將臨期第二主日 (2008年12月7日)聖安博(盎博羅削)主教聖師 A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 1:1-8

主日講道 - 將臨期第二主日 (2008年12月7日)
聖安博(盎博羅削)主教聖師
恭讀聖馬爾谷福音　1:1-8天主子耶穌基督福音的開始，正如依撒意亞先知書上記載的：「看，我派遣我的使者在祢面前，預備祢的道路。曠野中有呼號者的聲音：你們當預備上主的道路，修 直祂的途徑。」此時，若翰出現在曠野裡施洗，並宣講悔改的洗禮，以赦免罪過。猶太全地和耶路撒冷的群眾都出來，到他那裡，承認自己的罪過，在約但河受他的 洗。若翰穿的是駱駝毛的衣服，腰間束的是皮帶，吃的是蝗蟲與野蜜。他宣告說：「那比我更有力量的，要在我以後來，我連俯身解祂的鞋帶也不配。我以水洗你們，祂卻要以聖神洗你們。」
─上主的話。
Homily - 2nd Week of Advent (Mon. Dec 8, 2008)
(The Immaculate Conception of the Blesses Virgin Mary)
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 1:1-8
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight — ” 4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
—The Gospel of the Lord.
十二月七日聖安博（主教）
聖人於公元340年左右，出生於特里爾城（今德國）一個羅馬人家庭。在羅馬讀書，並在西耳彌從事公職。公元三七四年，在米蘭城，出乎意料而被選為本城主教，十二月七日晉陞主教。在任時克盡牧職，尤以愛德為著，成為信眾真實的司牧與導師。著作等身，道理純正，竭力維護教會權利，攻斥邪說。公元397年4月4日，聖週六逝世。
St. Ambrose of Milan
397
St. AmbroseAt 33 Ambrose had it all - a successful career as a lawyer, an important position as governor of Milan, the approval and friendship of the emperor, and a large estate.
Then the bishop of Milan died. At this time, about 374, heresies threatened to destroy the Church. The bishop had supported the Arian heresy that argued against the divinity of Christ. Who would take his place - an Arian or a Catholic? Both sides met in the cathedral and a riot broke out.
Public order was Ambrose's responsibility as governor so he hurried to the church and made a passionate speech not in favor of either side, but in favor of peace. He begged the people to make their choice without fighting, using restraint and moderation.
Suddenly, while he was speaking, a voice called out, "Ambrose for bishop!" Soon everyone was shouting, "Ambrose for bishop!"
The other bishops of the province were only too glad to have this controversial decision taken out of their hands. But Ambrose was not about to give up a successful career for the dangerous position of bishop - a life- threatening occupation in these heretical times. So Ambrose ran away. When he appealed to the emperor to overturn the decision on the basis that he hadn't even been baptized yet, the emperor answered that he was happy that he chose governors fit for the episcopal office. Ambrose hid in a senator's house but the senator surrendered Ambrose when he heard about the emperor's decision.
With nowhere else to run, Ambrose gave in. Since he'd been forced to take the position, no one would have been surprised if he'd decided to keep on living the way that he had before ordination. Instead, Ambrose immediately gave his property to the poor and put himself under the instruction of Saint Simplician to learn Scripture and theology.
The Arians thought Ambrose would be "their" bishop because Ambrose had been a member of court and many in government were Arians. But Ambrose used his skills as a lawyer and orator to fight the Arians in church, court, senate, and even the emperor's own family. The same stubbornness that had made him refuse the position in the first place was now his weapon in fighting heresy and pursuing sanctity.
Ambrose's Treasure
When the Goths invaded the empire and took captives, Ambrose paid out all the money he had in ransom. He said the best and most effective charity was ransoming captives and hostages. He even took all gold vessels belonging to the Church and had them melted down. He said, "It is a better thing to save souls for the Lord than to save treasures. He who sent forth his apostles without gold had not need of gold to form his Church. The Church possesses gold, not to hoard, but to scatter abroad and come to the aid of the unfortunate.
"Would not the Lord say to us: 'Why have you let so many needy perish of hunger? Since you had gold, you should provide for their needs'...Could we say: 'I feared to leave the temple of God without ornament.' But that which can't be bought with gold does not take its value from gold. The best way to use the gold of the Redeemer is for the redemption of those in peril."
Ambrose always was more concerned for the poor than for power. He often reproached the wealthy for ignoring the poor: "God created the universe in such a manner that all in common might derive their food from it, and that the earth should also be a property common to all. Why do you reject one who has the same rights over nature as you? It is not from your own goods that you give to the beggar; it is a portion of his own that you are restoring to him. The earth belongs to all. So you are paying back a debt and think you are making a gift to which you are not bound."
Sentenced to Death
When the emperor died, the Empress Justina, an Arian, became regent for her four year old son. Maximus, a former Roman soldier, realized the emperor's death might weaken the empire enough for his army to conquer it. Justina begged Ambrose to negotiate with him. In spite of the fact that she was his enemy, Ambrose went on a diplomatic mission that convinced Maximus not to invade.
Justina's idea of showing gratitude to Ambrose was to demand that Ambrose's basilica be handed over to the Arians. Ambrose answered that he would never give up the temple of God.
The people were on Ambrose's side. It is possible he could have even started a coup to overthrow Justina. But Ambrose was careful never to say or do anything to start violence. When Catholics seized an Arian priest and were going to put him to death, Ambrose intervened in the name of peace and prayed God suffer no blood to be shed. He sent out priests and deacons to rescue his Arian enemy.
Ambrose said, "When I was told the church was surrounded with soldiers I said I cannot give it up but I must not fight." The soldiers came in to the basilica - but they came in to pray.
Justina then persuaded her son to make a law legalizing Arians and forbidding Catholics to oppose Arians under pain of death. No one could even present a petition against a church being yielded up.
On Palm Sunday, Ambrose preached a sermon about not giving up churches. The congregation, afraid for their lives, barricaded themselves in the basilica with their pastor Ambrose. The imperial troops surrounded the basilica in an attempt to starve them out, but on Easter Sunday all the people were still inside.
In the face of arms and soldiers, Ambrose said, "My only arms are my tears. I will never depart willingly but I won't resist by force."
In order to calm the frightened people Ambrose taught them to sing hymns he had composed. He split the congregation in two in order to alternate verses of the hymns. This is our first record of communal singing in church.
The music of praise and prayer seeped out through the walls of the basilica and into the hearts of the soldiers. Soon the soldiers outside joined in the singing. The siege ended.
The Other Cheek
With the military concentrated on fighting Catholics, Maximus decided Rome was ready for an invasion. Justina and her son were panic-stricken. What could they do?
They turned to one person they knew could handle the mission - the person they had just attacked and threatened. They asked Ambrose to go to Maximus again and stop his invasion.
Who would have blamed Ambrose for refusing?
In a miraculous act of forgiveness, Ambrose went on this mission for his enemies. When Maximus refused to compromise, Ambrose hurried home to warn them. Justina and her son fled to Greece, while Ambrose stayed behind. Fortunately, the eastern Emperor Theodosius intervened and defeated Maximus. However, Theodosius then took over control of the whole empire. Theodosius was Catholic and became a lifelong friend of Ambrose.
Ambrose died in 397, at about the age of 57. His memorial is celebrated on December 7, the date of his ordination.

將臨期第一週 (週五) (2008年12月5日) A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 9:27-31

神父講道 - 將臨期第一週 (週五) (2008年12月5日)
恭讀聖瑪竇福音　9: 27-31耶穌從那裏往前走，有兩個瞎子跟著他，喊說：「達味之子，可憐我們吧！」耶穌進了屋子，兩瞎子就走到他跟前，耶穌對他們說：「你們相信我能作這事嗎？」他 們對他說：「主，我們信！」耶穌就摸他們的眼睛，說：「按照你們的信德，給你們成就吧！」他們的眼便開了。耶穌嚴厲囑咐他們說：「小心，不可讓他人知 道！」但他們出去後，就把他的名聲傳遍全境。
─這是基督的福音。
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 9:27-31
27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
—The Gospel of the Lord.

將臨期第一週 (週四) (2008年12月4日)達瑪森．聖若望司鐸 聖師 A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 7:21,24-27

神父講道 - 將臨期第一週 (週四) (2008年12月4日)
達瑪森．聖若望司鐸 聖師
恭讀聖瑪竇福音　7: 21, 24-27「不是向我說『主啊！主啊！』的人，就能進天國，而是承行我在天之父的旨意的人。「所以凡聽了我這些話，而實行的，好比一個聰明人，把自己的房屋蓋在岩石 上。哪怕雨淋、水沖、風吹襲擊那所房屋，它卻不倒，因爲房基築在岩石上。凡聽了我這些話，而不去實行的，好比一個糊塗人，把房屋蓋在沙土上，雨淋、水沖、 風吹襲擊那所房屋，它就倒塌了，而且倒塌的多慘！」
─這是基督的福音。
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 7:21,24-27
21 “Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 24 “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”
—The Gospel of the Lord.

將臨期第一週 (週三) (2008年12月3日)聖方濟．薩威(方濟各．沙勿略)司鐸 (慶日) A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 16:15-20

神父講道 - 將臨期第一週 (週三) (2008年12月3日)
聖方濟．薩威(方濟各．沙勿略)司鐸 (慶日)
恭讀聖馬爾谷福音 16:15-20那時候，耶穌對門徒說：「你們往普天下去，向一切受造物宣傳福音，信而受洗的必要得救；但不信的必被判罪。信的人必有這些奇蹟隨著他們：因我的名軀逐魔鬼，說新語言，手拿毒蛇，甚或喝了什麼致死的毒物，也決不受害；按手在病人身上，可使人痊愈。」主耶穌給他們說了這些話以後，就被接升天，坐在天主的右邊。他們出去，到處宣講，主與他們合作，並以奇蹟相隨，證實所傳的道理。
—這是基督的福音。
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark 16:15-20
He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 18 They will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. 20 But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
—The Gospel of the Lord.
十二月三日 聖方濟沙勿略(St. Francis Xavier)
聖人一五○六年生於西班牙。在巴黎讀書時，與聖依納爵結為好友。 一五三七年在威尼斯晉鐸，從事愛德工作.一五四一年首途遠東，到印度及日本各地傳布福音，達十年之久，勸化多人歸正。一五五二年，死於中國上川島。
被譽為「傳教區主保」。
St. Francis Xavier
Feastday: December 4
St. Francis Xavier
FRANCIS XAVIER, ST. (1506-1552). Born in the family castle of Xavier, near Pamplona in the Basque area of Spanish Navarre on Apr. 7, he was sent to the University of Paris 1525, secured his licentiate in 1528, met Ignatius Loyola and became one of the seven who in 1534, at Montmartre founded the Society of Jesus. In 1536 he left Paris to join Ignatius in Venice, from whence they all in tended to go as missionaries to Palestine (a trip which never materialized), was ordained there in 1537, went to Rome in 1538, and in 1540, when the pope formally recognized the Society, was ordered, with Fr. Simon Rodriguez, to the Far East as the first Jesuit missionaries. King John III kept Fr. Simon in Lisbon, but Francis, after a year's voyage, six months of which were spent at Mozambique where he preached and gave aid to the sick eventually arrived in Goa, India in 1542 with Fr. Paul of Camerino an Italian, and Francis Mansihas, a Portuguese. There he began preaching to the natives and attempted to reform his fellow Europeans, living among the natives and adopting their customs on his travels. During the next decade he converted tens of thousands to Christianity. He visited the Paravas at the tip of India. near Cape Comorin, Tuticorin (1542), Malacca (1545), the Moluccas near New Guinea and Morotai near the Philippines (1546-47), and Japan (1549- 51). In 1551, India and the East were set up as a separate province and Ignatius made Francis its first provincial. In 1552 he set out for China, landed on the island of Sancian within sight of his goal, but died before he reached the mainland. Working against great difficulties, language problems ( contrary to legend, he had no proficiency in foreign tongues ), inadequate funds, and lack of cooperation, often actual resistance, from European officials, he left the mark of his missionary zeal and energy on areas which clung to Christianity for centuries. He was canonized in 1622 and proclaimed patron of all foreign missions by Pope Pius X. F. D. Dec. 3.

將臨期第一週 (週二) (2008年12月2日) A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 10:21-24

神父講道 - 將臨期第一週 (週二) (2008年12月2日)
恭讀聖路加福音　10: 21-24就在那時，耶穌因聖神而歡欣，說：「父，天地的主宰！我頌揚你；因爲你把這些事給聰明和通達的人隱藏起來，而啓示給了小子們。父！是的，因爲你本來喜歡這 樣做。我父把一切都交給了我。除了父之外，沒有人知道子是誰；除了子，及子所願意啓示的人外，也沒有人知道父是誰。」隨後，他轉身單向門徒說：「見到你們 所見的那眼睛是有福的。我告訴你們，許多先知和君王，曾想見你們所見的，卻沒有見到；要聽你們所聽的，卻沒有聽到。」
─這是基督的福音。
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 10:21-24
21 In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 22 All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 23 Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see what you see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”
—The Gospel of the Lord.

將臨期

將臨期
將臨期的拉丁文為Adventus，意指來到或駕臨。 聖誕節前四週(由最接近11月30日之主日至聖誕節)，在天主教會內稱為將臨期。在這段期間，教友們開始以期待喜悅的心情準備迎接主耶穌基督的降生。
將臨期的起源已不可考，Arles主教St. Caesarius (502-542) 的證道辭中曾提及在聖誕節前的準備， 但並未成為教會內的正式禮儀。581年在高盧召開的主教會議要求自11月11日至聖誕節期間每週有三天 應按照封齋期的禮儀，將臨期的長短也曾有三週到六週變化。
將臨期四週象徵基督降臨前四千年的黑暗，將臨期彌撒中神父穿著紫色祭衣，表示悔罪刻苦， 以準備主的降生，教友應告解與天主修合。
將臨期有雙重特點：
是聖誕節的準備期紀念天主子第一次來到人間
是令人想到基督末世再度來臨的時期

將臨期第一週 (週一) (2008年12月1日) A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 8:5-11

神父講道 - 將臨期第一週 (週一) (2008年12月1日)
恭讀聖瑪竇福音　8: 5-11耶穌進入葛法翁，有一位百夫長前來求他說：「主，我的僕人癱瘓了，躺在家中，痛苦得很。」耶穌說：「我去治好他。」百夫長回答說：「主，你到我家去，實不 堪當，你只要說一句話，我的僕人就會好的。因爲我是屬人權下的，但我手下也有士兵。我對這個說：去！他就去；對另一個說：來！他就來；我對僕人說：做這 事，他就做。」耶穌聽了就驚奇，向跟隨他的人說：「我切實告訴你們，這樣大的信德我在以色列人中還未見到過。」「我告訴你們，將來有許多人從東方和西方來 與亞巴郎、依撒格、雅各伯在天國一起坐席。」
─這是基督的福音
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 8:5-11
5 As he entered Caper’na-um, a centurion came forward to him, beseeching him 6 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion answered him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,’ and he goes, and to another, `Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, `Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven
—The Gospel of the Lord.