（若16:29-33）
雖然耶穌基督已經升天，但祂並沒有撇下我們，撇下祂的反而是我們。
作為天主教徒，我們有幸可以在失足犯罪，違反了領洗時的承諾之後，尚可領受告解聖事，改過自新，與自己和好，與教會和好，與天主和好。可是，總有一件令我們煩惱的事，就是我們多次告解後，仍多次失足，多次犯同一個罪，多次撇下耶穌基督獨自一個！
我們因為軟弱而跌倒犯罪，固然是撇下了耶穌基督。可是，今天連美德也會誘惑人撇下耶穌基督獨自一個。從前，勤力工作是美德。今天，我們認識到祗顧工作，忘記了自己的健康、忘記了維繫家庭的關係，忘記了身邊的人及社區的問題，忘記了天父的存在。這樣生活，對任何人，包括自己，都沒有好處，因為我們撇下了耶穌基督。從前，虔誠地唸經祈禱是美德。今天，祗躲在聖堂裡為世界和平、為聖召、為聖教廣傳而唸經祈禱，卻看不見社區內獨居的長者、被遺棄在醫院裡的病人、受剝削的工人和遭受歧視的小數族裔等，撇下在他們身上的耶穌基督，我們同樣是犯了罪（瑪25:41-45）！
耶穌基督對我們的愛，就在這裡表露無遺了。祂體諒門徒的軟弱，並沒有怪責他們，反而明明白白地告訴他們將要發生的事，給他們心理上做好準備，為的「是要你們在我內得到平安。」（若16:33）同樣，耶穌基督並沒有怪責我們信仰上的不成熟和我們行為上的自我中心，為的是想鼓勵我們不要因軟弱而氣餒，反而拿出對天父和對耶穌基督的信賴，屬敗屬戰，向成熟的信仰邁進。
撇下耶穌基督獨自一個，何止是門徒，又何止發生在當年呢？今時今日的我們，何嘗不是一樣，撇下耶穌基督一個在聖體櫃內，而我們卻各自忙碌於工作，甚至沉溺在享受中嗎？
主耶穌，感激祢對我們的大愛。請以祢的神聖復活，賜我們成長的力量。亞孟。
Towards Maturity in Faith
(John 16:29-33)
Although Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven, He has not deserted us. Rather, it is we who desert Him.
As Catholics, we are lucky to have the Sacrament of Reconciliation to repent, to reconcile with ourselves, with the Church and with God when we fall and breach our baptismal vows. However, one thing is always nagging us at the back of our minds, which is that despite making many confessions, we still fall, committing the same sin over and over again, abandoning Jesus Christ over and over again.
It is true that when we fall and commit sins, we abandon Jesus Christ. But today, even virtues trick us into abandoning Jesus Christ. Diligence used to be a virtue. Today, we focus only in our work at the expense of our health, of family relationships, of our neighbours, of problems in the neighbourhood and even of the existence of God. Such a life is bad for everybody, including us because we have abandoned Jesus. Saying prayers used to be a virtue. Today, saying prayers in the Church for world peace, for vocation and for evangelization etc. but fail to see in our community those senior citizens who live alone, those patients who are abandoned in the hospitals, the exploited workers and discriminated ethnic minorities, we are abandoning Jesus Christ. We too have committed sins (Matthew 25:41-45)
Jesus' love for us is manifested here. He understands our weaknesses but he does not blame us. On the contrary, he told them what was about to happen to prepare them psychologically. The reason is "that in me you may have peace." (John 16:33) Similarly, Jesus Christ has not blamed us for immaturity in faith and for being egocentric in behaviours. It is because He wants to cheer us up, not to be discouraged when we fall. On the contrary, take out our faith in the Father and in Jesus Christ and stand up where we fall. Proceed ahead to maturity of faith.
Were the disciples the only ones who abandoned Jesus two thousand years ago? Today, do we not busy ourselves in work and obsess ourselves in enjoyment, leaving Jesus Christ alone in the Tabernacle?
Lord Jesus, Thank you for Your great love for us. Grant us the strength to grow with your holy resurrection. Amen.
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