聖瑪爾大瞻禮（若11:19-27或 路10:38-42）
「坐在主的腳前聽衪講話。」（路10:39）
現代人終日營營役役。每一日都在疲於奔命，每一夜總是拖於疲累的軀殼，回家入睡。在不知不覺中，我們習染了功利的思想，相信多勞多得。這種思維，不單指導著我們的物質生活，而且也在影響著我們的靈性生命。
生活水準高，令養妻活兒的擔子變重。結果兩夫妻要一起外出工作，家務由外佣做；父母倆一起外出工作，孩子由外佣或祖父母照顧等現實，比比皆是。結果就不用多說了，這就是功利思維最顯而易見的後果。那看不見的靈性生活又如何受影響呢？
很可惜，有些天主教徒在靈修上，也受到了功利思維的影響，相信多勞多得，以為安排一個非常「充實」的靈性生活，就能擺脫俗世生活在靈性上的貧乏。於是一個講座接著下一個講座、一個課程接著下一個課程、一個避靜接一個避靜、一個九日敬禮接一個九日敬禮、一個朝聖接一個朝聖…年年如是，月月如是，沒完沒了。這種忙碌的「瑪爾大式」靈修，有益嗎？請不要誤會，我不是否定講座或避靜的價值，祗不過每個人的「天路歷程」都不同，有些人跟隨聖本篤，有些聖方濟，有些聖依納爵…各適其適罷了。
無論哪一學派的靈修，都不離「煉」（戒除罪惡）、「明」（獲得光照）、「合」（與主契合）三個程序。雖說是程序，亦不是斬釘折鐵般乾淨俐落，三個階段都有重疊的地方。在「明」與「合」的階段，我們固然被動，不能強求天主賜予「神慰」。就算是在「煉」的階段，何嘗不是與天主「被動配合」呢？要知道，真心悔改，妥善告解，並非是一樁容易的事，而是有賴天主大發慈悲！與其把心靈塞滿了，倒不如選擇最好的一份，為自己保留一點空間，坐在耶穌腳前，讓耶穌基督進入我們的內心吧。
天父啊！祢的話是我步履前的明燈。請照明我的黑暗，讓我認清自己的罪愆，真心痛悔，以獲得祢的慈悲。亞孟。
"Sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching." (Luke 10:39)
Modern men lead a hectic life. They toil themselves in turbo mode during day time. In the evening, they drag an exhausted body to bed. Imperceptibly, they acquire a utilitarian mentality, thinking that the more they labour, the more they will acquire. Not only does this mentality guide our physical life, but it also affects our spiritual life.
A high living standard increases the burden to earn a living. As a result, husband and wife go out to work, leaving the house chores to the domestic helper. Both parents go out to work, leaving their children to the care of grandparents or helpers. These cases are very common nowadays. I don't have to tabulate these easily seen costs of utilitarianism. What about the invisible spiritual life, how does utilitarianism affect it?
Regrettably, some Catholics also believe in utilitarianism, that the more they labour, the more they will acquire. They think that they are able to get rid of an arid spiritual life with a tight schedule of spiritual exercises. Thus, one talk follows the heel of another, one course after one course, one retreat after one retreat, one novena follows another, one pilgrimage after another ... year after year, month after month, world without end. Amen. Will this kind of "Martharian" spirituality work? Don't misunderstand me, I do not deny the value of talks or retreats. Everybody follows a different "Pilgrim's Progress". Some follow St. Benedict, others St. Francis and yet others St. Ignatius ... All are equally valid.
Whatever spirituality school you follow, you do not deviate from the three stages of "Purification", "Illumination" and "Contemplation". The three stages are not clearly cut but overlap. During the Illumination and Contemplation stages, we are passive and cannot force God to give us spiritual consolation. During the Purification stage, are we not working with God too? Be it known that it is not easy to repent sincerely and make a good confession. We have to rely on God's mercy in order to achieve just that. Thus, instead of stuffing our souls with a lot of talks and retreats etc. wouldn't it be better to choose the good portion, reserve a little space for ourselves, sit at the Lord's feet and invite Jesus Christ into our heart.
Heavenly Father! Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Illuminate my darkness. Let me clearly discern my iniquity and sincerely repent so as to obtain your mercy. Amen.
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