Proclaim Jesus is Lord

by FLL Editorial Team
2013-10-19


耶穌向他的門徒說:「我告訴你們:凡在人前承認我的,人子將來也要在天主的使者前承認他;在人前否認我的,將來在天主的使者前也要被否認。凡出言干犯人子的,尚可獲得赦免;但是,褻瀆聖神的人,決不能獲得赦免。當人押送你們到會堂,到官長及有權柄的人面前時,你們不要思慮怎樣申辯,或說什麼話,因為在那個時刻,聖神必要教給你們應說的話。」
路加福音 12:8-12

 © Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P. (www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/)

© Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P. (www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/)

為了準備門徒去面對將來的迫害,耶穌在兩方面安慰和鼓勵他們:只要他們在人前承認祂,祂將來也要在天主的使者前承認他們;當他們受審時,聖神自會教他們應說的話。

得到這樣的承諾,門徒們該很安心,但其實真要面對時,實在一點都不容易。回顧被耶穌揀選為教會磐石、並說過決不會跌倒的伯多祿,都曾三次否認耶穌,我們就可想像,在面對迫害時仍然勇於宣認耶穌基督是主,可以有多困難。

耶穌也提醒我們,出言干犯祂的人,可獲得赦免,可是為何褻瀆聖神,卻不能獲得赦免呢?一般的罪,都是出於人的軟弱,所以伯多祿雖然否認過耶穌,但他願意悔改,也就得到天主的寬恕。出言干犯耶穌,也是基於祂的人性,例如說耶穌是貪吃嗜酒的人,或批評祂是稅吏和罪人的朋友(瑪11:19),這也可以被寬恕。可是「褻瀆聖神」,卻是一個褻瀆天主的罪,故意違背良知和真理;就如法利塞人漠視顯而易見的事實,心硬地批評耶穌驅魔,是仗賴魔王貝爾則布(瑪12:24),這樣違背良心地褻瀆耶穌的天主性,是把自己置於不能接受天主的原諒和恩寵的境況中。

在這世代,我們較少機會遭受肉體上的迫害,但要公然宣認耶穌是我們的救主,並生活出基督徒的身份和價值觀,也難免會受到批評、譏笑或歧視。當我們遇上這些情況時,讓我們祈求天主給我們勇氣和耐心,堅守對基督的信仰,繼續以言行為主作證。

這篇默想由生命恩泉文摘編輯小組撰寫,內容以下列文章為根據: Commentaries on the daily readings by Sacred Space, 常年期第二十八週星期六.


Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
Luke 12:8-12

To prepare His disciples for the persecutions that is to come, Jesus consoled and encouraged them in two ways: He promised as long as they acknowledge Him before others, He will acknowledge them before the angels of God; when they are brought to trials, the Holy Spirit will teach them what they should say.

These two promises from the Lord should be very reassuring, but if we recall how Peter denied Jesus three times, though he promised his faith in Jesus will never shaken (Matthew 26:33), we can imagine how difficult it is to proclaim Jesus is Lord at the times of trials and persecutions.

Jesus also taught us that speaking against Him can be forgiven, but blaspheming against the Holy Spirit cannot not be forgiven. Most sins are committed due to human weakness or ignorance. For example, Peter denied Jesus out of weakness and fear, and therefore as long as he repent, he receives God's forgiveness. Speaking against Jesus, is generally speaking against His human nature, for example some criticized Jesus is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 11:19), and this according to Jesus is pardonable. However, to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is a sin of blaspheming against God's spirit, an intentional violation of one's own conscience and going against Truth itself. For example, when it is so obvious to see that Jesus drove out demons by the power of God, the Pharisees said He drove out demons only by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Matthew 12:24). They placed themselves into a position that is impossible to reconcile with God, and therefore cannot receive forgiveness.

Nowadays, we are less likely to suffer physical persecution, but to openly confess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior and live out our Christian identity and values, can still make us vulnerable to criticism, ridicule and even discrimination. When we encounter these situations, let us pray that God grant us the courage and patience to persevere in our Christian faith, and continue to be His witness by words and deeds.

This reflection is prepared by the FLL Inspire editorial team as a digest of the following two articles: Commentaries on the daily readings by Sacred Space, 常年期第二十八週星期六.

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