Day 28 – The Cry of the Elder Son
Cantonese
Mandarin
English
Now the older son had been out in the field and , on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry…
Tell me what this is all about! Now this son of yours comes back to you, and you throw a big party to celebrate?! He deserves punishment, not celebration! Father, are you too old to understand this simple logic? Remember the day when this insane son demanded from you his share of the inheritance? He was out of his mind! It was unthinkable, ridiculous and absolutely insane! Did he respect you as his father, or even as a person? He was basically saying you should hurry up to die, right in your face!
Didn't you remember? I saw all that happening and everything is still fresh in my mind. I can recall every single word that came out of his mouth! How disrespectful! How insensitive he was! And how devastated you were at that moment! You told me that it was like a sword piercing your heart and your soul.
It is fine you have lost that son. You still have me around! Didn't I tell you to let go? But you have never listened to me. Now that this crazy son comes back, you become so happy that you put up such a feast!
Can you see the real picture? I have been working hard day and night to help build your wealth while he indulged himself in an obscene life and wasted all your hard earned money. I have tended to your call while he disregarded it. I have strived to bring honour to the family while he has put our whole family to shame. I am always here for you while he left you behind in devastation.
But now I realize that even after all these, it is he who has earned your love, not me. Father, where is your mind? Where is your heart? Do you know that I should be the one who deserves all your love, not him? What is my reward? Where is the justice?"
REFLECTION
When facing a person like the father in the parable, who weighs mercy over justice, will you feel mad if justice is not upheld?
Do you find yourself struggling between exercising justice and being merciful?
TODAY'S PRAYER
I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
If you find this reflection helpful and have not registered to receive our daily email, we invite you to sign up here. If you have a Facebook account and would like to share your thoughts there, we invite you to join this Facebook group .
當今天聆聽這內容的分享時，一面聽着，不知不覺地走進了大兒子的身上，腦海浮現出昔日的情景，回想當時，確是心中冒起了一團怒氣。
昨天，筆者已分享過四十年前的往事。的確，昔日被父親的拒絕，那時內心的憤怒，實在掩蓋不住，不但出言相向，更把心中的怒氣，發洩在唯一的弟弟身上。這份情感，也曾困擾筆者一段相長的時間，完全對父親的安排，大惑不解，不能釋懷！
是的，憤怒確是「七罪宗」之一，也伴隨着人的長大而增加，只要是令自己不滿的，就很快地、很容易地作判斷，完全忽略了他人的感受，眼中只有的是自己。這種「個人主義」的心魔，會令人跌進魔鬼惡行的深淵，可怕極了！
來到今天，唯有學曉「寬恕－－不再是包袱」，才可走出這個迷陣，重新尋回自己的真我。
親愛的阿爸父，我有時都會像大仔的想法，我不不能完全明白祢的心意和做法，這當然有祢的想法和計劃。求祢使我以祢的眼光去看這世界，以慈悲代替我們之所謂的公義。求你賜予我智慧和指引善待自己和他人。亞孟。
「他從沒有尊重過規條和戒律，他不工作，游手好閒⋯他出賣了你⋯他在外面與娼妓們過放蕩的生活⋯更把你給他的所有財產花光了⋯」
我跟這位大兒子一樣，常常把時間和專注力，都放在數算別人的罪過上面，好像自己是多麼完美的人。這些的邪惡思想慢慢地侵蝕著我，如果不快快調轉回頭將會走向毀滅。
我要轉過頭來，把目光聚焦在天主身上，每天注視天主的美善寬恕、仁愛無量。
我不要再把時間浪費在負面的思想，我要讓每一分每一秒都流動著天主的愛和氣息。
親愛的阿爸父：行使公義，還是以慈悲待人，主啊，求你賜給我智慧！我知道現在的我不能看清楚真實的全部。所以，我需要以祢的眼睛去看世界。賞賜我一顆慈悲的赤心！
第28天避靜心得：
大兒子的控訴，他緊握的拳頭帶給我一種窒息感，感覺下一秒他就要爆炸。他的內心充滿著消極，嫉妒，仇恨和不平，對他的身心靈帶來毀滅性的影響。我驚愕他可以把弟弟以前的種種不是，細數得清清楚楚。我想到自己跟別人，特別是親人衝突，有時也會想起甚至數落對方不堪的往事，造成更大的傷害。既然記憶可以選擇，就請求天主教我以愛心，感恩和寬恕來填補，常常學習體諒、共情、修補。仇恨不會帶來平靜安寧，只會讓人陷入深淵，那裡只有哀痛和切齒。對自己好一點，對別人好一點的唯一辦法是走出自己，學會愛與寬恕。
對今天的反省內容，深深地觸動了心底的痛處！在許多內心覺得不公平的事重新在攪動翻騰著，但這痛在這反省中已開始得到釋放。
那些我不明白又在意的事，已在這反省中逐漸被撫平、安慰，而開始有新的治癒。原來困住自己的是自己的固執，現在我願學習用天主的眼光看待一切我覺得不公允的人、事、物。
首先要讚廣東話演譯者，她說得很精彩入神。??確實，我和內子均有大兒子的掙扎，感恩有主的啓導，還是以慈悲幫父母解決困難。
主持人為大兒子的對白說得很傳神.
行使公義，還是以慈悲待人？是否要原諒千次百次？這個常存在心靈的掙扎，求聖神帶領，走出陰霾。
另外，粵語演譯非常傳神。很感謝解說員的努力及熱誠！
大兒子的控訴，振振有詞，訴說了他內心的憤恨，抱怨，不平，父親的偏愛。這是可理解的。
父親的慈愛手背是肉，手心也是肉，明知小兒的過犯也寬容諒解。小兒才能得到真切的懺悔，這證明了慈悲勝過公義仁愛勝過罪罰。
粵語演譯得很精采，觸動心弦。謝謝。
記得我曾經也做過這個大兒子，父親真的聽我控訴，打我的弟弟。當我看着弟弟被打，痛苦的樣子，我心裏面一點也不開心，反而戥佢痛苦。其實我只是想弟弟明白自己做錯的事，不要再做錯了。若是我自己做錯，我也希望別人原諒。若然再次發生，我會選擇如天父一樣原諒弟弟。
我們真是好像大兒子一様, 認為自己有權這樣痛駡別人。卻不知道其實自己最值得受到責罵, 因為根本不當自己是家中的一份子, 是兄第。難怪生活那麼没趣啦。主, 免我於淪落到這地步吧。教我也明白, 若沒有愛, 就只有恨, 只有痛苦, 只有悲傷, 憤恨。可怕, 真可怕。
最近看到美中會談的視頻，覺得我們中國人給外國聯手，誣告與壓迫，覺得天理何在！外國看到中國這幾十年的急促進步，便產生恐慌，猛烈的打壓。中國能不作聲音，任人魚肉嗎？應該不可以罷！中國不能再給列強瓜分，我們不像滿清政府的年代了。否則中國人將變了亡國奴。
但是在家庭內，兄弟姊妹之間，都是出自同一父母親，我們應該計較，誰父母多給一些，愛誰多一些嗎？在父母的眼中，每個都是他們的子女，須然某個子女犯了大錯，父母都是愛鍚他們子女的。仍然會給機會，希望他／她從新返醒，可以重回正軌，改過自生，做個好人；所謂「浪子回頭金不換」；知錯能改善莫大焉。立身處地，轉個角色想一下；如那個犯錯的，是自已。我已經洗心革面，知道自己的錯處，想重新做人，是不是非常希望得到寬恕，得到機會可以作補贖，以自已的能力，反饋家庭和社會？看到別人行自己以前錯誤的道路，作出有力的規勸和見証嗎？把他們帶回正軋，責無旁貸。因為自己正是前車可鑑，給他們有力的例子！正如瑪竇福音十八章２1－35節，我們應該寬恕我的弟兄七十個七次！“如果你們不各自從心里寬恕自己的弟兄，我的天父也要這樣對待你們。“
Jesus, sometimes I am like the younger son and other times like the older son. Lord, please help me to be merciful to others as You are so merciful to me all the time.