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Tuesday 23 August 2016

體會委身的甘飴 Experience the Sweetness of Commitment

八月廿三日(瑪23:23-26
「這些固然該作,那些也不可放過。」(瑪23:23

每個人都有自由作出選擇,連天主也不會干預我們的自由。因此,我們對自己的選擇和行為,是要負上全部的責任。為了利益,人甚至放棄原則,處處避重就輕。結果,生活與一個被耶穌所批評的瞎眼法利塞人無異。

例如:相信天主纔是重要,洗禮祗不過是繁文縟節。洗禮並不能保証你真心相信天主,反而偽善。又例如:兩情雙悅纔是重要,結婚擺酒祗不過是繁文縟節。一紙婚書是不能保障愛情的。這不就是「避重就輕」的表現嗎?受洗歸於基督,結婚以身相許,是要付出「沉重代價」的,我們稱之為「委身」。領洗之後不但每個主日參加彌撒,更要讀經、祈禱、領聖事和傳福音;結婚之後不但與要接納配偶的朋友圈子,更要與姻親相處,生兒育女,甚至要犧牲自己的事業…倘若我們斤斤計較利益,領洗和結婚都不是明智的投資了。難怪有人會「避重就輕」,長年混在教會團體之中而不領洗,想享受同居的快樂而不選擇結婚。

誡命的精神我們是知道的,於是我們選擇一些無關痛癢的,例如遵守「聖教四規」來表現自己的虔誠,卻視而不見那些需要「委身」的,例如「公義、仁愛、信義、形哀矜和神哀矜」。這樣做,我們與瞎眼的法利塞人無異,與那些同居男女無異。
聖父啊,讓我們發現、體會委身的甘飴,樂意承行祢的聖意。亞孟。

生命恩泉


"These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others." (Matthew 23:23)

Each one of us has the freedom of choice. Even God does not interfere with our freedom. Thus we are totally responsible for our choices and behaviours. For utilitarian reasons, people even forsake basic moral principles and take shortcuts. At the end of the day, they are not different from the blind Pharisees whom Jesus criticizes today.

For example, they argue that belief in God alone is essential. Baptism is only a formality. Baptism cannot guarantee your faith in God. Rather, it is hypocrisy. Another example, mutual love is essential. Marriage is just a formality. A marriage licence cannot secure the love between two persons. Aren't these evasive manoeuvres? When one is baptized into Christ, is married to one's spouse, he has prepared to pay a heavy price. We call this "commitment". After baptism, not only do we go to mass on Sundays, but we also study the scriptures, pray, receive sacraments and evangelize. After marriage, not only do we accept the social circle of our spouse, but we also tolerate our in-laws, raise our children and even sacrifice our careers ... If we calculate the benefits, baptism and marriage are not smart investments. No wonder people take short-cuts, enjoying fellowship in church communities for years without receiving baptism or enjoying cohabitation without getting married.

We know the spirit of laws well. So, we choose some lightweight ones such as observing the Precepts of the Church to demonstrate our piety, but ignore those which require commitment such as justice, charity, faith, spiritual and corporal works of mercy etc. In this way, we are not different from the blind Pharisees or those cohabitants.
Heavenly Father, let us discover and experience the sweetness of commitment and desire to do Your will. Amen.

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