聖家節
Fr. Fernando Cortz
慶祝聖家節的讀經指向很多方面。例如：談到諾言的實現、按照天主的旨意而誕生的孩子、天主親手在歷史和自然中使不可能的事成為可能。
像許多等待孩子的家庭一樣，我們可以同情亞巴郎和撒辣。他們用了整整一生，將近一百年的時間，等待天主實現答應他們最想要的一份的禮物，一個孩子，一個他們親生的兒子。天主實現了他們的願望，一個未來榮耀的承諾。亞巴郎一次又一次地接受天主的計劃。他憑信心接受天主答應為他所做的事。應許的孩子依撒格是家庭歡樂和自豪的中心。
正如聖保祿所寫，由一個已經失去生育能力的人，竟然生了子孫，這就是無中生有的生命！生命創造不斷重複，因為對天主來說沒有什麼是不可能的！
上主對亞巴郎說：「我是你的盾牌；你得的報酬必定很豐厚！」這個孩子是天主保護和神聖偉大的標記。那麼，想到天主要求亞巴郎犧牲他唯一的兒子依撒格作為回報天主的禮物，這是多麼痛苦啊！這是多麼可怕的事情啊！這是一個試探，天主拯救依撒格作為一個預像。天主親自贖回透過亞巴郎的信德和聽命所提供的這份禮物。天主會要求祂的獨生子耶穌成為祭品，成為救贖全人類的禮物。天主的計劃是多麼奧秘啊！
聖詠提醒我們，天主永遠信守自己的生命的盟約。 這不單只是今世的生命，而是歸還的永生。這是亞當和夏娃失去的永生。天主不會忘記祂的應許！
聖保祿提醒我們，亞巴郎前往未知的世界接受天主的恩賜。在陌生人中開始新的生活，未來除了天主大能之手的指引之外別無他路。他變得偉大而強大。他最終的祝福，應許的孩子依撒格，是天主眷顧光明未來的標誌，這個國家就像天上的星星一樣多！這些人將不單只是以色列。這將是我們所有人，亞巴郎因信德而生的子孫！
聖保祿告訴我們，即使亞巴郎願意獻依撒格為祭品，亞巴郎也認為天主能使死人復活！依撒格成為耶穌及其所有跟隨者未來復活的神秘象徵。正如依撒格被天主的憐憫從死亡中救贖出來一樣，我們也由永死、由遠離天主的生命中救贖出來。
耶穌是默西亞，是世人期待已久的默西亞。受聖神感動，西默盎和安納來到聖殿迎接耶穌。耶穌是天主應許的最終實現－以色列的默西亞，以色列和所有外邦人的救世主！
耶穌注定來自一個貧窮的家庭，作為一個默默無聞的人，成為君王，讓所有人都能看到天主的救恩，「為外邦人帶來啟示的光，為天主子民以色列帶來榮耀！」
耶穌是一個矛盾的記號，揭示了我們心靈受苦的秘密！祂的母親瑪利亞將成為與我們一起受苦的人。透過她的兒子耶穌瑪利亞了解我們的心。
瑪利亞的兒子將成為「一個強壯，充滿智慧，天主的恩寵常在祂身上的孩子」。像依撒格一樣，祂是天主應許的最後也是最完美的孩子！
今天的讀經故事在許多方面帶給我們挑戰和祝福。我們像亞巴郎和撒辣一樣走過人生的旅程。誰知道天主為我們預備了什麼？我們可能會成為像他們一樣有信德的人。我們等待天主帶領我們，向我們指示生命的道路。這條道路現在已經非常確定了。這條道路就是主耶穌，人們期待已久的救世主，天主的兒子和瑪利亞的兒子。讓我們歡欣喜樂吧！
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY – CYCLE B
(12/31/2023 – 3PM) CANTONESE COMMUNITY
Fr. Fernando Cortz
This feast day points in many directions through the scriptures chosen to celebrate it. Today’s scripture speaks of promises fulfilled, children born by the will of God, the impossible made possible by God’s own hand in history and nature.
Like many families who wait for children, we can have sympathy for Abraham and Sarah. They wait a whole lifetime, nearly 100 years, for God to fulfill the one promised gift they wanted the most, a child, a son of their own. God grants their wish as a promise of future glory. Abraham time and again accepts God’s plan. He accepts in faith what God promises to do for him. The child of the promise, Isaac, is the center of family joy and pride.
The dream is even greater than the one child. As Saint Paul writes he is born of a man and woman as good as dead already! It is LIFE OUT OF NOTHING! Creation repeats itself, for nothing is impossible for God!
God has declared he is a shield for Abraham, a reward very great. The child is a sign of God’s protection and divine greatness. How much more painful, then, to consider that God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his only son, as a gift back to God! What a terrible thing to ask! It was a test, and God saved Isaac as a sign. God himself would redeem this gift offered through Abraham’s faith and obedience. God would ask Jesus, his only-begotten Son, to be the sacrifice, a gift to redeem all human beings. How mysterious is God’s plan!
The Psalm reminds us that God remembers his covenant of life forever. It is not just life in this world, but the eternal life restored. It is the eternal life lost by Adam and Eve. God does not forget his promises!
Paul reminds us that Abraham went out into the unknown world to receive the gifts of God. A new life among strangers, a future with no path but the hand of God to guide him. He became great and powerful. His ultimate blessing, the child of the promise, Isaac, is a sign of God’s favor for a bright future, a nation as numerous as the stars of the sky! That people would be more than just Israel. It would be all of us, children of Abraham born by faith!
Paul tells us that even if Abraham would offer Isaac as a sacrifice, Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead! Isaac becomes a mysterious symbol of the future Resurrection of Jesus and all his followers. As Isaac was redeemed by God’s mercy from death, so we too are redeemed from eternal death, a life away from God.
Jesus is the Messiah, the long-awaited ONE. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Simeon and Anna come to the Temple and receive Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise – the Messiah of Israel, the redeemer of Israel and of all the Gentiles!
Jesus is destined to come from a poor family and as an unknown person to become a King and God’s salvation for all the people to see, “a light for revelation to the gentiles, and glory for God’s people Israel!”
Jesus is a sign of contradiction to reveal the secrets of our suffering hearts! Mary his mother will become one who suffers with us. She will know our hearts through her Son, Jesus.
Mary’ son will be “a child who grows to become strong, wise and favored by God.” Like Isaac, he is the final and most perfect Child of the Promises of God!
The today’s scripture stories challenge and bless us in many ways. We journey through life like Abraham and Sarah. Who knows what God has in store for us? We may become people of faith like them. We wait for God to lead us, to show us the path of life. That path is now very certain. That path is Jesus, the long-awaited Savior, Son of God and son of Mary. Let us be glad and rejoice!
