天國的內涵 The Essence of the Kingdom

天國的內涵（谷1:14-20）

天國是福音的主題，由耶穌基督開始，並交托給教會，四出宣講和開拓，已經二千年了。我們在聖神的光照下，發展了一個怎樣的天國呢？

首先，天國的概念，並不抽像，是可以理解得到的。保祿宗徒就是藉著具體的「食祭肉問題」，說明天國的特質！他教訓我們有責任關顧身邊信德薄弱的人，說：「其實天主的國並不在於吃喝，而在於義德、平安以及在聖神內的喜樂」（羅14:17）你的信德強，不信偶像，所以吃祭肉沒有冒犯天主，你的信德絕對正確！但倘若身邊信德薄弱的人，因為看見你作為信徒，竟然吃祭肉而心亂，「你便不是按照愛德行事。基督為他死了，你不可因著你的食物使他喪亡」（14：15）！在保祿的心目中，信望愛三德之中，「其中最大的是愛」（格前13:13）。

雖然「義德」源於信德正確，但即使擁有移山的「信德」，亦不一定會帶給你「平安」及「喜樂」。惟有「愛德」纔包含了保祿所說的天國三大特徵！愛讓人渴望他人的解放和得救，是天主的公義！盡力愛過，即使對方不領情，總算心安理得；但無論如何，能看見別人長進和自由，總令你心滿意足，笑逐顏開吧！

另一方面，「好仁不好學，其蔽也愚！」沒有真理的支援，愛變得愚蠢盲目，反而做成傷害。聖神既是真理之神，更是愛德之神。可見在拓展天國的使命上，聖神擔任著不可或缺的角色。
今天，世上還有多少義德、平安、喜樂和愛呢？各位兄弟姊妹，你為天國付出了多少努力，多少愛呢？你為天國呼求過聖神沒有？
天主保祐！
圖片鳴謝：groupbuya.com
生命恩泉

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The Essence of the Kingdom(Mark 1:14-20)

The Kingdom of Heaven is the theme of the Gospel. It has been two millennia since Jesus Christ began, then commissioned the Church to proclaim and establish the Kingdom. Illuminated by the Holy Spirit, what sorts of Kingdom of Heaven have we developed?

First of all, the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven is not abstract beyond understanding. St. Paul manages to make use of a concrete example of eating sacrificial meat to illustrate the essence of the Kingdom! He exhorts us that we have the duty to consider the weak conscience of our brothers, "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17) Your faith is strong and you don’t believe in idols. Thus eating sacrificial meat is not an offence against God. Your faith is perfectly correct! But if your brothers are weak in faith. They are troubled/hurt when they see you, as a Christian, eat the meat. Paul says, "Your conduct is no longer in accord with love. Do not because of your food destroy him for whom Christ died." (14:15) In Paul’s mind, among the three theological virtues, "The greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Although justice comes from orthodox faith, even if you possess a faith which is able to move mountains, it may not bring you peace and joy. Only does charity produce the 3 characteristics of the Kingdom of Heaven! Charity loves to see others liberated and delivered. This is God’s righteousness! You have attempted to love. Even if it is rejected, you feel peaceful. Whatever, seeing others grow in freedom will always give you a sense of satisfaction and make you feel like smiling!

On the other hand, "Charity without knowledge is stupidity." Without the support of truth, love becomes stupidly blind and does more harm. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth and the spirit of love. Thus, in the mission to expand the Kingdom of Heaven, the Holy Spirit is indispensable.
Today, how much do justice, peace, joy and love remain on earth? Brethren! How much effort have you put in for the Kingdom? How much have you loved? Have you ever invoked the Holy Spirit for the Kingdom?
God bless!