【天主經系列（三）】
齋心也應齋口（瑪6:1-6, 16-18）
在默想今天福音的訊息之前，且讓我們澄清一個歧義。今天的福音說：「你們應當心，不要在人前行你們的仁義，為叫他們看；若是這樣，你們在天父之前，就沒有賞報了」（瑪6:1）。但耶穌教導「地鹽世光」的道理時，卻教訓門徒要讓人看見他們的善行（5:16）。為甚麼前者（5:16）應該讓人看見，後者（6:1）卻不要讓人看見呢？我祇需要指出後者，即「行你們的仁義」，希臘文原文是「施捨」。相信各位讀者一定能判斷其中的分別，不用我在這裡「嘮嘮叨叨」了（6:7）！
今天是「聖灰星期三」，適逢農曆新春初五，香港教區免守大小齋。主教公署的公佈呼籲信友「仍有本份自行採用其他適當的方式踐行克己或愛德善工」，即使不用齋口，仍應齋心，因為「守齋」是基督徒靈修的基本功。其實天主教的守齋傳統與其他宗教的齋戒相比，的確有點相形見絀。因為天主教的守齋規矩，祗是「最低要求」而已，大家可以按自己的實際狀況，自行調節甚至「加碼」！「守齋」讓我們與貧窮的人為伍，學習他們信靠上主的經驗，所以是基督徒靈修的基本功。
天父啊！求祢今天賞給我們日用的食糧。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：facebook.com/encwomensretreat
Observe Abstinence in Both the Belly And the Heart (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18)
[The Lord’s Prayer Series III]
Before meditating on the gospel message today, we need to clarify an ambiguity. The gospel today reads, “But take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father” (Matthew 6:1). However, when Jesus teaches about the light of the world and the salt of the earth, He tells His disciples to let people see their good deeds (5:16). Why should we allow people to see the former (5:16) but not the latter (6:1)? I only need to point out that in the latter case, the Greek original means “almsgiving”. You don’t need me babbling more (6:7) for I trust you readers are able to tell the difference!
Today is Ash Wednesday and it happens to be the fifth day in the Lunar New Year. Traditional fasting and abstinence are dispensed. The Chancery Office exhorts, “During Lent all the faithful are obliged to pray more and to perform more acts of penance and charity … caring for the material or spiritual needs of the poor and the socially marginalized.” In other words, even though we are exempted from observing fasting and abstinence of the belly, we need to fast and abstain our hearts because fasting and abstinence are basic spiritual exercises for Christians. Indeed, the fasting traditions of other global religions dwarf the Catholic practices which are minimum requirements only. We should adjust or augment them according to our stations of life. With fasting we walk hand in hand with the poor and learn from their experience of entrusting themselves to the mercy of the Lord. This makes fasting the basic exercise of spirituality.
Think about it, that we need to draw up a fasting and abstinence period means that we have redundant food and resources. Otherwise how can we talk about fasting! At the same time, are not the least of Jesus’ brethren starving everyday? There is no need for them to draw up another period of fasting! Now why do we have surplus? Of course “To save up for famine”! Alas! Men! Why have you dropped your faith? Have you not read, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open wide your mouth that I may fill it” (Psalms 81:11) and “But Israel I will feed with the finest wheat, I will satisfy them with honey from the rock” (81:17). Are we not God’s People whom God have liberated from the bondage of sins? You believe in God, and after being admitted into the Catholic Church, why are your hearts so restless and your souls still insecure?
Heavenly Father! Give us today our daily bread. Amen.
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