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將臨期第四主日 Homily Fourth Sunday Advent Cycle A December 18

 

Homily 4th Sunday Advent 2022.

Franklin Fong, OFM

 

This Christmas there will be those who have come to believe the Christmas story and it’s message to us. There also will be those who do not believe! Nothing has changes in two thousand years since Jesus was born. There will always be those who believe and have lives of faith and those who do not believe and live lives without faith. Today’s readings give us examples of both types of persons.

In the first reading we have King Ahaz who lacks confidence in the word of God. Even tho God promises that the house of David will continue until the true Messiah-King is born. Ahaz does not accept the challenge of such a great belief.

Paul in the second reading from the letter to the Romans, leaps to such a belief and believes as well that he was called to spread the good news about Jesus who is both the Son of God and a descendent of the house of David.

In the Gospel of Matthew we hear how though Joseph has strong doubts to overcome but still takes God at his word and believes by acting accordingly.

All believers have to deal with doubt. At times we may be threatened with some degree of uncertainty concerning what in our faith usually seems so self-evident. We believe and yet there is gnawing doubt.

But don’t be surprised that there is also the uncertainty of unbelief. So, we might say “perhaps, it might be true!”. You can now see that both the believer and non-believer share the struggles of doubt and belief.

This week, we might reflect on how we have handled our doubts of faith. To strengthen our faith, we may have to give more time to study, prayerful reflection and sharing with others. The answer is always demanding responses of our head, heart and hands.

Faith is more than our assent to revealed truths, Our faith is to personal. “I believe in Thee,” we say.

We will experience a joyous faith and be most grateful for his gift when we experience a “Thee” or a “You” who bears us up and gives promise of an indestructible love.

 

So what are the learning points of today’s message? Consider the following:

 

• Do you want to feel the joy of Christ’s birth?

• How do we learn to trust in God’s power in times of trouble? We certainly don’t want      to imitate King Ahaz as we heard in the 1st reading.

• Like Paul, how do we communicate to others how God is taking hold of you as we        heard in the second reading.

• How do we learn to obey God’s instructions, like Joseph in the gospel reading.

 

Let me share with you a poem I wrote several years ago about my faith journey lessons.

 

Faith

Not seeing where to go
troubles my soul.
Not knowing what to do
troubles my soul.
Not feeling your presence
troubles my soul.
My faith challenges my
Seeing, Knowing and Feelings
To limits that I will never understand.

 

So brothers and sisters of the Chinese Catholic Community

 that is the Good News for this 4th Sunday of Advent!

Alleluia Alleluia !

 


 

(中文翻譯.原文以英文為準.)
 

鄺神父主日道理中譯本

禮儀年甲年將臨期第四主日 2022 年 12 月 18 日
讀經一: 依撒意亞 7:10-14
讀經二: 羅馬書 1:1-7
瑪竇福音 1:18-24

 

今年聖誕節,將會有一些人開始相信聖誕故事和它給我們的信息。也會有人不信!自從耶穌誕生以來,兩千多年沒有任何改變。總會有一些人相信並過著信仰的生活,也有一些不相信並過著沒有信仰的生活。今天的讀經為我們提供了這兩類人的例子。

 

在讀經一中,國王亞哈次對天主的話缺乏信心。即使天主應許達味的家族將繼續存在,直到真正的王者默西亞誕生。亞哈次王不接受這種偉大信德的挑戰。

 

但在讀經二羅馬書中,保祿擁抱了這信念,也相信他已被召喚去傳播關於耶穌的喜訊,即耶穌既是聖子,也是達味家族的後裔。

 

在馬竇福音中,我們聽到若瑟如何克服強烈的疑慮,但仍然相信天主的話,以行動去配合。

 

所有的信徒都必須面對懷疑。有些時候,我們的信仰似乎應該是那麽不證自明,但仍存某程度的不確定的威脅。我們相信,但仍存隱隱然的疑慮。

 

但不要驚訝,不信也有不確定性。所以,我們可能會說“也許,這
可能是真的!”。你現在可以看到,信徒和非信徒都在懷疑和信仰
之間進行鬥爭。

 

本週,我們或許可以反思我們是如何處理我們對信仰的懷疑。為了加強我們的信仰,我們可能需要花更多的時間來學習、虔誠地反思和與他人分享。答案總是需要我們的頭腦、心靈和雙手做出回應。


信仰不限於只是認同啓示了的真理,信仰乃是深深涉及個人的。   “主呀,我相信祢”,我們說。


當我們體驗到“祢”或“你”在支撐我們並給予堅不可摧的愛的應許時
,我們將體驗到一種喜樂的信德,一份最可感激的來自祂的禮物。


那麼今天的信息有哪些學習要點呢?考慮以下:
 

-你想感受基督誕生的喜樂嗎?
-我們如何學會在患難中信賴天主的大能?我們當然不想效法我們   在讀經一中聽到的亞哈次王。
-正如我們在讀經二中所聽到的,我們要像保祿一樣向他人傳達天   主是如何抓住你的。
-我們如何學習遵守天主的指示,就像福音書裡的若瑟一樣。

 

讓我與您分享我幾年前寫的一首詩,是關於我的信仰之旅途中其一課程。

 

信仰
不見到去哪裡
我的靈魂受困擾。
不知道做何事
我的靈魂受困擾。
感受不到祢同在
我的靈魂受困擾。
我的信仰挑戰我的
所見、所知、所感
直至我永不理解的極限。


所以華人天主教會的兄弟姐妹們, 這是將臨期第四主日的好消息!
 

亞肋路亞,亞肋路亞!