Revd Canon Raymond Hayter
馬可福音 Mark 13:1-9
我們每天都被提醒，我們生活在一個充滿暴力和不完美的世界裏。我們面對無辜生命的無謂喪失，以及許多無助者所承受的不人道行為。我們目睹的悲痛和邪惡，可能使我們陷入絕望。我們能做甚麽？我們如何幫助他們？這一切可以如何結束？
耶穌的事工背景充滿著戰爭與對戰爭的恐懼。耶穌是在一個靠近羅馬帝國的邊境，被羅馬帝國佔領的國家裏成長。他説：「當你們聽見戰爭和戰爭的風聲（不是如果，而是當），不要驚慌；這些事是必須有的⋯⋯因為民要攻打民，國要攻打國⋯⋯這都是生產之難的起頭。」此外，他還警告會有地震和饑荒。有時我們難免懷疑自己是否正生活在這些末世景況之中。許多人在歷經過去年代的暴力和衝突時也曾有過類似的想法，但他們在基督的話語中找到了對世界的希望，並對上帝國度的降臨充滿盼望。
耶穌説，他不知道上帝何時會讓歷史結束：「但那日子，那時辰，沒有人知道，連天上的天使也不知道，子也不知道，惟有父知道。」如果戰爭的遺產是暫時的和平，我們應當心存感恩。但我們絕不能將和平視為理所當然。上週在國殤紀念主日崇拜中，我們回憶了戰爭中失喪生命的代價。在面對最近的人類歷史中發生的一切事情，我們需要「保持清醒」。對我們而言，保持清醒包括絕不把和平的祝福當作理所當然，並在我們擁有時間和機會時，竭盡全力促進和解。
耶穌説，我們不要因將來的戰爭、爭鬥和徵兆而驚慌。他向我們展示了人類的本質以及我們對彼此能夠做出的行為，同時也向我們展示了上帝的真實樣貌——通過基督的死與復活，向所有人提供寬恕、醫治和和平。耶穌強調，跟隨他的人未來不會是一帆風順的。他知道他們將面臨迫害和困難，有些人甚至會被自己的親人出賣。基督信仰並沒有承諾完美、繁榮和財富。然而，在他的生命和事工中，耶穌總是指向超越當下的一個和平、憐憫和公義的世界。他呼召他的追隨者繼續禱告，永不灰心，定睛仰望，盼望善能從惡中興起，和平能從戰爭中出現，光能戰勝我們有時目睹的黑暗。
耶穌的門徒相信上帝的好消息，即他的國度將降臨（我們每次念主禱文時都在祈求這一點）——這將在上帝的時間表裏實現。所以，本週你能做些甚麽來促進上帝的國度，並驅散黑暗呢？或許，可以刻意選擇謹慎用詞——播下和諧而非不和的種子。探望無法出門的鄰居，主動幫忙採購，可能會為他們的日子帶來光明。在這些微小的事情中，上帝的國度將慢慢降臨，幾乎悄無聲息，直到有一天基督再來。我們從希伯來書的經課中得知，要「堅守所宣認的指望，毫不動搖，因為應許我們的那位是信實的。我們要彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善；不可停止聚會，好像那些停止慣了的人，倒要彼此勸勉，既然知道那日子臨近，就更當如此。」阿們。
We are daily reminded that we live in a violent and imperfect world. We are faced with needless loss of innocent life and inhumanity inflicted on many helpless people. The sorrow and evil that we witness can cause us to despair. What can we do? How can we help? How will it all end?
The backdrop to Jesus’ ministry was war and fear of war. Jesus was brought up in an occupied country close to the frontier of the Roman Empire. ‘When (not if) you hear of wars and rumours of wars,’ he said, ‘do not be alarmed; this must take place… For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. …This is but the beginnings of birth pangs.’ Also, he warned of earthquakes and famine. It’s sometimes difficult not to wonder if we are living in these end times today. Many have thought much the same as they journeyed through the violence and conflicts of ages past, but have found in the words of Christ hope for the world, and hope for the coming of his kingdom.
Jesus said he didn’t know when God will bring history to a close: ‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’ If the legacy of war, for the time being, is peace, we should be grateful. But we should never take peace for granted. Last week in Remembrance Services we remembered the cost of war in lives laid down. In the light of all that has happened in recent human history, we need to ‘stay awake’. Staying awake for us includes never taking the blessings of peace for granted and doing all we can to build and strive for reconciliation while we have the time and opportunity.
Jesus said we are not to be alarmed by wars, battles and portents which are to come. He shows us what human beings really are and what we are capable of doing to each other, while also showing us who God truly is – offering forgiveness, healing and peace to all, through the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus emphasised that the future for those who followed him would not be easy. He knew they would face persecution and hardship, some would be betrayed even by their own family. This wasn’t a Christianity which promised perfection, prosperity and wealth. However, in his life and ministry Jesus was always pointing beyond the here and now to a world of peace, mercy and justice. He called his followers to keep on praying and never lose heart, to lift up our eyes and hope that goodness can arise from evil, peace can emerge from war and light will overcome the darkness we are sometimes witness to.
The disciple of Jesus believes the Good News about God, that his kingdom will come (which we pray for each time we say the Lord’s Prayer) – it will come in God’s time. So what might you do this week that will advance the kingdom of God and push back the darkness? Perhaps, by consciously choosing your words wisely – sowing harmony rather than discord. Visiting a neighbour who can’t get out of the house, offering to do some shopping, may bring light into the darkness of their day. In these small things the kingdom of God will come slowly and almost silently until that day Christ will come again. Our reading from Hebrews tells us to ‘hold fast to the confession of hope without wavering for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, all the more as you see the Day approaching.’ Amen.
