Blog of Fr. Peter Leung

邀請加入2008年四旬期連續守齋鍊

(Fast4Lent 2008) 並為中國祈禱!

為什麼要守齋？

2001年1月25日聖母在默主歌耶的訊息：“Dear children! Today I call you to renew prayer and fasting with even greater enthusiasm until prayer becomes a joy for you. Little children, the one who prays is not afraid of the future and the one who fasts is not afraid of evil. Once again, I repeat to you: only through prayer and fasting also wars can be stopped – wars of your unbelief and fear for the future. I am with you and am teaching you little children: your peace and hope are in God. That is why draw closer to God and put Him in the first place in your life. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

( http://www.medjugorje.org/olmmsgch.htm)

中文：親愛的孩子們！今天我召喚你們更新你們的祈禱，並且以更大的熱忱，持守齋直到祈禱成為你們的喜悅。孩子們，一個祈禱的人是不會畏懼未來，而且一個守齋戒的人也不會懼怕邪惡。我再一次的與你們重覆：衹有經過守齋與祈禱才能停止戰爭、不信與與恐懼未來的戰爭。我與你們在一起，並教導你們，孩子們，你們的平安與希望是在天主內的，這也是為什麼你們要更接近天主，並將祂放在你們生命中的第一位。謝謝你們答覆我的召叫。

(http://www.medjugorje.org/olmmsgch.htm)

各位朋友，

邀請你們加入四旬期的敬禮，特別是守齋鍊！四旬期除了參與堂區活動之外，我們也可以祈禱和行動奉獻禮物給天主——給為愛和救贖我們死而復活的耶穌——的復活禮物，願意安慰他，使他開心，最重要就是幫助他的救贖工作。

也許有人會問：嘩！我們都是小薯仔，點有資格？點有能力？雖然我們都想耶穌開心一些，但這做不來！

大家可以放心！我們所做的，只是簡單的小事，卻會有很大的功效去救靈魂！對於幫助耶穌救靈魂的「行動」，屬靈的，和實際行動的，以下有這些提議。

首先邀請大家奉獻一餐或更多餐的守齋，在圖表上簽名，加入四十天的守齋鍊；也可以是連續9日的工作和奮鬥。中間必然遇到困難或阻礙之時，請恆心堅持！因為我們有耶穌作我們的「最強後盾」，聖母做我們的總指揮！

以下是一些提議：

A.. 守齋，加上祈禱是最有力量的，特別為難皈依的人，必得到天主豐沛的恩寵（1. 最理想是清水麵包齋全日，或早午晚其中一餐，或邀請朋友一起組織9日守齋鍊fasting chain）（2. 小齋，可吃魚，但不吃肉）

若未能守齋，可用以下作奉獻：

B. 祈禱，更新或加強自己的祈禱「質」「量」，例如，堅持每天唸一串玫瑰經，或更多，或多用時間默想耶穌降生成人的意思。我們都知道，玫瑰經是最有力的祈禱，因為每篇經文都是圍繞耶穌生平，亦是屬靈武器，能夠縛束和打擊魔鬼。最近我讀《聖鮑思高……》他發一個夢中，就是講這件事。

C. 每天參與彌撒，或朝拜聖體，天主降生成人，耶穌聖誕告訴我們天主「縮小」成為嬰兒，聖體就是天主一次又一次「縮小」在麵餅形態之中，卻是祂真實的臨在。每天參與彌撒和善領聖體，或到聖堂朝拜聖體，最少15分鐘，其間可以靜默或唸經為各種意向。持續與耶穌見面，你會明顯察覺到自己的屬靈改變。

D. 各種自我克制，意思可以是各種情緒或感觀的「守齋」，能夠幫助我們解開各類情緒或感觀的「束縛」或「過份依戀」。（1. 有時也稱為「守心齋」，即是，決意例如：不發怒、不說不聽別人是非、拒絕憂慮等等，通常這種心齋也需要自己更多信賴、希望和愛慕天主，並在德行上前進。）（2. 減少五觀六感的享樂或享受，例如，不看八卦雜誌、不看電視、不沉迷上網或電玩、不吃某項最喜歡的食品，…等等）

E. 以往花費在玩樂的時間，在這期間用在服務、善工和屬靈的事上，例如：從家裡開始服務、與父母兄弟姊妹朋友修和、探訪貧病老弱、看聖經、看教會文件或靈修書藉、幫助堂區、祈禱……。

謝謝你們每一個的參與！希望「F4L」（Fast for Lent）能分享你們所做的奉獻和禮物，歡迎以電郵告訴我們。

天主必會大量賞報各人的善工！

主佑！願復活耶穌光榮勝利而微笑的甜美，永遠印在你們的心上！

Dear brothers & sisters In Christ,

Lent 2008 is arriving next Wednesday 6 Feb 08, and you are (once again) invited to take part in “Fast4Lent” 2008 - a fasting & Rosary prayer chain for 40 days (just choose the meals you want to fast, and not including sunday) in Lent 2008, as our penance and a sign of love for our Mama Mary and pray for mother-land China.

We have started this humble fasting chain in 2007 thanks to a good number of “Family” members participation. Please invite all Mama Mary’s children and our families & friends to pray for Gospa’s intentions for the World and the conversion of our Chinese brethren. Let’s join as ONE to fast and pray the Holy Rosary during Lent for China.

Starting on 6/2 (Ash Wednesday) and finishing on 22/3 (Easter Saturday), each participant is recommended to fast on Bread & Water for one or more selected meals (not including sunday).

首先邀請大家奉獻一餐或更多餐的守齋，在圖表上簽名，加入四十天的守齋鍊；也可以是連續9日的工作和奮鬥。中間必然遇到困難或阻礙之時，請恆心堅持！因為我們有耶穌作我們的「最強後盾」，聖母做我們的總指揮！.

Below a copy of JP2’s homily on why we should fast during Lent.

In Jesus and Mary,

Michael Cheung
—————————————
Extract from JOHN PAUL II’s HOMILY AT ST ANDREW’S PARISH ( Sunday, 16 February 1997) “…..Lent began last Wednesday with the distribution of ashes, and today is the first Sunday in this important season, which is related to the 40-day fast begun by Christ after his baptism in the Jordan. St Mark, who accompanies us in the Sunday liturgy this
year, writes in this regard: “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness 40 days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to him” (Mk 1:12-13).

St Matthew, in the parallel passage, notes only the answer the Lord gave the tempter who challenged him to turn stones into bread: “If you are the Son of God command these stones to become loaves of bread” (Mt 4:3). Jesus replies: “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4; cf. Gospel acclamation). This is one of Christ’s three answers to Satan, who sought to ensnare and overcome him by referring to the
three concupiscences of fallen human nature.

At the beginning of Lent, Christ’s victory over the devil gives us an indication of how to defeat evil with asceticism, of which fasting is an expression, in order to live this season in a genuine way. “

信仰生活互動坊、塔冷通心靈書舍

2月1日 (週五)　　 谷4：26-34　　(其他經文──撒下11：1-10, 13-17 詠51)

耶穌向群眾說：「天主的國好比一個人把種子撒在地裡，他黑夜白天，或睡或起，那種子發芽生長，至於怎樣，他卻不知道。因為土地自然生長果實：先發苗，後吐穗，最後穗又滿了麥粒。當果實成熟的時候，便立刻派人以鐮刀收割，因為到了收穫的時期。」
他又說：「我們以什麼比擬天主的國呢？或用什麼比喻來形容它呢？它好像一粒芥子，種在地裡的時候，比地上一切的種子都小；當下種之後，生長起來，比一切蔬菜都大；並且長出大枝，以致天上的飛鳥能棲息在它的蔭下。」耶穌用許多這樣的比喻，按照他們所能聽懂的，給他們講道。若不用比喻，他就不給他們講什麼，但私下裡卻給自己的門徒解釋一切。

默　想──Ø　耶穌努力用他們熟悉的東西，配合比喻以描述天國是什麼。即使我們對芥子十分陌生，但可以想像，當小小的芥子長大後，竟可成蔭成樹。
Ø　耶穌叮囑和鼓勵我們加入建設天國的行列，而天國就在人間，若天國得以被建立，真能惠及普世人類，牽涉層面是如斯的浩大。
Ø　祂邀請我們每一個為天國努力，將生命的真、善、美，在生活中實踐和彰顯。想一想，我們可以怎樣透過生活實踐，讓世界變得更美好？

恭讀聖馬爾谷福音4:21-25

那時，耶穌向門徒們說：「人拿燈來，豈是為放在斗底或床下嗎？不是為放在燈台上嗎？因為沒有什麼隱藏的事，不是為顯露出來的；也沒有隱密的事，不是為彰明出來的。誰若有耳聽，聽吧！」耶穌又向他們說：「要留心你們所聽的：你們用什麼尺度量給人，也要用什麼尺度量給你們，且要多加給你們，因為凡有的，還要給他；凡沒有的，連他所有的，也要從他奪去。」

—上主的話。

(Memorial of Saint John Bosco)

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 4:21-25

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

—The Gospel of the Lord.

往神父講道目錄

Coadjutor Named for Hong Kong
Bishop Hoping to Promote Unity in China

HONG KONG, JAN. 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI today named the auxiliary bishop of Hong Kong to be the diocese’s coadjutor.Bishop John Tong Hon, 68, is thus set to succeed Cardinal Joseph Zen, 76, when he retires. The usual retirement age for bishops is 75. Both prelates were appointed to Hong Kong in 1996.

Bishop Tong, an expert on the Catholic Church in China, said in a statement today that he would try to promote “unity among the different groups of the Catholic Church in China and constructive dialogue among the concerned parties.”

The bishop said Hong Kong “has been playing an indispensable role of being a bridge Church to China.”

“Following the guidelines of the recent letter of our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, to the Church in China, we will do our utmost to carry on our efforts,” he said. “It is my great expectation that the Chinese government will guarantee full religious freedom for Catholics on the mainland, so that they can make greater contributions to society, and in this way our motherland would also enhance its international status.”

This is the first episcopal appointment for Hong Kong since its handover to China in1997.

John Tong was born in Hong Kong in 1939, and received his priestly formation in Macau, Hong Kong and Rome. He was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI in 1966.

The Holy See’s communiqué on the appointment said there are some 344,000 Catholics in Hong Kong, served by 283 priests, eight permanent deacons and 811 religious.

The diocese will organize a Mass on Feb. 10 to invoke God’s blessing on Bishop Tong as coadjutor.

信仰生活互動坊、塔冷通心靈書舍

1月31日  (週四)　　 谷4：21-25 　　(其他經文──撒下7：18-19, 24-29  詠132)

耶穌向門徒們說：「人拿燈來，豈是為放在斗底或床下嗎？不是為放在燈台上嗎？因為沒有什麼隱藏的事，不是為顯露出來的；也沒有隱密的事，不是為彰明出來的。誰若有耳聽，聽吧！」耶穌又向他們說：「要留心你們所聽的：你們用什麼尺度量給人，也要用什麼尺度量給你們，且要多加給你們，因為凡有的，還要給他；凡沒有的，連他所有的，也要從他奪去。」

默　想──Ø　耶穌眼中的天國，是人與人之間不再有彼此猜度的心。以信任來建立的關係，才最穩妥。只是今天深沉的信任感變得越來越稀有了。
Ø　唯有重建信任感，人與人之間才可彼此肯定。下一次準備猜度別人時，嘗試以信任作大前提，或許你會發現生命更多的寶貴東西。
Ø　耶穌以點燈作比喻，強調生命的光明面之珍貴，以及盡量摒棄陰暗面。越多的光明面，越少的陰暗面，越有能力走向天主。

New video @Church of the Annunciation taken in Dec 2007 - The Joy in Christmas

This morning when I wake up
And saw the sun above,
I softly said, “Good morning Lord,
Bless everyone I love”
Right away I thought of you and said a loving prayer,
That He would bless you specially,
and keep you free from care.

I thought of the happiness a day could hold in store,
I wished it all for you because no one deserves it more…

I felt so warm and good inside,
my heart was all aglow.

I know God heard my prayers for you,
As He hears them all, you know.

The Most Beautiful Creation of God, Other than You, Is the World Itself….

Fancy a trip around the world in 5 min??
Well here are some photos of why you have to love your world….

今天我要問大家一個問題：「你的祈禱生活如何？」你可能會覺得常常不會花很多時間，每天要忙很多事情，怎麼會有時間祈禱，頂多就是睡覺之前和耶穌打打招呼，或是星期天去教堂儘量幾分鐘不要分心地唸經、參與彌撒，和大家分享一個故事，這是發生在一個都市裡的教堂，它讓我對祈禱有新的體驗，我想對大家也會有所幫助：

這個教堂只有一位神父，由於位在都市什麼樣的人都會經過，他很認真工作也把聖堂整理得很乾淨整齊，很多人都讚美他的教堂。在聖堂裡有很多貴重的東西，所以他也很小心怕有人來偷東西，像是聖爵、奉獻箱等，他又不想將聖堂的門鎖起來，怕人們無法進來，每天都很矛盾為些事焦慮。有天中午吃過飯，他想應該去聖堂看一下是否一切安好，進到聖堂剛好有幾個人在裡面祈禱。

沒多久聖堂的門又開了進來了一個人，神父覺得這個人很可疑，他看起來好幾天沒有刮鬍子，襯衫很髒不整齊很老舊。這位先生進來跪下後，頭低了下來，幾分鐘後就走了。後來神父發現這個人每天中午都會進來，每次都只待上幾分鐘，手上拿著像便當的東西，神父很認真地觀察看他是否會拿走什麼東西。

有一天這位先生又來了，神父忍不住問他：「請問你每天來這裡做什麼？」這個人說他在附近工作，只有半小時時間吃午飯，他盡量用吃午飯的時間祈禱，因為覺得這樣可以增加他的力量，增加工作的動力。我只能待兩、三分鐘，因為還要走回工廠，所以就只能用這兩三分鐘時間跟主說話：「主，我只是進來一下告訴你，自從我們彼此認識，彼此做朋友之後，我很開心，自從你把我的罪洗淨了，我很安心。我不怎麼會祈禱，我沒有受過教育，我只是工廠裡的工人，不過我每天都想到你，想念你。耶穌，我是阿郎，來報到。」報到完之後就走了。神父聽了很感動也有點慚愧，他居然懷疑這位先生是小偷。神父對阿郎說很歡迎你每天到這兒來，阿郎謝謝神父後趕忙離開了。工人離開之後，神父就跪在阿郎剛剛跪的地方，決定暫時不要去想會不會有人來偷東西這些事，他要花一兩分鐘時間照著阿郎的方式祈禱。祈禱時他突然覺得心很熱，好像有愛心進到他的心靈，耶穌好像就跪在他旁邊，眼淚不自覺地掉了下來，然後很自然地借用阿郎的祈禱。

幾天後的中午，他發現阿郎沒來心中很奇怪，接著好幾天都沒看到阿郎，神父心中很擔心著急，是不是發生了什麼事呢？神父決定到那工廠打聽消息，到了工廠才知道他生病了，又趕到醫院去找他，醫生覺得阿郎的病很嚴重但也覺得他是位很棒的病人，他雖然生病但他的笑容、他的喜樂改變病房很多氣氛，但醫生和護士們都很疑惑，沒有任何人來看阿郎，為什麼他還能如此開心帶給別人希望？

護士很擔心地對神父說：都沒有人來看阿郎，來關心他怎麼辦呢？阿郎聽到就笑著對護士說：「護士小姐你錯了，你不知道，每天中午我最好的朋友都會來看我，坐在我旁邊握住我的手，跟我說：「阿郎，我只是來看你來告訴你，自從我們做朋友，我把你的罪洗淨了，我很開心。我很愛很喜歡聽你的祈禱，我每天都會想到你，阿郎，這是耶穌，你的朋友，來報到。」

我覺得如果我們常常向我們的朋友～耶穌報到，很專心地花這一兩分鐘，說我們真正心裡的話，那麼耶穌基督也會常常向我們報到，當我們需要時祂會來到我們身邊，我有好多好多次這樣的經驗，祈禱不在於我們花了多少時間，更不是說了多少話，耶穌也說過你們不要嘮嘮叨叨地祈禱。我們不需要把所有的事全部列出來報告給耶穌，在我們開口前耶穌已經全部都知道，我們只需要把心中最親切的話跟耶穌說，不用專有名詞來祈禱，也不用透過神學，重要的是這些話來自我們的心，相信下次當我們發生困難、危險、心中焦慮時，祂也會來到我們身邊用我們的話語方式向我們報到，這些事雖然無法證明，但相信每個人自然能有所體驗。

另一個分享是，阿郎是位很大方很慷慨的人，他只有一點點吃飯的時間，卻願意將這時間轉移給耶穌基督。有人說給予有三種方式：第一種像石頭：如果要從石頭中取得東西，必需拿鎚子用力敲打才能辛苦取得一小塊；第二種像海綿：必需用力壓它才能有更多的水流出；第三種是蜂蜜：毋需任何施力，它就自然流出且是那麼地甜蜜。阿郎的給予就像是蜂蜜，用很甜蜜的方式給予，尤其是給他最好的朋友～耶穌基督。

丁松筠神父

信仰生活互動坊、塔冷通心靈書舍

1月30日　(週三)　　 谷4：1-20 　　(其他經文──撒下7：4-17 詠88)

耶穌在海邊上開始施教，有大顆群眾聚集在他跟前。他只得上了一隻船，在海上坐著，所有的群眾都在海邊地上。他用比喻教訓他們許多事。在施教時，他向他們說：「你們聽：有個撒種的出去撒種。他撒種的時候，有的落在路旁，飛鳥來把它吃了；有的落在石頭地裡，那裡沒有多少土壤，即刻發了芽，因為所有的土壤不深，太陽一出來，被曬焦了；又因為沒有根，就乾枯了；有的落在荊棘中，荊棘長起來，把它窒息了，就沒有結實；有的落在好地裡，就長大成熟，結了果實，有的結三十倍，有的六十倍，有的一百倍。」他又說：「有耳聽的，聽吧！」當耶穌獨自一人的時候，那些跟從他的人和十二門徒便問他這些比喻的意義。耶穌對他們說：「天主國的奧義只賞給了你們，但對那些外人，一切都用比喻，使他們看是看，卻看不見；聽是聽了，卻聽不明白，免得他們回頭，而得赦免。」耶穌對他們說：「你們不明白這個比喻，又怎能明白其他的一切比喻呢？那撒種的人撒的，是所講的「話」。那撒在路旁的「話」是指人聽了後，撒殫立時來，把撒在他們心裡的「話」奪了去。同樣，那撒在石頭地裡的，是指人聽了這「話」後，立刻欣然接受；但他們心裡沒有根，不能持久，及至為了這「話」發生艱難或迫害，立刻就跌倒了。還有那撒在荊棘中的，是指人聽了這「話」後，世俗的焦慮、財富的迷惑，以及其他的貪欲進來，把「話」蒙住了，結不出果實。那撒在好地裡的，是指人聽了這「話」，就接受了，並結了果實，有的三十倍，有的六十倍，有的一百倍。」

默　想──Ø　從小，我們的心田都接收了不少種子，哪些種子早已枯乾，哪些種子得以開花結果，我們大可細想思量。
Ø　又或者有些種子尚未枯乾，還在我們的心田潛藏，等待有萌芽、成長的一天。
Ø　我們的心田能否作好準備，成為好土壤，讓這些有待發芽生長的種子，獲得更多倍的收成？
Ø　在靈修中，「守心」十分重要。保守自己的心，為心田作好壤，使上主的話栽種在心田上，開花結果。

親愛的弟兄姊妹：

我只想和您分享一些不可思議的事情！

*一張一百元正的鈔票在教會奉獻時是多麼大的面額，但在行街購物時卻是如此的細小？
真不可思議？

*兩小時在教會過就好長,但看一套好戲就好短？

真不可思議？

*當禱告時要找一個字都好難，但與朋友傾談時卻口若懸河？

真不可思議？

*有人覺得讀一章聖經又難又悶，卻很容易地就看完百多頁的小說？

真不可思議？

*人人都想在演唱會或在遊戲時坐在前排，但在教會他們無論如何都會坐後排？

真不可思議？

*我們要教會預先兩三個星期通知活動，才能安放在自己的時間表裡，但我們只需用兩三分鐘就安排好參加其他的活動？

真不可思議？

*我們很困難才能從神學到真理與人分享，卻好容易就學到講閒話，甚至謠言滿天飛？

真不可思議？

*我們相信在報紙雜誌中講的每件事，卻懷疑聖經裡所記載的事蹟？

真不可思議？

*人人都想上天堂，卻不願去了解和探索任何東西？

真不可思議？

*我們常常將笑話從電郵傳來傳去，但! 當我們要將神的信息傳給別人時，卻一再考慮？

真不可思議？

*你現在竟然能看到這信息，卻又願意傳給你所認識的每位朋友。

*假如你不這樣做，你不單只奪取自己得到祝福的機會，同時也奪取別人被祝福的機會！可能在你朋友的生命中，正需要認識那位不可思議的神？真不可思議！！！

最不可思議的是, 這不可思議的神, 從未放棄過我們這些心硬得不可思議的人。

「我們都習慣迎合這個世界的價值觀，大部份人都欠缺活出自己的勇氣。

包括我，我叫鄭秀文，一位歌手及演員，今年三十五歲。我略有小成就，但我從來沒有活出真正的自己。

我習慣活在一堆價值觀中。以為成就越大，自我存在的價值就越高。當我擁有很多人人渴求的東西，我卻發現我內心一無所有. 心，是空空的。我嘗試用更大的成就來補充，但招徠的空蕩感更大，更恐怖。

於是，我決定暫停這場永無止境的追求，我放下一手建立十多年的事業，我毅然放下成功，我要看看我的生命還剩下什麼?

上帝用了接近一千天的時間，讓我徹底反省過去的生命。我看清了成功和金錢的真相，這些或許可以建築我的生活，但卻一點不能滿足我的‘生命‘。

生命應該有更高尚的價值，在上帝的話裡，我找到了明確的方向和定位。

‘人子來，本是要服待人，不是要人來服待的。‘在我未來的人生的道路上，我已有更重要的使命。我並不知道上帝會如何安排我生命的劇本，但我知道祂會帶領我一步一腳印。

這種內心的平安，是再多的金錢也買不到的。

回顧過去一千多天，上帝確實狼狼地修理了我，祂給予我這場放逐，無非要我找回自己的心。心跟上帝早已緊扣，我再也不害怕，再也不膽怯，我要活出真正的自己。

活出生命更高的價值，不要扭曲自己奉迎這個世界。這是我對上帝的承諾。」

恭讀聖馬爾谷福音3:31-35

耶穌的母親和他的兄弟們來了，站在外邊，派人到他跟前去叫他。那時，群眾正圍著他坐著。有人給他說：「看，你的母親和你的兄弟在外邊找你。」耶穌回答他們說：「誰是我的母親和我的兄弟？遂環視他周圍坐著的人說：「看，我的母親和我的兄弟！因為誰奉行天主的旨意，他就是我的兄弟、姊妹和母親。」

——上主的話。

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 3:31-35

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

—The Gospel of the Lord.

往神父講道目錄

Don’t miss even a single word? Every second is worth reading this mail… Too good
An atheist professor of philosophy speaks to his class on the problem science has with God, The Almighty.

He asks one of his new students to stand and…..

Prof:

So you believe in God?

Student:

Absolutely, sir.

Prof

: Is God good?

Student:

Sure.

Prof:

Is God all-powerful?

Student:

Yes.

Prof:

My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to God to heal him.

Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn’t. How is this God good then? Hmm?

(Student is silent.)

Prof:

You can’t answer, can you? Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?

Student:

Yes.

Prof:

Is Satan good?

Student:

No.

Prof:

Where does Satan come from?

Student:

From…God…

Prof:

That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student:

Yes.

Prof:

Evil is everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything. Correct?

Student:

Yes.

Prof:

So who created evil?

(Student does not answer.)

Prof:

Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?

Student:

Yes, sir.

Prof:

So, who created them?

(Student has no answer.)

Prof:

Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you.

Tell me, son…Have you ever

seen God?

Student:

No, sir.

Prof:

Tell us if you have ever heard your God?

Student:

No, sir.

Prof:

Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God for that matter?

Student:

No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.

Prof:

Yet you still believe in Him?

Student:

Yes.

Prof:

According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your GOD doesn’t exist.

What do you say to that, son?

Student:

Nothing. I only have my faith.

Prof:

Yes. Faith. And that is the problem science has.

Student:

Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Prof:

Yes.

Student:

And is there such a thing as cold?

Prof:

Yes.

Student:

No sir. There isn’t.

(The lecture theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student

: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat.

But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go

any further after that.

There is no such thing as cold . Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of

heat

. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy . Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it .

(There is pin-drop silence in the lecture theatre.)

Student:

What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Prof:

Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student :

You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright

light, flashing light….But if

you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it’s called darkness, isn’t it? In

reality, darkness isn’t. If it were you would be able to make

darkness darker, wouldn’t you?

Prof:

So what is the point you are making, young man?

Student:

Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Prof:

Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student:

Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it.

Now tell me, Professor.Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Prof:

If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student:

Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shakes his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument is going.)

Student:

Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher? (The class is in uproar.)

Student:

Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?

(The class breaks out into laughter.)

Student

: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain,sir.

With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room is silent. The professor stares at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Prof:

I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student:

That is it sir… The link between man & god is FAITH . That is all that keeps things moving & alive.

NB: I believe you have enjoyed the conversation…and if so…you’ll probably want your friends/colleagues to enjoy the same…won’t you?….

this is a true story, and the

student was none other than………

APJ Abdul Kalam , the former president of India .

信仰生活互動坊、塔冷通心靈書舍

1月29日 (週二)　　谷3：31-35 　　(其他經文──撒下6：12-15, 17-19　詠23)

耶穌的母親和他的兄弟們來了，站在外邊，派人到他跟前去叫他。那時，群眾正圍著他坐著。有人給他說：「看，你的母親和你的兄弟在外邊找你。」耶穌回答他們說：「誰是我的母親和我的兄弟？遂環視他周圍坐著的人說：「看，我的母親和我的兄弟！因為誰奉行天主的旨意，他就是我的兄弟、姊妹和母親。」

默　想──Ø　這是耶穌熱烈的邀請：成為祂的家人。可以成為一家人，那份密切的連結，果真十分強。
Ø　但，我們珍惜、在意、著緊這份愛的邀請嗎？祂的邀請且不是一次的，而是臨在每個感恩聖祭中。祂請我們吃祂的肉、飲祂的血，不是要與我們連結嗎？有什麼比這份連結更美麗、更緊密！
Ø　祂慷慨將自己呈奉給我們，也邀請我們將自己分施給其他人。「你們亦要如此行，為的是紀念我。」每一次當神父成聖體聖血時，我們不都在聽得清清楚楚嗎？
Ø　‘Give and Take’. 基督的信仰正正是一份深刻的付出與施予的信仰。那份摯誠的愛需要被接受，也需要被流溢開去。

ZENIT, The world seen from Rome
News Agency

University Aims to Build Culture of Unity
Institute to Launch Master’s Program This Fall
LOPPIANO, Italy, JAN. 23, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The lay Focolare movement is looking to offer a unique contribution to the culture of unity — the Sophia University Institute, set to open this fall.
Beginning in the 2008-2009 academic year, the institute will offer a two-year master’s degree in the foundations and perspectives of a culture of unity. A doctoral degree in the same field is being planned.
Chiara Lubich, founder and president of the Focolare movement, conceived the idea of the university, which she began to promote with an international group of professors.
The institute, erected by pontifical decree on Dec. 7, 2007, will be located in the Focolare city of Loppiano, near Florence. Piero Coda, professor of systematic theology at Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University and president of the Italian Theological Association, is president of the institute.
Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, signed the decree. In a letter to Lubich accompanying the declaration, he underscored the novelty of the institute, “which grows from the roots of the spirituality of unity and from the rich experiences of the movement.”
He expressed his best wishes for “this important project, well-rooted in the academic tradition, but at the same time courageous and looking to the future.”In a Jan. 15 meeting with Focolare priests of the Mariapolis Center of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, defined the institute as “a gift for the Church and for the society of our time,” pointing out its “objectives of communion,” above all the decidedly interdisciplinary character, the focus on the “formation of leaders” and the prospect of influence in the fields of “politics, economics, science and philosophy.”
A Focolare spokesperson, Carla Cotignoli, told ZENIT that “from the very beginning [Lubich] had the intuition that her charism would create a new teaching and now she sees this dream fulfilled. She has worked hard in the last year to promote this institute.”
Cotignoli explained that the institute will crystallize the link between “life and thought” and for this reason was born at Loppiano, a place where the members of the movement live and work in community. “[Loppiano] is a sketch for a new society and it was natural for the institute to begin there,” she said.
Confronting complexity
First-year master’s students will focus on theology, philosophy, the sciences of social living and logical-scientific rationality.
Second-year students will be able to choose among philosophical-theological and political-economic courses.
A Focolare press statement explained that the institute will be “an academic laboratory of formation, study and research with a strong relational structure in the light of the Gospel — an innovative occasion for human and cultural growth.”
The statement added that the institution will bring together “study and experience within a community of life and thought, in which the relationship between persons is founded on the basis of the relationship between disciplines.”
The studies, research and lectures will aim to establish ongoing dialogue between professors and students.
The course of studies, the communiqué added, “intends to confer a solid cultural competence, of a humanistic and anthropological character, valuing the knowledge already acquired in the various university disciplines and promoting their integration with new and specific competence of a interdisciplinary, intercultural and relational character.”
The objective of the institute is to form leaders and academics who are “prepared to confront the complexity of today’s world with intellectual ability and interdisciplinary, intercultural and relational competence.”