2010台灣青年日致詞 教廷大使館陸思道代辦（中英文）

親愛的主教、神父、修女、修士、主內的兄弟姊妹、及各位台灣的天主教青年朋友：

願主的平安常與你們同在！

去年11月，台灣天主教會慶祝了來台福傳150年的紀念日。在場或許有些人也有參加這場盛會。有些人或許會說台灣的教會已經有些年紀了，甚至有點倦怠。不過，見到你們的面容，我會說，台灣的教會是年輕的！台灣的教會是滿腔熱忱的！

我還要告訴你們，教宗知道台灣青年日的活動，並且跟主教們說：台灣青年日是「一個希望的象徵」。因此，你們該知道，今天在此的相聚，教宗正將你們視為一個希望的象徵。同時，教宗也希望你們知道：他愛著你們，並正在為你們祈禱。

藉此機會，我希望能分享一點，關於我對今年世界青年日主題：「善師，為承受永生，我該做些什麼？」（谷, 10:17）的想法。耶穌遇到富少年這段經文，是在聖經中相當鼓舞人的一段篇章，其中包含了極為吸引人的可能性，及令人印象深刻的挫折。其中包含了一個對於所有人都非常切身的疑問，和一個非常清楚的誡命。

這個非常切身的疑問是：「我該做什麼，才能承受永恆的生命？」

耶穌由兩個層面來回答這個問題。首先，他說：「你要知道這些誡命」。朝向永生的第一步，就是忠實的遵循耶穌的誡命。這已經是相當大的要求，不過只有如此似乎還不夠。耶穌又說到另一個更深的層面：「耶穌定睛看他，就喜愛他，對他說：『你還缺少一樣：你去，變賣你所有的一切，施捨給窮人，你必有寶藏在天上，然後來，背著十字架，跟隨我』」。

這位富少年是個好人，他遵循了所有的誡命。不過，問題就出在他偏愛他的財富勝過耶穌。如此一來，與其說他擁有很多錢財，其實他反而是被他的財富所佔據。所以，即使耶穌以如此關愛的眼神，邀請他進入一個更充全豐富的生命，但這位富少年，由於被他所擁有的財富佔據，最終只能「面帶愁容，憂鬱的離去」。

親愛的朋友們，在我們所有人心中，都有著這樣的疑問：「我該做什麼，才能擁有生命？」而耶穌總是以關愛的眼神看著我們，並告訴我們：要遵從誡命。並且對我們說：「你去，變賣你所有的一切，施捨給窮人…然後來，背著十字架，跟隨我。」這並不是說，我們都必須要馬上去變賣所有東西。而是，耶穌要我們不被自己所擁有的事物所佔據，並要我們在愛人與自身奉獻之中，去跟隨祂。祂要我們在贈與被需要時，可以給出贈與。天主要我們能夠善用那些祂以其力量、熱忱及創造力所賦予我們的東西，並讓我們以自身的熱情去關愛他人。也就是說，天主要我們在有需要的地方，「願意去給」。

我曾在瑞士住過三年，而瑞士的主保聖人是聖尼古拉斯(弗呂厄的)，他便是一位為了跟隨耶穌而捨棄了一切的典範。他寫了以下這首非常簡單而優美的禱文。我們也能依此祈禱，並願天主賜給我們這樣的恩寵：

我主我的天主，剝去所有那些會使我離開你的東西！
我主我的天主，賜與我一切使我能更接近你的東西！
我主我的天主，讓我脫離自我，並將我完全交與祢！


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Address by Monsignor Paul Russell
Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Holy See
On the occasion of the Taiwan Youth Day
Taipei, Tuesday 24 August 2010

Dear Bishops, 
Dear Fathers, Sisters, and seminarians, 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Dear Young Catholics of Taiwan, 

May the peace of Christ be with you! 

Last November, the Church in Taiwan celebrated its 150th Anniversary. Maybe some of you were there. Some people are saying that the Church in Taiwan is old – and maybe a little tired. But I look at you and I say that the Church in Taiwan is young! The Church in Taiwan is enthusiastic! 

I also want to tell you that the pope knows about Youth Day in Taiwan. He told the Bishops that Youth Day in Taiwan is “a sign of hope.” As we gather here, you should know that the pope sees you as a sign of hope. The pope wants you to know that he loves you and he is praying for you.

Now, I would like to offer you just a little reflection concerning the theme of this year’s World Youth Day: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk 10:17). The encounter between Jesus and the rich young man is one of the most poignant in all of Scripture, characterized by dramatic possibilities and a dramatic failure. There is a burning question and a very clear command. 

The burning question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus’ response is on two levels. He says first: “You know the commandments.” The first step toward eternal life is faithful observance of the commandments. Already this is quite a lot, but somehow it is not enough. There is another, deeper level: “Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, ‘Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’” 

The rich young man is a good person; he is keeping all the commandments. But the problem is that he prefers his wealth to following Jesus. It is not correct to say that he had a lot of money; in fact, his money had him. He did not own his possessions; his possessions owned him. Jesus is looking at this wealthy young man with love, inviting him to a fuller life, but this wealthy man, owned by what he owned, “goes away sad”.

Dear friends, each one of us here carries within our hearts the burning question: “What must I do to have life?” Jesus looks at each of us with love, and he tells us: keep the commandments. And then he tells us: “Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor…then come, follow me.” This does not mean that we all have literally to go sell everything. It does mean that Jesus wants us to be free from being owned by what we own, and he wants us to follow him in love of others and giving of ourselves. He wants us to be able to give when we need to give. God wants us to use what he has given us with energy, enthusiasm and creativity; God wants us to care passionately. And God wants us to be willing to “give things away” when necessary.

I lived three years in Switzerland. The patron saint of Switzerland is Saint Nicholas of Flüe. He is an example of a saint who left everything to follow Jesus. He composed a very simple and beautiful prayer, which we can pray and ask God to give us the grace to make our own:

My Lord and my God, take everything from me that keeps me from you!

My Lord and my God, give everything to me that brings me nearer to you!

My Lord and my God, take me away from myself and give me completely to you!