天主保證果實常存 God Guarantees That Fruit Remains

天主保證果實常存（若15:12-17）

愛不是內向的，不是為自己而是為別人的，即使愛自己也是為了別人。
誰無父母？年青人自愛，是為了不會連累自己的父母；老年人自愛，是為了不會加重照顧他們的人的負擔。夫妻固然相愛，但為了不會連累配偶，丈夫和妻子也會自愛。所以在真愛內，沒有自私的餘地。

因為愛是外向的，所以愛一定可以結出果實。亞當愛厄娃便生了加音（創4:1）。夫妻固然相愛，卻是天主賜給他們子女。有些果實可以即時看見，有些卻要假以時日，甚至長年累月，也好像不能開花結果。雖然是學校的宗教老師教授聖經，卻是天主使他/她的學生在大學；甚至工作時纔領洗。不是嗎？「我栽種，阿頗羅澆灌，然而使之生長的，卻是天主。」（格前3:6）所以從來沒有愛的努力是會白費的。

我們深信天主是歷史的主宰，即使是政壇上呼風喚雨的政客，也是不自覺地為天主服務而已；縱使領導人別具用心，殘民以自肥，天主仍可以藉著他們的「惡行」，實現自己的救贖計劃（路2:1），何況是那些耶穌所揀選去結果實的朋友呢（若15:15-16）？但我們能保證這些果實，是常存的果實嗎？

我們的記性真是差勁，眨眼間便忘記了是天主使之生長的！既然是天主使之生長，這些果實的生死，都操在天主手中，我們需要替天主煩惱嗎？既然是天主使之生長的，請放心，一定是常存的果實了。
主啊！我在這裡，請揀選我做你的朋友，去結常存的果實吧！亞孟！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：goodnewsfromafar.com

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God Guarantees That Fruit Remains (John 15:12-17)

Love does not go inwards, not for oneself but for the others. Even when one loves oneself, it is for the good of the others.
Who doesn’t have parents? Young people love themselves in order not to bring troubles to parents. Aged people love themselves so as not to add burden onto the carers. Husbands and wives love each other but in order not to harm their spouses, they’ll love themselves too. Therefore, there is no room for selfishness in genuine love.

Since love is outgoing, it will bear fruit. Adam loved Eve and gave birth to Cain (Genesis 4:1). Of course husband and wife love each other but it is God who gives them children. Some fruit can be seen immediately. Others take time, even after months and years there can be no sign of fruit. Although teachers of Religious Studies teach Bible, it is God who makes their students receive baptism in universities or even after getting a job. Don’t you see? “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Thus no effort of love will be wasted.

We’re convinced that God writes our history. Even powerful politicians are serving God’s plan without their knowledge. Though leaders fatten themselves at the expenses of the people, God is able to make good use of their evil deeds to implement His salvific project (Luke 2:1), not to mention those friends whom Jesus chooses to bear fruit (John 15:15-16). But are we able to guarantee that those fruit remain?

Our memory is truly faulty. In a brink of eye, we forget that it is God who causes the growth! Since God causes the growth, the life of the fruit is in God’s hand. Do we need to play God to worry? Since God causes the growth, it shall remain.
Lord! Here I am. Make me Your friend to bear fruit that remains! Amen!