常年期第十九主日

千里馬與千里糧

讀經一：(列上19:4-8)：厄里亞靠著天主的食物，直往曷勒布山去
讀經二：(弗4:30-5:2)：應避惡行愛德
福　音：(若6:41-51)：耶穌是生命之糧
中國文化： 哀莫大於心死。 五十而知天命。 山窮水盡疑無路，柳暗花明又一村。 是馬也，雖有千里之能，食不飽、力不足，才美不外見，安求其能千里也！

上主的使者第二次又來拍醒厄里亞說：「起來吃吧！因為你還要走一段很遠的路。」他就起來，吃了喝了，賴那食物的力量，走了四十天四十夜。(列上19:7-8)

厄里亞在經歷了重重的人生波折後，感到十分疲倦，他於是向天主求死說：「上主啊！我已經受夠了！現在就收去我的性命吧！」(列上19:4)

上主的先知求死，可能嗎？一個有深沉信仰的人，也會有失望的時候嗎？他們不是堅信，他們的天主是全能大力的上主，可以救他們脫離一切厄困的嗎？千里馬也有倒下來、走不動的時候嗎？

厄里亞不久前，曾在和巴耳先知的決鬥中，打 了一場漂亮的仗，大獲全勝。因為他曾成功地呼求上主，降火去焚燒和悅納他獻上的牛犢。

他還成功地為當地經歷了三年的旱災，而求得蒼天沛降甘霖，以「上主的先知只剩下我一個人」(列上18:22)的孤單，而戰勝、誅滅了巴耳的四百五十個先知。

他曾經感受過勝利的歡愉，也確實有過和上主交往的豐富經驗。他曾在百姓前昂然矗立，高舉雙手向上主祈禱，而又竟然獲得應允；在萬眾的歡呼聲中，這雖是天主的榮耀，但又怎能說不是一位蒙主特選者的殊榮呢？

不過，這一切並未能使他免於遭受迫害的厄運，也沒有使他擺脫不受失望之苦。他竟然要求上主讓他死去！因為膜拜巴耳神的王后依則貝耳決意殺害他，他終於也要無奈地開始他的流亡生活。

中國有所謂「哀莫大於心死」的成語。其實，聖經和教會裡的不少大聖大賢，在他們一生的崎嶇旅程中，也曾有過不少「心死」的時候。

連孔子這樣豁達的人，也有五十而知天命的體會和無奈。他一生坎坷的經歷，使他徹悟到才不可終恃，力也不可終恃的真理，也知道人生確有許多限制。我們生存和活動的空間，原來是極之有限的，這就是「天命」；天命就是限制。

我們不是也曾見過有些心理學家，他們在幫助了許多人從自殺邊緣回頭後，自己卻免不了最終踏上自殺之路嗎？

我們有時也會看到某些社會上的風雲人物，背後原來有個破碎的家、有一段無以為繼的婚姻、有一群教而不善的子女。

我們不是也試過在病中連走一步路也覺得很困難嗎？不是也試過在牙痛到極點時，竟然也曾想到以一死去求解脫嗎？

如果連先知，這些「天主的人」，也有想到求死的時候，我們又是什麼呢？即使我們正處在痛不欲生的邊緣、對生命感到無比的厭倦，那又算什麼呢？

但一切都因上主而有了轉機。這就是「山窮水盡疑無路，柳暗花明又一村。」

「你還要走一段很遠的路」，你不能以死去解決問題。所以「你要吃」！吃什麼？吃上主給的食物。就靠這食物，厄里亞走了四十天、四十夜！

「我就是生命之糧」，耶穌說：「你們的祖先在曠野中吃過瑪納，仍然死去」，他們走不了多遠。「然而，這是從天上降下來的食糧，為使吃了的人不會死去。」(若6:48-50)

這食糧是什麼呢？「我就是從天上降下來的生命之糧，誰若吃了這食糧，必要活到永遠。」(若6:51)

這食糧會幫助我們走，一生的走；走到人生的盡頭，走到地老天荒，走到生命的無窮深處。

天主所創造的我們，每一個人和所有的人都是千里馬；因為全能、全善的天主，絕不會在世間創造廢物！我們可以走，走千里。

然而，「是馬也，雖有千里之能，食不飽、力不足，才美不外見，安求其能千里也！」（韓愈）沒有千里之糧，又怎麼可以走千里之遙呢？

我們為什麼不多吃這「生命之糧」，好使我們能日行千里，能夠一口氣地走他個「四十日、四十夜」，一直走到永生的彼岸呢？

常年期第十九主日

千里马与千里粮

读经一：(列上19:4-8)：厄里亚靠著天主的食物，直往曷勒布山去
读经二：(弗4:30-5:2)：应避恶行爱德
福　音：(若6:41-51)：耶稣是生命之粮
中国文化： 哀莫大於心死。五十而知天命。山穷水尽疑无路，柳暗花明又一村。是马也，虽有千里之能，食不饱、力不足，才美不外见，安求其能千里也！

上主的使者第二次又来拍醒厄里亚说：「起来吃吧！因为你还要走一段很遠的路。」他就起来，吃了喝了，赖那食物的力量，走了四十天四十夜。(列上19:7-8)

厄里亚在经历了重重的人生波折后，感到十分疲倦，他於是向天主求死说：「上主啊！我已经受够了！现在就收去我的性命吧！」(列上19:4)

上主的先知求死，可能吗？一個有深沉信仰的人，也会有失望的時候吗？他们不是坚信，他们的天主是全能大力的上主，可以救他们脱離一切厄困的吗？千里马也有倒下来、走不动的時候吗？

厄里亚不久前，曾在和巴耳先知的决斗中，打 了一场漂亮的仗，大获全胜。因为他曾成功地呼求上主，降火去焚烧和悦纳他献上的牛犊。

他还成功地为当地经历了三年的旱灾，而求得苍天沛降甘霖，以「上主的先知只剩下我一個人」(列上18:22)的孤单，而战胜、诛灭了巴耳的四百五十個先知。

他曾经感受過胜利的欢愉，也确实有過和上主交往的丰富经验。他曾在百姓前昂然矗立，高举双手向上主祈祷，而又竟然获得应允；在万众的欢呼声中，这虽是天主的荣耀，但又怎能说不是一位蒙主特选者的殊荣呢？

不過，这一切并未能使他免於遭受迫害的厄运，也没有使他摆脱不受失望之苦。他竟然要求上主让他死去！因为膜拜巴耳神的王后依则贝耳决意杀害他，他终於也要无奈地開始他的流亡生活。

中国有所谓「哀莫大於心死」的成语。其实，圣经和教会里的不少大圣大贤，在他们一生的崎嶇旅程中，也曾有過不少「心死」的時候。

连孔子这样豁达的人，也有五十而知天命的体会和无奈。他一生坎坷的经历，使他彻悟到才不可终恃，力也不可终恃的真理，也知道人生确有许多限制。我们生存和活动的空间，原来是极之有限的，这就是「天命」；天命就是限制。

我们不是也曾见過有些心理学家，他们在帮助了许多人从自杀边缘回头后，自己却免不了最终踏上自杀之路吗？

我们有時也会看到某些社会上的风云人物，背后原来有個破碎的家、有一段无以为继的婚姻、有一群教而不善的子女。

我们不是也试過在病中连走一步路也觉得很困难吗？不是也试過在牙痛到极点時，竟然也曾想到以一死去求解脱吗？

如果连先知，这些「天主的人」，也有想到求死的時候，我们又是什么呢？即使我们正处在痛不欲生的边缘、对生命感到无比的厌倦，那又算什么呢？

但一切都因上主而有了转机。这就是「山穷水尽疑无路，柳暗花明又一村。」

「你还要走一段很遠的路」，你不能以死去解决問题。所以「你要吃」！吃什么？吃上主给的食物。就靠这食物，厄里亚走了四十天、四十夜！

「我就是生命之粮」，耶稣说：「你们的祖先在旷野中吃過玛纳，仍然死去」，他们走不了多遠。「然而，这是从天上降下来的食粮，为使吃了的人不会死去。」(若6:48-50)

这食粮是什么呢？「我就是从天上降下来的生命之粮，谁若吃了这食粮，必要活到永遠。」(若6:51)

这食粮会帮助我们走，一生的走；走到人生的尽头，走到地老天荒，走到生命的无穷深处。

天主所创造的我们，每一個人和所有的人都是千里马；因为全能、全善的天主，绝不会在世间创造废物！我们可以走，走千里。

然而，「是马也，虽有千里之能，食不饱、力不足，才美不外见，安求其能千里也！」（韩愈）没有千里之粮，又怎么可以走千里之遥呢？

我们为什么不多吃这「生命之粮」，好使我们能日行千里，能够一口气地走他個「四十日、四十夜」，一直走到永生的彼岸呢？

NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

All Methods can be Used to Help us Walk in Righteousness

First Reading ( Deut 5:12-15 ) : Observance of the Sabbath
Second Reading (2 Cor 4:6-11 ) : The strength to bear witness comes from God
Gospel ( Mk 2:23-3:6 ) : On the Sabbath the disciples plucked the grain and a man's withered hand was healed.
Chinese classics:
- “Wake up at dawn; sweep and clean the courtyard. Be neat and tidy inside and out.”(1)
- “The progress of studies comes from hard work and is retarded by frivolity”(2)
- “Peoples' livelihood depends on diligence. If there is diligence, there will not be shortage.”(3)
-“Worries and labour can strengthen a country; pleasure and idleness can kill a person” (4)
- “He (Confucius) is a simple man who in his eager pursuit of knowledge forgets his food, who in the joy of its attainment forgets his sorrow, and who does not perceive that old age is coming on.”(5)

The Pharisees said to Jesus , “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" … He said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."…. Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?" ( Mk 2:24-3:4 ) After directing the question to the Pharisees, Jesus immediately cured the man with a withered hand. And it was the Sabbath day! “They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath”(See Mk 3:2 ) Should a person cure illness or do a good deed on the Sabbath? Did Jesus obey the rules or was he one to break down rules and oppose human traditions? In today's world, how should we regard rules and traditions?

The .Sabbath was a holy day of rest. As stated in today's first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy “Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work – you or your son or your daughter…so that your male and female slaves may rest as well as you. ((Deut 5:12-14).The Jews took their laws very seriously. The Law played an important role in the running of family life and the nation. Some Jews even believed that the Law had existed in Heaven before it was promulgated on earth, and so was eternal and unchangeable. Therefore, the Law was sacred and no one should modify or change any of the regulations. Among the laws, the people paid special attention to the third of the Ten Commandments. Besides strictly observing obvious statutes that had been laid down in the Old Testament, for example, no chopping wood, lighting fires, etc, they had added more to the list, such as prohibiting untying a knot, clapping hands, cleaning dust from one's clothes, etc.

Listing some of what seems like rather foolish prohibitions of the Jews doesn't suggest that there is anything wrong in it or that we should not keep the Sabbath Day of Rest holy. Actually, Jesus was a man who kept the Law. His parents had him circumcised and offered in the temple shortly after birth as the Law required. When he was twelve years old he went with his parents to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and later received baptism from John the Baptist. He paid taxed and shortly before his Passion solemnly celebrated the feast of Passover. He told his followers that he had come not to abolish the Law but to perfect it and restore it to its original usefulness, meaning, purity and glory.

Actually, to observe the Sabbath as a day of rest is a good requirement. The spirit of the day is to remind us not to endlessly exploit the earth's natural resources in the name of work. Human beings should live in harmony with nature, which is the friend, not enemy, of human beings. We should not be working at commercial enterprises that enlarge the gap between the poor and the rich. Making good use of the Sabbath day of rest, we should put work aside, even forget it for a bit, and give some time to the more important things of life: one's own spiritual development, ( prayer, reading, rest and recreation) and harmonious relations with others, (communal worship, family life, etc.). In this way we grow in the appreciation and enjoyment of life.

Chinese people believe in industry and thrift. They are proud of physical labour. Chu Hei in his Maxim's on Running a Family Properly openly taught people to “Wake up at dawn; sweep and clean the courtyard. Be neat and tidy inside and out”
Hon Yu's key to studying was “The progress of studies comes from hard work and is retarded by frivolities.” In Tso Chuan it was stated, “People's livelihood depends on diligence. If there is diligence, there will not be any shortage.” Au Yeung Shou also said, “Worries and labour can strengthen a country; pleasure and idleness can kill a person.” In Chinese tradition, we look down on those who ‘do not use their four limbs and cannot distinguish the five major grains.’ Because Confucius led an industrious life, he could proudly tell others that he was a man who “in his eager pursuit of knowledge forgets his food, who in the joy of its attainment forgets his sorrows, and who does not perceive that old age is coming on.” (Confucian Analects, Book VII Shu R, Chapter 18) These are excellent traditions.

Our ultimate goal in life should not be directed to work alone. We should work, even work hard, and we also should enjoy the reward of our labour. The Jews’ observance of the Sabbath day was and is a unique phenomenon among all religious practices. It originally was very meaningful, as it was a Day ‘for the people’, a ‘family day,’ ‘a religious day.’ If that is the case, then the Sabbath was established for the good of people, and was not so that people would live for the sake of the Sabbath, which is what Jesus emphasized.

In the same way, laws are devised for the benefit of human beings. They are there to prevent people from becoming careless and committing wrong. They help us walk along the straight path of good. rather than bring harm to ourselves or others. But if laws becomes legalistic, with too many rules and regulations for their own sake, then they becomes a burden and obstruct the good of human beings.

The spirit of the law should help us to be fully alive, but if it becomes too meticulous it will kill people. Paul warned us saying, “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Cor 3:6 ) Rulers and ruled need to remember this.

The New Testament has laws and rules that Jesus asks of us. They are the laws of love , summarized in Jesus' new commandment of love. This law that requires us to love God and all others demands of us to observe it from our hearts. The final outcome of this is true freedom, the freedom of the children of God and the obtaining of eternal life.

(1)黎明即起，灑掃庭除，要內外整潔。
(2)業精於勤、荒於嬉。
(3)民生在勤，勤則不匱。
(4)憂勞可以興國，逸豫可以亡身。
(5)發奮忘食、樂以忘憂，不知老之將至。