接受教會的培育Accepting Nurturing from theChurch
[每日靈修] 1/29/2019, 駱鴻銘編譯
「聖母親教堂」（Holy mother church）——歷史學家不確定是誰先說的。一些人將這一說法歸給居普良（Cyprian），其他人則歸給奧古斯丁。自從基督教歷史的早期幾個世紀以來，這種說法一直流傳至今—— 「凡不把教會當作他母親的人，就是不把上帝當成他的父親。」從最早的日子開始，教會就被稱為「母親」。
在宗教裏使用父親和母親的措詞是一個有趣的現象。我們無法否認有這種虛擬的普遍傾向，就是想要藉著某種神聖的母性來尋求最終的安慰。我們都經歷過一種穿透人心的傷痛，伴隨著一個孩子的痛哭聲，他在啜泣中說道：「我要我媽媽。」當我們還小的時候，誰沒有說過這幾個字呢？作父母的人，哪個人沒有聽過這些話呢？
教會的培育功能最明顯是和她母親的形象連在一起的。在教會裏，我們得到靈糧，從施給我們的聖禮中獲得力量。通過聖道，我們得到安慰，破碎心靈的淚水被擦乾。當我們受傷時，我們去教會接受治療。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
花一些時間思考教會的培育功能。在你的教會團契中，這是否很明顯表現出來？
進一步研讀：
弗二19～21 這樣，你們不再作外人和客旅，是與聖徒同國，是神家裡的人了； 並且被建造在使徒和先知的根基上，有基督耶穌自己為房角石， 各（或作：全）房靠他聯絡得合式，漸漸成為主的聖殿。
來十24～25 又要彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善。你們不可停止聚會，好像那些停止慣了的人，倒要彼此勸勉，既知道那日子臨近，就更當如此。
太十八20 因為無論在那裡，有兩三個人奉我的名聚會，那裡就有我在他們中間。
Accepting Nurturing from the
Church
“Holy
mother church”—historians are not certain who first said it. The statement has
been attributed by some to Cyprian, by others to Augustine. The assertion has
survived since the early centuries of Christian history—“Who does not have the
church as his mother does not have God as his Father.” From its earliest days,
the church was given the appellation “mother.”
The
use of paternal and maternal language is an intriguing phenomenon in religion.
We cannot deny the virtual universal tendency to seek ultimate consolation in
some sort of divine maternity. We have all experienced the piercing poignancy
that attends the plaintiff cry of a child who, in the midst of sobs, says, “I
want my mommy.” Who of us, when we were children, did not utter these words?
Among those who are parents, which of us has not heard these words?
The
nurturing function of the church most clearly links it to the maternal image.
It is in the church that we are given our spiritual food. We gain strength from
the sacraments ministered to us. Through the Word we receive our consolation
and the tears of broken hearts are wiped clean. When we are wounded, we go to
the church for healing.
Coram
Deo
Spend
some time reflecting on the nurturing function of the church. Is this evident
in your church fellowship?
Passages
for Further Study
Ephesians
2:19-21
Hebrews
10:24-25
Matthew
18:20