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《論盡神學》--每日神糧
十月廿七日

會堂長因氣惱耶穌在安息日治病，便給眾人說道：「有六天應該工作，你們在這些日子裡可來治病，但不可以在安息日這一天。」
（路13:14）

其實做「假善人」（路13:15）是十分吃力的，我們對他們的辛苦，應該感同身受，引以為戒；並且耐心地以愛德感化他們。按上文可知，耶穌已經有「成千累萬的群眾」想追隨祂（12:1）。所以耶穌在安息日到了這座會堂施教（13:10），會堂長當然求之不得，引以為榮！豈料慈悲的主竟然在安息日治好那個傴僂病婦，會堂長如何是好？

作為會堂長，他一定是個擁護梅瑟法律的人，亦對「妥拉 Torah」，即《梅瑟五書》有相當造詣。遵照《妥拉》的指示，應該處死在安息日工作的人（出31:14-15）。當時是羅馬帝國時代，猶太人不能濫用私刑，而且耶穌是個有群眾、有權威的「辣彼Rabbi」，小小一個會堂長，奈耶穌何！他真是進退兩難，既要維護梅瑟法律，又不敢當眾批評耶穌在安息日在他的會堂治病。他惟有向會堂裡的人說：「有六天應該工作，你們在這些日子裡可來治病，但不可以在安息日這一天」（路13:14）。倘若會眾在可以工作的六天來求醫，親愛的會堂長，沒有耶穌，你能治好他們嗎？到時辛苦你了！在安息日，倘若耶穌在其他會堂治病，你會「氣惱」嗎？很可你會鬆一口氣，所謂「各家自掃門前雪，休管其他會堂瓦上霜」！那麼，作為一個真正的基督徒，我們寧願無風無浪安穩地生活，還是榮幸地接待耶穌呢？

親愛的兄弟姊妹！我們所相信的天主，是個高深莫測的天主，不是我們所能駕馭的天主。做基督徒固然不會無災無難，而且隨時會有意想不到的驚喜，我們準備好了嗎？慈悲的主曾說：「你們常有窮人和你們在一起；至於我，你們卻不常有」（若12:8）！亞孟。
天主保祐！

論盡神學
圖片鳴謝：grok.com

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“But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, said to the crowd in reply: There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the Sabbath day.”
(Luke 13:14)

It is rather exhausting to be hypocrites (Luke 13:15). We should show them empathy and avoid making their mistakes. Moreover, we should patiently liberate them with charity. From previous passages, we know that crowds in thousands were already following Jesus (12:1). The leader of the synagogue was greatly honoured to have Jesus preaching in his synagogue on Sabbath (13:10). Unexpectedly, the merciful Lord cured a crippled woman on Sabbath in his synagogue. What could the leader do?

As the leader of a synagogue, he should uphold the laws of Moses and be familiar with the Torah which stipulates that if anyone does work on Sabbath, that person must be put to death (Exodus 31:14-15). It was the era of the Roman Empire. Jews were forbidden to resort to lynching. In particular, Jesus was an authoritative Rabbi with thousands of followers. What could the leader of a little synagogue do to Jesus? He was in a dilemma. On one hand, he must uphold Mosaic Law. On the other, he dared not to criticize Jesus publicly to cure in his synagogue on Sabbath. He could only speak indignantly to the congregation and not to Jesus, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the Sabbath day” (Luke 13:14). If the congregation came on the six days when work was allowed, dear leader of the synagogue, were you able to cure without Jesus? On Sabbath, had Jesus cured in other synagogues, would you have been as indignant? Perhaps you would be relieved because it was none of your business! Then, as genuine Christians, would you prefer a stable life without winds and waves to being honoured in the presence of Jesus?

Beloved brethren! The God we believe in is unfathomable and uncontrollable. Of course being Christians are not exempted from disasters and persecutions, what’s more, God has in store a lot of surprises for us. Are we ready? The merciful Lord once says, “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me” (John 12:8). Amen.
God bless!