正教會今日讀經:
羅9:18-33
這樣看來,祂願意恩待誰,就恩待誰;祂願意使誰心硬,就使誰心硬。或者,你要問我說:既是這樣,為什麼祂還要責怪人呢?有誰能抗拒祂的意志呢?人呀!你是誰,竟敢向天主抗辯?製造品豈能對製造者說:你為什麼這樣製造了我?難道陶工不能隨意用一團泥,把這一個作成貴重的器皿,把那一個作成卑賤的器皿嗎?如果天主願意顯示自己的義怒,並彰顯自己的威能,曾以寬宏大量,容忍了那些惹祂發怒而應受毀滅的器皿;祂如此作,是為把祂那豐富的光榮,在那些祂早已準備好,為進入光榮而蒙憐憫的器冊身上彰顯出來,又有什麼不可呢?這些器皿就是我們這些不但從猶太人中, 而且也從外邦人中被天主所寵召的人。
這正如天主在歐瑟亞書中所說的:『我要叫「非我人民」為「我的人民」,又叫「不蒙愛憐者」為「蒙愛憐者」;人在那裡對他們說:你們不是我的人民,在同樣的地方,他們要被稱為永生天主的子女。』論到以色列,依撒意亞卻呼喊說:『以色列子民的數目雖然多如海沙,唯有殘存者要蒙受救恩,因為上主在大地上,要徹底迅速完成祂的判決。』依撒意亞又預言過:『若非萬軍的上主給我們留下苖裔,我們早已如同索多瑪,相似哈摩辣了。』
那麼,我們可說什麼呢?外邦人沒有追求正義,卻獲得了正義,即由信仰而得的正義;以色列人追求使人成義的法律,卻沒有得到這種法律,這是為什麼呢?是因為他們不憑信仰,只憑著行為追求。他們正碰在那塊絆腳石上,正如經上所載:『看,我在熙雍按放了一塊絆腳石,一塊使人絆跌的磐石;相信祂的人,不致蒙羞。』
Consequently, he has mercy upon whom he wills, and he hardens whom he wills. You will say to me then, “Why (then) does he still find fault? For who can oppose his will?” But who indeed are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Will what is made say to its maker,”Why have you created me so?” Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for a noble purpose and another for an ignoble one? What if God, wishing to show his wrath and make known his power, has endured with much patience the vessels of wrath made for destruction? This was to make known the riches of his glory to the vessels of mercy, which he has prepared previously for glory, namely, us whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles.
As indeed he says in Hosea: “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’ And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they shall be called children of the living God.” And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “Though the number of the Israelites were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will be saved; for decisively and quickly will the Lord execute sentence upon the earth.” And as Isaiah predicted: “Unless the Lord of hosts had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom and have been made like Gomorrah.”
What then shall we say? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have achieved it, that is, righteousness that comes from faith; but that Israel, who pursued the law of righteousness, did not attain to that law? Why not? Because they did it not by faith, but as if it could be done by works. They stumbled over the stone that causes stumbling, as it is written: “Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion that will make people stumble and a rock that will make them fall, and whoever believes in him shall not be put to shame.”
瑪/ 太11:2-15
若翰在獄中聽到了基督所行的,就派遣他的門徒去,對他說:「你就是要來的那一位,或是我們還要等候另一位。」耶穌回答他們說:「你們去,把你們所見所聞的報告給若翰:瞎子看見,瘸子行走,癩病人得了潔淨,聾子聽見,死人復活,窮苦人得了喜訊,凡不因我而絆倒的,是有福的!」
他們走後,耶穌對群眾論若翰說:「你們出去到荒野裏,是為看什麼呢?是為看風搖曳的蘆葦嗎?你們出去到底是為看什麼?為看一位穿細軟衣服的人嗎?啊!那穿細軟衣服的人是在王宮裏。你們究竟為什麼出去?為看一位先知嗎?是的,我給你們說:而且他比先知還大。關於這人,經上記載說:『看,我派我的使者在你面前,他要在你前面預備你的道路。』我實在告訴你們:在婦女所生者中,沒有興起一位比洗者若翰更大的,但在天國裏最小的,也比他大。由洗者若翰的日子直到如今,天國是以猛力奪取的,以猛力奪取的人,就攫取了它,因為眾先知和法律講說預言,直到若翰為止。若是你們願意接受,他就是那位要來的厄里亞。有耳的,聽吧!」
When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.’ Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”