2020 11 27
作者 Article by: Wilson Loo
小天使氣沖沖的跑進來, 『不得了啦,不得了啦』。
笨驢氣定神閒的放下報章,『幹嗎,小天使?』
小天使上氣不接下氣,說,『新冠第二波疫情惡化,皮爾區跟多倫多首當其衝,省府兵來將擋,將重災區再封關啦 .. ..』。笨驢接下去,『定啲嚟,是預料中事矣。頌主堂經歷兩個月多的實體與在線崇拜雙線同時進行後, 為著教友的健康, 於十一月十五日已再次回復完全在線崇拜。怎麼你不知嗎?』
小天使收斂下來,說:『你以為我真的不知嗎?聞說第二波疫情似乎比第一波更兇險,蔓延更快,猶幸加拿大民眾也深明大義,盡力遵守防疫措施. 』小天使吸一口大氣,繼續說道,『猶幸這一回封關, 已看見黑暗盡頭之曙光,有三隻新冠疫苗已宣佈效果理想,很快面世,為很多生活在波浪洪濤的市民大眾,帶來切實的希望。期待不久的將來,回復比較正常的生活. 』
小天使抖擞精神, 一本正經的說, 『真的,身在福中不知福』,不是經歷多個月來的不正常的生活, 很難感受到正常生活的難能可貴!真要好好的『常常喜樂, 不住地禱告,凡事謝恩』啊!
『咦,你個小鬼,怎麼也說起教來了!願洗耳恭聽』
小天使難得有『粉絲』,當正自己站在講台,面向會眾,朗聲道,『當下教會一年將始, 將臨期將至,當我們準備自己,去迎接基督降生,及反思警醒, 盼望基督第二次再臨之際, 我們也當環顧周圍, 在此疫情肆虐之時, 很多弱勢社群,需要更多照顧,我們蒙神恩佑的,可否加一分力量, 去幫助我們周圍之中最小的一個呢?』
笨驢瀕瀕點頭,說,『你說得有理,就讓我等去預備預備。』
稍頓, 轉向小天使,曰 『小天使,你為我等預備四五十個聖誕禮物袋, 然後打電話給.. 』
小天使領命,飛跑去了。
Little Angel dashed in from outside. “Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness.”
Stubborn donkey gently put down his newspapers. “What is it, Little Angel?”
Little Angel caught his breath, “The second wave of Covid-19 pandemic is deteriorating quickly. Peel Region and Toronto are bearing the brunt. The provincial government has just announced a lockdown again...”
Stubborn Donkey continued, “Calm down, this is not unexpected. Well, the health and safety of parishioners is the highest priority at St. Elizabeth’s. After two months of worship services that are both in-person and online, St. E. has once again reverted to online services only. Aren’t you aware of this?
Little Angel quieted down, “You really think that I don’t know? I have heard that this second wave seems to be more severe than the first wave and is spreading more rapidly. Fortunately, most Canadians do understand the grave situation and they do follow as many pandemic precautions as possible.”
Little Angel took a big breath, and continued, “It is good that for this lockdown, we can at least see some light at the end of this dark tunnel. I understand that there are now three Covid-19 vaccines. They seem pretty promising and should be available for general use in the very near future. Hopefully, this will bring back a bit of normality in the lives of many people who are really hanging on by a thread.
Little angle paused, and said, “Indeed, when we are in the midst of an abundance of blessings, we usually do not recognize them. We really need to “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.”
“Wow, are you preaching now?”
Encouraged that he has a “fan”, little Angel began to act as if he was speaking to an entire congregation. “The church will start a new year soon, and Advent will arrive. We remember the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and wait watchfully for His second coming. While we prepare ourselves, we should really look around us, especially at this critical time of the pandemic. There must be many more vulnerable people that need our help. We who receive so much blessings from our good Lord, should we not render additional help and support to the least of those around us?
Stubborn Donkey nodded. “You are right. Let us prepare ourselves.”
He paused for a minute and turned to Little Angel. “Little Angel, can you go and get 40-50 Christmas gift bags for us, and then make some phone calls...”
Little Angel took the order and sped out.