二零一六年三月五日四旬期退省 「悟」 個人感想
在四旬期退省當天，徐世強執事引導我們思考放不下與放得下的道理； 隨後探討如匝凱、罪婦和瑪達肋納、右盗及伯多祿怎樣在基督内轉化的例子。
覺察天主的計劃
在第一節退省中，徐世強執事邀請我們寫下我們生命中放不下的人物，東西，及某一件事情。 我們如何能够捨棄我們最好的，例如愛不釋手的珍藏或高薪的職業，甚至最壞的如仇恨或悲傷情緒等等。 按我們生活的職責，傳統和社會期望，這似乎是難以決擇的問題。
我從不同的角度觀察到這一挑戰，我漸漸領略到所有地上的事物都是屬於天主的：來自天主，回歸天主。 以我個人的想法，我們都是任何一個人及一件事情的見證，在見證當中我們自由地傳達天主的愛。 所有的事情都會過去，如果我們往往想佔有，完全支配一個人或迷戀某事物，看來這不是天主的計劃。 「天主使一切協助那些愛祂的人，就是那些按祂的旨意蒙召的人，獲得益處」（羅馬書八:28）。 讓我們放得下，按主的旨意去愛人及善用物件。
對天主慈悲的喚醒
在第二節退省中，徐世強執事談到教宗方濟各慈悲禧年禱文的一段摘錄。
主耶穌基督，你教導我們要如同天父滿懷慈悲，並告訴我們：看到你，就是看見天父，請向我們顯示你的面容，我們就能得救。 你慈愛的目光，把匝凱和瑪竇從金錢的奴役中釋放出來，使罪婦和瑪達肋納不再只從受造物中尋找幸福，令伯多祿在背主後痛哭，又把天堂應許給悔改的右盜。 讓我們每人都能聽到你對撒瑪黎雅婦人所說的：「如果你知道天主的恩賜。」
徐世強執事從慈悲禧年禱文中引述寬恕與和好的榜樣。
皈依：如匝凱和瑪竇的悔改與慷慨的行為改變。 匝凱站起來對主說：「主，你看，我把我一半的財物施捨給窮人；我如果欺騙過誰，我就以四倍賠償。」（路加福音十九8 ）
憐憫：一位罪婦獲得主耶穌原諒。 帶著一玉瓶香液，用眼淚滴濕了衪的腳，用自己的頭髮擦乾衪的腳，以後抹上香液的喜悅和感激的情境。（路加七37-38）
轉化：受祝福的伯多祿回復從他的三次背主到三次接受耶穌的召唤： 餵養我的羔羊，牧放我的羊群， 餵養我的羊群。（若望福音十八15-18，25-27; 二十一15-17）
懺悔：悔改的右盜作了懺悔，呈現與耶穌一同進入樂園裏。（路加福音二十三41-43; 厄弗所書三12）
問題思考：在你的一生中，怎樣體驗到天父的憐憫呢？
二零一六年四月十七日 「善牧主日」Sally Lau 撰寫
March 5, 2016 Lent Retreat “Awakening” personal reflection
Deacon Simon Chiu conducted a Lent retreat in St Leo, Oakland in March 2016. He guided us from thinking of letting go to transformation in Christ with the examples of Zacchaeus, the adulteress and Magdalene, and Peter.
Stay awake of God’s plan
In the first session of the retreat, Deacon Simon asked us all to write down what are the things we could not let go in our life - a person, a thing, and a circumstance. It was hard to decide. How can we cut the best of our best (a treasure, a high-salary career…) or worst (hatred, grief…)? We live our lives with so many responsibilities, traditions, and social expectations. This seems an excessive demand.
My unsettling mind has observed these challenges from a different angle. I believe all the earthly things belong to God. All from God will return to God one day. My personal thoughts are that we are the witnesses of the people we care, the things we appreciate, and the situations we can tackle. All things on earth will pass away. If we take possession of any matter, we tend to dominate over a person, an object, and the occasion. This is not a God’s plan. “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NABRE). Let us let go of all things to God’s hands, love others and use thing properly.
Stay awake of God’s mercy
In the second session, Deacon Simon talked about an excerpt from Pope Francis’ Prayer for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.
"Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: "If you knew the gift of God!""
Deacon Simon pointed out the examples of forgiveness and reconciliation from the prayer.
Conversion: Zacchaeus and Matthew repented and converted with unbound generosity after they have encountered Jesus. Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions, I shall give to the poor; and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I shall repay it four times over.” (Luke 19:8, NABRE)
Compassion: The sinful woman was being forgiven by the Master, Jesus. She washed the feet of Jesus with the fragrant ointment and her hair dries them with joy and gratitude. (Luke 7:37-38)
Change live: Peter did-over his denying Christ three times at Jesus’ trial. Peter was blessed and accepted Jesus three times promising to feed his sheep, feed his lamb, and tend his flock. (John 18:15-18, 25-27; 21:15-17)
Confession: By making a confession, the repentant thief has accessed to Jesus and to the Paradise. (Luke 23:41-43; Ephesian 3:12)
Question to Ponder: Have you experienced the Father’s mercy in your life?
4/17/2016, Good Shepherd Sunday by Sally.ofs
