歡迎你進入我的「心」！... 徐錦堯

天上自是有情痴，長留聖體待痴兒

讀經一：(創14:18-20)：默基瑟德的祭獻
讀經二：(格前11:23-26)：領受聖體聖血即宣告主的死亡與再來
福　音：(路9:11b-17)：增餅的故事
中國文化：一年將盡夜，風雪夜歸人。挑燈夜未央。臨行密密縫，意恐遲遲歸。鼎鑊甘如飴，求之不可得。萬事有不平，爾何空自苦？長將一寸身，銜木到終古？我願平東海，身沉心不改；大海無平期，我心無絕時。

主耶穌在被出賣的那一夜，拿起餅來，感謝了，擘開，說：「這是我的身體，是為你們而捨的。你們要照樣做，來紀念我。」晚餐後，又同樣拿起杯來說：「這杯是用我的血所立的新約，你們每次喝，應這樣行，為記念我。」的確，直到主再來，你們每次吃這餅，喝這杯，你們就是宣告主的死亡。（格前11:23-26）

耶穌是在最後晚餐時建立聖體聖事的，那是他「被出賣的那一夜」。那一夜，耶穌心事如潮湧，充滿了別緒和離情，可以說那是耶穌柔腸寸斷的一夜。那一夜，他和門徒談了很多話，也向他的天父作了一個相當長的禱告。也就是在這一夜，耶穌留下了他的身體和寶血，作為我們生命的食糧。

這是救恩史上一個很突出的夜晚。

「夜」這個字，在我們的腦海中，是否也會勾起一些特別的感覺，或一種意在言外的感慨或感懷呢？

旅行人在年關臨近之時，風雪交加之夜，急忙趕著要回到溫暖的家去和家人團聚，我們說這是「一年將盡夜，風雪夜歸人」。那是一個融和著心內的熱和身外的冷，交織著掙扎、焦急、期盼和奮鬥之夜。他急著要和家人會晤，很想知道親愛的人是否平安；但他現在又是多麼的舉步維難！

文天祥在他從容就義前的那天晚上，在監獄中熬夜到天明，等待著那不義的判決，和他那「鼎鑊甘如飴，求之不可得」的時刻的來臨。天明前的那一刻，他在《除夜詩》中所流露的感慨是「挑燈夜未央」。這是一個長夜將盡未盡之際，呈現出來的是一個生命中有悽涼、堅忍中有悲壯之夜；我們見到一個英雄和烈士的生命已到了盡頭，卻仍企盼自己的浩然之氣能長留世間，使薪盡而仍能火傳。

愛兒要遠行了，不知何日是歸期，慈母的感受又是怎樣的呢？她只能用她那慈母手中的線，去道盡心中的情。她在為愛兒「臨行密密縫，意恐遲遲歸」之際，期望的是在寒風的凜冽中，愛兒能感受到遠方親娘的擁抱、愛心和溫暖；而慈母縫呀縫呀的，大概也要縫到深更半夜吧？

這些都是世界上有情、有心的夜。耶穌在要離開世界、吻別宗徒們前的心情是怎樣的呢？那又是一個什麼樣的夜呢？

耶穌在他三年的傳教生活中，講了很多道理，但令我們讀起來特別感動的，也許要算他在「被出賣的那一夜」所說的長長的訓話——臨別贈言了。

這一夜，耶穌講的話特別具有深意，也充滿了深情，因為過了這一夜，他就要「回歸父家」了。但他歸家的方式不只是要經歷「風雪夜歸」的艱難，更是要歷盡從容就義的壯烈。

他最後是要離開世界了，但他用了三十三年與人類建立起來的親密關係，又怎樣延續和維繫呢？

慈母能做的一切，是把全部的情和愛都貫注到那件衣服上。而耶穌呢，他卻想到了一個曠古絕今的方法，把自己的整個而完整的生命，都投放在一件他自己發明的「聖事」中：「這就是我的身體，是為你們而捨的。」「這一杯就是我的血，新而永久的盟約之血，將為你們而傾流，以赦免罪惡。」（彌撒經文）

這就是耶穌在若望福音中早已預示了的聖體聖事：「我是從天上降下的生活的食糧；誰若吃了這食糧，必要生活直到永遠。我所要賜給的食糧，就是我的肉，是為世界的生命而賜給的。我的肉，是真實的食品；我的血，是真實的飲料。」（若6:51,55）

耶穌建立了聖體聖事，他的身體為我們而捨，血為我們而流；他捨了自己的身體和寶血，是為了成為世人的食糧。

這是一個為世人而存在的耶穌，他真是一個多情的神，一個情深一片的天主。我們一向口口聲聲說要為天主而辛勞、為天主而奉獻，想不到我們的天主卻是心心念念地只顧為人而犧牲、為人而捨命。

顧炎武先生想知道那隻要去填平東海的精衛鳥，為何這樣痴情。他這樣問：「萬事有不平，爾何空自苦？長將一寸身，銜木到終古？」精衛鳥堅決地回答：「我願平東海，身沉心不改；大海無平期，我心無絕時。」

我們的天主不是更痴心嗎？他這樣堅決地愛人類，我們又要怎樣對待他呢？我們也能對他深情無限、痴心一片嗎？

天上自是有情痴，长留圣体待痴儿

读经一：(创14:18-20)：默基瑟德的祭献
读经二：(格前11:23-26)：领受圣体圣血即宣告主的死亡与再来
福　音：(路9:11b-17)：增饼的故事
中国文化：一年将尽夜，风雪夜归人。挑灯夜未央。临行密密缝，意恐迟迟归。鼎镬甘如饴，求之不可得。万事有不平，尔何空自苦？长将一寸身，衔木到终古？我願平东海，身沉心不改；大海无平期，我心无绝時。

主耶稣在被出卖的那一夜，拿起饼来，感谢了，擘開，说：「这是我的身体，是为你们而舍的。你们要照样做，来纪念我。」晚餐后，又同样拿起杯来说：「这杯是用我的血所立的新约，你们每次喝，应这样行，为记念我。」的确，直到主再来，你们每次吃这饼，喝这杯，你们就是宣告主的死亡。（格前11:23-26）

耶稣是在最后晚餐時建立圣体圣事的，那是他「被出卖的那一夜」。那一夜，耶稣心事如潮涌，充满了别绪和離情，可以说那是耶稣柔肠寸断的一夜。那一夜，他和门徒谈了很多话，也向他的天父作了一個相当长的祷告。也就是在这一夜，耶稣留下了他的身体和宝血，作为我们生命的食粮。

这是救恩史上一個很突出的夜晚。

「夜」这個字，在我们的脑海中，是否也会勾起一些特别的感觉，或一种意在言外的感慨或感怀呢？

旅行人在年关临近之時，风雪交加之夜，急忙赶著要回到温暖的家去和家人团聚，我们说这是「一年将尽夜，风雪夜归人」。那是一個融和著心内的热和身外的冷，交织著挣扎、焦急、期盼和奋斗之夜。他急著要和家人会晤，很想知道亲爱的人是否平安；但他现在又是多么的举步维难！

文天祥在他从容就义前的那天晚上，在监狱中熬夜到天明，等待著那不义的判决，和他那「鼎镬甘如饴，求之不可得」的時刻的来临。天明前的那一刻，他在《除夜诗》中所流露的感慨是「挑灯夜未央」。这是一個长夜将尽未尽之际，呈现出来的是一個生命中有凄凉、坚忍中有悲壮之夜；我们见到一個英雄和烈士的生命已到了尽头，却仍企盼自己的浩然之气能长留世间，使薪尽而仍能火传。

爱儿要遠行了，不知何日是归期，慈母的感受又是怎样的呢？她只能用她那慈母手中的线，去道尽心中的情。她在为爱儿「临行密密缝，意恐迟迟归」之际，期望的是在寒风的凛冽中，爱儿能感受到遠方亲娘的拥抱、爱心和温暖；而慈母缝呀缝呀的，大概也要缝到深更半夜吧？

这些都是世界上有情、有心的夜。耶稣在要離開世界、吻别宗徒们前的心情是怎样的呢？那又是一個什么样的夜呢？

耶稣在他三年的传教生活中，讲了很多道理，但令我们读起来特别感动的，也许要算他在「被出卖的那一夜」所说的长长的训话——临别赠言了。

这一夜，耶稣讲的话特别具有深意，也充满了深情，因为過了这一夜，他就要「回归父家」了。但他归家的方式不只是要经历「风雪夜归」的艰难，更是要历尽从容就义的壮烈。

他最后是要離開世界了，但他用了三十三年与人类建立起来的亲密关系，又怎样延续和维系呢？

慈母能做的一切，是把全部的情和爱都贯注到那件衣服上。而耶稣呢，他却想到了一個旷古绝今的方法，把自己的整個而完整的生命，都投放在一件他自己发明的「圣事」中：「这就是我的身体，是为你们而舍的。」「这一杯就是我的血，新而永久的盟约之血，将为你们而倾流，以赦免罪恶。」（弥撒经文）

这就是耶稣在若望福音中早已预示了的圣体圣事：「我是从天上降下的生活的食粮；谁若吃了这食粮，必要生活直到永遠。我所要赐给的食粮，就是我的肉，是为世界的生命而赐给的。我的肉，是真实的食品；我的血，是真实的饮料。」（若6:51,55）

耶稣建立了圣体圣事，他的身体为我们而舍，血为我们而流；他舍了自己的身体和宝血，是为了成为世人的食粮。

这是一個为世人而存在的耶稣，他真是一個多情的神，一個情深一片的天主。我们一向口口声声说要为天主而辛劳、为天主而奉献，想不到我们的天主却是心心念念地只顾为人而牺牲、为人而舍命。

顾炎武先生想知道那只要去填平东海的精卫鸟，为何这样痴情。他这样問：「万事有不平，尔何空自苦？长将一寸身，衔木到终古？」精卫鸟坚决地回答：「我願平东海，身沉心不改；大海无平期，我心无绝時。」

我们的天主不是更痴心吗？他这样坚决地爱人类，我们又要怎样对待他呢？我们也能对他深情无限、痴心一片吗？

FEAST OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI)

Only in Heaven is there such a Passionate Lover -
In the Eucharist he awaits a Similar Response

First Reading (Gen 14: 18-20): The sacrifice of Melchizedek
Second Reading (1 Cor 11: 23-26): Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ proclaims the Lord's death and return
Gospel (Lk 9: 11b- 17): Miracle of the multiplication of the Loaves
Chinese Classics:
-“The year ends this very night. The late homecomer struggles in the snow and wind.” (1)
-“Death by boiling alive would be like sweetmeat, just what I wish for but am denied.”(2)
-“Lift up the oil lamp, the night is not spent yet.”(3)
-“Carefully she sews and thoroughly she mends, dreading the delays that will keep him late from home.”(4)
--“The world is full of injustice. Why do you struggle so in vain, always urging on that tiny body, forever carrying sticks and stones?... I will fill up the Eastern Sea. My body may fail; my aim will not change. Until the great sea is filled, my heart cannot know surcease.” (5)

“The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” (1 Cor 11: 23-26)

Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. That was “on the night he was betrayed.” That night Jesus' heart was full of sadness and depression at his parting. We can truly say he was brokenhearted that night. He spoke of many things with his disciples and addressed his Father in a long prayer. It was also on that night that Jesus gave us his body and blood to be food for our lives.

In the history of Salvation that was a very special night.

Does not the word 'night' bring to our minds special feelings? Or perhaps excitement or emotions hard to express?

At the end of the year, even though travelers must struggle through a snowy and rainy night, they will hurry to reach the warmth of their homes so that they can be united with their families. We describe the scene in this way: “the year ends this very night. The late homecomer struggles in the snow and wind.” (1) Within one’s heart there is a mixture of anxiety, longing and excitement. The travelers are in a hurry to be home, eager to know whether all is well with their beloved families. But they are slowed down by the difficulty of the travel..

The night before Wen Tian Xiang was to die a martyr's death he was in prison. He was awaiting the morrow when the unjust decision would be announced. For him, “a death by boiling alive would be like sweetmeat – just what I wish for but am denied.”(2). The lines in his “Poem of New Year's Eve” reveal the pain and helplessness he felt at the hour before dawn. He wrote, “Lift up the oil lamp, the night is not spent yet.”(3) At the end of the long night when dawn was about to break, he saw before him the life of loneliness, perseverance and determination. We see the heroic martyr coming to the end of his life, still hoping that his ideals would remain after him and the fire be passed on to future generations.

What does a loving mother feel when her son is going on a long journey and she does not know when he will return? She can only show her love by personally sewing a coat for her son - “carefully she sews and thoroughly she mends, dreading the delays that will keep him late from returning home.” (4) She hopes that in the cold wind of a faraway land her son can feel the love and warmth of his mother’s embrace. And so the mother sews and sews deep into the night.

These are all nights of love and emotion. How then would Jesus have felt when he knew he must leave the world and bid farewell to his disciples? What kind of a night was it for him?

During the three years of his public life Jesus preached about many things. But perhaps the most moving words we read are those of the Last Discourse which he spoke on ‘the night he was betrayed.’

On that night his words were especially full of deep meaning and emotion because on that night he would 'return to his Father's house.' But in returning home he not only must “struggle in the snow and wind (1) but he also must have the courage of a heroic martyr.

In the end he must leave the world. After thirty-three years of trying to establish relationships with humankind, how can he prolong this close relationship?

What the loving mother could do was to pour out all her love into clothes for her son. What did Jesus do? He thought of a way that would last from age to age: he gave us his life in its entirety in the Sacrament of the Eucharist which he himself instituted. “This is my Body, given up for you.” “This is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new covenant. It will be shed for you and for all people so that sins may be forgiven.” (Prayers from the Mass).

According to John's Gospel, this is how Jesus had earlier spoken of the Sacrament of the Eucharist: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh… My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.” (Jn 6: 51, 55)

Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist; he sacrificed his life for us and shed his blood for us. He gave up his body and blood in order to become food for the world.

This is the Jesus who remains with us in the world. He is truly a loving God, a God full of the deepest love without reserve. We continuously say and sing out that we wish to labour for God and offer ourselves to God. We little realize that our God cares for us so much that he has sacrificed Himself for us, even to giving up his life.

Gu Yen Wu wanted to know why the bird Ching Wei was so determined in its mission of filling up the Eastern Sea. He asked, “The world is full of injustice. Why do you struggle so in vain, always urging on that tiny body, forever carrying sticks and stones?” Jing Wei answered with great resolution, “I want to fill up the Eastern Sea. My body may fail but my aim will not change. Until the great sea is filled, my heart cannot know surcease.”(5)

Is not God even more passionate? If God is so determined to love all of humankind, how can we repay Him? Can we have the same kind of deep, passionate and limitless love for God?

(1)一年將盡夜，風雪夜歸人。
(2)鼎鑊甘如飴，求之不可得。
(3)挑燈夜未央。
(4)臨行密密縫，意恐遲遲歸。
(5)萬事有不平，爾何空自苦？長將一寸身，銜木到終古？我願平東海，身沉心不改；大海無平期，我心無絕時。