請增加我們的信德罷！
宗徒們向主說：「請增加我們的信德罷！」主說：「如果你們有信德像芥子那樣大，即使你們給這棵桑樹說：你連根拔出，移植到海中去！它也會服從你們的。你們中間誰有僕人耕田或放羊，從田地裏回來，即給他說：你快過來坐下吃飯罷！而不給他說：預備我吃飯，束上腰伺候我，等我吃喝完畢，以後你才吃喝？僕人做完了吩咐的事，主人豈要向他道謝？你們也是這樣，既做完吩咐你們的一切，仍然要說：我們是無用的僕人，我們不過做了我們應做的事。」
路加福音 17:5-10
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.
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
"Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"
Luke 17:5-10
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 that a virtue is a habit, it gets stronger when it is exercised. Just like some people who exercise regularly in order to build muscles, we have to live out our faith in our daily lives. Our faith gets tested when adversity comes. The Year of Faith announced by Pope Benedict XVI last year is coming to an end next month. Let us not be afraid to take up challenges that strengthen our faith.
The second message that Jesus spoke of is related to service. He used a parable of a servant serving his master to remind all those who serve in the Church, that if we have done all we have been commanded, there is no reason to boast, nor a right to demand rewards. Let us ask God to grant us humble hearts, so that we will be willing to serve Him without seeking rewards.
This reflection is prepared by the FLL Inspire editorial team as a digest of the following two articles: Mustard Seed Faith - Be Not Afraid!, 常年期第二十七主日.
喜樂的傳教士：肯亞的體驗 – 陳倩盈