為別人祈禱的態度 Prayer Series IV

為別人祈禱的態度（路11:5-13）

原來為自己祈求，對其他人也有益處！

且看這個求餅的人，竟然半夜三更，擾人清夢地叩門，的確是「恬不知恥」（路11:8）。他這樣做，是因為他「沒有甚麼可以款待」那個突然出現的客人（11:6）。可能這是中東人的民族性吧，他們相信款待旅客，可能會在不知不覺中款待了天使（希13:2，創18:2f），也可能是為了面子吧！但無論如何，祈禱的其中一個動力，來自認識到自己的不足，自己的貧乏，求天主的助祐！所以祇有認清自己罪過的人，纔會謙遜地禱告；那些自以為義的人，祇會趁機在天主面前數算自己的成就（路18:9-14），其實對自己一點益處也沒有！

這個求餅的人，不是求一個餅，而是三個。我們不用猜測他們的食量，三個餅肯定足夠有餘，即使是為了自己的面子，他所求的絕對不會待慢他的客人！我們也不用猜測三個餅的象徵意義，要知道耶穌基督祇用了五餅二魚，便可以使五千人得以充飢！各位朋友，相信你一定有為朋友的需要而祈禱，例如他們要應付考試、求職、患病和旅行…等等，你有沒有好像這求餅人一樣周全呢？再進一步，你有沒有為拯救蒼生，求天主賜你傳福音的勇氣和能力呢？

所謂愛人如己，所以為別人的需要祈禱，也應該同時為自己的不足而祈禱，因為說不定，天主的旨意，就是讓你知到別人的需要和自己的不足，並安排你去幫助那位有需要的人，成為他的天使！
父啊！請賜我聖神，突破自我中心的局限。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：deviantart.com

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Prayer Series IV (Luke 11:5-13)

I've never imagined that praying for myself is beneficial to others!
Take a look at this man who persistently asked bread at midnight, disturbing his friend's sleep (Luke 11:8). He did so because he had nothing to offer an uninvited friend (11:6). Probably hospitality is an ethnic trait. People living in the Middle East believe that "some have unknowingly entertained angels." (Hebrews 11:2, Genesis 18:2f) Probably it is a matter of face! Whatever the reasons, one of the motives to pray is to seek God's help because we know our inadequacies and poverty! Thus, only people who know clearly their own sins would humbly pray. Those self-righteous people would take the opportunity to show off their achievements before God (Luke 18:9-14), which do not gain them any advantages!

The person who begged bread did not ask for one but three loaves. We don't need to guess their appetite, three loaves should be more than enough. Even for his own face, he would never slight his guest! We don't need to speculate the symbolic meanings of the three loaves, enough to know that Jesus Christ fed 5000 people with only five loaves and two fish! Friends! I'm sure you must have interceded for the needs of your friends, e.g. they need to sit for examinations, job interviews, sickness and travels etc. Have you ever been as comprehensive as this bread beggar? To push further, have you prayed to God to give you strength and courage to evangelize for the sake of the Creation?

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". Thus when we pray for the others' needs, at the same time, pray for your own inadequacies. Perhaps, it is God's will that you know others' needs as well as your own inadequacies and arrange you to help the needy and become their angel!
Father! Grant us the Holy Spirit to break out of my ego's constrains. Amen.