Blog of Fr. Peter Leung

「誰愛我，我父也必愛他，我也要愛他，並將我自己顯示給他。」（若14:21）

在耶穌的臨別贈言中，愛就是祂講話的重心，即有關天父對聖子的愛，以及我們對耶穌的愛，而愛耶穌的意思就是遵守祂的命令。
當時，那些聆聽耶穌的人不難察覺到，祂的言談帶有猶太人智慧文學的神韻，例如：「愛即在於遵守祂的法律」（智慧書6:18），又如：「愛慕智慧的，容易看見它。」（參閱智慧書6:12）尤其當耶穌提到祂會向愛祂的人顯示自己時，正好與舊約智慧書第一章第二節互相輝映，因為那一節指出上主會向那些信祂的人顯示自己。
現在，我們給這句聖言的解釋是：誰愛聖子，天父便愛他，聖子也會愛他，並把自己顯示給他。

「誰愛我，我父也必愛他，我也要愛他，並將我自己顯示給他。」

可是耶穌的這種顯示卻要求我們去愛。
我們不能想像一個基督徒在心中缺乏這種動力，即這種愛的能力。一個壞了的時鐘不能報時，甚至可以說它不再是個時鐘。同樣，一個不時常努力去愛的人，也不堪被稱為基督徒。
這是因為耶穌的所有誡命都綜合在這條誡命之內：愛主愛人，並在近人身上看見及愛慕耶穌。
真愛並非感情用事，卻要落實在生活中，為弟兄而服務，尤其我們身旁的弟兄。我們可以由細微的事情做起，由最卑微的服務開始。
聖人福高曾說：「當我們愛某人時，我們真實地在他內生活，藉著愛，我們生活在他內，我們不再為自己生活，不再依戀自己，並已跳出了自己。」(福高著：《神修著作》第七冊，1975年羅馬新城出版社第110頁)
因著這份愛，耶穌的真光才能在我們內照耀，這是耶穌的許諾：「誰愛我，……並將我自己顯示給他。」(參閱若14:2) 愛就是真光的泉源。我們去愛的時候便更能了解天主，認識祂就是愛。
這樣我們便更懂得去愛，並能加深與近人的關係。
所以，這道真光及這份對天主的認識就是真愛的印記和證明。我們還能以多種方式去體驗這一點，因為這道光在我們每人身上以不同的色彩及色調反映出來，同時也令大家之間具有共同的特質。這些特質包括：真光把上主的聖意明顯的呈現出來，它賜給我們平安及寧靜，並使我們不斷對天主聖言有進一步的了解。這是一道溫暖的真光，能激勵我們在生命的道路上越發堅定及迅速地向前邁進。當生命的陰影籠罩著我們，令我們步伐不穩定，甚至遇到黑暗的阻隔時，這句生活聖言能提醒我們，真光是以愛去點燃起來的，只要一個簡單而具體的愛德行動，例如一個祈禱、一個微笑、一句話，便能給我們帶來一點光明，讓我們繼續前行。
有一種腳踏車，在踩動車輪時，前照燈便會亮著。當我們在夜間騎腳踏車時，假如稍微停下，四周便會漆黑一片，但當我們再次踩動車輪時，電池便再充電，令我們又看見前路。
生命也是如此：只要我們再次把真愛，那不期待回報的愛付諸實行，我們內心的信德及希望便能重新點燃起來。

盧嘉勒

本月的生活聖言已於1999年5月份刊登

“Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him” (Jn 14:21)

Love is at the center of Jesus’ farewell discourse: the love of the Father for the Son, our love for Jesus, which means keeping his commandments.
Those who were listening to Jesus could easily recognize in his words an echo of Jewish wisdom literature such as, “Love of her [i.e., Wisdom] means the keeping of her laws” (Wis 6:18; see Prov 8:15-17; Sir 24:22-23) and, “She is readily perceived by those who love her” (Wis 6:12). In particular, revealing himself to those who love finds another parallel in Book of Wisdom 1:2, where it says that the Lord will manifest himself to those who believe in him.
The point of this Word of Life is: the Father loves those who love the Son, and the Son in turn loves them and reveals himself to them.

“Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him” (Jn 14:21)

Such a revelation of Jesus, however, requires love. We cannot conceive of Christians who do not have this dynamism, this driving force of love in their hearts. A clock doesn’t work, it doesn’t tell the time – we wouldn’t even call it a clock – if its batteries are dead. It’s the same with Christians. If they are not constantly striving to love, they don’t deserve the name of Christian.
The reason for this is that all of Jesus’ commandments can be summed up in one: love of God and love of neighbor in whom we recognize and love Jesus.
Love is not just a matter of feelings. Love needs to be expressed in concrete terms, in serving our brothers and sisters, especially those who are near us, beginning with the little things, the most humble acts of service.
Charles de Foucauld once said: “When you love someone, you are really in that person through love, you live in that person through love, you no longer live in yourself, you are detached from yourself, outside of yourself.”

When we love in this way, the light of Jesus makes its way into our hearts, just as he promised: “Whoever loves me … I will … reveal myself to him” (Jn 14:21).

Love is the source of light. By loving we have a greater understanding of God who is Love.
This leads us to love even more and to deepen our relationship with our neighbor.

This light, this loving knowledge of God is therefore the seal, the proof of true love. And we can experience it in different ways, because light takes on a particular color or shade in each one of us. But it also has some common characteristics: it helps us to understand the will of God, it gives us peace, serenity, and an ever-new understanding of the word of God. It is a heart-warming light that encourages us to walk along our way of life with growing confidence and determination. When the shadows of life make our way uncertain, when darkness threatens to stop us, these words of the Gospel will remind us that a light is turned on by loving and that even one small gesture of concrete love (a prayer, a smile, a word) will give us enough light to go forward.
Some bicycles have headlights that work as long as the riders keep peddling. If they stop, they find themselves in darkness, but when they start peddling again, the dynamo will provide the light one needs to see the way to go.
We can apply this to our lives: we only need to set love in motion again — our true love, a love that gives without expecting anything in return — in order to rekindle in us faith and hope.

By Chiara Lubich

「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

“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

「我就是門，誰若經過我進來，必得安全；可以進，可以出，可以找著草場。」（若10：9）

耶穌形容自己就是那要實現上主種種應許的一位，包括這個與自己的天主締結盟約，又在其歷史中見證了上主永不言悔的盟約及充滿盟約印記的民族，他們的期望耶穌也會加以滿全。
門的圖像與另一個耶穌用過的圖像相似，從而更能解釋門的含意。耶穌在福音中另一處說過：「我就是道路，誰不經過我，不能到父那裡去。」 所以祂真的是通往天父，即天主自己的道路和門扉。

「我就是門，誰若經過我進來，必得安全；可以進，可以出，可以找著草場。」（若10：9）

這句聖言在我們的生活中有什麼具體的意義呢？

其實在福音中還有其他章節與若望福音這一句有關，並且同樣可以使我們從中得到啟發，進而激發我們生活的意義，但我們只選擇其中談到要努力通過「窄門」、進入生命的這個章節。
為什麼要選擇這一節呢？因為我們認為這句話最接近耶穌談及祂自己時所指的真理，並最能啟發我們怎樣去生活。
耶穌什麼時候敞開了通往天主聖三的門呢？就是當上天之門為祂好像變得封閉時，祂為我們所有人成為了上天之門。
被捨棄的耶穌就是這道門。上主與人類通過祂而達到完美的交往，因為當祂空虛了自己時，祂把眾子女與天父連繫在一起。通過這個空虛（打開的門口），人接觸到天主，而天主也接觸到人。
因此，被捨棄的耶穌就是這道窄小而同時又是敞開的門，這種經驗，我們也可以體會。

「我就是門，誰若經過我進來，必得安全；可以進，可以出，可以找著草場。」（若10：9）

當耶穌被捨棄時，祂為我們成為了通往天父的途徑。
祂已經完成了祂的部分，但為能善用這樣大的恩寵，我們每人也要做自己的一小部分。就是要接近那道門，並跨越到另一邊去。怎樣做呢？
當我們感到失意，或受到打擊，或遇到始料不及的災禍，或患上不可思議的疾病時，我們都可以想起耶穌的痛苦，因為祂把這一切的考驗，還有其他許多的痛苦都變成祂自己。
對，祂臨在於一切令人痛苦的事情中。我們每一份痛苦都是祂的一個名字。
所以，讓我們在人生所有的悲痛、困難中，在所有個人及他人的低潮及悲劇中，在我們四周一切人的疾苦中認出耶穌。這一切都是耶穌，因為祂把這一切痛苦都容納在自己身上，成為祂的痛苦。只要我們用信德對祂說：「主，你是我唯一的幸福」，只要我們為窮人和悲哀的人身上的耶穌作一點實際的工作，去減輕「祂的」痛苦，這樣我們便能跨越到門的另一邊，並找到一份從未體驗過的喜樂，和一份新又滿全的生命。

盧嘉勒

“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture” (Jn 10:9)

February 2010 – Find joy

Jesus presents himself as the one who fulfills the divine promises and the expectations of a people whose story is marked by an alliance with God that has never been revoked.
The idea of the gate is similar to and explained quite well by another image used by Jesus: “I am the way… No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). He is truly a passageway, an open door that leads to the Father, to God himself.

“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.”

Practically speaking, what does this Word of Life mean? Other passages of the Gospel have implications similar to this phrase from John. Let us reflect on the “narrow gate,” through which we must strive to enter (see Mt 7:13) so as to enter into life.
Why did we choose this passage? We feel that perhaps it is the closest to the truth that Jesus reveals about himself, and it helps us see best how to live it.
When did he become this wide open door, completely open to the Trinity? At the moment the door of heaven seemed to be closed for him, he became the gateway to heaven for us all.
Jesus Forsaken (see Mk 15:34 and Mt 27:46) is the door through which a perfect exchange between God and humanity takes place; in his emptying, he united the children to the Father. It is through that emptiness (the opening of the door) that we come in contact with God and God with us.
So he is at the same time a narrow and wide open door, and we ourselves can experience this.

“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.”

In his abandonment, Jesus himself became our access to the Father. His part is done. But to take advantage of such a huge grace, each one of us must do his or her tiny part, which consists of approaching that door and going through it.
How? When we suffer because of disappointment or something painful, or because of unexpected misfortune or unexplained illness, we can recall the suffering of Jesus, who experienced all these trials and a thousand others.
Yes, he is present in everything that speaks of suffering. Every suffering of ours can bear his name.
Let us try to recognize Jesus in every hardship, in all life’s difficult situations, in every moment of darkness, in our personal trials and those of others, in the sufferings of humanity. All these are him, because he has taken them upon himself.
It would be enough to tell him, with faith, “You, Lord, are my only good” (See Ps 16:2). It would be enough to do something tangible in order to alleviate “his” sufferings in the poor and those who are unhappy, in order to go beyond the door and find a joy on the other side we have never experienced before, a new fullness of life.

By Chiara Lubich

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 April 1999.

「衪要同他們在一起；他們要作衪的人民。」（默21：3）

二零一零年一月份　　生活聖言

每年一月十八日至廿五日，世界上許多的地方都會慶祝『基督徒合一祈禱週』，而有些地區則在聖神降臨節才舉行。盧嘉勒女士總是在每年一月，為祈禱週而選取聖經章節，並作出一個闡釋。
今年特別為『基督徒合一祈禱週』而選定的聖言取自路加福音：「你們就是這些事的見證人。」（路24：48）。為幫助大家去實踐這句話，我們建議大家默想盧嘉勒的一篇文章。她迫切地呼籲我們基督徒團結起來，一起向世界見證天主的臨在。

「這就是天主與人同在的帳幕，
衪要同他們住在一起：
他們要作衪的人民，
衪親自要『與他們同在』。」（默21：3）

這個月的生活聖言是個懇切的呼籲：假如我們想成為衪子民的一份子，就應讓衪生活在我們中間。
可是這又怎能實現呢？怎樣才能在這世上稍為預嚐那份無盡的喜樂，即面對面看見上主的幸福呢？
這正好是耶穌給我們的啟示，衪的降生也正是為了這個目的：與我們分享衪與天父之間愛的生活，為叫我們也能度這種生活。
從現在起，我們基督徒已經能實踐這句聖言，並能享有上主親臨我們中間。可是，正如初期教會教父們指出的，為能享見天主的臨在，就得滿全某些先決條件。巴西略認為要按照上主的聖意生活；金口聖若望指出要如同耶穌那樣去愛近人；狄奧多•斯圖提表示要有互愛；而奧力振則認為要同心合意，為能達致那份「使人合一，並包容天主子」的和諧。
耶穌的教訓包含了令上主居住在我們中間的秘訣：「你們要彼此相愛，如同我愛了你們一樣」（若13：34），而互愛就是上主臨在的秘訣。「如果我們彼此相愛，天主就存留在我們內。」（若一4：12）因為耶穌說過：「那裡有兩個或三個人，因我的名字聚在一起，我就在他們中間。」（瑪18：20）。

「衪要同他們在一起；他們要作衪的人民。」

為此，舊約所預許的：「我的住所也設在他們中間；我要作他們的天主，他們要作我的百姓」（則37：27）將會兌現，而且那日子離我們並不太遠，也並非遙不可及。
這一切都在耶穌身上實現了，因為衪超越了自己在歷史中的存在，而繼續臨在於那些生活互愛新誡命的人們中間。互愛的法則使他們成為一個民族，成為上主的子民。
因此，這句生活聖言特別為我們基督徒是一項迫切的呼籲，叫我們藉著愛去見證上主的臨在。「如果你們之間彼此相親相愛，世人因此就可認出你們是我的門徒。」（若13：35）。認真的把這條新誡命實踐出來，便構成耶穌臨在人們中間的條件。
假如這種臨在得不到保證的話，我們甚麼也做不來。這種臨在令耶穌給人類帶來的超性的兄弟情誼獲得了意義。

「衪要同他們在一起；他們要作衪的人民。」

尤其我們身為基督徒，即使隸屬不同教會團體，都有責任向世界見證這個由各族裔、各民族、各文化、年長或年幼、健康或患病的人所組成的同一民族。人們可以採用那描寫初期基督徒的句子來形容這一個民族：「看，他們多麼彼此相愛，並願意彼此為對方犧牲生命。」
這就是人類期望見到的『奇蹟』，為能夠再次找到希望，同時這也是令基督徒合一工作得以進展，並邁向圓滿和可見的合一所需要的一份貢獻。這個『奇蹟』也是我們可以實現到的。或更好說，那居住在因愛而合一的子民中間的上主會實現這奇蹟。衪能夠改變世界的命運，並帶領整個人類走向合一。

盧嘉勒

(1)本月的生活聖言曾於1999年1月份發表過

“God himself will always be with them.” (Rev 21:3)

January 2010 – God’s people

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated in many parts of the world from January 18-25; others celebrate it at Pentecost. Chiara Lubich always commented on the Biblical verse chosen for this occasion in the Word of Life of that same month.
This year’s phrase for the Week of Prayer is: “You are witnesses of these things” (Lk 24:48). To help us put it into practice, we propose the following text of Chiara as an urgent call for Christians to join together and bear witness to the presence of God in the world.

“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will always be with them” (Rev 21:3).

This month’s Word of Life is such earnest encouragement: if we want to be part of his people, we must allow him to live among us.
But how is this possible? What can we do in order to have such a foretaste, while still on earth, of the endless joy we will have in seeing God?
This is exactly what Jesus revealed to us. This is the very meaning of his coming: to communicate his life of love with the Father, so that we too can live it.

We Christians can live this phrase even now and have God among us. To have him among us, however, requires certain conditions that are affirmed by the Fathers of the Church. For Basil, the essential condition is living according to the will of God; for John Chrysostom, it is loving our neighbor as Jesus did; for Theodore the Studite, it is mutual love; and for Origen, it having such accord in thought and in feeling that we arrive at a concord that “unites, and contains the Son of God.”

The key for allowing God to dwell among us is in the teachings of the Gospel: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another” (Jn 13:34). Mutual love is the key to the presence of God. “If we love one another, God remains in us” (1Jn 4:12). “For where two or three are gathered together in my name,” Jesus says, “there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20).

“God himself will always be with them.”

In this light then, the fulfillment of all the promises of the Old Covenant — “My dwelling shall be with them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Ez 37:27) — is not far off and unattainable.

Everything is already accomplished in Jesus because he continues, beyond his historical existence, to be present among those who live according to the new law of mutual love, the norm that makes them a people, the people of God.

This Word of Life is therefore an urgent call, especially for us Christians, to witness through love to the presence of God. “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35). Living out the new commandment sets forth the conditions for the presence of Jesus among all people.
We cannot do anything unless this presence is guaranteed, a presence that gives meaning to the supernatural brotherhood that Jesus brought on earth for all humanity.

“God himself will always be with them.”

First of all, it is up to us Christians, even though we belong to different ecclesial communities, to let the world see one people made up of every ethnic group, race and culture, adults and children. One people to whom we can apply the words said of the first Christians, “Look at how they love one another and are ready to give their life for one another.”

This is the miracle humanity is waiting for in order to regain hope. This miracle will also provide an essential contribution to ecumenism, the journey towards full and visible unity among Christians. It is a miracle within our reach, or better, a miracle of the one who dwells among those of us united by love, the one who can change the direction of the world and lead all humanity toward unity.

By Chiara Lubich

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 January 1999.

「照樣，你們的光也當在人前照耀，好使他們看見你們的善行，光榮你們在天之父。」　（瑪5：16）(1)

「光」要藉著「善行」才能顯露出來，它要透過基督徒的善行才能發放出來。
也許你會說：可是，不單只基督徒才會行善，其他人也會致力促進人類社會的進步、建設房屋、推行正義等。
你說得對。基督徒當然會，而且應該這樣做，但這並非他們唯一的使命。基督徒該抱著一種新的精神來承行這些善行，這種精神使他們再不是自己，而是讓基督在他們內生活。
其實聖史瑪竇在這裡，並不單指個別的愛德行動（如探訪囚犯、救濟貧苦或今天社會所需求的其他一切善事）。他更想到基督徒的生活應該完全順應上主的聖意，使他的整個生命都變成一個整體的「善行」。
如果一個基督徒這樣生活的話，一切因而獲得的稱許便不屬於他，卻屬於那生活在他內的基督；因此上主也將藉著他而臨現於人間。所以，基督徒的使命就是要讓那在他內的光能發放出來，成為天主在人群中臨現的「標記」。

「照樣，你們的光也當在人前照耀，好使他們看見你們的善行，光榮你們在天之父。」

假如單單一位信徒的善行已經具有這個特色，那麼在世界中的基督徒團體更應負起同樣的特殊使命，即透過它的生活來顯示上主的臨在。這種臨在是由兩、三個因衪的名字合而為一的人所彰顯出來的，也是上主對教會所承諾的基督的臨在，直至世界的終結。
初期的教會特別注重耶穌這句話，尤其在困難的境況中，當基督徒被誣告時，教會便會以這句話來鼓勵他們不要以暴易暴。基督徒的言行舉止才是駁斥那些攻擊他們的人最有效的工具。
聖保祿在致弟鐸書中這樣說：「你也要教訓青年人在一切事上要慎重。你該顯示自己為行善的模範，在教導上應表示純正莊重，要講健全無可指摘的話，使反對的人感到羞愧，說不出我們甚麼不好來。」（鐸2：6-8）

「照樣，你們的光也當在人前照耀，好使他們看見你們的善行，光榮你們在天之父。」

即使在今天，圓滿的基督徒生活仍舊是一道引導人們歸向上主的光。
讓我告訴你一位朋友的經歷。
安東妮達是一位義籍女青年，因為工作的緣故而搬到法國定居。她在一家公司找到一個職位，那裡的人對工作都提不起勁。由於她是基督徒，因此她願意為臨現在每一位同事身上的耶穌服務，設法幫助所有人，並且時常保持心境平靜，滿面笑容。很多時候，有人會受不了，便向她發牢騷，並大聲取笑她說：「既然你那麼喜歡工作，把我的這一份也拿去做吧！」
可是她始終一聲不響，埋頭工作。她知道他們並非心懷惡意，可能每一個人都有自己的煩惱吧。
有一天，當別的同事不在的時候，她的上司走過來問她：「現在，你要告訴我，你怎麼會這麼有耐性，時常面露笑容？」她掩飾著說：「我只是儘量保持冷靜，凡事往好處想而已。」
她的上司一拳敲打在辦公桌上說：「不，我肯定這一切都與天主有關，否則根本不可能！你要知道以前我是不相信天主的！」
幾天後，公司的經理召見了安東妮達，告訴她她將會被調職，並對她說：「這樣你也能令那個部門像這個一樣改善過來。」

「照樣，你們的光也當在人前照耀，好使他們看見你們的善行，光榮你們在天之父。」

盧嘉勒

（１）本月聖言取自1979年8月份生活聖言

“Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:16)

December 2009

Light that shines out

This light is seen through your good works. It shines through the love radiated by Christians to all other people.
Perhaps you’ll tell me: but Christians are not the only ones who do good works. There are others who work for progress, establish charitable institutions, promote justice and do many good things.
You are right. Certainly, Christians do these things too, but this is not a Christian’s specific function. Christians must bring a new spirit into the good works they perform, which means it is no longer they that live in them, but Christ in them.
In fact, when St. Matthew wrote this, he was not thinking merely of isolated acts of charity such as visiting prisoners, clothing the naked and the many other works of mercy done to meet people’s needs. Rather, he was thinking of a Christian’s total commitment to the will of God, in such a way that his or her entire life becomes a continuous series of good works.
If Christians do this, they become “transparent,” and the praise given for whatever they had done will not go to them, but to Christ in them, and through them God becomes present in the world. The Christian’s task, therefore, is to let this light that dwells within them radiate out so that it can be a sign of this presence of God among men and women.

“Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

If good works performed by individual believers have this character, then the Christian community in the midst of the world must have a similar specific task. That task is to reveal, through its communal life, the presence of God that is manifested where two or three are united in his name, the presence promised to the Church until the end of time.

The early Church gave great emphasis to these words of Jesus. Especially in difficult times, when the Christians were facing persecution and being maligned, the Church urged them not to react with violence. Their behavior had to be the best refutation of the evil spoken against them.
St. Paul’s letter to Titus reads, “Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves, showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be criticized, so that the opponent will be put to shame without anything bad to say about us” (Titus 2: 6-8).

“Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

This is an experience of Christian life that even today is a light that shines out and leads men and women to God.
Let me tell you a story.
Antoinette was a girl who left Sardinia in order to find work in France, in Grenoble. She found a job in an office, but it was a place where most of the other workers did not want to do the work. Since she was a Christian and saw in every person Jesus to be served, she helped everyone and was always calm and smiling. Oftentimes the others would get angry and take it out on her, saying in loud, mocking voices, “Since you like to work, take this and do my typing also.”
She remained calm and at peace, and worked on. She knew that they were basically not bad people. They probably all had troubles of their own.
One day, when the others were not around her, her boss approached and said: “Now you have to tell me. How come you never lose your patience, and why you are always smiling?”
Antoinette tried to evade the question by saying, “I simply try to stay calm and see the positive side of things.”
The boss banged his fist on the desk and exclaimed, “No, God certainly is involved here! Otherwise it would be impossible! And to think that I never believed in God!”
A few days later, Antoinette was called in by the director. She was told that she would be transferred to another office, the director explained, “so that you may transform it the same way you did the office you’re in now.”

“Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

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 passing in March 2008, her early writings are now being featured once again. This commentary, addressed to a primarily Christian audience, was originally published in August 1979.

By Chiara Lubich

「駱駝穿過針孔，比富人進天國還容易。」（瑪19：24）(1)

這句話會使你感到驚奇嗎？
我相信你有理由感到困惑不解，並反省一下自己應該怎樣做才對。耶穌說的話都不是偶然的。因此，你該認真的衡量這句話，不要輕看了它的意義。
不過，讓我們先弄清楚耶穌說這句話的真正含意，看看祂以怎樣的態度來對待富有的人。祂和富人的交往是很密切的。祂對只把一半財產捐獻出來的匝凱說：「今天救恩來到了這一家。」（路19：9）
此外，宗徒大事錄中記載：在初期的教會裡，捐獻財物是各人自願的事，為此完全地捨棄一切並不是必須的。
因此，耶穌的心意並不只是去建立一個人人都捨棄一切錢財，去跟隨祂的團體。然而祂卻說：

「駱駝穿過針孔，比富人進天國還容易。」

那麼耶穌所譴責的究竟是什麼？當然不是世上的財富本身，而是那些對財富執著不放的人。為什麼？理由很簡單：因為所有的一切都是屬於天主的，但是富人卻以為他們所擁有的財物是屬於自己的。
事實上，財富在人的心中很容易取代了天主的位置，使他們變得盲目，也很容易讓一切惡行滋生。保祿宗徒曾經這樣寫過：「至於那些想望致富的人，卻陷於誘惑，墮入羅網和許多背理有害的慾望中，這慾望叫人沉溺於敗壞和滅亡中，因為貪愛錢財乃萬惡的根源；有些人曾因貪求錢財而離棄了信德，使自己受了許多刺心的痛苦。」（弟前6：9-10）
柏拉圖也曾確定地說過：「一個極之善良的人絕不可能同時又是極之富有的。」那麼，擁有財富的人該有怎樣的心態才對呢？他們必須懷有一顆對天主完全開放的心，意識到自己只不過是這些財富的管理人，並知道他們管理財富的方式將影響到社會的福祉，這是教宗若望保祿二世的見解。
由於財富本身並不是邪惡的，我們無需鄙視它，卻要懂得善用它。並不是我們的手要遠離財富，而是我們的心。我們該懂得如何利用財富，造福人群。
因此，富人可以擁有財富，卻應該是為了他人的益處。

「駱駝穿過針孔，比富人進天國還容易。」

可能你會說：我真的並不富有，所以這句話與我無關。你可要當心，當門徒們聽了這句話後，驚異地問耶穌的問題正好是：「這樣，誰還能得救呢？」（瑪19：25）這個問題清楚地說明了耶穌的話是對每一個人說的。
一個已經捨棄了一切，跟隨基督的人，心中仍可能眷戀著許許多多的事物。一個窮人如果惡言咒罵碰了一下他的包袱的人，這時候這個窮人在天主面前也算是一個富有的人。

「駱駝穿過針孔，比富人進天國還容易。」

盧嘉勒

（１）本月聖言取自1979年7月份生活聖言

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mt 19:24)

November 2009

The Eye Of A Needle

Does this sentence make a certain impression on you?
I think you may have reasons to be perplexed and to consider what would be the best thing to do. The words of Jesus are never used loosely. It is therefore necessary to take these words seriously, without trying to water them down.
Let us try to understand the real significance of these words from Jesus himself, from his way of behaving with the rich. He frequented the company even of well-to-do persons. To Zaccheus, who had given away only half of his possessions, he says: “Salvation has entered your house.”
Furthermore, the Acts of the Apostles show us that in the early Church the communion of goods was practiced freely, and hence, the concrete renouncement of one’s possessions was not compulsory. Therefore, it is not that Jesus thought of founding only a community of persons who are called to follow him by leaving behind all they possess.
And yet he says:

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

What does Jesus condemn, then? Certainly not the goods of this earth in themselves, but the attachment to wealth by the rich.
Why? The answer is clear: it is because all things belong to God and the rich behave as if their riches are their own.

The fact is that riches easily take the place of God in the human heart. They blind the vision and make it easier for all sorts of vices to take root. The Apostle Paul wrote: “Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains” (1 Tim 6:9-10).

Even in earlier times, Plato already affirmed: “It is impossible for an extraordinarily good person to be at the same time extraordinarily rich.”
What, then, should be the attitude of people who have possessions?
They must have a heart that is free and totally open to God, so that they feel that they are administrators of their goods, and know that – as Pope John Paul II said – they are mortgaged to society.

Since earthly goods are not bad in themselves, we should not despise them, but we must use them well. We must keep our hearts detached from them, not our hands. Because whoever is rich, is so for the good of others.

“It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

But perhaps you’ll say: “I am not really rich, so these words are not meant for me.”
Be careful. The question that the dismayed Apostles asked right after this statement of Christ was: “Who then will be saved?” This clearly tells us that Christ’s words were somehow addressed to everybody.

Even someone who has left all things to follow Christ may have his or her heart attached to so many things. Even a poor person who curses at anybody who touches his or her belongings may be looked upon by God as a “rich” person attached to earthly treasures.

By Chiara Lubich

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 last year, her early writings are now being featured once again. This commentary, addressed to a primarily Christian audience, was originally published in July 1979.

「你們要憑著堅忍，保全你們的靈魂。」（路21:19）（１）

「堅忍」。福音中這個名詞是從希臘文翻譯過來的，內涵非常豐富，包含了忍耐、恆久、堅持和信心。
尤其在受苦、受試探、灰心沮喪、被眩目的世物迷惑、被人迫害的時候，堅忍更是必須的、不可缺少的心態。
相信你至少也遇過上述其中一種情況，也曾經體會到：如果不是憑著堅忍，你早就屈服了。也許你有時候曾經放棄過，也許在目前這一刻，你正在某種痛苦的環境中掙扎。
那該怎麼辦才好呢？
抬起頭來……堅忍下去。
否則，你便當不起「基督徒」的名份。
你也知道：誰若願意跟隨基督，該天天背起他的十字架，該時常去愛，至少要憑著意志力去愛痛苦。基督徒的聖召就是要堅忍到底。
聖保祿宗徒就是以自己的堅忍作標記，向初期基督徒團體指出什麼是真正的基督徒精神。
他甚至把堅忍與神蹟相提並論。
愛慕十字架並堅忍下去，我們便能跟隨天上的基督，並保全自己的靈魂。

「你們要憑著堅忍，保全你們的靈魂。」

人可以分為兩大類：第一種人感覺到上主的召喚，要成為真正的基督徒，可是在他們的靈魂內，這召叫就像一粒落在石頭上的種籽。這些人一時的興奮就好像乾草上的一堆火，非常猛烈，但轉眼間，一切都化為烏有。
第二種人卻接受這邀請，就像一塊肥沃的土地吸納了種籽一樣。這樣，基督徒的生命得以發芽、茁長、超越困境、抵禦風暴。
這些便是曉得堅忍的人……「你們要憑著堅忍，保全你們的靈魂。」
當然，你要是真的想堅忍下去，單憑自己的力量是不足夠的。
你還需要天主的幫助。
保祿稱天主為：「堅忍的天主。」（羅15：5）所以，你應該向祂求賜堅忍的精神，這樣祂一定會賜給你。
因為身為一個基督徒，領了洗，偶爾行些外表的儀式和實行一點仁愛的功夫是不夠的。你必須成長，成為一個真正的基督徒。可是在精神生活上你若沒有經歷過試探、痛苦、障礙和鬥爭，便不會有成長。
唯有懂得去愛的人，才是真正懂得堅忍的人。愛使人「看不見」障礙、「看不見」困難、「看不見」犧牲。為此，堅忍等於被考驗過的愛。
瑪利亞是一位懂得堅忍的女子。
你也祈求天主吧！求祂在你心中點燃起愛祂的心火。這樣，你在你生命的一切困苦中便會學會如何堅持到底，並藉此而保全你的靈魂。

「你們要憑著堅忍，保全你們的靈魂。」

不但如此，堅忍常常還是有感染力的。懂得堅忍的人會鼓舞其他人也跟著堅持到底。
讓我們放眼在崇高的目標上。我們只擁有這唯一而又短暫的生命。我們得咬緊牙根，日復一日地克服無窮的困難，去跟隨基督……這樣，我們便能保全自己的靈魂。
盧嘉勒

（１）本月聖言取自1979年5月份生活聖言

“By your perseverance you will secure your lives” (Lk 21:19)

October 2009 – Love, put to the test

“Perseverance.” This is a translation of a Greek word that is pregnant with implications, including patience, constancy, resistence, trust.
Perseverance is necessary and indispensable when we suffer, when we are tempted, when we are inclined to be discouraged, when we are drawn to the seductions of the world, when we suffer persecution.

I think that you too have found yourself in at least one of these situations and have experienced that, without perseverance, you would have given in. Perhaps at times you did give in. Maybe now, at this very moment, you find yourself immersed in one of these painful situations.
What will you do? What should you do? Start again, and… persevere. Otherwise the name “Christian” does not suit you.
You know that whoever wants to follow Christ must take up his cross each day, must love it, at least with his will. The Christian vocation is a call to perseverance.

The apostle Paul demonstrated his perseverance before the Christian community as a sign of Christian authenticity. And he did not hesitate to put it on the same level as miracles.
If you love the cross and persevere to the very end, you will follow Christ, who is in Heaven, and therefore be saved.

“By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

It is possible to distinguish two categories of people: those who hear the invitation to be true Christians, but the invitation lands in their souls like a seed on rocky ground. There is a burst of fleeting enthusiasm, but afterward nothing remains. Then there are those who welcome the invitation, just as good soil receives the seed. And Christian life sprouts, grows, overcomes difficulties, and resists storms.

Christians have perseverance, and… “by your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
Naturally, if you want to persevere, it is not enough to rely only on your own strength. You must have God’s help. Paul calls God “the God of perseverance” (Rm 15:5).
You must ask him for it, and he will give it to you. If you are a Christian, you will never be content with merely being baptized or doing some acts of worship or charity every now and then. You must grow as a Christian, and every growth in spiritual life can only come about in the midst of trials, obstacles, and battles.

Those who really know how to persevere are those who love. Love is never hindered by obstacles. It does not count difficulties or sacrifices. And perseverance is love that has been put to the test.
You should look to Mary, for she is the woman of perseverance.
Ask God to enkindle love for him in your heart, and then perseverance, in all the difficulties of life, will come to you as a consequence, and with it the salvation of your soul.

“By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

And there is more. Perseverance is contagious. The person who perseveres encourages others to do the same.…
Let us set our sights high. We have only one life, and it is brief at that. Let us clench our teeth and stand firm from day to day; let us face one difficulty after another in order to follow Christ… and we shall persevere and our lives will be secure.

By Chiara Lubich

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 last year, her early writings are now being featured once again. This commentary, addressed to a primarily Christian audience, was originally published in June 1979.

「你們先該尋求天主的國和它的義德，這一切自會加給你們。」（瑪6:33）^（１）

整部福音是一個革命。基督的說話與人的說話實在有天淵之別。且聽這句話：「你們先該尋求天主的國和它的義德，這一切（生活上一切需要）自會加給你們。」

通常人所處心積慮，朝夕牽掛的，大多是怎樣得到生存所需的保障。也許你也不例外。可是耶穌卻把祂的觀點和做法置在你面前。祂要求你抱有一種與眾不同的處事態度，而且不只一次，卻要恆常的去做。這就是：首先尋求天主的國。

當你整個人趨向天主，設法任由祂佔據你的心和他人的心的時候（就是說讓祂的法律來引導你們的生活），天父便會給予你每天所需要的。

相反的，假如你只為自己打算的話，最終你會被今世的事物所勞役，成為它們的犧牲品。總有一天，世俗的事物會成為你的累贅，成為你所追求的目標，耗盡你的心力。由此產生一個重大的誘惑，使你只曉得倚靠自己的能力，卻忘記了信賴天主的力量。

「你們先該尋求天主的國和它的義德，這一切自會加給你們。」

可是耶穌卻扭轉了情況。假如你心中所牽掛的是祂，並為祂而生活，那麼其他的事便不會成為你生活上最重要的，因為那些都只不過是「加上去的」，「剩餘的」罷了。

你認為這是個烏托邦嗎？你追得上潮流，處身在這個只講求競爭與效率，卻在經濟上又危機屢現的工業社會裡，於是，在你看來這些話不切實際嗎？讓我提醒你：當耶穌宣講這番話時，加里肋亞人所遇到的現實生活問題也是如此的。

先不談是不是烏托邦的問題，耶穌透過這句話來要求你去做一個基本的抉擇：究竟你是為自己而生活，或是為天主而生活。

讓我們先了解一下這句話的含義：「你們先該尋求天主的國和它的義德，這一切自會加給你們。」

耶穌並不叫你對世事視若無睹，採取被動的態度，或對於經營世務不負責任或敷衍了事。

祂想把令你牽腸掛肚的「憂慮」，變成心平氣和的事，替你除掉經營事務時所有的煩擾、害怕和不安。

所以祂說：「『先』尋求天主的國……」

所謂「先」是指在「一切之先」。尋求天主的國該佔一切的首位，而這種做法並不阻止基督徒關注自己生活的所需。

「尋求天主的國和它的義德」的意思在於我們的生活必須符合天主透過福音上耶穌的聖言向我們提出的要求。

只要尋求天主的國，基督徒便可以體驗到，天父的大能可替他成就多少的事。

讓我告訴你一樁事實。

這事件發生在多年前，卻十分合乎這句生活聖言。事實上，我發覺今日有許多男女青年都效法了當時那位女青年的做法。

那位女青年名叫艾維拉。那時她正讀高中。由於家境貧窮，她必須考得卓越的成績，才能繼續升學。她有一份堅強的信德。她的哲學教授是一位無神主義者，經常對基督和教會的真理大肆抨擊或歪曲事實。艾維拉的心中禁不住熱血沸騰，不單因為她自己受不了，更為了愛天主，堅守真理，並為其他同學的益處著想。因此，雖然她知道反駁這位教授會導致自己考試不合格，但她仍決定發出心底比什麼都強烈的真理呼聲。一有機會，她便舉手，對教授說：「教授，這不是真的。」可能有時她自己也找不到支持她去反對的論據，但那句發自她的信德的「不是真的」，卻是真理的恩賜，大力支持著她，令聽到的人反思深想，開始懷疑教授的論據。

那些衷心愛護她的同學們，設法勸阻她，不讓她繼續這樣去反駁教授，因為她們害怕她這樣做終會令自己受害，可是她們都不成功。

幾個月後，學校分發成績單。艾維拉手中接過成績單，心裡卻戰慄不已。　打開後，她忍不住歡呼起來，她在哲學科得到滿分！最高的分數！

她首先尋求了天主的國和真理，於是天主「給」了她這一切。

「你們先該尋求天主的國和它的義德，這一切自會加給你們。」

假如你也先尋求天主的國，你也會體驗到天主會照顧你生活一切所需。　你將會發現福音既平常又非凡的本質。

盧嘉勒

^（１）本月聖言取自1979年5月份生活聖言

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides” (Mt 6:33)

September 2009

Seek first

The whole Gospel is revolutionary. The words of Christ are not like those of any other person. Listen to this: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things [the necessities of life] will be given you besides” (Mt 6:33).

The major preoccupation people usually have is searching for what will make their lives more secure. Perhaps this applies to you as well. If so, Jesus lays out before you his own way of looking at things and presents you with his plan of action. He requires from you a behavior totally different from what society would expect, and not only once, but always. It is this: “seek first the kingdom of God.”

When you redirect your whole being toward God and do everything for his kingdom within yourself and in others (that is, ordering your whole life with his laws), the Father will give you what you need day after day.
If, on the other hand, you are preoccupied with yourself, you will end up caring mainly for the things of this world and fall victim to them. You will end up seeing the goods of this world as your real business, the goal of all your efforts. And therein arises the serious temptation of relying solely on your own strength and less on God …

Jesus changes the situation. If living for him is your first concern, “these things” will no longer be the main business of your life; rather, they will be given to you “in addition” to other things or as a “surplus.”
Is this utopia? Are his words difficult for you as a modern person living in an industrialized world that is highly competitive and often in economic crises? I wish to remind you that at the time Jesus uttered these words, the concrete difficulties of life among the Galileans were no less serious than our own.
We are not talking about whether it is a utopia or not. Jesus places this fundamental choice before you: to live your life for yourself or to live it for God.
Let us try to understand well these words:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.”

Jesus does not propose that you become “passive” or do nothing with regard to your everyday or temporal needs, nor that you be irresponsible or superficial at work. Rather, he wishes you to re-order your priorities in life and, by so doing, rid yourself of anxiety, fear and restlessness.
In fact he says, “Seek first the kingdom.” “First” means “above all else.” The search for God’s kingdom should be given priority and does not exclude the concern that a Christian must have for the necessities of life.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” also means living in conformity with God’s desires as revealed by Jesus in his Gospel. Only when Christians actively seek the kingdom of God will they experience the wonderful power of the Father working in their favor.
Let me share a story with you. It took place quite some time ago, but I find it relevant to this Word of Life. In fact I am aware of many other young people who now live as this young woman did.

Her name is Elvira, and at that time she was a high school student. She was poor, and she could continue her studies only if she maintained high grades. She had a strong faith. Her philosophy professor was an atheist and he often presented the truths of her faith in a confused and distorted manner. On such occasions, Elvira felt a strong reaction rising up inside her, not for herself but for the love she had for God, for truth and for her classmates.

She knew that if she contradicted the professor she stood a chance of getting a failing grade. In spite of this, however, she would raise her hand and beg to speak, saying, “Professor, that’s not true.” At times she did not have all the elements to present her arguments, but her words “that’s not true” embodied her entire faith, which was a gift of truth and made people question what the professor was saying.
Her classmates loved her and tried to persuade her to stop contradicting this professor, because they feared the consequences for her, but they did not succeed.

A few months later, when the grade cards were distributed, Elvira was trembling, but then her heart leapt for joy: she got an A in philosophy! The highest grade!
She had sought, first of all, that God and his truth would reign, and then the rest was given to her.
If you seek the kingdom of the Father, you will experience that God is providence for all the needs of your life. You will discover how normal the extraordinary ways of the Gospel can be.

This commentary addressed to a primarily Christian audience, was originally published in May 1979

By Chiara Lubich

「祂既然愛了世上屬於自己的人，就愛他們到底。」（若13:1）

你知道福音中記載這句話時的情景嗎？那就是聖史若望記載的最後晚餐：耶穌正要為宗徒們洗腳，去預備自己的心神來面對即將來臨的苦難。
耶穌知道自己與宗徒們相聚的時刻已經不多了，便把祂一直以來對他們所懷的愛，以最高超和明顯的方式顯露出來。

「祂既然愛了世上屬於自己的人，就愛他們到底。」
「愛到底」的意思是愛到生命終結時，愛到最後一口氣。可是這也包含圓滿地去愛的意思。即是說：耶穌圓滿地、全然地、努力不懈地、愛他們到了極點。
那時候，耶穌快要進入光榮中，而祂的門徒卻仍留在世上。他們會感到孤單，更需要克服種種的困難，因此耶穌切願他們在逆境中也能確信祂的愛。

「祂既然愛了世上屬於自己的人，就愛他們到底。」
你感受得到這句話表現出的耶穌一生的作風，和祂愛人的態度嗎？祂替宗徒們洗腳，祂為愛而流露出這種謙卑的侍奉態度，在當時只有奴隸才會這樣去服事人。那時候，耶穌正準備去面對加爾瓦略山上的慘劇，在那裡為「屬於祂的人」和為所有的人付出自己，除了給他們發人深省的訓誨、施行奇蹟以及作種種的事工外，更為他們捐棄自己的生命。耶穌深知他們迫切的需要，同時這也是每個人最大的渴求，就是解除罪惡，亦即解除死亡的束縛，進入永恆的天國。唯有耶穌才能給予他們永恆的生命，使他們享受無限的平安與喜樂。
耶穌甘願獻出生命，接受死亡，祂因天父的捨棄而哀號，乃至最後說出：「一切已經完成了！」

「祂既然愛了世上屬於自己的人，就愛他們到底。」
這句話既可以表達出天主綿綿不盡的愛心，更能表達出一位兄弟又醇厚又濃烈的愛。
身為基督徒的我們有基督活在心中，也可以這樣去愛。
我並不是建議你們效法耶穌那樣的死亡，以那種方式為他人付出自己的生命，也無意要你去倣效高比（Kolbe）神父代替另一個囚犯接受死刑，或好像達彌盎（Damian）神父那般置身痳瘋病人中，與他們一起面對死亡的命運，為他們而死。也許天主永遠都不會要求你為兄弟犧牲性命，但天主卻會要求你愛他們愛到底，堅持不屈，直到你也可以說：「一切已經完成了。」
小卓蒂便做到了。她只有十一歲，住在義大利一個城鎮中。她有一位與她年齡相若的同學，名叫珍娜。這幾天來，卓蒂看見珍娜愁眉苦臉，便設法去開解她，卻無補於事。卓蒂決心愛到底，想了解是什麼使珍娜如此傷心。原來珍娜的爸爸死了，她媽媽把她帶到外婆家裡住，自己卻跟另一個男人同居。當卓蒂知道這個悲劇時，決定要幫助珍娜。即使年紀還小，卓蒂仍大膽地要求珍娜帶她去見她的媽媽。珍娜答應了，可是她要求卓蒂先陪她到爸爸墳前走一趟。卓蒂便滿懷愛心，陪她一起去。卓蒂聽見珍娜伏在爸爸墓前痛哭，哀求爸爸來帶她一道去。
卓蒂看見她這樣，心也酸了。墳塲內有一座破舊的小聖堂，她們一起走進去。聖堂破爛不堪，裡面只剩下一個小小的聖體櫃和一個十字架。卓蒂對珍娜說：「你看，這世界上什麼東西都會毁壞的，只有十字架和聖體櫃永遠存在。」珍娜擦去臉上的淚珠，回答她說：「沒錯，你說得對！」卓蒂很溫柔地拉著珍娜的手，和她一起去找她的媽媽。
見到她的媽媽後，卓蒂鼓起勇氣對她說：「太太，我知道這件事根本與我無關，不過，我想告訴你，你的女兒需要母愛，你卻沒有給她。還有，假如你不改變你的生活，和她住在一起，你永遠不會得到平安的。」
第二天，卓蒂在學校裡遇見珍娜，並用愛心去支持她。就在下課的時候，她看到珍娜的媽媽開車來接她放學。從那天起，天天如是，因為珍娜已跟她媽媽住在一起生活：媽媽已經離開了那個男人，回到珍娜身邊。
卓娜這個微小而偉大的行動，可以算是「完成一切」了。她在這件事上盡心盡力，實行到底，她成功了。
請你細想一下。有多少次你開始去關懷某人，後來又置之不理，更去找千百個藉口來掩蓋良心的呼聲？有多少次你興致勃勃地開始一份工作，卻只是三分鐘熱度，到了困難的關頭便裹足不前？
這就是耶穌今日給你的訓示：

「祂既然愛了世上屬於自己的人，就愛他們到底。」
要愛到底！
唯有如此，假如有一天，天主真的要求你付出生命，你才不會猶疑。殉道者視死如歸，引吭高歌。他們的報酬將是無以復加的榮耀，因為耶穌已說過：「人若為自己的朋友捨掉性命，再沒有比這更大的愛情了。 」（若15:13）

盧嘉勒

“He loved his own in the world, and he loved them to the end” (Jn 13:1)

Do you know the context of this sentence in the Gospel? It is in St. John’s account of the Last Supper, when Jesus is about to wash the feet of his disciples and is preparing for the Passion. During the last moments that Jesus spent with “his own,” he revealed the love he had always had for them in the highest and most explicit way.

“He loved his own in the world, and he loved them to the end.”

The words “to the end” mean to the end of his life, to his very last breath. But there is also the idea of perfection. That is, he loved them completely, totally, with the greatest intensity, to the highest degree.
When Jesus would go on to his glory, the disciples would remain in the world. They would feel alone; they would have many trials to face. It is precisely in view of those moments that Jesus wanted to make them feel sure of his love.

“He loved his own in the world, and he loved them to the end.”

In this phrase, can’t you sense Jesus’ entire lifestyle, his way of loving? He washed the feet of his disciples. His love made him stoop to this lowly service, which in those days was done only by slaves. After having his extraordinary words, his miracles, and all the other things he did, Jesus was now preparing for the tragedy of Calvary, in which he would give his very life for “his own” and for all people. He knew of their great need, the greatest need that people can have: the need to be liberated from sin, which means freed from death, and regain the possibility of entering the kingdom of heaven. Only he could give them the peace and joy of everlasting life.
And so Jesus gave himself up to death, crying out in his abandonment by the Father, until he was able at the very end to say, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30), that is, everything is completed.

“He loved his own in the world, and he loved them to the end.”

In these words we see both the tenacious love of a God and the tender affection of a brother. We Christians, since Christ is in us, can also love like this.
Now I am not proposing, however, that you imitate Jesus by actually dying for others as he did when his hour came. Nor do I put before you models like Father Kolbe, who died for a fellow prisoner, or Father Damien, who contracted leprosy from his lepers and died with them and for them.
It may be that in the course of your lifetime you will never be asked to give your physical life for your neighbors. But what God certainly does ask of you is that you love them “to the end,” to the point where you too can say, “It is finished.”

This is what an eleven-year-old Italian girl named Lisa did. She saw that her classmate and friend Georgina was extremely sad. She tried to comfort her, but it did no good. So she decided to find out what made her friend so sad. She learned that Georgina’s father had died, and that her mother had left her alone with her grandmother and had gone to live with another man. As soon as she became aware of the tragedy, Lisa decided to do something about it.
Even though Lisa was only a little girl, she asked Georgina if she could talk to her mother, but Georgina begged her to go with her first to visit her father’s grave. With great love Lisa went with her. There she overheard Georgina sobbing and imploring her father to take her with him.
Lisa felt heartbroken. The ruins of a little church were nearby, and the two girls went in. The only things left inside the church were a small tabernacle and a crucifix. Lisa said, “Look, in this world everything is going to be destroyed; only the crucifix and the Eucharist will always be with us.” Georgina dried her tears and replied,

“Yes, you’re right!” Then with tender love, Lisa took Georgina by the hand and accompanied her to her mother.
When they got there Lisa boldly addressed the mother with these words: “I know this is none of my business, but I must tell you that you left your daughter without the mother’s love that she desperately needs. I must tell you also that you will never have peace until you repent and take your child back to live with you.”
The following day Lisa met Georgina in school and again tried to cheer her up. But something new happened that day: a car came to pick Georgina up after school. In it was her mother. From that day on, the car has kept coming regularly, because Georgina now lives with her mother, who no longer has any relationship with the man she was living with.

Looking at the small, yet great thing Lisa did, we can now say, “It is finished.” She did everything well, “to the end,” and she achieved what she set out to do.
Think about it. How many times have you started to take an interest in someone who needed help and then abandoned them, using all kinds of excuses to silence your conscience? How many things have you started with enthusiasm and then not followed through because of difficulties that you felt were beyond your strength?
The lesson Jesus is giving you today is this:

“He loved his own in the world, and he loved them to the end.”

Love to the very end. And if one day God should literally ask you for your life, you will not hesitate. You will be like the martyrs who went to their deaths singing. And your reward shall be the greatest glory, because Jesus said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13).

Chiara Lubich