【双语灵修】汇集成大光MULTIPLYING THE LIGHT

「『孩子啊！你要称为至高者的先知，……因我们神怜悯的心肠，叫清晨的日光从高天临到我们，』」-路 1:76-78

在路加福音第一章中，有许多重要的事引起我们的注意：加百列拜访撒迦利亚，然后又拜访马利亚；马利亚拜访伊利莎白，作尊主颂；还有约翰的命名，以及撒迦利亚结束了九个月的沉默。所有这些故事都在大声宣告：神的光即将照亮世界！

我们在撒迦利亚的歌中也看到了这一点。撒迦利亚欣喜地预言，他的儿子约翰将成为神的使者，为神的子民预备道路。约翰将呼吁人们悔改得宽恕，因为神会信守祂的承诺，使祂的子民从罪中得释放，称义跟随神。撒迦利亚之歌的最后几句将我们本月一直在思考的几个意象融合在一起：从高天升起的日光，照耀着坐在黑暗中死荫里的人，神的光指引着他们前行。神在宣告，祂即将成就祂的应许！

因此，从某种意义上说，圣灵将旧约中显明的神恩典的各个微光汇聚在一起。汇集到这里，它们的影响力就倍增了：神借着祂所拣选仆人所成就的救赎即将到来！我们被邀请与撒迦利亚一起欢喜快乐，他因看到这一天而喜乐满溢出来！

祷告

圣灵啊，求祢使我们像撒迦利亚一样被祢充满，让我们也能欢喜快乐地看到祢的应许，如何在耶稣基督的降生中得以成就。阿们。

路加福音 1:67-80
67 他父亲撒迦利亚被圣灵充满了，就预言说：68「主以色列的神是应当称颂的！因他眷顾他的百姓，为他们施行救赎，69在他仆人大卫家中，为我们兴起了拯救的角， 70正如主借着从创世以来圣先知的口所说的话，71拯救我们脱离仇敌和一切恨我们之人的手；72向我们列祖施怜悯、记念他的圣约， 73 就是他对我们祖宗亚伯拉罕所起的誓，74叫我们既从仇敌手中被救出来， 75就可以终身在他面前，坦然无惧地用圣洁、公义侍奉他。 76 孩子啊，你要称为至高者的先知，因为你要行在主的前面，预备他的道路，77叫他的百姓因罪得赦就知道救恩。 78因我们神怜悯的心肠，叫清晨的日光从高天临到我们， 79 要照亮坐在黑暗中死荫里的人，把我们的脚引到平安的路上。」80那孩子渐渐长大，心灵强健，住在旷野，直到他显明在以色列人面前的日子。

MULTIPLYING THE LIGHT

“‘You, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High . . . because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven.’” - Luke 1:76-78

In the first chapter of Luke many important things can attract our attention: Gabriel’s visits to Zechariah and then to Mary; Mary’s visit to Elizabeth and her song of justice; even the naming of John and the end of Zechariah’s nine-month silence. All of these stories proclaim loudly: God’s light is coming into the world!

We see this in Zechariah’s song as well. Zechariah joyfully prophesies that his son, John, will be God’s messenger, preparing the way for God’s people. John will call people to repentance and forgiveness as God keeps his promises to free his people from their sins so that they might follow God in righteousness. Several other images that we’ve been considering this month are brought together in the final lines of Zechariah’s song: the light of a rising sun from heaven, a light shining on people living in darkness and even in death’s shadow, and God’s light guiding them on their way. God is declaring that he is about to fulfill his promises!

In a sense, then, the Holy Spirit is bringing together all sorts of little lights of God’s grace that have been shared in the Old Testament. Gathered here, their impact is multiplied: God’s salvation through his chosen servant is coming! And we are invited to rejoice with Zechariah, whose joy overflows at seeing this day!

Prayer
Holy Spirit, fill us as you did Zechariah, that we too may rejoice in seeing how your promises are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ. Amen.

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳