(若11:19-27，路10:38-42）
我們最常犯的謬誤，就是把問題簡單化，而最方便的簡單法莫過於「非此即彼」的二分法了。例如在人際關係上，不是我的朋友就是我的敵人；在工作關係上，祗有上司下屬而沒有團隊；在人神關係上，祗有創造者與受造物，而沒有既是天主又是人的天人中保等等。今天且讓我們默想聖瑪爾大的生平，以豐富我們的生命。
我們時常把瑪爾大和她的妹妹瑪利亞放在對立面之上：瑪爾大是勤勞外向的傳教型，瑪利亞則是內歛的默觀型。不過最重要的，就是耶穌欣賞瑪利亞的默觀，多於瑪爾大的辛勞！可是，我們又犯了把事物二分化的毛病了。
其實，默觀就不用恆心和毅力嗎？您不知道祈禱可以到達心力交瘁的水平嗎？
天父啊，讓我們自由自在地勤奮祈禱吧。亞孟。
另一方面，勞動就沒有祈禱的成分嗎？體力的勞動就不可以是祈禱嗎？一定要放下手中的鋤頭，跪地合十纔算是祈禱嗎？不能放羊的同時創作聖詠嗎？聖奧思定曾說過詠唱聖詩是雙倍的祈禱。唱歌不用學習、練習和消耗體力嗎？可見，勞動與默觀並不完全對立，把二者揉合是我們的理想和目標。雖然我們沒有天使的大能，但我們值得他們妒忌的地方，就在於我們是血肉和靈聖的結合體，我們可以運用我們的靈性生命昇華我們的血肉生命。瑪爾大向耶穌投訴並不是一個錯誤，我們要感謝她向我們揭示出勞動和祈禱的真諦───對主耶穌的渴求。天主欣賞我們以不同的方式向祂表達出我們的愛：耶穌喜歡我們為祂預備美酒佳餚，同時也不希望我們阻止他人坐在祂腳前默觀天主的聖容。
ORA ET LABORA
(John 11:19-27; Luke 10:38-42)
The most common fallacy we commit is to oversimplify the problem and the simplest way to oversimplify is to dichotomize. For example, in interpersonal relationships, if you are not my friends then you are my enemies. In working relationships, there is only an organization chart. There is no team. In the relation between God and men, there are only Creator and creatures. There is not a God-man mediator etc. So let us meditate the life of St. Martha to enrich our life.
We tend to put Martha and her sister Maria on opposite poles: Martha belongs to the hardworking and outgoing missionary type, Maria the ascetic contemplative type. But the most important of all, Jesus praises the contemplation of Maria more than the diligence of Martha! But, we commit the dichotomy fallacy again.
Indeed, does not contemplation require perseverance? Don't you know that we can exhaust ourselves with prayers? On the other hand, are there no prayer elements in work? Is corporal work not prayer? Is it necessary to put down our plough, kneel down and fold our hands together in order to be qualified as prayers? Was it forbidden to write psalms while shepherding? St. Augustine once said that singing hymns is double portion of prayer. Doesn't singing demand training, practising and dissipating energy? Therefore, work and prayer are not diametrically opposite. Our target and ideal is to blend the two together. Although we are not as powerful as angels, there is one aspect of which angels should be jealous. We are a hybrid of spirit and matter. We are able to sublime our physical life with our spiritual life. It is not wrong for Martha to complain to Jesus. We should thank her for showing us the truth of prayer and work --- the desire for Jesus. God appreciates the different ways in which we express our love towards Him: Jesus loves the good food we prepare and at the same time, he does not want us to disturb others who sit at his feet to contemplate his face.
Heavenly Father, allow us to pray hard freely. Amen.
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