問鼎天堂 Reserving A Place In Heaven

問鼎天堂（瑪5:1-12a）

四年前，教宗方濟各頒布【你們要歡喜踴躍】宗座勸諭，論述「於當代世界成聖的召叫」，並指出「真福八端」是基督徒的身份證（#63）。基督徒在世蒙召成聖，進入天堂分享上主的永恆生命。領洗證明書不是天堂的「入場券」，能活出真福精神纔是！祇要活出八福之一，便足以問鼎天堂！（#64-95）

初期教會經歷幾個世紀教難的洗禮，逐漸茁壯成長，殉道者成為教會所宣認的聖人，信徒們的楷模。到了中世紀，信仰得到深化，傑出的靈修大師輩出，各個修會冒出了不少神魂超拔、奉獻一生服事天主的聖人聖女。時移世易，教友再沒有那麼多殉道的機會或者神魂超拔的恩寵，但把自己的身心完全奉獻給天主的宏願，依然可能實踐。君不見二十世紀雖然經歷過兩次世界大戰，教會仍宣認了不少的聖人。即是說，天主所創造的世界是多采多姿的，纔足以歌頌祂的偉大；同樣，成聖之路不是單一的，圍繞在天主身邊的，應該是形形色色的聖人與天使，日夜不停地讚頌上主。

各位兄弟姊妹，你喜歡度刻苦簡樸的生活嗎？你能完全寄望於上主嗎？你有勇氣體會他人的痛苦嗎？你喜歡與勝利者同流合污，還是站在窮人弱者的一邊嗎？你有寬恕傷害你的人的胸襟嗎？你祇服事一個天主，還是漁翁撒網地東拜龍王，西拜皇母嗎？你有平安的心，靈活的創意，化解矛盾，讓不同的人共融的妙計嗎？你有唾面自乾、堅毅不屈的殉道精神嗎？

各位兄弟姊妹，上述那一款真福適合你呢？
天主保祐！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：denvercatholic.org

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Reserving A Place In Heaven (Matthew 5:1-12a)

Four years ago, Pope Francis gave the “Gaudete et Exsultate” apostolic exhortation on the call to holiness in today’s world and pointed out that the Beatitudes are like the identity card of Christians (GE #63). They are called to sanctification here and now in order to partake in the Lord’s eternal life in heaven. Baptismal certificates are not admission tickets to heaven. Leading a life of Beatitudes is! We may secure a place in heaven if we are able to live up to one of the Beatitudes! (#64-95).

The early Church had endured several centuries of persecutions and grew. Martyrs were canonized to be exemplars for the faithful. In the Middle Ages, faith deepened and many spirituality masters emerged. Religious orders gave us mystics, consecrated monks and nuns by the scores. Time changes and nowadays, not many martyrdom opportunities or ecstatic graces are available. Still it is possible to dedicate one’s whole soul and whole heart to God. Don’t you see that the Church is able to canonize many saints after the two world wars in the previous century? That is to say, the world God created must be multi-facet in order to sing praises to the majesty of God. Similarly, the path to sanctification is NOT unique. There should be saints and angels of all spots and stripes singing praises ceaselessly to God days and nights.

Brethren! Do you enjoy a simple life? Do you put your hope totally in God? Do you have the courage to empathize others’ sufferings? Do you opt for the winners or the poor? Are you able to embrace those who hurt you? Do you serve God alone, or prepare for other contingency plans with other deities? Do you have a peaceful heart and a nimble creativity to resolve conflicts and build up fellowship? Are you ever ready for martyrdom?

Brethren! Which beatitude suits you?
God bless!