耶穌基督以身犯險，前往耶路撒冷，嘗試向拒絕認識聖父的猶太人，宣講聖父的旨意。祂這樣做，恐怕祇有那些向野蠻的原始人傳福音的傳教士，纔可以媲美。昨天我們提及雅各伯宗徒說過的，沒有行為的信德是死的（雅2:17, 26），我們自然會問，有甚麼行為可以證明我們的信德不是死的呢？是否依照耶穌基督所教訓的，運用信德去移山呢（瑪17:20）？可是，保祿宗徒以愛德，否定了這類空洞無益的信德了（格前13:2）。是的，信德必需與愛德結合，纔不至是死的信德。那麼，有甚麼行為是信德與愛德互相結合的呢？就是傳福音！
天主教徒推辭傳福音的使命，有很多藉口，以下兩個是最常見的。「傳教是神職人員的事，我們可以做的，是為傳教祈禱。」這些天主教徒忘記了他們領洗時，已分享了耶穌基督的君王、先知和司祭職務！傳福音祇不過是履行這些職務而已。不履行職務，怎可以算得上是天主教徒呢？「我們不懂神學，怕說異端，誤導別人。」這些天主教徒，忘記了是天主聖神借助他們作證（路12:12），成功與否，不是他們的功勞或過失！況且，不透過傳福音的實習，怎能體會到與天主聖三同在的經驗呢？
歸納起來，不傳福音，上對天主無信，下對身邊的人缺乏愛心，對他們靈性的生死存亡，無動於衷，並辜負了其他努力傳福音的兄弟姊妹，包括神職人員！
天父啊！願祢的國來臨。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：goarch.org
On Faith (V) --- The Ultimate Mission of Faith
Ignoring death threats, Jesus went up to Jerusalem, trying to preach the Father's will to the Jews who refused to know the Father. Probably only actions of missionaries to savages would be comparable. Yesterday, we mentioned Apostle James' remarks that faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26). Naturally we would ask what works prove that our faith is alive. Should we follow Jesus' teaching to move mountains with our faith? (Matthew 17:20) But Apostle Paul has refuted this kind of empty faith with charity (1 Corinthians 13:2). Rightly, faith must work with charity to keep itself alive. Then what actions are combinations of faith and charity? It should be evangelization!
Evangelization is the last command Jesus Christ gave His followers before He ascended into heaven (Matthew 28:19). It can be said to be the ultimate manifestation of faith and charity! Out of great love of humanity, the Son of God degraded Himself, incarnated and took up flesh to proclaim the gospel of reconciliation with the Father. He died on the cross to honour this pledge of reconciliation. The Son of God invites His followers to continue His unfinished project with evangelization. Let us meditate how genuine we believe in the Son of God.
Catholic laymen have a lot of excuses not to evangelize. The followings are the two most common ones. "Evangelization is the work of the clergy. We can only pray for evangelization." These Catholics have forgotten that when they were baptized, they partake in the threefold ministry of Christ, kingship, priesthood and prophetic mission! To evangelize is to discharge this ministry. How can you call yourself a Catholic if you don't discharge the ministry? "I don't know theology. I'm afraid I would speak heresies and mislead people." These Catholics forget that they evangelize on behalf of the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:12). Successful or not is not their merit or fault! Moreover, without partaking in evangelization, where else can you experience the presence of the Blessed Trinity?
In conclusion, refusal to evangelize shows a disbelief in God and a lack of charity to the spiritual destiny of one's neighbour and fails those who evangelize diligently, including the clergy!
Heaven Father! Your Kingdom come. Amen.
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