每個耶穌受難日,我都會重讀喬治·赫伯特的詩《祭物》("The Sacrifice")。在赫伯特的敘述中,基督通過63節詩句表達了自己的受難,每一行都充滿魅力和神學見解。這是一首對史上最偉大故事的精彩重述。
爲了模仿赫伯特描寫耶穌受難那樣寫聖誕的道成肉身,我根據《祭物》創作了《禮物》。它比《祭物》更短,並且也不是什麼傑作。但是正像其靈感來源一樣,它深植於道成肉身的神學啓示(神與我們同在)和令人心碎的美麗中(神與我們同在)。
在赫伯特作品的開頭,作者向道成肉身(「是我,凡有眼的都必尋見」)表達了敬意。在我的結尾詩節,我也同樣向耶穌的受難表達了敬意。把這兩句分開解讀是不恰當的。不過《祭物》強調的是耶穌對經歷悲痛的意願,而《禮物》則強調了祂的慷慨捨己。我寫的雖是一首現代詩,但我希望它是一首能幫助我們爲耶穌誕生的諸多榮耀獻上感恩的詩。神與我們同在!
The Gift
Come all ye burdened, lowly, and blind, Come, all who are lost, that is, all mankind, "To me, who took eyes that I might you find": Was ever a gift like mine?
Who else but the Author of life itself Would to descend from the heavenly shelf? Into this tale I have written myself: Was ever a gift like mine?
Of love and logos, of philosophy, The sages dreamt, though only hazily; But now, at last, can all be seen in Me: Was ever a gift like mine?
Becoming low, my humiliation Secures a more splendid transformation; The lowest I'll raise in exaltation: Was ever a gift like mine?
Oh Eve, who heeded what the serpent said, The shame for commencing sin's crimson thread Can end—Your seed has come to crush his head: Was ever a gift like mine?
From Eden did the angels Adam send, But now to his offspring they do commend Me, the new Adam who will the world mend: Was ever a gift like mine?
In Abraham all nations will be bless'd, But how? Accomplishing it is my quest; I come to dress them in my righteousness: Was ever a gift like mine?
An ancient stump sends up a royal shoot, A King to whom all kings will pay tribute; But greater is the prize that I』ll impute: Was ever a gift like mine?
From Bethlehem that King would come, 'twas said. But I'll be more, their only House of Bread, And give my body that all may be fed: Was ever a gift like mine?
Do not ignore my genealogies; Both sagas of human catastrophes Are my share in our trade of fam'ly trees: Was ever a gift like mine?
For I assume Joseph's ancestral shame, Attaching its failure to my good name, So my perfection all failures might claim: Was ever a gift like mine?
Zechariah spoke of coming Sunrise from God on high, to darkened souls supplies My light, that mortals I'll immortalize: Was ever a gift like mine?
Elizabeth carries within her womb One to straighten my way, a voice from whom Disciples will learn of the true Bridegroom: Was ever a gift like mine?
A manger contains my body from cold, The very one who does the cosmos hold; The glories of Christmas are manifold! Was ever a gift like mine?
Begotten not made, yet born of virgin, Still a stranger myst'ry I illumine: How sinners are made into God’s kinsmen: Was ever a gift like mine?
The Shepherds hear first, for to them I am Inaugurating my ovine program, In which the Chief Shepherd becomes a Lamb: Was ever a gift like mine?
Mary's heart is my childhood treasury, Alas, a sword will bring it injury; Fear not, I'll heal it in my Victory: Was ever a gift like mine?
Simeon finds that for which many sought, Open, his hands receive what can』t be bought; My grace is never earned but only caught: Was ever a gift like mine?
The Magi seek me via shining star, Meet a heavenly Son, brighter by far Than all other treasure, one without par: Was ever a gift like mine?
Herod from his throne rules my land with might, But finds in my infancy cause for fright; Why, since his sins I have come to make white? Was ever a gift like mine?
My parents to Egypt with me fly, So as Israel I identify, That their wanderings I might rectify: Was ever a gift like mine?
Not only thirty years I'll be a man, My flesh is permanent, so that I can Be Advocate for an eternal span: Was ever a gift like mine?
With sufferers I come to sympathize, To take their pain and with them agonize; In me their High Priest they』ll soon recognize: Was ever a gift like mine?
Is this not why I』ve come? I』m born to die As ransom for many, their souls I』ll buy, That all wretchedness I might beautify: Was ever a gift like mine?
The tree of life I made, for man’s good; The cross of death men made, not knowing I would, As a carpenter’s son, trade wood for wood: Was ever a gift like mine?
So, as angels sang celestial chorus, Immanuel will be the most joyous Carol men will ever sing: "God with us!" Never was a gift like mine. |
禮物
來吧,凡勞苦擔重擔、卑賤和瞎眼的, 來吧,凡失喪的,就是所有人類, 「是我,凡有眼的都必尋見」: 有何禮物像我?
除了生命的作者本身 還有誰會從高天降下? 進入我自己譜寫的故事中: 有何禮物像我?
聖人只在朦朧中夢見過; 所謂愛和真理,哲學 但如今,一切終將在我之中得見: 有何禮物像我?
降爲卑微, 我的屈辱成全了那更加壯麗的轉變 我必高舉最微小的: 有何禮物像我?
哦,聽信毒蛇之言的夏娃啊, 挑起罪惡猩紅之線的恥辱啊 將會結束——你的後裔要來擊碎他的頭: 有何禮物像我?
被天使從伊甸園驅逐的亞當, 如今他們聽命於他的後裔 我,來修正世界的新亞當: 有何禮物像我?
萬民因亞伯拉罕得福, 但如今?完成這福便是我的使命; 我來爲他們披戴義袍: 有何禮物像我?
古老的樹丕長出真枝條, 萬王所供奉的那王; 而我爲擔罪付上極重的代價: 有何禮物像我?
預言說,王將誕生於伯利恆。 而我不止作王,還要作他們的糧倉, 捨身餵養他們: 有何禮物像我?
不要輕忽我的宗譜; 一切人類大災難 是我爲家族替罪的分: 有何禮物像我?
我拿走約瑟先祖的恥辱, 使其過失與我的美名相連, 所有的失敗都因我完全: 有何禮物像我?
撒迦利亞傳講那將要來的晨光 從至高之神而來,給那黑暗中的靈魂 我的光,使凡人不朽: 有何禮物像我?
在伊利莎白的子宮裡 從那修直我路的呼喊聲中 門徒得以認識那真新郎: 有何禮物像我?
在寒冷中承載我身的馬槽, 托住宇宙的那一位; 彰顯聖誕的諸多榮耀! 有何禮物像我?
由童女生下,受生而非受造, 仍然是奇妙奧祕的啓示: 罪人何以稱爲神的家屬: 有何禮物像我?
牧羊人先聽到, 我向他們宣佈我的牧羊計劃, 就是爲首的牧羊人成爲羊羔: 有何禮物像我?
馬利亞的心是我兒時的至寶, 可嘆,一把劍會將它刺傷; 別怕,我的得勝將醫治它: 有何禮物像我?
西門找到了那眾人所尋的, 伸開,他的手收到了那無價之寶; 我的恩典從不能賺取只能領受: 有何禮物像我?
博士在閃亮之星的帶領下找到我, 尋到高天之子, 比其他寶藏更加在遠處熠熠生輝,無暇無疵: 有何禮物像我?
希律王在寶座上帶著權柄統治我的王國, 但卻在我的誕生中戰兢; 何必呢,我來是爲將他的罪孽塗抹變白, 有何禮物像我?
父母帶著我逃到埃及, 如同我民以色列, 我將結束他們的漂泊: 有何禮物像我?
我不止成爲肉身三十年, 我的身體是永恆的, 做那永遠的見證: 有何禮物像我?
我來憐憫苦難中的人, 拿走他們的痛苦和掙扎; 他們認出我是至高的大祭司: 有何禮物像我?
這難道不是我到來的理由嗎?我向死而生 做多人的贖價,買贖他們的靈魂, 重寫一切悲劇的結局: 有何禮物像我?
我爲人的益處而造的生命樹; 人所打造象徵死亡的十字架, 木匠之子,以木換木 有何禮物像我?
所以,當天使高唱頌歌, 以馬內利至高的喜樂 人們將永遠高歌:「神與我們同在!」 沒有禮物像我。 |
譯:小芝麻;校:JFX。原文刊載於福音聯盟英文網站:New Christmas Poem: 'The Gift'.