Jesus came to bring us hope in the darkest of circumstances.

在我们最困苦无助时，耶稣带来盼望。

[The Lord bestows] on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning. Isaiah 61:3

[主耶和华]赐华冠与锡安悲哀的人，代替灰尘，喜乐油代替悲哀。-以赛亚书61章3节

By its very existence, a ministry center in Rwanda called the “Lighthouse” symbolizes redemption. It sits on land where during the genocide in 1994 the country’s president owned a grand home. This new structure, however, has been erected by Christians as a beacon of light and hope. Housed there is a Bible institute to raise up a new generation of Christian leaders, along with a hotel, restaurant, and other services for the community. Out of the ashes has come new life. Those who built the Lighthouse look to Jesus as their source of hope and redemption.

在卢旺达的一所事工中心，称为“灯塔”，象征着救赎。它所在的那片土地，正是1994年种族大屠杀期间卢旺达总统所住的官邸。如今，这座基督徒所建立的新建筑，已经成为盼望与光明的指标。设置在这里的圣经学校为的是培养新一代的基督徒领袖，在这里也设立了旅馆、餐厅，还有许多社区服务。这是从灰烬之中绽放出来的新生命。这些建立“灯塔”的人仰望耶稣，以基督为他们的盼望和救赎。

When Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath, He read from the book of Isaiah and announced that He was the Anointed One to proclaim the Lord’s favor (see Luke 4:14–21). He was the One who came to bind up the brokenhearted and offer redemption and forgiveness. In Jesus we see beauty coming from the ashes (Isa. 61:3).

耶稣在安息日进入拿撒勒的会堂，颂读以赛亚书，并且宣讲祂就是那位受膏者，要来报告上帝悦纳人的禧年（参阅路加福音4章14-21节） 。祂来是要抚慰心灵受创的人，并赐下救赎与饶恕。因着耶稣，我们可以在悲伤中得着喜乐，在绝望中得着盼望（以赛亚书61章3节）。

We find the atrocities of the Rwandan genocide, when intertribal fighting cost more than a half-million lives, mind-boggling and harrowing, and we hardly know what to say about them. And yet we know that the Lord can redeem the atrocities—either here on earth or in heaven. He who bestows the oil of joy instead of mourning gives us hope even in the midst of the darkest of situations.

我们知道卢旺达种族大屠杀，是国内不同种族部落相互厮杀，造成超过五十万人丧生。这骇人听闻的暴行令人十分痛心，也难以理解，让人实在无言以对。但我们知道，对于在这残暴恶行中的受害者，主基督都能医治安慰，无论是在今生或在天上。即便我们在最困顿无助的景况中，那位赐喜乐油代替悲哀的主，也能使我们有盼望。

Lord Jesus Christ, our hearts hurt

 when we hear about the pain and suffering 

that some endure. 

Have mercy, we pray.

主耶稣基督，

当我们听见人们所承受的伤痛与苦难，

我们也会心痛。我们求祢施恩怜悯。

Isaiah 61:1-6 New International Version (NIV)

The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
    that have been devastated for generations.
5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
    foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6 And you will be called priests of the Lord,
    you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
    and in their riches you will boast.

以赛亚书 61:1-6 Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

论受膏者之职任

61 “主耶和华的灵在我身上，因为耶和华用膏膏我，叫我传好信息给谦卑的人[a]，差遣我医好伤心的人，报告被掳的得释放、被囚的出监牢， 2 报告耶和华的恩年和我们神报仇的日子，安慰一切悲哀的人， 3 赐华冠于锡安悲哀的人代替灰尘，喜乐油代替悲哀，赞美衣代替忧伤之灵，使他们称为公义树，是耶和华所栽的，叫他得荣耀。”

信道者必获显荣

4 他们必修造已久的荒场，建立先前凄凉之处，重修历代荒凉之城。 5 那时外人必起来牧放你们的羊群，外邦人必做你们耕种田地的，修理葡萄园的。 6 你们倒要称为耶和华的祭司，人必称你们为我们神的仆役。你们必吃用列国的财物，因得他们的荣耀自夸。

整理：于姊妹