天主是不看情面一視同仁的

       在初期教會，當傳教士們努力地將福音傳給猶太人本身以外的團體時，其中最具爭議性的問題就是面對包容或排擠外邦人參與聖祭聖事一事。有一些人，如聖保祿，一開始便明白上主的愛是不看情面的，”不再分猶太人或希臘人，奴隸或自由人，男人或女人，因為你們眾人在基督內成了一個”。（迦 3:28）另一些人，如聖雅各伯和耶路撒冷教會，便要求外邦人成為基督徒必需遵從猶太人的法律，例如行割損。（宗 15:1）

　　在這些爭論當中，聖伯多祿在祈禱中尋得了聖神的領導 。在今日的讀經一宗徒大事錄中，聖伯多祿一開始掙扎隨後經由異象明白了上主對全人類的愛並渴望拯救所有的人。他說：“我真正明白了：天主是不看情面的，凡在各民族中，敬畏他而又履行正義的人，都是他所中悅的。”。（宗 10:34-35）此外，當他看見聖神的恩惠傾注在自世界各地來聆聽上主的的外邦人身上時，伯鐸熱心的呼籲，“這些人既領受了聖神，和我們一樣，誰能阻止他們接受水洗呢”？（宗 10:47）

　　很遺憾的，我們人類的天性趨向於排斥而非包容其他民族。這樣的情況我們可以從近來國內的移民爭議中，一些人對於移民改革以及非法移民者和他們的家庭的態度，以及所表現出的非基督徒的行逕可看到。同樣地，我們也看到一些對我們家庭及教會團體非基督徒般的態度正在一些人的心中滋長。我們對天主的信仰其實要求我們要做得更好才是。

主內親愛的兄弟姐妹們，在耶穌復活期，讓我們祈求聖神的領導，讓我們能以更開闊和慈悲的心去接納那些我們所排斥的人。在爭論和爭端中，讓我們不忘上主對我們及宗徒們的誡命：“這是我的命令：你們該彼此相愛，如同我愛了你們一樣。”（若 15:12)  

 

GOD SHOWS NO PARTIALITY

As missionary endeavors expanded the early Christian church beyond its originally Jewish membership and identity, one of the more emotionally controversial issues that needed to be confronted was the inclusion or exclusion of Gentile peoples from full participation. Some, like St. Paul, understood early on that the love of God does not discriminate between Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female (Galatians 3:28). Others, like St. James and the Jerusalem church, wanted to require full observance of Jewish law, including circumcision, of Gentile converts to Christianity (Acts 15:1).

In the midst of such controversy, St. Peter sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit in prayer. In today's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter struggles but finally understands by revelation in a vision that God loves all peoples and desires their salvation: "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him." (Acts 10:34-35) Furthermore, when he saw that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles gathered to hear the Word, St. Peter enthusiastically exclaims, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?!" (Acts 10:47)

 Sadly, our human tendency is to more frequently exclude others rather than seek their inclusion. This tendency to exclude can be clearly seen in the current national debate over immigration reform and the _expression of some quite un-Christian attitudes toward undocumented immigrants and their families. Likewise, some quite un-Christian attitudes toward members of our own families and our own church community may exist within our hearts. Our faith in God demands better.

 Sisters and brothers in our Risen Lord, let us pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that we might attain a greater openness and charity toward those we prefer to exclude. In the midst of controversies and debates, let us not forget the Lord's commandment to us, his disciples: "Love one another as I love you." (John 15:12)

 

Rev. John A. Szukalski, SVD