【双语灵修】安息礼LAST RITES

6月 30 日

安息礼。

无论是死是生，是天使、是掌权的，都不能叫我们与神的爱隔绝，这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的。罗马书八章 38 ~ 39 节。

20 岁的达娜从威斯康星州来到芝加哥南城后，停用了处方药，转而用街头毒品自我麻痹，最终在我们的收容所暂住下来。可悲的是，他因过量服用芬太尼，孤独地死在废弃的建筑物里。每年，我们都会为那些没有正式葬礼或无亲属认领的逝者举行追思会，众会轮流上前分享逝者生命中神的恩典痕迹。这让我想起歌手杰森伊斯贝尔的歌词，已经无人记得我的名字，当无人呼唤这名字，它就会渐渐消散在风里。因此我们郑重念出这些逝者的名字，铭记我们都是蒙恩得救同被依琳所感的人。当念完所有名字后，我们同诵这段经文。世上没有任何事物，生或死，天使或恶魔能使我们在主基督耶稣里与神的爱隔绝。前排的泰莎怀抱着儿子，哈吉姆莱拉和布鲁克林坐在她身旁。当我宣告达娜为你基督曾降世，为你他曾受死，为你他战胜死亡。神的女儿达娜，你永远归属神的家时，布鲁克林睁大了双眼。亲爱的读者，为你，基督也曾降世受死并战胜死亡。你也属于神的家，让我们一起祷告。

主，感谢你在基督里那永不止息的爱，使我们被收养成为家人。阿门。

Romans 8:38-39

MONDAY, JUNE 30

LAST RITES

“Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38-39

Dana, 20, from Wisconsin, ended up on Chicago’s South Side after she stopped taking her prescribed medications. She began self-medicating with street drugs and eventually found shelter with us for a while. Tragically, Dana died alone in an abandoned building from a fentanyl overdose.

Each year we hold a service for people who couldn’t have a proper funeral or were unclaimed at death. Members approach the microphone, sharing memories of God's goodness in the lives of the departed. I’m reminded of a Jason Isbell lyric: “Hardly even know my name anymore/ When no one calls it out, it kind of vanishes away.” So, we say the names of these people, remembering we are saved by God’s grace and joined together by God’s Spirit.

After the names are spoken, we are reminded from Scripture that nothing in this world—neither death nor life nor anything else—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Near the front, Tyesha cradles her son Hakeem while Layla and Brooklyn sit beside her. Brooklyn’s eyes widen as I proclaim, “For you, Dana, Jesus Christ came into the world; for you, he died; for you, he conquered death. Dana, child of God, you are part of God’s family.”

For you, dear reader, Jesus Christ came into the world, died, and conquered death. You are part of God’s family.

Lord, thank you for making us part of your family, adopted in love forever in Jesus. Amen.