派口罩 - 誰的恩寵？Face masks donation - Who’s grace?

一場疫症使許多人陷入絕境之中。儘管我們大多都添置了幾盒的口罩，仍有許多基層及長者無法購買一個面罩來保護自己免受感染。不少團體都舉辦了口罩捐贈，這不僅是讓有需要人士得以配備口罩，而是關愛他們的一種體現。

我很高興可以參與派口罩的善工。短短的兩小時讓我可以拜訪一些有需要的老人家，並向他們分發捐贈的口罩。服務期間，我腦海中浮現出一句話：“施予比領受更為有福”（宗20:35）。然而，「施予」其實也是一種領受！我們正正在接受施予的喜樂。能夠分享是多麼的幸福啊！社會裡有多少人連基本保護也沒有，然而，我們卻可以作「樂捐的人」（格後9：7），這意味著我們不僅足夠，還有餘有剩！而老人家的微笑，更為我們在這樣的一個沮喪時期充了電！

究竟誰是施予者？我不能分辨。但我們所有人都一同分享了偉大的愛情。

這就如耶穌架上七言中的一句，「我渴」（若19:28）。耶穌並不是真的要喝水，卻是連臨死的一刻都不忘我們，給我們一個機會去為祂服務，因為祂知道，在施予中才能讓我們分享我們所受的愛，祂要給我們這個機會讓我們即使再軟弱的時候，仍然可以透過施予，讓我們重拾愛德，並再次品嚐了這一份包含著犧牲的大愛。

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This pandemic has drawn many into despair. While most of us have equipped ourselves with boxes of face masks, there are many out there suffering and unable to even acquire one face mask to protect themselves from infection. Many ministries have organised face mask donation services, which is not a mere act of masks giving, but a share of care and love to those in need. 

I am grateful to be one of those joining the face mask giving service. It was not a long service, but I am glad to be able to visit some needy elderly and distributed donated face masks to them. During the encounter, the saying of “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) popped up in my mind. Yet, at that particular moment, “to give” is also an act of receiving! We are actually receiving the joy that we are able to share. Being able to share is such a bliss! How many were there out there without even adequate protections? And indeed, we are here being the cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7), meaning that not only we have adequate but also we have spare! And the smiles from the elderly in receiving the face masks have given us joy which has lightened our day in such a depressing period. 

Who is the giver? I could barely tell. But at least, I could say that we have all shared and tasted the great love. 

This recalls one of the Last Seven Words of Jesus on the cross, “I thirst." (Jn 19:28). He did not need to drink when He was approaching death. But Jesus let us offer Him a drink, because He knew we need it. We need the opportunity to offer, which is not for the glory of God but for us to manifest our love. When we receive love we want to share it, and by sharing it we multiply the gift of love. That is the reason why Jesus encourages us to go out to serve others. It is by sharing this sacrificing love redeems us all from our desperations.