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April 3rd, 2003
Received by H.R.
Cuenca, Ecuador.
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Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich people dropping
their gifts into the treasury [of the Temple], and he noticed
a poor widow drop in two coppers, and he commented, "I
assure you that this poor widow has put in more than all of
them, for they have all put in what they can easily spare, but
she in her poverty has given away her whole living." |
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Luke 21: 1-4
This is a story that has always been appealing to you. And it is
indeed fascinating to see the keen eye of Jesus picking out the
good at any time.
The teaching in this account is splendid, when you try to see not
only the obvious, but when you also feel the incentive to open up
your eyes and spot all the good that is surrounding you.
I am aware of the difficulty: Yes, it is not always so easy. At
a time when people spend much time in front of their TV sets and
have their senses flooded with images of war, crime, fraudulent
bankruptcies, etc., it is easy to stay aware of all the evil that
is plaguing the world, and it is easy to lose sight of all the good
that is still in existence.
Yesterday you saw in the news a report on the terrible landslide
in Bolivia, which buried hundreds of people under masses of rock
and mud. Once again, the images were terrible. Then the reporter
showed the actions of solidarity, the help Bolivians themselves
are sending to the families of the victims, and the help that is
coming from outside.
And you saw a short film snippet, a brief sequence of images, a
few seconds that you will never forget in your life:
An old market porter, the poorest amongst the poor, had also left
his contribution to help the victims. He had donated his old and
trodden-down shoes, so that they could be sent to the site of the
catastrophe. Then the old man went away, bowed down and drained
of energy — and barefoot.
This was a work of love, which some camera had only caught “by
chance.” How many more are there — every day, every minute,
every second — which TV watchers never get to notice.
War may fill the news with 24 hours of continuous information.
You may watch daily crime reports. But how little space and time
is given to tell of people’s goodness — a goodness that
still exists, strong and vigorous, and this goodness makes up “God’s
news.”
The world is not as bad as the media present it to be. Keep in
mind that the world today is better than it was during the times
of Jesus — although you may not believe this. There is no reason
for feeling down cast, scared, or horrified.
And I would like to tell you something more:
While it is possible that the old man’s deed was triggered
“only” by his natural love, yet look how beautiful it
was, how heroic and worthy of a human being! His example made your
day. It was a most powerful teaching. Perhaps you will understand
better now the value of example as a means for spreading Jesus’
message. And perhaps you will comprehend now also the value of natural
love, which God has given for the good of mankind.
I will stop now.
Your brother in Heaven,
Judas
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