Best Gift to Our New-Born King

by Paul Yeung
2014-01-05

主顯節(節日)


依撒意亞先知書 60:1-6


耶路撒冷啊!起來炫耀吧!因為你的光明,已經來到;上主的榮耀,已經照耀在你身上。看啊!黑暗籠罩著大地,陰雲遮蔽著萬民;但上主卻照耀著你,他的榮耀,要彰顯在你的身上。

萬民要奔赴你的光明;眾王要投奔你升起的光輝。舉目向四方觀望吧!他們都聚集來到你這裡;你的眾子,要從遠方而來,你的女兒,要被抱回來。

那時,你見到這情形,必要喜形於色,你的心靈,必要興奮愉快,因為,海洋的珍寶,都要歸於你,萬民的財富,都要歸你所有。成群結隊的駱駝,以及米德楊和厄法的獨峰駝,要齊集在你境內;牠們從舍巴,滿載黃金和乳香而來,宣揚上主的榮耀。

聖保祿宗徒致厄弗所人書 3:2-3,5-6


弟兄姊妹們:

想你們必聽說過,天主為了你們,以恩寵賜與我的職分;就是藉著啟示,使我得知他的奧秘;這奧秘在以前的世代,沒有告訴過任何人,現在卻藉聖神,啟示給他的聖宗徒和先知;這奧秘就是:外邦人藉著福音,在基督耶穌內,與猶太人同為承繼人,同為一身,同為恩許的分享人。

瑪竇福音 2:1-12


當黑落德為王時,耶穌誕生在猶大的白冷。看,有賢士從東方來到耶路撒冷,說:「剛誕生的猶太人君王在那裡?我們在東方見到了他的星,特來朝拜他。」

黑落德王聽見了,就驚慌起來;全耶路撒冷也同他一起驚慌。黑落德王便召集了眾司祭長和民間的經師,仔細考問他們:「默西亞應當生在那裡?」他們對他說:「在猶大的白冷,因為先知曾這樣記載:『你猶大白冷啊!你在猶大的郡邑中,決不是最小的,因為將由你出來一位領袖;他將牧養我的百姓以色列。』」

於是,黑落德暗暗把賢士叫來,仔細詢問他們那星出現的時間;然後打發他們往白冷去,說:「你們去仔細尋訪那嬰孩,幾時找到了,就向我報告,好讓我也去朝拜他。」 賢士聽了王的話,就走了。

看,他們在東方所見的那星,走在他們前面,直至來到嬰孩所在的地方,就停在上面。他們一見到那星,極其高興歡喜。他們走進屋裡,看見嬰孩和他的母親瑪利亞,就俯伏朝拜了那嬰孩,並打開自己的寶匣,給嬰孩奉獻了禮物,即黃金、乳香和沒藥。

賢士在夢中得到指示,不要回到黑落德那裡,就由另一條路,返回自己的地方。


我們總是渴望天主對我們的指引能夠像聖經中形容好像東方所見的那星一般顯而易見。但是,我們未能領悟得到這是一個內在培養出來的修為,需要調整及謙虛自己,讓自己能更容易感受及聆聽得到天主的臨在及召叫,就像福音中那三個賢士一樣,決心去尋找基督。

同樣,我們亦需要透過我們的言與行去成為天主在世的標誌和臨在,讓那些尋找祂的心靈能於我們當中與主相遇。我們對世界的憐憫及公義的行徑就是最有效使他人與基督相遇的途徑。

我們要成為這世界的祝福,就要常將上主置於我們眼前 (聖詠 16:8-1, 宗徒大事錄 2:25-28) 但是,有些人像聖經中黑落德王一樣,為懼怕自己的私利及權力受到威脅,不擇手段地去殺害耶穌,摧毀通往基督的道路。究竟我們是天主臨於世上的渠道還是障礙呢?

當我們開始新的一年時,讓我們成為那些一見到那星(與主相遇)就極其高興喜歡的人,同時決心棄絕自己,不屈不朽地去尋找天主的道路,甚至改變自己的生命,如願意走另一條路的賢士們,挑選一條彰顯天主更大光榮的道路。

去讓天主於每一刻臨在於我們的生命就是我們能夠送給這新生王最好的禮物!

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord


Isaiah 60:1-6


Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory. Nations shall walk by your light, and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you: your sons come from afar, and your daughters in the arms of their nurses.

Then you shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow, for the riches of the sea shall be emptied out before you, the wealth of nations shall be brought to you. Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord.

Ephesians 3:2-3A, 5-6


Brothers and sisters:

You have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Matthew 2:1-12


When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

We always hope that God's signs to us could be as visible and clear as the star in the East. Yet we fail to realize that it is a condition we need to cultivate within ourselves, to become better attuned to God's presence and calling which could be easily felt or heard by the humble seekers like the wise men (the three Magi) in the Gospel.

In turn, we are also called to be God's sign and presence for the world to recognize Jesus in our words and deeds, especially for the searching hearts around us. Our actions of compassion and justice are channels for others to see/encounter Jesus in us.

To become a blessing to the world, we need to set the Lord always before us. (Ref. Psalm 16:8-11, Acts 2:25-28) Yet there are people who are like the Herod in the scripture who, by every means, try to destroy (the pathway to) Jesus as their self interests and power are threatened. Are we a channel or a hindrance of God's presence to this world?

As we begin a new year, let us be the ones who rejoice exceedingly with great joy when we see the star (encounter Jesus), and be determined to deny ourselves in pursuit of His way with perseverance, even to the point of changing the course of our lives like the three wise men who took another road, all for the greater glory of God.

To keep God's presence constantly in our lives is the best gift we can offer to this new-born King!

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