在過去的60年裡，耶穌一直向中文堂的會眾問一個問題：「你們說我是誰？」而這個堂一直給出一個答案：「你是彌賽亞」。正如今天福音故事中所述，在這60年裡，我們為這三個問題找到了答案：我們在哪裡？我們是誰？我們應該如何生活？
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我們在哪裡？我們正走在去該撒利亞．腓立比的路上，這是一個以羅馬皇帝凱撒的名字命名的地方，凱撒有時被稱為「上帝的兒子」，是自稱的救世主、保護者和他人民的解救者，而腓立是這個地區的統治者，他是一個變節的猶太人，也是令人厭惡的羅馬人的傀儡。你會記得，腓立的妻子跟他的兄弟希律 安提帕一起了，這導致了施洗約翰的死亡，預示了耶穌的死亡。該撒利亞．腓立比是個宗教多樣性和政治敏感的地方，它的危險不亞於任何被佔領的國家，它的複雜程度如同倫敦。難怪耶穌告訴門徒不要告訴任何人。這是一個高度爭議的地區，位於以色列的聖地，是上帝故事的中心。它位於北部邊境，位於應許之地的邊緣。這就是我們的所在位置，作為特拉法加廣場的華人會眾：我們處於核心，也在邊緣。

中文堂既在邊緣，也在中心。它在中心，因為它位於倫敦這個全球城市的中心。中心，因為中國是21世紀的主導力量。然而，中文堂也處在邊緣。它接近處於中國地理和權力閾內的香港；在一個種族問題仍然存在的文化中，它是一個少數族裔的群體。它處於問題的核心，同時也在信仰的前沿：這就是該撒利亞腓立比，是人們發現耶穌真正身份的地方，並且已經如此60年了。

我們是誰？我們是像彼得那樣的人，像他對耶穌說「你是以色列等待了500年的受膏君王。你是上帝臨在於我們中間的實體。你是我們與上帝親密同行的體現。」這個聲明在今天變得更加宏大。彼得會說「猶太人」，我們會說「每個人」。彼得可能會說「人民」，我們會說「所有受造物」。彼得可能會說「世界」，我們會說「宇宙」。彼得說「你是彌賽亞」，我們會說「你是宇宙的中心，創造的目的，存在的意義，將人類與上帝永遠連接的紐帶」。像彼得一樣，我們是被聖靈啟發去講述關於上帝真理的人。像彼得一樣，我們也經常犯錯。我們知道傷害愛我們的人意味著什麼，也知道在遺忘中尋求只能在上帝那裡找到的寬恕的意味。但像彼得一樣，這不是我們的選擇，而是基督的委任。像彼得一樣，中文堂是被上帝啟發去講述耶穌真理的。

最後，我們應該如何生活？這是一個散居的社群。大部分中文堂的會眾都不是在英國出生的。這就是倫敦：有41%居住在倫敦的人是在英國之外的國家出生的。（順便說一下，我也是如此。）這也是教會：記住希伯來書中的話語：我們在這裡沒有永存的城市。中文堂中的大多數會友都知道放下自我，並在基督裡找到新的身份，在新的地方以新的方式和新的挑戰生活的含義。而這是福音中最難掌握的部分。跟隨耶穌意味著經歷耶穌所經歷的：那不是美味的小蛋糕和酥脆的糖果，而是逆境、敵意和暴力。我們被呼召去講述耶穌的真理，緊靠耶穌，活出耶穌的樣式。耶穌不是一種讓我們升到舒適生活的工具：耶穌是一種邀請，讓我們進入關係，找到真理。有時真理會讓人受傷，很深、很痛的傷。

這些是門徒們在去該撒利亞．腓立比的路上發現的事情。這些也是我們今天紀念這個群體60週年時所發現的事情。我們在哪裡？在中心，卻又在邊境：在核心，卻又在邊緣；在倫敦，卻又是華人；兩個象徵力量的詞語，卻讓我們感到無力。我們是誰？是一群被上帝啟發去講述耶穌真理的人。並不是靠著我們自己的力量，而是依靠聖靈的力量。我們應該如何生活？我們被呼召去講述耶穌的真理，緊靠耶穌，活出耶穌的樣式，正如中文堂這個群體，在過去60年裡忠實地做到的那樣。
這就是在該撒利．腓立比的意義，就是當被問「你們說我是誰？」時，回答「你是彌賽亞。」

For the last 60 years Jesus has asked this congregation one question: ‘Who do you say that I am?’ And this congregation has given one answer: ‘You are the Messiah’. And as in today’s gospel story, over these 60 years, we’ve discovered the answer to three questions: Where are we? Who are we? And, How are we to live?

Where are we? We’re on the road to Caesarea Philippi, named after the Roman Emperor, Caesar, sometimes known as the living Son of God, the self-styled saviour, protector and deliverer of his people, and Philip, ruler of the region, lapsed Jew and puppet of the hated Romans. You’ll recall Philip’s wife went off with his brother Herod Antipas, which led to the death of John the Baptist, which foreshadowed Jesus’ death. Caesarea Philippi’s a place of fervid religious diversity and political sensitivity. It’s as dangerous as any country under occupation. It’s as complex as London. No wonder Jesus tells the disciples not to tell anybody. This is highly contested territory. It’s in Israel, the Holy Land, at the centre of God’s story. It’s at the northern borderlands, on the edge of the Promised Land. That’s where we are, as the Chinese congregation in Trafalgar Square: At the heart. On the edge.

The Chinese congregation is both on the border and at the centre. It’s at the heart because it’s at the centre of London, a global city. And because China is the dominant power of the twenty-first century. Yet this congregation is also on the borderlands. It’s close to Hong Kong, on the threshold of Chinese geography and power; and it’s a minority community in a culture where race isn’t yesterday’s issue. At the heart of the issues, yet at the frontiers of faith: this is Caesarea Philippi, the kind of place where people discover who Jesus really is. And have done for 60 years.

Who are we? We are the people who, like Peter, say to Jesus, ‘You are the anointed king Israel has been awaiting for 500 years. You are the very presence of God among us. You are the one who embodies our intimate companionship with God.’ The claim is even bigger today. Where Peter would have said ‘Jews’, we’d say ‘everyone’. Where Peter might have said ‘people,’ we’d say ‘all creation’. Where Peter might have said ‘world,’ we’d say ‘universe’. Where Peter said, ‘You are the Messiah,’ we might say ‘You are the epicentre of the universe, the purpose of creation, the meaning of existence, the bond that joins humanity to God forever.’ Like Peter, we are people inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak the truth about God. Like Peter, we get a lot of things wrong. We know what it means to hurt and fail the people who love us, and to seek in our forgetting what can only be found in God’s forgiving. But like Peter, it’s not about our choosing, it’s about Christ’s commissioning. Like Peter, this congregation is inspired by God to speak the truth about Jesus.

Finally, How are we to live? This is a diaspora community. Not many of this congregation were born in the UK. Well that’s London: 41% of those who live in London were born outside the UK. (Including me, by the way.) And that’s the church: remember the words of Hebrews: here we have no abiding city. Most people in this congregation know what it means to leave self behind and find a new identity in Christ in a new place with new ways and new challenges. And this is the hardest part of the gospel to grasp. Following Jesus means experiencing what Jesus experienced: not cupcakes and crumbly candy bars, but adversity, hostility, and violence. We’re called to tell the truth about Jesus, stay close to Jesus, live the way Jesus lived. Jesus isn’t a device to elevate us to a cosy life: Jesus is an invitation to a relationship where we find the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts. A lot.

Those are the things the disciples discovered on the road to Caesarea Philippi. Those are the things we discover today, on this community’s 60th birthday. Where are we? In the centre, yet on the borderlands: at the heart, yet on the edge; in London, yet Chinese; two words that mean power – yet can make us feel powerless. Who are we? A people inspired by God to speak the truth about Jesus. Not in our own strength, but in the strength of the Holy Spirit. How are we to live? We’re called to tell the truth about Jesus, to stay close to Jesus, to live the way Jesus lived. As this community has faithfully done for 60 years.
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That’s what it means to be at Caesarea Philippi, to be asked, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ and to answer, ‘You are the Messiah.’
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