2015年12月5日
聖誕節的真諦 What Christmas Is All About
读经: 路加福音2章8-14節
Reading: Luke 2: 8-14
在伯利恆之野地裡有牧羊的人，夜間按著更次看守羊群。-路加福音2章8節
There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night - Luke 2:8
全年读经: 但以理書1-2章;約翰一書4章
Bible in a Year: Daniel 1–2; 1 John 4
五十年前，電視劇集《查理·布朗的聖誕節》在美國首播。電視台裡有些管理人員覺得這部卡通劇可能收視率不佳，一些人還擔心在節目中引用聖經，會使部分觀眾反感。有些人希望作者查爾斯·舒爾茨（Charles Schulz）省略其中有關聖誕節的經文，然而舒爾茨卻堅持保留這部分。結果，這部卡通劇一舉成名，而且自1965年來，每年都會重播。
劇中，查理·布朗當上了學校聖誕話劇的導演。他因聖誕節變得商業化而感到洩氣，他希望有人能告訴他聖誕節的真諦。於是，奈勒斯（Linus）背誦路加福音2章8-14節的經文，其中一段是這樣的：「『因今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是主基督。你們要看見一個嬰孩，包著布，臥在馬槽裡，那就是記號了。』忽然，有一大隊天兵同那天使讚美上帝說：『在至高之處榮耀歸與上帝！在地上平安歸與祂所喜悅的人！』」（11-14節）奈勒斯接著說：「查理，這就是聖誕節的真諦了。」
在這個佳節，無論我們心中充滿疑問或夢想，讓我們重新思考這個大家都熟悉的聖誕故事，看到上帝的大愛，如何藉著約瑟、馬利亞、嬰孩耶穌及宣告救主降生的天使表明出來，這就是聖誕節的真諦。
天父啊，在聖誕節將臨之際，
願我們對祢所賜下的美好禮物，有更深的認識。
上帝來到世人當中，為要賜給我們救恩！
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Fifty years ago A Charlie Brown Christmas was first broadcast on American television. Some network executives thought it would be ignored, while others worried that quoting the Bible would offend viewers. Some wanted its creator, Charles Schulz, to omit the Christmas story, but Schulz insisted it stay in. The program was an immediate success and has been rebroadcast every year since 1965.
When Charlie Brown, the frustrated director of the children's Christmas play, is discouraged by the commercial spirit of the holiday season, he asks if anyone can tell him the real meaning of Christmas. Linus recites Luke 2:8-14 including the words, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (vv. 11-14 kjv). Then Linus says, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
During this season filled with our own doubts and dreams, it's good to ponder afresh God's great love expressed in the familiar story of Joseph, Mary, the baby Jesus, and the angels who announced the Savior's birth.
That's what Christmas is all about.
Father in heaven, as we approach Christmas, may we grasp in a deeper way Your amazing gift to us.
God broke into human history to offer us the gift of salvation!