总喜欢把人归类
一般来说，我对人没有偏见，但有时我也会因着某人的政治立场，把他们归类为或偏左或偏右的——即使我并不认识他们。在开车的时候，每当那些摩托车车队、骑着印上火焰花样和挂着飞扬国旗的哈雷车，在路上隆隆作响，飞驰超过我的时候，我暗地里判定，“那类人”是怎样的人。或者，当我读了某些人对食物的奇特理论，或见到某些人骑昂贵的运动自行车和穿霓彩贴身衣服时，我也会把他们归类。我的结论是，我不屑结交这些人。
然而，有些人却会令你出乎意料之外。驻守迦百农的这位百夫长，并不符合犹太人眼中罗马人的类型，他爱他们的百姓，甚至给他们建造敬拜的地方，他深明事理，以仁慈的方法使用权力。由于他的仆人病了，他便到来求耶稣的医治，他相信耶稣有医病的能力，衪只要说一句话便行了。他的仆人果然康复了！
下次，当我们发觉自己把别人归类和蔑视他们时，我们要提醒自己，先花时间来接触和认识他们。当记着，耶稣吩咐我们要爱衪创造的每一个人。纵然他们真的属于某一种类型的人，我们也不要因此便不和他们交往。记着，耶稣爱我们每一个人，我们应当效法衪美好的榜样。
主啊，赦免我们的偏见和愚拙的恼怒，因这些往往使我们不去爱别人。求祢赐我们勇气，起来与别人交往。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
路加福音 7:1-10
1耶稣对百姓讲完了这一切的话，就进了迦百农。
2有一个百夫长所宝贵的仆人害病，快要死了。
3百夫长风闻耶稣的事，就托犹太人的几个长老去求耶稣来救他的仆人。
4他们到了耶稣那里，就切切地求他说：“你给他行这事是他所配得的；
5因为他爱我们的百姓，给我们建造会堂。”
6耶稣就和他们同去。离那家不远，百夫长托几个朋友去见耶稣，对他说：“主啊！不要劳动；因你到我舍下，我不敢当。
7我也自以为不配去见你，只要你说一句话，我的仆人就必好了。
8因为我在人的权下，也有兵在我以下，对这个说：‘去！’他就去；对那个说：‘来！’他就来；对我的仆人说：‘你做这事！’他就去做。”
9耶稣听见这话，就希奇他，转身对跟随的众人说：“我告诉你们，这么大的信心，就是在以色列中，我也没有遇见过。”
10那托来的人回到百夫长家里，看见仆人已经好了。
Stereotypes
"This man . . . loves our nation and has built our synagogue." - Luke 7:4-5
I'm usually open-minded, but there are times when I find myself stereotyping people to the left and right of me politically, even though I have never met them. When a motorcycle club thunders past me on the road, riding their flame-decaled Harley-Davidsons and flying the national flag, I think I know all about "that type." Or when I read of some people's exotic theories about food, or see people riding expensive bicycles for exercise and wearing neon, skintight clothes, I stereotype them too. I judge that I don't have to meet them.
But people have a way of surprising you. The Roman centurion stationed in Capernaum didn't fit the stereotype the Jews had of the Romans. He loved their nation and had even built a place of worship for them. He was an understanding man, wielding authority compassionately. His servant was sick, and he came to Jesus for healing, believing that Jesus had the power to heal by just saying the word. And the servant was healed!
Next time we find ourselves stereotyping and dismissing others, we should recognize that it's important to take the time to meet and get to know them. After all, Jesus commands us to love all his creatures. Even if they fit your stereotypes, don't let that keep you from relating to them. Remember, Jesus loves us all, and we are to follow his example.
Lord, forgive us our prejudices and stupid irritations that stand in the way of loving others. Give us the courage to step out and relate to everyone. In Jesus' name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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