與主一起哀悼耶路撒冷 Lament For Jerusalem Together With the Lord

與主一起哀悼耶路撒冷（路19:41-44）

在默想前，必須澄清「眷顧時期」一詞的意義！【思高聖經】的翻譯，反映了神父們對天主慈悲的信靠，卻淡化了天主公義的審判！「眷顧」的原文，是指「督察」的意思，有如巡案大臣代表君王出訪，地方官員向他述職，由巡案大臣作出合理的升遷貶抑決定。福音中，是天主親自出訪！當前，雖然「天主沒有派遣子到世界上來審判世界」（若3:17），但天主子一再警告，「你們應當謹慎，免得…那意想不到的日子臨於你們」（路21:34）。所以是一番好意的預檢。

那督察、檢視的日子，無論是個人的死亡、一個城市的毀滅、一個帝國的覆亡，甚至整個世界的末日，必定來臨！而且，所有行為必定帶有後果，這是物質世界及倫理世界的定律。到最後，天主會否大發慈悲，把所有行為的後果，一筆鉤銷，都不是你和我可以定奪的。

耶路撒冷的命運，是掌握在耶路撒冷的居民手中。同理，我們的命運，是我們自己決定的！因此，我們應該聽從天主子的忠告，「認識眷顧妳的時期」（19:44）。

1. 不要心盲，認清真相。是就說是，非就說非（瑪5:37）；不要心硬，謙遜地承認自己的不足。跟隨天主子，哀慟世人的，包括自己的罪過（5:4）！
2. 應該學習稅吏長匝凱，謀算衡量永生的效益與放棄現世財權的代價，作出明智的抉擇。
3. 把自己的才幹，放在正確的地方，便可以履行天父的旨意，愛人如己。看到每一天和每一個與人的接觸，都是天主給我們履行仁愛，上愛天主，下愛近人的機會。這樣做，便「能獲得永生」（路10:25）。耶路撒冷在公元七十年被毀的命運，是一個標記，警告我們不可重蹈覆轍。

主啊！讓我與祢一起，為耶路撒冷及居住其中的人民哀哭吧。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：LA Quaker

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Lament For Jerusalem Together With the Lord (Luke 19:41-44)

Before our meditation, let us clarify the meaning of "the time of your visitation"! The Studium Biblicum version shows the steadfast faith of the friars on God's mercy. In effect, it plays down God's righteous judgment! The Greek word means "inspection", like a visiting minister representing the king to investigate the performance of local officials in order to decide their promotion or demotion. In the gospel, God Himself visits! At the moment, although "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world" (John 3:17), the Son of God repeatedly warns, "Beware that … lest that day catch you by surprise" (Luke 21:34). Therefore, it is a good-will pre-inspection. That day of visitation, be it a personal death, the destruction of a city, the collapse of an empire or even the end of the world, shall definitely come! Moreover, all actions bring consequences. This is a law in the physical as well as moral worlds. At the end, whether God shall be so merciful as to wipe out all consequences is not decided by you or me. The fate of Jerusalem was sealed by her people. Similarly, our fates are decided by us! Therefore, we should listen to the advice of the Son of God and "recognize the time of your visitation" (19:44) First of all, don't be blind at heart. Know the truth. Let your yes mean yes and no mean no (Matthew 5:37). Don't harden your heart. Humbly acknowledge your inadequacies. Follow the Son of God to mourn for the sins of the world, including yours (5:4)! Secondly, learn from the chief tax collector Zacchaeus to calculate and evaluate the benefits of eternal life against the cost of abandoning worldly wealth and power. Choice wisely. Thirdly, put your talents in the right place to do the Father's will and love your neighbour. See that every day and every encounter with everyone is an opportunity God gives you to practise charity, to love God and to love your neighbour. Do this to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25). The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. is a sign, warning us not to repeat our mistakes. Lord! Let us mourn for Jerusalem and her inhabitants. Amen.