<html><body>Part 2<div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> What Jesus did that day, in an unusual but very practical way, was to show that, in the words that came to Paul later, there is no Jew, no Gentile, no male, no female, no one in bondage of any sort, bound by rescribed tules and regulations. And when that happens, we will recognize the true sister=hood and brotherhood we share with one another and with Jesus.</span><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> Unfortunately, we’re a long way off from that in so many different ways, though. We’re uncomfortable about doing away with boundaries, in fact, we seem eager to build more and more. We prefer rigid definitions – job descriptions, if you will. “You can’t do that. You can’t go there. You can’t say that/ You can’t think that.” It’s far easier to do and say that than to share, than to work alongside others. And when the spectre of having to listen to what others’ beliefs, and hopes, and dreams is raised, that can prove to be far more than we can understand. That’s when walls are rebuilt. That’s when one’s personal agendas and belief systems cannot risk being exposed to how another thinks and acts. <b><u>THAT’S</u></b> fear talking!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> There’s a marvellous phrase in the First Letter of Peter, a phrase often said at the Office of Compline, just before going to sleep: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” <sup>5</sup><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> Whether in our sleeping or our waking hours, the devil takes so many forms, whispering or shouting, cajoling or demanding, always diverting our attention away from communion, always insinuating the fear of deprivation to one’s self. Never mind what is just, what is merciful , what is compassionate for anyone and everyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> So we destroy. We shut people away. We limit others’ opportunities to discover what it means to sit at Jesus’ feet in another place, in another time, in anther manner. We think that there is only <b><u>ONE</u></b> way, only <b><u>ONE</u></b> group, only <b><u>ONE </u></b>style of being.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"> Is <b><u>THIS</u></b> why terrorism works? Is <b><u>THIS</u></b> why people have no problem with destroying other lives, with preventing others from finding their own path to the Light?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;">What is it – and I’m willing to bet that it exists in every single human – what is it that so concerns someone that he or she fails to see people as sisters and brothers? Skin pigment, language or vocal inflection, place of birth, manner of living, even hand and body gestures as each reaches out to communicate with the One each sees as Divine – any sort of a difference <b><u>HAS </u></b>to be processed and dealt with by us, and, if we cannot accept difference, then we ourselves become intolerable.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;">Jesus said to Martha that nothing ought to hinder the human soul from finding satisfaction for its yearning. Jesus probably took Mary’s hand, or touched her shoulder, and said, “Mary, you’re O.K. Stay. Listen. Share with Me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;">And Jesus longs to touch everyone in the same way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;">This makes me wonder whatever became of Mary. Did she stick around home and go avbout whatever responsibilities needed to be fulfilled? She didn’t become Bishop of Jerusalem. We’d have heard about that if she had! But she <b><u>COULD </u></b>have! The walls, the ceilings, the floors – Jesus began to dismantle them. One of the big problems, though, is that we’ve become so skilled at coming along and re-erecting them, even when Jesus is standing right there, watching, sighing, shaking His head.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;">“What will it take?” He may be wondering. What will it take for us to realise what we’re doing, that verbal abuse, and lies, and manipulation; that physical abuse, and viciousness have no place among those who have sit and continue to come to sit at Jesus’ feet? What will it take to stop this? What – if not shootings, if not bombings, if not trucks mis-appropriated? What will it take to help ourselves and others appreciate the invitation, and to know that we <b><u>ALL CAN</u></b> sit together?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;">Whenever we find a wall that inhibits growth, that prevents interaction in peace and compassion, how are we going to have the courage to convince ourselves that our job is to speak peace; our job is to demonstrate safety; our job is to reach out with open hands?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;">Of course, it’s a huge job, There are so many people that are terrified to live, so many people who are willing to terroroise others, that theyre willing to destroy everything by whatever means they can – through speech; through action; through deprivation. They cannot contemplate what it’s like to love without barriers, to foster equality of opportunity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;">Almost a thousand years ago, Jehoved, Mirim and Rachel, Rahi’s daughters, persisted, carefully opening a little farther to others the door of life. I doubt if they thought a whole lot about how far their influence would be felt. But here we are, still thinking about them, benefiting from what they did.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: 0.5in; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;">And one of the things which they took to heart was the passage from the Talmud which is copied on my office door.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <b>“Do not</b> be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” <sup>6</sup><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> There IS hope for us, and for all. But we must tell others about it, no matter how uncomfortable, how anxious, how “out of our box” it may make us feel. We must live out the invitation, every day, ever where, to sit, to listen. To share and, yes, to help peel potatoes – whatever it takes to show Jesus’ Love to and for the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">NOTES:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">[1]</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <i>“Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes”</i> by Kenneth E. Bailey. InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois. © 2008. Page 192.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">2</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Acts 22:3<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">3</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Bailey, Op. cit., page 193<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">4</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <i>“Rashi’s Daughters, Book 1: Joheved”</i> by Maggie Anton. A Plume Book, published by Penguin Group, New York. ©Maggie Anton 2005. Other titles: “<i>Rashi’s Daughters, Book II: Miriam” </i>© 2007; <i>“Rashi’s Daughters, Book III: Rachel”</i> © 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">5</span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> 1 Peter 5:8b<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.3333px;">6</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Rabbi Tarfon </span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 102, 33); background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;"><a href="http://www.wisdomquotes.com/quote/rabbi-tarfon.htm">www.wisdomquotes.com/quote/rabbi-tarfon.htm</a> S</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;">ometimes attributed to </span><i><span style="padding: 0in; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; border: 1pt none windowtext;">Rabbi Rami Shapiro’s interpretive translation of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>the Talmud in Wisdom of the Jewish sages. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">(Source:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://kateinindia.tumblr.com/post/40926989076/do-not-be-daunted-by-the-enormity-of-the-worlds" title="kateinindia"><span style="padding: 0in; color: windowtext; border: 1pt none windowtext;">kateinindia</span></a>)</span></i></p></div></body></html>