將臨3:常常歡樂,時時祈禱,事事感謝 2023年12月17日


將臨期第三主日

常常,不斷,事事

讀經一:(依61:1-2,10-11):要因上主而喜樂
讀經二:(得前5:16-24):常常歡樂,不斷祈禱,事事感謝
福 音:(若1:6-8,19-28):若翰的作證
中國文化: 飄風不終朝,驟雨不終日。
風雨晦明身外事,心中只有艷陽天。


「你們要常常歡樂,不斷祈禱,事事感謝:這就是天主為你們這些屬於基督耶穌的人所定的旨意。不要熄滅聖神之火,不要輕視先知的話;但要考驗一切,美善的,要保持;邪惡的,要遠避。」(得前5:16-22)

常常、不斷、事事,這是基督徒最基本的人生態度。

常常歡樂,即是沒有一個時間不歡樂;不斷祈禱,即是在任何時間、任何情況下都祈禱;事事感謝,即是為任何事,為所有事,無論遇到什麼,都去感謝。

常常,不斷,事事。換句話說:要讓歡樂、祈禱和感謝滲透我們整個生命、滲透整個人;讓歡樂、祈禱和感恩之情進入我們身體的每一個細胞、每一個毛孔。

我們是用歡樂、祈禱、感謝造成的,把我們的生命分解了,剩下的就只有歡樂、祈禱、感謝這三個元素。

這是天主的旨意。是天主要我們歡樂、祈禱、感謝。是那位比我們更偉大的天主要我們這樣做,是那位全能大力的上主、慈悲為懷的天主這樣的吩咐了。我們按他的旨意去做,就是萬全之策。

常常歡樂,即是在失敗、挫折、痛苦時也歡樂。不斷祈禱,即是在工作、讀書、吃飯、走路、玩耍、睡覺時也祈禱。事事感謝,即是說,也為我們的軟弱而感謝,為我們的國家、社會而感謝,為我們的仇人和我們所不喜歡的人而感謝,為陰霾密佈的時候、為遭遇逆境和挫折的時候而感謝。

今日依撒意亞先知說:「上主的神臨在我身上,因為上主給我傅了油,派遣我向貧苦的人傳報喜訊,治療破碎的心靈,向俘虜宣告自由,釋放獄中的囚犯,宣佈上主施恩的喜年。」(依61:1-2)

基督已經來臨,他報喜、治療、拯救、釋放。

我們都是貧苦人,有什麼關係呢?我們已聽到了喜訊。我們心靈破碎,怕什麼?基督要親自來治療。我們是俘虜、是囚犯,不必遺憾,因為基督要釋放我們。

為這一切,我們不該歡樂、感謝嗎?我們不該向上主祈禱,在他內歡樂、向他感謝嗎?何況,這救恩不止發生在我一個人身上,也要發生在每一個人和所有人的身上。因為上主的施恩之年,普施救恩的日期已經來到了,萬物都將歡欣,萬民都要得到救援,整個世界已經沉浸在上主恩慈大愛的汪洋中。

這是我們要常常、不斷歡樂和感謝的理由,也是我們要不斷向上主祈禱的理由。

歡樂是我們生命的常態,悲哀只不過是短暫的插曲。在每一片烏雲的背後,我們都知道隱藏著燦爛的陽光。老子說:「飄風不終朝,驟雨不終日。」無論是多麼厲害的狂風暴雨,它們總會過去;大風不會一整天的颳,大雨不會一整天的下。暴雨之後就是驕陽,陰霾密佈之後就是朗朗的青天。

有基督在、有天父的慈愛,我們可以達到「風雨晦明身外事,心中只有艷陽天」的境界。正因為「只有」艷陽天,所以就要常常歡樂、不斷祈禱、事事感謝,絕不會受到外在因素的影響。

你會問:「神父,有可能嗎?你沒有經歷過『我的』痛苦,所以你才會這樣鼓勵我們。如果你有過『我的』痛苦,或許你會改變你的想法和講法。」

你說得對!沒有任何人有資格使一個極度痛苦、悲傷、失望的人,能明白上述「常常、不斷、事事」的意義。我們需要的是見證人,是一些在困境中而仍能歡樂、感謝的人。

聖經說若翰「是天主派遣來的,他來是為作證,為使眾人藉他而信。」(若1:6)福音需要人的「作證」。

只有當一個人,他自己身處大苦之中而仍能歡樂,在大挫折之中而仍能感謝,在天主似乎完全隱沒之時而仍能祈禱,他才有資格說:「常常歡樂、不斷祈禱、事事感謝。」

有了這種人,眾人才能相信,相信耶穌所說的全是真話,全是可能的、可信的、可行的。

若翰為耶穌作見證,我們也要為耶穌作見證,為他所說過的一切作見證。

将临期第三主日

常常,不断,事事

读经一:(依61:1-2,10-11):要因上主而喜乐
读经二:(得前5:16-24):常常欢乐,不断祈祷,事事感谢
福 音:(若1:6-8,19-28):若翰的作证
中国文化: 飘风不终朝,骤雨不终日。
风雨晦明身外事,心中只有艳阳天。


「你们要常常欢乐,不断祈祷,事事感谢:这就是天主为你们这些属於基督耶稣的人所定的旨意。不要熄灭圣神之火,不要轻视先知的话;但要考验一切,美善的,要保持;邪恶的,要遠避。」(得前5:16-22)

常常、不断、事事,这是基督徒最基本的人生态度。

常常欢乐,即是没有一個時间不欢乐;不断祈祷,即是在任何時间、任何情况下都祈祷;事事感谢,即是为任何事,为所有事,无论遇到什么,都去感谢。

常常,不断,事事。换句话说:要让欢乐、祈祷和感谢渗透我们整個生命、渗透整個人;让欢乐、祈祷和感恩之情进入我们身体的每一個细胞、每一個毛孔。

我们是用欢乐、祈祷、感谢造成的,把我们的生命分解了,剩下的就只有欢乐、祈祷、感谢这三個元素。

这是天主的旨意。是天主要我们欢乐、祈祷、感谢。是那位比我们更伟大的天主要我们这样做,是那位全能大力的上主、慈悲为怀的天主这样的吩咐了。我们按他的旨意去做,就是万全之策。

常常欢乐,即是在失败、挫折、痛苦時也欢乐。不断祈祷,即是在工作、读书、吃饭、走路、玩耍、睡觉時也祈祷。事事感谢,即是说,也为我们的软弱而感谢,为我们的国家、社会而感谢,为我们的仇人和我们所不喜欢的人而感谢,为阴霾密布的時候、为遭遇逆境和挫折的時候而感谢。

今日依撒意亚先知说:「上主的神临在我身上,因为上主给我傅了油,派遣我向贫苦的人传报喜讯,治疗破碎的心灵,向俘虏宣告自由,释放狱中的囚犯,宣布上主施恩的喜年。」(依61:1-2)

基督已经来临,他报喜、治疗、拯救、释放。

我们都是贫苦人,有什么关系呢?我们已听到了喜讯。我们心灵破碎,怕什么?基督要亲自来治疗。我们是俘虏、是囚犯,不必遗憾,因为基督要释放我们。

为这一切,我们不該欢乐、感谢吗?我们不該向上主祈祷,在他内欢乐、向他感谢吗?何况,这救恩不止发生在我一個人身上,也要发生在每一個人和所有人的身上。因为上主的施恩之年,普施救恩的日期已经来到了,万物都将欢欣,万民都要得到救援,整個世界已经沉浸在上主恩慈大爱的汪洋中。

这是我们要常常、不断欢乐和感谢的理由,也是我们要不断向上主祈祷的理由。

欢乐是我们生命的常态,悲哀只不過是短暂的插曲。在每一片乌云的背后,我们都知道隐藏著灿烂的阳光。老子说:「飘风不终朝,骤雨不终日。」无论是多么厉害的狂风暴雨,它们总会過去;大风不会一整天的刮,大雨不会一整天的下。暴雨之后就是骄阳,阴霾密布之后就是朗朗的青天。

有基督在、有天父的慈爱,我们可以达到「风雨晦明身外事,心中只有艳阳天」的境界。正因为「只有」艳阳天,所以就要常常欢乐、不断祈祷、事事感谢,绝不会受到外在因素的影响。

你会問:「神父,有可能吗?你没有经历過『我的』痛苦,所以你才会这样鼓励我们。如果你有過『我的』痛苦,或许你会改变你的想法和讲法。」

你说得对!没有任何人有资格使一個极度痛苦、悲伤、失望的人,能明白上述「常常、不断、事事」的意义。我们需要的是见证人,是一些在困境中而仍能欢乐、感谢的人。

圣经说若翰「是天主派遣来的,他来是为作证,为使众人藉他而信。」(若1:6)福音需要人的「作证」。

只有当一個人,他自己身处大苦之中而仍能欢乐,在大挫折之中而仍能感谢,在天主似乎完全隐没之時而仍能祈祷,他才有资格说:「常常欢乐、不断祈祷、事事感谢。」

有了这种人,众人才能相信,相信耶稣所说的全是真话,全是可能的、可信的、可行的。

若翰为耶稣作见证,我们也要为耶稣作见证,为他所说過的一切作见证。

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Always, without ceasing, in all circumstances

First Reading: (Is. 61:1-2, 10-11):Rejoice in the Lord
Second Reading:(1 Thess 5:16 – 24):Always be joyful, always give thanks, pray without ceasing,
Gospel: (Jn 1: 6-8, 19-28) : John the Baptist's witness
Chinese Classics: “The whirlwind will not last the morning out;
The cloudburst ends before the day is done.”(1)
“Wind or rain, overcast or bright, are external circumstances, Deep in my heart there is only the dazzling sun and the colourful sky.”(2)

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thess 5:16-22)

Always, Without ceasing, In all circumstances: these are basic attitudes of life for a Christian.

To rejoice at all times means to rejoice every moment of our lives. To pray without ceasing means to pray at any time and in any situation. To give thanks in all things is to thank God for anything and everything that happens to us.

In other words, these sentiments of joy, prayer and thanksgiving should infuse our entire life, penetrate our whole being , including every cell and part of our bodies.

These three things are part of our lives. If our lives are analyzed in a 'spiritual laboratory' there are only three components - joy, prayer and thanksgiving.

This is God's will. God wants us to be joyful, prayerful and grateful. This is the merciful and almighty God's wish for us, and so to act according to God's will is the best way for us to act.

To rejoice at all times means to rejoice even in times of failure, frustration and pain. To pray without ceasing is to pray at times of work, study, meals, walking, playing and sleeping. To give thanks in all circumstances means to be grateful for our weaknesses, our country, our community, for our enemies and those we dislike, for gloomy days and times of adversity and frustration.

Today the Prophet Isaiah says,The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor(Is 61: 1-2)

Christ has come, proclaiming joy, healing, salvation, liberation.

Even if we are poor people, what does it matter? We have heard the good news. Our hearts are broken. Of what are we afraid? Christ comes to heal us. We are captives, prisoners. We need not regret; Christ will liberate us.

For all of this, should we not rejoice, give thanks and pray to the Lord? Salvation comes not only to me but to each and every person. Because the Jubilee Year has come, the day of salvation is upon us. All creation rejoices, all people have been saved. The entire world is bathed in the ocean of God's merciful love.

This is why we should rejoice and give thanks at all times. This is the reason we should pray without ceasing.

Joy should be our normal state in life. Sadness is only an interlude. Behind every dark cloud we know there is a silver lining. Lao Tzu said, “The whirlwind will not last the morning out; the cloudburst ends before the day is done.” (3) (“The Way of Life,” Chap. 23) No matter how severe the storm and how heavy the rain, they will cease. The wind will not howl the whole day, nor the rain pour down all day. After the rainstorm the sun will shine brightly. Behind the dark clouds there will be a clear bright sky.

Living in Christ and in our Father's love, we can reach this state of mind: “Wind or rain, overcast or bright are external circumstances, Deep in my heart there is only the shining sun and the colourful sky.” (4) Because there is only the shining sun and the colourful sky, we should always be joyful, pray continuously and thank God for everything. Then external circumstances will not affect us.

You may ask, “Is this possible? You have not experienced MY tragic experiences so you encourage me in this way. If you had experienced ‘MY pain’, you might change the way you think and speak.” You are right! No one has the ability to convince another person under great distress, despair and disappointment to understand the meaning of 'always- without ceasing-in all circumstances.' We need to see witnesses who can rejoice and give thanks during times of adversity.

The Bible says Johnwas a man sent from God. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him(Jn 1:6). The Gospel needs people to be 'witnesses'.

Only when a person can rejoice in great pain, give thanks in times of frustration and pray when God seems to be absent, is that person qualified to say “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.”

Only when there are such persons will others believe that what Jesus said is true, possible, believable and workable.

John the Baptist was such a witness to Jesus. We too, should bear witness to Jesus and testify to the truth of his words.

(1) 中國文化: 飄風不終朝,驟雨不終日。
(2) 風雨晦明身外事,心中只有艷陽天。
(3) 老子說:「飄風不終朝,驟雨不終日。」
(4) 「風雨晦明身外事,心中只有艷陽天」。

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徐錦堯@fr.luketsui.idv.hk 2024