进堂咏
上主的子民,你们要宣扬上主的荣耀,他由黑暗中召叫了你们,进入他奇妙的光辉。亚肋路亚。(伯前2:9)
集祷经
天主,你救赎了我们,使我们成为你的子女。求你仁慈垂顾我们,使所有信仰基督的人,都能获得真正的自由,继承永恒的产业。因你的圣子、我们的主耶稣基督,他和你及圣神,是唯一天主,永生永王。亚孟。
读经一(他们选定了七位充满圣神的人。)
恭读宗徒大事录 6:1-7
那时候,门徒们渐渐增多,希腊化的犹太人,对希伯来人发出了怨言,因为他们在日常的供应品上疏忽了他们的寡妇。于是十二宗徒召集众门徒说:“让我们放弃天主的圣言,而操管饮食,实在不相宜。所以,弟兄们!当从你们中检定七位有好声望且充满圣神和智慧的人,派他们管这要务。至于我们,我们要专务祈祷,并为真道服役。”这番话得了全体的悦服,就选了斯德望,他是位充满信德和圣神的人,和斐理伯、仆洛曷洛、尼加诺尔、提孟、帕尔默纳及尼苛劳,他是个归依犹太教的安提约基雅人,叫他们立在宗徒面前;宗徒们祈祷以后,就给他们覆了手。天主的道渐渐发扬,门徒的数目在耶路撒冷大为增加,司祭中也有许多人,服从了信仰。
--上主的话。
答唱咏 咏33:1-2,4-5,18-19
【答】:上主,求你向我们广施慈爱,有如我们对你所存的期待。
或咏唱“亚肋路亚”
领:义人,你们应向上主踊跃欢呼,因为正直的人,理应赞美上主。你们该弹琴,称谢上主,弹奏十弦琴,赞颂上主。【答】
领:因为上主的言语是正直的,他的一切作为都是忠实的;他爱护正义和公理,他的慈爱弥漫大地。【答】
领:请看,上主的眼睛常关注敬畏他的人,他的双目常眷顾靠他仁慈的人,为使他们的性命,脱免死亡,使他们在饥谨时生活如常。【答】
福音前欢呼
领:亚肋路亚。
众:亚肋路亚。
领:基督复活了,他更新万物,也垂怜了我们人类。
众:亚肋路亚。
福音(他们看见耶稣在海面上行走。)
恭读圣若望福音 6:16-21
到了晚上,耶稣的门徒下到海边,上船要到海对岸的葛法翁去。天已黑了,耶稣还没有来到他们那里。海上因起了大风,便翻腾起来。当他们摇橹大约过了二十五或三十“斯塔狄”时,看见耶稣在海面上行走,临近了船,便害怕起来。但他却向他们说:“是我,不要害怕!”他们便然接他上船,船就立时到了他们所要去的地方。
--上主的话。
献礼经
仁慈的上主,求你圣化这些礼品,并使我们藉此精神祭献,把自己呈奉给你,成为你所悦纳的永恒献礼。因主耶稣基督之名,求你俯听我们的祈祷。亚孟。
领主咏
父啊!你所赐给我的人,我愿我在那里,他们也同我在一起,使他们享见你所赐给我的光荣。亚肋路亚。(若17:24)
领圣体后经
上主,我们按照你圣子的命令,在纪念他的祭献中,领受了这神圣的食粮,求你藉此增强我们对你及对众人的爱德。因主耶稣基督之名,求你俯听我们的祈祷。亚孟。
“有人的地方,就有麻烦;有人的地方,就有是非”,这是老生常谈。生活经验告诉我们,与别人一起工作,很容易出现意见分歧,甚至冲突;教会亦不例外。
读经一记述早期教会团体,同样面对实际生活的困难。希腊化的犹太人,因日用品分配不周,而埋怨希伯来人。面对两个难题,宗徒明白人的能力有限,负责操管饮食与祈祷,只会吃力不讨好。他们了解到祈祷为团体更重要,便委任七位有声望,且充满圣神的人去管理日常杂务,宗徒则专责祈祷,为真理服役。
这是真信仰的表现,就是心中愿意谦抑自下,以天主作行事的标准,生活的准则。遇到问题时,我们可寻求圣神的光照,辨别怎样做是最合乎天主的旨意,才着力去解决。就如福音中受波浪颠簸的门徒,在欣然接耶稣上船之后,“船就立时到了他们所要去的地方”。这也是一个信仰团体要基本具备的。否则,信仰团体只会沦为俗世的团体 ── 只用人的眼光、价值去处理问题。
天主,求祢派遣圣神光照我们,使我们愿意放下自我,恪守福音的精神在教会团体中服务。
In Old Testament times, the laying of hands to confer an office was quite common, but in the New Testament the election of the Seven Deacons was the first mention of the laying of hands for this purpose. Jesus had blessed and healed people by laying hands on them, but not for appointment to an office. This laying of hands on the seven was a matter of great seriousness, especially as the seven were selected for their wisdom and for being filled with the Spirit, qualities which were also found in Joshua, successor to Moses. This seriousness rather suggests that the seven officials were undertaking not just the distribution of alms to the poor. They were to be also a hierarchy for the Hellenist Jews.
All seven were themselves Hellenists, as their names indicate. Incidentally, one of them was Stephen who was to become the first Christian martyr.
With the appointment of these seven Deacons, the complaints of the Hellenists were quickly settled, even if the complaints may have been indicative of a deeper rift. It was a comfort to the Hellenists, just as, in the Gospel passage read today, the Apostles in the boat were comforted by Jesus coming to them and telling them not to be frightened. It was dark and the storm was overwhelming. They were not only distressed but also longing for Him ..."Jesus had still not joined them" (v.18), so when he said "It is I" they recognised in it the divine of "I AM", and were greatly relieved.
Lord, appoint for us leaders who long to hear Your Word. Amen.
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