聖人慶日:St. John the Russian, 俄羅斯的聖若望(約安),聖髑奉於希臘的艾維亞島。
正教會今日讀經:
弗5:9-19
光明所結的果實,就是各種良善、正義和誠實,你們要體察什麼是主所喜悅的;不要參與黑暗無益的作為,反要加以指摘,因為他們暗中所行的事,就是連提起,也是可恥的。凡一切事,一經指摘,便由光顯露出來;因為凡顯露出來的,就成了光明;為此說:『你這睡眠的,醒起來罷!從死者中起來罷!基督必要光照你!』
所以,你們應細心觀察自己怎樣生活;不要像無知的人,卻要像明智的人;應把握時機,因為這些時日是邪惡的;因此不要作糊塗人,但要曉得什麼是主的旨意。也不要醉酒,醉酒使人淫亂;卻要充滿聖神,以聖詠、詩詞及屬神的歌曲,互相對談,在你們心中歌頌讚美主。
For light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts.
瑪/ 太18:10-20
「你們小心,不要輕視這些小子中的一個,因為我告訴你們:他們的天使在天上,常見我在天之父的面。【因為人子來是為救那喪亡了的。】你們以為如何?如果一個人有一百隻羊,其中一隻迷失了路,他豈不把那九十九隻留在山上,而去尋找那隻迷失了路的嗎?如果他幸運找著了,我實在告訴你們:他為這一隻,比為那九十九隻沒有迷路的,更覺歡喜;同樣,使這些小子中的一個喪亡,決不是你們在天之父的意願。
「如果你的弟兄得罪了你,去,要在你和他獨處的時候,規勸他;如果他聽從了你,你便賺得了你的兄弟;但他如果不聽,你就另帶上一個或兩個人,為叫任何事情,憑兩個或三個見證人的口供,得以成立。若是他仍不聽從他們,你要告訴教會;如果他連教會也不聽從,你就將他看作外邦人或稅吏。我實在告訴你們:凡你們在地上所束縳的,在天上也要被束縳;凡你們在地上所釋放的,在天上也要被釋放。我實在告訴你們:若你們中二人,在地上同心合意,無論為什麼事祈禱,我在天之父,必要給他們成就,因為那裏有兩個或三個人,因我的名字聚在一起,我就在他們中間。」
”See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. [“For the Son of Man has come to save what was lost”] What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.
”If your brother sins (against you), go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, (amen,) I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
俄羅斯的聖若望慶日:
弗6:10-17
此外,你們務要在主內,藉他的能力作堅強的人。要穿上天主的全副武裝,為能抵抗魔鬼的陰謀,因為我們戰鬥不是對抗血和肉,而是對抗率領者,對抗掌權者,對抗這黑暗世界的霸主,對抗天界裏邪惡的鬼神。為此,你們應拿起天主的全副武裝,為使你們在邪惡的日子能夠抵得住,並在獲得全勝之後,仍屹立不動。所以要站穩!用真理作帶,束起你們的腰,穿上正義作甲,以和平的福音作準備走路的鞋,穿在腳上;此外,還要拿起信德作盾牌,使你們能以此撲滅惡者的一切火箭;並戴上救恩當盔,拿著聖神作利劍,即天主的話。
Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
路12:2-12
「但是,沒有遮掩的事,將來不被揭露的;也沒有隱藏的事,將來不被知道的。因此,你們在暗處所說的,將來必要在明處被人聽見;在內室附耳所說的,將來必要在屋頂上張揚出來。我告訴你們做我朋友的人們:你們不要害怕那些殺害肉身,而後不能更有所為的人。我要指給你們,誰是你們所應害怕的:你們應當害怕殺了以後,有權柄把人投入地獄的那一位;的確,我告訴你們: 應當害怕這一位!五隻麻雀不是賣兩文銅錢嗎?然而在天主前,他們中沒有一隻被遺忘的。就是你們的頭髮,也一一被數過;你們不要害怕!你們比許多麻雀尊貴多了。我告訴你們:凡在人前承認我的,人子將來也要在天主的使者前承認他;他在人前否認我的,將來在天主的使者前也要被否認。
「凡出言干犯人子的,尚可獲得赦免;但是,褻瀆聖神的人,決不能獲得赦免。當人押送你們到會堂,到長官及有權柄的人面前時,你們不要思慮怎樣申辯,或說什麼話,因為在那個時刻,聖神必要教給你們應說的話。」
”There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.
”Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”