追福系列（五）
身教更有力（瑪5:1-12a）
擁有聖金口若望的神恩固然好，但傳福音不一定需要有能言善辯的口才，因為是聖神藉著你說話。的確，我們不完全理解我們的對象，我們真的不知道那一句說話能觸動到他們的心靈，接受天主對他們的慈悲。我認為傳福音，身教可能比言教更有力。
今天教會慶祝「諸聖節」，紀念前人為我們建立了的萬世基業。當中有不少無名英雄，他們走過成聖的道路，各式各樣，不一而足。他們也應該是福傳的成功人仕，對建樹天國作出過貢獻，所以天主子在天國為他們預備了一席位（若14:2-3）。他們成聖的道路，也是他們福傳的方法，他們以身作則，宣講福音的喜訊。
親愛的兄弟姊妹，這些都是平凡的生活方式，跟著去做，足以成聖，足以福傳，一點也不困難。讓我們彼此互勉。
天主保祐！
Gospel Chase (V)
Actions Speak Louder Than Words (Matthew 5:1-12a)
Possessing the charisma of St. John Chrysostom is of course good but evangelization does not need an eloquent and persuasive tongue because it is the Holy Spirit who speaks through you. Indeed, we do not fully understand our target audience. We really don’t know which words are able to touch their soul and their heart to accept God’s mercy towards them. I opine that as far as evangelization is concerned, actions speak louder than words.
Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of All Saints to commemorate our predecessors who have laid down the foundation for the Kingdom of God. There have been many anonymous heroes whose paths of sanctification are different from each other’s. They should also be successful in evangelization and have contributed to the building up of the Kingdom of God. Thus the Son of God has prepared a room for them (John 14:2-3) in heaven. Their paths of sanctification must also be their means of evangelization. They proclaimed the good news of the Lord with their actions.
Among them, some chose to lead a life of spiritual poverty, not constrained by worldly possessions and bore witness in freedom to the more superior values of eternal life. Some suffered misfortunes and mourned all days but they were able to show God’s consolation and spiritual joy (Psalms 94:19). God likes to make competitors bite and devour one another (Galatians 5:15), leaving the meek to inherit the land. God likes to advocate for the exploited. When they call upon His name, they would enjoy, “The grain, the wine, and the oil, flocks of sheep and cattle; They themselves shall be like watered gardens, never again neglected” (Jeremiah 31:12). The merciful manifest God’s merciful countenance, help their neighbour together with themselves to repent and turn to the Lord and receive His mercy. As it is written, “The LORD, your God, is gracious and merciful and He will not turn away His face from you if you return to Him” (2 Chronicles 30:9b). People are no longer afraid to see the face of God like the Israelites were in the Old Testament. They thought that if they saw His face, they would surely die (Exodus 3:6; Deuteronomy 18:16; Judges 13:22; 1 Kings 19:13 …). How can a contrite heart not be pure? Walking with a pious fear before God without a guilty conscience, the day to see God can be numbered!
Beloved brethren! Those are just ordinary life styles. Following them would sanctify and evangelize. It is not difficult at all. Let us encourage and support each other.
God bless!
Picture Credit: creator.nightcafe.studio
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