(鹽與光天主教傳媒訊) 2020年7月1日,香港天主教正義和平委員會、香港天主教勞工事務委員會、基督徒關懷香港學會、香港基督徒學會、香港基督教協進會—普世合一運動社會牧職暑期實習計劃一起合辦「七一祈禱會」,主題是「主賜平安,不膽怯」(參若14:27)。
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圖片:香港天主教正義和平委員會
祈禱會在香港灣仔聖母聖衣堂舉行,透過祈禱、讀經、見證分享、短誦及聖詠,再次提醒我們耶穌基督將平安留給
當晚的讀經選自若望/約翰福音第14章27節(和合本聖經):
「我留下平安給你們;我將我的平安賜給你們。我所賜的,不像世人所賜的。你們心裡不要憂愁,也不要膽怯。」
香港教區夏志誠輔理主教是其中一位分享者,以下是夏主教分享全文,由香港天主教正義和平委員會供稿。
讓我們一起為香港社會祈禱,為香港教會祈禱。
【夏主教分享中文全文】
港版國安法剛於昨天通過了。23年前,有人說回歸不過是換一支旗而已,什麼都不會變的,到了今時今日,我們才明白換一支旗是什麼意思,50年不變,一國兩制,是可以怎樣解釋的。遠的不說,過去幾年,特別是由雨傘運動開始、反國教、反修例等等,香港社會經歷了一浪接一浪的衝擊,走到今天,面對前路,我們還有多少信心?還有多少勇氣呢?搜索枯腸,好像內裡只剩下不安,極度的不安。
剛才我們聽到主耶穌說,他要把平安留給我們,把他的平安賜給我們,這為我們是極大的安慰。當時他在晚餐廳,他完全體會門徒因意識到師傅將要蒙難,而心煩意亂、膽怯徬徨,即將要被捕的耶穌,反而安慰門徒。由此可見,耶穌有著多麼大的平安啊!耶穌說,他所賜的平安,不是這世界的平安,而是「他」的平安。耶穌當時身處羅馬帝國的盛世,歷史上稱為「羅馬和平」。在那時代,羅馬以完善的法律制度聞名,可惜,最終他們是以法律之名,來保障帝國政權的安穩;這樣的平安建立在操縱掌管之上,是有權勢者的平安,是無權勢者沾不上邊的平安。要保障這樣的平安,政權需要以強力攝服異見,消滅雜音,剷除一切認為可能製造麻煩、騷擾秩序的人,耶穌就是其中的一位。因此,世界的平安是一部分人犧牲了其他人而獲得的平安,而這一部分掌權的人自己卻是惶徨終日,擔心失去權力,所以,世界的平安是虛假的平安。
耶穌所應許的平安,並不是這樣的。他所恩賜的平安,是真正的平安。這種平安不會威脅其他人,犧牲其他人,甚至能夠與苦難並存。耶穌的平安建基於十字架上,因此,他能夠面對世間一切的痛苦。耶穌的平安是一種關係,是與天父的關係。在這關係裏,耶穌深深體會到自己是父所愛的。天父的愛,永恆不變,從不挽回,總不撤銷;有如在一個雷電交加的晚上,小孩子在睡覺中驚醒,發抖惶恐,呼叫:媽媽、爸爸!父母來到床邊,給他安慰,給他說:「不用害怕!爸媽在這裏。」這是什麼意思?雷電繼續在外面肆虐,但是小孩子不再害怕了,因為父母與他同在。耶穌應許的就是這樣的平安,這是他的平安,是他經歷十字架的苦難,仍然不失去的平安。各位兄弟姊妹,這就是我們所需要的,在暴風巨浪之中的平安。
這份平安給我們勇氣,給我們力量。耶穌說,擁有這份平安,我們不會煩亂,不會膽怯;耶穌不是說說而已,他以自己的行動,印證他所說的。在他安慰門徒以後,雖然明知有苦難在前面,他從容的走出晚餐廳,一無所懼,走到將要在哪裏被捕的山園裏,坦然面對要來的一切,沒有逃避,沒有畏縮。當士兵來到山園要捉拿他時,他竟然主動上前對他們說:「我就是」;當在審判時被一個差役無理掌摑時,他毫無懼色的說:「我如果說得不對,你指出哪裏不對,如果對,你為什麼打我?」在耶穌之內,有著一份極深的平安,以致即使處於這樣的困境,他仍然有勇氣,有力量,維護自己的尊嚴,拒絕接受不公不義的對待。那是天主子女的尊嚴,因而也是每一個人的尊嚴,是因為天主的愛而享有的尊嚴,世界上沒有一種權勢可以將它奪去,也沒有一種武力可以將它剷除。按照天主教的社會訓導,所有人權的最終基礎,就是源自這一份人性的尊嚴。這份尊嚴告訴我們,我們不是奴隸,而是天主自由的子女。
的確,耶穌的平安給我們很大的力量,但很奇怪,這是一份被動的平安。耶穌說,他要把這樣的平安「留給」我們,將他的平安「賜給」我們。他沒有說,要我們去爭取,而只要我們接受。耶穌的平安是一份禮物,不是靠人力可以獲得或者成就的,因為它是來自天父無條件的愛。我們唯一所需要做的是相信,相信我們是他可愛的子女,相信在任何環境之中,都是他可愛的子女,都擁有一份無比的尊嚴。這份平安的被動性十分重要,因為我們是人,充滿各種限制,靠我們自己,我們會容易走上極端,或者因為恐懼不安而到做出非理性的事,或者怕到什麼都不敢做。在這些時候,讓我們不要忘記,主耶穌的平安是禮物,只要相信,在任何環境中我們都享有,不會失去。
任何環境,包括順境、逆境,各位兄弟姊妹,我們信仰的標記是十字架,讓我們記得,是十字架!十字架自然有痛苦、有迫害,不過,因著耶穌,十字架是痛苦也是喜樂,是軟弱也是力量,是罪過也是恩寵,是迫害也是煉淨,是死亡也是復活。主耶穌曾說過,作他的門徒,必須背上這樣的十字架,亦步亦趨的跟隨著他;也就是說,在任何環境中,要始終相信,自己是天主所愛的子女,如同耶穌一樣。憑著這份愛情,堅定於不移的平安之中,將苦難化為喜樂,在軟弱中彰顯力量,在失望中永不絕望,能夠穿越苦難,甚至死亡,到達復活、新生。
當然,這絕對不是一件容易的事,可是,各位兄弟姊妹,如果昔日我們曾為在苦難中的兄弟姊妹祈禱,如果今天我們發現自己落在同樣的苦難之中,如果我們有主耶穌的平安,又有什麼值得害怕呢?讓我們感謝天主,因為我們終於能夠偕同我們在苦難中的兄弟姊妹,共負一軛,成為一體。
讓我們祈禱,求主恩賜我們平安,恩賜我們世界所不認識的平安,使我們面對一切,不會煩亂,也不會膽怯,因為已經得著他的平安!
來源:香港天主教正義和平委員會
【夏主教分享英文全文】
“Conquer Fear and Know God’s Peace” Pray for Hong Kong, 2020.7.1 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church (Hong Kong)
Scripture Reading:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Gospel of John 14:27)
Homily (an excerpt) given by Bishop Joseph Ha, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong:
Hong Kong’s national security law came into force overnight (June 30, 2020). Some may say the resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong by the PRC simply means raising another national flag. Today, how would we understand the policy of “one country-two systems”, and the promised “fifty years unchanged”? Hong Kong has gone through a difficult path during these recent years: the Umbrella movement, protests against Moral and National Education curriculum, and anti-extradition bill protests. How much trust, strength and serenity remain in our hearts after all these blasts and clashes?
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you”, Jesus promised us. In the farewell discourse at the cenacle, Jesus comforted the disciples by assuring them that He would give peace, a peace different from what “the world gives”.
By the time of Jesus, the Roman Empire was enforcing the “Pax Romana”, “Roman Peace” literally. It was a time of stability and order through the enactment of legislation, a peace enjoyed by the rulers of the Roman Empire, a peace maintained by eliminating voices of dissent. Jesus was one of such voices.
Jesus gives true peace, a peace that never threatens, never robs, but gets along with suffering. The true peace of Jesus is sourced from his crucifixion, thereby He can endure suffering of all kinds. The true peace of Jesus reflects a close relationship with God, and embraced by His love. God’s love never fails. He never withdraws His love. His love is eternal. His peace soothes during a thundering night and calms in the raging sea.
True peace gives us courage; true peace gives us strength. “Let not our hearts be troubled”, Jesus assures us. And Jesus demonstrates with examples: When Jesus knew that the Roman soldiers were preparing to arrest Him, he came forward with “I am” (John 18:5). When one of the officials slapped Jesus in the face, Jesus responded with, “If I have spoken wrongly, bear witness to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” (John 18:23) The real peace in Jesus exemplifies with inner strength and dignity, a dignity instilled with God’s love, a love that no one can rob of Him. The principles of the Church’s social teaching proclaim that human rights are rooted in the inherent dignity of each human person: We are not slaves but children of God. The real peace in Jesus is a gift: Never lose hope.
Jesus’ cross is a sign of the faith of Christians.
Jesus’ cross is a symbol of suffering, yet a symbol of joy;
a symbol of weakness, yet a symbol of strength;
a symbol of sins, yet a symbol of grace;
a symbol of persecution, yet a symbol of purification;
a symbol of death, yet a symbol of resurrection and eternal life.
Jesus said that to be His disciple, we have to take up our cross, to come after Him; with the unwavering faith that we will sustain in His real peace: our sorrows shall be turned into joys; in weaknesses then we are strong; amid all disappointments but never lose hope; and finally overcome death and have eternal life.
It would not be easy, for sure. But then, if we had prayed for our brothers and sisters who suffered intensely, and today, we find that we may have fallen into the same suffering. While the peace of Jesus dwells in our hearts, why should we fear? Let us give thanks to the Lord! Because finally we could share the same cross in communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
May we unite ourselves in prayers, together we shall overcome fear and find peace in our hearts through Jesus Christ our Lord!
來源:沸點