恩寵上加恩寵 Grace upon grace

二月一日
（谷6:1-6）
主題：恩寵上加恩寵

福音好像不斷鼓吹人要有信德，人要信靠天主。寫福音不是遊說人信奉耶穌基督，還有其他原因嗎？
且看，有信德的血漏婦人獲得醫治，有信德的會堂長，死去的女兒也可以復活；另一方面，在納匝肋沒有信德的鄉紳父老，一點兒益處也得不到。看來，信德引發神蹟，神蹟反過來加強了信德，成為一個良性循環；另一方面，因為熟識耶穌的背景，所以對他沒有信心，沒有足夠的信德引發神蹟，沒有神蹟反過來加強信德，成為一個惡性循環。難怪馬爾谷在講述這一系列神蹟前說：「因為凡有的，還要給他；凡沒有的，連他所有的，也要從他奪去。」（谷4:25）天主就是這樣做事，行神蹟來吸引人相信祂，所謂「用神蹟增強信德」嗎？

事實上，「神蹟增強信德」的邏輯是錯誤的。且看在福音中，不同的人對神蹟的反應是不盡相同的。有人在耶穌所行的神蹟中看到天主的慈悲、天主的臨在、天主對人的親切，因此會更信靠天主。另一方面，很多與耶穌為敵的權貴，不斷地質疑批評耶穌的言行。縱使耶穌行過了很多神蹟，仍挑戰耶穌施行一些滿足他們條件的，所謂「來自天上」的神蹟（8:11）。耶穌所行的神蹟，並沒有令這些權貴對他改觀，並沒有增加這些人對天主的信德。所以，神蹟是不能增強人的信德。那麼，馬爾谷所說的「有」是甚麼呢？是恩寵！接受了天主恩寵的人，會恩寵上加恩寵（若1:16）。那不接受天主恩寵的人，連他僅有賴以在世上行走的恩寵，也要被褫奪。這是多麼可憐的事啊！其實，拒絕天主恩寵的人，何止納匝肋的鄉紳父老或者當代的猶太權貴呢？我們怎可以不謙卑地接受天主的恩寵呢？
天父啊！讓我們在祢內，找到安息。亞孟。

生命恩泉

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February 1, 2017
(Mark 6:1-6)
Theme: Grace upon grace

The gospels advocate non-stop that men should have faith. Men should trust in God. If not persuading people to believe in Jesus Christ, what else writing gospels?
Look, the bleeding woman was cured because of her faith. His dead daughter was raised to life because the ruler of synagogue had faith. On the other hand, Nazareth locals lacked faith and they gained nothing. It seems that faith triggers miracles and miracles strengthen faith, thus forming a beneficent cycle. On the other hand, Nazareth locals knew Jesus too well. They did not have enough faith in him to trigger miracles. Without miracles to strengthen their faith, a vicious cycle was formed. No wonder Mark, before narrating a series of miracles, says, "For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Mark 4:25) Does God work in this way, using miracles to attract people to believe Him, the so called, "using miracles to strengthen faith"?

In fact, the logic of "using miracles to strengthen faith" is wrong. Take a look at the gospels, different people reacted in different manners to miracles. Some people saw the mercy of God, the presence of God, His kindness to men and thus believed in Him more. On the other hand, many nemesis of Jesus kept questioning Jesus' words and deeds. Even though Jesus had worked many miracles, they still challenged Jesus to work miracles that met their requirements, those so called "a sign from heaven" (8:11). The many miracles Jesus had done failed to change the mind of those religious leaders, failed to increase their faith in God. Therefore, miracles cannot strengthen people's faith. Then, what is the "have" which Marked mentioned? It is grace! Those who have received God's grace will receive "grace upon grace" (John 1:16). Those who reject God's grace, the little they have to walk in this world will be taken away from them. How pitiful! In fact, were Nazareth locals and contemporary Jewish leaders only among those who reject God's grace? How can we not humbly receive the grace of God?
Heavenly Father, let us find rest in You. Amen.