機警如蛇,純樸如鴿子

by FLL Editorial Team
2013-07-11

snake-dove瑪竇福音 10:16-23

在今天的福音中,耶穌告訴我們,福傳者被派遣出外去傳揚福音,就像羊群被放在狼群中一樣。由於我們放棄採取暴力,我們完全沒有自衛的能力。在外面有狼想消滅我們,我們所宣揚愛、公義與和平的訊息被他們視為威脅。耶穌告誡我們要像蛇一樣機警,但卻要像鴿子般純樸。當面對世界的一切,我們要運用創意;但要保持一份純真,不是幼稚,但別因為要達到好的目的而做任何惡事。

自古以來,直至現在也是,很多追隨基督的人都因為這個身份而要面對審判、恐嚇或折磨。這是我們為基督和福音作見證的機會。當我們被「交出」時,耶穌叫我們不要憂慮該說什麼,我們可從宗徒大事錄中多次見到,當門徒被捕和盤問時,他們不用想該說些什麼,但他們完全沒有恐懼。

耶穌在這篇福音最後的話令人傷感,但祂所說的都是真的。跟隨耶穌可以令家庭分裂。我們自領洗的一刻就加入了一個新的家庭,有新的義務。我們承諾天主去愛,去追隨真理和公義。如果我們的父親叫我們違背福音的話,我不能聽從他;如果我的兄弟要我跟罪惡同流合污,我不能聽從他。要作這些選擇並不容易,但不選擇基督的後果只有更壞。

耶穌說:「幾時人們在這城迫害你們,你們就逃往另一城去」。祂從來沒叫我們要令自己受迫害,但若我們沒法到別處去,這就是我們不作妥協,為福音作見證的時候。

Matthew 10:16-23

In today's gospel passage, Jesus told us that those who are sent to spread the Good News are like sheep being placed in the midst of wolves. We are in a way defenceless because we renounce any use of violence. There are wolves out there eager to destroy us because, despite our message of love, justice and peace, we are seen as a threat to their activities and ambitions. Jesus asked us to be clever as snakes and innocent as doves. In dealing with the world, we have to be creative; but innocent, but innocent, not in the sense of being naive but in the sense of being completely free of even any suspicion of wrongdoing. The end does not justify the means!

As has happened so many times and continues to happen, followers of Christ, simply because they are his followers and for no other reason, will be hauled into court, will be the victims of intimidation and torture. This is our opportunity to give witness to Christ and everything that the Gospel stands for. When we are "handed over", Jesus asked us to not be anxious what to say. We can see from the Acts of the Apostles that when the disciples were arrested and interrogated, they did not think about what to say, and very often their fears disappeared.

The last words of Jesus in this gospel passage are sad because they are true. The following of Christ can break up families. I cannot obey a father who tells me to violate the Gospel; I cannot cooperate with a brother who urges me to do evil. It involves painful choices but the opposite would be, in the long run, worse.

Jesus said: "When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next." He never asks us to seek persecution. But when we can run no further, we have to take a stand for the gospel, and not compromise.

Reference:
Friday of week 14 of Ordinary Time - Gospel

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