Youth Meeting in Luanda
Only through the light of Christ can the darkness of war and selfishness be overcome, explains Holy Father
Luanda, Angola, Mar 22, 2009 / 01:09 pm (CNA).- One million people gathered in Luanda, Angola on Sunday morning for the opportunity to see Pope Benedict XVI. In his message, the Holy Father spoke of prayer for reconciliation and peace, for only the light of God can overcome the great “darkness” cast by war and greed.
Beginning his speech, the Holy Father noted that the vivid description of “the destruction and ruin caused by war” in today’s readings, “echoes the personal experience of so many people in this country amid the terrible ravages of the civil war.” He added: “How true it is that war can ‘destroy everything of value:’ families, whole communities, the fruit of men’s labor, the hopes which guide and sustain their lives and work!”
“This experience,” the Pontiff expounded, “is all too familiar to Africa as a whole: the destructive power of civil strife, the descent into a maelstrom of hatred and revenge, the squandering of the efforts of generations of good people.” He continued, “When God’s word, a word meant to build up individuals, communities and the whole human family, is neglected, and when God’s law is ‘ridiculed, despised, laughed at,’ the result can only be destruction and injustice: the abasement of our common humanity and the betrayal of our vocation to be sons and daughters of a merciful Father, brothers and sisters of his beloved Son.”
“Tragically,” he continued, “the clouds of evil have also overshadowed Africa, including this beloved nation of Angola.”
Benedict XVI went on to explain that we can easily think of the evils of war on a large scale: “the murderous fruits of tribalism and ethnic rivalry, the greed which corrupts men’s hearts, enslaves the poor, and robs future generations of the resources they need to create a more equitable and just society,” however we don’t think of that “insidious spirit of selfishness which closes individuals in upon themselves, breaks up families, and, by supplanting the great ideals of generosity and self-sacrifice, inevitably leads to hedonism, the escape into false utopias through drug use, sexual irresponsibility, the weakening of the marriage bond and the break-up of families, and the pressure to destroy innocent human life through abortion.”
We need God and his commandments, “not as a burden, but as a source of freedom: the freedom to become men and women of wisdom, teachers of justice and peace, people who believe in others and seek their authentic good.” He added: “God created us to live in the light, and to be light for the world around us!”
Turning to address the young people in the audience, he emphasized the importance of growing in a friendship with Christ and spreading the “Good News” among others. He urged them: “Seek his will for you by listening to his word daily, and by allowing his law to shape your lives and your relationships.”
“In this way you will become wise and generous prophets of God’s saving love,” he continued. “Become evangelizers of your own peers, leading them by your own example to an appreciation of the beauty and truth of the Gospel, and the hope of a future shaped by the values of God’s Kingdom.”
“The Church needs your witness!” Pope Benedict concluded. “Do not be afraid to respond generously to God’s call, whether it be to serve him as a priest or a religious, as a Christian parent, or in the many forms of service to others which the Church sets before you.”
Pope Benedict calls youth to courageously trust God with the future
Luanda, Angola, Mar 21, 2009 / 03:34 pm (CNA).- Thousands of joy-filled African youth gathered in the Dos Coquerios Stadium in Luanda, Angola on Saturday afternoon to meet Pope Benedict XVI. In a heartfelt message to the young people, the Pope addressed their doubts and fears and challenged them to courageously build a future with God.
Well aware that it was only in 2002 that Angolans threw off the scourge of the 27 year-old civil war, Pope Benedict prepared for his meeting with the youth by listening to some of them share their doubts and ask him questions. As he spoke to the throng of youth this afternoon he said, “The embrace I exchanged with them is, naturally, an embrace which I offer to all of you.”
The Holy Father seemed to draw energy from the youthful crowd, declaring “Meeting young people is good for everyone!” as he began his address.
“You may have your share of difficulties,” the Pope said, “but you are filled with great hope, great enthusiasm and a great desire to make a new beginning. My young friends, you hold within yourselves the power to shape the future.
But the Pontiff was careful not to point them to their own abilities as the source of change. “I encourage you to look to that future through the eyes of the Apostle John,” who wrote in Revelation, “I saw a new Heaven and a new earth… and I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven, from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold the dwelling of God is with men.’”
“Yes, my friends! God makes all the difference… and more! God changes us; he makes us new! This is what he has promised: ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ It is true!” Pope Benedict exclaimed.
In the crowd of young people were some who have been maimed or disabled by the war of landmines and the Holy Father spoke directly to them:
“I think of the countless tears that have been shed for the loss of your relatives and friends. It is not hard to imagine the dark clouds that still veil the horizon of your fondest hopes and dreams. In your hearts I see doubt, a doubt which you have expressed to me today. You are saying: ‘Here is what we have. There is no visible sign of the things you are talking about! The promise is backed by God’s word – and we believe it – but when will God arise and renew all things?’”
“Jesus’ answer is the one he gave to his disciples: ‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?’ But you persist, dear young people: ‘Yes! But when will this happen?’ The Apostles asked Jesus a similar question, and his answer was: ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.’ See how Jesus does not leave us without an answer; he tells us one thing very clearly: renewal starts from within; you will receive a power from on high. The power to shape the future is within you.”
Likening the healing work of God within them to the parable of the Sower and the Seed, the Pope told the youth that they are the seeds God has planted the future in.
“My dear friends, you are a seed which God has sown in the world, a seed that contains power from on high, the power of the Holy Spirit. And yet, the only way to pass from the promise of life to actually bearing fruit is to give your lives in love, to die for love.”
Pope Benedict then encouraged the youth to “not be afraid to make definitive decisions” despite the many uncertainties that they see.
“You do not lack generosity – that I know! But the idea of risking a lifelong commitment, whether in marriage or in a life of special consecration, can be daunting. You might think: ‘The world is in constant flux and life is full of possibilities. Can I make a life-long commitment now, without knowing what unforeseen events lie in store for me? By making a definitive decision, would I not be risking my freedom and tying my own hands?’ These are the doubts you feel, and today’s individualistic and hedonist culture aggravates them. Yet when young people avoid decisions, there is a risk of never attaining to full maturity!” the Pope said.
“Take courage! Dare to make definitive decisions, because in reality these are the only decisions which do not destroy your freedom, but guide it in the right direction, enabling you to move forward and attain something worthwhile in life,” Benedict XVI encouraged.
“There is no doubt about it: life is worthwhile only if you take courage and are ready for adventure, if you trust in the Lord who will never abandon you.”
The Pope closed his speech by calling on the young people of Angola to “unleash the power of the Holy Spirit within you, the power from on high! … This is the life worthy of being lived, and I commend it to you from my heart. May God bless the young people of Angola!”
教宗勉勵安哥拉青年：不要害怕作長遠决定，在你們身上找到聖神的力量
22/03/2009
（梵蒂岡電臺訊）21日下午，教宗本篤十六世在羅安達的多斯科克伊羅斯運動場與青年舉行了期待已久的會晤。這項會晤的主題是：“看，我已更新了一切。”烈 日下，數以千計的青年懷著極大的熱情歡迎教宗的來到。教宗開門見山，點出他與青年們會晤的目的說：“你們來這裏爲會見伯多祿的繼承人，同我一起在所有人面 前宣講相信耶穌基督的喜悅，更新在我們這個時代做他忠信門徒的承諾。”
鼓起勇氣，你們不孤單，耶穌不會弃你們不顧：這是 本篤十六世向安哥拉和全非洲的青年發出的强烈訊息。這項盛大會晤活動是在充滿喜悅和熱情的氣氛中進行的，只是隨後傳來的兩個女孩在擁擠的人群中不幸死亡的 消息令人感到悲哀。會晤一開始，安哥拉主教團青年和聖召委員會主席阿爾梅達主教向教宗致詞。
“本篤朋友，安哥拉同你在一 起！”：安哥拉的青年們熱情地把教宗迎入舉行會晤的多斯科克伊羅斯運動場，這項喜悅事件宛如非洲的世青節。教宗提起1992年安哥拉的青年們在同一個城市 與先教宗若望保祿二世舉行了會晤，他說：“面貌有些不同，但心中的愛是相同的，看，站在你們面前的伯多祿現任繼承人，他擁抱你們在耶穌基督內的所有人。” 教宗聆聽了幾個青年的見證幷爲之感動，他們講述了自己的悲慘經歷、戰爭留下的創傷、貧窮狀况，也提出了得救贖的願望。教宗爲所有在場的人說了鼓勵的話，他 提醒他們，要是我們是耶穌基督的朋友，就不要害怕做出决定性的選擇。
教宗說：“會晤青年人對大家都有益處！他們有時遇到許多困難，但懷抱著極大希望、極大熱情、極大重新開始的願望。”教宗又强調，青年人身上保持著“未來的活力”。他借這個機會再次重申，只有耶穌能徹底改變我們。
教 宗說：“是的，我親愛的朋友們，天主作出改變，使改變更大！天主使我們改變，使我們成爲新人。”教宗又說：“耶穌基督進入永恒，成爲各時代的上主。”因此 “天主是新人類的未來。”“他的教會正是這一切提早來到的開端。”教宗建議青年們，你們若有機會“要仔細閱讀與其有關係的歷史：你們就會瞭解到教會隨著年 代歲月的流逝却不蒼老，反而越來越年青，因爲與上主相遇，每天都更加接近流出青春、得以再生、賦予生命力量的唯一真正泉源。”
教 宗再次提到戰爭帶來的悲劇，指出在場的數千名安哥拉青年中有一些人是殘疾者，也有一些人爲失去了他們的家人而痛苦。他說：“我看到在座的數千人當中有些是 因戰爭和地雷而導致殘疾的人，我想到你們中的許多人爲失去親人而流下的無數眼泪，不難想像，烏雲仍舊覆蓋著你們美好夢幻的天空。”教宗說，我看穿你們的 心，“你們向我提出一個疑問：‘天主何時起身更新一切呢？’”
教宗向他們保障：“你們看，耶穌不會不答復我們，他清楚地 告訴我們一件事：更新從內心開始，你們要領受自上而來的力量。未來的能動力會在你們內心找到。”耶穌告訴我們生命“在種子內”，這粒種子就是他的聖言。教 宗强調：“未來臨在于種子內，因爲種子蘊含著明日的食糧，明日的生命。種子看起來沒有什麽，但是有未來的臨在，是今天已經作出的承諾。”
教 宗繼續說：“你們是天主撒在地裏的種子：這粒種子把自上而來的力量，聖神的力量帶到心裏。”教宗告誡青年們說，不過“爲從生命的承諾過渡到未來，唯一可行 的路是爲了愛奉獻出生命，爲了愛而死去。”耶穌正是這樣做了：“他被釘死在十字架上看來一切都完了，但幷非如此。”“他能够在各個時代的每個時間和地點結 出果實。”教宗也勉勵青年們進入“聖體的熱能”中同天主持續對話。
教宗指出主流的社會文化無助于青年一代按照耶穌的聖言生活，也無法幫助他們按照天父的計劃接納對他們提出奉獻自己的邀請。儘管如此，教宗說：“能在你們身上找到力量，正如耶穌所說的：父在我身上完成了他的工程。”
教 宗于是邀請青年人不要害怕做出長遠决定，“在一生度婚姻生活或奉獻的特別生活所冒的風險面前，你們感到害怕。”：“我莫非用終身决定來爲我的自由下賭注， 用自己的雙手把我捆綁起來嗎？”教宗說，這些“是你們支配你們的疑惑，眼下個人主義和享樂主義的文化更加劇了這些疑惑。”但是，“青年人若不做决定，他會 永遠是個孩子。”
教宗最後向安哥拉的青年發出强烈呼籲：“鼓起勇氣來！敢于做出長遠决定，因爲說實在的，只有這些長遠决定不摧毀自由，反而引向正確方向，得以前行，在生命中做出重大的事。”教宗鼓勵安哥拉青年有“冒險的勇氣”，讓聖神進入自己心中，好使自己的生命煥然一新。
教宗周末羅安達運動場會晤安哥拉青年，星期日“奇芒格拉”廣場為百萬人舉行彌撒，非洲南部各國主教團代表參與共祭
22/03/2009
（梵蒂岡電臺訊）教宗本篤十六世牧靈訪問非洲一星期行程將于今天三月二十三日上午十點三十分結束。他在安哥拉首都羅安達國際機場接受總統若澤·愛德華多·多斯桑托斯、全國正要、主教團、以及各界代表歡送之後便起飛，踏向歸程，預計經過七個半小時的飛行之後，返抵羅馬。
教 宗非洲此行非常順利成功，非洲人民對教宗言論和教會信仰的看法及感受與西方部分人士不同，他們重視教宗的坦誠和忠告，對教宗的忠言不以爲逆。教宗提醒非洲 人民不要相信安全套絕對可以避免愛滋病，不要相信墮胎是解決人口問題和維護婦女生育健康的途徑。對教宗的忠告非洲人民很重視，很感激。但西方一些媒體和國 際組織及政界人士卻頗有微言，他們就像教宗三月二十日下午在安哥拉總統府向全國政要及外交使節團說的，先進國家和國際組織以及跨國公司把自己的計劃方案加 給非洲國家接受推行。
從教宗非洲此行，我們看到非洲人民是如何地愛戴他，歡迎他來到他們中間，因爲他們知道教宗真正關心他們的前途命運， 也為他們的尊嚴在世界舞臺上請命。三月二十一日下午數萬安哥拉青年湧向首都運動場會晤教宗，聆聽他向他們講話，以及二十二日星期天上午來自安哥拉全國各地 百萬以上的人參與教宗為他們主持的彌撒聖祭，就是最好的證明。教宗所到之處，人們載歌載舞，真情流露，令人感動。難怪教宗心情愉快，笑容常開。
二 十二日星期天上午十點鐘，教宗在羅安達一個空曠的場地，為來自全國各地的一百多萬安哥拉人民舉行主日彌撒禮儀，參與共祭的是來自非洲南部九個國家的主教團 代表，除了安哥拉本國和聖多美外，還有博茨瓦納、南非共和國、斯威士蘭、萊索托、莫桑比克、納米比亞以及津巴布韋。當天羅安達天氣晴朗多雲，卻悶熱。彌撒 祭臺設在一個以鋼架架設的巨大半圓形帳篷下，外觀很簡樸，祭臺背後懸褂著一支巨大的十字架，別無其它裝飾。教宗右邊為他襄禮的蒙席時而交給教宗一條白色手 帕，讓教宗擦汗，可見天氣多麽悶熱。
這台彌撒是四旬期第四主日的禮儀，彌撒意向是為非洲南部地區祈禱。教宗在講道中又回到他已經多次提過 的戰亂悲劇，因爲非洲許多國家曾經、或仍然處在内戰中，耗費國家無限人力物力，驅人民于水深火熱之中，民不聊生。教宗警告：當天主的話被忽略，不受重視， 當天主的法律受到嘲笑和侮辱，它的結果只會帶來破壞和不正義。教宗說非洲人民已經備嘗部落部族之間彼此對立、互相殘殺之苦，以及人心貪婪造成的腐敗。他說 貪婪使窮人變爲奴隸，使下一代的人缺乏建設一個團結與公正社會所必要的資源。
四旬期第四主日為安哥拉是個重要的日子，因爲全國在這一天特 別為國家的修和祈禱，做刻苦犧牲。彌撒開始之前，教宗先提到一件令他哀痛的不幸事件，那就是前一天下午他在羅安達運動場會晤數萬青年時，發生人群擁擠推倒 踩踏意外，不幸有兩位青年喪生，另有十幾位受傷。當時教宗不知情，事過很久才有人告訴他這件悲劇。因此，在彌撒開始之際，教宗特別當衆表示沉痛的哀悼，他 說亡者是前來看他的，卻遭遇這個不幸，令他哀痛不已。教宗向兩位青年的家屬親友深深致哀，並答允為亡者和受傷者祈禱，也祝望傷者早日康復。
教 宗向眼前非洲南部九個國家的主教和百萬教友說：“根據苦澀的經驗，你們知道破壞容易，建設難。建設需要時間、勞苦和毅力。所以你們必須使自己的堂區不但成 爲天主真理和基督修好之愛所光照的團體，更要使這個團體具體表現愛德的行爲”。教宗激勵安哥拉全國教友不要擔心害怕他們的這種態度逆社會潮流而行，因爲時 代風尚喜歡把別人當作工具來利用，而不把他們當作兄弟姐妹來看待。
教宗在彌撒講道中再次勉勵安哥拉青年不要害怕選擇耶穌基督，他說：“從 今天起，你們要在基督的友誼中成長，他是道路、真理和生命。這樣的友誼必須以謙遜與恆心的祈禱來滋養和加深。你們要尋求基督對你們的旨意，每天聆聽他的 話，讓他的法律來塑造你們的生活和人際關係。這樣，你們就會成爲天主救恩之愛的先知，成爲向你們同伴傳播福音的人，以你們的善表引導他們重視福音的美和真 理，使他們盼望一個以天國的價值打造的前途”。教宗勉勵青年們不要害怕慷慨響應基督的召叫，以獻身教會生活或爲人父母或教會提供的其他方式來為天主服務。
彌 撒結束時，教宗當場帶領人山人海、一望無際的信友頌念三鐘經，並再次發表簡短談話，邀請他們為第二屆非洲主教特別會議祈禱，同時為非洲大湖區的和平呼籲。 他說：“在非洲南部這裡，我們願意特別祈求聖母為和平、為人心的歸依、為鄰近大湖區戰亂的早日結束轉禱。願聖母的愛子，和平之王耶穌基督使受苦的人得到痊 愈，哭泣的人得到安慰，推動艱困對話談判和消弭暴力的人獲得力量”。
每日聖言靜思 四旬期第四週 (週一) 3月23日
信仰生活互動坊、塔冷通心靈書舍
3月23日 (週一) 若4：43-54 (其他經文──依65：17-21 詠30)
耶穌離開撒瑪黎雅，往加里肋亞去了。耶穌曾親自作證說：「先知在自己的家鄉決受不到尊榮。」他一來到加肋里亞，加肋里亞人便接待了他，因為他們也曾上了耶路撒冷去過節，並親眼看見了他在慶節中所行的一切。
耶穌又來到加里肋亞加納，即他變水為酒的地方。那裡有一位王臣，他的兒子在葛法翁患病。這人一聽說耶穌從猶太到加里肋亞來了，就到他那裡去，懇求他下來醫治他的兒子，因為他快要死了。耶穌對他說：「除非你們看到神蹟和奇事，你們總是不信。」那王臣向他說：「主，在我的小孩未死以前，請你下來吧！」耶穌回答說：「去吧！你的兒子活了。」那人信了耶穌向他說的話，便走了，他正下去的時候，僕人們迎上他來，說他的孩子活了。他問他們孩子病勢好轉的時刻，他們給他說：「昨天第七時辰，熱就退了。」父親就知道正是耶穌向他說：「你的兒子活了」的那個時辰；他和他的全家便都信了。這是耶穌從猶太回到加里肋亞後，所行的第二個神蹟。
默 想
- 我們要怎樣才能真正信從耶穌呢？是看到神蹟嗎？但事實是，我們很多人無論是見到神蹟或是見不到神蹟，都沒有改變–我們只是領了洗，然後便冷漠地對耶穌。
- 為什麼會這樣？因為我們根本沒有「深入地」認識耶穌這個人。我們很喜歡認識我們的朋友，因為很容易和他們「溝通」，但和耶穌溝通，並不是慣用和朋友的方法，又看不見，那就沒有那麼熱心了。
- 有些人做學問研究，例如研究甘地、或是孔子，能大量研讀他們的書，比我們對耶穌更熱心。
- 若你現在沒有這麼熱心，或許用研究的心態可能會有幫助。就是不單單從聖經看耶穌，而是去看看有關耶穌的書，或其他人如何看耶穌，或許有幫助。
湯漢主教講道 – 四旬期第四主日 (2009年3月22日)
恭讀聖若望福音 3:14-21
那時候，耶穌向尼苛德摩說：「梅瑟曾在曠野裡高舉了蛇，人子也應照樣被舉起來，使凡信的人，在祂內獲得永生。」天主竟這樣愛了世界，甚至賜下了自己的獨生 子，使凡信祂的人，不至喪亡，反而獲得永生。因為天主沒有派遣子到世界上來，審判世界，而是為叫世界，藉著祂而獲救。那信從祂的，不受審判；那不信的，已 受到了審判，因為他沒有信從天主獨生子的名字。審判就在於此：光明來到了世界，世人卻愛黑暗甚於光明，因為他們的行為是邪惡的。的確，凡作惡的，都憎惡光 明，也不來接近光明，怕自己的行為暴露出來；然而履行真理的，卻來接近光明，為顯示出他的行為，是在天主內完成的。—上主的話。
(4th Sunday of Lent)
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 3:14-21
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.
—The Gospel of the Lord.
