每逢星期一晚，我都会到敬老院探望一位年逾百岁的女士。她怀着期待的心情和令人温暖的微笑，欢迎我来到属于她的一半的房间，因为她和另一位住客同住。
她的头脑和记忆都很清晰，但她的听觉已渐衰退了。不过倘若我大声说话和咬字清楚一点，她还是听得懂我在说什么的。
她时常缅怀昔日的农耕生活和照料一个大家庭的岁月，我看到一个有信心的女子怀着不为人知的勇气。她认识主，爱耶稣，并且奉献自己来服事祂。
离开之前我会问，她希望我读哪一段圣经给她听，她总会将准备好的要求提出来。
令我感到困惑的是，有时她会请我为她读诗篇51篇，就是我们今天所读的经文。这篇诗篇是关于承认我们自己的罪孽深重、以及我们何等需要得蒙赦免。与她一起读这篇诗篇，令我感到有点不安。这位始终如一爱主的敬虔妇女，为什么要求我读这篇诗篇呢？
她的回答是：“因为我知道我的过犯。”对她来说，过犯是真实的，她不漠视罪；她的心灵为此忧伤 － 她的痛悔是神所喜悦的（17节）。神医治她忧伤的心灵，祂以赦罪的爱去爱她，祂完全医治她，而她也感受到神所赐的平安并爱神。
主啊，我们都是极需救主的罪人。感谢你把你的独生子耶稣赐给我们，好叫我们可以得蒙赦免。阿们。
诗篇 51
1神啊，求你按你的慈爱怜恤我，按你丰盛的慈悲涂抹我的过犯！
2求你将我的罪孽洗除净尽，并洁除我的罪！
3因为我知道我的过犯，我的罪常在我面前。
4我向你犯罪，唯独得罪了你，在你眼前行了这恶，以致你责备我的时候显为公义，判断我的时候显为清正。
5我是在罪孽里生的，在我母亲怀胎的时候就有了罪。
6你所喜爱的是内里诚实，你在我隐密处必使我得智慧。
7求你用牛膝草洁净我，我就干净；求你洗涤我，我就比雪更白。
8求你使我得听欢喜快乐的声音，使你所压伤的骨头可以踊跃。
9求你掩面不看我的罪，涂抹我一切的罪孽。
10神啊，求你为我造清洁的心，使我里面重新有正直的灵。
11不要丢弃我，使我离开你的面，不要从我收回你的圣灵。
12求你使我仍得救恩之乐，赐我乐意的灵扶持我。
13我就把你的道指教有过犯的人，罪人必归顺你。
14神啊，你是拯救我的神，求你救我脱离流人血的罪，我的舌头就高声歌唱你的公义。
15主啊，求你使我嘴唇张开，我的口便传扬赞美你的话。
16你本不喜爱祭物，若喜爱，我就献上，燔祭你也不喜悦。
17神所要的祭就是忧伤的灵，神啊，忧伤痛悔的心，你必不轻看。
18求你随你的美意善待锡安，建造耶路撒冷的城墙。
19那时，你必喜爱公义的祭和燔祭，并全牲的燔祭。那时，人必将公牛献在你坛上。
"I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me." - Psalm 51:3
On Monday nights I visited a woman in the nursing home who had already lived more than a century. With an expectant look and a heartwarming smile, she welcomed me to her half of the room she shared with another resident.
Her mind and memory were sharp, but her hearing was fading. When I spoke loudly and "e-nun-ci-at-ed" clearly, she could catch what I said.
Often as she reminisced about farm life and mothering a large family, I saw a woman of faith and quiet courage. She knew the Lord. She loved Jesus and had devoted herself to serve him.
Before leaving, I would ask her what Bible passage she wanted me to read. She was always ready with her request.
It puzzled me that occasionally she would ask me to read Psalm 51, today's Scripture reading. This psalm is about recognizing the deepness of our sin and how much we need to be forgiven. I felt a little uncomfortable reading this psalm with her. Why would this godly woman who loved the Lord so consistently ask me to read this psalm?
She would answer, "Because I know my transgressions." They were real to her. She didn't minimize sin. It broke her heart—with a repentance that pleases God (v. 17). And God healed her broken heart. He loved her with his forgiving love. He made her whole. She knew his peace and loved him.
Lord, we are sinners in need of a Savior. Thank you for giving us your only Son, Jesus, that we may be forgiven. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
