最美的国度
人们经常说，在享受生活中的美好事物时，他们是“有福的”：美丽的夕阳，与所爱之人共渡美好时光，一个舒适的居所，令人兴奋的旅行。但是当我们听到耶稣关于“有福 ”的教导时，我们看到的是另一幅画面。耶稣描述了一些似乎与有福相反的人。这其中包括那些崩溃的、挣扎的、甚至受迫害的人。耶稣怎么能说他们有福呢？
耶稣藉着祂的生命和教导，带给我们一个全新的世界。这是一种理解美好社群是什么样子的新方式。耶稣称这个美好的新社群为“神的国”或“天国”。在神的国度里，我们世上的典型优先事项（财富、骄傲、不惜一切代价赢得胜利）被颠覆了。
在神的国度里，耶稣说所有的人都是受欢迎的，而不仅仅是那些富有或受人景仰的人。在神的国度里，靠着神的恩典，一种充满怜悯与和平的美好生活是可能的。我们跟随耶稣，一开始可能会感到迷惘，因为祂的价值观不是世界的价值观。但颠覆一切的神国对我们和整个世界来说，都是个好消息，因为它是最美的国度。
耶稣，感谢你带来了神的国度。感谢你教我们认识了一个美丽的新世界，尽管它一开始对我们来说可能是颠倒的。阿们。
马太福音 5:1-12
1耶稣看见这许多的人，就上了山，既已坐下，门徒到他跟前来，
2他就开口教训他们，说：
3“虚心的人有福了！因为天国是他们的。
4哀恸的人有福了！因为他们必得安慰。
5温柔的人有福了！因为他们必承受地土。
6饥渴慕义的人有福了！因为他们必得饱足。
7怜恤人的人有福了！因为他们必蒙怜恤。
8清心的人有福了！因为他们必得见神。
9使人和睦的人有福了！因为他们必称为神的儿子。
10为义受逼迫的人有福了！因为天国是他们的。
11人若因我辱骂你们，逼迫你们，捏造各样坏话毁谤你们，你们就有福了。
12应当欢喜快乐，因为你们在天上的赏赐是大的。在你们以前的先知，人也是这样逼迫他们。
The Most Beautiful Kingdom Possible
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." - Matthew 5:3-5
People often say that they are "blessed" when they are enjoying good things in life: a beautiful sunset, time with their loved ones, a comfortable place to live, exciting travels. But when we hear what Jesus taught about being "blessed," we get a different picture. Jesus describes a number of people who seem to be the opposite of blessed. The list includes people who are broken down, struggling, or even persecuted. How could Jesus call them blessed?
Through his life and teaching, Jesus introduced a new kind of world. It was a new way of understanding what a beautiful community looks like. Jesus called this beautiful new community "the kingdom of God" or "the kingdom of heaven." And in God's kingdom, the typical priorities of our world (wealth, pride, winning at all costs) are turned upside down.
In God's kingdom, Jesus says all people are welcome, not just those who are rich or respectable. In God's kingdom, a beautiful life of mercy and peace is possible by God's grace. We may feel disoriented at first when we follow Jesus, because his values are not the values of the world. But the right-side-up kingdom of God is good news for us and for the whole world, because it is the most beautiful kingdom possible.
Jesus, thank you for bringing the kingdom of God. Thank you for teaching us about a beautiful new kind of world, even though it can seem upside down to us at first. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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