作息有時 A Time To Labour, A Time To Rest

二月七日
《希望的傳承者系列 VI》
主題：作息有時（谷6:30-34）

任何工程，必須在人力、物流及管理上，有條理地規劃。否則半途而廢，貽笑大方（路14:28-30）。作為「希望的傳承者」，我們又豈能例外呢？否則我們便會後勁不繼，功虧一簣。

上文提到，耶穌派遣十二宗徒，兩人一組在加里肋亞地區傳福音（谷6:7），重燃猶太人對天主救援的希望。他們完成任務後，回來向耶穌作出彙報。宗徒們是我們的榜樣，他們示範了作為「希望的傳承者」應有的行動模式。我們應當建立一個良好的習慣，每天省察，包括「良心省察」和「意識省察」。簡單地說，我們應該每天祈禱，「將所作所教的一切，都報告給耶穌」（6:30）！在這裡，我只能假設大家每天的祈禱，是私人的祈禱，而不是好像宗徒一樣，是團體的祈禱。我們不必強求每天參加團體祈禱，因為大家的生活處境不同。只要我們能保持著每天祈禱，那就好了！

主耶穌豈會不知道我們所作所教的一切呢？其實祂希望我們停下來，稍作休息（6:31; 瑪11:28），跟祂學習（11:29），讓祂調校我們的步伐。所謂「欲速則不達」，雄心勃勃是我們的通病。長此下去，我們便會油盡燈枯；沒有從主耶穌身上吸取靈感和教訓，我們不久便會江郎才盡。

各位親愛的兄弟姊妹，作為「希望的傳承者」，不祈禱休息，不與主密談，便會一事無成，我們怎能不嚴肅對待，作息有時呢？
天主保祐！

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生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：grok.com

[Messengers of Hope Series VI]
Theme: A Time To Labour, A Time To Rest (Mark 6:30-34)

All projects rely on systematic planning to allocate labour, logistics and accountabilities. Otherwise, they will halt half-way and become a laughingstock (Luke 14:28-30). As “Messengers of Hope”, how can we be exempted? Otherwise, we will burnout quickly and leave the project half-done.

Previously, Jesus sent the Twelve, two-by-two to preach the gospel in the region of Galilee (Mark 6:7) to rekindle the Jews’ hope in the salvation of God. After the completion of their mission, the Twelve returned and reported to Jesus. The Twelve are our exemplars. They demonstrate the modus operandi of “Messengers of Hope”. We should build up a good habit of daily examination, including both “examination of conscience” and “examination of consciousness”. Simply put, like the Apostles, we should pray daily, “report all they had done and taught” (6:30) to Jesus. Here I assume your daily prayers are private prayers, unlike the Apostles’ which were community prayers. It is not necessary to force community prayers onto ourselves because our stations of life are different. It is good enough to keep praying every day!

How can Jesus not know what we have done and taught? In fact, He wants us to go to Him and rest a while (6:31; Matthew 11:28), learn from Him (11:29), let Him adjust our paces. As the aphorism goes, “more haste more waste”. Most of us are too ambitious. Such an MO is unsustainable. We will soon burnout. If we do not draw inspirations and teachings from Lord Jesus, we will dry up soon.

Beloved brethren! As “Messengers of Hope”, we will achieve nothing if we do not pray, rest and talk to the Lord. We cannot afford to be complacent. There is a time to labour and a time to rest.
God bless!