Week 40—Sunday Matthew 7:3-5
Matthew 7:3-5
“WHAT IS THIS? VIEWING CHERRY BLOSSOMS
WEARING A LONG SWORD!”
We have been looking at the Universal being seen through the particular. We must now look at the Universal not being seen because there was no particular. We would call this the paralysis through the absence of the particular. Where there is no particular the Universal fades out.
Of a pastor it was said, “He preaches like an angel to get people converted, but he wouldn’t go across the street to bring a person to Christ.” His preaching proclaimed the Universal, but there was no particular, hence no Universal. The Word was the word become word and hence dead.
A Hindu was presiding over a Christian lecture. The lecturer said: “Before we go on let us settle certain things: First, there is one God.” They agreed. “Second, that one God is personal.” The Hindu chairman interjected: “If you agree to that you might as well go off and be baptized and come back.” He saw that if God is personal God would do as the Christians say: “Become Incarnate.” The Universal would become particular.
The Japanese newspapers carried this: “What is this? Viewing cherry blossoms wearing a long sword!” The viewing of cherry blossoms meant communing with beauty and the long sword meant fight. The universal had a contradictory particular, hence the universal was negated.
A man in the steel helmet of the Crusaders and the armor of a knight peddled lead pencils in an Italian street for forty years. With all that symbolism of bravery and crusaders’ zeal peddling lead pencils! Many preachers clad in gorgeous robes are peddling lead pencils—bits of poetry and clever quips.
The Turks with their leisurely ways were impressed with the American slogan, “Do it now.” So they decided to adopt it and thus they put it out: “Do it now, if you have the time.” The “Do it now” was the universal but “if you have the time” canceled it out. The Universal had no particular.
O Jesus Lord, save us from canceling qualifications. May we give and give with no strings attached. Help me to give as you give with nothing held back. For to qualify is to cancel. I would give with both hands. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: “If you wish to go the whole way, go, sell your possessions . . . and come follow me” (Matt. 19:21, NEB).