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Fr. Bartlett W. Gage copyright Hounds of Heaven Publishing
Here are some observations from my heart for you on your pilgrimage of faith in the real world. They are the comments of one who has walked the trails of intensive graduate scholarship (ll years), entrepenurial business (20 years), and pastoral ministry (13 years). These reflections are meant to ease the way for those of you of a questioning nature. I hope they will be helpful. If not, then join Ben (my Black Lab) and me on a stroll through imagination's fields and have a good time. Fr. Gage
Matthew. 5:13-20 "A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I'll be a sunbeam for Jesus! A sunbeam, a sunbeam, I'll be a sunbeam for Him." When I was a little boy, we were taught in church school to sing "A sunbeam for Jesus." Every year the children would line up and sing their hearts out. Parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and teachers loved it. It was silly, but it was also wonderful. As is often the case, in a children's story or children's song, there can be a profound truth. Whether you and I like it or not, we bear the image of God and we reflect His divine nature. Sometimes we do it well and sometimes we do it poorly. The writers of the Old Testament understood this. The prophets speak of The Word, and the authors of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes speak of Wisdom. Hence the rational sense of man reflects the nature of God, as does man's moral sense reflect the righteousness and justice of God. Moreover, because of God's special relationship to the Hebrews, they are a witness to the nature and will of their creator-redeemer God. The people are to be a light to the nations. King David is seen as a light to the world, as is Jerusalem. The Law, meaning the Pentateuch as well as the Ten Commandments, is also seen as a light to the world. The religious Jew is to reflect that light. Jesus, whose life and death underscores God's redemptive love, moves the whole conversation up a notch. He tells His followers, "You are the light of the world." And again, ". . . let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matt. 5:13-20) Last year I was called to a nursing home to see a 93-year-old woman who was dying. Among other things she had congenital heart failure. The nurse warned me that she was having difficulty talking and I might not be able to understand her. I greeted the woman, read Rite I from The Book of Common Prayer, and gave her communion. She looked at me and said clear as day, "It is so wonderful to hear those beautiful old prayers." And then she said, "How good it is for me to open my eyes and to see your lovely smile." Those were the last words I heard her say. But she lit up my life. She made my day. From her death bed she brought tears of gratitude to my eyes. She not only witnessed to God's redemptive love, she gave me the gift of a memory which I shall always carry with me. You are the light of the world. Be a sunbeam for Jesus? Why not? Amen.
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