Time is capable of understanding how great Love is

When we humble ourselves we create a vacuum, which God can step into and fill, rather than trying to manage and control things on our own. Jesus said, "He who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). Waiting for God is the hard part.

We need faith to believe that God will take care of us when others don't. My mother’s favorite saying is that, “the animal that has no tail it is God who wipes off flies on its back.” Meaning, God is helper to the helpless. That's why we can't love without faith. All Jesus' commands assume that we will trust God "Give and it will be given to you" (Luke 6:38) requires us to stop trusting in our own resources and wait for God to provide once we've emptied our pockets.

We can't fake humility. It's so foreign to us that it takes the very energy of grace. When we take the low place, we see clearly. Pride doesn't even notice humility, because humility is so quiet. But down low, we see not only other people better, but also ourselves - and God - better. That's why the outcasts of society - children, women, foreigners, the poor and disabled - are attracted to Jesus. They see him clearly. They know they have nothing to put on the table; they are empty. Drawn by his grace and beauty, they cling to His love.

Jesus is drawn to people who are in the low place. He loves those at the bottom. Why? Because that's where he is. He said, "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29-30). His first bed was a feeding trough. He ate with prostitutes, sinners, and tax collectors. He talked with Samaritans. He touched lepers. Jesus' heart was humble.

We can feel safe in the low place because God lives there. God is there ahead of us, inviting us to come live with him, to taste His goodness. The closest thing to the feel of God is to humble ourselves, to be concerned not with position, but with people. Mother Teresa said, "The surest way to be one with God is to accept humiliation." When Jesus invited people to love, he invites them to the low place.

Once upon a time, there was an island where all feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all of the others including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all repaired their boats and left. Love was the only one who stayed.

Love wanted to persevere until the last possible moment. When the island was almost sinking, Love decided to ask for help. Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you."

Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel, "Vanity, please help me!" "I can't help you Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered. Sadness was close by so Love asked for help, "Sadness, let me Go with you." "Oh...Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!" Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her!

Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come Love, I will take you." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that he even forgot to ask the elder her name. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way.

Love realizing how much he owed the elder asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who helped me?" "It was Time," Knowledge answered. "Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?"

Knowledge smiled with deep Wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."

The author of this story is unknown but as I read it over and over again I realized how true it is. Many times in our lives we do not know what treasures we have in our life until time goes on. That is why I respect and appreciate and learn from people who have lived longer than I. They have seen the impact of time. Love does grow over time. This also happens in any human relationship.

Knowledge smiled with deep Wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is." This is high calling to all of us, to love even in little things.

Best wishes, your friend and pastor,
Pastor Samuel K King-Kabu.
Pastor@st-ansgars-montreal.ca

A few thoughts from your editor:

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8

Mornings are very special times for me. It is one of my times with God and His Word recharges my Spirit. This recharging has an important effect on my day. It is almost like my ‘connecting’ time with God. Much as we pick up the phone and dial a number to be connected with the voice of another person.

Somehow, it allows me to focus on all of creation and other people outside of myself. I am so quickly reminded I am not alone. I believe that the only way to know someone is to spend time with him or her. Spending time with God allows me to get to know Him and I love the time I spend with Him.

Time is a precious gift and teaches us much. It has taught me to trust over and over again.

The Meaning of Lent

From an Anglo-Saxon word, lencten, meaning, "spring," the time of the lengthening of the days. Lent is one of the six seasons of the church year and is the forty-day period beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on Holy Saturday (the day before Easter). The period is actually 46 days, but since Sundays are feast days, they are never included in the count. Lent is intended to be a period of preparation and penitence marked by fasting, meditation and sobriety. Lent is widely associated with denial -- "giving something up for Lent." the period of fasting, sobriety and meditation following Ash Wednesday; in the past Lent was widely associated with denial or "giving something up for Lent.": The season recalls the period of Christ's fasting and meditation in the wilderness, so traditionally is for a period of forty days.

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival Carnival, which is Latin for farewell to meat.

In most churches, the decorations are purple or blue, royal colors to prepare for the King.

The Editor

Some Great Facts of Life

The Editor: (Source Unknown)

Web Page prepared by:
Roger Kenner & Jette Blair.
Content-New Topics Last Updated: 2005/02/01
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal