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全部區域 > 靈修與祈禱生活 > 每日禮讚分享 > 金口聖若望講道集–祈禱是心靈的光明

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Bro. Ignatius


Posted -
2007/2/26 下午 10:06:15

金口聖若望講道集–祈禱是心靈的光明

沒有比祈禱和與天主交談更值得的事。因為祈禱是與天主結伴,並合而為一。正如我們的肉眼,一見光,就會被照亮;同樣,我們的心靈,一注視天主,也就受到祂那無限之光的照耀。我說的祈禱,不是指那機械式的祈禱,而是指那發自內心的祈禱;不是指某時某刻的祈禱,而是指日夜不斷的祈禱。

原來,我們不僅在默禱時、該聚精會神,一心瞻仰天主,而且在我們工作時,如照顧窮人,或其他善工,或從事任何其他工作時,也要時時念及天主。這樣我們的工作藉天主之愛所調合,猶如藉食鹽調味一樣,而成為美味可口的食品,以獻給宇宙的主宰。如果我們這樣善用時間,我們便可以終生坐享其成果。

祈禱是心靈的光亮,是人對天主的真正認識,也是天主與人之間的中介。心靈藉祈禱而繫於高天,並以不可言喻的熱情擁抱上主。就如嬰孩哭啼著呼求母親,人靈呼求天上的乳汁。人靈渴望求得個人的需要,所接受的恩惠遠超過世上任何可見的事物。

事實上,祈禱好似是在天主台前的一位可敬的使者。它使人靈歡欣,而使心情平靜。我所謂的祈禱,你不要想,只是有口無心的祈禱。祈禱是人心對天主的仰慕,一種無言可喻的愛火;這不是出於人,而是出於天主的恩寵。保祿宗徒曾加以說明。他說:「我們不知道,我們該求什麼,但聖神自己,用祂無言可喻的嘆息,親自要為我們轉禱。」

這樣的祈禱,如果天主賜予誰的話,誰的心靈就會擁有別人不可奪取的富裕,一種令人飽飫的天上食糧。品嚐到這食糧的人就會燃起對天主永久渴望之情:他的靈魂好似在烈火中燃燒。

你要開始這樣祈禱時,先應用你的端莊、謙遜,來裝飾你心靈的內室,使它發出正義的光芒。還要以善工的金飾裝飾它,以信德和慷慨的精神美化它的牆壁;最重要的,要以祈禱作為它的屋頂。這樣,你才能使它成為天主居住的完美住所;你才能夠在一所堂皇的宮殿接待天主;這樣,你已經藉著祂的恩寵,擁有祂,祂的肖像已安坐在你心靈的宮殿中。

(聖灰禮儀後星期五誦讀)

Bro. Ignatius


Posted -
2007/2/28 下午 10:31:22

A homily of Pseudo-Chrysostom
Prayer is the light of the soul

The highest good is prayer and conversation with God, because it means that we are in God’s company and in union with him. When light enters our bodily eyes our eyesight is sharpened; when a soul is intent on God, God’s inextinguishable light shines into it and makes it bright and clear. I am talking, of course, of prayer that comes from the heart and not from routine: not the prayer that is assigned to particular days or particular moments in time, but the prayer that happens continuously by day and by night.
Indeed the soul should not only turn to God at times of explicit prayer. Whatever we are engaged in, whether it is care for the poor, or some other duty, or some act of generosity, we should remember God and long for God. The love of God will be as salt is to food, making our actions into a perfect dish to set before the Lord of all things. Then it is right that we should receive the fruits of our labours, overflowing onto us through all eternity, if we have been offering them to him throughout our lives.
Prayer is the light of the soul, true knowledge of God, a mediator between God and men. Prayer lifts the soul into the heavens where it hugs God in an indescribable embrace. The soul seeks the milk of God like a baby crying for the breast. It fulfils its own vows and receives in exchange gifts better than anything that can be seen or imagined.
Prayer is a go-between linking us to God. It gives joy to the soul and calms its emotions. I warn you, though: do not imagine that prayer is simply words. Prayer is the desire for God, an indescribable devotion, not given by man but brought about by God’s grace. As St Paul says: For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself intercedes on our behalf in a way that could never be put into words.
If God gives to someone the gift of such prayer, it is a gift of imperishable riches, a heavenly food that satisfies the spirit. Whoever tastes that food catches fire and his soul burns for ever with desire for the Lord.
To begin on this path, start by adorning your house with modesty and humility. Make it shine brightly with the light of justice. Decorate it with the gold leaf of good works, with the jewels of faithfulness and greatness of heart. Finally, to make the house perfect, raise a gable above it all, a gable of prayer. Thus you will have prepared a pure and sparkling house for the Lord. Receive the Lord into this royal and splendid dwelling — in other words: receive, by his grace, his image into the temple of your soul.

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