becoming

聖誕節將近，再看福音書內關於耶穌降生的經文。記起年前曾將 Kenneth Bailey 在 Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes 一書內相關的討論作了撮要。重貼於下：

1. The Story of Jesus’ Birth: Luke 2:1-20
2. The Genealogy and Joseph the Just: Matthew 1:1-21
3. The Savior, the Wise Men and the Vision of Isaiah: Matthew 2:1-12; Isaiah 60:1-7
4. Herod’s Atrocities, Simeon and Anna: Matthew 2:13-18; Luke 2:22-36

One of my favorite Christmas hymns — In the bleak midwinter:

Yes, just what are you going to give to this new born King?

—-

In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him: give my heart.

在寒冷嚴冬裏，凜風如怨訴，
大地堅如鐵鑄，凝冰像石鋪；
雪花紛紜雪上雪，蓋地又蔽天，
在寒冷嚴冬裏，遠遠在當年。

蒼天何能容祂，大地更卑微，
當祂降世統治，天地都迴避；
在寒冷的嚴冬裏，馬槽棲身地，
反容道成肉身，基督主上帝。

天使與眾天軍，排列在上方，
基路伯撒拉弗，環立在身旁；
惟有主貞潔母親，喜樂滿胸襟，
她用慈祥輕吻，來崇拜聖嬰。

像我如此貧乏，無物可獻上，
我若是個牧人，我願獻小羊；
我若是東方博士，本分我當盡，
但我所能獻呈，祇有我的心。

A poetic re-telling of the nativity story… with the unpleasant bits left in.

On December 25, Christians around the world will gather to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Joyful carols, special liturgies, brightly wrapped gifts, festive foods—these all characterize the feast today, at least in the northern hemisphere. But just how did the Christmas festival originate? How did December 25 come to be associated with Jesus’ birthday?

Read it all on BAR.

聖誕的靜與動

哥林多後書8:7-9

為甚麼我們唱那首叫Silent Night（平安夜）的詩歌？是因為那天晚上有個肥DutDut、白雪雪的啤啤出世？是因為那個小寶寶睡得很甜，所以不要把祂驚醒，不要把祂帶回這冰冷無 情的人間？不！Silent Night，這晚之所以沉默是因為我們作為人的底牌被揭了出來：我們的無能為力叫我們閉口不敢再說三道四、指指點點；神的出手使我們在驚訝的木訥中，期待 著祂將要做的又會是甚麼…

…然而一班人像做戲一樣以喜樂愧贈和感恩收納來慶祝聖誕是很有問題的。縱然這樣的一班人已經比其他人好得多—因為他們有愛的表現在他們當中，但面對 一個經濟失衡、貧富懸殊的世界，一個群體，特別是被神所拯救的人，只停留向內望，實在是一種罪邪。禮物不可能因群體內成員的喜悅而只停留在群體裡面互相傳 送，它也必需接觸到群體以外有需要的人。

講道錄音：

[audio:sermons/2corinthians/2Corinthians_8_7-9.mp3]

———————
延伸閱讀：

1. 這篇講章實在是我在2003年平安夜信息的一個延續，有興趣請到這裡。
2. 過去我曾提過很多的Miroslav Volf，他寫的Free of Charge: Giving and Forgiving in a Culture Stripped of Grace，帶給我很多啟發。
3. 關於Malibu長老教會的故事。

What Is This Word? by Bishop Tom Wright of Durham 

The day of Christmas,
we celeberate His son —
the Logos made flesh,
and born of a woman.

Christians gathered,
remembering His Grace.
We had no future,
’til He took our place.

No need to dream,
the battle has won.
But eating ice-cream?
Pourquoi, Anson?

今天，三位弟兄姊妹接受浸禮，另外八位弟兄姊妹（包括我和思詩）轉會。

快樂日，快樂日，救主洗淨我的罪孽！
心裡清潔極大歡喜，這日永遠不能忘記；
快樂日，快樂日，救主洗淨我的罪孽！