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First Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Reflection

“The book that yields profit of ten thousand fold”

First Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Genesis 9:8-15

God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you: all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals that were with you and came out of the ark. I will establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth.” God added: “This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the covenant I have made between me and you and all living beings, so that the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all mortal beings.”

1 Peter 3:18-22

Beloved: Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit. In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

Mark 1:12-15

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Shiu Lan

A few years ago, I received a traditional red scroll of Chinese calligraphy for Lunar New Year on which was written “The capital that yields profit of ten thousand fold”. The author was playing with words as “capital” could also refer to a book. On the scroll, a Bible was painted next to the word “capital”. This is such a timely reminder as we celebrate Chinese New Year that the Bible is truly the book of life and truth and the beacon to light our way. If we follow it and live it out, we will gather rich spiritual benefits beyond measure.

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we hear that Jesus is in the wilderness for 40 days tempted by Satan. St. Mark does not elaborate on Jesus’ response to Satan’s temptations. We learn from the Gospel of St. Luke that Jesus responds by referencing the scripture. When He is hungry after the 40 days and tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread, Jesus answers him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone’” (Luke 4:4). When Satan asks Jesus to worship him in return for the power and glory of all the kingdoms of the world, Jesus answers “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve’” (Luke 4:8). When Satan challenges Him to throw himself from the parapet of the temple, saying that the angels will guard him if He is the Son of God, Jesus said, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test’” (Luke 4:12).

Living in the uncertainties of this world, often lost in the trials and tribulations of life, how often are we tempted to find comfort in our worldly desires? We may lose faith in God who seem to be too far away to listen to us. However, temptations from the outside world or from our own desires could be suppressed when our faith is strong. When our faith is weak, these temptations can overpower us to make bad choices in life. They lead us to sin. How can we prepare ourselves to endure these temptations? The answer is quite obvious. The Bible can indeed prepare, strengthen and inspire us. It can fortify and enrich our faith and help us resist temptation and sin.

This is also the first Sunday of Lent. What would you do to prepare yourself spiritually for Christ’s resurrection? Would you challenge yourself to finish reading one of the shorter books in the Bible during Lent 2018?

Shiu Lan

Shiu Lan is your Catholic neighbour with a simple faith and likes praying the Rosary. With a B.Sc from the University of Hong Kong, she worked in Information Technology and Project Management before working with joy at home.

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乙年 四旬期第一主日

主日聖言及反省

「一本萬利」

乙年 四旬期第一主日

創世紀 9:8-15

天主對諾厄和他的兒子說:「看,我現在與你們,及你們未來的後裔立約,並同與你們一起的所有生物:飛鳥、牲畜和地上所有野獸,即凡由方舟出來的地上所有生物立約。我與你們立約:凡有血肉的,以後決不再受洪水湮滅,再沒有洪水來毀滅大地。」 天主說:「這是我與你們,及同你們一起的所有生物,立約的永遠標記:我把虹霓放在雲間,作我與大地立約的標記。幾時我興雲遮蓋大地,雲中要出現虹霓,那時,我便想起我與你們,及各種屬血肉的生物,所立的盟約,這樣,水就不會再成為洪水,毀滅所有血肉的生物。」

聖伯多祿前書 3:18-22

親愛的弟兄姊妹: 基督曾一次為罪而死,且是義人代替不義的人,為將我們領到天主面前;就肉身來說,他固然被處死了;但就神魂來說,他卻復活了。他藉這神魂,曾去給那些在獄中的靈魂宣講;這些靈魂從前在諾厄建造方舟的時日、天主耐心期待之時,原是不信的人。 當時賴方舟,經過水,而得救的不多,只有八個生靈。這水所預表的聖洗,現在賴耶穌基督的復活,拯救了你們,並不是滌除肉體的污穢,而是要求對天主有一顆純潔的良心。至於耶穌基督,他升了天,坐在天主的右邊;眾天使、掌權者和異能者,都屈伏在他權下。

聖馬爾谷福音 1:12-15

那時候,聖神催促耶穌到曠野去。耶穌在曠野裡,四十天之久,受撒旦的試探,與野獸在一起,並有天使服事他。 若翰被監禁後,耶穌來到加里肋亞,宣講天主的福音,說:「時期已滿,天主的國臨近了,你們悔改,信從福音吧!」

Shiu Lan

幾年前,我收到一張用傳統中國書法寫的農曆新年大紅揮春,上面寫着「一本萬利」。作者玩文字遊戲,「本」也可以是一本書,而在揮春上,「本」字旁邊,則畫上了一本聖經。當我們慶祝農曆新年之際,這揮春及時提醒我們,聖經實在是真理和生命的書,是我們人生路上的引路明燈。如果我們跟隨聖經生活,我們會得到豐厚的屬靈益處,數之不盡。

在本主日的福音讀經,我們聽到耶穌在曠野裡四十天受撒旦的試探。聖馬爾谷沒有詳述耶穌如何回應撒旦。從聖路加褔音,我們知道耶穌以經上的說話來回應。耶穌在四十天後感覺飢腸轆轆,撒旦引誘祂把石頭變成餅的時候,耶穌回答說:「經上記載:『人生活不只靠餅』」(路4:4) 。然後撒旦要耶穌朝拜他,來換取普世萬國一切權勢及其榮華,耶穌回答說:「經上記載:『你要朝拜上主,你的天主;惟獨奉侍祂』」(路4:8) 。撒旦挑戰耶穌從耶路撒冷聖殿頂上跳下去,說若耶穌是天主子,天使必會保護祂。耶穌回答說:「經上說:『不可試探上主,你的天主』」(路 4:12) 。

世間無常,很多時人會迷失於生命中的試煉和困境,我們不是經常被誘惑從人世的慾望中找尋安慰嗎?我們可能會對天主失去信心,祂好像離我們那麼遠,怎會聼我們傾訴?信德堅固的時候,我們可以壓抑來自外面世界或自己私慾偏情的誘惑。當信德薄弱時,我們卻往往受不住誘惑,在生命裡作出各種糊塗的選擇。誘惑使我們陷於罪惡。我們如何裝備自己抗拒誘惑呢?答案頗為明顯。聖經真的能夠為我們作好預備,堅定和啓迪我們。聖經可以使我們心志堅強,信德活潑,幫助我們抵抗誘惑和罪惡。

這主日也是四旬期的第一主日,你會如何為基督的復活準備自己的靈魂?在 2018 年的四旬期,你會挑戰自己,從頭到尾讀一遍聖經裡面其中一本較短的書嗎?

 

Shiu Lan

Shiu Lan is your Catholic neighbour with a simple faith and likes praying the Rosary. With a B.Sc from the University of Hong Kong, she worked in Information Technology and Project Management before working with joy at home.

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乙年 四旬期第一主日

主日圣言及反省

「一本万利」

乙年 四旬期第一主日

创世纪 9:8-15

天主对诺厄和他的儿子说:「看,我现在与你们,及你们未来的后裔立约,并同与你们一起的所有生物:飞鸟、牲畜和地上所有野兽,即凡由方舟出来的地上所有生物立约。我与你们立约:凡有血肉的,以后决不再受洪水湮灭,再没有洪水来毁灭大地。」 天主说:「这是我与你们,及同你们一起的所有生物,立约的永远标记:我把虹霓放在云间,作我与大地立约的标记。几时我兴云遮盖大地,云中要出现虹霓,那时,我便想起我与你们,及各种属血肉的生物,所立的盟约,这样,水就不会再成为洪水,毁灭所有血肉的生物。」

圣伯多禄前书 3:18-22

亲爱的弟兄姊妹: 基督曾一次为罪而死,且是义人代替不义的人,为将我们领到天主面前;就肉身来说,他固然被处死了;但就神魂来说,他却复活了。他借这神魂,曾去给那些在狱中的灵魂宣讲;这些灵魂从前在诺厄建造方舟的时日、天主耐心期待之时,原是不信的人。当时赖方舟,经过水,而得救的不多,只有八个生灵。这水所预表的圣洗,现在赖耶稣基督的复活,拯救了你们,并不是涤除肉体的污秽,而是要求对天主有一颗纯洁的良心。至于耶稣基督,他升了天,坐在天主的右边;众天使、掌权者和异能者,都屈伏在他权下。

圣马尔谷福音 1:12-15

那时候,圣神催促耶稣到旷野去。耶稣在旷野里,四十天之久,受撒旦的试探,与野兽在一起,并有天使服事他。若翰被监禁后,耶稣来到加里肋亚,宣讲天主的福音,说:「时期已满,天主的国临近了,你们悔改,信从福音吧!」

Shiu Lan

几年前,我收到一张用传统中国书法写的农历新年大红挥春,上面写着「一本万利」。作者玩文字游戏,「本」也可以是一本书,而在挥春上,「本」字旁边,则画上了一本圣经。当我们庆祝农历新年之际,这挥春及时提醒我们,圣经实在是真理和生命的书,是我们人生路上的引路明灯。如果我们跟随圣经生活,我们会得到丰厚的属灵益处,数之不尽。

在本主日的福音读经,我们听到耶稣在旷野里四十天受撒旦的试探。圣马尔谷没有详述耶稣如何回应撒旦。从圣路加褔音,我们知道耶稣以经上的说话来回应。耶稣在四十天后感觉饥肠辘辘,撒旦引诱祂把石头变成饼的时候,耶稣回答说:「经上记载:『人生活不只靠饼』」(路4:4) 。然后撒旦要耶稣朝拜他,来换取普世万国一切权势及其荣华,耶稣回答说:「经上记载:『你要朝拜上主,你的天主;惟独奉侍祂』」(路4:8) 。撒旦挑战耶稣从耶路撒冷圣殿顶上跳下去,说若耶稣是天主子,天使必会保护祂。耶稣回答说:「经上说:『不可试探上主,你的天主』」(路 4:12) 。

世间无常,很多时人会迷失于生命中的试炼和困境,我们不是经常被诱惑从人世的欲望中找寻安慰吗?我们可能会对天主失去信心,祂好像离我们那么远,怎会听我们倾诉?信德坚固的时候,我们可以压抑来自外面世界或自己私欲偏情的诱惑。当信德薄弱时,我们却往往受不住诱惑,在生命里作出各种糊涂的选择。诱惑使我们陷于罪恶。我们如何装备自己抗拒诱惑呢?答案颇为明显。圣经真的能够为我们作好预备,坚定和启迪我们。圣经可以使我们心志坚强,信德活泼,帮助我们抵抗诱惑和罪恶。

这主日也是四旬期的第一主日,你会如何为基督的复活准备自己的灵魂?在 2018 年的四旬期,你会挑战自己,从头到尾读一遍圣经里面其中一本较短的书吗?

Shiu Lan

Shiu Lan is your Catholic neighbour with a simple faith and likes praying the Rosary. With a B.Sc from the University of Hong Kong, she worked in Information Technology and Project Management before working with joy at home.

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