放棄自己的執著 Abandon our stubbornness

十二月二十日
「因為在天主前沒有不能的事。」（路1:37）

不可能的事，怎可能會發生呢？
當然，我不是指違反大自然的現象，例如太陽從西方升起，這是地球自轉的視覺效果。我們所相信的天主是造物主，祂當然可以暫時擱置大自然的定律，行「神蹟」來向人類宣示自己的臨在。但在沒有重大的理由之下，天主是不會違反大自然定律的。

在我們狹隘的眼光和思想中，很多事情看來是不可能的。習以為常了，覺得真的不可能發生。患痲瘋病是絕症，認命吧！盲了跛了，當乞丐吧！老而無子，與老伴相依為命吧，不必奢望了！可是，若是天主願意，是沒有不能的事。若不是天主願意，一切都成了不可能的。問題在於，我們是否在追求天主願意的事，還是自己願意的事呢？當我們知道了天主的旨意後，我們願意放棄自己的執著嗎？

瑪利亞願意終其一生，以童貞之身，事奉天主。（路1:34）這是難能可貴的。但天主另有計劃，想邀請她作為救世主的母親。作為母親，便要放棄童貞的宏願。瑪利亞，妳願意嗎？當妳知道了天主的旨意後，妳願意放棄自己的執著嗎？同樣，匝加利亞，你願意老年得子，栽培他成為默西亞的先驅嗎？痲瘋病人、瞎子、癱子、附魔人，你們願意不再倚靠世人的憐憫，康復過來，自力更新，並且為天主的慈悲作見証嗎？可以肯定，很多人會希望維持現狀，甚至拒絕天主的邀請。可幸童貞瑪利亞願意放棄自己的執著，開啟了全人類得救的工程。
天父啊，願照祢的話，成就於我吧！亞孟。

生命恩泉

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"For with God nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:37)

How would something which is impossible happen?
Of course, I am not talking about anti-natural phenomena such as the sun rising in the west. Sunrise sunset are visual illusions due to the rotation of the earth. The God we believe in is the Creator. Of course He is able to put natural laws aside temporarily to work miracles to declare His presence among us. But without extraordinarily serious reasons, God would not suspend laws governing the Nature.

In our narrow sight and mind, many things look impossible. When we get used to it, we will feel that it is impossible to happen. Leprosy was incurable. Too bad! Being blind or crippled? Be a beggar! Being childless and aged? Stay old with your spouse and forget about raising children! But if God wills, nothing will be impossible. If it is not God's will, nothing would happen. The problem is, are we seeking God's will or our will? After knowing God's will, are we willing to abandon our stubbornness?

It was Mary's will to serve the Lord as a virgin (Luke 1:34). This is commendable. But God had another plan. He invited her to become the mother of the Saviour. As a mother, she had to abandon her virginity. Mary, are you willing? When you know that it is God's will, are you willing to forsake your insistence? Similarly, Zechariah, I give you a son at your advanced age, are you willing to raise him up as the forerunner of the Messiah? Lepers, the blind, the paralyzed, the possessed, are you willing not to rely on the charity of people, be healed, earn your own living and bear witness to God's mercy? To be sure, many people would prefer remaining in the status quo and reject God's invitation. Luckily, the Blessed Virgin Mary was willing to abandon her insistence, thus opening up the project of salvation.
Heavenly Father, let it be to me according to Your word. Amen.