神父講道 – 常年期第二週 (週三) (2010年1月20日)

聖法彬教宗殉道

恭讀聖馬爾谷福音 3:1-6

那時候,耶穌進了會堂,在那裏有一個人,他的一隻手枯乾了。法利塞人窺察耶穌是否在安息日治好那人,好去控告他。耶穌對那有一隻手枯了的人說:「起來,站在中間!」遂對法利塞人說:「安息日許行善呢,或作惡呢?許救命呢,或害命呢?」他們一聲不響。耶穌遂含怒環視他們,見他們的心硬而悲傷,就對那人說:「伸出手來!」他一伸,他的手就復原了。法利塞人一出去,立刻便與黑落德黨人作陷害耶穌的商討,為除滅他。

—基督的福音。

(2nd Week in Ordinary Time – Wednesday)

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 3:1-6

1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Hero’di-ans against him, how to destroy him.

—The Gospel of the Lord.

往神父講道目錄

聖座記者招待會介紹中東主教特別會議大綱,内容以世界政治與宗教信仰爲主

19/01/2010
(梵蒂岡電臺訊)聖座世界主教會議與元月十九日在梵蒂岡新聞室舉行記者招待會,介紹今年十月將在梵蒂岡舉行的中東主教特別會議的内容大綱。記者招待會由聖座發言人隆巴迪神父主持,主要發言人是世界主教會議秘書長尼古拉·埃泰洛維奇縂主教。

未來中東主教特別會議大綱除了序言外,共有三章,另有三十二個問題供給與會的主教參考,表示意見,作爲未來會議討論的主要議題。

負責世界主教會議的埃泰洛維奇縂主教指出:會議的主要目的是牧靈,但也將討論中東天主教當前面對的種種挑戰。與會的教長將有一百五十位,包括中東地區所有的主教,他們代表著從埃及到伊朗這整個地區的一千七百萬天主教徒。會議大綱觸及中東地區的政治動亂,宗教自由,威脅基督信徒的伊斯蘭教某些極端組織份子。

埃泰洛維奇秘書長說:“面對當前的局勢,會議大綱建議培育基督信徒,使他們能夠在私人和公開場合更忠誠地度基督信仰生活。此外,基督信徒也必須繼續為建立一個民主、尊重人權和義務的社會作出貢獻”。

主教會議綱要提到主教與教友的共融,並強調必須增加天主教與其他信奉基督的教會團體的對話。至於與猶太教的對話,埃泰洛維奇縂主教表示:這受到中東政治局勢的約束,因爲以色列國和阿拉伯世界至今彼此對立。無論如何,以色列和巴勒斯坦雙方人民都有權利擁有自己的國家,並在國内享受和平的生活。

這位世界主教會議秘書長並指出:“無論如何,縂要強調宗教計劃與政治計劃的區別;不可利用聖經作爲政治目的;也不可以利用政治達到宗教目的。在這觀點下需要重視的是猶太教與基督宗教、以及舊約聖經與新約聖經之間的關係”。

此外,埃泰洛維奇秘書長也提到基督宗教與伊斯蘭教的關係,他說基督信徒有權利要求自己的權利受到尊重,也受到以伊斯蘭教爲主的中東各國憲法的承認。他說:“不幸的是由於在宗教和政治之間缺乏清晰的區別,以致基督信徒經常處在非國民的狀況下。爲了改善這種局勢,需要促進對話,增進彼此的了解。此外,也需要鼓勵藉著傳播媒體,甚至發行小冊,客觀地介紹基督宗教和伊斯蘭教,讓一般民衆容易了解認識”。

縂主教繼續說:“如果伊斯蘭教徒接受基督信徒改信伊斯蘭教,那麽他們也應該接受伊斯蘭教徒成爲基督信徒。當然,依目前情況來説,這是很困難的,需要走一段很重要的路途才行。然而,我們相信人權放諸四海皆准,為每個人都有相同的價值和意義”。

事實上,不論在維護正義或家庭以及生命權利上,伊斯蘭教徒和基督信徒的看法都一致。因此,兩個宗教人士大可以在這方面合作。本著這樣的精神,將可以把政治和宗教極端份子隔離,以便建立一個新人類。在這方面,中東主教們早已經在努力開闢一條反對暴利的和平道路。

最後,世界主教會議秘書長談到中東地區基督信徒大量外流這個非常重要又迫切的問題,他說:“不僅是中東主教特別會議,也包括聖座和整個天主教會,都r認爲聖地為我們珍貴的不只是那裏的石頭,也包括那裏的基督信徒,他們賦給那些石頭生命和教會共融的意義。聖地的石頭本身就在為歷史作證,然而,更好是讓石頭跟中東基督信徒一起作證,那裏的基督信徒大都是阿拉伯人,他們爲了能夠促使阿拉伯國家重新誕生而引以爲榮”。

在結束記者招待會之前,埃泰洛維奇縂主教答復記者的話說:聖座正在研究召開第二次美洲主教特別會議的可能性。

Children of Medjugorje January 2010 Newsletter

January 15, 2010

Dear Children of Medjugorje,

Praised be Jesus and Mary!

1 – On January 2nd Mirjana received her monthly apparition at her home. After the apparition, she shared the following message:

“Dear children! Today I am calling you to, with complete trust and love, set out with me, because I desire to acquaint you with my Son. Do not be afraid, my children, I am here with you, I am next to you. I am showing you the way to forgive yourselves, to forgive others, and, with sincere repentance of heart, to kneel before the Father. Make everything die in you that hinder you from loving and saving – that you may be with Him and in Him. Decide for a new beginning, a beginning of sincere love of God Himself. Thank you.”

On the evening of December 31, 2009, Marija asked the Blessed Mother for a special favor explaining that the next day, the feast of the Mother of God and the first day of the year, many pilgrims requested that they attend the apparition at her home the following day; but because her chapel is very small, she was sad not to be able to offer this opportunity to all who asked. So she asked the Blessed Mother for a change in location to make it easier for more people to attend. She suggested that instead of coming at 5:40, to Marija’s chapel, Our Lady would appear in the evening on Apparition Hill so that everyone could attend. The Gospa replied that she would do both on the first of the year, come to the chapel at 5:40 and come to Apparition Hill in the evening. So, on the Evening of January 1st, we were all on Podbrdo, praying our rosaries under the pouring rain, with our feet in the mud and our hearts in joy. The apparition lasted quite a while, and Marija told us, “The Gospa came today very happy, with legions of Angels! She looked at all of us and smiled at us saying, ‘You are my joy, you are my hope!’ Then she urged us to live the messages that she has given us.” This is how we started the year 2010 with Her and with Her Heavenly army of Angels. We’ll definitely need them this year! And we entrusted all of you to Her motherly care.
2 – The Cardinal wishes to come back to Medjugorje. Cardinal Schönborn (Vienna) came on a private pilgrimage to Medjugorje at New Year’s. It was a major event in the history of Medjugorje. What joy his coming brought to us! One of the numerous blessings of the pilgrimage was the positive light his coming shed on Medjugorje, it definitively eradicated from people’s minds the idea that Medjugorje is “forbidden”. Often times, when an occasion presents itself to go to Medjugorje, some refrain saying, “No, it’s not recognized by the Church.” That is true, but “not recognized” does not mean “forbidden.” In fact, Medjugorje has never been “forbidden,” but the Church, in her great wisdom, is not able to make a statement until the apparitions cease. While we wait for the official stance of the Church, we ALL have this wonderful opportunity to go to Medjugorje on private pilgrimage, because it is only the pilgrimages officially organized by a diocese or parish, that are not authorized. That is in itself a great gift, because at any time during 28 years the Church could have forbidden even private pilgrimages. From the reflections of the Cardinal, as published recently in his interviews, here are a few of our favorite highlights:

The Cardinal has stated that he came above all as a pilgrim, for prayer and conversion. (That is the best interior disposition one could have while coming to Medjugorje.) For more than twenty years, he had within him the desire to come, having seen its good fruits in his own diocese and elsewhere. He stated that he saw:

Many priestly vocations at his seminary in Vienna, the majority of which were received at Medjugorje or through Medjugorje;

The Cardinal has been able to witness beautiful conversions, even among those close to him from every strata and social group;

The physical and moral healing of so many people who arrived broken in Medjugorje, including those afflicted by drugs, despair, the grief of losing a dear one, etc;

The quality of prayer in groups from his diocese linked to Medjugorje, how joyously these groups live their faith and persevere in adoration and the sacraments. He mentioned the church of the Dominicans, which is filled to the rafters for hours every Thursday;

Mary: “I came to Medjugorje to be near the Mother of the Lord,” declared the Cardinal during the Holy Hour that he led in St. James church;

Confessions: As the majority of priests who hear confessions in Medjugorje, the Cardinal was touched by the sincerity and the depth of those he heard;

The Franciscans: The Cardinal has had positive, direct and fraternal interactions with our priests throughout his stay;

The Visionaries: The Cardinal had already been touched by their modesty and their simplicity in his meeting with Ivan, then with Marija in the cathedral of Vienna, on the occasion of a prayer meeting last year. In Medjugorje, he was able to meet some of the other visionaries and left very impressed;

Action: The Cardinal was hosted by the community of the Cenacle (founded by Sister Elvira for the rehabilitation of young people suffering from addictions such as drugs.) There, the Cardinal was able to witness also the fruits of mercy and charity emanating from Medjugorje, where thousands of young people have been saved from certain destruction, even death. He was able to visit the Mother’s Village, founded by Father Slavko, and Mary’s Meal, a Charity born through Medjugorje, led by Magnus MacFarlane from Scotland, which provides daily meals to starving children around the world (see PS2);

All of this caused him to say that if one judges a tree by its fruits, good fruits cannot be found on a bad tree. A profound joy could be read on the face of the Cardinal, and all were struck by it.

Finally, questioned about the position of the Church, the Cardinal made it clear: “I am not able to, nor do I have the intention to, make a diocesan pilgrimage to Medjugorje, as we have done to Rome or to the Holy Land. But it has never been forbidden by the Episcopal Conference or by Rome, for pilgrims to go to Medjugorje. An affirmation seems to me particularly important for us, the Bishops: pilgrims must be accompanied spiritually. I see my duty precisely that way, as Archbishop of Vienna: When I see that hundreds, thousands of people in my diocese are making pilgrimages to Medjugorje, that prayer groups are being born, that priestly vocations are happening, that conversions are taking place, then as bishop I must take care that these pilgrims also have good support.”

See the interviews at www.Kat.net (Vienna) or at http://crownofstars.blogspot.com/ (Vecernji list).

Cardinal Schönborn with Pope Benedict

Cardinal Schönborn had a private audience with the Holy Father on January 15th. After that, he wrote from Rome a letter to the Bishop of Mostar, saying, “I have received your recent letter dated 2 January. I regret if you have the impression that my pilgrimage to Medjugorje did a disservice to peace. Rest assured that this was not my intention…The Mother of God and her divine Son will certainly lead all things towards that which is good. In this trust, I greet you fraternally united in the Lord and remain yours, + Christoph Card. Schönborn O.P.

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, will visit Mostar on January 23 to ordain Msgr Petar Rajic as an Archbishop. Msgr Rajic is appointed by the Pope as Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, and as Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula. His parents are from Doljai, in the diocese of Trebinje-Mrkan. Let’s pray hard that this special visit may bring deep understanding and true peace between Mostar, Medjugorje and Rome!
3 – The Saint that chose the Children of Medjugorje for the year 2010 is The Holy Family of Nazareth! Jesus Himself, with Mary and Joseph, nothing less! This is providential for the families who need so much help today! Our job is to pray for blessed, holy and happy families! A strong protection from the Holy Family will be most welcome as we enter this New Year.

On the other hand, without knowing that we were to receive the Holy Family as our pal for 2010, last November we built a life size manger in our garden, with beautiful statues, which are also life-size.

Mary is sitting, hands open, and the Infant lays at her feet in a real manger. The neighborhood children like to come and look at the Little Baby Jesus, like the shepherds of old. This site has become a place of prayer accessible to everyone! The idea is to permit mothers who have had an abortion or a miscarriage, or even lost a child in another manner, to lay that child into the hands of the Blessed Mother so that in Heaven she may closely watch over him or her. Doing so, these mothers are deeply comforted, they gain peace and also receive healing from many pains such as: persistent sadness, anguish of death, obsessive guilt, etc. That manger is thus a beautiful opportunity for many hearts to be healed by the mercy of God and the good care of Baby Jesus.

The little Infant Jesus is very beautiful. For inner healing of those who come to recollect themselves in front of the Infant, it is important to look at Him and be looked at by Him. It is the powerful therapy from the innocence of God that thus takes place. Come and see our manger during your next pilgrimage! (See PS3)
4 – The year for priests: This month, here is our prayer for priests:

“We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry. Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love. Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit. Lead them to new depths of union with your Son. Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us. Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will. O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son. Intercede for our priests that, offering the Sacrifice of Mass, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. St. John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests.”

O Mother of God, dearest Gospa, you too are our joy and our hope!

Please don’t abandon us, sinners! Please draw us closer to you in this year 2010!

Sister Emmanuel +

(Translated from French)

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PS 1 – Sister Emmanuel’s latest teachings are NOW AVAILABLE on both CD and DVD format! Choose a single title or purchase all six: Take the Hand of Your Heavenly Mother; Make Your Peace With God; Embrace Suffering As Your Way to Joy; Pray With Your Family: A Remedy for our World Today; Responding to Our Lady’s Call to Holiness; Prayer Groups: Our Lady’s School for Holiness.

*Use coupon code “lent” and receive free shipping when you purchase the entire set of six CDs!

*Buy the DVD set for your Lenten preparation and go on a virtual retreat with Sister Emmanuel, as experienced this fall at the Children of Medjugorje Summit Retreat in St Malo, Colorado! Use coupon code “retreat” for free shipping until Ash Wednesday (February 17).

PS 2 – Mary’s Meals is doing a great job right now in Haiti, where they had started feeding poor Children two years ago. They are in Haiti right now, and they need your help! See www.marysmeals.org

PS 3 – You can see some photos of our manger on www.childrenofmedjugorje.com The manger stands near our big white Crucifix, along our little forest.

PS 4 – Read it. Spread it! The Hidden Child of Medjugorje by Sr. Emmanuel. You won’t regret giving this book to a friend as a shower gift or a wedding gift! In the US go to our store: http://www.childrenofmedjugorje.com then click “Shop COM.”

一言為定 (2010年1月20日)

「耶穌對那人說:『伸出手來!』他一伸,他的手就復了原。」(谷3:5)

耶穌不單是安息日的主人,也是一切受造物的主人,連魔鬼及風浪也要聽從他:

「不要作聲! 從他身上出去!」(谷1:25)[在葛法翁驅魔] 

「不要作聲,平定了罷!」(谷4:39)[平息風浪] 

「起來,拿你的床,回家去罷!」(谷2:11)[治好癱子]

「伸出手來!」(谷3:5) [治好枯手的人]

「女孩子,我命妳起來!」(谷5:41)[復活雅依洛的女兒]
「來跟隨我,我要使你們成為漁人的漁夫。」(谷1:17)[召選門徒]

我們可以看到,耶穌以上的說話是帶有命令式的。

不過,耶穌在教導方面,大部份都是勸籲式的。

無論是『命令式』或『勸籲式』,天主的聖言永遠是天主聖意的表達,我們不能掉以輕心。

只要我們肯服從,我們便生活在天主之內。

梁達材神父