阅读经文 

一位牧师分享他对那个每个主日都听他讲道的教会群体的认识，他明白了，看人不能光看外表。

坐在第六行正在微笑的女士，上星期到医生那里检查身体，她担心检查结果会显示她患了癌症；坐在她后面那对目无表情的父子，在前往教会途中，一路都在争吵，直至当时那一刻两人仍在发怒；坐在后面的鳏夫，正在担忧那星期没有钱购买食物；那位坐在第三行、正在起劲地唱歌的女士，不再确定自己是否真的相信她在唱的歌词。

年轻时我以为世界上只有两种人：正常的和受创伤的——压伤的芦苇。后来，有一位导师告诉我，没有一个人是正常的。

教会是压伤的芦苇和将残的灯火组成的群体。教会里常常都有假装“事事妥当”的人，可是，没有一个人的生活是完全没有困难和挣扎的。

然而，作为仆人的耶稣赐给我们盼望，祂说：“在世上你们有苦难，但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。”（参约 16:33）

在教会里我最喜爱的时光，就是领受圣餐的时间，那时，我从人们的眼神看到他们期待耶稣再来的那一天，祂将要“擦去他们一切的眼泪，不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛……”（参启 21:4）主啊，愿祢快来！

A church pastor shared what he had learned about the community he preached to every Sunday. He had learned that appearances can be deceiving.

The smiling woman in the sixth row was terrified that the medical tests she had last week would show that she had cancer. The father and son sitting expressionless behind her had argued on the way to church, and both were still fuming. The elderly widower toward the back worried that he would not have money for food that week. A woman singing heartily in the third row was no longer sure she believed the words she was singing.

When I was younger, I thought the world had two kinds of people: normal ones and hurting ones—bruised reeds. Later a counselor taught me that there are no normal people.

Churches are communities of bruised reeds and smoldering wicks. Often there are folks in churches who pretend to “have it all together,” but no one’s life is free of trouble and struggle.

Yet Jesus, the Servant, gives us hope! “In this world you will have trouble,” he says, “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Some of my favorite times in church have been celebrations of communion, when I have seen in people’s eyes a longing for the day when Jesus will return and “wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. . . .” (Revelation 21:4). Lord, come quickly!