我永远不会忘记，我与学生们在美国亚利桑拿州峡谷的那次远足。那里的小径既陡峭又狭窄，其中一个学生害怕她会失足，但她仍然希望能走完全程。于是，在整个旅程中，她都紧紧抓住我的背包后面，来保持稳定的脚步和安全。我从来没有那么留意我的脚步，因为除了我自己以外，另一个人的安危也会受到影响的。
读这段经文时，我便想起那次远足了。令人在危险的路上跌倒是残忍的，而令人在他们的信心上跌倒是可悲的；耶稣认为这事事态严重，所以祂说，若有人使别人跌倒，倒不如把大磨石拴在这人的颈项上，让他溺亡。我带领学生已有很多年了，我一方面是很多学生的导师和榜样，但在另一方面，我肯定也曾经令一些学生跌倒过，这令我很难过。
作为跟从基督的人，我们的呼召是与那些像我们一样行走天路的人同行，我们扶持彼此的信心；当有人有疑问时，我们尽量陪伴他们；我们努力聆听别人的倾诉，又与别人一同欢笑。我们是并肩同行的。
耶稣提醒我们，当扶持别人，而不要令他们失足或跌倒；我们也应该留心生命中那些可能令我们失足的事物，趁早除掉它们，总胜过被它们绊倒。
父啊，求祢帮助我们，在信心之旅上互相扶持，又帮助我们，除去可能绊倒我们的事物。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。
马可福音 9:42-48
42 凡使这信我的一个小子跌倒的，倒不如把大磨石拴在这人的颈项上，扔在海里。
43 倘若你一只手叫你跌倒，就把它砍下来！
44 你缺了肢体进入永生，强如有两只手落到地狱，入那不灭的火里去。
45 倘若你一只脚叫你跌倒，就把它砍下来！
46 你瘸腿进入永生，强如有两只脚被丢在地狱里。
47 倘若你一只眼叫你跌倒，就去掉它！你只有一只眼进入神的国，强如有两只眼被丢在地狱里。
48 在那里，虫是不死的，火是不灭的。
“If anyone causes . . . ” — Mark 9:42
I’ll never forget a hike we took with students in a canyon in Arizona. The path was steep and narrow. One of the students was scared of losing her footing but still wanted to make the hike. So for the entire time, she held onto the back of my backpack for stability and security. I’ve never watched my footing so carefully, because someone along with me was relying on it.
I think about that hike when I read this passage. Causing someone else to stumble on a treacherous path would be cruel. Causing someone else to stumble in their faith could be devastating. Jesus took it so seriously that he said it would be better to tie a giant rock around your neck and drown than to cause someone to stumble. I’ve worked with students for many years, and while I’ve been a mentor and role model to many, I’m sure I’ve caused some students to stumble as well. Those instances cause me pain.
Our calling as followers of Christ is to walk with others who are journeying the same way we are. We support each other in our faith. We strive to be there when questions are asked. We try to be a shoulder to cry on and a partner to laugh with. We journey together.
Jesus reminds us to be a support for others rather than causing them to stumble or fall. We must also watch out for the things in our life that can cause us to stumble. It’s better to get rid of them than to fall.
Father, help us to hold each other up in our journey of faith, and help us to rid ourselves of the things that cause us to stumble. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
