Princess Caroline

聖瑪竇福音5:43-48

那時候，耶穌對他的門徒說：「你們一向聽說過：『你應愛你的近人，恨你的仇人！』我卻對你們說：你們當愛你們的仇人，當為迫害你們的人祈禱，好使你們成為你們在天之父的子女，因為他使太陽上升，光照惡人，也光照善人；降雨給義人，也給不義的人。你們若只愛那愛你們的人，你們還有什麼賞報呢？稅吏不是也這樣作嗎？你們若只問候你們的弟兄，你們作了什麼特別的呢？外邦人不是也這樣作嗎？所以你們應當是成全的，如同你們的天父是成全的一樣。」

聖保祿宗徒致格林多人後書8:1-9

弟兄們！如今我們願意告訴你們：天主在馬其頓各教會所施與的恩惠，就是他們在患難頻繁的試探中，仍充滿喜樂，他們雖極度貧困，還是慷慨解囊。我可以作證：他們是盡了力量，甚至超過了力量，自動捐輸，且再三懇求我們准許他們分享供應聖徒的恩惠。他們所作的，不但如我們所盼望的，而且按照天主的旨意，把自己先奉獻給主，也獻給了我們；因此，我們請求弟鐸，他既然開始了這慈善的事，也在你們中予以完成。

就如你們在一切事上，在信德、語言、知識和各種熱情上，並在我們所交於你們的愛情上，超群出眾，這樣也要在這善事上超群出眾。我說這話並不是命令，而是藉別人的熱情來試驗你們愛情的真誠，因為你們知道我們的主耶穌基督的恩賜：他本是富有的，為了你們卻成了貧困的，好使你們因著他的貧困而成為富有的。

今天的書信與福音都展現了二種「更」的精神，在初期教會中，第一批的門徒們不只獻身於主，也彼此獻身和服事，具體的表現就是在物資的奉獻之中，不只是盡了力量、甚至超過力量，在愛情與善事中都要超群出眾。
福音中，耶穌明白的告訴門徒，不只要愛那可愛的，更要愛那不可愛的，這跟昨天的福音是連貫的，耶穌信任我們，對我們有所期許，要我們愛得更多。這真的很不容易，更讓人聽起來如芒刺在背，就像今天的書信中很有趣的一句，聖保祿說：「我說這話並不是命令，而是藉別人的熱情來試驗你們愛情的真誠......I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others.」透過對別人的熱情，我們也要以真誠的愛情來回應。說與做很難相襯。

在這幾天的生活中，實在非常的軟弱、無助、自責與羞愧，很需要天主的治癒，為那些我所造成而不自知的傷害所苦，本週的禮儀的進堂詠是我最好的禱詞「上主，求你俯聽我的呼聲；你一向是我的救援、我的救主，請不要遺忘我。」（詠27:7,9）

Reading 1
2 Cor 8:1-9

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, of the grace of God
that has been given to the churches of Macedonia,
for in a severe test of affliction,
the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty
overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
For according to their means, I can testify,
and beyond their means, spontaneously,
they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part
in the service to the holy ones,
and this, not as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord
and to us through the will of God,
so that we urged Titus that, as he had already begun,
he should also complete for you this gracious act also.
Now as you excel in every respect,
in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness,
and in the love we have for you,
may you excel in this gracious act also.

I say this not by way of command,
but to test the genuineness of your love
by your concern for others.
For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that for your sake he became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.

Gospel
Mt 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect."