If you observe the way young children play and interact, you would find that, in many cases, such children find it easier to forgive among themselves and move on. From time to time, such children may encounter wrongdoings or misbehaviour, but rather than holding a grudge or getting angry over words and deeds, sometimes for a certain period of time, we could notice that after a while, they would continue playing and having fun, as if nothing had happened. Why is this so? It is because of pride and ego. Such children have not yet developed the level of pride and ego which some of us adults may have.
Today we come across the Lord's Prayer or the Our Father in the Gospel. I suppose the hardest line to follow is: "And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us." Moreover, the Gospel cautions us: "Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either." If children can and are willing to forgive others quite easily, why do some of us find it so difficult to forgive? When we do wrong or said some unkind words, do we seek forgiveness too, or do we hold on to our pride and ego? Why do we allow our pride and ego to take control of us completely? May we come to realise that forgiveness is not just a one way street, where we expect to be forgiven but we refuse to forgive. Instead, may we learn to forgive others, and be humble enough to seek forgiveness from others. Like children, let us set aside our pride and ego, and learn to be more like our loving God.
Tuesday, 12 January 2016
常年期第一周星期二次年
身为基督徒，我们时常被提醒及呼吁要洁身自爱，与世界保持距离，免得被卷入世俗的漩涡里。
就如我们现今所看到的，这世界上有些人会想尽一切的办法和手段，甚至不择手段，从而让自己占尽优势; 但身为基督徒，我们目标更应该是向天主迈进。我们主要的关注并不是在于世俗的名与利，而是与天主建立起亲密关系。
另外一个例子就是身为基督徒，要对我们的敌人有所不同。无论我们有多善良，多有爱心，我们的贡献有多少，身边总会有人对我们的行为或言论指指点点与不悦。到了某一个程度极可能会成为我们的敌人，他们会不断寻找途径和手段来贬低我们或让我们气馁。那我们该如何面对这样的人？
答案就在今天的福音当中： 我们应当爱他们，如同天主爱我们一样，无论我们是谁、做了善事或坏事。不仅如此，我们也应该为我们的敌人祈祷。你可以想像在他们对我们说了和做了让我们讨厌的事情，我们还要爱他们，为他们祈祷？当然这并不容易，但耶稣要求我们远离世俗，复仇或以牙还牙的方式对付我们的敌人。相反的，我们应该要关爱、祈祷以及充满慈悲的心；就如天主对我们一样。愿我们能跟随基督的脚步，爱世人，正如天主爱我们一样。或许这样做，能够让我们多一位朋友，少一位敌人，也能显示基督徒的意义。
就如我们现今所看到的，这世界上有些人会想尽一切的办法和手段，甚至不择手段，从而让自己占尽优势; 但身为基督徒，我们目标更应该是向天主迈进。我们主要的关注并不是在于世俗的名与利，而是与天主建立起亲密关系。
另外一个例子就是身为基督徒，要对我们的敌人有所不同。无论我们有多善良，多有爱心，我们的贡献有多少，身边总会有人对我们的行为或言论指指点点与不悦。到了某一个程度极可能会成为我们的敌人，他们会不断寻找途径和手段来贬低我们或让我们气馁。那我们该如何面对这样的人？
答案就在今天的福音当中： 我们应当爱他们，如同天主爱我们一样，无论我们是谁、做了善事或坏事。不仅如此，我们也应该为我们的敌人祈祷。你可以想像在他们对我们说了和做了让我们讨厌的事情，我们还要爱他们，为他们祈祷？当然这并不容易，但耶稣要求我们远离世俗，复仇或以牙还牙的方式对付我们的敌人。相反的，我们应该要关爱、祈祷以及充满慈悲的心；就如天主对我们一样。愿我们能跟随基督的脚步，爱世人，正如天主爱我们一样。或许这样做，能够让我们多一位朋友，少一位敌人，也能显示基督徒的意义。
Monday, 11 January 2016
Wednesday of Week 11 Year 2
When we do good things, what is the purpose of us doing so? Do we do good things to show how good we are, or how wonderful or kind we are? Do we do good things to win the admiration of others? Do we expect praise and honour for the good things we do? Or do we do good things to glorify God? What sort of attitude should we have as Christians, when it comes to doing good?
In today's Gospel, we are reminded: "Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven." Also, when we are doing good, we should do so in secret, since the Gospel tells us: "...and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you." By doing good deeds in secret, we are not bringing attention to ourselves, but giving God the glory. May we check our motives when doing good, and in all we do, may we give God the greater glory.
In today's Gospel, we are reminded: "Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven." Also, when we are doing good, we should do so in secret, since the Gospel tells us: "...and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you." By doing good deeds in secret, we are not bringing attention to ourselves, but giving God the glory. May we check our motives when doing good, and in all we do, may we give God the greater glory.
Tuesday of Week 11 Year 2
As Christians, we are often reminded to conduct ourselves or behave or do things in ways very different or totally the opposite of what the world does. For example, we have seen how some people of the world would find ways and means, by hook or by crook, to gain an advantage over others; but as Christians, our goal ought to be towards being with the Lord. Being somebody or successful in the world ought to be not our main concern, but growing in relationship with God is.
Another example of how we Christians ought to be different is when it comes to enemies. No matter how kind or caring we are, no matter how much we have done, we are bound to have people who are not happy with what we say or do, for one reason or another. Some of such persons may even go to the extent of becoming our enemy, bending in finding ways and means to put us down or belittle us. But how do we respond to such persons?
The answer can be found in today's Gospel: we are to love them just as God loves all of us, regardless of who we are and whether we have been good or bad. Not only that, we are also to pray for our enemies. Can you imagine loving and praying for them, especially when they have said and done so many nasty things towards us? Of course it is not easy, but Jesus is asking us to transcend from the ways of the world, where an eye for an eye and revenge is often used. Instead, we are to be loving, prayerful and merciful; just as God has been to us in many ways. May we learn to follow the ways of Christ, and love all just as God loves us all. Sometimes by doing so, we could cause our enemies to become friends, and show others what it really means to be a Christian.
Another example of how we Christians ought to be different is when it comes to enemies. No matter how kind or caring we are, no matter how much we have done, we are bound to have people who are not happy with what we say or do, for one reason or another. Some of such persons may even go to the extent of becoming our enemy, bending in finding ways and means to put us down or belittle us. But how do we respond to such persons?
The answer can be found in today's Gospel: we are to love them just as God loves all of us, regardless of who we are and whether we have been good or bad. Not only that, we are also to pray for our enemies. Can you imagine loving and praying for them, especially when they have said and done so many nasty things towards us? Of course it is not easy, but Jesus is asking us to transcend from the ways of the world, where an eye for an eye and revenge is often used. Instead, we are to be loving, prayerful and merciful; just as God has been to us in many ways. May we learn to follow the ways of Christ, and love all just as God loves us all. Sometimes by doing so, we could cause our enemies to become friends, and show others what it really means to be a Christian.
常年期第一周星期一次年
在童年时期，我们当中有些人可能被我们的同学或朋友嘲弄。有趣的是，看看我们还是孩童时，回答嘲弄的反应。我们当中有些人可能一笑了之，并继续与我们的同学或朋友一起玩; 我们当中有些人可能会觉得被伤害，甚至说：“我不要做你的朋友了！”，不久之后又振作起来，并仍继续与我们同学或朋友一起玩; 反之我们当中会有一些是相当敏感及容易受到伤害的，可能会让自己疏远我们的同学或朋友。我们可能有时候会把应对的方法带到成年时期，这取决于我们的成长，我们的自尊有多强，我们对自己和天主的信任有多少。
在今天的福音当中，我们看到亚纳每次走到天主的圣殿时被培尼纳一年又一年地羞辱感到伤心。原因是培尼纳有孩子，亚纳却没有。虽然她的丈夫厄耳卡纳更爱她，但是亚纳还是无法从伤害，自怜和怨恨中走出来。亚纳可能也想知道天主是否会把她的不育症治好。正如我们后来发现，天主并没有抛弃亚纳且把她的不育症给治好。
如果我们与亚纳面对同样的状况，我们该如何应对？我们是否能从我们的焦虑、恐惧、伤害、自怜和怨恨中走出来呢？能否愿意全心全意相信天主，让他来拯救我们或是给予我们适当的安排？天主的安排不是我们人类能想象的道路， 甚至有时天主在为我们准备更好的安排。这是取决于我们有多少的耐心和意愿，让天主为我们的问题给予帮助和引领。
在今天的福音当中，我们看到亚纳每次走到天主的圣殿时被培尼纳一年又一年地羞辱感到伤心。原因是培尼纳有孩子，亚纳却没有。虽然她的丈夫厄耳卡纳更爱她，但是亚纳还是无法从伤害，自怜和怨恨中走出来。亚纳可能也想知道天主是否会把她的不育症治好。正如我们后来发现，天主并没有抛弃亚纳且把她的不育症给治好。
如果我们与亚纳面对同样的状况，我们该如何应对？我们是否能从我们的焦虑、恐惧、伤害、自怜和怨恨中走出来呢？能否愿意全心全意相信天主，让他来拯救我们或是给予我们适当的安排？天主的安排不是我们人类能想象的道路， 甚至有时天主在为我们准备更好的安排。这是取决于我们有多少的耐心和意愿，让天主为我们的问题给予帮助和引领。
Monday of Week 11 Year 2
Are we content with what we have or what we achieved? Or have we become accustomed to looking for more and more? When we want more and more, what happens? We begin to work hard to try and achieve or attain more and more. But what if what we want to achieve or attain is beyond our reach because it belongs to someone else and cannot be given away or sold? Some of us may just let it be, but some of us may resort to doing something unthinkable, even to the point of committing sin, to get what we want. Would you go to the extent of sinning to get what you want, come what may?
In today's reading, king Ahab wanted Naboth of Jezreel's vineyard. Naboth had no intention of giving away, or exchanging or selling his vineyard, since the vineyard was ancestral land. So what did Ahab do? He, with the help of his wife Jezebel, had Naboth killed, so that he could take possession of Naboth's vineyard. What do we see here? We see a classic example of several mortal sins being committed, such as: committing murder, coveting neighbour's goods, and bearing false witness. Is obtaining such land that important? To some of us, it may not be a big deal, but to Ahab, he had allowed his heart to become poisoned and enslaved with greed, envy, wrath, passion, pride, ego and many other vices.
What about us? Where do we stand? Could some of us already have become like Ahab? Do we value only what we can get or gain here on earth, at the expense of our eternal reward? Would we be in danger of gaining the whole world, but losing our soul?
In today's reading, king Ahab wanted Naboth of Jezreel's vineyard. Naboth had no intention of giving away, or exchanging or selling his vineyard, since the vineyard was ancestral land. So what did Ahab do? He, with the help of his wife Jezebel, had Naboth killed, so that he could take possession of Naboth's vineyard. What do we see here? We see a classic example of several mortal sins being committed, such as: committing murder, coveting neighbour's goods, and bearing false witness. Is obtaining such land that important? To some of us, it may not be a big deal, but to Ahab, he had allowed his heart to become poisoned and enslaved with greed, envy, wrath, passion, pride, ego and many other vices.
What about us? Where do we stand? Could some of us already have become like Ahab? Do we value only what we can get or gain here on earth, at the expense of our eternal reward? Would we be in danger of gaining the whole world, but losing our soul?
Sunday, 10 January 2016
Friday of Week 10 Year 2
We sometimes have the impression that just because God is Omnipotent (all-powerful) and Omniscient (all knowing), he should reveal Himself in a spectacular or powerful way. Some of us think that a good example of God being revealed is through natural events such as a strong wind like a tornado or typhoon; or an erupting volcano; or a deafening thunder followed with frightening lightning; or a tremendous earthquake; or through some other powerful means which could be scary or phenomenal. But how does God really reveal Himself?
In today's reading, we discover that God revealed Himself in a way least expected. He revealed Himself to Elijah in the sound of a gentle breeze. Just imagine, we have God who reveals to us not in a spectacular or powerful way according to what we expect, but in a calm and gentle way. This gives us some insight about God, that despite being Omnipotent and Omniscient, He has no need to show off or prove Himself. Likewise, we as children of God need not show off or prove ourselves, since we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of our qualifications, capabilities, strengths and abilities. May we learn from our Divine Master and providence, and remain humble and rooted in His love and care.
In today's reading, we discover that God revealed Himself in a way least expected. He revealed Himself to Elijah in the sound of a gentle breeze. Just imagine, we have God who reveals to us not in a spectacular or powerful way according to what we expect, but in a calm and gentle way. This gives us some insight about God, that despite being Omnipotent and Omniscient, He has no need to show off or prove Himself. Likewise, we as children of God need not show off or prove ourselves, since we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of our qualifications, capabilities, strengths and abilities. May we learn from our Divine Master and providence, and remain humble and rooted in His love and care.
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