The Messiah Is Among Us!

The Messiah Is Among Us

Matthew 28:16-20

            I’ve come across a treasure trove of stories recently, many of which have got me thinking in new directions.  Over the next few weeks I’ll share some of them with you.  I do not know who wrote this story, so I can’t give credit, but I am grateful to the author.

            There was an ancient and famous monastery which had fallen on hard times.  Formerly its buildings had been filled with monks, and its large church had resounded with the sound of many voices. Now the monastery was nearly deserted.  A handful of faithful brothers shuffled through the cloisters, singing and praying with heavy hearts. 

            At the edge of the monastery woods an old rabbi had built a little hut.  He went there from time to time to pray and fast.  No one from the monastery ever spoke with him, but when he appeared the word would be passed:  “The rabbi walks in the woods.”  Whenever he was in residence the monks felt sustained by his prayerful presence.

            One day the abbot of the monastery decided to visit the rabbi and open his heart to him.  As he approached the hut, he saw the rabbi standing in the doorway with outstretched arms in welcome.  It was as though he had been waiting for this occasion.  They embraced as brothers.

            The rabbi gestured for the abbot to enter.  In the midst of the room was a plain wooden table with an open Bible.  As they sat in the presence of the Holy Scriptures, the rabbi began to cry.  The abbot could not contain himself and also began to cry.  They filled the hut with the sounds of their sobs.

            After the tears had ceased and all was quiet, the rabbi said, “You and your brothers are serving God with heavy hearts.  You have come to ask a teaching of me.  I will give you this teaching, but you can only repeat it once.  After that, no one must say it aloud again.”  The rabbi looked solemnly at the abbot and said, “The Messiah is among you.”  They embraced again, then the abbot left without a word and without looking back.

            The next morning the abbot called the other monks together and told them he had received a teaching from “the rabbi who walks in the woods.”  Once they heard it, the teaching was never to be spoken aloud again.  He looked in turn at each of his brothers and said, “The rabbi says the Messiah is among us.”  The monks were startled, but remained silent. They left the room and went about their daily business.  No one ever mentioned the teaching again.

            Almost immediately the monks began to treat each other with increased reverence.  Visitors to the monastery were deeply touched by their love for each other.  People came from far and wide to be nourished by the prayer life of the brothers.  Young men began asking about becoming part of their community.  The rabbi no longer walked in the woods, but the monks who had taken his teaching to heart were still sustained by a prayerful presence.

            How would our lives be different if we knew the Messiah was among us?  How would we behave at work?  At school?  How would our family life change?  Would we begin to treat our family members with the same reverence that the monks shared with each other?

            How would our churches change?  Would we worship differently?  How would committee meetings and board meetings be different?  Would our love for each other be so overwhelming that visitors would notice?  Would there be an end to the bickering that frequently divides us?  Would people want to join our fellowship?

            What would change if we knew the Messiah was among us? 

He is!