案例系列（一）
主題：忠僕與惡僕（瑪24:42-51）
「物有本末，事有終始，知所先後，則近道矣」（大學‧一）。知道事物的輕重和秩序，又怎可能會行差踏錯呢？「近道」只是謙卑的用辭，「誠意、正心」地尋求天主的旨意，雖不中亦不遠矣（大學‧十一）！何況，關顧我們生死的天主子，在我們身邊，不時耳提面命。既然沒有人知道自己的生命何時完結，或者世界何時末日，因此最有效的對應態度，就是保持「醒寤」，迎接主基督的特如其來（瑪24:42）！在天主子再度來臨之前的人生，就是表現我們自己是「忠僕」或者是「惡僕」的舞台了。
天主子對作為忠僕的要求，並不苛刻，我們不需要飛天遁地，上天下海（申30:12-13）；只是「按時配給他們〔其他家僕〕食糧」（瑪24:45）而已。不要忘記，天主委託我們管理大地（創1:28; 2:15）；那麼，我們都是同事和兄弟了。兄弟之間守護相助，按時配給食糧，不就是在個別的崗位上，按緩急先後，盡好自己做管家的責任嗎？做「忠僕」是理所當然的。同時，基督並沒有設定評核的指標，怕我們過分重視成就，犯了加音的錯誤。
聖父，求祢喚醒我們心中的聖神，重振「剛毅」與「敬畏上主」之恩，忠心地承擔責任，建設仁愛、和平、公義的天國。亞孟。
天主保祐！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：
Case Study (I)
Theme: Faithful and Unfaithful Servants (Matthew 24:42-51)
“Things have their root and their branches. Affairs have their end and their beginning. To know what is first and what is last will be close to the Way” (Da Xue #1). When we understand the priorities and orders of affairs, how can we make mistakes? “Being close to the Way” is only humble wording. When we seek God’s will with a sincere will and a rectified heart, though we miss, we will not be too far off from hitting the bull’s eye. (Da Xue #11)! Furthermore, the Son of God, who cares very much about our life and death, always stands by us, whispering the Father’s will into our ears. Since nobody knows when our lives end or when the end of the world comes, the most effective attitude is to be always vigilant to welcome the sudden appearance of Christ the Lord (Matthew 24:42)! Before the Son of God comes again, the world is our stage to show whether we are faithful or unfaithful servants.
The Son of God does not put harsh demands on faithful servants. We don’t need to fly to the heavens or to cross the seas (Deuteronomy 30:12-13). We only need “to distribute to the household [i.e. other servants] their food at the proper time” (Matthew 24:45). Don’t forget, God delegates us authority to manage the earth (Genesis 1:28, 2:15). Then we are brother-stewards. Isn’t supporting and protecting each other, distributing food at the proper time, the discharge of our steward duties according to priorities in our individual life stations? Being a faithful servant is reasonable and proper. At the same time, Christ does not set up any assessment criteria lest we are anxious with achievements, making the same mistake as Cain.
On the other hand, ignoring the advice of vigilance, thinking that God will appear according to our schedule, we start wronging the priorities, abusing and exploiting our neighbour. We even reject the advice of Jesus Christ, intoxicate ourselves with personal achievements, self-fattening at the expense of our subjects without discharging God’s delegated missions. Aren’t such people the unfaithful servants in the parable?
Heavenly Father, awake the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Reinvigorate the gifts of fortitude and the fear of the Lord in us so that we may bear our responsibility with loyalty to build up the Kingdom of Heaven which is full of charity, peace and righteousness. Amen.
God bless!
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