2023(甲) 天主之母節

童貞榮福瑪利亞,天主之母
福音:路2:16-21

Fr. Jijo Kandamkulathy CMF
Claretian Missionaries

今天的福音是午夜彌撒中所讀經文的延續。在耶穌的馬槽旁,牧羊人再次出現。接到從天上來的消息後,他們去了伯利恒,在馬槽裡找到了若瑟、馬利亞和嬰兒。有人指出,他們沒有發現任何不尋常的狀況。他們只看到一個嬰兒和祂的父親和母親在一起。然而,從那個需要幫助和保護的弱者那裡,他們認出了救主。他們不需要特別的跡象;他們不驗證奧跡和奇跡。牧羊人代表所有窮人和被排斥的人,他們幾乎本能地承認白冷的嬰孩是自天而來的默西亞。在耶穌誕生的場景中,我們看到牧羊人只是在觀察——欣喜若狂——上帝為他們所做的奇妙工作。然後他們向其他人宣佈他們的喜悅,所有人都對他們所聽到的感到驚訝(第 18 節)。

在路加福音的第一章,路加經常提到那些感到參與上帝計畫的人的驚奇和巨大的快樂。依撒伯爾發現自己懷孕後,對所有人重複說: 這是天主為我所做的” (參看:路1:25)。西默盎和女先知亞納讚美天主,是天主恩賜他們看到了為所有人民準備的救恩(路 2:30-38);瑪利亞和若瑟也感到驚訝和困惑(路2:33,38)。他們都有一雙嬰孩般的眼睛和一顆嬰孩般的心,與天父的舉動相隨。他們仍然受天父手勢和微笑所吸引。祂笑了,因為他從父親所做的一切中看出了他愛的跡象。 “因為天國正是屬於這樣的人——耶穌有一天說——誰若不像這個孩子一樣,領受天主的國,決不能進入” (穀 10:14-15)。

路加福音將瑪利亞描述為我們的姐妹,她與我們相似,完成了與我們相似的信仰之旅。這位元瑪利亞並不是我們恭敬的物件,她身上包裹著一團特權,在某些情況下,這些特權使她受人欽佩或被人嫉妒,但並不被人所愛。隨著天主的計畫逐漸顯示出來,這裡的重點是信仰和欽佩。 ”瑪利亞把這一些話珍藏於心,反復思想 ” 當她聽到,牧羊人是如何得知耶穌誕生的消息時。 瑪麗“收集了一切事實”,將它們結合起來並抓住了意義,默思天主計畫的實現。

瑪利亞對她所承擔的使命沒有完整的瞭解。她逐漸意識到這一點。她對西默盎關於孩子所說的話感到驚奇。她幾乎被嚇了一跳(路2:33)。她對天主的作為感到驚奇,使徒和所有的人也是如此(路加9:43-45)。她不明白她聖子選擇奉獻自己,完成天父的事業(路 2:50)的言論,因為十二門徒很難理解老師的話:這些話的意思對他們來說仍然是個謎,他們不明白祂說的是什麼” (路 18:34)。瑪利亞雖然不明白,但她觀察、沉思、反思,直到復活節之後(不是之前),她才明白了一切;她會清楚地看到通過她的任務展開的事情的意義。

路加在《宗徒大事錄》開頭,最後一次提到她。路加把她放在信友團體中間:宗徒一道,不斷祈禱。“和他們一起的,還有一些女人,還有耶穌的母親瑪麗和他的兄弟”(宗1:14)。她相信了,因此蒙受祝福(路1:45)

今天的福音以關於割損禮的報導結束。通過這個儀式,耶穌正式成為以色列人的一份子。但這不是路加追憶這個事實的主要原因。他感興趣的還有一個細節,就是給孩子起的名字,這個名字不是父母給取的,而是上天直接指定的。 記住以色列的這種文化背景,我們就能理解路加賦予孩子名字的重要性。他被稱為耶穌,意思是“上主的拯救”。瑪竇解釋說:祂被取這樣的名字,是因為“祂要把自己的百姓從他們的罪惡中拯救出來。”(瑪1:21)

當我們與一個人建立關係時,我們會知道這個人的名字。當天主與我們對話時,祂表明祂的名字,顯示了自己的身份。當祂給自己聖子取名時,天主說:祂是“拯救者”。祂什麼都不做,祂所做的,只是拯救人。在福音中,這個名字被重複了 566 次,幾乎是在提醒我們必須刪除與這個名字不相符的天主形象。現在我們明白了為什麼在舊約中,天主不許人讀到祂的名號,因為只有在耶穌身上,祂才會告訴我們,那就是祂。

在路加福音中,有趣的是,那些直呼耶穌名字的人並非是義人,或是完美主義者,而是那些被邊緣化的人,那些受邪魔壓迫的。他們被魔鬼所束縛(路 4:34),癩病人說: “耶穌,老師,可憐我們吧” (路 17:13),瞎子說: “耶穌,達味之子,求禰憐憫我” (路18: 38),在祂旁邊死在十字架上的罪犯: “耶穌,當禰進入禰的王國時,請記住我” (路23:42)。 伯多祿提醒祂子民的宗教領袖: “在天下人間,沒有賜下別的名號,使我們藉著祂而獲救”(宗 4:12)。

感謝 Armellini 神父提供文段用作分析

©全屬於禰(Totus Tuus) & Claretian Missionaries(聖母聖心愛子會)

Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2023

2023(甲) 天主之母节

童贞荣福玛利亚,天主之母
福音:路2:16-21

Fr. Jijo Kandamkulathy CMF
Claretian Missionaries

今天的福音是午夜弥撒中所读经文的延续。在耶稣的马槽旁,牧羊人再次出现。接到从天上来的消息后,他们去了伯利恒,在马槽里找到了若瑟、马利亚和婴儿。有人指出,他们没有发现任何不寻常的状况。他们只看到一个婴儿和祂的父亲和母亲在一起。然而,从那个需要帮助和保护的弱者那里,他们认出了救主。他们不需要特别的迹象;他们不验证奥迹和奇迹。牧羊人代表所有穷人和被排斥的人,他们几乎本能地承认白冷的婴孩是自天而来的默西亚。在耶稣诞生的场景中,我们看到牧羊人只是在观察——欣喜若狂——天主为他们所做的奇妙工作。然后他们向其他人宣布他们的喜悦,所有人都对他们所听到的感到惊讶(第 18 节)。

在路加福音的第一章,路加经常提到那些感到参与上帝计划的人的惊奇和巨大的快乐。依撒伯尔发现自己怀孕后,对所有人重复说: 这是天主为我所做的” (参看:路1:25)。西默盎和女先知亚纳赞美天主,是天主恩赐他们看到了为所有人民准备的救恩(路 2:30-38);玛利亚和若瑟也感到惊讶和困惑(路2:33,38)。他们都有一双婴孩般的眼睛和一颗婴孩般的心,与天父的举动相随。他们仍然受天父手势和微笑所吸引。祂笑了,因为他从父亲所做的一切中看出了他爱的迹象。 “因为天国正是属于这样的人——耶稣有一天说——谁若不像这个孩子一样,领受天主的国,决不能进入” (谷 10:14-15)。

路加福音将玛利亚描述为我们的姐妹,她与我们相似,完成了与我们相似的信仰之旅。这位玛利亚并不是我们恭敬的对象,她身上包裹着一团特权,在某些情况下,这些特权使她受人钦佩或被人嫉妒,但并不被人所爱。随着天主的计划逐渐显示出来,这里的重点是信仰和钦佩。 ”玛利亚把这一些话珍藏于心,反复思想 ” 当她听到,牧羊人是如何得知耶稣诞生的消息时。 玛丽“收集了一切事实”,将它们结合起来并抓住了意义,默思天主计划的实现。

玛利亚对她所承担的使命没有完整的了解。她逐渐意识到这一点。她对西默盎关于孩子所说的话感到惊奇。她几乎被吓了一跳(路2:33)。她对天主的作为感到惊奇,使徒和所有的人也是如此(路加9:43-45)。她不明白她圣子选择奉献自己,完成天父的事业(路 2:50)的言论,因为十二门徒很难理解老师的话:这些话的意思对他们来说仍然是个谜,他们不明白祂说的是什么” (路 18:34)。玛利亚虽然不明白,但她观察、沉思、反思,直到复活节之后(不是之前),她才明白了一切;她会清楚地看到通过她的任务展开的事情的意义。

路加在《宗徒大事录》开头,最后一次提到她。路加把她放在信友团体中间:宗徒一道,不断祈祷。“和他们一起的,还有一些女人,还有耶稣的母亲玛丽和他的兄弟”(宗1:14)。她相信了,因此蒙受祝福(路1:45)

今天的福音以关于割损礼的报道结束。通过这个仪式,耶稣正式成为以色列人的一份子。但这不是路加追忆这个事实的主要原因。他感兴趣的还有一个细节,就是给孩子起的名字,这个名字不是父母给取的,而是上天直接指定的。 记住以色列的这种文化背景,我们就能理解路加赋予孩子名字的重要性。他被称为耶稣,意思是“上主的拯救”。玛窦解释说:祂被取这样的名字,是因为“祂要把自己的百姓从他们的罪恶中拯救出来。”(玛1:21)

当我们与一个人建立关系时,我们会知道这个人的名字。当天主与我们对话时,祂表明祂的名字,显示了自己的身份。当祂给自己圣子取名时,天主说:祂是“拯救者”。祂什么都不做,祂所做的,只是拯救人。在福音中,这个名字被重复了 566 次,几乎是在提醒我们必须删除与这个名字不相符的天主形象。现在我们明白了为什么在旧约中,天主不许人读到祂的名号,因为只有在耶稣身上,祂才会告诉我们,那就是祂。

在路加福音中,有趣的是,那些直呼耶稣名字的人并非是义人,或是完美主义者,而是那些被边缘化的人,那些受邪魔压迫的。他们被魔鬼所束缚(路 4:34),癞病人说: “耶稣,老师,可怜我们吧” (路 17:13),瞎子说: “耶稣,达味之子,求祢怜悯我” (路18: 38),在祂旁边死在十字架上的罪犯: “耶稣,当祢进入祢的王国时,请记住我” (路23:42)。 伯多禄提醒祂子民的宗教领袖: “在天下人间,没有赐下别的名号,使我们藉着祂而获救”(宗 4:12)。

感谢 Armellini 神父提供文段用作分析

©全属于祢(Totus Tuus) & Claretian Missionaries(圣母圣心爱子会)

Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2023

Homily for NEW YEAR’S DAY in year A

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
Gospel: Luke 2:16-21


Fr. Jijo Kandamkulathy CMF
Claretian Missionaries

Today’s Gospel is a continuation of the passage read during the Midnight Mass. Beside the manger of Jesus, the shepherds again appear. Following the news received from heaven, they go to Bethlehem and find Joseph, Mary, and the baby in a manger. One notes that they do not find anything extraordinary. They see only a baby with his father and his mother. Nevertheless, from that weak being, needing help and protection, they recognize the Savior. They do not need extraordinary signs; they do not verify miracles and prodigies. The shepherds represent all the poor, the excluded that, almost by instinct, acknowledge in the baby of Bethlehem the Messiah from heaven. In that nativity scene, we see the shepherds simply observing—amazed in ecstasy—the marvelous work that God has done in their favor. Then they announced to others their joy and all were astonished at what they heard (v. 18).

In the first chapters of his Gospel, Luke often reveals the marvel and the immense joy of the persons who felt involved in the plan of God. Elizabeth, having discovered herself pregnant, repeats to all: “This for me is the Lord’s doing” (Lk 1:25). Simeon and prophetess Anna bless God who has granted them to see the salvation prepared for all the people (Lk 2:30-38); Mary and Joseph are also amazed and astonished (Lk 2:33,38). All of them have eyes and heart of a baby that accompanies with a glance each gesture of the father. He remains raptured by his gesture and smiles. He smiles because in all that the father does he catches a sign of his love. “For the Kingdom of God belong to such as these—Jesus says one day—and whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Mk 10:14-15).

Luke’s gospel presents Mary as our sister who fulfilled a journey of faith, similar to ours. This Mary is not the object of our devotions wrapped in a cloud of privileges that in some cases made her admired or envied but not loved. The focus here is on faith and admiration as the plan of God was progressively getting revealed. “Mary treasured all these words, and pondered them in her heart” when she heard how the shepherds were informed of the birth of Jesus. Mary “gathered together all the facts,” bound them and captured the meaning and contemplated the realization of God’s plan.

Mary did not have a complete picture of the mission she had undertaken. She was progressively growing into that realization. She marvels at what Simeon said about the child. She is almost taken by surprise (Lk 2:33). She was amazed before God’s works, as were the apostles and all the people (Lk 9:43-45). She does not understand the words of her Son who chose to commit himself to the Father’s affairs (Lk 2:50) as the Twelve had difficulty in understanding the words of the Teacher: “They could make nothing of this; the meaning of these words remained a mystery to them, and they did not understand what he said” (Lk 18:34). Though Mary did not understand, she observed, meditated, reflected, and only after Easter (not before), did she come to understand everything; she would clearly see the meaning of what was unfolding through her mission.

Luke presents her for the last time at the beginning of the book of the Acts of the Apostles. He puts her in her place among the community of believers: The apostles together gave themselves to constant prayer. “With them were some women and also Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (Acts 1:14). She was blessed because she believed (Lk 1:45).

Today’s Gospel concludes with the report on the circumcision. With this rite, Jesus officially enters to be part of the people of Israel. But this is not the principal reason for Luke to recall this fact. He is interested in another detail, the name given to the child, a name that was not chosen by the parents but was indicated directly from heaven. Keeping in mind this cultural context of Israel, we are able to understand the importance that Luke attributes to the name given to the child. He is called Jesus, which means “the Lord saves.” Matthew explains: he was called such because he will save his people from their sins (Mt 1:21).

When we enter into a relationship with a person, we learn the name of the person. When God enters into dialogue with us, he indicates his name and reveals his identity. Choosing the name of his Son, God said who he is—“He who saves.” He who does nothing but saves. In the Gospels, this name is repeated 566 times, almost to remind us that God’s images that are incompatible with this name must be deleted. Now we understand the reason why in the Old Testament God did not allow his name to be pronounced, because it is only in Jesus that he would have told us who he was.

In Luke’s Gospel, it is interesting to note that those who called Jesus by name are not the just or the perfect, but only those who are marginalized, those who are at the mercy of the forces of evil. They are the possessed (Lk 4:34), the lepers: “Jesus, teacher, have mercy on us” (Lk 17:13), the blind: “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me” (Lk 18:38), and the criminal who dies on the cross beside him: “Jesus, remember me when you enter into your kingdom” (Lk 23:42). Peter would remind the religious leaders of his people: “No other name in fact under heaven is given to people, through whom they are saved” (Acts 4:12).

Indebted to Fr. Armellini SCJ for the textual analysis

©Claretian Missionaries

Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2022