生活聖言 (2010年3月)

by pleung | Mar 8, 2010 | Focolare, Word of Life

「我實在告訴你們：假如你們有像芥子那麼大的信德，你們向這座山說：從這邊移到那邊去！它必會移過去的；為你們沒有不可能的事。」 （瑪17：20）

在生命的際遇中，你不知多少次感到需要有人向你伸出援手，但又同時發覺別人愛莫能助。那時，你往往會不期然地投靠『一位』，希望祂能夠把不可能的事變得可能，而這『一位』便是耶穌。
且聽祂說：

「我實在告訴你們：假如你們有像芥子那麼大的信德，你們向這座山說：從這邊移到那邊去！它必會移過去的；為你們沒有不可能的事。」 （瑪17：20）

無疑，我們不應從字面去理解『移山』這個字眼。耶穌給予門徒行聖蹟的能力，目的不在於使群眾嘆為觀止。『移山』這個詞只不過是故意誇大的語法，以便門徒能明白，並要他們緊記一點，即是只要有信德，一切都是可能的。
一切奇蹟，無論是耶穌直接施行的，或是藉著祂的門徒所成就的，目的都是為了彰顯天國、傳揚福音或救贖人類。『移山』與這些目標卻沒有多大關係。
耶穌拿『芥子』的大小與信德比較，但祂的意思並非指我們的信德要有多大，而是要求我們擁有純正的信德。這種信德的特徵則在乎完全依賴上主，而不仰仗個人的力量。
假如有時你的信德或存有質疑或感到動搖，這表示你對天主的信德還未圓滿。你的信德仍然薄弱而無效，仍然倚重了個人的力量和人性的邏輯。
但那完全信任天主的人卻曉得把一切交托在祂的手中……天主是無所不能的。
耶穌對門徒所要求的信德便是一份對天主充滿信心的態度，讓祂彰顯祂的威能。
這信德並不限於某些出類拔萃的人；反之，所有的信徒都可以，並應該具備這樣的信德。

「我實在告訴你們：假如你們有像芥子那麼大的信德，你們向這座山說：從這邊移到那邊去！它必會移過去的；為你們沒有不可能的事。」

有人認為耶穌向門徒說這句話時，正在打發他們出外傳教。
假如我們意識到自己只是一群毫無準備的『小小的羊群』，既沒有任何特殊的天份，又需要在無數群眾前宣講福音的真理，的確很容易令人氣餒和顫慄。尤其要面對那些對天主的國不感興趣的人時，亦自然很容易令我們變得心灰意冷，並認為當前的任務簡直是不可能的。
所以耶穌向祂的門徒保證，只要他們有信德，就算連冷淡及漠不關心的態度都可以『移開』及徹底改變過來。
假如他們有信德，便沒有不可能的事。
事實上，在任何生活的環節中，只要是關乎推廣福音和拯救人靈的事工，都可以把這句話應用出來。
有時我們面對著幾乎無法克服的困難，很容易會受到誘惑，連天主也乾脆不加信賴。我們人性的想法會這樣說：「我受夠了！反正信賴上主也沒有用的！」就是在這時刻，耶穌勸勉我們不要氣餒，並要全心投靠上主。祂總會以某種方式去應允我們的祈求！

李儀便有過這樣的體驗。
數月前，她滿懷希望來到一個人地生疏的地方工作，但過了不久，她開始感到灰心和孤獨。她和跟她一起工作和生活的女孩子們之間，似乎隔著一堵不能攀越的圍牆。雖然她一心只想為了愛而服務他人，但在她們當中，她卻感到被孤立起來，並跟她們成了陌路人一樣。
問題在於她們彼此間溝通的語言都不是自己的母語。未到該地工作前，李儀只聽說那裡人人都講法語，於是她便進修了法文。抵達之後她才知道當地的人只在學校裡修讀法文，而平時卻大多不願意用法文與人交談的。她多次嘗試把那使她與別人分隔的『山』移開，但總是徒勞無功。她不斷自問：「我可以為她們做些什麼？」
她總發現一位同伴瑪莉心情沉重；一天晚上，她甚至沒有吃飯，只躲在自己的房間裡。李儀希望能幫助她；來到瑪莉的房間前，躊躇了一會，心裡有點害怕。她本想敲門，但又不知對她說些什麼。結果，她離開了。
翌日早上，她跪在教堂裡最後的一排，雙手掩面，怕別人看見她不斷流淚。在教堂裡完全沒有語言的阻隔，也不用作任何解釋，因為那裡有『一位』能瞭解人的內心。於是她滿懷信心，熱切地向耶穌祈求：「為什麼我不能分擔其他女孩子的十字架，使她們明白袮曾令我瞭解的一端真理，就是每一份痛苦都是愛呢？」
她在聖體櫃前期待著回音似的，因為在她過去一生中，上主曾照亮了她心靈上種種的黑暗與陰霾。她看到當天的讀經的一句福音這樣說：「你們放心（即是說，保持信德吧！），我已戰勝了世界。」（參閱若16：33） 這句話就像甘露一樣落在李儀的心田，使她感到心靈異常平安。
當她回家吃早飯時，立刻遇到打理宿舍的安妮。李儀向她打個招呼後便跟著她進入廚房，一聲不響的幫助她預備早餐。
第一個進入飯廳的是瑪莉。她急忙的來到廚房取咖啡，為的是想避免遇到其他人，但看到李儀那麼祥和的樣子卻令她呆住了：她的心靈強烈的被這份平安打動了。
那天下午在歸途中，瑪莉騎著自行車，從後面趕上李儀，用簡單的句子向她低聲說：「你不用說什麼了，今天你的榜樣已告訴了我：『你也去愛吧！』」
這座『山』已經被移開了。

盧嘉勒

註：本月聖言已於1979年9月份發表過

Word of Life – March 2010

by pleung | Mar 8, 2010 | Focolare, Word of Life

“Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Mt 17:20)

March 2010 – Find genuine faith

The Word of Life, taken from Scripture, is offered each month as a guide and inspiration for daily living. From the Focolare’s beginnings, Chiara Lubich wrote her commentaries on each Word of Life, and after her death in March 2008, her early writings are now being featured once again. This commentary, addressed to a primarily Christian audience, was originally published in September 1979.

How often in the course of your life have you felt the need for somebody to give you a hand and at the same time realized that no one could solve your problem. Then, inadvertently, you turn to Someone who can make the impossible happen. This Someone has a name: Jesus.
Listen to what he says to you:

“Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Obviously, the expression “to move mountains” is not to be taken literally. Jesus did not promise his disciples the power to do spectacular miracles simply to amaze the crowds. In fact if you look through the whole history of the Church, you will not find one saint, as far as I know, who literally moved mountains by faith. The expression “to move mountains” is hyperbole, that is, a rhetorical exaggeration. It was intended to instill in the minds of the disciples the idea that with faith nothing is impossible.
Indeed, the purpose of every miracle of Jesus, directly or through his followers, has always been for the sake of the kingdom of God, promoting the Gospel or the salvation of humankind. Moving mountains wouldn’t serve this purpose.
The comparison with the “mustard seed” is used to show that what Jesus requires of you is not faith of a particular size, but a genuine faith. The characteristic of genuine faith is that it is rooted solely in God and not in your own strength.
If you are assailed by doubts or reservations about your faith, it means your trust in God is not yet total: your faith is weak and not very effective, and still depends on your own strength and on human ways of reasoning.
On the other hand, one who trusts in God completely lets God himself act and … for God nothing is impossible.
The faith Jesus wants from his disciples is, in fact, that attitude of total trust which allows God himself to manifest his power.
And this faith, which can therefore move mountains, is not reserved for certain exceptional people. It is possible, and it is a requirement, for all believers.

“Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

It is thought that Jesus said these words to his disciples when he was about to send them out on a mission.
It is easy to be discouraged and afraid when you know you are a little flock, with no special talents, facing crowds of people to whom you have to give the truth of the Gospel. It is easy to lose heart in front of people interested in anything but the kingdom of God. It seems an impossible task.
It is then that Jesus assures his disciples that by faith they will “move mountains” of indifference and apathy in the world. If they have faith, nothing will be impossible for them.
This expression can be applied, furthermore, to all circumstances in life, as long as they are about the progress of the Gospel and the salvation of people.
At times, when faced with difficulties we cannot overcome, we may even be tempted not to turn to God. Human reasoning tells us, “Give up; it’s no use anyway.” It is then that Jesus urges us not to be discouraged but to turn to God with trust. In one way or another, he will answer us.
Some months had passed since the day when, full of hope, Lella first reported to her new job in the Flemish-speaking area of Belgium. But then a sense of dismay and loneliness took hold of her.
It seemed as though an insurmountable barrier had gone up between her and the other young women she lived and worked with. She felt lonely and like a stranger among people she only wished to serve with love.
It was all because she had to speak a language that was neither hers nor the language of those she spoke to. She had been told that everybody spoke French in Belgium, and she had learned it. But meeting the people, she realized that the Flemish only studied French in school and generally spoke it unwillingly.
Many times she tried to move this mountain of segregation that kept her apart from the others, but in vain. What could she do for them?

One evening she noticed that Godeliève was very sad. She had gone up to her room without touching her supper. Lella tried to follow, but she stopped in front of her door, shy and hesitant. She wanted to knock… but what words could she use to make herself understood? She stood there a few seconds, then gave up and left.
The next morning she went to church and sat at the very back, her face in her hands so that no one would see her tears. It was the only place where there was no need to speak a different language, where no explanations were needed, because there was Someone who understood beyond words. This certainty of being understood gave her courage, and with her soul in anguish, she asked Jesus, “Why can’t I share the crosses of the other girls and tell them what you yourself made me understand when I found you: that every suffering is love?”
She remained in front of the tabernacle as though expecting an answer from the One who had brought light into every darkness of her life.
Then her eyes fell on the Gospel of the day, and she read, “Take courage [that is, have faith], I have conquered the world” (Jn 16:33). These words were like a healing balm on Lella’s soul, and she felt great peace.
When she went back for breakfast, she met Annj, the girl who took care of the housework. She greeted Annj and followed her into the storeroom; then, without a word she started to help her prepare breakfast.
The first to come down was Godeliève. She came to the kitchen for her coffee quickly, to avoid seeing anyone. But there, she stopped; Lella’s peace had touched her soul in a way that was stronger than any words.
That evening, on the way home, Godeliève caught up with Lella on her bicycle and, trying to speak in a way Lella would understand, she whispered: “Your words aren’t necessary. Today your life said, ‘You too should love.’” The mountain had moved!

By Chiara Lubich