Blog of Fr. Peter Leung

Says They Are Significant Part of Gospel

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 1, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The angels are a significant part of the Gospel and we should call upon them often, says Benedict XVI.

The Pope affirmed this today before praying the midday Angelus with crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Reflecting on the Gospel reading from today’s First Sunday of Lent, the Holy Father noted how St. Mark tells of the angels ministering to Christ as he was tempted in the desert.

“He, who did not sin and cannot sin, submits himself to trial and thus can have compassion for our infirmities,” the Pontiff said. “He lets himself be tempted by Satan, the adversary, who had opposed himself to God’s salvific plan for men from the very beginning.

“In the brevity of the account, in the face of this obscure and darksome figure who dares to tempt the Lord, the angels, luminous and mysterious figures, fleetingly appear. The Gospel says that the angels ’serve’ Jesus; they are the counterpoint to Satan.”

The Bishop of Rome went on to mention the role of the angels in the Bible: “We find these figures throughout the Old Testament who help and guide men in the name of God. Just consider the Book of Tobit, in which the figure of the angel Raphael appears to assist the protagonist through many vicissitudes. The reassuring presence of the angel of the Lord accompanies the people of Israel through every event, good and bad.

“On the threshold of the New Testament, Gabriel is sent to announce to Zachariah and Mary the joyous happenings that are the beginnings of our salvation; and an angel, whose name is not mentioned, warns Joseph, directing him in that moment of uncertainty.

“A chorus of angels reports the glad tidings of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds, as the glad tidings of his resurrection will also be announced by angels to the women. At the end of time the angels will accompany Jesus in his glorious return.”

Thus, Benedict XVI observed, “we would take away a significant part of the Gospel if we left aside these beings sent by God to announce his presence among us and be a sign of that presence.”

“Let us,” he said, “call upon them often, that they sustain us in the task of following Jesus to the point of identifying ourselves with him.”

And the Pope asked in particular for angelic intercession as he and the Roman Curia began today their annual Lenten spiritual exercises.

“Let us ask them, especially today,” he said, “to watch over me and my co-workers.”

28/02/2009

（梵蒂岡電臺訊）四旬期是幫助我們探索我們自己是誰這一真相的時期：哲學家帕斯卡爾說過：“世界分成兩種人：認爲自己是罪人的義人和認爲自己是義人的罪 人。”在這個强烈時期，教會建議我們走改過遷善的道路，除去外表，重新發現生命的本質：愛天主和愛近人。本梵蒂岡電臺台長隆巴爾迪神父就四旬期這一課題在 梵蒂岡電視中心的“第八日”每周新聞專欄中發表一篇社論，以下是這篇反省的內容：
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教宗同羅馬的本堂神父們談 話時說，靈魂牧人的任務很特別，因爲人們在他面前“不戴防護面具”，揭開他們的真相，不以在社會中扮演的角色來隱藏或保護自己。教宗執著于一個事實，即如 果宣講信德的人用自己生活的經歷來宣講，用純樸的方式來宣講，而不用淵博的學問使它過于沉重，對今天男男女女的宣講才會有效力。

四 旬期是要本著這個精神來渡過。這段時期是要除去防護面具，來到天主面前，重新把與他的關係放在我們每個人生命的中心，簡化我們的行爲和語言，把它們引向確 實重要的方向上。教宗在星期三聖灰占禮的禮儀中說：“耶穌在我們的心底。同他的關係即使我們按照自己的職業本分說話、行動時，也存在著…這種關係逐漸也變 成了明確的祈禱。”在四旬期文告中他提醒我們守齋的價值，邀請我們在日常生活中重新發現它的適當形式，把它作爲擺脫我們私欲偏情的一種操練，好使自己向天 主的愛和關懷他人的愛德開放。

可以說，這是一段爲重新找到天主的正確位置和關注他人的時期，經由祈禱、刻苦、行哀矜這些日常具體簡單舉動的幫助。也是一段重新發現我們自己和我們的真相，除去防護面具的時期。我們不可失去這個機會。

Vatican Spokesman Says It Is a Season for Truth

02/03/2009

（梵蒂岡電臺訊）三月一日星期天是四旬期第一主日。當天羅馬陰雨，但在中午時分仍然有許多各國信友聚集在梵蒂岡聖伯多祿廣場，同教宗本篤十六世一起向聖母祈禱，並聆聽教宗星期天中午例行的講話。

教宗向他們說：“今天是四旬期第一主日，彌撒福音以聖史馬爾谷簡樸卻有力的風格引領我們進入這個禮儀節期的氣氛中。福音說：‘聖神立即催他（耶穌）到曠野裏去。他在曠野裏四十天之久，受撒旦的試探，與野獸在一起，並有天使服侍他’”。

教 宗隨即描寫曠野的地理形勢說：“在聖地，猶大曠野就在約旦河及耶利哥綠洲西邊。這個曠野是個多岩石的山谷，高低差距將近一千公尺，地勢逐漸上升，直到耶路 撒冷爲止。耶穌在接受若翰的洗禮之後，便在聖神的引領下進入曠野中獨處。在這之前，聖神曾降在他頭上，祝聖了他，把他身爲天主聖子的身分啓示了出來”。

教 宗繼續說：“曠野是受考驗的地方，一如以色列人民的經驗顯示的。在這裏，耶穌以非常的戲劇性掏空自己，脫去自己天主性的形象身份而出現。耶穌，他沒有罪， 也不會犯罪，卻接受考驗，因此，他能夠同情我們的軟弱。他讓撒旦來試探，而撒旦從一開始便是天主拯救人類計劃的反對者，是耶穌的仇敵”。

接 著，教宗把話題集中到天使身上，他說：“在今天福音簡短的敍述中，與那敢于試探上主的黑暗形象相比，天使們光輝燦爛又神秘的樣子幾乎轉瞬即逝。福音說天使 服侍耶穌，他們是撒旦的對立者。天使這個字的意思就是被派遣者。在整部舊約聖經中我們都可以看到這些形象，他們以天主之名幫助和引導人們。舊約《多俾亞 傳》出現辣法厄爾天使的形象，這位天使在多俾亞歷盡滄桑的生命中幫助他走過難關。以色列人民不論處在順境或逆境中，上主天使那令人放心的臨在始終都陪伴著 他們”。

教宗也談到新約時代開始之際，嘉俾厄爾天使也受天主派遣，向匝加利亞和瑪利亞宣報喜訊，指出我們的得救已經開始；另有一位不知名 的天使通告若瑟，在他疑惑的時刻給他指點方向。另有一隊天使在救主誕生的時候，向牧童們宣報這個喜訊。在耶穌復活的時候，也是天使向婦女們宣報這個愉快的 消息。在世界末日時，仍將是天使要陪伴耶穌在光榮中降來。在今天的福音裏面，耶穌受天使們服侍的尊嚴明顯地彰顯了出來。事實上，即使在接受撒旦試探的時 刻，耶穌顯得極爲貧乏卑微，他仍然是天主聖子，是默西亞，是上主。

最後，教宗強調：“如果我們把這些天主的使者丟在一邊，我們就是去除了 福音書中重要的一部分。事實上，天使們宣報天主的臨在，而他們就是天主臨在的標記。所以，我們應該經常呼求天使支持我們堅決跟隨耶穌基督，直到我們與基督 同化為止。讓我們呼求天使幫助我們，特別是今天，因爲今天下午，我和聖座人員將開始進行爲期一周的退省神功。願天神之后瑪利亞為我們轉求！”。

頌 念三鐘經之後，教宗特別為全球經濟危機中的勞工和他們的家庭呼籲。他特別指出意大利南部拿波利的菲亞特汽車工廠的技工們，撒丁島和托斯卡納的普拉托等地區 的勞工，以及世界情況類似的地方的工人。教宗鼓勵有關當局和企業界人士一起盡最大的努力，大家攜手克服當前的難關，尤其以勞工和他們家庭的困難為優先考慮 的對象。

02/03/2009

（梵蒂岡電臺訊）教宗本篤十六世和聖座部門的神長們上主日3月1日隨著晚禱禮儀的舉行，進入四旬期傳統的一周退省時間，在這段時期，教宗的接見及活動都暫 停。聖座禮儀聖事部榮休部長阿林澤樞機主教以一篇默想進入退省，他的默想主題是：“接納耶穌要我們跟隨他的邀請，與他在一起”。昨天2日上午也繼續發揮了 這一主題。內心寧靜幷遠離日常事務是每項精神“退省”的重要元素，爲從心靈深處聆聽天主聖言營造條件。希克羅內神父證實了這一點，他是本篤會的隱修士，也 在羅馬宗座聖安瑟爾莫高等學府教書。他接受本台記者的訪問說：

答：爲聆聽天主在靜默中說的話，需要靜下心來，這很清楚。 因爲，如果一個人被許多事分心，就無法聽到內心的聲音幷深入反省在他同天主的關係中有關他存在的本質。這就是爲什麽說，這幾天該當靜默，盡可能獨處，甚至 正是用進入“荒野”來比喻了，意思是說不該受外界和內心事務的影響而分心。在這段時期，一個人遠離平時所做的事務，聽從耶穌的話：“你們來，去休息一會 兒。”休息幷非什麽都不做，而是把時間花在默想天主的事情上。

問：本篤十六世幾天前同羅馬的本堂神父們談話時說，到靈魂牧人跟前的人是“除去面具”的。退省也是在自己的靈魂面前除去面具的一種方式嗎？

答： 這是主要方面。在這段時期，每個人都該發現自己的真相是什麽：不是嘴裏說出的真相，而是實際的真相。要是一個人在天主面前承認自己的所是，就該除去面具。 言行一致，按真理生活也是真的。聖保祿說過：“在愛德中奉行真理”，不是“說真理”而是“做誠實的人”。我們許多時候行事是迫于妥協、迫于我們經常稱呼的 小心謹慎和外交策略。相反，在退省的一周內，一個人要以真實的面目來到天主面前。是努力做到更加真實、更加誠懇。

問：有一種頑固不化的看待四旬期的錯誤方式，把它看作一段悲哀時期。請問，如何教導人們喜悅，把這一實際生活出的基督信仰的中心元素也看成四旬期的典型“成分”呢？

答： 耶穌經常宣講悔改，不是要人作補贖，而是要人懺悔，即改過遷善。他從未宣講過悲哀，反而宣講喜樂：“我把喜樂帶給你們。”我是本篤會士，聖本篤寫了關于四 旬期的章節，上面說：“在聖神的喜樂中期待神聖的復活節。”四旬期的特色也該如此。耶穌在四旬期的第一天對我們說：“當你們禁食時，要用油抹你們的頭，洗 你們的臉，不要叫人看出你們禁食來。”意思是說必須以喜樂而非悲哀來生活出這一皈依的努力。不幸的是，在基督信仰的第二個千年中我們幾乎都是以苦難、死 亡、禁欲、作補贖來度宗教生活的。需要讓人瞭解，我們準備著“復活”，準備著我們的巴斯卦：復活守夜不但是我們每個主日慶祝的基督的復活，也是我們在基督 內復活的强烈記憶。

問：您講神操的道理已有多年。請講講您積累的經驗，好嗎？

答：我講神操道理時，不用 發明“神操”這一表達方式的聖依納爵的方法。我作爲一個隱修士，把操練當作一種聖經誦禱，即以喜悅的心情默想天主在救贖史上和每個人的歷史中所行的那些奇 妙的事。誦讀聖經，這種啓發油然而生，因爲在天主的光照下一個人明白到他生命的意義是什麽，他的歷史意義是什麽。我們的生活方式只是對天主的這一大愛的回 應，我們發現幷且看到他的愛是這麽大，這麽開放，是呼吸到純空氣的愛。這該當就是操練。

為瑪利亞無玷聖心凱旋的勝利作奉獻準備 - 三十三天祈禱奉獻
33 Days Prayer Consecration Preparation for the Triumphant Victory of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

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信仰生活互動坊、塔冷通心靈書舍

3月3日　(週二)　瑪6：7-15　 (其他經文──依55：10-11 詠34)
耶穌對他的門徒說：「你們祈禱時，不要嘮嘮叨叨，如同外邦人一樣，他們以為只要多言，便可獲得垂允。你們不要跟他們一樣，因為你們的父，在你們求他以前。已知道你們需要什麼。所以，你們應當這樣祈禱：我們在天之父！願你的名被尊為聖，願你的國來臨，願你的旨意承行於地，如在天上一樣。我們的日用糧，求你今天賜給我們；寬免我們的罪債，猶如我們也寬免得罪我們的人；不要讓我們陷入誘惑，但救我們免於凶惡。因為你們若寬免別人的過犯，你們的天父也必寬免你們的；但你們若不寬免別人的，你們的父也必不寬免你們的過犯。」

默　想

• 在我們祈求以前，父已知道我們需要的是什麼，這是真的，但為何我們仍然嘮嘮叨叨地求呢？因為雖然天父知道我們的需要，但我們不服，我們認為自己需要更多。
• 例如面臨困境，我們便祈求出路。但是，天父可能「知道我們需要的」不是出路，而是接納困境的心，這時我們的祈求便和天父所知道的不吻合。
• 什麼是靈修？靈修就是要看多一個角度！

“Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” (Jn 16,23)

What an absurd thing in this world it is that, on one hand, there are so many disoriented people endlessly searching for something, anxious for help, and feeling like orphans in the midst of life’s inevitable trials; while on the other hand, we have a God who is everyone’s Father, and who would like nothing better than to use his almighty power to grant his children’s wishes and satisfy their needs.

It is as if emptiness and fullness were crying out for each other. Yet the two do not meet.

The freedom every human being is endowed with

can bring about this unhappy situation. But for those who acknowledge him, God never ceases to be Love.

Listen to what Jesus says:

“Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”

This is one of several statements, full of promises, that we find in the Gospels, one through which Jesus teaches us in various ways how to obtain what we need.

Only God can speak in this manner. With his unlimited power, he can bestow all graces, whether they be spiritual or material, possible or impossible.

But pay close attention: Jesus tells us how to present our request to the Father. “In my name,” he says.

If we have even a little faith, these three short words should give us confidence.

Jesus lived here among us and knows our countless needs, and he feels sorry for us. So when we pray, he wants to be involved too. It is as if he were saying to each one of us:

“Go to the Father on my behalf and ask him for this and that, and the other thing.” He knows that the Father cannot say “no” to him because Christ is his Son and he is God.

You don’t go to the Father on your own behalf, but on behalf of Christ. You become simply his messenger. It is Jesus who takes care of the matter with his Father.

Many Christians pray in this way and they could tell you of the innumerable graces they have received, graces which show that, in his fatherly love, God watches over them every day.

“Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”

You may tell me, “I have asked time and again

in the name of Christ, but to no avail.”

That is possible. I mentioned before that there are other passages of the Gospel in which Jesus invites us to ask for what we need. In them he gives further explanations which you have probably overlooked.

He says, for instance, that we obtain what we request for if we “remain” in him, and that means, to remain in his will.

It is possible that you may ask for something which doesn’t coincide with God’s plan for you, something which he doesn’t consider useful to your life here on earth or in heaven, or which he even considers harmful.

How could he, your Father, grant your request in this case? He would be betraying you, and that he would never do.

Therefore, it might be good for you to come to an agreement with him before praying, and to say: “Father, I would like to ask you this in Jesus’ name, if you think it is proper to do so.”

If the grace you are asking for is in harmony with God’s loving plan for you, then you will see the truth of the words:

“Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”

Maybe you’re asking for graces without any intention of conforming your life to what God demands. Do you think that in this case it would be fair for God to grant what you request?

He doesn’t want to give you only a gift; he wants to give you complete happiness, and you can possess it only if you live the commandments of God, and his words. It is not enough just to think about them, or even to meditate on them; they must be lived. If you do this, you will obtain everything.

To summarize then, would you really like to obtain graces? Ask for anything you want for in the name of Christ, intending, above all, to do his will and to obey his laws.

God is really very happy to give us graces. Unfortunately, we seldom give him the chance to do so.

“Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”

Text by Chiara Lubich

恭讀聖瑪竇福音 25:31-46
耶穌向他的門徒說：「當人子在自己的光榮中，與眾天神一同降來時，那時，他要坐在光榮的寶座上，一切的民族，都要聚在他面前；他要把他們彼此分開，如同牧 人分開綿羊和山羊一樣：把綿羊放在自己的右邊，山羊在左邊。那時，君王要對那些在他右邊的說：我父所祝福的，你們來吧！承受自創世以來，給你們預備了的國 度吧！因為我餓了，你們給了我吃的；我渴了，你們給了我喝的；我作客，你們收留了我；我赤身露體，你們給了我穿；我患病，你們看顧了我；我在監裡，你們來 探望了我。那時，義人回答他說：主啊！我們什麼時候見了你饑餓而供養了你，或口渴而給了你喝的？我們什麼時候見了你作客，而收留了你，或赤身露體而給了你 穿的？我們什麼時候見你患病，或在監裡而來探望過你？君王便回答他們說：我實在告訴你們：凡你們對我這些最小兄弟中的一個所做的，就是對我做的。然後他又 對那些在左邊的說：可咒罵的，離開我，到那給魔鬼和他的使者預備的永火裡去吧！因為我餓了，你們沒有給我吃的；我渴了，你們沒有給我喝的；我作客，你們沒 有收留我；我赤身露體，你們沒有給我穿的；我患病或在監裡，你們沒有來探望我。那時，他們也要回答說：主啊！我們幾時見了你饑餓，或口渴，或作客，或赤身 露體，或有病，或坐監，而我們沒有給你效勞？』那時，君王回答他們說：我實在告訴你們：凡你們沒有給這些最小中的一個做的，便是沒有給我做。這些人要進入 永罰，而那些義人卻要進入永生。」

—這是基督的福音。

(1st week of Lent - Mon.)

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 25:31-46

31 “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.

34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ 40 And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’

41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ 45 Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

—The Gospel of the Lord.

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