降临节之三

盼望安慰者来到

——路加福音二章廿五节

   “前不见古人，后不见来者；念天地之悠悠，独怆然而涕下。”这是一种守望者的孤独，一种守望者的历史的孤独。一个民族的安慰者来到之前，守望者将始终不得安慰；守望者的得安慰，只能是在自己的民族得安慰之后。

各民族的历史，无一不是一部多灾多难而又辛酸的历史。而在历史的沉浮与崎岖之中，又无一不在仰望那一位将要来的基督。他不只是以色列百姓的荣耀，也是照亮外邦人的大光。他既是雅各家的安慰，也是地上万族的安慰。

主啊，何时？何时你将擦去人类一切的眼泪，使悲哀、哭号、疼痛永远成为过去？

Advent 3

Luke 2:25

Looking forward to the consolation

The words of the poem ring true:

“Cut off from our forebears and descendents, thinking of our long drawn-out days on this earth, alone and in sorrow, I burst into tears.”

This is the solitary life of the one who keeps watch, the historical loneliness of the watchman. Before the Comforter of a people arrives, those who keep watch can find no comfort or consolation. Consolation will be theirs only after their people are comforted.

The histories of the peoples of this world are histories of calamity, hardship, sadness and bitterness. Caught up in the ebb and flow of historical change, all peoples look for the coming of a Christ. Christ is not the glory of the people of Israel alone. Christ is also the great light of the gentiles. He is the Comforter of the house of Jacob, and of all nations.

When, O Lord, when will you wipe away our mortal tears? When will all sorrow, crying and pain be consigned to the past for all eternity?