Await each other!!

In rememberance of Mr. Tsui

主內平安 May the Peace of God be with you.

在服侍主的這30年來，來自上帝賜給我們的平安，對我而言，是最珍貴的禮物。上帝給我們的平安，比起世界所定義的平安，有更深一層的意義。有了上帝的平安，不代表我們的生活，順風如意。而是，在我們面對患難時，面對挑戰時，面對所有疾病和面對所有的感情傷害，我們擁有從新站起來的勇氣，踏出新的一步，都是有平安的。因為，我們清楚活著的意義和目的，我們也清楚我們不孤單，因為我們有上帝和一群愛上帝和愛彼此的基督徒。

I’ve been serving God for about 30 years. For me, I believe that PEACE is the most precious gift that we have received from God. Why? God’s peace has a much deeper meaning than how the world defines it. Having God’s peace in our lives doesn’t mean that we have a smooth journey. Rather, when we face suffering, challenges, illness, and broken relationships, we have the courage to stand up again. And every new step that we take towards future comes with God’s peace. Because we know that we are not alone. We have God and Christians surrounding us who love God and love each other.

手語: 轉變，換一個方向，讓一切，都安靜下來，放下一切煩心的事，

Sign language: Becoming silent and letting go of every distraction.

我只見過徐先生一次。那是 12 月 6 日上週三。當溫蒂牧師和我，得知在前一天他身體狀況的變化，我們決定去探望他。雖然那次探望的時間很短，但對我來說，是一個有主祝福的經驗。我感受到上帝的平安與我們同在。我相信這對他的妻子徐媽媽和他的女兒克莉絲汀來說也是一份有主祝福的禮物。那份禮物就是平安。

I met Mr. Tsui only once. It was last Wednesday, December 6. After Pr. Wendy and I learned that he wasn’t doing well the day before, we decided to visit him. Even though the visit was very short, it was a blessed experience to me. Because I knew that God’s peace was with us. I believe that it was also a blessed gift to Mrs. Tsui, his wife, and Christine, his daughter. That gift is God’s PEACE.

當我問我應該用英語還是中文祈禱時，我得知他已經聽不太清楚了，但中文就可以了。當我向他問安時，他微笑著，而且表達他的謝意，說：“謝謝。”然後，我向他解釋我們去探訪他的原因，他點點頭，再次用微笑，說，”好”。然後我們就開始祈禱。

When I asked if I should use English or Chinese to say the prayers, I was told that he couldn’t really hear much but Chinese would be fine. The moment I greeted him, he smiled and expressed his gratitude saying, “Thank you.” After I explained to him why we were there, he nodded his head saying “O.K.” and smiled again. Then we began to pray.

雖然知道他能聽到我的聲音，我仍然盡可能地大聲祈禱。我想確保，他要知道，他是屬於上帝的，上帝是深深地愛著他的，他的痛苦很快就會結束。我也想讓上帝知道，我們祈求，祂必須與我們同在，我們需要祂的憐憫。藉著恩典和我們對主的信賴，我們得到了神的應許。如今，徐先生躺在上帝的懷抱中，安息在一個有恩慈有愛的懷抱裡。上帝也對徐先生的家人，也就是你們，賜與憐憫，因為你們看著他受苦你們也不好過。

After knowing that he could hear me, I still prayed as loud as I could. I wanted to make sure that he knew that he belonged to God, that he was loved by God dearly, and that his agony would end soon. I also wanted God to know that we were begging for His presence and His mercy. By grace through faith, we received God's answer. Now, Mr. Tsui is resting peacefully in God’s merciful and loving arms. God has shown His compassion towards his family, you, who had been enduring the pain of watching him suffer.

還有 9 天，聖誕節就到了。這9天與我們生命中等待耶穌基督第二次降臨的其他日子，沒有什麼不同。但很特別的是，在聖誕節前夕，我們都會唱，平安夜。我們清楚，這個平安，是來自上帝的平安，因為上帝應許了我們，不論是在過去，現在，未來，祂一直都陪著我們等待與親人團聚的那一日。

Christmas will be here in 9 days. These 9 days are no different from every other day of our lives in terms of awaiting the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. But, what stands out on Christmas Eve is that we will sing Silent Night! And this silent night reminds us of the Peace from God. (The sign language) For we know that God has promised us that He was with us, is with us, and will be with us, while we await the time when we all will be reunited with our loved ones.

我很喜歡英語的 “等待wait” 和 “迎接等候 await” 這兩個詞之間的區別。我們知道wait「等待」這個詞不需要受詞 (我在等)。這是一種比較單方面的等待。然而await “迎接等候” 這個字需要一個受詞。這顯示耶穌是我們大家都在等待的人。而await “迎接等候” 這個字也意味著未來的某人或某事也正在 “迎接等候” 著我們。因此，我們的 “迎接等候” 不是單方面的期待，而是有彼此的承諾。

I appreciate the difference between the two words, wait and await in English. We know that the word, wait, doesn’t need an object. It’s more of a one-sided waiting. However, the word, await, needs an object. It signifies that Jesus is the person we all are awaiting. And this word, await, also means that someone or something in the future is awaiting us. Therefore, our awaiting is not a one-sided anticipation but a mutual commitment.

我們都在 “迎接等候” 著 神藉著耶穌基督的第二次降臨；同時，神也在 “迎接等候” 著我們，能一起生活在祂的國度裡。這個應許能實現，是因著，我們透過耶穌的十字架，獲得與上帝有堅固連結和已經修復的救贖關係，這使我們成為基督的身體。所以，在我們 “迎接等候” 和徐先生重聚的同時，徐先生也在 “迎接等候” 在座的每一位，愛他、想念他的人。

We are awaiting God through Jesus’ 2nd coming; at the same time, God is also awaiting us living in His Kingdom. The promise can be fulfilled because of this strong bonding and the restored relationship that we have received through the cross of Jesus. That makes us the body of Christ. So, as we await the reunion with Mr. Tsui, he is also awaiting every person here today who loves him and misses him.

今天，您們所選擇的所有經文，都表達了我們的“迎接等候”，《撒母耳記下》7:29、《詩篇》73:23-24 和《啟示錄》21:1-7。我們 “迎接等候” 神對徐先生一家的祝福將會完成。我們握著神的手，聽從神的引導，“迎接等候” 進入神的榮耀。我們 “迎接等候” 著 新天新地，那裡不再有死亡，不再有哀悼、哭泣和痛苦。我們 “迎接等候” 那位信實、仁慈的神。最重要的是，神也正在 “迎接等候” 我們每一個人。為此，我們感謝上帝，賜給徐先生的這一份禮物，有主的新生命。這也是上帝賜給我們每一個人的禮物。阿們。

All the scriptures you have chosen for today express so well our awaiting, 2 Samuel 7:29, Psalm 73:23-24, and Revelation 21:1-7. We await the completion of God’s blessing towards the household of Mr. Tsui. We await entering God’s glory while holding God’s hands and being guided by God’s counsel. We await the new heaven and earth where death will be no more, mourning and crying and pain will be no more. We await the kind of God who is faithful and merciful. And most important is that God is awaiting each of us. For this, we give thanks to God for the new life that Mr. Tsui has received. It’s the gift for you and me, too. Amen.