2020 12 04
作者 Article by: Margaret Loo
等待
自從新冠疫情今年初開始侵襲全球,疫情蔓延得既快且兇,現今安省在疫情一波又一波的打擊下, 我們處身的皮爾區,屬重災區,又再封關, 雖然大女兒一家住在我們的隔鄰, 也不可以進入我的房子,每星期一次的共同晚餐, 轉成ZOOM上舉行; 而在安省北部工作的小女兒, 聖誕節也不能回來探望我們。雖然防疫措施引起生活上諸多不便,但我們一家大小身體健康,要上班的可以上班, 要上課的可以上課, 已退休的可以繼續退休, 實在是要感恩的。在疫症的打擊下, 很多人面對各種極大的衝擊, 有失去工作的,有失去親人和朋友的, 有在前線工作得筋疲力倦的, 有染上疫病的心驚膽跳地自我隔離, 還有染上疫病並病入膏肓的,孤獨地在醫院面對死亡。很多人會都在問:『要等多久才能回復比較正常的生活呢?』.................大家都在等待。
等待,在這講求效率的現今社會, 是一件極不容易的事。最近查經班研讀使徒行傳,參考資料提及初期教會群體學習的第一課, 就是學習『等待』。作者路加在使徒行傳記載 , 耶穌升天前和使徒聚集的時候,囑咐他們不要離開耶路撒冷,要等候父的應許, 他們會在過了不多幾天, 在聖靈裏受洗。其實, 從使徒的角度,要遵守耶穌的吩咐, 是一件極不容易的事。耶穌將要離開他們,他們又不知道聖靈降臨的準確時間。但使徒親眼目睹耶穌十架上受死, 復活, 和復活後的顯現,這些刻骨铭心的經歷, 令他們確信耶穌是神子是主, 順從耶穌的指示,並在等候期間同心合意地恆切禱告。使徒等了十天, 聖靈就在五旬節那天,在耶路撒冷降臨。使徒都被聖靈充滿, 得著能力,彼得向當時在耶路撒冷城中從各地回去過節的猶太人和耶城的居民講道, 有三千人受洗。神的計劃, 神的時間,使徒的等待, 使徒的的同心禱告, 神的大使命藉聖靈透過使徒遂得以展開。讓我們向使徒學習,聽從主耶穌的吩咐, 學習等待。讓我們向使徒學習,學習在等候期間同心合意地恆切禱告。讓我們向使徒學習,確信耶穌是神子是主, 願意活在神的旨意和神的時間中。
(參考資料約翰司托德之聖經一年通及李思敬DVD教會群體學習的第一課)。
Waiting Margaret Loo
Since the Coronus virus pandemic began to invade the world at the beginning of this year, it has been spreading rapidly and fiercely. Ontario is now being hit by the second wave. The Peel Region where we are in is a hard-hit area and is now in its second lockdown. My older daughter and her family live next to us, but they are not to come into my house. We now have our weekly joint dinner on ZOOM. My younger daughter who works in northern Ontario will not be able to visit us this Christmas. Although the pandemic preventive measures have caused many inconveniences, I am grateful that each member of my family is staying healthy and safe. We can continue doing what we are supposed to do, such as going to work, going to school and continue retiring. Many people’s lives have been greatly impacted by the pandemic. Some have lost their jobs. Some have lost their family members or friends. Many frontline health care workers find themselves totally overwhelmed and exhausted. People who were diagnosed positive keep themselves in quarantine, anxiously hoping to get well soon. And those who are dying because of Covid have to do so in the hospital all by themselves. Many are asking the same question. “How long will it take for us to return to a more normal life?" ...................Everyone is waiting.
Waiting is not easy in this modern society where efficiency is the priority. Recently, the Bible study group began the study of Acts. One Bible scholar pointed out that the first lesson learned by the apostles of the early church was “waiting”. The author Luke recorded in the Book of Acts that when Jesus gathered with the apostles before ascending to heaven, he told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father's promise. They would be baptized in the Holy Spirit in not too many days. In fact, from the perspective of the apostles, it is not at all easy to obey Jesus' instructions. Jesus would be leaving them and they did not know the exact time when the Holy Spirit would come. However, the apostles had witnessed Jesus’ death on the cross, his resurrection, and his subsequent resurrection appearances. These unforgettable experiences convinced them that Jesus was the Son of God and their Lord. They obeyed Jesus' instructions, and prayed together while waiting. The apostle waited for ten days, and the Holy Spirit descended in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and received power. Peter preached to the residents of Jerusalem as well as the large crowd of Jews who returned to Jerusalem from various countries outside Judea to celebrate the Pentecost. Three thousand people were baptized. God's plan. God's time. The apostles’ waiting. The apostles’ prayer. God's Great Commission began to be carried out by the Holy Spirit through the apostles.
Let us learn from the apostles in following the instructions of Lord Jesus, and learn to wait.
Let us learn from the apostles to pray together while waiting.
Let us learn from the apostles, acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God and be willing to live according to God's will and in God's time.
(Reference: Through the Bible through the Year by John Stott DVD on the first lesson of the early church community by Dr. S K LEE).