主受洗节

今日的读经一包含：（1）一个永恒盟约的恩许，（2）皈依的邀请，（3）显示天主圣言之功效 的比喻。此讯息的接收者是犹太人，他们质疑天主向达味所承诺的“要永远确立王位”（撒 上 7:16）。他们认为，达味王朝灭亡（公元前 586 年）意味着诺言不再可能实现。然而，他 们忘记了，是他们祖先的无信和罪恶导致了国家的毁灭。若他们真渴望体验天主恩许的实现， 他们必须悔改，并信赖天主亘古不变的话语。天主富于怜悯，而且祂的话必实行祂的旨意（依 55:6-11）

依撒依亚先知的预言在福音中得以实现。正如雨露和雪花从天而降，灌溉地球，天主永恒的 圣言也从天而降，重振人类。但是，天主的想法和计划不同于我们的想法和计划。天主子没 有生于皇宫，而是生于马槽。基督绝大部分的人世生命，对我们来说都是未知；之后祂来到 若翰前，接受他的洗礼（玛 3:13）。一个仆人怎么能为其主人施洗呢？一个罪人怎么能为其 救主施洗呢？但那是他们要完成“全义”（玛 3:15）的方式。“这位就是经过水及血而来的耶 稣基督”（若一 5:6）。从水中出来的耶稣听到有声音说：“你是我的爱子，我因你而喜悦”（谷 1:11）；而倾留圣血、被定在十字架上以后，一个罗马士兵为他作证说：“这人真是天主子” （谷 15:39）。在受洗的那一刻，耶稣看见天开了，圣神（the Spirit）降在祂上；在祂死亡的 末刻，圣殿的帐幔一分为二，耶稣交付了灵魂（the Spirit）（玛 27:50-51）。人类的救赎得以 完成。

耶稣受洗时天主在约旦河的作证，和耶稣死亡时人的作证，引导我们宣认信仰。相信耶稣是 天主子的人，战胜世界——代表相反于天主的一切（若一 5:5）。现在，读经一中依撒依亚先 知的预言就很清楚：

（1）恩许：在耶稣内，永恒盟约的恩许得以实现：“天主将永远的生命赐给了我们，而这生 命是在自己的子内”（若一 5:11）；

（2）皈依的邀请：天主子的生命为我们的生活指出新的方向，“我们爱天主，又遵行他的诫 命”（若一 5:2）；

（3）天主圣言之功效：耶稣基督，经过水及血而来，拯救了人类，并未我们开启了去往天 父的通道。因此，天父的永恒圣言实行了祂的旨意，并完成了祂被派遣来此世的使命（依 55:11）)。阿们！

The Baptism of the Lord

Readings: Isaiah 55:1-11; Psalm – Isaiah 12:2-6; 1 John 5:1-9; Mark 1:7-11

Today’s first reading contains (1) the promise of an eternal covenant, (2) a call to conversion and (3) a metaphor showing the efficacy of God’s Word. The recipients of this message were the Judeans who questioned God’s promise given to David that his “throne shall be established forever” (2 Sam 7:16). They thought that with the fall of the Davidic monarchy (year 586 BC) the promise did not materialize. They forgot, however, that the unbelief and sinfulness of their ancestors led the nation to ruin. If they really want to experience the fulfillment of God’s promises, then they must repent and trust in God’s unfailing word. God is rich in mercy and His word always fulfills His will (Isaiah 55:6-11).

The prophecy of Isaiah finds its realization in the Gospel. Just as the rain and snow drops from heaven to water the earth, so the eternal Word of God came down from heaven to restore humanity. But God’s thoughts and plans are very different from ours. The Son of God is born not in a royal palace, but in a manger. Most of His earthly life is completely unknown to us, and then He comes “unto John, to be baptized by him” (Matt 3:13). How can a servant baptize his Lord? How can a sinner baptize his Savior? But that’s how they fulfill “all righteousness” (Mt 3:15). “This is the one who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ” (1 John 5:6). Coming out of the water, Christ hears: “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11), and after shedding His blood on the cross, a Roman soldier testifies: “Indeed, this man was the Son of God “(Mark 15:39). At the moment of his baptism, Jesus sees the heavens opened and the Spirit descending on him. At the moment of his death, the veil of the temple is rent in two, and Jesus “releases the Spirit” (Matt 27:50-51). The redemption of humanity is completed.

The testimony of God at Baptism in Jordan and the human testimony at the moment of Jesus’ death lead us to the confession of faith. The one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world – the world stands for all that is opposed to God (1 John 5: 5). Now, the prophecy of Isaiah from the first reading becomes clear:

1. The promise. In Jesus, the promise of the eternal covenant is fulfilled: “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11);

2. Call to conversion. The life in God’s Son gives a new direction to our own lives. “We love God and follow his commandments” (1 John 5:2);

3. The efficacy of God’s Word. Jesus Christ, coming by water and blood, redeemed humankind and opened for us the access to the Father. Thus, the eternal Word of the Father has fulfilled His will and accomplished what He was sent to do (Isaiah 55:11). Amen.

主显节

今日的读经二突出了圣道礼仪的主题，即基督的奥秘，以前不为人知，现在借着圣神透启示 给了教会。这奥秘是什么？外邦人，借着福音，在基督耶稣内，与亚巴辣罕的子孙同为天主 恩许的继承人（弗 3：6）。旧约中共有三个恩许：后裔、土地（创 13：15-16），和理想的正 义君王——默西亚（依 11：1-5）。

梅瑟五书依以前两个恩许的实现而作结（申 34：14）。看，亚巴辣罕的后裔梅瑟，一个大国 的领袖站在乃波山上，可以望见那恩许给他原来没有子嗣的祖先的土地。第三个恩许的实现， 是在黑落德为王期间，耶稣基督诞生于犹大白冷之际。耶稣的诞生应验了依撒依亚先知的预 言。黑暗笼罩着大地，音韵遮蔽着万民，但光明照耀着耶路撒冷，由东方贤士所代表的万国 万民都奔赴来就光明（依 60：1）。

耶稣的首批门徒——都是犹太人——面临令人震惊的悖论。当祂降来的时候，祂自己的同胞 拒绝等候默西亚，而外邦人却喜乐地接受了祂。对此，保禄宗徒在给罗马人的信中所表达的， 真是再好不过了（参阅罗 9：1-4）。今天的福音以对比鲜明的故事呈现了这个悖论。

圣史若望很恰当地表达了选民的历史悲剧：“祂来到自己的领域，自己的人却没有接受祂” （若 1:11）。 不幸的是，这个悲剧在那些执意拒绝福音和反对基督教会的人的生活中重演。 他们不但不去白冷，反而坚决不信。来自东方的贤士们相反于这种态度。他们承认基督是他 们的主，把礼物放在祂的脚前，随从天主的眷顾和指引而返乡。我相信，你们会在那些承认 基督为历史的主宰和人类救主的人中，并将你自己呈现给祂。愿天主眷顾并带领你经由“另 一条路”走过人生。

Epiphany of the Lord

Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72; Ephesians 3:2-3a,5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

The topic of today’s liturgy of the Word is captured in the second reading. It is the mystery of Christ, previously unknown, and now revealed to the Church by the Spirit of God. What is the mystery? Behold, the Gentiles, together with the people of Abraham, are joint-heirs of the promise of God (Eph 3:6). The Old Testament contained three promises: offspring, the land (Genesis 13:15-16), and the ideal king of justice – the Messiah (Is 11:1-5).

The Pentateuch ends with the fulfillment of the first two promises (Deut 34: 1-4). Behold, Moses, the descendant of Abraham and the leader of a large nation, stands on Mount Nebo, from where he can see all the land that was promised as an inheritance to his childless ancestor. The fulfillment of the third promise took place at the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem of Judah during the reign of King Herod. The birth of Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah. Darkness and gloom cover the earth but there is light upon Jerusalem and to this light kings and nations come today represented by the Magi from the East (Is 60:1).

The first disciples of Jesus – all of Jewish origin – faced a shocking paradox. Their own countrymen rejected the awaited Messiah when He came, but the Gentiles accepted Him with joy. Nobody expressed this better than the Apostle to the Nations in his letter to the Romans (see Romans 9:1-4). Today’s Gospel presents this paradox in the form of a story filled with contrasts.

1. The joy of the Gentiles versus the fear of Herod and Jerusalem. This fear had tragic consequences. Herod murdered innocent children (Mt 2: 16-18), and the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem condemned Christ to death (John 11: 48-51);

2. Jesus was born with the title “the king of the Jews”, but Herod had to butter the Roman Emperor up in order to gain this title;

3. Searching the skies (science) led to Christ, but the knowledge of prophecies did not;

4. The Gentiles overcame a great distance to get to Jesus. On the other hand, Herod, the chief priests and scribes, and the people of Jerusalem could not make a short, less than two hour pilgrimage to Bethlehem;

5. The Gentiles worshipped the Messiah from the house and lineage of David. But Herod claiming the throne of David and Jerusalem, the city of David did not go to worship the Messiah.

That historical tragedy of the chosen people is aptly expressed by John the Evangelist: “He came to his own, and his own did not receive him” (John 1:11). Unfortunately, this tragedy is re-enacted in the lives of those who consciously reject the Good News and fight against the Church of Christ. Instead of going to Bethlehem, they prefer to persist in their unbelief. The Magi from the East stand in opposition to this attitude. They acknowledge Christ as their Lord, place gifts at His feet and are led home by God’s Providence. I trust that you will be among those who acknowledge Christ as the Lord of history and the Savior of humanity, and offer yourself to Him. May Divine Providence lead you through life by “another way”.