What makes a miracle? No longer a hotly debated issue, in the 19th century it became a major point of contention between the "orthodox Unitarians" and the emerging "transcendentalists." William Phillips Tilden reminds us that every miracle begins with "the helping hand." May the eyes of our souls be cleared and our hands and mouths be ready for the act of mercy and the word of kindness...BETHESDA (Scripture Reading)
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole ?
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
And immediately the man was made whole.
John v.
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BETHESDA (Tilden's Meditations)
BETHESDA (Tilden's Meditations)
"Who does not need the strength and the warmth of the clasp of a friendly hand to guide over the cold hard steps of discouragement into the angel-touched waters of healing mercy ? We are too often blind to the occasions for the helping hand on the instant need. If only the cataracts could be taken from the eyes of the soul to clear the vision! Every act of Love in the wide world repeats itself. Every kind word, like God's own word, of which it is an imperfect syllable, a stammering accent, always wakes an answer in some heart, and this again in another, so sending a ripple of helpfulness clear across the sea of human life. Love and Labor go hand in hand. Love needs Labor for expression, and Labor needs Love for inspiration. We are one body with many members: the eye for seeing; the ear for hearing ; the hands for working; the feet for running; all animated with the Christ spirit of healing Love. All hear his voice bidding crippled humanity. "Rise; . . and walk."
Blessings
3 comments:
Hi BU:
Tilden is quite a guy:
"Love and Labor go hand in hand. Love needs Labor for expression, and Labor needs Love for inspiration. We are one body with many members: the eye for seeing; the ear for hearing ; the hands for working; the feet for running; all animated with the Christ spirit of healing Love. All hear his voice bidding crippled humanity. "Rise; . . and walk."
The source of miracles is the love and labor we share with one another. Every now and then I am aware of being blessed by someone else's efforts and concern.
I seem to get this just about every time I visit Boston Unitarian.
There is something mystical about reading these passages. Thanks so much for providing them.
All the best,
David Markham
As I reflect on how often in my life I either needed or was invited to receive or give a helping hand (or a kind word) and did NOT, the more I believe that goodness is indeed a miracle -- a manifestation of God in our midst. That such an un-supernatural thing should be considered miraculous is in part sad (what a disappointment that we so often fail in basic kindness and help!) but as I get older and more acquainted with the terrible violence of the human creature, the more I stand with Brother Tilden.
Good sermon fodder, btw.
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