(路6:1-5)
守安息日是應該的,讓人身心得到休息,可以養精蓄銳,再戰江湖。讓人放下不必要的勞動,默想感激天主的創造和救贖,促進天人的關係。所以守安息日為人絕對是一件好事。
全球一體化是不可逆轉的大趨勢,整個世界好像在進行二十四小時接力賽,不停地運作。一體化目前固然有它的毛病,但對於民族的發展,全球的繁榮,有很大的益處。所以全球一體化為人也是一件好事。但這兩件好事如何並存呢?
如果硬性規定安息日不准工作,是不切實際的,整個城市和國家,便會跟不上世界各國的步伐,自己不但有被淘汰的危險,還會拖累其他城市國家。如果放棄守安息日,不但會令人心疲憊不堪,令全球一體化本末倒置,更會破壞人神關係,後果更嚴重。守安息日可以平衡全球一體化的流弊。
看來,在全球一體化的大氣候之下,守與不守安息日成為了兩難。其實,耶穌基督的教訓十分中用,「人子是安息日的主。」一切的安排,無論是政治、是經濟、是文化或是法律等等,一切應以人為本,考慮的是人的益處。法利塞人並不關心耶穌門徒的需要,不關心他們有沒有充份的休息或者與天主的關係是否健康,他們旨在利用法律去攻擊耶穌,完全違反了以人為本的原則和安息日法律的精神。其實,本著以人為本的精神,各國在參與全球一體化的過程中,可以靈活地作出安息日的安排,達到兩全其美。
天父,請不要因我們的罪過心硬而動怒,讓我們能進入祢的安息。亞孟。
THE SON OF MAN IS THE LORD OF SABBATH
We should observe Sabbath to allow our body and soul a rest so that we may recharge ourselves and work better afterwards. Moreover, putting down unnecessary labour to meditate the creation and redemption of God helps improve our relation with Him. Therefore, keeping the Sabbath is absolutely a good thing.
Globalization is an irreversible trend. The whole world seems like running a 24-hour relay, operating non-stop. Of course globalization is flawed but it is very beneficial to the development of peoples and the prosperity of the world. Therefore, globalization is also a good thing. How do these two good things coexist?
It would be impractical to impose the observation of Sabbath because the whole city, the whole country would not be able to synchronize and catch up with the other countries. We risk elimination and bringing others down through Domino Effect. If we abandon Sabbath, the body and mind of people would be exhausted and defeat the whole purpose of globalization. Moreover, abandoning Sabbath is detrimental to the God-man relationship. Observing Sabbath can counterbalance the shortcomings of globalization.
It seems then that keeping Sabbath under the canopy of globalization is a dilemma. In fact, Jesus' teaching that "the son of man is the lord of Sabbath" is extremely useful. All arrangements, whether political, economical, cultural or legal should be people-centred, should focus on the benefits on men. The Pharisees did not care about the needs of Jesus' disciples, whether they had had enough rest or whether their relation with God was healthy. They only wanted to attack Jesus. This kind of action totally went against the people-centred principle and the spirit of Sabbath. Indeed, with a people-centred spirit, all countries taking part in globalization are able to make flexible Sabbath arrangements to obtain the best of both worlds.
Heavenly Father, don't be angry with our sins and hardness of hearts. Allow us to enter your rest. Amen.
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