THE BLESSING OF SACRED THINGS
Essential Reading: Exodus 3: 1_17:
The story of“Moses and The Burning Bush”
TEXT: Matthew 7:6
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.
Dogs know nothing sacred!
Pigs do not know the value of pearls!
Humans, however are endowed with the unique capacity to experience Holiness and to recognise the imminent danger of careless and thoughtless actions. Those blessings distinguish humankind from all the rest of God’s creation. Yet, that dictum demands qualification. Not all people live by God’s ordinance! That doesn’t mean that their creation was somehow incomplete. Humankind is the most distinguishing accomplishment in God’s creative order. “Let us make humankind in our likeness” was the order heard in Heaven. Humankind is the completion of God’s most gracious gift. But humans’ nature is quite different from the original relationship with God. No longer is it to remain in a responsive relationship with God. Conclusions based on the visible, physical matter seemed more reasonable than anything invisible in a far-away Heaven; it became virtually impossible to produce simple trust and absolute surrender to a presence beyond the boundaries of the human habitat.
Consider the truth expressed in John Milton’s
epic poem, Paradise Lost. These are lines spoken by the character Satan:
“The mind is his own place, and in itself can
make a heaven of hell, and a hell of heaven”.(2)
“Father, forgive us, for we know not what we do.”
Truth remains indestructible! Faith, although appearing to some to be extinct, is but slumbering. God has not, nor will He ever abandon the Divine image of having humankind be His co-workers in building Heaven’s Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Herein lies the reality and the unspeakable blessing of Sacred things.
Consider the Old Testament record of one fellow pilgrim, named Moses. Here we meet Moses in humble service to his father-in-law, Jethro, as keeper of Jethro’s flock. Such work left precious little time to think of realities beyond the helpless flocks and the vicious prey ever near.
One morning at sunrise, Moses came face to face with an amazing spectacle! He saw what appeared to be a tree on fire, yet, remaining, unscathed by it! There must be an explanation for this strange phenomenon, Moses thought,as he searched his mind, filled with the worldly knowledge of all things.”I will solve this mystery once and for all. I will go see for myself.” But Worldly knowledge was entirely inferior to unsearchable Wisdom! It dissipated like fog in the early morning.”Moses” a voice echoed in the surrounding hills ,”remove your sandals off your feet, for the ground where you stand is Holy Ground!”
We learn that incrementally God was at work in Moses’ spirit in preparation for this catalytic encounter with the sacred. The ‘burning bush ‘ in and by itself is not Sacred. Moses, upon first sighting it, decided it was a physical thing that he could successfully analyse in the storehouse of worldly knowledge. Instead, the burning bush to Moses became a Sacred object chosen by God to convey to Moses God’s Holy Presence with him.. The event stirred a forgotten memory of a greater,more fulfilling life, dormant even now within Moses’ soul.
God often chooses familiar, ordinary objects to awaken from slumber the sacred power of the eternal that inhabits the soul of every person. The object may have meaning for no other person, but you. Never cast it aside as a thing without value. “Hush, I pray you, “What if that experience be God”? If there is a moment in your life when some event or encounter ushers you into the presence of unspeakable serenity and absolute surrender, the sacred has enriched your life, and you will know the ground where you stand is Holy. Many are the experiences of one awakened to the Presence of the Holy through encounters with ordinary or seemingly common objects.
Hear one such personal encounter from the annals of a younger clergyman, made wiser now through the Lasting influence of an encounter with a simple stimulus.
Rain, driven by a strong north-east wind, pounded the windows of a hospital room, I entered. I was there making another pastoral visit with a young parishioner. She was preparing herself for what doctors advised may be the last mile of her life’s journey. I entered the room where she was back on to me and appeared not to have been aware of my presence. She seemed to be travelling down a long lane of memory. The trees danced in fury, and the rain pelted the windows. I stood silently beside her. With her index finger she appeared to be tracing the path of the raindrops on the window pane. I was a little surprised when she turned and addressed me. “Rev. Frank, I’ve never done this before! What’s it like to die”? In trepidation, I searched my mind for pertinent memories on this subject from my seminary days, but I came up mute! And then that unforgettable moment!
Near the top of the window pane through which we were looking, there appeared a suspended raindrop considerably larger than the many others dotting the whole. “Look”, I said to my inquirer, “You asked me what it was like to die”. Let us watch what is happening right before our eyes! Notice now how that larger drop of rain near the top seems to be waiting. And at that precise moment it slowly begins it’s downward movement. Pretend you are that smaller drop right in its path. You are much tinier than it, and very soon, it embraces you, and together, you disappear from the window pane and become a vital part of that beautiful flower garden just below this window.
Does that remind you of what Jesus assured His disciples, who wondered like you:
“What is it like to die”?
” I am going to my Father’s house to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with me, that you also may be where I am.” NIV. John 14 2-3.
That day, we both were blessed as we stood together on Holy ground. God came to both of us anew through a simple yet sacred thing: a raindrop!
A Prayer To Follow This Meditation
Father,
You have created us and stamped us each one with Your signature to remind us that in the world in which we live we are forever Your’s by right of ownership through creation and redemption.
And God said, let us make humans in our image after our likeness.” Genesis 1: 26.
In our creation, You endowed us humans with the majestic gift of a SPIRIT that resembles Your’ own. Thereby, are we prepared not only to communicate with You, but to be Your co-creators, holding in our spirits all things in Your created order. inspired by Your power through Jesus Christ, Your Son, You trust us by holding all things in our spirits to build a promised new world! So, may it be, my Father. Amen.
Hymn: More Holiness Give Me
https://youtu.be/sLxv4v9OB3A?si=49r4yt_s0_eujgFI
Notes On The Above Text
The Scriptures quoted above are from The NIV Translation.
- From the epic poem of John Milton titled”Paradise Lost”
- Hymn “More Holiness Give Me” by Mormon Tabernacle Choir, by permission. You Tube.