真福和真禍

by FLL Editorial Team
2013-09-11


那時,耶穌舉目望著自己的門徒說:「你們貧窮的是有福的,因為天主的國是你們的。你們現今饑餓的是有福的,因為你們將得飽飫。你們現今哭泣的是有福的,因為你們將要歡笑。幾時為了人子的緣故,人惱恨你們,並棄絕你們,並且以你們的名字為可惡的,而加以辱罵詛咒,你們才是有福的。在那一天,你們歡喜踴躍吧!看,你們的賞報在天上是豐厚的,因為他們的祖先也同樣對待了先知。但是,你們富有的是有禍的,因為你們已經獲得了安慰。你們現今飽飫的是有禍的,因為你們將要饑餓。你們現今歡笑的是有禍的,因為你們將要哀慟哭泣。幾時眾人都誇讚你們,你們是有禍的,因為他們的祖先也同樣對待了假先知。」
路加福音 6:20-26

© Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.

© Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.

當耶穌召叫了十二個門徒後,便告訴他們甚麼才是天主眼中的真福和真禍,因祂不希望跟隨祂的人沉醉於現世浮於表面的福樂,而是透過天主的啟示,把眼光放遠,明白怎樣才算是真的有福。

耶穌在路加福音中提及的真福包括:貧窮、饑餓、哭泣、為人子被惱恨及辱罵;祂提及的真禍則包括:富有、飽飫、歡笑、被誇讚。很明顯這些被形容為福禍的情況在俗世的眼光中剛好相反,但正因為此,我們更需要擺脫俗世的價值觀,在生活中反思耶穌的教導。例如,我們是否只著重現時的生活和快樂,而沒有真心真意跟隨耶穌?或者當面對挑戰時,我們是否堅持基督徒的立場而非迎合這個世界?

可能當面對耶穌口中的真福時,在現世中會是痛苦的,但耶穌安慰我們當這些事發生時,該歡喜踴躍,因為過往的先知,包括耶穌自己,也受過同樣的對待;他們在天上的賞報將會是豐厚的。因此我們要時常反省,那一個比較重要:現世短暫的舒適和享樂,還是永生的福樂和賞報?

想知道更多關於瑪竇福音中的真福八端,可閱讀這篇文章


Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.

Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”
Luke 6:20-26

After calling forth the twelve disciples, Jesus taught them what are the true blessings and woes in this life according to God, so that they know what is more valuable in the long run, and seek less what this world pursues after.

In the gospel according to Luke, Jesus described the following conditions as blessings: poor, hungry, weeping, and being excluded and insulted on account of the Son of Man. Then He listed out what are the conditions in this life that are actually woes: being rich, filled, laughing, and being spoke well of by other people.

What Jesus called blessings and woes are obviously the opposite in the eyes of this world, and because of this, it's important for us to let go of our earthly values, and reflect on Jesus' teaching in our heart. For example, we need to ask ourselves if we're focusing mostly on the present life and happiness, and forgot to take up our daily cross to follow Christ? Or, when our faith is being challenged, did we stand up against this world, or are we compromising to make more friends than enemies?

To do what Jesus said could mean suffering in this life, but Jesus wants us to look beyond this life, and rejoice when the time of trial comes, because prophets, and Jesus Himself, were being treated in this way, yet the rewards are great for them in heaven. Therefore, which shall we value more: this life or the life to come?

To learn more about the Beatitudes in the gospel according to Matthew, please read this article.

其他文章

相關資訊