When we believe in the Good News and became Christians, we are expected to keep the commandments, and the greatest commandment is to love. This means that we cannot pick and choose what suits or benefits us, but we need to be genuine in love for God and neighbour. John in today’s reading reminds us:
Some people are worried about their eternal future. They wonder whether they have been good enough, prayerful enough, holy enough or faithful enough to be with God. Some people worry about when the world would end, and this even causes some to begin storing up supplies and other necessities, including weapons and defensive items, thinking
Do we have gratitude and thanksgiving for the many things God has done for us? When we are facing good times, some of us may begin to think that it is through our own efforts that we are where we are. When we are facing bad times, some of us may begin to question others,
Age, some may say, is just a number. Then again, age also means that one has been on this earth for a certain period. As we become older, we hope that we would have become wiser and closer in relationship with God. St. Paul in today’s reading reminds us: “The older men should be reserved,
What sort of leaders do we look for? Some of us may look for people who know how to talk well; in other words, they have the “gift of the gab.” Some may look for people who are popular or knowledgeable. Some may look for people who have the charisma and talent to attract and
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Why do we celebrate the Feast of The Basilica of St. John Lateran? In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel in a vision sees waters flowing out of the temple. He sees how this water makes the “salt waters” fresh and how it brings food and life. Ezekiel describes the temple as life-giving. In the
有时候我们会听到这句话”事实是残酷的”。当我们遇到一些困难或不如意的事情,心里总是难以接受。同样的, 我们的亲戚朋友都会伤心当他们遇到不如意之事。当我们知道他们遭受不幸时,我们也会感到伤心。事实上,当对方的特别机密被揭穿时,很多再好的感情都会破裂。因此,我们自己或是其他人的见解,观点,和计划都会做出很大的改变,当他们知道真相时。 在今天的福音里(路4:16-30)“在会堂中听到这话的人,都愤怒填胸”因为耶稣谴责以色列人对祂缺少信心,更不信任天主。天主帮助外邦人(例如扎尔法那位寡妇,叙利亚人和那安人)而没有帮助以色列人,因为他们很顽固,不要依靠天主而只依靠自己的能力。当耶稣告诉他们真相时,以色列人切不能接受事实,而愤怒填胸。甚至把耶稣赶出会堂,带祂到悬崖,想把耶稣推下去。 当你知道事实时,你会如何反应?你是否会接受自己或别人的残酷事实?你是否愿意信德继续成长而更加依靠天主?我们可以选择继续在灵修上成长而接受事实,同时也继续往前走;相反的,我们可以不顾一切,继续留在舒服的环境中,过着平平凡凡的生活而不管信德有没进步。
从整个人类历史中,我们可以看出很多时候天主和人类的选择都有很大的差异。不过,在一些事情上,人类所选的都和天主的一样。可是,很多时候,人类是以世俗化的观点去选择好和所需要的。因此,我们怎能了解天主的选择呢? 在今天的读经理,圣保禄宗徒提醒我们(格林多人前书1:26-31):天主召选世上愚妄的,为羞辱那有智慧的;召选了世上懦弱的,为羞辱那坚强的;甚而天主召选了世上卑贱的和受人轻视的,以及那些一无所有的,为消灭那些有的,为使一切有血肉的人,在天主前无所夸耀。我们很清楚可以知道天主的选择不一定是人类所公认的,就因为天主不像人类一般只是看外表而已。天主洞察隐藏在人心中的各种事物或秘密。在外表上我们很难觉擦人类心中的秘密,但是,人类心神上的一切是无法隐瞒全能的天主。让我们仔细地聆听和分析天主对我们所说的一切,然后依照祂的吩咐,作出明智的决定。
假如你只能选择做轰轰烈烈或是做正义之事,你会如何处理呢?我想大多数都会选择后者。可是,当环境逼迫时,做正义之事会使我们身败名裂,失去一切,甚至牺牲性命时,我们还会不怕迫害,勇敢秉持原则做正义之事,因为我们知道天主会照顾我们? 在今天的福音中(谷6:17-29),我们看到圣若翰洗者勇敢批评黑洛德王迎娶弟弟的遗孀。这事项让我们提醒自己,法律所允许的条规不一定都是正确的。黑洛德王把圣若翰洗者打入牢房。很不幸的,今天有许多伸张正义的人士,犹如圣若翰洗者为了伸张正义而付出了非凡的代价一样。圣若翰洗者为了勇敢伸张婚姻的神圣,痛责黑洛德王和弟媳通奸的行为,而在牢房里遭受斩首的下场。 鉴于圣若翰洗者勇敢地为了伸张婚姻的神圣性,而遭黑洛德王斩首。这事项正是挑战我们处于骑虎难下的情况时,因该如何作决定。很多人会选择在社会里出人头地,被大家认同。然而,在非凡时期,我们就要明智地做出选择:继续维护名誉,地位和声望或者失去和天主良好的关系?为了获得永生,我们应该作出明智的决定。
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date: 1 Nov 2014 – All Saints Day2 Nov 2014 – All Souls Day3 Nov 2014 – Monday of Week 31 Year 24 Nov 2014 – Tuesday of Week 31 Year 25 Nov 2014 – Wednesday of Week 31