君王的十字架

我們的主、耶穌基督、普世君王（節日）
常年期第三十四主日丙年讀經

撒慕爾紀下 5:1–3

以色列各支派，聚集到赫貝龍，來見達味，說：「看，我們都是你的骨肉。以前，連撒烏耳作我們君王時，也是你率領以色列出入戰場。上主曾對你說過：你應牧養我的百姓以色列，作以色列的領袖。」

隨後，以色列所有長老，都到赫貝龍，來見君王。達味君王就在赫貝龍，當上主的面，同他們立了盟約；他們便給達味傅油，立他為以色列王。

哥羅森書 1:12–20

弟兄姊妹們：

感謝天父，使我們有資格，在光明中，分享聖徒的福分，因為是他由黑暗的權勢下，救出了我們，並將我們移置在他愛子的國裡；我們且在他愛子內，得到了救贖，獲得了罪赦。

耶穌基督是不可見的天主的肖像，是一切受造物的首生者，因為在天上和地上的一切，可見的與不可見的，或是上座者，或是宰制者，或是率領者，或是掌權者，都是在他內受造的；一切都是藉著他，並且是為了他，而受造的。他在萬有之先就有，萬有都賴他而存在。

耶穌基督又是身體——教會的頭：他是元始，是死者中的首生者，為使他在萬有之上，獨佔首位，因為，天主樂意叫整個的圓滿，居住在他內，並藉著他，使萬有，無論是地上的，是天上的，都與自己重歸於好，因著他十字架的血，立定了和平。

路加福音 22:35–43

耶穌被釘在十字架上時，民眾站著觀望;首領們嗤笑耶穌，說：「別人，他救了；如果這人是天主的受傅者、被選者，就救他自己吧！」

兵士也戲弄耶穌，前來把醋遞給他，說：「如果你是猶太人的君王，就救你自己吧！」在他頭上，還有一塊用希臘文、拉丁文及希伯來文，寫的罪狀牌：「這是猶太人的君王。」

懸掛著的凶犯中，有一個侮辱耶穌說：「你不是默西亞嗎？救救你自己和我們吧！」

另一個凶犯，應聲責斥他說：「你既然受著同樣的刑罰，連天主你都不怕嗎？這刑罰對我們是理所當然的，因為我們所受的，是罪有應得；但是，這個人，從未做過什麼不正當的事。」隨後說：「耶穌，當你來為王時，請你紀念我！」

耶穌給他說：「我實在告訴你：今天，你就要與我一同在樂園裡。」

今天是教會禮儀年常年期最後一個主日，基督君王瞻禮，讓我們承認及敬禮耶穌基督為萬民統治者的身份。基督君王瞻禮把基督作爲救主的君王地位與十字架的奥秘緊緊相連：君王慘遭衆叛親離，經歷苦難，受盡凌辱而死，最後爲我們贏得救贖。這是作為君王，為人民犧牲的代價。

第一篇讀經再喚起以色列選民歷史性的大事，就是達味傅油，被封爲王。達味是以色列第一個真正的君王，也是以色列宗教及政治歷史上舉足輕重的人物。他還未有任何表現，天主就已藉着先知撒慕爾揀選了他，這一切都記載在舊約中。在致哥羅森人書中，保祿敦促哥羅森人感謝天父，因爲祂將他們帶到「祂愛子」的國裏，天上和地上的一切都在基督内受統治，並與祂重歸於好。路加福音的讀經則邀請我們去看清楚，基督是不會被世界、罪惡或死亡征服的君王，祂在十字架上的王權的確爲被摒棄的人及罪人帶來救恩。基督君王是天主降生成人的肖像，統治整個宇宙，直到永遠；但祂又是救世的、被釘的默西亞，在十字架上瀕死時仍向罪人伸出同情之手。究竟他是君王還是囚犯？是天主子還是人？

今天福音呈現的基督君王正正與世俗的君王或統治者的概念背道而馳。基督君王並不是安坐在皇座之上，反而面對暴力和謀害，但天主的大能却把邪惡扭轉爲善，藉着恩寵和基督的工作，救贖整個世界。天主教的教導肯定基督的王權遍及整個人類的歷史，並超越世上一切的權柄及統治者。主耶穌也統治教會，教會是基督的身體，元首就是基督。基督君王救贖我們，高舉我們，祂甘願犧牲，藉這愛的力量再造我們。在這力量和愛中，祂贏得了我們，把我們獻給祂在天上的父，作祂的神聖子民。

基督君王瞻禮明顯地慶祝天上和地上都在基督内成爲一體，在基督的王國内，罪人和被摒棄的人都成了聖人。這裏，再没有界限之分，衆人都在君王受苦、死亡和復活的救世工程内合而爲一。

我們有深深地感受過祂為我們而犧牲的大愛嗎？會懷著感恩的心去領聖體嗎？

「這就是我的身體，將爲你們而犧牲。」

感謝天主！

這篇默想是以 Foundations in Faith – Catechist Catechumenate Manual 為根據，並獲得版權持有人 RCL Benziger, LLC 批准使用。

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Liturgical Year C)

2 Samuel 5:1–3

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said: "Here we are, your bone and your flesh. In days past, when Saul was our king, it was you who led the Israelites out and brought them back. And the LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.'" When all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the LORD, and they anointed him king of Israel.

Colossians 1:12–20

Brothers and sisters:

Let us give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Luke 22:35–43

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God." Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself." Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews."

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

On this last Sunday of the liturgical year, the church celebrates the feast of Christ the King, which allows us to recognize and honor Christ as ruler of all. The feast fixes Christ's messianic kingship squarely in the mystery of the cross. Our salvation is won by having our king die a horrible, ignominious death, betrayed by his friends and the people he came to save. Such is the ultimate price one pays in His sacrifice as king and servant of all.

The first reading recalls a foundational event in the life of the chosen people: the act of anointing David as King of Israel. David was Israel's first true king, and a towering figure in her religious and political history. His selection by God through the prophet Samuel before he had done a single great deed was attested to in the Old Testament. In the letter to the Colossians, St. Paul urges them to give thanks to God for having brought them into the kingdom of his “beloved Son.” All things in heaven and earth are reigned over and reconciled in the person of Christ. The Gospel reading from Luke invites us to see that Christ is the king who cannot be overcome by the world, by sin or by death. His reign from the wood of the cross indeed brings salvation to the outcast and the sinner Christ the King is the icon of God – an icon that reflects God's Kingship. He enjoys a cosmic and eternal reign. Yet he is also the saving, crucified Messiah, who reaches out to sinners even as he is dying on the cross. Is he a King or a prisoner? The Son of God or a mere human?

The vision of Christ the King which is presented in the gospel text for this Sunday seems inconsistent with all our worldly notions of what a king or ruler should be. He is not seated in majesty and comfort upon a throne. In fact, we are presented with a scene of violence and murder, which is transformed from evil to good by the magnificent power of God through His grace and the work of Christ for the salvation of the world. Catholic teaching asserts that Christ's kingship extends over all of human history and that he reigns above every earthly power and principality. Lord Jesus also reigns supreme over the Church, which is Christ's body, with Christ as her head. Christ the King acts to save us and raise us up, recreating us by the power of his sacrificial love. In that power and love, he claims us for his own and offers us as a holy people to God, his heavenly Father.

The feast of Christ the King clearly celebrates that heaven and earth are one in Christ. In Christ`s kingdom, sinners and outcasts become saints. Here, boundaries no longer exist and all are united under the kingship of Jesus Christ, a king who was willing to suffer, die and rise for us in his work of eternal salvation.

Have we ever felt profoundly the spirit of His sacrificial love? Will we receive the Holy Eucharist, His Body, with a deep sense of thanksgiving and gratitude?

"This is my body, which will be given up for you."

Thanks be to God!

This material is adapted from the Foundations in Faith – Catechist Catechumenate Manual with the permission of the copyright holder, RCL Benziger, LLC.

十字架基督君王犧牲救贖