在我牧养的教会里，会友中有很多是非洲的难民：他们来自残暴内战中的塞拉利昂、利比里亚、衣索比亚／厄利垂亚、和苏丹。对他们来说，适应北美的文化和寒冷的天气，不是一件容易的事。然而，能够在加拿大得到新的机会，他们还是非常庆幸与感恩的。渐渐的，这些移民感受到教会是一个安全的地方，他们可以在那里倾诉自己的经历和故事。对，每一个难民都有他自己独特的故事。
然而，不论这些难民是来自乡村、小镇、还是城市，他们的故事都有一个共同点，那就是：他们都曾被人遗弃过。他们以为有人会带他们脱离困境，但反被这些人所弃绝。遗弃他们的人可能是邻居，可能是他们信赖的朋友，或是生意的合伙人，甚至教会的会友或家人。
圣殿的守卫来捉拿耶稣时，遗弃祂的竟是祂最亲密的门徒。门徒们在惊惶中匆匆逃走了，其中还有一人被兵丁捉住，因衣服被扯掉才得以脱身。最后，耶稣孤单一人面对前面的苦难。
你有没有经历过孤军奋战或被人遗弃呢？不要忘了，耶稣就在你的身旁，祂的同在能够帮助你填满空虚的心。
主啊，每当我们身边有人被遗弃时，求祢帮助我察觉到，又帮助我知道如何去填补那空虚的心。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
马可福音 14:44-52
44卖耶稣的人曾给他们一个暗号，说：“我与谁亲嘴，谁就是他。你们把他拿住，牢牢靠靠地带去。”"Then all the disciples deserted him and fled." — Matthew 26:56
In a congregation that I served as a pastor, our membership included a large number of immigrants from Africa: refugees from deadly civil wars in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ethiopia/Eritrea, and Sudan. Adjustment to North American culture (and winter temperatures) was not easy, but there was gratitude and relief for a new opportunity in Canada. Slowly but surely, the immigrants found the church community to be a safe place to share stories and testimonies of what they had endured. Each refugee story was different.
But there was a common element in every story, whether the refugee came from a rural village, a town, or a city: the experience of feeling abandoned, deserted by people whom they had assumed would be there for them if trouble came. Sometimes the abandonment was by a neighbor, or by one they thought was a friend, or by a small business partner, or a fellow worshiper, or even a family member.
When the temple guards came to seize Jesus, it was his closest followers who abandoned him, exiting quickly in a panic. One escaped only because his garment tore off as a soldier seized him. Jesus had to face the ordeal ahead of him alone.
Have you ever felt alone and abandoned? Please know that Jesus is there for you and can help to fill the emptiness with his presence.
Lord, help me to notice when someone feels abandoned. Then help me to know how best to be used by you to fill that void. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
