2018-2-2

朋友们，今天的福音是耶稣被献于圣殿的故事。圣殿实际上的本义是主的容身之地。在圣殿内，神性和人性交融，人类能够与天主重新连线。

 

但根据先知厄则克耳所言，以色列民族的罪恶致使天主的光荣离开了圣殿。因此，以色列人最深的渴望之一就是把圣殿重新恢复为正确崇拜之处，从而使天主的光荣回归。当若瑟和玛利亚把婴儿耶稣带入圣殿，我们就应该明白厄则克耳的预言应验了。雅威的光荣回到祂至爱的居所。这正是西默盎目睹的一切。

 

这位年老的洞见者是古以色列的象征，守望等待着默西亚的来临。西默盎深知所有古老的预言；他代表了以色列民族的期望；而且他蒙圣神启示知道自己在未看见救世主之前，决不会死亡。

 

Friends, today’s Gospel tells the story of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The Temple was, in practically a literal sense, the dwelling place of the Lord. In the Temple, divinity and humanity embraced, and the human race was brought back online with God.

 

But the sins of the nation had, according to the prophet Ezekiel, caused the glory of the Lord to depart from the Temple. Therefore, one of the deepest aspirations of Israel’s people was to reestablish the Temple as the place of right praise so that the glory of the Lord might return. When Joseph and Mary bring the infant Jesus into the Temple, therefore, we are meant to appreciate that the prophecy of Ezekiel is being fulfilled. The glory of Yahweh is returning to his favorite dwelling. And this is precisely what Simeon sees.

 

The old seer is a symbol of ancient Israel, watching and waiting for the coming of the Messiah. Simeon knew all of the old prophecies; he embodied the expectation of the nation; and the Holy Spirit had given him the revelation that he would not die until he had laid eyes on his Savior.

 

2018-2-3

朋友们，今天的福音说到耶稣垂怜荒野中的群众。“耶稣一下船，看见一大伙群众，就对他们动了怜悯的心，因为他们好像没有牧人的羊，遂开口教训他们许多事。”

 

这就像逃离埃及、流落荒野的以色列人那样，与世隔绝、孤立无援、心怀恐惧和揭不开锅，当时人们强烈要求梅瑟想办法。今天的福音中，我们看到的是一群极度饥渴的人和一位面对死亡威胁的先知。围在死亡威胁下的耶稣身边的这群人象征着教会。我们因为饥渴而来到他身边，即使四下荒凉，我们也不离不弃。

 

Friends, today’s Gospel shows Jesus’ compassion for the multitude in the desert. "When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things."

 

There is the motif of the people Israel in the desert after their escape from Egypt. Isolated, alone, afraid, and without food, they clamored for something from Moses. Here we see people who are dying to be fed, and a prophet who is under threat of death. This crowd around the threatened Jesus is a metaphor for the Church. We have come to him because we are hungry, and we stay even when things look bleak.