#AdventWord #Expect #期待 我們每天被廣告衝擊著，以明顯的訊息告訴我們，我們應當在人生中期待些甚麼—更多，更好，更大的事情。然而，如果我們接收到的訊息促使我們不是期待我們可能會得到的事物，而是期待我們可能會給予的事物呢?當瑪麗亞被上帝邀請成為歷史上最有名的未婚青少年媽媽時，她沒有問:「我可以從這樣的安排中得到甚麼?」沒有，她說:「我在這裡。我是主的使女，情願照你的話成就在我身上。」(路加福音第一章38節) 瑪麗亞並沒有思考她期待接受到甚麼東西。她僅只奉獻她的生命，活生生的犧牲，獻給那位呼召她的神。你在復臨節時期「期待」甚麼呢? We are pummeled daily by advertisements that, in not so hidden messages, tell us what we should “expect” out of life–more, better, bigger things. What if, however, the messages we received prompted us to expect not what we might get, but what we might give?  When, invited by God to become the most famous unmarried teenage expectant mother in history, Mary did not ask “What do I get out of this arrangement?” No, she said, “here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)  Mary … Continue reading Advent Word 2018, Day 21 ‘Expect 期待’

#AdventWord #Sign #符號 許多我們所遇見的符號都是潛在危險的凶兆。他們是要提醒我們保護自己。注意落石，注意癌症的徵兆，回頭以免溺斃。但在復臨節，我們遇見的是即將來臨的可能性預兆。他們帶來寬宥，祝福以及愛。留心愛。要知道愛的預警。轉身並接受愛。如同詩人克莉絲汀娜.羅賽提所言:「愛是我們的替身…是祈求，禮物以及符號的愛。」 Many of the signs we encounter are portents of potential danger. They are intended to keep us safe. Watch for falling rocks. Know the warning signs of cancer. Turn around don’t drown. But in Advent, the signs we encounter are portents of impending possibility. They offer us forgiveness, blessing, love. Watch for love. Know the warning signs of love. Turn around and accept love. As poet Christina Rossetti says, “Love shall be our token . . . Love for plea and gift and sign.” Signpost in Holy Island village.  Choose the way you want to go.  … Continue reading Advent Word 2018, Day 20 ‘Sign 符號’

#AdventWord #Ablaze #燃燒 約翰宣讀耶穌將用聖靈與火來施洗的訊息。這些話語激發五旬節如火一般舌頭的意象，當聖靈降臨在耶穌的跟隨者之中，激勵著他們把福音的訊息帶給這世界。什麼會激發你火熱的心?你如何因著基督的福音而被燃燒?你將如何傳遞愛給世界?你受浸的火又在哪裡? John proclaims the message that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. These words evoke images of the Pentecostal tongues of fire as the Holy Spirit descends upon the followers of Jesus, inspiring them and sending the gospel message into the world. What sets your heart on fire? How are you ablaze with the good news of Jesus? How are you spreading love in the world? Where is the fire in your baptism? Sunrise on Holy Island, taken at the Lindisfarne Priory ruins, with the castle in the background.  In the top left, a … Continue reading Advent Word 2018, Day 19 ‘Ablaze 燃燒’

#AdventWord #Wash #洗淨 在路加福音裡，約翰告訴我們:「我是用水給你們施洗，但有一位能力比我更大的要來…」在復臨節，我們用水清潔並預備我們的家迎接家人和朋友，以一起慶祝基督的再來。願每一次的洗淨，清潔和沖洗都提醒我們受浸的意義，並再次預備我們的心，接待基督進入我們的家，我們的心並進入我們的世界。 In Luke, John tells us, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming…” In Advent, we use water to clean and prepare our homes to welcome family and friends as we celebrate the coming of Christ together. May each act of washing, cleaning, and rinsing remind us of our baptisms and prepare our hearts once again to receive Christ into our homes, our hearts, and into our world. Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island has just reopened after an 18-month, £3m, restoration project to repair the castle from long-term water … Continue reading Advent Word 2018, Day 18 ‘Wash 洗淨’

#AdventWord #Ancestor #先人 向前看，帶著喜悅的心向前看。在充滿暴風的時代，在基督裡尋找你們生命之樹的根。永遠紮根於上帝永不止息愛的翠綠土壤中。汲取那些所有曾經並在這一刻滋養我們，並應允我們隨救贖而來所開展的恩典。 Look ahead, look ahead with joy. In the stormy winds of time, find your roots in Christ our tree of life; eternally held in the verdant soil of God’s unending Love, drawing in all that ever was, nurturing us in this moment, and promising the outstretched grace of our salvation. When Aidan established the first monastery on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in 635, he started with 12 young monks. These monks, and their successors, would go on to travel extensively throughout England preaching, teaching and setting up churches.  Most famous are St. Chad, St. Cedd, … Continue reading Advent Word 2018, Day 17 ‘Ancestor 先人’

#AdventWord #Sing #歌唱 當我們朝著管理人走去，我們帶著愉悅歌唱著。歌曲雖古老，由天上的主人歌頌著並由牧羊人重複唱著，當他們千里跋涉去會見基督孩兒。榮耀歸給至高神。喔，讓我們敬拜祂。歌曲乘載著歷年信徒的希望。那是期待與期望之歌，也是歡樂與驚喜之歌。有時候只要打開我們的心和口來歌頌，就可以回應這福音以及這節慶的喜悅。唱出聖誕歌曲的希望以及因愛而生的英勇事蹟的感恩，上帝自己的兒子所帶來的禮物。 As we move toward the manger, we sing with great gladness. The song is ancient, sung by the heavenly host and repeated by the shepherds as they traveled to see the Christ child. Glory to God in the highest. O come let us adore Him. The song carries the weight of the hope of believers through the ages. It is a song of expectation, of anticipation, of joy and wonder. Sometimes our only response to the good news and great joy of this season is to open our hearts and our lips and sing. Sing the … Continue reading Advent Word 2018, Day 16 ‘Sing 歌唱’

#AdventWord #Rejoice #喜樂 常常以神喜樂!我要再說—喜樂!甚麼?當國家在爭戰或瀕臨戰爭時，要喜樂?當天然災害毀壞家園，森林和都市時，要喜樂?當政治衍生懼怕和令人質疑的真實時，要喜樂?是的，要喜樂。當我們擁有生命，希望和愛時，要喜樂。當我們可以說話，投票，擁抱，原諒，微笑，抗議，和產生改變時，要喜樂。因為在神一切都是可能的，所以要喜樂。我們可以分享復臨節的訊息，所以要喜樂—愛就在路上。 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say–Rejoice! WHAT?????? Rejoice when nations are at war or on the brink of war? Rejoice when natural disasters destroy homes and forests and cities? Rejoice when politics breeds fear and truth is questioned? Yes–Rejoice! Rejoice that we have LIFE and HOPE and LOVE. Rejoice that we can speak and vote and embrace and forgive and protest and make change. Rejoice that with God all things are possible. Rejoice that we can share the message of Advent–Love is on the way! One of the amazing Holy Island sights to see … Continue reading Advent Word 2018, Day 15 ‘Rejoice 喜樂’

#AdventWord #Prepare #預備 在我還是個年幼的納瓦伙族印第安男孩長大的過程中，我還記得年長者跟我們談論人生的道路，我們該走的路以及我們必須預備自己的人生旅程。我們需要預備一個可以向右轉或向左轉的道路，儘管那條路可能很難走。但我們走的道路是上帝命定的旅程，有了上帝的幫助，我們可以為前方做好準備。因著復臨節的到來，我們被要求要讓道路變筆直，為上帝開闢道路，引導我們走人生的道路，這樣我們就可以認識基督。 As a young Navajo boy growing up, I remember the elders talking to us about following our road of life, our path, and how we must prepare ourselves for the journey. We need to prepare for a path that can veer to the left or right, and that even can be hard to walk. But the journey we are on is God’s journey and with God’s help, we are prepared for all that lies ahead. This Advent we are asked to make the path straight, to make a way for God to guide us down the … Continue reading Advent Word 2018, Day 14 ‘Prepare 預備’

#AdventWord #Prune #修剪 先知瑪拉基談到上帝的信差是一位「淨化」人的使者，就像是「煉金之人的火」或是「漂布之人的鹼」使他們成為「使上帝愉悅的」人。這位先知的目的在說明，上帝會用力擦淨並精煉人性，因為上帝的統治要造就他的再來。威廉．坦普談到上帝看起來似乎很嚴酷地希望要修剪那些不令人愉悅的，這一切都是因為「愛的緣故。」這份愛「不是濫情地給我們一切想要的；它是一種熱情的渴望要讓我們長成祂的樣子。」 The prophet Malachi speaks of God’s messenger as one who will “purify” the people, like “a refiner’s fire” or “fuller’s soap,” to make them “pleasing to the Lord.” The prophet’s point is that God has a lot of scrubbing and refining of human nature to do as God’s reign makes its advent. William Temple speaks of God’s seemingly harsh desire to prune away that which is not pleasing as done purely for “very love’s sake.” This love is “not a sentimental readiness to give us what we want; it is a passionate yearning to raise us … Continue reading Advent Word 2018, Day 13 ‘Prune 修剪’