Theme: In Love, No Jealousy
There are several Mary's in the gospel. The most famous one, of course, is the Mother of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mary of Nazareth. (Luke 1:26-27) She is the only Mary who accompanied Jesus Christ from cradle to grave! Mary of Nazareth is the perfect disciple of the Lord, an exemplar for all Christians. Another Mary, Mary of Magdalene (8:2) is also an important Mary because she was the first person to see the risen Lord who sent her to inform the apostles of his resurrection (Mark 16:10, John 20:17). Therefore, the Church calls Mary Magdalene, the Apostle of the apostles. In between, during the public ministry of Jesus Christ, there were some other Mary's. For example, there was Mary, the mother of James who witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus (Mark 15:40). There are Martha and her sister Mary who lived in Bethany (John 11:1). In the gospel of John, these two sisters had a brother called Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead. Most likely this Mary of Bethany might be the anonymous woman who anointed Jesus at the house of Simon, a leper and perhaps a Pharisee. (Matthew 26:7, Mark 14:3, Luke 7:37-38) Now, let us meditate on the story of these two sisters.
The Bible is not only a holy book of a religion. This holy book is also authentic. Unlike most propaganda media, the Bible does not paint a rosy picture of the human situations. It tells us heroic and edifying things as well as cowardly and depressing things about our human nature. For example, the family is supposed to be a place of love where life may flourish. But it is also a breeding ground of sibling rivalry and cheatings! In the book of Genesis, we read of the stories of Cain and Abel, the three sons of Noah, the fight over the birth-right between Esau and Jacob, the sons of Isaac; and how Joseph was sold by his brothers to the land of Egypt! Were they not supposed to be keepers of their brothers (Genesis 4:9)? Sibling rivalry arises because brothers/sisters feel that they have been unfairly treated by their parents and/or, through extension, by God! They are jealous towards their siblings and angry towards their parents and God. Of course they cannot vent their frustrations towards their parents and God. So, they turn to their siblings.
Yes, we are unique and different. Our talents are not identical. Some of you cook well. Others sing. Yet others dance. Some are logical and others are eloquent. Some are born-leaders while others are faithful followers. We also have different needs. Some need money. Others need recognition. Some need privacy while others need connections. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to calculate the "fair" amount, the right amount of rewards for the efforts we pay. The most proper attitude is trying to understand, to see from the perspectives of the others and to look at the bigger picture.
In the story of Martha and Mary today, we see that the two sisters show their love, their hospitality to the Lord in different manners because they are different! Most likely, Martha was the elder sister. "Martha was burdened with much serving" (Luke 10:40). In our mind's eyes, we see a busy Martha cleaning the house and preparing the food etc. Perhaps these were Martha's talents and she might enjoy doing these. On the other hand, Mary shows her hospitality in a totally different way, sitting "beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak." (10:39,7:38) If I were Martha, I would also be unhappy. It was not fair! In particular, when you hear Jesus defend Mary and appreciate not your efforts!
The teachings of Jesus are sometimes hard to swallow! For example, love your enemies, turn the other cheek to people who persecute you etc. Today's teaching is easier.
Truly, many of us are like Martha, "anxious and worried about many things" (10:41) and miss the one thing which we need to be anxious and worried about, namely the salvation of our souls and the glorification of God. Truly, we should love our neighbours as ourselves. We follow the teachings of the Church to serve the needy with our Corporal Works of Mercy, viz. to feed the hungry, to take care of the sick and to visit the imprisoned. How can we not be as busy as Martha? But once we focus on our own advantages, our charity turns sour because we are selfish and we are no longer "keeper of our brothers"! What about Mary? St. Augustine points out that Mary was blessed because she was "hungry and thirsty for the justice and would be satisfied." (Sermons 179.5) This is one of the Beatitudes Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount. Justice of God refers to His salvation. We were created by God and at this moment, we are enslaved by sins. If God created us, but fails to deliver us from slavery, God is not righteous. Therefore, we are blessed when we hunger and thirst for God's salvation, viz. the liberation from the bondage of sins, so that our souls are saved and our hidden potentials may be fully actualized to glorify God.
However, many people are in the danger of refusing God's salvation. Many people are busy gathering their riches. For example, the story of an official who asked Jesus what to do to inherit eternal life (Luke 18:18). Many are not willing to give up their authority and power, like the priests and the Pharisees. Nowadays, many believe in themselves rather than in God. Jesus says, "Mary has chosen the better part." She chose to open herself up, to listen to the Way and the Truth so that her life might be fulfilled and she may inherit eternal life. "It will not be taken from her." (10:42)
Brethren, we should make good use of the unique talents given us by God to help the poor and to serve the needy. Beware, don't burn ourselves out. Give Jesus time to heal our wounds and to soothe our sorrows. Don't be selfish because genuine love knows no jealousy. Give Jesus time to refresh our exhausted flesh and to strengthen our faith and hope in the Father. Act like Martha and pray like Mary of Bethany.
God bless!
2016講道
Picture Acknowledgment: Epoch Times 大紀元 http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/19/7/22/n11402433.htm
常年期第十六主日
主題：在愛內沒有嫉妒
福音中有幾個瑪利亞。最著名的當然是主的母親，榮福童貞聖母瑪利亞，納匝肋的瑪利亞（路1:26-27）她是惟一能陪伴耶穌基督的瑪利亞！納匝肋的瑪利亞是主的完美門徒，所有基督徒的典範。瑪利亞瑪達肋納（8:2）是另一個重要的瑪利亞，因為她是第一個看見復活主的人。主吩咐她告知祂的門徒祂復活了（谷16:10；若20:17）。因此，教會稱她為「宗徒的宗徒」。在耶穌基督活在世上的時候，還有其他的瑪利亞。例如：雅各伯的母親瑪利亞，她見證了耶穌被釘十字架（谷15:40），還有居住在伯達尼的瑪爾大和瑪利亞姊妹（若11:1）。按若望福音的記載，耶穌曾復活了她們的弟弟拉匝祿。這個伯達尼的瑪利亞可能就是那個在法利塞人／癩病人西滿家中為耶穌傅油的無名婦人。（瑪26:7，谷14:3，路7:37-38）。現在，讓我們默想這兩姊妹的故事。
聖經不單是一個宗教的聖書，這部聖書非常真實。不像其他的宣傳媒體，聖經並不「報喜不報憂」，美化人的處境。它既描述人性英雄及造就的一面，也沒有抹去懦弱抑鬱的一面。例如，家庭本是一個充滿愛和滋養生命的地方，但同時也是一個兄弟鬩牆，爾虞我詐的溫床！在創世紀我們讀了加音和亞伯爾的故事，諾厄的三個兒子，依撒格的兩個兒子，厄撒烏如何與雅各伯爭奪長子祝福，若瑟的兄弟如何把他賣到埃及！他們不是「兄弟的守護者」（創4:9）嗎？兄弟鬩牆，因為他們感到父母，並引申到天主，對他們不公平！他們嫉妒自己的兄弟，但對父母或天主，敢怒而不敢言，於是向自己的兄弟下手。
整個問題出於一種錯誤的正義感。對，我們知道天主按自己的肖像創造了我們，但忘記了我們每一個都是獨特的，不一樣的。天主這樣創造了我們，為了使我們能聯手，一起工作，互相支持。否則，我們每人能自給自足，便不會共融團結，做不了更偉大的事業，例如在地上建設天國！
對，我們是獨特和有別的。我們的才能不一樣：有些人烹飪好，另一些人能歌善舞；有些人很理性，另一些很善辯；有些是天生的領袖，另一些是忠的的跟隨者。我們各自也有不同的需要：有些需要金錢，有些需要別人的認同；有些渴望私隱，另一些需要伴侶。因此，要制訂公平數量的報酬是極度困難的。最恰當的態度，就是嘗試理解，並從別人的角度看，從大處着眼。
在今天的故事裡，瑪爾大和瑪利亞以不同的方式，接待了主，表達對主的愛情。大概瑪爾大是姐姐，她「為伺候耶穌，忙碌不已。」（路10:40）我們可以想像到一個忙得不可開交的瑪爾大，正在打掃房舍，準備餸菜等。這可能是她的才幹，她可能樂於做這些。那邊厢，瑪利亞以一種完全不同的方式接待耶穌，她「坐在主的腳前聽祂講話。」（10:39，7:38）倘若我是瑪爾大，我一定不滿。太不公平了！並且，妳聽到耶穌袒護瑪利亞，而不理會妳的努力！
有時，耶穌的教訓是很難接受的！例如，愛你的仇人，把另一面也轉給掌摑你的人等等。今天的教訓比較容易領受。
誠然，我們非常相似瑪爾大，「為了許多事操心忙碌。」（10:41）而錯過了應該操心忙碌的事，就是「救自己的靈魂和光榮天主」。真的，我們應該愛近人如愛自己。我們跟隨教會的訓導，以「形哀矜」服務有困難的人，就是饑者食之，病者醫之，探望囚者等。我們怎會不像瑪爾大一樣忙碌呢？但祇要我們關心自己的好處，我們的愛德立刻變壞，因為我們成了自私的，不再是我「兄弟的守護者 」！瑪利亞又如何呢？聖奧思定指出，瑪利亞是有福的，她飢渴慕義，得到了滿足。（講道179.5）這是山中聖訓的真福八端之一。「義」是指天主的拯救。天主創造了我們，現在我們陷入罪惡的奴役中，倘若天主不拯救我們脫離奴役，天主便不公義。因此，渴慕天主的拯救是有福的，我們的靈魂從罪惡中被解放，我們的潛能得以完全發揮，歸光榮於天主。
可是，很多人陷入拒絕天主救贖的危險。很多人積聚財富，例如那個請教耶穌如何承受永生的領袖（路18:18）。很多人不原放下權勢，例如那些司祭和法利塞人。今天，很多人信自己，卻不信天主。耶穌說：「瑪利亞選擇了更好的一份，」她選擇開放自己，聆聽道路和真理，讓她的生命得到滿全，並承受永生。「是不能從她奪去的。」（10:42）
各位兄弟姊妹，我們應善用天賜的才幹，幫助貧窮弱小。小心，不要做到油盡燈枯。給耶穌時間治療我們的創傷，撫慰我們的憂愁。不要自私，因為在真愛中，沒有嫉妒。讓耶穌為我們疲憊的軀殼加油，加強我們對天父的信德和望德。像伯達尼的瑪爾大一樣工作，像瑪利亞一樣祈禱。
天主保祐！
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