「我被派遣，只是為了以色列家迷失的羊。」(瑪15:24)
雖然耶穌說：我被派遣，只是為了以色列家迷失的羊，不過，他的心仍然是慈悲的。他以讚歎的話語說：「啊！婦人，你的信德真大，就如你所願望的，給你成就罷！」
在加納婚宴時，雖然耶穌對外傳教的工作尚未開始，他仍然行了第一個變水為酒的聖蹟。
耶穌遲遲沒有回應那位客納罕婦人的要求，似乎是考驗自己門徒的耐性，因為他們說：「打發她走罷！因為她在我們後面不停地喊叫。」
門徒的說話不是基於關懷，而是缺乏忍耐。
耶穌與那婦人的對話，並不容易理解。器量小一點，怎能吃得消把自己當作小狗呢！但她比耶穌更幽默地說：「小狗也吃主人桌子上掉下來的碎屑。」
信賴，需要有一份純樸的心和一份鍥而不捨的精神。
梁達材神父
“There is need for a crusade of manliness and purity to counteract and nullify the savage work of those who think man is a beast. And that crusade is your work.”
- St. Josemaría Escrivá
1. Tell cool, funny jokes, not the kind that would make a pure woman blush—or be offended!
2. Find saints that you relate to and ask them to pray for you as you imitate their virtues. Some awesome real men include St. Joseph, St. Augustine, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, and St. Josemaría Escrivá.
3. Keep your standards high; only date women who have the qualities you want in a future wife and mother of your children. Pray for your bride, that she will have the love and strength to save the gift of sexual intimacy for you, and pray that you’ll have that strength, too!
4. Read the Bible—be open to God’s Word. Let it convict you to courageously do the hard and holy things.
5. Respect women, even those who don’t respect themselves and may throw themselves at you. Don’t take advantage of them but help them to know their true worth. These women have a hole in their heart that they are looking to fill—point them to the only One who can fill it, Jesus Christ.
6. Be a man of integrity. Do everything as if someone were watching, because God is watching. Prepare now to someday lead a family. Work hard to prepare yourself to provide for and protect them, not only financially and physically, but also spiritually, morally, and emotionally.
7. Be both strong and gentle. St. Francis de Sales said that “there is nothing so strong as gentleness and nothing so gentle as real strength.” And wrap your brain around this quote by contemporary Catholic psychotherapist Philip Mango: “What’s a real man? He’s not a bully or a wimp. He transcends his own ego, his own fears, his own selfishness, and sacrifices himself as a gift to those he’s called to protect.”
8. Say a prayer when you see a woman dressed immodestly (for the sake of the woman). Pope John Paul II said, “[God] has assigned as a duty to every man the dignity of every woman.”
9. Say a prayer when you see a woman dressed immodestly (for your purity’s sake). Use this moment, when Satan wants to pull you away from Jesus, to draw closer than ever to God.
10. Honor your mom and sisters. A smart woman knows that the way you treat your mother is the way you will someday treat her.
11. Find creative ways to express your (pure & chaste) feelings to the woman you like or are dating. Show her that you can love her without using her and that she is beautiful both inside and out.
12. Find good male role models to emulate; get relationship advice from Godly men.
13. Be open to the priesthood.
14. Show gentlemanly respect to all women, not just the woman you’re dating. What does it mean if you hold the door for your
girlfriend but let it close in the face of the woman walking in right behind her?
15. Trust in God’s mercy. When you fall, go to confession. Receive strength from Christ truly present in the Eucharist. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati said, “With all the strength of my soul I urge you young people to approach the Communion table as often as you can. Feed on this bread of angels whence you will draw all the energy you need to fight inner battles. Because true happiness, dear friends, does not consist in the pleasures of the world or in earthly things, but in peace of conscience, which we have only if we are pure in heart and mind.”
16. Don’t settle for counterfeits such as pornography or masturbation (in fact, avoid them like the plagues they are) if you want to someday enjoy the utterly amazing gift of sex as
God intended.
Become Real Man
17. Guard your senses from temptation, and be always ready to choose God’s way, no matter what the cost. The mind is a dangerous battlefield, so “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8).
18. Recognize Mary as your Mother and say a prayer to consecrate your heart to her. Her prayers for you will be very powerful in helping you draw near to her Son.
19. Lay down your life in the little things; practice making small sacrifices by putting someone else’s wants or needs before your own.
20. Make Jesus Christ your best friend and greatest role model. J.R.R. Tolkien, in a letter to his son, wrote, “Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament…There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves upon earth…which every man’s heart desires.”
These 20 suggestions were written by the Christian Life Men’s Group of Dayton, Ohio, the men of the One More Soul office, a few other great real men, and two young women praying that all young men everywhere will have the strength, courage, and love to become more and more like Christ.
(Source: http://www.omsoul.com/BecomeRealMen.php)
恭讀聖瑪竇福音 19:16-22
有一個人來到耶穌跟前說：「師傅！我該行什麼『善』，為得永生？」耶穌對他說：「你為什麼問我關於『善』？善的只有一個。如果你願意進入生命，就該遵守誡 命。」他對耶穌說：「什麼誡命？」耶穌說：「就是：不可殺人，不可奸淫，不可偷盜，不可作假見證；應孝敬父母，應愛你的近人，如愛你自己。」那少年人對耶 穌說：「這一切我都遵守了，還缺少什麼？」耶穌對他說：「你若願意是成全的，去，變賣你所有的，施捨給窮人，你必有寶藏在天上；然後來跟隨我。」少年人一 聽這話，就憂悶的走了，因為他擁有許多產業。
—這是基督的福音。
(20th Week in Ordinary Time – Mon.)
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 19:16-22
16 And behold, one came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have observed; what do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
—上主的話。
信仰生活互動坊、塔冷通心靈書舍
8月18日 (週一) 瑪19：16-22 (其他經文──則24：15-24 詠：申32：18-21)
有一個人來到耶穌跟前說：「師傅！我該行什麼『善』，為得永生？」耶穌對他說：「你為什麼問我關於『善』？善的只有一個。如果你願意進入生命，就該遵守誡命。」他對耶穌說：「什麼誡命？」耶穌說：「就是：不可殺人，不可奸淫，不可偷盜，不可作假見證；應孝敬父母，應愛你的近人，如愛你自己。」那少年人對耶穌說：「這一切我都遵守了，還缺少什麼？」耶穌對他說：「你若願意是成全的，去，變賣你所有的，施捨給窮人，你必有寶藏在天上；然後來跟隨我。」少年人一聽這話，就憂悶的走了，因為他擁有許多產業。
默 想
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 15:21-28
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
—The Gospel of the Lord.
恭讀聖瑪竇福音 15:21-28
那時候，耶穌離開革乃撒勒，就退往提洛和漆冬一帶去了。看，有一個客納罕婦人，從那地方出來喊說：「主，達味之子，可憐我吧！我的女兒被魔鬼糾纏得好苦 啊！」耶穌卻一句話也不回答她。他的門徒就上前求他說：「打發她走吧！因為她在我們後面不停地喊叫。」耶穌回答說：「我被派遣，只是為了以色列家迷失的 羊。」那婦人卻前來叩拜他說：「主，援助我吧！」耶穌回答說：「拿兒女的餅扔給小狗，是不對的。」但她說：「是啊！主，可是小狗也吃主人桌子上掉下來的碎 屑。」耶穌回答她說：「啊！婦人，你的信德真大，就如你所願望的，給你成就吧！」從那時刻起，她的女兒就痊愈了。
—上主的話。
1 [10:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2882) Homily [17:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1606) 2 [3:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1779) 3 [21:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2177) 4 [2:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1438)15/08/2008
(梵蒂岡電臺訊)昨天8月15日聖母升天節，教宗本篤十六世在崗道爾夫堡小鎮的聖托馬索·威拉諾瓦聖堂中舉行隆重的彌撒慶祝佳節，中午時分，他又在宗徒大樓的庭院中帶領信友們念三鐘經。教宗在講道中請大家在面對世界上虛假的喜樂和令人焦慮的痛苦時，要學習聖母成爲希望與安慰的標志，他在念三鐘經活動中則談到聖母在天上繼續關注她的子女，幷告訴大家，下個月，9月，他將前往露德聖母朝聖地，慶祝聖母在那裏顯現150周年。有關教宗在彌撒中講道的內容，本台記者作了以下的報導：
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教宗在彌撒講道中說，聖母蒙召而肉身與靈魂同時升天，是一個獨一無二的特殊事件。對我們大家來說，是一個“希望與安慰的可靠標志”。教宗指出，這個歷史最悠久的恭敬聖母的節日是我們的精神和聖母一同被提升的機會，在天上可以呼吸到超性生命的純淨空氣，可以默觀真正的美，也就是天主的聖善。教宗解釋說，天堂不是一個抽象的理想，也不是繪畫中所創造的形象，天堂是一個真實的現實，它就是天主自己，天主就是天堂。教宗說：天主是我們的目的地，是我們所來自的永恒居所，也是我們所等待前去的地方。教宗這樣說：“聖母瑪利亞和她的聖子耶穌一樣，同時也和聖子一起離開塵世回到天父的家中。這一切離我們幷不遠，因爲我們都是天父的子女，我們都是耶穌的弟兄，我們都是聖母瑪利亞的子女。我們都期望幸福，而幸福則是天主。因此，我們大家所追求的這個稱爲天堂的幸福就是天主。”
接下來，教宗談到聖母在加爾瓦略山上眼見聖子被釘死在十字架上所受的痛苦，他指出，聖母以獨特的方式最先參與了聖子從塵世而到天上的這個轉變。這個轉變也是我們所等待的轉變。教宗說：“新厄娃跟隨新亞當經歷了痛苦、苦難，同樣，她也跟隨新亞當享受了最後的喜樂。基督是初果，他的升天與他世上的母親瑪利亞是不可分的，全人類都因著聖母而要升天歸向天主。”
教宗解釋說，所有的受造物都要離開塵世升天，這個轉變令一個新天新地得以誕生。在這新天新地中，不再有哀嚎哭泣，因爲，不再有死亡。教宗說：“今天我們要默觀的這個愛的奧秘是多麽偉大！基督以他的愛的大能戰勝了死亡，他的愛促使他爲我們而死。”教宗强調，只有愛能使人進入生命的國度。而瑪利亞跟隨她的聖子之後進入了這個國度，她在參與她的聖子的苦難後，又與聖子一同享光榮。教宗說，聖母也爲我們打開了進入天國的大門。因此，人們呼求聖母時稱她爲“天堂之門”，“天神之后”以及“罪人的庇護”。教宗接著又告訴信友們，對聖母的信念使我們生活在有限與無限之間的層面，時空的意義也轉變了。我們感到自己的生命不再被過去所吸去，而是被將來所吸引，我們要朝著天主而去，朝著基督在我們的前面、瑪利亞在他之後所去的地方而去。我們注視瑪利亞被提升天，便能够明白我們的死亡不是終結，而是進入沒有死亡的生命。
最後，教宗祈求聖母瑪利亞陪伴我們在日常的辛勞中生活和死亡。他也請大家在面對世界上虛假的喜樂和令人焦慮的痛苦時，要學習聖母成爲希望與安慰的標志，以自己的生活來宣揚基督的復活。
.- Overlooking the courtyard at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, Pope Benedict recited the Angelus with those present for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Pontiff stressed that from Heaven, the Mother of God, continues “to watch over the children that Jesus himself entrusted to Her before dying on the cross.”
Noting that Mary’s “maternal love is apparent in the many sanctuaries dedicated to her,” the Holy Father recalled, the city of Lourdes, “where, God willing, I will go in a month, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Marian apparitions that took place there.”
“Mary being assumed into Heaven shows us the ultimate goal of our pilgrimage on earth. She reminds us that our whole being – spirit, soul, and body – is destined for the fullness of life, that those who live and die in love of God and neighbor will be transformed in the image of the glorious body of the risen Christ, the Lord who humbles the proud and extols the lowly (cf. Luke 1.51-52). This is what the Virgin proclaims forever in the mystery of her Assumption. May you always be praised, O Virgin Mary! Pray to the Lord for us!”
At the conclusion of today’s Angelus, the Pope addressed the English-speaking pilgrims saying, “As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, we are invited to raise our eyes to heaven and contemplate Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother. She who on earth believed in God’s word is now glorified in body and soul.”
“May Mary’s prayers and example guide you always and renew your hearts in faith and hope. May God grant you and your families abundant blessings of peace and joy!”
.- Spanish priest Father Francisco Javier Ruiz said this week that the role the Church has in today’s world is to bring to it the message of the Gospel, “but what she cannot do is betray the message in order adapt it to society.”
“The truth is always the truth. There are some things that cannot change, because they are things man has received—revealed by God—in Jesus Christ,” and therefore “history and the present moment must adapt to the truth and not vice versa,” the priest said during an interview for the website Laverdad.es.
After noting that “there is no redemption or salvation” without the Church, he pointed out that despite what is said about her, he has never considered abandoning the Church. “I have never had that thought. The Lord has given me the gift of a profound love for the Church,” Father Ruiz said.
“I always say that if I could be born again, I would be a priest,” he continued, stressing that “the greatest moment of my day is celebrating the Eucharist and—in the name of Jesus Christ—forgiving sins.”
He also denied that many priests live posh lives, and that instead they give of themselves in service to others. “Since I have been a priest I haven’t had one minute for myself…I’m very happy being priest,” he said.
Asked about priestly garb, Father Ruiz said he is “convinced that the desire of the Pope—and the sense of the Church—is that priests should dress as clergy.” For this reason, he stressed, “I will always dress as a priest,” as in “a world that is so secularized, where more than ever they want to take God out of everything, we should dress as to make present the mystery of God.”
He concluded by saying that it is not true that young people have lost their faith. “There are more young people in the Church now than ever. Young people are falling in love with Jesus Christ and encountering the mystery of the Cross, in order to confront suffering. Jesus saves them from the death of sin,” he said.
.- A newly published Norwegian study of prenatal detection of Down’s syndrome, trisomy 21, claims that 84 percent of babies diagnosed with Down’s syndrome in Norway are aborted. The study also says that prenatal detection of Down’s syndrome was “poor” during the study period, which lasted from 1987 to 2004. The poor detection rate could mean that false “positives” have led to the abortion of healthy children.
The study was conducted by the Norwegian National Center for Fetal Medicine and published in the August 2008 issue of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, LifeSiteNews.com says. The study used data in which all cases of Down’s syndrome were registered and detected either by genetic testing through amniocentesis or post-birth evaluation.
The study found prenatal testing to be highly inaccurate, saying “the prenatal detection rate was only 43 percent.”
The study results are consistent with other research finding that prenatal screening is less accurate than previously thought. A report published in the journal Nature in 2006 found that prenatal screening may have incorrectly diagnosed genetic variations as defects, possibly leading to selective abortion based on inaccurate reports of genetic abnormality.
A study published by Brian Skotko of the National Down’s Syndrome Congress in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2005 found medical professionals are inclined to offer abortion to mothers after amniocentesis testing indicates Down’s Syndrome.
Noting that it is now standard to offer pregnant women prenatal screening for Down’s syndrome, especially women over 35, Skotko said such testing “does not give a certain diagnosis of Down’s Syndrome, but only a percentage possibility.”
Skotko said that even uncertain prenatal diagnoses of Down’s syndrome have resulted in an abortion rate as high as 90 percent for fetuses when diagnosed.
往福音訊息目錄
