“我饿了,你们给我吃;我渴了,你们给我喝 …” – 太 25:35
在学院里当校牧的时候,我曾遇过很多饥饿的人。有些人饥饿是因为他们太忙以致没有时间去煑饭。我认识一位学生,她晚上做工,之后睡了几小时,便赶着去上早上九点的课,她后来便饿着肚子来到我们的跨宗教信仰中心。其他学生饿了是因为找不到工作;他们要选择交学费、交租金、还要买食物,但他们不能三者都兼顾。不少全时间学生要做两份甚至三份工作才能够应付各种开支,而有时还不足够。
今日的世界有接近10亿人面对严重的食物短缺,数以百万计的人面对饿死的可能性。饥饿有很多不同的原因——旱灾、战争、疾病、灾难、失业、精神疾病、成瘾等等。
有一天我们每一个人都要站在主面前,我们会听到耶稣说“我饿了,我渴了,你给我吃,给我喝”,或是听到祂说“我饿了,我渴了,但你甚么也没有给我”。我们每一个人都被呼召去用我们的恩赐和资源,无论大或小,去表达神的爱。
我们每个人都可以作出选择,我们会从耶稣的口中听到祂哪一个回应呢?
祷告
主耶稣,当我们遇到或看见有需要的人时,惟愿我们不会掉头而去,而是晓得你在邀请我们去表达爱和关心,和明白你在呼召我们去服事你。求你推动我们成为爱你和好施怜悯的人!阿们。
马太福音 25:31-46
31“当人子在他荣耀里同着众天使降临的时候,要坐在他荣耀的宝座上。
32万民都要聚集在他面前,他要把他们分别出来,好像牧羊的分别绵羊山羊一般:
33把绵羊安置在右边,山羊在左边。
34于是,王要向那右边的说:‘你们这蒙我父赐福的,可来承受那创世以来为你们所预备的国。
35因为我饿了,你们给我吃;渴了,你们给我喝;我做客旅,你们留我住;
36我赤身露体,你们给我穿;我病了,你们看顾我;我在监里,你们来看我。’
37义人就回答说:‘主啊,我们什么时候见你饿了给你吃,渴了给你喝?
38什么时候见你做客旅留你住,或是赤身露体给你穿?
39又什么时候见你病了或是在监里,来看你呢?’
40王要回答说:‘我实在告诉你们:这些事你们既做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上,就是做在我身上了。’
41王又要向那左边的说:‘你们这被咒诅的人,离开我,进入那为魔鬼和他的使者所预备的永火里去!
42因为我饿了,你们不给我吃;渴了,你们不给我喝;
43我做客旅,你们不留我住;我赤身露体,你们不给我穿;我病了,我在监里,你们不来看顾我。’
44他们也要回答说:‘主啊,我们什么时候见你饿了,或渴了,或做客旅,或赤身露体,或病了,或在监里,不伺候你呢?’
45王要回答说:‘我实在告诉你们:这些事你们既不做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上,就是不做在我身上了。’
46这些人要往永刑里去,那些义人要往永生里去。”
I was Hungry
“I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…. ” – Matthew 25:35
I meet a lot of hungry people at the college where I serve as a campus pastor. Some are hungry because they are too busy to cook and eat. I know a student who works the night shift, catches a couple of hours of sleep, and rushes off to her 9:00 a.m. class. She later arrives at our interfaith center and is hungry. Other students are hungry because they are unable to find a job. They face the choice of paying tuition and rent or buying food. They cannot afford to do all three. Many full-time students work two and even three jobs to pay their bills—and sometimes even that is not enough.
In the world today nearly a billion people suffer from severe food insecurity. Millions face the prospect of starving to death. The causes of hunger vary widely—drought, war, sickness, disaster, unemployment, mental illness, addictions, and more.
One day each of us will stand before the Lord, and we will hear Jesus say either “I was hungry and thirsty, and you gave me food and drink” or “I was hungry and thirsty, and you gave me nothing.” Each of us is also called to show God’s love through the gifts and resources we have—however large or small.
We all have a choice. Which of those responses will we hear from the mouth of Jesus?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, when we meet or see people who are in need, may we not turn away but recognize your invitation to show love and care, knowing that you are calling us to serve you. Move us to be people who love your mercy! Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳