Unexplainable Love

by FLL Editorial Team
2013-09-14

路加福音 15:1-32

prodigalson在本主日的福音中,耶穌說了三個比喻。在「亡羊」的比喻中,耶穌談及一位為了尋找一隻迷失的羊,而把其餘九十九隻丟下的牧人。在「失錢」的比喻中,耶穌談及一個遺失了錢幣的婦人,在找到錢幣後,高興得大花金錢請朋友和鄰人一同歡樂。

這兩個比喻中的牧人和婦人的表現毫不尋常。把九十九隻羊丟下,牧人不怕得不償失嗎?但他就是要冒著走失更多羊的危險,也要尋回失羊。婦人找到一個錢幣,最終卻要用上更多金錢去慶祝。牧人和婦人的行徑,可說是不合情理。而天父對我們每一個人的愛,同樣不合情理,無法解釋。

耶穌說的第三個比喻——「浪子回頭」更能突顯天父對人的愛有多深。在耶穌的年代,沒有父親可以容忍這浪子的作為,但這位慈父不但願意把產業預早分給兒子們。當兒子回來時,他從遠處跑去擁抱兒子。以這位父親的貴族(地主)身份,他本來是不該奔跑的。由於那時的人身穿長袍,要奔跑的話,他不得不束上腰,露出雙腳。為當時的貴族,露出雙腳有損尊嚴,是不光彩的。這位慈父為愛做盡壞事的兒子,甘願貶低自己。兒子配得上這份愛嗎?不配!

同樣,仁慈的天父為了我們,竟然連祂的兒子也願意犧牲。祂的愛深得令我們無法理解。我們無法做任何事令天主更愛我們,也無法做任何事使祂愛我們少一點。讓我們存留在這份愛中,從中提取力量去面對生命中的挑戰。

Luke 15:1-32

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus told three parables. In the Parable of the Lost Sheep, He spoke of a shepherd who would leave ninety-nine sheep to search for one who is lost. In the Parable of the Lost Coin, He spoke of a woman who loses a coin, and upon finding it, she spends most, if not all of it, on a party celebrating the found coin.

In these two parables, the shepherd and the woman behave in an unconventional way. By leaving ninety-nine sheep behind, the shepherd risks losing even more sheep. But he would rather risk the loss in order to find the lost sheep. The woman who finds the coin spends even more to celebrate. Their behaviour is absurd. Our Heavenly Father's love is absurd and unexplainable.

In the third parable that Jesus spoke of, the Prodigal Son, God's love for us is even more evident. No father in the ancient world would ever tolerate such irreverence and insolence from the younger son. The father not only divided the property to his sons, when the younger son went back, he ran to his son and embraced him. Running was considered beneath the dignity of a nobleman since it would imply he was either a slave on an errand or a fugitive running. Further, in order for a person to run in the ancient world, they had first to gird the loins of their garments. But for a nobleman to show his legs was considered an indignity. This father debased and humbled himself for the prodigal son. Does he deserve this love? No

Likewise, Our Merciful Father would rather sacrifice His Son for us. His love is so great that we cannot comprehend. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more, and there is nothing we can do to make Him love us less. Let us dwell in His love, in which we find strength to face life's challenges.

Reference:
Crazy! A Homily for the 24th Sunday of the Year

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