先知有責任宣講天主聖三 Prophets Should Proclaim the Blessed Trinity

【先知系列之五】
先知有責任宣講天主聖三（若1:29-34）

起初，我們可能會羨慕洗者若翰，因為他可以聽到天主的說話（若1:33）。但其實，我們在聖經裡，不是同樣可以隨時閱讀到天主的說話嗎？天主未必經常顯現或啟示給洗者若翰，但在科技發達的今天，沉甸甸的聖經已安裝到輕便的手機裡去，隨時隨地可以閱讀默想。相比之下，洗者若翰應該羨慕我們纔對！

不過在互聯網發達的今天，我們有實在太多的資訊閱讀，以致我們顧此失彼，少了閱讀天主聖言的時間。這經驗並不陌生，因為在我們祈禱的時候，經常承受不了四周的誘惑，不也是會分心嗎？是的，在現代社會，的確很難找到祈禱靈修的「曠野」，讓我們可以與天主談心！

作為天主的代言人，我們不能假傳聖旨，把天主的訊息誤傳。一個假先知，會遭受嚴厲的懲罰！但聖經的篇章繁多（新舊約合共1328章，超過一百一十萬個中文字），我們未有能力全部讀完，讀懂。那麼，怎樣保證我們所引述的經文，不會犯「斷章取義」的毛病呢？例如，對一個絕望求死的人，我們可以引用「你所要做的，你快去做罷！」（若13:27）去勸解他嗎？

今天，洗者若翰給了我們一些線索！原來他的作證，完全是圍繞著天主聖三的！即是說，我們履行先知職務的人，述說聖經的教訓時，倘若能圍繞著天主聖三，雖不中不遠矣！例如，天父到現在一直工作（5:17），所以先知要倡議工作是神聖的，是參與聖父的創造工程。而且，工人是按天主的肖像所造（創1:26）。因此，先知要倡議工人應得合符尊嚴的工資；工人是主體，而不是生產配件。天主聖三的內在生命是共融的，所以我們要宣講團結共融，協助工人成立工會；不祇是為了爭取合理的工資，更是為了把人性的潛質，發揮得淋漓盡致…
聖父啊！請派遣聖神，真理之神，開啟我們的明悟，並把祢的說話，放在我們的口中，讓我們向世人宣講祢聖子的福音。亞孟。
圖片鳴謝：https://www.wikiart.org/en/joachim-patinir/the-baptism-of-christ
生命恩泉

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"Prophet Series #5"
Prophets Should Proclaim the Blessed Trinity (John 1:29-34)

At first, we would probably envy John the Baptist because he was able to hear the Father's words (John 1:33). In reality, aren't we able to read God's words in the Bible, anytime anywhere? God might not appear or reveal frequently to John the Baptist. But today with the advances in technology, a bulky Bible can be installed in our mobile phones. We are able to read and meditate God's words anytime anywhere. In contrast, John the Baptist should envy us!

However, when the Internet is accessible to everyone, we are overwhelmed by too much information for our consumption. Consequently, we have less time to read God's words. We are familiar with this experience. Aren't we easily distracted by the surrounding temptations in our prayers? Indeed, it is extremely difficult to find a "wilderness" for our spirituality formation, to chat heart to heart with God!

As spokesmen of God, we are not allowed to convey distorted messages of God and misrepresent God's will. A false prophet would be harshly punished! But there are too many passages in the Bible (there are 1328 chapters in the Bible and more than 1,100,000 Chinese characters). We do not have the capability to finish reading them all and to understand them all. Then, is there any guarantee that we do not quote the Bible out of context? For example, for a desperately hopeless man who wants to commit suicide, can we quote "What you are going to do, do quickly" (John 13:27) to dissuade him?

Today, John the Baptist gives us some clues! His witness revolves around the Blessed Trinity! That is to say, for us who discharge our prophetic ministry, whenever we want to quote the Bible, we won't miss if our quotes are related to the Blessed Trinity! For example, "My Father is at work until now" (5:17). Therefore prophets must advocate the holiness of work and labourers participate in the Father's creation project. Furthermore, workers were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Therefore prophets must advocate wages compatible with workers' dignity. Workers are subjects of work, not parts of production gears. The inner life of the Blessed Trinity is communion. Therefore we should advocate solidarity and communion. We help workers form unions not only to fight for rightful wages, but also to actualize the potential God has given us.
Holy Father! Send forth the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth to enlighten our understanding. Put Your words into our lips so that we may proclaim to all peoples the good news of Your Son. Amen.