寛大な心は愛である-GENEROUS HEARTS ARE LOVE

 寛大な心は愛である

マタイ２０．１－６

皆さん、今日の福音は、誰もが公正に扱われることを望むなら、相手に求める前に寛大な愛を与えなさいと求めています。

今日の福音書では、雇用主の寛大な愛についてです。当時、労働者達は不当な賃金や不公平な取り扱いを受けていました。ですがここに登場する雇用主は長い時間働いた労働者と短い時間しか働かない労働者に同じ賃金を払いました。異なる労働時間にもかかわらず、全ての労働者に1デナリンを支払ったのです。

当然、真面目に長い時間を働いた労働者達は、それを不公平だと思ったでしょう。そして短い時間を働いても同じお金をもらった労働者はラッキーだと思ったかもしれません。それは今を生きる私達にも同じ事が言えると思います。残念ながら私達は、常に自分を基準にして公平に扱われたいと思うからです。

神様は人間に対していつも寛大な愛を与えてくださいます。全てのキリスト者は神様の恵みと憐れみの中で生きているのです。私達はその神様の愛を信じるならば、他人と比べる愚かさを感じるはずです。そして、他人への嫉妬心を捨て、寛大さと思いやりを持つ事が出来るならば、私達は神様の子供として、神様の愛を他の人に広めることが出来るのではないでしょうか。

マザー・テレサはノーベル賞受賞時のスピーチで、助けを求めに来た男性について語りました。彼女はその男性に米をあげました。しかし彼はまたマザーの所に来て米を求めました。マザー・テレサは、男になぜまた来たのか尋ねました。すると男は答えました。「近所の人たちも米を持っていなかったので、全ての米を分け与えました。」 その男性は自分を後回しにして、全ての米を求めに応じて分け与えたのでした。この彼の行動こそが、神様が求めている真の寛大な愛です。

私は今、神言修道会の神学院に住んでいますが、時々、運転の出来ない神学生の為に手伝いなどします。勉強中だったりすると、中断するのが嫌だなぁと言う気持がよぎる時があります。しかし、私は助けを求められる時こそ、神様から求められていると感じるのです。時々、神学生達に運転の仕方を教えています。これはとても単純なことですが彼らにとって必ず将来役に立つと思いつつ、今日も彼等に運転を教えています。

皆さん、私達の生活の中で寛大な愛を持って生きていくことは、決して難しいことではありません。他の人への思いやりの積み重ねが、寛大な愛の完成へと繋がっていくのではないでしょうか。　

メルボルンは春になってきました。日本はそろそろ秋ですね。最近日本食が懐かしいです。皆さん、今週もお元気にお過ごしください。

主の平和

 

GENEROUS HEARTS ARE LOVE

Matthew 20.1-16

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Today, we celebrate the 25th Sunday in ordinary time year A. Today's gospel is about the generosity of an employer who gives equal pay to workers. All workers were paid one denarius a day, even though they worked different hours.

Of course, the workers who worked long hours would find this unfair. Some of the workers who worked from early in the morning complained that they were receiving unfair wages. According to them, they get unfair treatment from their employers.  Perhaps the workers who work in the afternoon consider themselves lucky, as they receive the same wage as the workers who work in the morning.

In my opinion, we often experience the same thing in our lives. We often feel lucky with what we have achieved. On the other hand, we often protest against what we have made, because maybe the results we get are not in line with what we want.  Unfortunately, we always measure justice and success based on our own standards.

Here, the Lord Jesus not only wants to show us the true value of justice but also wants to show us His infinite generosity to mankind. Jesus wants us to understand that the real justice He wants is that all people should live in God's grace and mercy. As a result, God has His own way to save us from sin with His infinite mercy and love by dying on the cross.

If we believe in God's infinite love, we should feel how foolish we are if we protest, envy or compare ourselves with others according to our standard of living. If we open our hearts to God's grace and love, we should also open our hearts and spread God's goodness and compassion to others.

As I reflect on today's Gospel, I am reminded of the story of Mother Theresia. In her speech when she received her Nobel Prize, Mother Theresia told the story of a man who came to her for help. She gave the man some rice. However, the man came and met Mother Therese again to ask for help. Mother Teresa asked the man why he came again. Then the man replied. "My neighbors also have no rice, so I have given them all the rice I received from you. The man was helping his neighbors who were suffering. This act of his is the true love that God expects from all of us. That we should behave and act generously towards our neighbors.

Currently, I live in the Seminary of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). Sometimes I help seminarians who are not yet able to drive. When I am asked for help, I feel moved by something to help them. I taught some of them how to drive. It is a very simple thing, but I am sure that it will definitely be useful for them in the future.

I believe that we can give generous attitudes and actions to others, whenever we want. Our attitudes and actions are very helpful to those who are truly in need. Therefore, let us learn from today's gospel to be a blessing to others.

By the way, it's already spring in Melbourne. The temperature has started to warm up. Meanwhile, it's autumn in Japan. I guess the temperature has started to cool down. Lately, I've been feeling nostalgic for Japanese food. I hope everyone is doing well this week.

 

PEACE BE WITH YOU