常年期第二週 (週二) (2009年1月20日) 聖法彬教宗殉道 2nd week in Ordinary Time - Tues St. Fabian

神父講道 - 常年期第二週 (週二) (2009年1月20日)
聖法彬教宗殉道
恭讀聖馬爾谷福音 2:23-28有一次，正當安息日，耶穌從麥田裏路過，他的門徒在行路時掐食起麥穗來。法利塞人向耶穌說：「你看！他們為什麼做安息日不許做的事？」耶穌對法利塞人說： 「你們從未讀過：達味在急迫中和同他一起的人，在饑餓時所作的事嗎？當厄貝雅塔爾作大司祭時，達味怎樣進了天主的殿，吃了除司祭外，誰也不許吃的供餅，並 且還給了同他一起的人？」耶穌又對他們說：「安息日是為人立的，並不是人為了安息日；所以，人子也是安息日的主。」
—這是基督的福音。
(2nd week in Ordinary Time - Tues.)
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 2:23-28
23 One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, when Abi’athar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; 28 so the Son of man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
—The Gospel of the Lord.
聖法俾盎(St. Fabian)（教宗、殉道）一月二十日
聖人於公元二三六年被選任羅馬主教， 積極發展教會生活，為更有效地服務窮人 而把羅馬分作七個執事區。 教宗於二五○年在羅馬德西烏斯皇教難 初期壯烈殉道，葬於加利斯都墓。
St. Fabian
Feastday: January 20
Eusebius, born just a few years after Fabian's death, tells us how Fabian came to Rome after Pope Anteros died in 236. A layperson, and not a very important one, he may have come for the same reason many still come to Rome today during a papal election: concern for the future of the faith, curiosity about the new pope, a desire to grieve for the pope who had passed. Seeing all the important people gathered to make this momentous decision must have been overwhelming. Which one would be the new pope? Someone known for power? Someone known for eloquence? Someone known for courage?
Suddenly during the discussion, a dove descended from the ceiling. But it didn't settle on "someone known" for anything at all. The dove, according to Eusebius, "settled on [Fabian's] head as clear imitation of the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove upon the Savior." There must have been something of the Holy Spirit working because everyone suddenly proclaimed Fabian as "worthy" to be pope and this stranger was elected.
To us the dove signifies peace, and this dove was prophetic. Starting close to Fabian's election, the suffering and persecuted Church began a time of peace. The emperor, Philip, was friendly to Christians and not only was the persecution stopped but Christians experienced acceptance.
In this era of peace, Fabian was able to build up the structure of the Church of Rome, appointing seven deacons and helping to collect the acts of the martyrs.
But, in a timeless story, the people who had always been in power were not happy to see the newcomers growing and thriving. There were many incidents of pagans attacking Christians and when Philip died so died the time of peace. The new emperor, Decius, ordered all Christians to deny Christ by offering incense to idols or through some other pagan ritual.
In the few years of peace, the Church had grown soft. Many didn't have the courage to stand up to martyrdom. But Fabian, singled out by symbol of peace, stood as a courageous example for everyone in his flock. He died a martyr in 250 and is buried in the Cemetery of Calixtus that he helped rebuild and beautify. A stone slab with his name can still be found there. In His Footsteps:
Pray for all places where the Church suffers persecution and for all who face death, danger, or isolation for their faith. But pray especially for all who live where the Church is accepted and thrives in peace that this peace will not make their faith flabby and weak. Prayer:
Pope Saint Fabian, it's so easy to believe that peace means a life without conflict or suffering. Help us to see that the only true peace is the peace Christ brings. Never let us as a Church or as individual Christians choose to deny our beliefs simply to avoid an unpleasant situation. Amen