我能愛到痛嗎？（若15:9-11）
天父是無形無像，見不到的。為了拯救我們，祂生了一個有血有肉，有形可見的耶穌基督。神學家稱耶穌基督為「原始聖事」，因為祂符合「聖事」的定義，即「有形可見的標記，賦予無形的恩寵」。而且祂是「元始和終末」（默1:17），所以稱祂為「原始聖事」是合適的。運用現代的資訊科技術語，主耶穌基督是天父與世人之間的「介面」，祂好像一位傳譯員，使雙方可以進行溝通。又有如傳教士，在陌生的地方，把得救的福音，介紹給當地的土著！傳教士冒著生命危險前往蠻荒的地方傳福音，正是本著主耶穌基督的殉道精神，把生死置諸度外。殉道是愛的終極，為對方的益處而犧牲自己的生命，「再沒有比這更偉大的愛情了」（若15:13）。
另一方面，現代人注重民主人權，對「命令」懷有抗拒感。所以當耶穌說：「如果你們遵守我的命令，便存在我的愛內」（15:10），讓部份人聽來很刺耳。他們不免會問，服從命令還有愛的餘地嗎？
其實執行「命令」是為了完成一件工作。如果是沒有「位格」的死物如電腦、或者是動物如馬戲班的獅子老虎，它們執行命令時，的確是談不上「愛」。可是人類是不一樣的，因為人類有「位格」；即使是絕對服從命令的士兵，也可以是出於「愛國」而執行命令，遵守命令絕對沒有貶低他們對國家的愛。更何況耶穌的命令，即『我給你們一條新命令：你們該彼此相愛』（13:34），根本就是愛的命令。那麼，有甚麼比遵守耶穌愛的命令，更能保證我們存在耶穌的愛內呢？
主啊！我知道自己力有不逮，沒有足夠的愛心去為祢殉道。請賜我聖神，加強我遵守祢命令的力量吧。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：asianews.it
Do I Love Until It Hurts? (John 15:9-11)
The Father is invisible. To save us, He begets a visible Jesus Christ in flesh and blood. Theologians call Jesus Christ the “Primordial Sacrament” because He fits the definition of Sacraments, namely, a visible sign to bestow invisible grace. Moreover, He is “the first and the last” (Revelation 1:17). Thus it is appropriate to call Him the “Primordial Sacrament”. In the modern jargon of Information Technology, Lord Jesus Christ is the “Interface” between the Father and humanity. Like an interpreter, He enables communication between both parties. He is also like missionaries in an alien land proclaiming the gospel of salvation to the aborigines. Missionaries risk their lives to evangelize are actually following the spirit of martyrdom of Lord Jesus Christ. Martyrdom is the ultimate love. For the sake of the others, martyrs are willing to lay down their lives. “No one has greater life than this” (John 15:13).
On the other hand, modern people advocate democracy and human rights. They reject “commands”. So when Jesus says, “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love” (15:10), it will definitely offend some people. They would retort that obeying commands has no room for love!
Executing a command is to accomplish a task. For agents which are not persons, such as computers or animals, executing commands has nothing to do with love. But human beings are different because they are persons. Even for soldiers who obey orders absolutely without questioning, their obedience can be motivated by patriotism. Obeying orders does not degrade their love towards their country. Let alone Jesus’ commandment, “I give you a new commandment: love one another” (13:34) is a commandment of love. Then what more can guarantee our remaining in His love than obeying His commandment of love?
Jesus obeys the will of the Father (Mark 14:36), was obedient to death even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). Thus, the Son of God remains in the love of the Father (John 15:10). My friends, are you able to obey Jesus’ order?
Lord! I know that I’m not capable to love you till martyrdom. Grant me the Holy Spirit to strengthen me to obey Your commandment. Amen.
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