讀經:馬可福音十四章

默想:「因為常有窮人和你們同在,要向他們行善隨時都可以;只是你們不常有我。」(可14:7)

默想一:在你一生中最貴重的、最珍惜的是什麼?是時間?是名利?是財富?是才幹?或是什麼的?人生短暫,我們當學習馬利亞,把握機會,在耶穌受難前打破了名貴的真哪噠香膏膏在耶穌身上,她把對主的愛表現到最高點。她如此行,因她深信主耶穌的受難與自己有關。主耶穌為愛你在十字架上所作的,你明白嗎?你為祂的愛回應了什麼?

默想二:主耶穌反對我們行善和賙濟窮人嗎?不!祂反對的是我們不能分辨什麼是「常有」與「不常有」的事。可惜的是,今天有許多基督徒為贏得世人的讚美就留心作「常有」的善事,而輕忽了那關乎永恆的靈魂得救。基督徒常有的毛病,就是花很多時間、精力、金錢為「窮人」行善,卻忽略那能真正滿足他們的福音,就是耶穌基督。

禱告:賜恩的主,我感謝祢。在默念祢受難時,袮提醒我什麼是在祢眼裏的「一件美事」(14:6)。主,祢已經是被打破了的『香膏』,為了我們的罪,袮毫無保留地走上十字架的道路,袮流出寶血,洗淨我的罪,我因信就能稱為神的兒女。在思想祢的受難時,讓我學習馬利亞,把握機會,存感恩的心,行祢所喜悅的事。奉主耶穌寶貴的聖名禱告,阿們!

Bible Reading: Mark 14.

Insight: ”The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.” (Mar 14:7)

Insight 1: What is the most precious and cherished thing in your life? Is it your time? Is it fame and fortune? Is it wealth? Is it your talent? Or is something else? Life is short. We should learn from Mary and seize the opportunity, before Jesus’ crucifixion, to break the jar of the precious ointment of spikenard and poured it over Jesus. She showed her love for the Lord to the highest point. She did this because she was convinced that the suffering of the Lord Jesus was related to her. Do you understand all that the Lord Jesus has done on the cross is because He loves you? What have you responded for His love?

Insight 2: Does the Lord Jesus dislike us to do good things and help the poor? This is not true! What He dislikes us is our unawareness of which opportunity is “always” and which is “not always”. Unfortunately, today’s many Christians, in order to win the praise of the world, focus only on doing the “always” good deeds, and have overlooked the eternal soul’s salvation. A common problem with Christians is that they spend a lot of time, energy, and money doing good things for the “poor”, but have overlooked the gospel, which is Jesus Christ, that can truly satisfy them.

Prayer: Lord of grace, I thank You. In meditation on Your suffering, You reminded me, in your eyes, what “a beautiful thing” is (14:6). Lord, You are an “Ointment” jar that has already been broken. For our sins, You walked on the path of the cross without hesitance. You shed precious blood to wash away my sins. I can be called God’s child because of my faith. When thinking about Your suffering, let me learn from Mary to seize the opportunity, be grateful, and do what is pleasing to you. I pray in the precious holy name of the Lord Jesus, Amen!

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