二月五日
《希望的傳承者系列 IV》
主題：貧乏加強希望（谷6:7-13）
讀今天的福音，我們容易被驅魔和治病的神跡吸引。當時的十二門徒，也會因為自己運用新增的權柄所能做到的事，同樣感到興奮！但作為耶穌的代表，傳福音的宗徒，他們所應該注意的，不是權柄，而是人靈的益處。為群眾做甚麼事才是對他們最好呢？
第一，沒有財政上的支持，傳福音的進度一定快不起來。門徒會有更長的時間，與受眾一起生活，與他們一起發展這個蒙恩得救者所組成的團體。第二，在無權無勢的環境下，上主天主成為了他們惟一的靠山，這是最理想的。聖詠的作者說：「你們不要全心依賴王侯大臣，也不要依賴不能施救的世人；他的氣息一斷，就要歸於灰土，他的一切計劃，立刻化為烏有」（詠146:3-4）。的確，自古以來，當教會獲得帝國青睞時，不但發展蓬勃，一時無兩：入教人數劇增；並且得到很多貴族捐贈物業、政府豁免納稅的優待等等。可惜，因為財富與權力多了，很多聖職人員便貪污腐敗了，使耶穌基督以血和淚所建立的教會蒙羞！
各位親愛的弟兄姊妹，曾幾何時，我們相信自己多於相信天主呢？我們仰賴人的關係和力量，多於仰仗與天主的關係和天主的力量呢？且讓我們更體會耶穌基督教導「真福八端」的一片苦心，以貧乏對抗富貴和權勢，加強我們對天主承諾的望德。以僅有的貧乏資源，關心近人的需要，履行愛德，成為「希望的傳承者」。亞孟。
天主保祐！
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：grok.com, copilot.microsoft.com
[Messengers of Hope Series IV]
Theme: Poverty Strengthens Hope (Mark 6:7-13)
Reading the story today, we will easily be attracted to the exorcisms and miraculous cures. The Twelve too would also be excited by the newly delegated authority and the things that they could do! But as representatives of Jesus and apostles that evangelize, they should focus, not on authority but on the benefits of human souls. What is the best thing to do with the crowd?
“To take nothing for the journey but a walking stick --- no food, no sack, no money in their belts” (Mark 6:8b). How would this instruction benefit evangelization? On the material level, it didn’t bring the recipients any benefit. The disciples would even become a financial burden to the congregation. If the disciples did not want to burden the congregation, they must work with their own hands like Paul (1 Thessalonians 2:9)! In this way, the instruction brings social and spiritual benefits to the crowd.
First, without financial support, evangelization would not pick up momentum. The disciples would spend longer time, living with the people to develop a community of the redeemed. Secondly, without the support of the people in power, the Lord God becomes the only person for them to rely on. This situation is perfect. The Psalter says, “Put no trust in princes, in children of Adam powerless to save. Who breathing his last, returns to the earth; that day all his planning comes to nothing” (Psalms 146:3-4). Indeed, since ancient times, whenever the Empire looked upon the Church, she flourished unprecedentedly. Attendance ballooned, nobilities showered her with buildings and the State exempted her from taxation etc. Regrettably, increase in wealth and authority corrupts many clergy, bringing shame to the Church Jesus Christ built with blood and tears!
Beloved brethren! How often do we believe more in ourselves than in God, rely more on human connections and power than in our connections with God and His power? Let us discern the spirit of the Beatitudes Jesus Christ teaches, resist wealth and authority with poverty. Let us strengthen our hope in God’s promise, make use of the scarce resource we have in hand to care for our neighbour’s needs, practise charity and become “Messengers of Hope”. Amen.
God bless!
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