神父的話                

真實的安定與繁榮           

亞毛斯先知生活在以色列歷史中最安定繁榮的時代，從那時至今日，像那樣安定繁榮的高峰不再有過。許多的以色列人民，將軍事安全和經濟富裕視為天主特別寵愛和祝福他們的記號。對每一位先知來說，這都是個毫無疑問的大難題，對亞毛斯先知就更不用說了。他是個來自小村莊的牧羊人，從貧窮不發達的白冷東南方被差遣到北方的大城市，他站立著面對大眾，公開的譴責以色列，用嚴厲刺耳的言辭講道，論述天國，要人們相信他們必須做好事，才能從天主那裡領受到特別的祝福。

今天的第一篇讀經，從亞毛斯先知書裡 8:4-7 一段非常短的段落，透露出先知嚴厲刺耳的言辭，震耳欲聾的控訴及告發。亞毛斯的講道，點明了以色列享受著有缺陷的安定與繁榮 。當人們看待日漸腐蝕的公平正義；日漸敗壞的社會倫理道德；宗教上的虔敬都只是個表演，只是個秀，他們決不能領受到天主的寵愛和祝福。

除了譴責以色列不公平、不正義和罪惡之外，亞毛斯習慣在他所有一切的講道中強調天主的愛、仁慈、公平、正義、真理和智慧。天主特別的寵愛與祝福是豐富且連續不斷的，而這些是要贈予給那些能在最小的弟兄姐妹身上看見和遇見祂的人。

聖言會 阮德賢 神父

True peace and prosperity

The prophet Amos lived during the most peaceful and prosperous time in the history of Israel.  The height of this peace and prosperity had never again reached even to today. Military security and economic affluence during the time were taken by many Israelites to be the signs of God's special favors and blessings toward them. It was surely difficult for any prophet, not to mention Amos, a shepherd from a small village South of Bethlehem being send to a major city in the North, to stand up and denounce Israel and preach harsh words to the kingdom that had believed that they must have done everything right to have received such special blessings from God.

A very short passage, Amos 8:4-7, from today's first reading already gives us a glimpse onto those harsh and earsplitting words from the prophet. These were the words of indictment. From the preaching of Amos, Israel was enjoying faulty peace and prosperity. There could never be favor and blessing from God when its people were treated with injustice, social morality was in decay, and religious piety was only a show.

Beside denouncing Israel and indicting herself for injustice and sins, Amos used and emphasized all over his preaching with the language of love, mercy, justice, righteousness, truth and knowledge of God. God's special favor and blessings are in abundance and continuing to bestow upon those who see and meet Him in the least of our brothers and sisters.

Rev. Nick Hien Nguyen, SVD