【双语灵修】宏大叙事THE BIG STORY
提摩太前书 3:14-16
我指望快到你那里去，所以先将这些事写给你； 倘若我耽延日久，你也可以知道在神的家中当怎样行。这家就是永生神的教会，真理的柱石和根基。 大哉，敬虔的奥秘！无人不以为然，就是：神在肉身显现，被圣灵称义[a]，被天使看见，被传于外邦，被世人信服，被接在荣耀里。
12月23日
宏大叙事
「他显现在肉身……」 - 提摩太前书 3:16
圣诞佳节将至。对许多人而言，圣诞节是家庭团聚、交换礼物，和各种传统庆祝的特殊日子。在我们家庭中，我们期待这些时刻，也乐于向别人讲述我们庆祝这个节日的方式。
但我们真正庆祝的是甚么？要回答这个问题，我们或许会列举所有传统，却容易忽略赋予这个节日完整意义的伟大叙事。在今天的经文中，使徒保罗提醒提摩太，耶稣「显现在肉身」的事实，以及这事实如何塑造我们作为跟随者的言行。
基督教信仰的伟大真理，塑造我们庆祝与生活的核心，就是上帝之子为要拯救我们，成为与我们一样的人。圣诞节向世界宣告：神已临近，住在我们中间，要恢复我们归于他的荣耀。因此，无论我们的传统多么美好，神的作为才是庆祝这节日的更伟大的缘由。
今天的经文挑战我们牢记真正的庆祝核心。当我们向人讲述本周的传统活动时，更要切实分享庆祝的真谛：神在肉身显现，为要拯救我们。
祷告
荣耀的神啊，你的宏大叙事驱动着我们这个季节的庆典。即使我们遵循着世代相传的庆祝方式，也求你不要让这些形式掩盖了耶稣降世所彰显的恩光。阿们。
1 Timothy 3:14-16
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23
THE BIG STORY
He appeared in the flesh. . . . —1 Timothy 3:16
The Christmas holiday is nearly upon us. For many people Christmas is a special day filled with family gatherings, gift exchanges, and other holiday traditions. In my own family, we look forward to these times, and we enjoy telling others about all the ways we are celebrating this week.
But what are we really celebrating? To answer this question, we might point to all of our traditions, and it’s easy to overlook the big-picture story that provides the whole reason for this holiday. In today’s Bible passage, the apostle Paul reminds Timothy about Jesus’ appearance “in the flesh” and how this should shape our words and behavior as his followers.
The great truth of the Christian faith, the reality that shapes our celebration and our living, is that the Son of God has become human, just like us, so that he can save us. Christmas proclaims to the world that God has come near to live among us and restore us to his glory. So, as great as our traditions may be, the work of God provides an even greater reason for celebrating this holiday.
Our passage for today challenges us to remember what we actually celebrate. So as we tell people about the traditions we are enjoying this week, let’s be sure also to share about the true reason to celebrate: that God has appeared in the flesh for our salvation.
Glorious God, your great story is what drives our celebration this season. In the midst of our own traditions, may we never lose sight of your goodness to us through Jesus’ birth. Amen.