阅读经文 

每逢星期一晚，我都会到敬老院探望一位年逾百岁的女士。她怀着期待的心情和令人温暖的微笑，欢迎我来到属于她的一半的房间，因为她和另一位住客同住。

她的头脑和记忆都很清晰，但她的听觉已渐衰退了。不过倘若我大声说话和咬字清楚一点，她还是听得懂我在说什么的。

她时常缅怀昔日的农耕生活和照料一个大家庭的岁月，我看到一个有信心的女子怀着不为人知的勇气。她认识主，爱耶稣，并且奉献自己来服侍祂。

离开之前我会问，她希望我读哪一段圣经给她听，她总会将准备好的要求提出来。

令我感到困惑的是，有时她会请我为她读诗篇51篇，就是我们今天所读的经文。这篇诗篇是关于承认我们自己的罪孽深重，以及我们何等需要得蒙赦免。与她一起读这篇诗篇，令我感到有点不安。这位始终如一爱主的敬虔妇女，为什么要求我读这篇诗篇呢？

她的回答是：“因为我知道我的过犯。”对她来说，过犯是真实的，她不漠视罪。她的心灵为此忧伤——她的痛悔是神所喜悦的。（参诗 51:17）神医治她忧伤的心灵，祂以赦罪的爱去爱她，祂完全医治她，而她也感受到神所赐的平安并爱神。

On Monday nights I visited a woman in the nursing home who had already lived more than a century. With an expectant look and a heartwarming smile, she welcomed me to her half of the room she shared with another resident.

Her mind and memory were sharp, but her hearing was fading. When I spoke loudly and "e-nun-ci-at-ed" clearly, she could catch what I said.

Often as she reminisced about farm life and mothering a large family, I saw a woman of faith and quiet courage. She knew the Lord. She loved Jesus and had devoted herself to serve him.

Before leaving, I would ask her what Bible passage she wanted me to read. She was always ready with her request.

It puzzled me that occasionally she would ask me to read Psalm 51, today's Scripture reading. This psalm is about recognizing the deepness of our sin and how much we need to be forgiven. I felt a little uncomfortable reading this psalm with her. Why would this godly woman who loved the Lord so consistently ask me to read this psalm?

She would answer, "Because I know my transgressions." They were real to her. She didn't minimize sin. It broke her heart—with a repentance that pleases God (see Psalm 51:17). And God healed her broken heart. He loved her with his forgiving love. He made her whole. She knew his peace and loved him.