“百夫长风闻耶稣的事，就托犹太人的几个长老去求耶稣来救他的仆人。” - 路 7:3

人与人之间的差异往往产生分歧：男与女、健全与残疾、富贵与贫穷、黑人与白人。在纳瓦伙族印第安人的文字中，陌生人和敌人是同一个字，我们要根据上文下理才能决定这个字具体是哪一个意思。跟与自己不同的人相交是复杂的，有时候甚至是困难的。

罗马百夫长知道犹太人不甚喜欢罗马人 － 而耶稣是一个犹太人，所以百夫长托犹太人的几个长老去找耶稣，看看衪肯不肯来医治他那病得快要死的仆人。长老告诉耶稣，百夫长是个好人，他做了很多帮助犹太人的事。我认为耶稣无论如何都会答应这个恳求的，衪的确同意去见这个罗马人。

不过，在耶稣到达之前，百夫长再带给他一个口信：“我知道你有权柄，所以，只要你说一句话，我的仆人就必好的。”耶稣真的这样做了！

在这个故事中，耶稣没有持任何偏见，衪起程要直接到这罗马人的家。跟着，当这罗马人表示，耶稣不必亲身到他家里也能医好他的仆人时，耶稣便如此做了。衪更赞赏和称许这人的信心！无论是犹太人或罗马人，信心就是信心，并无差别。

若要效法耶稣，我们就要爱我们的邻舍；即便大家有不同之处，并不重要。

（AM）

祷告

神的儿子耶稣，感谢袮，袮以良善的心肠来爱和帮助我们，我们感谢袮。求袮引导我们奉袮的名去爱和帮助他人。阿们。

路加福音 7:1-10

1耶稣对百姓讲完了这一切的话，就进了迦百农。
2有一个百夫长所宝贵的仆人害病快要死了。
3百夫长风闻耶稣的事，就托犹太人的几个长老去求耶稣来救他的仆人。
4他们到了耶稣那里，就切切地求他，说：“你给他行这事是他所配得的，
5因为他爱我们的百姓，给我们建造会堂。”
6耶稣就和他们同去。离那家不远，百夫长托几个朋友去见耶稣，对他说：“主啊，不要劳动，因你到我舍下，我不敢当，
7我也自以为不配去见你。只要你说一句话，我的仆人就必好了。
8因为我在人的权下，也有兵在我以下，对这个说‘去！’他就去，对那个说‘来！’他就来，对我的仆人说‘你做这事！’他就去做。”
9耶稣听见这话，就稀奇他，转身对跟随的众人说：“我告诉你们：这么大的信心，就是在以色列中我也没有遇见过！”
10那托来的人回到百夫长家里，看见仆人已经好了。

Loving Difference

“The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.” - Luke 7:3

Differences tend to divide: boys and girls, abled and disabled, rich and poor, black and white. In the Navajo language, the word for stranger is the same as for enemy, with the meaning depending on the context. Relating across differences can be tricky and sometimes difficult.

The Roman centurion knew that Jews didn’t like Romans much—and Jesus was a Jew. So that may have been why the centurion asked some Jewish elders to see if Jesus would come and heal his servant, who was sick and dying. The elders told Jesus that the centurion was a good man and had done helpful things for the Jews. Although I think Jesus would have said “Yes” anyway, he agreed to go and meet this Roman.

Before Jesus arrived, though, the centurion sent him another message: “I know you have authority, so all you have to do is say the word, and my servant will be healed.” And Jesus did!

In this story there is no hint of prejudice in Jesus. He headed directly to the Roman’s house. And then, when the Roman suggested that Jesus could simply heal his servant from a distance, Jesus did that. And he praised and honored the man’s faith! Jew or Roman, faith is faith.

To imitate Jesus is to love our neighbors; difference does not matter.

(AM)

Prayer

Jesus, Son of God, thank you for loving and helping us from the goodness of your heart. Help us to love and help others for your sake. Amen.