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Posts Tagged ‘service’
Christmas Special (1): Little-Known Facts about the Holy Land: Basilica of the Annunciation / Giving Tree / Distant Neighbours: Dr. Paul Au
Nazareth, a small village in Israel, has become a notable destination of Christian pilgrimage due to the fact that Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus. How does the place where Mary accepted the invitation of God look like today?
In our busy lives, do we pay attention to those who need help? A group of lay faithful warm the hearts of the needy during the Christmas season through the Giving Tree project.
Hong Kong-based Dr. Paul Au has participated in numerous medical missions organized by the Red Cross and Doctors without Borders. In order to serve poor patients in need of medical help, he even had to risk his life. What is the driving force that motivates him to serve?
Publish date: 2020 - 12 - 5
A Call to Service
You know how we all say we’re busy? Can we be honest and admit that, despite our busy schedules, we still waste time? One survey found that seven in ten people admit to wasting time at work, mostly on social media, then online shopping, browsing travel, sports, and entertainment, and just scrolling down pages with no purpose (Michael Hyatt, Free to Focus, 212).
Publish date: 2019 - 11 - 17
Made for Service
When I was in Taiwan living at the Holy See nunciature (Vatican embassy), Msgr. Russell surprised me when he said that priests in the Vatican Diplomatic Service are aware of who gets made a nuncio first (a nuncio is the Pope’s ambassador in a country) and to what country he gets sent.
Publish date: 2019 - 9 - 1
Pope Francis: The wisdom of the heart lies in knowing how to combine contemplation and action
(CNA) On July 21, in his message before the Angelus, Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel, when Jesus goes to visit Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus.
Publish date: 2019 - 7 - 24
Pope Francis: Whoever doesn’t live to serve, doesn’t need to live!
(CNA/EWTN News) In his Jubilee general audience for the month of June, Pope Francis focused his speech on the works of mercy and how to put them into action. He also gave thanks for his recent visit to Armenia, and spoke of his coming trips to Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Publish date: 2016 - 6 - 30
God’s Gifts
Gratitude is the state of giving thanks. It is the condition of giving thanks for everything in life.
Publish date: 2016 - 1 - 7
Pope Francis: The ministry of the bishop is accepted in obedience
(CNA/EWTN News) During his weekly general audience on Wednesday November 5, Pope Francis said that a Church which does not foster communion with the bishop is unhealthy. In his remarks to the crowds gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, the Pope called on Christian communities to “nurture a sincere and profound communion” with the bishop, “starting […]
Publish date: 2014 - 11 - 6
Our Zeal for God Is Consuming Us!
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God” (Psalm 63:2). Gentle in tone and unadorned in expression, the human yearning for God, as reflected in the antiphon of this Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm, belies the zeal and vigour simmering deep in the psalmist’s heart. In fact, his longing for […]
Publish date: 2014 - 8 - 31
The Better Part
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to […]
Publish date: 2014 - 7 - 29
Pope Francis: He who does not want to serve is not a Christian
(CNA) During his general audience on December 18, Pope Francis stressed the importance of humility and service in the Christian life. “In Christmas, God reveals himself not as one who stands above and who dominates the universe, but as He who lowers himself,” explained the Pontiff. “God lowers himself, coming down to earth as little […]
Publish date: 2013 - 12 - 19
Martha and Mary
在今天的福音中，耶穌到了伯達尼村莊瑪爾大和瑪利亞的家裡。福音中描述瑪爾大和瑪利亞兩姊妹用了很不同的方法接待耶穌。瑪利亞坐在耶穌腳前聽祂講話，而瑪爾大則為了伺候耶穌而忙碌不已。 為主忙碌不已是不少熱心基督徒的現實寫照，而耶穌卻對瑪爾大說：「瑪利亞選擇了更好的一份，是不能從她奪去的。」耶穌這樣說不是譴責瑪爾大，而是要提醒她(和所有人)在祈禱中靜心聆聽的重要性。 事實上，耶穌在福音中多次強調聆聽祂的話非常重要(若望福音 10:27-28, 路加福音 8:21, 若望福音 8:47)。如果不先靜下來聽天主的話，我們又怎能知道祂的旨意？我們如果不履行祂的旨意，再忙碌也是徒然的。 在繁忙的生活中，只要好好把握每一刻(如乘車、做家務時)，我們仍然可以找到祈禱的時間，聆聽天主的指引。 In today’s Gospel, Jesus went to visit Martha and Mary in the village of Bethany. We see that Martha and Mary used very different ways in serving Jesus. Mary sat beside the Lord at His feet listening to Him, and Martha was “burdened with much serving”. […]
Publish date: 2013 - 10 - 8
Increase our faith!
在這主日的福音，耶穌帶給我們兩大訊息：信德和服務。 在面對難題時，我們都會像宗徒般向天主說：「請增加我們的信德罷！」信德不是一份感覺，而是聖德。聖多瑪斯．阿奎納認為聖德就像一種習慣，需要透過鍛煉來建立。就像人不斷操練以練出一身肌肉，如果我們要有更大的信德，我們只有不斷在生活中實踐，才能增進信德，而當逆境來臨時，就是考驗我們信德的時候。榮休教宗本篤十六世去年訂下的信德年還有個多月便完結，讓我們趁著僅餘的時間接受信德的挑戰。 耶穌給我們的第二個訊息是服務。祂用僕人侍奉主人的比喻，提醒所有蒙召在教會內服務的人：若我們完成天主交付的使命，也絲毫沒有自我誇耀的理由，更沒有權力要求任何獎賞。求天主賜予我們一顆謙卑的心，不求回報地為祂服務。 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: Mustard Seed Faith – Be Not Afraid!, 常年期第二十七主日. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus gives us two messages: faith and service. In the face of difficulties, like the apostles, we would say to God: “Increase our faith.” Faith is not a feeling, but one of the theological virtues. St. Thomas Aquinas says […]
Publish date: 2013 - 10 - 6
Healing in Body and Soul
Luke, having first introduced a man delivered from an evil spirit, goes on to relate the healing of a woman. For our Lord had come to heal each sex, and he ought first to be healed who was first created. Hence it is said, “And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s […]
Publish date: 2013 - 9 - 4
Whoever humbles himself will be exalted
在今天的福音中，耶穌到了法利塞人家中吃飯。那天是安息日，他們細心觀察耶穌會否做些甚麼，讓他們找到逮捕祂的理由。在新約中，基督徒一起聚餐本來應該充滿喜樂，是一個共融的時刻。但在這個宴會裡，被邀請的人忙著爭坐首席，人們互相視對方為敵人。 耶穌留意到這情況，便以說比喻的方式教導他們。祂警告爭取上座這種行動也許帶來不能預期的消極後果，因為可能有身份地位更高的客人會來到，主人將因而要求這些原本爭得上座的人讓位，他們便會因自己的行動而導致公開的蒙羞。 接著耶穌說明受邀者先尋求末位的好處，他們不僅可避免不必要的羞辱，而且主人更會在必要的情況下，親自前來請他們登上高位，他們便可因此而得到光彩。最後耶穌提出一個顛覆世俗價值觀的結論，這個價值觀是天主的價值觀：「凡自高自大的必被貶抑，凡自謙自卑的必被高舉。」（路加福音 18:14） 耶穌也教導人們在邀請客人時所應有的態度。在當時的社會，受邀的客人們會透過回請而報答主人，主人因而失去得到更多、更大報酬的機會。耶穌建議人應該邀請無法回請的人參與宴會，因為他們將得到天主的賞報。這是耶穌對義人的許諾。 參考: 受邀者與邀請者的正確態度 In today’s Gospel, Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the Pharisees on a Sabbath day. The Pharisees watched Him closely to see if they could accuse Him. In the New Testament, the meals that Christians share are supposed to be moments of […]
Publish date: 2013 - 8 - 31
Whoever wishes to be the greatest
馬爾谷福音 10:32-45 耶穌告訴門徒將要發生在祂身上的事後，雅各伯和若望走到耶穌跟前，不是關心祂將要受的苦，而是希望可以在祂的光榮中「分一杯羹」。雅各伯和若望只看到耶穌要受光榮，卻完全忘記了祂先要經歷苦辱和死亡。磨難使人謙卑，謙卑的人卻要被高舉。十字架是必須的磨練。 耶穌提醒眾門徒不要像外邦人一樣，作首領的不要主宰別人，卻要作眾人的僕役。如果以世俗的眼光看，作首領若反過來要服侍別人，那又有什麼好羨慕？他們不明白謙卑的人透過服務人去愛天主，即使仍在世上，天主自會賜給這些人喜樂和平安。 Mark 10:32-45 After hearing from Jesus what was going to happen to Him, James and John came to Jesus. They were not there out of concern for the suffering He had to endure, but to ask Him for sharing His glory with them. All that James and John saw was glory, […]
Publish date: 2013 - 5 - 29
Be the servant of all
馬爾谷福音 9:30-37 耶穌跟門徒說祂將要受苦、被殺，門徒不明白，也不敢問祂，反而爭論他們中間誰最大。我們就像那些門徒一樣，最在乎別人如何看我們，不希望成為最末的那位，這比一切都重要。作為基督徒，耶穌給予我們一種與世界截然不同的價值觀，世界說最大的那位有權勢、地位，唯人馬首是瞻；耶穌卻說要做最大的就要做眾人的僕役。活在世界上，很容易被俗世同化，願我們跟隨耶穌的榜樣，甘於服務，甘於成為僕役。 Mark 9:30-37 Jesus was telling His disciples that He would suffer and be killed. The disciples did not understand and were afraid to ask Him, instead, they discussed who was the greatest among themselves. We are just like the disciples. We care a lot about how others see us, hoping we would not […]
Publish date: 2013 - 5 - 21
