无论那一天,任何人都可以进入我们教会的大门,找人聊聊天和享用一杯香醇的咖啡的,人们也经常能够在这里享用一碗热汤。
通常天天都有人到来聊天的,我们称彼此的交谈为 “以神为题的交谈。”("God conversations")大家聊天时,大多数不是以谈论神开始的,然而过了一回儿,通常是在半途中,话题便改变了。大家会提到生活上的挣扎或对神的信心,交谈就变得深入了。有些人透露他们不确定他们是否相信神,也有人说他们正在尝试明白别人相信什么。
当耶稣来到不同的地方时,我猜想很多时衪也或许会感动人们这样交谈的。我喜欢听衪用故事来表达要点,衪提供的不单单是简短的答案,我们同时也受到挑战,去想清楚故事的内容。那些要求耶稣解答问题的人,也不是常常都能明白祂所说的,然而,耶稣必定会给他们一些问题供他们去思想的。
今天这个故事特别教导我们,应如何一视同仁地关顾别人和细心想想谁是我们的邻舍。或许今天是一个好的时机,去与你的邻舍开始进行 “以神为题的交谈,”看看有什么结果。
亲爱的神,我们为能引导我们思想祢的交谈感谢祢。求祢帮助我们善用祢的故事,来帮助我们更明白真理,好叫我们能按祢呼召我们的旨意过生活。阿们。
路加福音 10:25-37
25 有一个律法师起来试探耶稣,说:“夫子,我该做什么才可以承受永生?”
26 耶稣对他说:“律法上写的是什么?你念的是怎样呢?”
27 他回答说:“你要尽心、尽性、尽力、尽意爱主你的神,又要爱邻舍如同自己。”
28 耶稣说:“你回答的是。你这样行,就必得永生。”
29 那人要显明自己有理,就对耶稣说:“谁是我的邻舍呢?”
30 耶稣回答说:“有一个人从耶路撒冷下耶利哥去,落在强盗手中。他们剥去他的衣裳,把他打个半死,就丢下他走了。
31 偶然有一个祭司从这条路下来,看见他,就从那边过去了。
32 又有一个利未人来到这地方,看见他,也照样从那边过去了。
33 唯有一个撒马利亚人行路来到那里,看见他,就动了慈心,
34 上前用油和酒倒在他的伤处,包裹好了,扶他骑上自己的牲口,带到店里去照应他。
35 第二天拿出二钱银子来,交给店主说:‘你且照应他,此外所费用的,我回来必还你。’
36 你想,这三个人哪一个是落在强盗手中的邻舍呢?”
37 他说:“是怜悯他的。”耶稣说:“你去照样行吧。”
"But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, 'And who is my neighbor?'" — Luke 10:29
Every day at our church anyone can walk in the door and enjoy good conversation and an equally good cup of coffee. It is also not unusual for someone to enjoy a hot bowl of soup.
There is usually a gathering of people on any given day, so we call the conversations that happen “God conversations.” Many of these conversations do not start off with talking about God, but then, usually partway through, the conversation changes. Something about struggles in life or belief in God comes up, and the conversation goes deeper. Some people share that they aren’t sure if they believe in God, and others say they are trying to figure out what other people believe.
I think maybe Jesus inspired those same kinds of conversations in many of the places where he went. I love that he told stories to illustrate his points rather than just giving a quick answer. This challenges us to think through his stories too. The people asking Jesus for answers didn’t always understand, but Jesus always gave them something to think about.
Today’s story in particular teaches us how to care for others equally and to think carefully about who our neighbor is. Perhaps this is a good day to begin a “God conversation” with your neighbor and see where it goes.
Dear God, thank you for conversations that lead us to thinking about you. Teach us to use your stories to help us gain understanding so that we will live our lives the way you call us to. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳