末世系列（四）臨難毋苟免 Embrace Persecutions Courageously

末世系列（四）臨難毋苟免（路21:34-36）

今天的經文雖然短，但默想起來卻相當曲折！
且看，既然「末日有如羅網，臨於全地面的一切居民」（路21:35）。那麼，末日應該是避無可避的了。為甚麼下一句卻說：「…為使你們能逃脫即將發生的這一切事」（21:36）呢？真的「能逃脫」嗎？這裡牽涉到一些翻譯的問題，我們需要查閱原文，纔能明白經文的意思。請各位讀者忍耐。

句中的『能καταξιόω』字，在路加的作品中，出現過三次，其餘兩次分別譯成「但那堪得來世，及堪當由…」（20:35）中的『堪得/堪當』和「…因為他們配為這名字受侮辱」（宗5:41）中的『配』。原來如此！

耶穌基督想告訴我們，世界末日是避無可避的。可是「那日子和那時刻，除父一個外，誰也不知道」（瑪24:36；谷13:32）。可以肯定地說，末日來臨之前必先發生十件事物。這些事物都是災難性的，有很多人會傷亡。不過那些『堪當/配』逃脫災難的基督徒，因為相信並聽從耶穌基督的教導，即「謹慎」（路21:34）和「時時醒寤祈禱」（21:36a），便可以逃脫這一切災難云云。

各位讀者，「謹慎」和「時時醒寤祈禱」都是我們基督徒的本份，並不是末日求生的秘技。基督徒出於對天主和對鄰人的愛，理論上是樂意隨時殉道，得以「立於人子之前」（21:36b）的，沒有逃脫災難的需要。耶穌基督是明白這個道理的，但出於慈悲和體諒，祂更願意照顧人性的軟弱，給信徒留下一條逃避災難的後路！
親愛的諸位，你們領情嗎？

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Eschatology IV: Embrace Persecutions Courageously (Luke 21:34-36)

The gospel text today is short but the meditation process is rather winding and twisting!
Read closely, “Like a trap, for that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth” (Luke 21:35). Then, that day is inevitable. Why does the gospel continue, “… you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent” (21:36). Can we really escape? I think there is a translation issue here. We need to check the original Greek in order to understand its meaning. Be patient with me.

The word “strength καταξιόω” appears three times in the Lukan corpus. The other two are, namely “but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age …” (20:35) is rendered “deemed worthy” and “… rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer …” (Acts 5:41) is rendered “found worthy”. That is it!

Jesus Christ tells us that the end of the world is inevitable. “But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36, Mark 13:32). There is only one certainty. Ten things shall happen before the Judgment Day. These things are catastrophic and many people shall die or suffer wounds. However, those Christians who are “found worthy” shall be able to escape the tribulations because they believe and follow Jesus’ teachings, i.e. “Beware and stay sober” (Luke 21:34) and “Be vigilant and pray” (21:36a) etc.

Dear readers, “staying sober” and “being vigilant and pray” are the basic duties of us Christians. They are not any “secret knowledge of doomsday survival”. Out of their love of God and neighbor, Christians are theoretically ready to suffer martyrdom to “stand before the Son of Man” (21:36b). Jesus Christ knows it well but out of mercy and loving care, He is more concerned with the frailty of human nature, thus giving the disciples a safety valve to escape tribulations!
Beloved brethren! Do you appreciate this?

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生命恩泉
Picture Credit: newsweek.com