It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it'.

　　这一年，世界确实经历了很多黑暗的时刻。不过约翰福音中有一段经常在圣诞颂歌里吟诵的关于“希望”的章节：“光明照进黑暗，黑暗永远不能战胜光明”。

　　One cause for thankfulness this summer was marking 70 years since the end of the Second World War. On VJ Day, we honored the remaining veterans of that terrible conflict in the Far East, as well as remembering the thousands who never returned.

　　今年夏天需要感恩的是二战结束70周年。在二战胜利纪念日，我们向那些曾在远东浴血奋战的幸存老兵致敬，同时缅怀那些战死沙场的将士。

　　【注】VJ Day = Victory over Japan Day，即二战日本投降纪念日。也就是每年的8月15日。

　　The procession from Horse Guards Parade to Westminster Abbey must have been one of the slowest ever, because so many people wanted to say 'thank you' to them.

　　从皇家骑兵卫队阅兵场到威斯敏斯特教堂的二战老兵队列走的很慢，因为太多的想跟跟他们说一声“谢谢”。

　　At the end of that war, the people of Oslo began sending an annual gift of a Christmas tree for Trafalgar Square. It has 500 light bulbs and is enjoyed not just by Christians but by people of all faiths, and of none. At the very top sits a bright star, to represent the Star of Bethlehem.

　　战争结束后，挪威首都奥斯陆的市民开始每年向英国的特拉法加广场寄送圣诞树作为圣诞礼物。树上挂有500个圣诞彩灯，照亮了所有人，即便不是基督徒，即便并不持有任何信仰。在树的最顶端有一颗很亮的星星，代表着“圣诞星”。

　　【注】圣诞星出自《马太福音》，Bethlehem位于耶路撒冷南方六英里处，是耶稣的诞生地。

　　The custom of topping a tree also goes back to Prince Albert's time. For his family's tree, he chose an angel, helping to remind us that the focus of the Christmas story is on one particular family.

　　在树的顶端放装饰物的习俗也源自我的曾曾祖父阿尔伯塔亲王时期。在装饰他自家圣诞树的时候，他选择了一只天使，来提醒我们圣诞故事的核心是那个特定的家庭。

　　【注】《路加福音》中有“天使报喜讯”的章节。天使说“不要惧怕!我报给你们大喜的信息，是关于万民的。因今天在大卫的城里，为你们生了救主，就是主基督。你们要看见一个婴孩，包着布，卧在马槽里，那就是记号了。”也就是女王接下来要提到的基督的降生。

　　For Joseph and Mary, the circumstances of Jesus's birth - in a stable - were far from ideal, but worse was to come as the family was forced to flee the country. It's no surprise that such a human story still captures our imagination and continues to inspire all of us who are Christians, the world over.

　　对于约瑟和玛丽亚来说，耶稣出生时的环境极其艰苦，因为他是在马厩里诞生的，但是更糟的是，这一家在后来要被迫背井离乡。这样一个人性化的故事至今仍然能让人们浮想联翩并启迪着全世界的基督徒们，一点儿都不意外。

　　【注】Mary是耶稣的生母，但是当她还是处女时受圣灵感应而怀孕诞下耶稣。Joseph是Mary的丈夫。

　　Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ's unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence but simply that we should love one another. Although it is not an easy message to follow, we shouldn't be discouraged; rather, it inspires us to try harder: to be thankful for the people who bring love and happiness into our own lives, and to look for ways of spreading that love to others, whenever and wherever we can.

　　尽管在耶稣短暂的一生中经历了背井离乡、流离失所、惨遭迫害，但他一直向我们传达着不变的信息，那信息里没有仇恨没有暴力，而是单纯的告诉人们要互相关爱。即使做到这一点很难，我们也不应该气馁。相反，它鼓舞我们要更加努力：感谢那些给我们带来爱和幸福的人，并且无论何时何地，我们都要想办法把这些爱传递给其他人。

　　One of the joys of living a long life is watching one's children, then grandchildren, then great grandchildren, help decorate the Christmas tree. And this year my family has a new member to join in the fun!

　　长寿的乐趣之一就是能够看到一代一代人来帮忙装饰圣诞树，刚开始是自己的孩子，后来是孙子辈一起，再后来重孙子辈也来帮忙。今年我家又喜迎另一位新成员，来一起享受这快乐的时光。

　　【注】2015年5月2日，凯特王妃和威廉王子的第二个孩子诞生。

　　The customary decorations have changed little in the years since that picture of Victoria and Albert's tree first appeared, although of course electric lights have replaced the candles.

　　尽管电灯泡已经替代了最初的蜡烛，人们今天习惯上用的圣诞树装饰物跟当时维多利亚女王和阿尔伯塔亲王所用的并没有太大差别。

　　There's an old saying that 'it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness'.

　　有句古话叫做：与其诅咒黑暗，不如点亮明烛。

　　There are millions of people lighting candles of hope in our world today. Christmas is a good time to be thankful for them, and for all that brings light to our lives.

　　现在有无数的人点亮了希望之光，圣诞节是一个向他们表达感恩之情的美好契机，我们要感谢那些照亮我们生命的人。

　　I wish you a very happy Christmas.

　　祝大家度过一个愉快的圣诞节。

　　教师简介：

　　朱博，新东方口语讲师，毕业于985院校大连理工大学，硕士保送一等奖学金。在校期间曾游学美国，任出版社英语出版中心校对四年，工作严谨，活泼开朗，让大家快乐的学习英语。

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（编辑：何莹莹）