我們是按天主的肖像所造,在我們的骨髓裡蘊藏著天主的創造力,我們那會甘心埋沒了這份天賦的能力呢?所以我們傾向依靠自己的能力,多於倚賴天主的助祐。我們的行為和抉擇,不但受過去的事物所影響,還會受未來的大計所影響!我們會未雨綢繆,我們會積穀防饑,我們會安排應變措施等。本來,這是無可厚非的。可是,當有一天,手段變成了目的時,問題就出現了!
財富可以提高生活的質素,可以令人際間的互動更為暢順,可以建造大型的工程等等。因此,財富本身並不壞,累積財富亦不一定是邪惡。可是,當累積財富成為了目的的時候,我們會忘記了累積財富的初衷,開始剝削其他人,令他們變成貧窮!即是說,我們犯罪了,違反天主的旨意了!
整個「山中聖訓」,可以綜合為一句「以天主為生命的中心」,亦即是「尋求天主的國和它的義德」(瑪6:33)。這準則幫助我們判斷,累積財富到甚麼程度,纔算是邪惡。「山中聖訓」邀請我信靠天主的助祐,不要憂慮物質上的需要,因為天父知曉我們需要物質(6:32)。我們相信祂知道嗎?相信祂會照顧嗎?天父一定會照顧,但未必符合我們的期望和要求!所以,我們忍耐不了,我們要運用自己的能力去累積財富了!我們節制不了,享受著在累積財富的樂趣之中!
天主聖神啊!請賞賜我們忍耐和節制的果實,幫助我們尋求天國的義德。亞孟。
Seek the Righteousness of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:24-34)
We were created in the image of God. Deep in our bone marrow, there is God's creativity. Would we be happy to bury this God-given potential? Thus, we tend to rely more on our own abilities than on God's help. Our actions and choices are not only affected by events in the past but also by our future plans! We prepare and arrange for contingencies. This is not wrong. However, when the means becomes the end, problems arise!
Wealth improves the quality of our life and makes interpersonal interactions smoother. With wealth, we can build mega projects. Thus accumulation of wealth is not necessarily evil. However, when accumulation of wealth becomes the end and we forget our original aim, we begin to exploit others and impoverish them! That is to say, we sin and go against God's will!
The whole Sermon on the Mount can be summed up in one sentence, "Make God the centre of our life" or in other words, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." (Matthew 6:33) This criterion helps us determine when accumulation of wealth becomes evil. The Sermon on the Mount invites us to trust in God's providence, not to worry about physical needs because "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all." (6:32) Do we believe that He knows? Do we believe that He cares? He cares but may not meet our expectations and demands! Thus, we become impatient and make use of our ability to accumulate wealth! We lose our temperance and enjoy the pleasure of wealth accumulation!
God the Holy Spirit, grant us patience and temperance. Help us seek the righteousness of the Kingdom of God. Amen.
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