Thursday, June 30, 2005
Keeping and Talking the Word 8
Hear these words from the book that we love…
Yesterday we sat outside on the lawn near the Seminary Pond, discussing Acts 8. Tim quickly stood up.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” As Tim spoke, I looked around at the pastors on sabbatical and saw their weariness. These are words that we all needed to hear, because we’re all looking for the kingdom of heaven.
We made our way to a few trees. “You are the light of the world,” Tim continued. Light is not meant to be hid under a lamp stand – in the thick of the brush – but on a lamp stand.
Leaving the trees, we walked down the path near the seminary, along the water. Tim held out his hand. “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off.”
We continued to walk in silence. Suddenly, Tim shoved Tim Blackman off the path. “If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” We saw the words of Jesus.
We continued to walk and neared Burton Street. As cars whizzed by, their drivers clearly saw that Tim was preaching. “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
In the irony of the moment, Tim continued to preach as we stood on the street corner. The light changed to red, and cars stopped just a few feet from where we stood. Because of the heat, many of them had their windows open and some of them were so close that their drivers suddenly became part of Jesus’ words. Tim took on a posture of prayer, raising his hands, looking toward the sky, and closing his eyes. As a dozen or so drivers watched and heard, Tim said, “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others.”
The light changed, the cars drove away, and we left the street corner for a more secret place. We walked to the parking lot and stood in front of a new luxury car, and Tim leaned against it. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.”
We walked in silence and I was closest to Tim. “Look!” he yelled, causing my heart to skip a beat. He pointed, and my eyes followed his finger. “Look at the birds of the air…” The birds flew away, and we continued walking.
Tim pointed at some flowers, and we were reminded that “even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.”
“Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!