How do we treat others in church? Do we treat all as equal, as brothers and sisters in Christ; or do we treat others according to the way they dress, or their appearance, or according to the their status or rank in society? In some churches, I have noticed that when a person is well
When we say something, are we saying things based on our perception, feelings or emotions, without verifying the facts? Are we aware of what we are saying, or are we blindly saying things? Do we realise that words, once said, cannot be taken back? In today’s reading, we are cautioned to “be quick to listen
I believe most of us know that God’s commandments, as well as Jesus’ commandments of loving God and neighbour, are the basis for church rules and practices, whereas customs are traditional and widely accepted ways of behaving or doing something in the church community. Such rules, practices and customs did not materialise overnight, and they
One of the many realities in life is that we cannot do everything. There are some things which we can do; some things which we can do really well, as we have the gift or talent for it; and there are also some things which we just cannot do, or are able to do with
What sort of response do we have when we commit sin or do something wrong? Are we willing to own up to the sin committed or the wrong done? Or would we go through great lengths to deny any wrongdoing or sin, even though the sin or wrongdoing is so evident beyond reasonable doubt? Have
How generous are we towards others? Are we generous to all, regardless of who they are and where they come from, or are we generous only to certain persons who may be beneficial to us in some way? Are we generous in our time and wealth, even to the point where it hurts, or are
It is easy for us to condemn or ostracise a person, especially if the person has committed a serious crime; but how many of us are willing to give the person a second chance, especially if the person is genuinely remorseful and wanting to change his or her ways? What if we are the ones
Whose will are we trying to follow? Are we following God’s will, or are we following our own will? If we say we are following God’s will, then surely we should be praying for His will to be done, just as we do when we pray the Lord’s Prayer. But sometimes we pray that our
今天我們歡慶聖母始胎無染原罪節日。讀經裡我們看到亞當沒服從天主旨意而嘗了禁果，之后因害怕和害羞把自己躲藏起來。另一方面， 作為基督門徒的聖母瑪利亞卻回應說：我是上主的婢女，願照你的話在我身上成就吧! 雖然聖母瑪利亞考慮到答應之后果不堪設想，但是她還是服從天主的聖意。她是個信仰堅強的女門徒，是第一位信任和接受主耶穌的婦女， 也是她給予耶穌人體肉身的偉大母親。 聖母瑪利亞對天使的正面回應帶給她各種各樣的問題：一個意料不到的新生命，一把將刺透她心胸的利劍，一座十字苦架，滿滿一籮籮將來臨的未知數和對她兒子永遠的應許。天主無時無刻地召喚我們，愛護我們，關照我們。當天主召叫我們時就像祂召喚亞當一樣：你在哪裡？我們怎樣回應呢？是否好像亞當那樣帶著犯罪的身軀，感到害怕羞恥，想盡辦法躲避，不想與天主相遇，最好祂遠遠離開我們而去，不要來煩我就好？或是像聖母瑪利亞膽敢正面回應天主說：我是上主的婢女，願照你的話在我身上成就吧! 今天讓我們向聖母瑪利亞看齊，而檢討過去對天主的召喚抱著什麼態度：不冷不熱？太過挑剔？隻選對自己有利且易行的事項？或是好像在天國的聖母瑪利亞，毫不猶疑把她的一切都奉獻給天父？她的行為舉止是否也激發了我們在毫無保留的情況下，大聲地光榮贊美天父的豐功偉業？
身為基督徒的我們應該履行天主的意願或是自己的？有時候我們口口聲聲說是履行天主的意願，但是卻在做自己的事情。通常我們會做對自己有利益而較舒適的事情而忽略了比較復雜艱難的事項。 今天的讀經理， 我們可以發覺亞當，厄娃與聖母瑪利亞回應的對比。亞當沒有服從天主的勸告而吃了禁果，然后因害怕和羞恥而把自己藏起來﹔ 但是聖母瑪利亞回答天主的邀請時卻那麼慷慨地說：我是上主的婢女，願照你的話在我身上成就吧! 當瑪利亞答應天使的訊息時，她很了解以后的前途是一片茫茫的，但是她堅信天主會處理一切事務。很多教友害怕面對不實際的前途，而抱著觀望的態度﹔他們也比較喜歡做實際的事項而已。其實，天主已經賞賜給我們很多很多恩典，但是有多少教友像聖母瑪利亞那樣堅信不疑而對祂說：我願意接受？從今天開始，讓我們一起模仿瑪利亞的好榜樣， 反省自己是否對天主的召叫作出正確答案？天主無時無刻地召喚我們去信任祂，依靠祂﹔讓我們今天就全心全意地住在祂內吧。
