社群是… 挽回关系
在今天，人们喜欢把旧东西翻新或以创新的方式使用某些物件，有些电视节目、商店、和互联网站，都是特别为此而设的。在不用上班时，太太和我有时会去逛逛附近那个古董商场，看看那些古董，想像一下，若刷上一层新油漆、换些不同配件、挂在墙上时，它们会有什么新貌，多么有趣啊。有时我们也会回家按照其中一个方案去尝试，我们也会得到灵感去翻新或者用新的方式使用自己家中某些闲置的物件。
彼得曾三次否认他是一个跟随耶稣的人（参看约翰福音18章）。尽管他曾告诉耶稣，他会始终忠诚于他，但他却食言了，羞愧、愤怒、内疚、痛苦想必撕裂了彼得的心。耶稣知道他当时的感受，耶稣也知道他过去的为人和将来的结局如何。彼得不应该成为一个破碎和无用的人，于是耶稣挽回了彼得，衪除去彼得的羞愧和内疚，并且差派彼得成为神国的领袖。
我们都有来自各自的生活的疤痕和损伤 － 有些是我们疚由自取的。然而耶稣却不计较那些瑕疵，衪只是注目于神造我们原本是怎样的人。在社群生活中，我们也是这样彼此相待；我们不再计较过去的错误，我们彼此接纳神造我们原本是怎样的人。在社群生活中，大家都不断在重修彼此的关系。
父啊，感谢你挽回我们。求你帮助我们依从你的吩咐，也看待其他人同样是被你完全挽回的人。奉耶稣祈求，阿们。
约翰福音 21:15-17
15他们吃完了早饭，耶稣对西门彼得说：“约翰的儿子西门，你爱我比这些更深吗？”彼得说：“主啊，是的，你知道我爱你。”耶稣对他说：“你喂养我的小羊。”
16耶稣第二次又对他说：“约翰的儿子西门，你爱我吗？”彼得说：“主啊，是的，你知道我爱你。”耶稣说：“你牧养我的羊。”
17第三次对他说：“约翰的儿子西门，你爱我吗？”彼得因为耶稣第三次对他说“你爱我吗”，就忧愁，对耶稣说：“主啊，你是无所不知的，你知道我爱你。”耶稣说：“你喂养我的羊。
Community Is . . . Restoration
"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" - John 21:15
It is popular today to restore old things or repurpose items for a new use. Some TV shows, stores, and internet pages are dedicated to this idea. My wife and I walk through a nearby antique mall sometimes on my day off. It’s fun to look at all the old things and imagine what they would look like with a new coat of paint, a different set of accessories, or hanging on a wall. Every so often one of those projects comes home with us or inspires us to repurpose or restore something that we already have lying around the house.
Peter had denied being a follower of Jesus (see John 18). Even though he had told Jesus he would stick by him until the end, Peter didn’t. The shame, anger, guilt, and pain must have torn Peter up inside. Jesus knew that. But Jesus also knew who Peter was—and would be. The rusty and broken parts of Peter weren’t the person he would become. So Jesus restored Peter. He took away Peter’s shame and guilt and made Peter a leader in his kingdom.
We all have scratches and dents from our lives—some from our own doing. But Jesus sees through all that and focuses on the person we are created to be. In community we also do that for each other. We see past old mistakes, and we accept each other for the people we are created to be. In community, restoration happens all the time.
Father, thank you for restoring us. Help us see others as you would have us see them—fully restored. In Jesus, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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