進取的瑪爾大 Motivated Martha

聖瑪爾大紀念日
進取的瑪爾大（若11:17-21）

「播種比喻」中的第三類人，缺乏了瑪爾大的優點，所以錯失了實現天國的機會。瑪爾大的確是一位很進取的聖女。

「若是你在這裡，我的兄弟決不會死！」（若11:21）她怎可以對耶穌基督如此不敬，對祂說出這些埋怨的話呢？其實，瑪爾大正代表著世上千千萬萬的第三類人，向天主提出控訴：「若是你在這裡，劉曉波決不會死！」、「若是你在這裡，難民兒童決不會浮屍海上！」、「若是你在這裡，大財團決不會妄顧工人的生死！」、「若是你在這裡，政府決不會漠視民意！」等等。她膽敢提出這些控訴，因為耶穌基督是她一家人的好朋友，她相信耶穌基督是不會介意，反而樂意聽取她的投訴，並願意幫助她解決困難。「播種比喻」中的第四類人啊，小心，不要讓自己變成忙碌的第三類人，忘記了與耶穌基督建立一份深厚的關係，忘記了你們是可以向祂投訴和求助的。

瑪爾大是進取的。她對耶穌基督充滿信心，跟著說：「就是現在，我也知道：祢無論向天主求甚麼，天主必要賜給祢。」（11:22）這不是一個要求，而是一個開放的建議，瑪爾大並沒有特定的目標；所以不是出於自私的建議，而是出於她們三姊弟與耶穌基督之間深厚的愛。倘若第三類人了解箇中的奧妙，有耶穌基督作為爭取社會公義的支柱，大事必成！
父啊！祢對我們的愛，是我們尋求天國的希望。請派遣聖神，在我們氣餒時，仍然燃點著我們對祢的愛所懷有的希望。亞孟。
生命恩泉

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Feast of St. Martha
Motivated Martha (John 11:17-21)

The Type Three people described in the Parable of the Sower lack Martha's motivation and miss the opportunity to actualize the Kingdom of Heaven. Martha was indeed a motivated saint.

"Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." (John 11:21) How could she be so disrespectful to complain in the face of Jesus Christ? In reality, Martha was accusing God in the stead of Type Three people. "If you were here, Liu Xiaobo would not die!" "If you were here, the refugee children would not be drowned!" "If you were here, the cartel would not ignore the workers' safety!" and "If you were here, the government would not brush aside the citizen's poll!" etc. Martha was bold enough to bring up her complaint because Jesus Christ was a good friend of the family. She knew very well that Jesus would not mind and on the contrary would be happy to hear her complaints and be willing to help her resolve the difficulties. Beware, Type Four people of the Parable of the Sower, do not fill up your time to become Type Three, forget to build up a deep relation with Jesus Christ and forget that you can complain and seek help.

Martha was motivated. She was full of faith in Jesus Christ. She continues, "But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." (11:22) This was not a demand but an open-end suggestion. Martha did not have any preconceived target. Thus, it is not a suggestion out of selfishness, but of the deep love between Jesus Christ and the siblings. Had Type Three people known this mystery, they would have won many social issues with the backup of Jesus Christ.
Father, Your love is the hope of our pursuit of the Kingdom of Heaven. Please send us Your Holy Spirit to keep our hope in Your love aglow in times of frustrations. Amen.