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作者
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內容
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Ignatius
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Posted -
2006/11/14 下午 10:12:57
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第二世紀作家講道集–基督曾願意拯救將要喪亡的人
弟兄們，我們常該記住：耶穌基督是天主，是審判生者死者的法官；我們也不該輕視我們自身的得救，因為這樣便是限定了我們得救的希望。若有人聽到這些話而認為無關緊要，他們就犯了罪。如果我們不知我們從何處蒙召，為誰所召，被召到何處，也不知耶穌基督為我們受了什麼苦，我們也有罪過。
那麼，我們該如何報答基督的救恩，該如何為捨生救贖的基督結出相稱的果實呢？我們對祂負了多少債？祂賜給我們光明，祂對我們說話，像慈父對子女一樣，我們瀕於死亡，祂拯救了我們。我們該怎樣頌揚祂，報答祂施給我們的鴻恩呢？我們心靈軟弱，朝拜過木、石、金、銀、銅等人造的偶像，我們的一生只是死亡。我們被黑暗所包圍，眼前一團漆黑；祂的聖意使我們擺脫包圍我們的烏雲，又使我們重見光明。
因為，祂看到我們徬徨歧途，走向喪亡，也知道我們除祂以外沒有其他得救的希望，就大動慈心而憐憫了我們，拯救了我們。當我們還不存在時，祂就召叫了我們；祂願意我們從虛無中成為實有的。
「不能懷孕，沒有生育的女子，喜樂吧！未經產痛的女人，歡呼高唱吧！因為被遺棄的女人、比有丈夫者所有的子女更多。」所謂「不能懷孕，沒有生育的女子，喜樂吧！」正是指我們：我們的教會，在天主給她子女之前，原是不能懷孕的女子。所謂「未經產痛的女人，歡呼高唱吧！」這就是說：我們不要像忍受產痛的婦女那樣疲倦，而要全心向天主呈上我們的祈禱。所謂「被遺棄的女人比有丈夫者所有的子女更多」，這就是說：從前我們好像是遭到天主遺棄的子民；如今我們信仰了天主，我們比那些自認為恭敬天主的國家人數更多。
聖經又說：「我來是要召罪人，不是要召義人」，這就是說：祂該拯救即將喪亡的人。扶起那跌倒的人、而不是那站立的人，才真是一件偉大而令人驚奇的事。基督就是這樣作了：祂要來拯救那些即將喪亡的人，祂確實已經拯救了許多人。祂來了，也把我們從喪亡中召回來。
(常年期第卅二主日誦讀)
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Ignatius
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2006/11/14 下午 10:13:22
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第二世紀作家講道詞–我們該以行為承認天主
上主對待我們大慈大悲：首先我們活著的人沒有向死的神祇祭獻，或朝拜他們；卻藉著基督認識了那位真理之父。所謂認識父，就是不否認那領導我們認識祂的基督。祂親自說：「誰承認我，我在父前也要承認他。」所以如果我們承認拯救我們的那一位，那就是我們的酬報。但我們如何承認祂呢？我們該履行祂所說的，不要違背祂的命令；不該只以唇舌來尊敬祂，而該全心全靈愛祂。祂在依撒意亞先知書中說：「這個民族嘴唇上尊敬我，他們的心卻遠離我。」
所以，我們不要只以呼喚上主為滿足，這不會使我們得救。因為主說過：「不是對我說『主啊！主啊！』的人，就能進天國；而是那遵行天父旨意的人，才能進去。」因此，弟兄們，我們該以行為承認上主：該彼此相愛，不犯姦淫，不要毀謗，不要嫉妒，但該度有節、良善、仁慈的生活。我們該有同情心，不可貪財。我們要用這些行為、承認天主，要避免與此相反的行為。我們不要怕人，而要怕天主。否則主會對你們說：「如果你們和我聚集在一起，而沒有遵守我的誡命，我要拋棄你們，並對你們說：我不認識你們是從哪裏來的；你們這些作惡的人，都離開我吧！」
因此，我的弟兄們，我們要奮戰不懈，我們知道競賽迫近了。有許多人為了爭取可朽的錦標而奮鬥，但不是所有的人都得到勝利的花冠，唯有那吃苦耐勞、奮勇應戰的人才能獲得。因此，我們要努力奮鬥，好使我們都得到花冠。我們要奔走正路，去爭取永生，我們要有許多人參加，以爭取勝利；即使我們不能都得到勝利，至少我們都要接近花冠。我們該知道：即使那些為了暫時的榮冠競爭的人，如果違反賽規，將受懲罰，並被逐出競賽場。
如果有人為了不朽的榮冠而在競賽中犯規，他應受什麼刑罰呢？主曾對那些沒有保持聖洗印號的人說：「蛀食他們的蟲子不死，焚燒他們的火永不熄滅，有血肉的人都要憎惡他們。」
(常年期第卅二週星期一誦讀)
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Ignatius
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Posted -
2006/11/14 下午 10:15:39
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第二世紀作家講道詞–真誠的懺悔
只要我們生活在世界上，就該懺悔。我們是陶工手中的陶土。陶工捏塑陶器，若是陶器變了型，或破碎了，他就再次塑造，一旦被送入火窯中，燒製成器，就再沒有補救的方法了；我們也是一樣，趁我們在世界上時，該全心懺悔我們在身體上所犯的罪，好使我們在有懺悔的時間時，獲得上主的救助。
我們離開世界以後，便再不能懺悔或做補贖了。因此，弟兄們，我們要奉行天父的旨意，保持肉身的貞潔，遵守上主的誡命，我們便會獲得永生。主基督曾在福音中說：「你們若在小事上不忠信，誰還把大事托給你們呢？我告訴你們：誰在最小的事上忠信，在大事上也忠信。」這就是說：你們要保持身體潔淨，維護聖洗的神印完美無瑕，才能獲得永生。
你們誰也不要說：這個肉身不會受審判，也不會復活。請想一想：你們是在什麼情況下被救，又重見光明的？不是在你們帶著肉軀生活的時候嗎？所以我們該看守肉軀，好像看守聖殿一樣；因為你們蒙召時，是帶著肉軀；同樣，你們將來還要帶著肉軀來受審。那拯救我們的基督，起初是神體，然後成為血肉之人，祂就是帶著肉軀召叫了我們；同樣，我們也將帶著肉軀接受酬報。
所以我們該彼此相愛，好使我們都能進天主的國。趁我們有時間就醫，就該把自己交給我們的醫生–天主，並要給祂酬勞。什麼酬勞？就是出自誠心的懺悔。因為天主預知一切，祂洞悉我們心裏的一切。因此我們要心口合一地讚頌祂，好使祂接納我們，好像接納祂的子女一樣。因為主說過：「凡是遵行我天父旨意的，就是我的兄弟。」
(常年期第卅二週星期二誦讀)
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Ignatius
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2006/11/15 下午 09:27:33
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第二世紀作家講道集–我們要懷著希望忍受痛苦
弟兄們，我們要承行父的旨意；祂召叫了我們，是要我們生活，並努力修德。我們要禁絕惡習，這是罪惡的先驅；也要遠避不虔敬，以免遭受災禍。因為如果我們努力行善，就會得到平安。因此，那些由於人性的恐懼而寧願現世的享受，而不顧來生賞報的人，不能獲得平安。他們不知道，今生的享受將帶來多大的痛苦，而來生的賞報將帶給我們何等的幸福。假設只有他們自己這樣作，還可以容忍；但是他們以邪惡的道理煽惑其他單純的人；殊不知他們將受雙重的懲罰：他們自己，和隨從他們的人都將受罰。
所以，我們要以純潔的心靈事奉天主，必會成為義人。假設我們因為不相信天主的許諾，而不事奉天主，我們將是可憐的人！先知的預言說：「三心兩意，遲疑不決的人，是可憐的；他們說：『我們祖先活著的時候，我們就聽見過；我們一日復一日的期待，並沒有看見什麼。愚人哪！你們好比樹木，例如葡萄樹：起初時沒有葉子，後來就發了芽，然後結出酸葡萄來，最後才結成熟葡萄。同樣，我的子民先忍受折磨困苦，然後才領受賞報。』」
因此，弟兄們，我們不要三心兩意，卻要懷著希望而忍受一切，以便獲得賞報。因為天主是信實的，祂親自許諾，將按每人的工作而予以報應。所以，我們若在天主臺前履行正義，必將進入祂的王國，並領受所預許的賞報，享受那「耳所未聞，眼所未見，人心所意想不到的」幸福。
所以，我們要度愛德和正直的生活，期待著天主的王國，因為我們不知道它何時來臨。弟兄們！我們要即刻回頭改過，立志行善，因為我們充滿了愚昧和罪污。我們要洗淨已往的罪過，真心作補贖，以便得救。我們不該諂媚人，我們不僅要使弟兄們歡欣，而且該為了義德，也要使外教人歡欣，以免天主的聖名，因為我們的緣故而受褻瀆。
(常年期第卅二週星期三誦讀)
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Ignatius
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Posted -
2006/11/20 下午 02:56:07
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第二世紀作家講道集–生活的教會是基督的身體
上主說：「我的名不斷在萬民中受褻瀆」。又說：「那使我的名受到褻瀆的人是有禍的！」為何受褻瀆呢？因為我們的言行不一致：外邦人民從我們的口中聽到天主的話，讚賞其美善與偉大；後來看我們言行不符，就會轉身而褻瀆天主說：他們所說的是神話，是邪說！
例如，他們聽到我們告訴他們，天主說：「如果你們愛那些愛你們的人，你們還有什麼賞報呢？但是你們若愛你們的仇人，愛那恨你們的人，你們就有賞報了。」他們聽了便會驚訝那種崇高的愛德；但當他們看見我們不僅不愛那恨我們的人們，甚至不愛那些愛我們的人；他們就譏笑我們，又褻瀆天主的聖名。
因此，弟兄們，如果我們承行我們天主父的旨意，我們就屬於那建立於天地之前的精神教會。假如我們不承行上主的旨意，我們就像聖經所說：「我的殿宇成了賊窩」。因此，我們該決意屬於生活的教會，以便得救。
我想，你們不會不知道：「生活的教會就是基督的身體」。因為聖經說：「天主造了男人和女人」。男人是基督，女人是教會；而且聖經和宗徒們也說，教會並非源自我們這時代，而是從起初就有。因為它是屬神的，如同我們的耶穌一樣，是在最近的日子才顯現的，是為了拯救我們。
精神的教會顯現在基督的身體上，為指示我們，如果我們中間誰能完整地保持它在自己身上，而不喪失，便能在聖神內接受這教會。因為身體是精神的模式；無論誰喪失了這模式，便不能再獲得原始的實體。弟兄們，這就是說：你們要保持肉軀，好使你們分享「神」的生命。但如果我們能說，肉軀是教會，精神是基督，那麼誰玷污肉軀，就是玷污基督；這樣的人將不會與精神有分，這精神就是基督。這肉軀靠聖神的助佑，就能獲得不朽的生命。誰也不能說明上主為祂揀選的人所準備的幸福。
(常年期第卅二週星期四誦讀)
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Ignatius
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Posted -
2006/11/20 下午 02:56:20
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第二世紀作家講道集–我們該歸向那召喚我們的天主
我想，關於節制我給你們提供了一個好建議，誰若隨從了，將不會後悔，他將會救他自己，並救我這提供意見的人。事實上，引導迷失、錯誤的靈魂歸正，功績不小。天主造了我們，如果我們不論講或聽，都懷著信德與愛德去講去聽，就是報答天主。
所以，我們要堅持我們所信的道理，要成為正直而聖潔的人，好使我們懷著信賴向天主祈求，祂說：「你還在說話時，我就回答你說：我在這裏。」這句話是一項偉大的許諾，因為上主說祂常準備施恩，遠超我們的需求。我們分享如此鴻恩，切不可對我們所受的如許恩惠彼此妒忌。因為天主的話把歡樂帶給承行主旨的人，卻把懲罰帶給違命的人。
因此，弟兄們，趁我們還有時間時，要把握懺悔的機會，及時歸向召叫我們的天主。祂常及時準備收納我們。如果我們克制肉情的快樂，控制我們的心靈，不順從私慾，耶穌必將憐憫我們。要知道：「審判的日子像一個燃燒著的爐子，快要來到，日月星辰將被焚毀」，大地沸騰而化為鉛液；那時候，人類的一切行為，隱密的或明顯的，都是顯露出來。樂善好施可以補贖罪惡；齋戒比祈禱好，而施捨比二者都好。聖雅格宗徒說：「愛德遮蓋許多罪惡。」但那出於純潔良心的祈禱能救人不死。凡在這些事上十全十美的是有福的；因為施捨減輕罪的重量。
所以，我們要全心懺悔，但願我們中間沒有一個人喪亡。既然我們接受了命令，要我們拯救那敬禮偶像的人，並教導他們，那麼，拯救那認識天主的人免於喪亡，不是更重要嗎？因此我們該彼此協助，使軟弱的弟兄們也改惡遷善，而使我們眾人都能得救。願我們都要歸向上主，互相規過勸善。
(常年期第卅二週星期五誦讀)
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Ignatius
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Posted -
2006/11/20 下午 02:56:34
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第二世紀作家講道集–我們應修義德，以便最後都能得救
我們要與那些感謝天主、事奉天主的人在一起，不要與那將被定罪的惡人們為伍。我是大罪人，不能逃脫試探，仍處於魔鬼的勢力下；但是我努力追求義德，使我至少能走近義德，因為我怕將來的審判。
因此，兄弟姊妹們，你們聽了真理的天主之後，我要勸告你們，常注意聖經所記載的，這樣，你們和那向你們宣講的人都能得救。我所要求的報酬是你們要全心懺悔，使你們得救並獲得永生。我們這樣做，就是給青年樹立生活的榜樣，他們都願從事於恭敬天主、宣揚天主的美善。我們都能犯錯，若有人勸告我們、改過遷善，我們不要厭煩或動怒。因為有時候由於我們心中對天主不忠不信，而心靈為那虛幻的貪慾所蒙蔽，而不注意他人的忠告。因此我們要努力修義德，使我們最後都能得救。聽從這些教訓的人是有福的。雖然他們在世界上暫時受苦，將要收穫復活的不朽成果。所以敬主的人即使現世受苦，也不要難過，因為幸福的時刻正在等著他，他復活以後將與祖先們永遠歡樂，無憂無慮。
我們看到惡人富足，和天主僕人的困苦，也不要心亂。兄弟姊妹們，我們要發信德：我們為生活的天主接受考驗，我們在今生操練，這樣才可使我們來世得到榮冠。沒有一個義人能立即收穫，而該期待。假設天主迅速報答義人，我們便是在跟天主作交易，而不是崇敬天主；我們看來是義人，而不是虔誠的，只是謀求私利的人；因此，天主的判斷要打擊不義的人，使他身繫囹圄。
唯一而不可見的天主、真理之父、曾給我們派遣了救主、永恆生命的主宰，藉著祂把真理和天上生命顯示給我們。願光榮永遠歸於祂。亞孟。
(常年期第卅二週星期六誦讀)
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Cecil
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Posted -
2006/11/27 上午 10:53:42
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Cecil
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Posted -
2006/11/27 上午 10:56:46
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A sermon of the second century
Christ wished to save everything that perishes
Brethren, we ought to regard Jesus Christ both as God and as the judge of the living and the dead, and we should not undervalue the fact of our salvation. If we think little of it, it means that we hope for little. Moreover, people who hear these things and think them of small importance commit sin, and we ourselves sin if we do not realise what we have been called from, who has called us, and to what place, and how much suffering Jesus Christ endured on our account.
How then shall we repay him? What fruit can we bear that would be worthy of what he has given us? For how many benefits are we not in his debt! He has enlightened our minds; he has called us sons as a father does; he saved us when we were about to perish. How then shall we praise him, how repay him for his gifts? In the weakness of our minds we worshipped stones and pieces of wood, gold and silver and bronze, things made by men, and our whole life was death. Darkness enfolded us, and nothing but gloom met our eyes. Then, by his will, we escaped from the cloud that enveloped us and recovered our sight. For he saw our many errors and the damnation that awaited us, and knowing that apart from him we had no hope of salvation, he pitied us, and in his mercy saved us. He called us when we were not his people and willed us to become his people.
Rejoice, O barren woman who never bore a child; break into shouts of joy, you who never knew a mother’s pangs; for the deserted wife shall have more children than she who has a husband. When he says: Rejoice, O barren woman who never bore a child, he is speaking of us, for our Church was barren until children were given her. When he says: Break into shouts of joy, you who never knew a mother’s pangs, he means that we should not grow weary like women in labour, but tirelessly and in all simplicity offer our prayers to God. He declares that the deserted wife shall have more children than she who has a husband, because faith has now made our people who seemed to have been deserted by God more numerous than those who were thought to possess him.
Another text says: I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners, for it is those who are on the point of perishing who must be saved. It is a great and wonderful work to uphold those who are falling, rather than those who already stand firm. Christ willed to save people who were in danger of losing their souls, and he has been the salvation of many. When we were rushing headlong on the way to perishing, he came and called us.
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Cecil
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Posted -
2006/11/27 上午 10:57:14
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A sermon of the second century
Let us acknowledge God by our actions
It is one of God’s greatest mercies to us that we, being alive, do not sacrifice to dead gods or worship them, but through Christ we have come to know the Father of truth. That knowledge consists in not denying Christ through whom we know the Father. As he himself has said, If anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father.
This is our reward, to acknowledge him who saves us.
How, then, do we acknowledge him? By doing what he has told us to do, by not rejecting his commands. By not honouring him with our lips but with all our heart and all our mind. As it is written in Isaiah: This people honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me.
It is not enough for us to call him “Lord”. That will not save us. As he says: It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord”, who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does what is right. We must acknowledge him by our actions, by loving one another, by not committing adultery, by avoiding calumny and jealousy. We must live continently, compassionately, virtuously. We must let love for each other take precedence over love of riches. It is by these actions that we acknowledge Christ, not by doing the opposite; and remember that it is not human beings that we should fear and respect, but God. The Lord has said to you: If you are gathered together into my arms and do not obey my commands I will cast you from me and say to you, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”
So, my brethren, let us move forward to face the contest before us. In the contests of this world victory does not come to all competitors but only to a few who have trained hard and fought well; but in our contest, let us fight so that all may have the victory. Let us run the straight race, let us compete in the eternal contest, and let whole crowds of us steer our course towards the crown of victory. If we cannot all be victors let us at least come close.
Remember also that in the worldly games cheats are flogged and thrown out of the arena. What do you think will happen if you cheat in the eternal contest? What God has said will happen: their worm will not die, nor will their fire go out; and all flesh will see them.
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Cecil
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Posted -
2006/11/27 上午 10:57:37
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A sermon of the second century
True repentance
We should repent of our sins while we are still on earth. When a potter is making a vessel and it becomes misshapen or breaks in his hands, he shapes it again; but once placed in the oven, it is beyond repair. Now the clay in the craftsman’s hands is an image of ourselves, and it teaches us that, while still in this world, we must wholeheartedly repent of sins committed in the body and make it possible for the Lord to save us while there is time. When we have left this world, we shall no longer be able to repent and confess our sins. We must do the will of the Father, keep our bodies pure, and observe the commandments of the Lord, for this is the way to obtain eternal life. The Lord says in the gospel: If you have not been observant in small matters, who will entrust you with anything important? For I tell you that the man who is faithful in the smallest things is faithful in the greatest things as well. In other words, in order to obtain eternal life, we must remain pure and keep the seal of our baptism undefiled.
Nor must any of you say that our bodies will not share in the judgement, nor rise again. In what were you saved? In what did you receive your sight? Think for a moment. Was it not in this very body? Our bodies are the temple of God, and as such we must guard them, for even as we were called in the body, so shall we also be judged in the body. Since Christ, our Lord and Saviour, who in the beginning was spirit, became flesh and in this way called us, it is in this flesh of ours that we shall also receive our reward. Therefore, let us love one another, so that we may all attain to the kingdom of God. While we can still be healed, let us surrender ourselves into the hands of our divine physician and give him his recompense, the recompense of true sorrow for our sins. Since he who knows all things sees what is in our hearts, let us praise him with our hearts as well as our lips. He will then receive us as his sons. The Lord himself has said: My brothers are those who do my Father’s will.
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Cecil
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Posted -
2006/11/27 上午 10:58:12
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A sermon of the second century
The living church is the body of Christ
My name is constantly blasphemed by unbelievers, says the Lord. Woe to the man who causes my name to be blasphemed. Why is the Lord’s name blasphemed?
Because we say one thing and do another. When they hear the words of God on our lips, unbelievers are amazed at their beauty and power, but when they see that those words have no effect in our lives, their admiration turns to scorn, and they dismiss such words as myths and fairy tales.
They listen, for example, when we tell them that God has said: It is no credit to you if you love those who love you, but only if you love your enemies, and those who hate you. They are full of admiration at such extraordinary virtue, but when they observe that we not only fail to love people who hate us, but even those who love us, they laugh us to scorn, and the Name is blasphemed.
Therefore, brothers, if we do the will of God the Father, we shall be members of the first spiritual Church that was created before the sun and the moon; but if we fail to do the will of the Lord, we shall be among those to whom it is said in Scripture: My house has been made into a robbers’ den. We must choose then, if we want to be saved, to be members of the Church of life.
You surely cannot be ignorant of the fact that the living Church is the body of Christ; for Scripture says: God made man male and female. Now the male signifies Christ, and the female signifies the Church, which, according to both the Old and New Testament, is no recent creation, but has existed from the beginning. At first the Church was purely spiritual, even as our Jesus was spiritual, but it appeared in the last days to save us.
For the spiritual Church was made manifest in the body of Christ, in order to show us that if we uphold its honour in the outward, visible form, and do not defile it, we shall, through the Holy Spirit, be made its members in the true, spiritual sense. For the body of the Church is a copy of the Spirit, and no one who defaces the copy can have any part in what the copy represents. In other words, brothers, you must preserve the honour of the body in order to share in the Spirit. For if we say that the body is the Church and the Spirit is Christ, it follows that anyone who dishonours his body, dishonours the Church. Such a man will have no part in the Spirit, which is Christ. But if the Holy Spirit is joined to it, this body can receive an immortal life that is wonderful beyond words, for the blessings that God has made ready for his chosen ones surpass all human powers of description.
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