常年期第十五主日﹝乙年﹞彌撒證道辭
伍棟樑神父
徐麗華譯
“神父，您願意睡在那兒？和羊還是和雞一塊睡呢？”這是一位可憐的教區神父在訪問他的教友時被提供的過夜選擇。但是，這位看起來好像被虐待的神父，實際裡，他擁有的要比我們想像的多得多。這位神父是在秘魯境內，一萬兩千尺的安迪斯山麓一個孤立的教區做探訪，那兒的夜晚寒氣逼人，又沒有中央暖氣系統。從那毛茸茸和羽翼豐絨的動物身上散發出的熱氣，使得羊棧或是雞舍成為最舒適過夜臥榻。
當耶穌開始派遣那十二位宗徒，兩個兩個的出外傳教時，他們的境遇看起來也挺糟的：“不要帶食物，不要帶口袋，也不要在腰帶裡帶銅錢”。不過，他們所擁有的比我們想像的要來得多：他們有強壯的身體，他們有志同道合的伙伴，他們有宣揚福音喜訊的能力，他們更擁有恩師的話語不斷地縈繞耳際，活躍於心底。
無可置疑的，每一個人都可以將我們所缺乏的東西列出一張清單來。信不信，有些人的單子還可能很長的呢。我敢說我們所沒有的─一份好工作，一位好伴侶，足夠的錢財，一個像樣的家，一臺寬銀幕的大電視，自己多才又多藝─比起我們所擁有的要少得多。現在讓我們環視周遭，將我們所擁有的也列一張清單：我們在這個團體中佔有一席之位；我們擁有弟兄姊妹彼此的扶持；我們擁有一個堂口可以一塊兒來敬拜天主；我們可以定期的與弟兄姊妹一同參與彌撒聖祭。別忘了再加上讀經中由厄弗所書中所給的提示：“在他愛子內，藉他愛子的血，獲得了救贖，罪過的赦免。的確，天主豐厚地把這恩寵傾注在我們身上。”
讓我們集中心思在我們所擁有的事物上，而不要沉溺在所缺少的吧！讓我們感恩吧！
二零零六年七月十六日
請參閱厄弗所書一章三至十節;瑪爾谷福音六章七至十三節
"Where would you like to sleep, Father?
With the sheep or with the chickens?"
Pity the missionary priest offered these accommodations on an
overnight visit to his parishioners. But
the seemingly deprived priest actually had more than we might think.
The priest was making a pastoral visit to an isolated community
12,000 feet up in the
The 12 Apostles also look to be in trouble: "no food, no sack, no money in their belts" as they set off two by two on the journey on which Jesus has sent them. But they have more than we might think: they have strong bodies, they have companions, they have the ability to proclaim the gospel message, and they have the words of their Master ringing in their ears and alive in their hearts.
Undoubtedly, each one of us could make a list of all the things he or she doesn't have. That list could be quite long for some of us. But I dare say that whatever we don't have--a good job, a significant other, financial security, a decent place to live, a wide-screen TV, various talents and skills--we still have more than we might think. We could start the list of things we do have by noting what's around us right now: we have a part in a parish community; we have the support of one another; we have a church in which to gather for worship; and we have the opportunity to celebrate the eucharist regularly with our sisters and brothers. And don't forget what our reading from Ephesians adds to our list: "In [Christ] we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us."
Instead of focusing on the many things we don't have, let's focus on the many things we do have--and give thanks.
15th Sun. O.T. (B) July 16, 2006 11 & 5
see Ephesians 1:3-10, Mark 6:7-13
<回總年份目錄
Year Menu>
<回2006年月份目錄
Month Menu>
<回九月內容目錄
September Menu>