如何失去信德 How to Lose Faith

《原罪系列 III》
主題：如何失去信德（路17:11-19）

神學上有一句格言，姑且翻譯為：「祈禱律即信德律即生活律Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi」。意思是我們用祈禱來表達我們的信仰，並以生活實踐信仰。很明顯，基督徒不會，亦不應該向黃大仙、關帝或觀音祈求；同樣也不會參考他們生平言行，作我們生活的楷模。因此，那十個癩病人對耶穌的信德是肯定的（路17:13）。主耶穌也沒有令他們失望，立刻俯允了他們的祈禱，治癒了他們（17:14）。請注意，他們的信德是伴隨著行動的，他們服從主耶穌的吩咐，去找司祭檢驗。但有行動的信德未必足以保持信德！

所謂「好戲在後頭」，這個治療神跡的重點在後面，在回來光榮天主和感謝耶穌的撒瑪黎雅癩病人身上。請注意，我們不能因為那9個沒有立刻回來感謝耶穌的癩病人，便判斷他們全部都是忘恩負義的人！因為我們只可以肯定，他們在司祭檢驗之後，必須按梅瑟法律所規定的，向天主祭獻（谷1:44）。所以他們不會是忘恩負義的人！不過這份感恩之心，因時間流逝而沖淡的可能性會越來越高！即是說，他們後來的祭獻，可能是按規定做，而未必出自真心的感恩！

親愛的兄弟姊妹！綜合上述的考慮，主耶穌藉著這個立刻回來光榮和感謝的癩病人，教導我們經常懷有感恩之心是非常重要的，因為它可以滋潤和保存我們的信德（17:19）。沒有感恩之心，恐怕我們遲早會失去信德！
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：grok.com, copilot.microsoft.com

[Original Sin Series (III)]
Theme: How to Lose Faith (Luke 17:11-19)

In theology, there is an aphorism which reads, “Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi” which can roughly be rendered as “The law of prayer is the law of faith, the law of living”. It means our prayers express our faith which guides our lives. Obviously, Christians do not pray to Wong Tai Sin, Lord Guan or Avalokiteśvara. Similarly, we do not look up to their words and deeds as exemplars. Thus, the faith of the ten lepers was beyond doubt (Luke 17:13). Lord Jesus did not disappoint, immediately answered their prayers and cleansed them all (17:14). Notice that their faith was accompanied by actions. They obeyed Jesus’ instruction to go and show themselves to the priests. But actions do not necessarily keep faith safe!

As usual, the best is yet to come. The gist of this healing miracle is on the Samaritan leper who came back to give glory to God and to give thanks to Jesus. Beware! We cannot judge the nine, who did not return immediately to thank Jesus, for being ungrateful! We can only be certain that after showing to priests they had to offer sacrifice prescribed by Moses (Mark 1:44). They could not be ungrateful! However, this gratitude might, with the passage of time, diminish! That is to say, their latter offerings might become routine and would not be genuine!

Beloved brethren! From the deliberation above, we see that Lord Jesus wants to teach us with this leper, who came back immediately to praise and thank God, the importance of maintaining a grateful heart. It moistens and maintains our faith (17:19). Without a grateful heart, sooner of later we will lose our faith!
God bless!