祈禱的榜樣 Prayer Series VI

祈禱的榜樣（路11:27-28）

聖母瑪利亞真是有福，不單是因為她懷孕過、哺育過天主子，而且她聽了天主的話而遵行！聖母瑪利亞堪稱是完美的門徒，是所有信徒的完美榜樣。她的秘訣是甚麼？

固然，天主給她特殊的恩寵，使她始胎無染原罪，不受罪惡的污染。這不是我輩凡夫俗子可以奢望的！但她對天主聖神的完全開放，是我們可以效法的。

1. 她沒有堅持自己高尚的志向，放棄了守貞服事天主，願意接受懷孕哺育天主子的艱巨任務（路1:34）。她憑甚麼可以承擔這沉重的使命呢？除了倚靠聖神的力量，還有別的嗎？
2. 她對近人的愛心，是毋庸置疑的。且看她得知年老的表姊依撒伯爾懷了孕，便急速往山區去看顧她（1:39）。這份急速，突顯了聖神的催促（谷1:12）和聖母的順從回應！
3. 她承受自己的局限，對於不明白的事物，並不勉強去明白。她祇謙遜地「默存心中，反覆思想」（2:19; 2:51），讓聖神潛移默化她！後來，在加納婚宴上，她為主人家缺了酒而求耶穌出手（若2:3），成為福音所到之處的佳話。這並不單是因為她的愛心，而是她指示僕人聽從耶穌的吩咐（2:5）！可見聖神多年來潛移默化的效果！
4. 最後，聖母能堅持到十家架下，領受天主聖子交託給她的「教會之母」任務（19:26）。並在耶穌基督升天後，默默地陪伴著教會，履行她「教會之母」的神聖使命，貫通天地，在五旬節，讓聖神再次沛降人間，誕生了教會！

聖母瑪利亞，充滿聖神的妳，確實是有福的！
聖神啊！願照天父的意願，成就於我們身上吧！亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：Wikipedia

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Prayer Series VI (Luke 11:27-28)

Our Lady is truly blessed, not only because she carried the Son of God in her womb and nursed Him at her breasts, but also because she hears the word of God and observes it! The Blessed Virgin is a perfect disciple and an immaculate exemplar. What's her secret?
Of course, God grants her special privileges so that she has been immaculate since conception and immune from the contamination of sins. We mere mortals dare not to dream about it! But her total openness to God is something we may follow.

1. She does not insist on her noble cause. She forsakes her ambition to serve God in chastity and is willing to talk up the Herculean burden to bear and nurse the Son of God (Luke 1:34). With what is she able to bear such a heavy burden? What else but the strength from the Holy Spirit?
2. Her charity towards the needy is indisputable. Just see how she set out and travelled to the hill country in haste once she had known that her aged cousin Elizabeth was pregnant (1:39) This haste is indicative of the drive of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:12) and her prompt response!
3. She took upon herself her limitations. For things she could not understand, she did not force herself to understand. She humbly "kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart" (2:19; 2:51) and let the Holy Spirit transform her! Later, in the wedding feast at Cana, she took the initiative to ask for Jesus' help when the wine ran short (John 2:3). Her act is immortalized not only because of her charity, but also because she instructed the servers to do whatever Jesus told them (2:5) ! Here we see the effect of the Holy Spirit's transformative work!
4. The Blessed Virgin persisted till Calvery where she was commissioned to take up the role to be the Mother of the Church (19:26). After Jesus' ascension, she quietly stayed with the disciples to discharge her role as the Mother of the Church. She became the channel through which the Holy Spirit descended to give birth to the Church on Pentecost!

Ave Maria, Spiritus Sancto plena!
Holy Spirit, be it unto us according to the Father's will. Amen.

祈禱分心 Prayer Series V

祈禱分心（路11:15-26）

從這次疫症大流行，我們最少可以學習到一個道理，就是在這個有限的物質宇宙裡，追求完美是奢望，我們必定與缺陷瑕疵生活在一起！世間總有解決不到的問題，沒有人可以不生病，沒有人可以掌握宇宙的全部知識，縱使我們有多大的悲天憫人之心，「你們常有窮人同你們在一起」（谷14:7），每天我們總會與病菌病毒生活在一起…同樣道理，教會內總有令我們失望的神職人員，有說異端的教授，我們的祈禱總有分心的時刻！

倘若祈禱必定會分心，我們便不祈禱嗎？否！不祈禱怎能與天主保持聯絡呢？
倘若祇能在清靜的內心，總能聽到天主的聲音，但我們與祂溝通的渠道，卻充滿著魔鬼的噪音，充斥著私慾偏情，那怎樣辦呢？有甚麼方法消除這些噪音呢？請神父驅魔嗎？否！我們不應輕率地請神父驅魔，因為當我們意識到自己祈禱時分心，表示我們不是完全被魔鬼操縱。所以不用請神父驅魔，反而是學習如何在噪音中，過濾出天主的聲音！

保祿宗祿告訴我們：「聖神扶助我們的軟弱，因為我們不知道我們如何祈求纔對，而聖神卻親自以無可言喻的歎息，代我們轉求。」（羅8:26）我們還需要憂慮祈禱分心嗎？昨天的讀經，不是告訴我們：「你們縱然不善，尚且知道把好東西給你們的兒子，何況在天之父，有不更將聖神賜與求祂的人嗎？」（路11:13）所以祈禱分心，是天父所容許的，祂希望我們認識自己的不足，向祂尋求協助，賜下聖神。
聖神！請降臨，使大地更生復興，我們也蒙受再生之恩。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：aleteia.org

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Prayer Series V (Luke 11:15-26)

From this pandemic, we've learnt at least one lession: that in this finite universe, pursuit of perfection is unrealistic. We'll always live with flaws! There exist problems which are beyond our capability to solve. Noone is immue to illness. Nobody knows everything in this universe. Even if we have a big heart, "the poor you will always have with you" (Mark 14:7). We live with bacteria and viruses everyday … In a similar vein, there are always disappointing clergy in the Church, heretic professors in the college and distracted moments in our prayers!

If we shall be distracted in prayers, shall we pray no more? No! How can we keep in touch with God if we stop praying?
If we can only hear God's voice in a transquil heart but this channel of communication is always filled with noises from the Devil and concupiscence, what should we do? Should we call a priest to exorcize? No! We shouldn't casually call a priest to exorcize because when we sense that we are distracted, it shows that we are not totally controlled by the Devil. There is no need for exorcism. Rather, we should learn to filter God's voice out of noises!

St. Paul tells us, "The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings." (Romans 8:26) Shall we still worry about distractions in prayers anymore? Didn't yesterday's reading say, "If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" (Luke 11:13) Thus, distractions in prayers are permitted by the Father who wants us to know our inadequacies and beg Him to give us the Holy Spirit.
Come, Holy Spirit! Thou shalt renew the face of the earth and we may be reborn again. Amen.

為別人祈禱的態度 Prayer Series IV

為別人祈禱的態度（路11:5-13）

原來為自己祈求，對其他人也有益處！

且看這個求餅的人，竟然半夜三更，擾人清夢地叩門，的確是「恬不知恥」（路11:8）。他這樣做，是因為他「沒有甚麼可以款待」那個突然出現的客人（11:6）。可能這是中東人的民族性吧，他們相信款待旅客，可能會在不知不覺中款待了天使（希13:2，創18:2f），也可能是為了面子吧！但無論如何，祈禱的其中一個動力，來自認識到自己的不足，自己的貧乏，求天主的助祐！所以祇有認清自己罪過的人，纔會謙遜地禱告；那些自以為義的人，祇會趁機在天主面前數算自己的成就（路18:9-14），其實對自己一點益處也沒有！

這個求餅的人，不是求一個餅，而是三個。我們不用猜測他們的食量，三個餅肯定足夠有餘，即使是為了自己的面子，他所求的絕對不會待慢他的客人！我們也不用猜測三個餅的象徵意義，要知道耶穌基督祇用了五餅二魚，便可以使五千人得以充飢！各位朋友，相信你一定有為朋友的需要而祈禱，例如他們要應付考試、求職、患病和旅行…等等，你有沒有好像這求餅人一樣周全呢？再進一步，你有沒有為拯救蒼生，求天主賜你傳福音的勇氣和能力呢？

所謂愛人如己，所以為別人的需要祈禱，也應該同時為自己的不足而祈禱，因為說不定，天主的旨意，就是讓你知到別人的需要和自己的不足，並安排你去幫助那位有需要的人，成為他的天使！
父啊！請賜我聖神，突破自我中心的局限。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：deviantart.com

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Prayer Series IV (Luke 11:5-13)

I've never imagined that praying for myself is beneficial to others!
Take a look at this man who persistently asked bread at midnight, disturbing his friend's sleep (Luke 11:8). He did so because he had nothing to offer an uninvited friend (11:6). Probably hospitality is an ethnic trait. People living in the Middle East believe that "some have unknowingly entertained angels." (Hebrews 11:2, Genesis 18:2f) Probably it is a matter of face! Whatever the reasons, one of the motives to pray is to seek God's help because we know our inadequacies and poverty! Thus, only people who know clearly their own sins would humbly pray. Those self-righteous people would take the opportunity to show off their achievements before God (Luke 18:9-14), which do not gain them any advantages!

The person who begged bread did not ask for one but three loaves. We don't need to guess their appetite, three loaves should be more than enough. Even for his own face, he would never slight his guest! We don't need to speculate the symbolic meanings of the three loaves, enough to know that Jesus Christ fed 5000 people with only five loaves and two fish! Friends! I'm sure you must have interceded for the needs of your friends, e.g. they need to sit for examinations, job interviews, sickness and travels etc. Have you ever been as comprehensive as this bread beggar? To push further, have you prayed to God to give you strength and courage to evangelize for the sake of the Creation?

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". Thus when we pray for the others' needs, at the same time, pray for your own inadequacies. Perhaps, it is God's will that you know others' needs as well as your own inadequacies and arrange you to help the needy and become their angel!
Father! Grant us the Holy Spirit to break out of my ego's constrains. Amen.

路加版的《天主經》 Prayer Series III

路加版的《天主經》（路11:1-4）

路加版的《天主經》，看來有點殘缺不全，其實是個「寶貝」！

不錯，瑪竇版的《天主經》，包含了七項祈求，而路加版，卻少了兩個，包括「願祢的旨意奉行在人間，如同在天上」，與及「但救我們免於凶惡」。這兩個祈求不重要嗎？少了這兩個，不是殘缺不全嗎？

無可否認，每一項瑪竇版《天主經》的祈求都是重要的，值得獨立祈求的。但精簡了並不減低路加版《天主經》的價值！耶穌基督，不是教訓過我們，祈禱不在多言嗎（瑪6:7）？且讓我們默想路加版《天主經》的美妙。

首先，《思高聖經》的路加福音，直率地稱呼天主為「父」而不是「天父」。稱天主為「天父」在神學上是絕對正確的，適合瑪竇版耶穌的「大宗師」風格！而且，我們對天主應保持一份敬畏之情，稱祂為「天父」，驕傲的人就不會在祂面前隨意放肆了！但感覺上總有點距離，有點高不可攀，慈悲不足。這不是路加版耶穌的風格！

第二，少了的那句「願祢的旨意奉行在人間，如同在天上」，是把「願祢的國來臨」進一步加以演繹。尋求天國的來臨是精神，奉行天父的旨意是條文。其實聖母瑪利亞已說了一句「願照你的話成就於我吧！」（路1:38），所以不必再重複了。

最後，少了一句「但救我們免於凶惡」，很有殉道者的精神，「臨難毋苟免」的氣慨！《宗徒大事錄》記載了教會的第一個殉道者斯德望，路加福音中的殉道者，就包括了洗者若翰和耶穌基督！路加的作品，瀰漫著殉道的氣息，是世上貧困者的慨嘆，父是聽到的！雖然少唸，但我喜歡路加版。
父啊！不要讓我們陷入誘惑。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：osc-religionandpopculture.blogspot.com

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Prayer Series III (Luke 11:1-4)

The Lucan version of The Lord's Prayer looks a bit incomplete, but it is a gem indeed!
No doubt, there are seven petitions in the Matthean version, two of which are missing in Luke, including "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" and "but deliver us from evil". Aren't these two petitions important? Missing these two, isn't the Lucan version incomplete?

Undeniably, each and every petition in the Matthean version is essential and worth begging. But trimming them doesn't necessarily diminish the value of the Lucan version! Hasn't Jesus Christ taught us not to babble like the pagans when we pray? (Matthew 6:7) Let us meditate the beauty of the Lucan version.

First of all, the Lucan version in the Chinese Studium Biblicum Version plainly invokes God "Father" instead of "Heavenly Father". Calling God "Heavenly Father" is absolutely correct in theology. It suits the "Grandmaster" style of the Matthean Jesus! Furthermore, we should keep a sense of awe before God. Calling God "Heavenly Father" should restrain the proud from seeking vainglory before Him. However, it sounds a bit aloft and not sufficiently merciful. This is not the style of the Lucan Jesus!

Secondly, the "thy will be done" petition is an elaboration of "thy kingdom come" which is the spirit and the "thy will be done" is the letters. Indeed, the BVM has already said, "Be it unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38). Thus, it is not necessary to repeat here.

Lastly, leaving out "deliver us from evil" conveys a sense of embracing martyrdom! In the Acts of the Apostles, there is the first martyr of the Church St. Stephen. In the gospel, there are John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. The Lucan corpus is imbued with a sense of martyrdom which are groanings of the poor in the world. The Father hears them! Though I don't recite often, I love the Lucan version.
Father! Lead us not into temptation. Amen.

工作也是祈禱 Prayer Series: II

工作也是祈禱（路10:38-42）

雖然說「己欲立而立人，己欲達而達人」，自己好，也希望其他人好，是一種很積極，很正面的態度；但每個人秉性不同，適合我的，不一定適合你。瑪爾大和瑪利亞兩姊妹，就是很好的例子。兩姊妹以適合自己的方式，表達對主耶穌基督的愛，無高低之別。

可能是大家姐吧，習慣了獨力支撐整個家庭大大小小的事務，於是瑪爾大很忙碌地伺候耶穌（路10:40），表現出大家姐的風範。伯達尼不會是個富庶的村莊，我相信瑪利亞不會是驕生慣養，遊手好閒的閨女。但今天她卻坐在主的腳前，聽祂講話，默觀著救主的容光（10:39），這是何等上乘的默觀祈禱啊！可見瑪利亞的秉性與瑪爾大完全不同，前者默觀，後者行動。從復活拉匝祿的故事更可佐證：瑪爾大跑去迎接遲來的耶穌，而瑪利亞卻仍坐在家中，應該是熱切地祈禱吧！（若11:20）所以當瑪爾大向主耶穌投訴時，生命的主宰袒護了瑪利亞（路10:42）。

其實，說瑪爾大「投訴」，可能對她有點不公平。首先，瑪爾大不需要與瑪利亞爭寵，因為她伺候耶穌，並不是為了討好耶穌，而是盡了朋友的情誼（若11:5）。其次，作為一個行動型的人，瑪爾大可能覺得妹妹缺乏行動，對她沒有益處，所以趁主耶穌在場的時候，借耶穌之力，催迫妹妹做點她認為對妹妹有益的事！我相信瑪爾大是出於一片好意的。

耶穌基督的說話，是否認行動的好處，或者貶低行動的地位嗎？沒有！是中文翻譯誤導了大家！原文是「瑪利亞選擇了好的一份」，並不是「更好的一份」。默觀是對她有益，適合她的一份，正如行動對瑪爾大有益，適合她一樣。她的行動，就是她的祈禱，是另類的默觀，同樣「是不能從她奪去的！」
主耶穌，讓我們自由自在地，以適合我們秉性的方式，默觀祢光輝的聖容。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：stgregorynb.org

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Prayer Series: II (Luke 10:38-42)

Although we say, "If we want to establish, establish others. If we want to prosper, make others prosperous", meaning "when we are good, we want others to be good as well" and it is a very positive attitude because our temperances are different, what suits me may not suits you. Martha and Mary are good examples. The siblings expressed their love towards Lord Jesus Christ in ways appropriate to them. There should not be any comparison.

Probably being the elder sister who used to call the shot, Martha was "burdened with much serving" (Luke 10:40). I believe Bethany was not a rich village. Thus Mary would not be a spoiled "chamber-lady". Today, she "sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak", contemplating the countenance of the Saviour (10:39)! What a contemplative prayer of high calibra! It shows that Mary and Martha were essentially different, the former contemplative and the latter active. The story of resurrection of Lazarus sheds further light on it: "When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home" (John 11:20), most likely praying fervently! Thus, when Martha complained to Lord Jesus, the Author of Life defended Mary. (Luke 10:42)

In fact, speaking of Martha's "complaint" is probably unfair to her. First of all, Martha didn't need to fight for favouritism with Mary because she did not serve Jesus to please him. It was simply a matter of hospitality (John 11:5). Secondly, as a person of action, probably Martha opined that Mary's lack of activity was doing her no good. Therefore, she took advantage of the presence of Jesus to push Mary to do something which she thought was beneficient to her! I believe Martha did it in good faith.

Did Jesus' words deny the goodness of action, belittling the value of activity? Not at all! Modern translations have misled the readers! The original is "Mary hath chosen that good part τὴν ἀγαθὴν" not "the better part". Contemplation is appropriate for Mary just as action is for Martha. Martha's action is her prayer, a different expression of contemplation. "It will not be taken from her" as well!
Lord Jesus, let us contemplate in freedom in the most appropriate manner the glory of Your countenance. Amen.

己欲達而達人 Prayer Series: I

己欲達而達人（路10:25-37）

救濟貧困饑餓的人，提供食物是最直接和最有效；但為長遠計，必須幫助他們耕種，自食其力！同樣道理，耶穌基督從來不抗拒有學問的人。因為有學問的人尋求真理，渴望憑藉真理，不斷地改善自己，甚至改善別人的處境，是值得讚賞的。雖然今天的故事中，那位法學士來意不善，但耶穌並沒有放棄教化他的機會；主耶穌希望可以解放他思想上的束縛，希望他日後可以造福百姓。

當法學士詢問「獲得永生」的問題時，耶穌沒有否定他以往的學養，沒有否定梅瑟的建樹，沒有否定舊約的價值。主說：「你這樣做，必得生活。」（路10:28）即使祇是按梅瑟的法律生活，一樣可以獲得永生！

可惜，法學士被自己的惡念蒙蔽了，看不到耶穌基督對他的肯定和對舊約的肯定。他不願意輕易放過耶穌，便窮追猛打！在耶穌基督的眼中，這些法學士是「以色列的師傅」（若3:10）。祂是多麼渴望這些師傅，可以突破自我的中心，教化其他的猶太人，回心轉意，歸向天父！所以，主耶穌很有耐性地給法學士和我們，講述著名的「慈善撒瑪黎雅人」比喻，教導我們設身處地，從有需要幫助的人的角度看問題！因為愛就是希望對方得益，就是為對方的好處而作出努力，這就是「愛人如己」的本意。

可是，近人始終不是自己，更何況是那些不同語言、宗教和政見的人呢？其實，在遇到貧窮、疾病甚至面臨死亡，語言、種族甚至政見，還有分別嗎？有誰可以保證沒有患病或者潦倒的一天呢？

我們做甚麼纔可以突破自我呢？開放自己的心，祈求耶穌基督的幫助，可以突破自我；其實，從今天的比喻可見，幫助有困難的人，在他們身上看到潦倒的自我，也是一個不錯的方法！
主耶穌，讓我們享受到祢的慈悲之餘，也能幫助其他人這樣做。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：biblicalarchaeology.org

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Prayer Series: I (Luke 10:25-37)

The most effective and direct way to help starving people is to give them food. But in the long run, we need to help them grow food. Similarly, Jesus Christ has never rejected learned people. It is because they pursue the Truth and with which they enhance themselves and even improve the situation of the others. Such endeavour is commendable. Although the scholar of the law was hostile in the story today, Jesus did not give up the opportunity to enlighten him. Lord Jesus wants to liberate him from the straitjackets of his thoughts, hopefully he would benefit the common folks in the future.

When the legal scholar asked how to inherit eternal life, Jesus did not deny his past achievements, did not deny the contribution of Moses nor the value of the Old Covenant. The Lord says, "Do this and you will live" (Luke 10:28). People may inherit eternal life even by observing the law of Moses!

Regrettably, the legal scholar was blinded by his own evil intentions. He failed to see Jesus Christ's affirmation of him and of the Old Covenant. He did not want to let Jesus go easily and continued his assault. In the eyes of Jesus Christ, these legal scholars were "teachers of Israel" (John 3:10) How much Jesus desires these teachers breaking through their egotism to teach fellow Jews to turn to the Father! Thus, Lord Jesus patiently told this legal scholar and all of us the famous parable of the Good Samaritan, teaching us to see problems from the persepective of those in need! It is because love wants to see the others good. It is a will to act for the benefits of the others. This is the original intention of "loving your neighbour as yourself".

However, neighbour is not us after all, not to mention those who speak different languages, those who believe in different gods and those who uphold different ideologies. Indeed, in front of poverty, illness and even death, do languages, races and political stance matter any more? Who can guarantee that they shall never fall sick or misfortunates shall never patronize them one day?

What must we do to break out of our ego? Let us open up our hearts to ask for Jesus Christ's assistance. It surely will help us break through our ego. Indeed, from the parable today, we can see that helping people in need and seeing an unlucky self in them can be a good way to break out!
Lord Jesus Christ! Let us savour Your mercy and help others do the same. Amen.