[Sundaycommunity] "Numerical Pettiness"

[Brian Shaughnessy]

It is the end of the First Year, and Jesus and the apostles are walking on
the road to Samaria.  It is just before His encounter with the Woman at the
Well.

The apostles are discussing a kind of competition between the disciples of
the Baptist and the disciples of Jesus.  Jesus is at the front and
listening, and
eventually joins in with this:

"You now see that, under the pretence of zeal for John, I am being driven
away. And you are scandalized.  And you would like Me to put matters right
by
polemicizing with those who maintain such principles.

No, never. You have heard what the Baptist said through the mouths of his
disciples. 'He must grow greater, I must grow smaller.' There is no regret
in him,
no clinging to his position. A saint is not attached to such things. He
does not work to increase the number of his "own" followers. He has
*no *followers
of
his own. He works to increase the believers in God. God alone is entitled
to have followers. Therefore, as I do not regret that some people, in good
or in bad
faith, remain disciples of the Baptist, so he is not distressed, as you
have heard, if some of his disciples come to Me.  He disregards such
numerical pettiness.
He looks at Heaven. And I look at Heaven.

Do not argue therefore among yourselves whether it is fair or unfair that
the Jews should accuse Me of snatching disciples from the Baptist, whether
it is just
or unjust to allow people to say that.  Those are altercations of talkative
women round the village fountain. Saints help one another, they give and
exchange
spirits with unreserved ease, smiling at the idea of working for the Lord.

There is the boundary of Samaria. Do you think I ought to speak there?

[They are all more or less scandalized.]

I solemnly tell you that there are Samaritans everywhere, and if I should
not speak where there is a Samaritan, I should not speak anywhere.

Come therefore. I will not make any effort to speak. But I will not disdain
to speak of God if I am asked.

One year is over. The second is beginning. At the beginning the Master was
still predominant. Now the Saviour is being revealed.  The end will see the
face
of the Redeemer.

Let us go.  The more a river approaches its estuary, the more it grows.  I
am also increasing the work of mercy because the end is approaching."

________

aptYLJC,Twbd,ttM

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