ordinarily did not have that much strength.

There is a similar Chinese story about some “monkeys jumping across the brook”(1): There was a monkey trainer who tried to train some monkeys to jump across a deep brook. The brave monkeys did not need much training and just jumped across. However, some were afraid to do so. The trainer started to whip the frightened monkeys. Some were afraid of the whipping and jumped across unwillingly. But some monkeys refused to jump despite the whipping. Suddenly, a tiger appeared and all the monkeys jumped across the brook.

It is really true that God gives us many talents and we must try to develop them. We should always say to oneself, ‘I can, .I will; I can live happily and well; I am a child of God and I have sufficient strength from God, to live life to its fullest and live a life of love for God and others.

If we can develop our potential in this way we are surely using the talents God gave us.

(1)猴子跳澗。