THE ENIGMA OF LIFE

 

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, God’s work in your life is bigger than the story you’d like that life to tell. His life is bigger than your plans, goals or fears. To save your life, you’ll have to lay down your stories and, minute by minute, day by day, give your life back to him.”   (Adam S. Miller, “Letters to a Young Mormon” (2014), p 17-18)

Following my divorce 30 years ago, I felt like my life was a pile of ashes. I was more than certain that the marriage I went into was appointed by God and yet there I was eleven years later, a single mother with two children, carrying an enormous feeling of failure on my back.

I had joined the Church to have the Mormon ideal…an eternal family. I followed all the rules and acted on what I felt was spiritual guidance. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I should marry the person I had chosen. In fact, I felt driven to do it. Consequently, I went through excruciating pain of betrayal by God. If He knew what I was going to suffer, why did He lead me that situation?

I confided my feelings of doom to my Bishop soon after the divorce and he offered to give me a blessing the following Sunday. That blessing told me something I did not expect. I was told that God did not expect of me any more than I had given in my marriage and then this……that my life was planned for me before I was born and that I agreed to that plan because of my great faith in Jesus Christ.

Thirty years later questions still arise in my mind in regards to my divorce experience. I don’t dwell on it but I have a reflective mind and often assess the events of my life. Just recently I had a revelation during such reflection where I was told again that my life was planned in my pre-mortal life by the Father and the Saviour. This time I was told that the Father’s part was the plan and the Saviour’s was the atoning part for all my pain.

I stand amazed at the personal God that we worship. There are so many of us yet the Father and the Son are invested in each of us as if we are the only ones that exist and that matter. Often we think the Atonement was performed for the entire humanity en masse. This is clearly not true:

“Since the Saviour, as a God, has the capacity to simultaneously entertain multiple thoughts, perhaps it was not impossible for the mortal Jesus to contemplate each of our names and transgressions in concomitant fashion as the Atonement progressed, without ever sacrificing personal attention for any of us. His suffering need never lose its personal nature. While such suffering had both macro and micro dimensions, the Atonement was ultimately offered for each one of us.” (Elder Tad R. Callister, “Infinite Atonement”, p 147-8)

Elder Callister cites Moses’ experience on Mt Sinai where he was shown all the inhabitants of the earth and there was not one of us he did not see, ‘because he discerned us by the spirit of God’ (Moses 2: 28). This is how the Father sees us, individually, personally, lovingly….

And this is how the Saviour atoned for us….”No one, ‘not a soul’, was forgotten or slighted or neglected in the redeeming process. It was personal, focused, intimate, one-on-one sacrificing and caring for you and me.” (ibid)

I think of all the trials I have been through…..and I know it is because of the Saviour’s willingness to support the Father’s plan for my life, to suffer for all I have been through, to lift me higher than I can ever hope to lift myself…..to one day take me home.

I wish I could tell you

How deep the pain I am asked to bear,

Even though You already know,

Because you cradled me

In your loving arms through

The Garden’s gate and beyond.

Was I heavy to carry up Calvary’s hill

When your strength was all but gone?

I wept for you at the foot of the cross

As you ached for my broken soul

So desperately forsaken and all alone.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Christ the Redeemer by Greg Collins)

EXALTED ON HIGH

 

This is a personal story. I have viewed this mortal existence with dread my entire life. I have endured many trials and experienced much pain from a young age so my overall assessment of life has not been a very favourable one. So much in fact that I have always looked forward to my departure. It is just now, in my sixties that I am learning the sacred purpose and privilege of my life.

Some months ago I had a very personal revelation, the nature of which I will not fully disclose but I will say something of it that might help anybody who is struggling to understand their life. It was revealed to me that Heavenly Father wanted to exalt ME and that this was the reason He sent me to this earth. Not that he sent His children to mortality because He wanted to exalt them, but ME, personally.

Even though it is true that He wanted to exalt ALL His children, this was a uniquely personal message. He wanted to exalt ME because He knew me, loved me, appreciated me and wanted me to have the riches of eternity. Even though I am not the only one He wished this for, the nature of this revelation was a personal message to me so I could start to appreciate my purpose here. It was a stamp on my life I had to have.

Of course, with such a revelation comes a greater understanding of one’s responsibility to rise to one’s potential. The second feeling I have lived with all my life is that I am not good enough and never will be. I have often felt weak and stripped of dignity as I have navigated what I call my ‘earthly indignities’.

I thought I understood the Atonement pretty well as I have gained a personal testimony of its’ effectiveness years ago but a small thing happened after I received the abovementioned revelation that helped me accept my earthly incapacities and has given me hope that I can rise to Heavenly Father’s expectations of me.

I randomly opened my scriptures one day when I was seeking some comfort regarding myself. The page that rested in my view had one short and impactful sentence highlighted. It simply said: “I will be merciful unto you” (D&C 64:4).

Since that day I have obtained a deep understanding of how the Saviour can raise me up in forgiveness of my lack of appreciation for my mortality and give me power to meet my potential in this life.

Imagine if you discovered what God’s expectation of you was and you were left to your own mortal strength to meet that. The feelings of failure would be so strong every day that you would beat yourself up constantly. But this doesn’t have to be so.

My deep gratitude, my overwhelming love and my adoration is double fold….for the Father who wants me back and delights in my being and for the Saviour who deemed me worthy of His suffering and His power to raise me up. Without Him my life would not be possible and my exaltation even less so. Without Him to get me to my final destination, all that I am would be wasted. Without Him, I would not be.

I worshipped You in heaven

As my Saviour and my King,

I knew Your holy suffering

Would pay for everything.

 

I rejoiced in heaven

When I heard Your sweet cry

In the warmth of the stable,

The beginning of Your journey

To the sacrificial table.

 

I awaited anxiously to see

All that you would do,

And I wept bitterly

When the cross claimed You.

 

But when You returned in triumph

With trumps echoing Your fame,

I was amazed at the price You paid

For the value of my name!

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Be Healed by Chris Brazelton)

THE WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD

 I come from generations of European peasants. Poverty is ingrained in my family's consciousness.  My grandfather was raised to till the ground and farm the land he inherited from his family. To him, that was the way of life. The oldest of five sons, my father, was meant to inherit and carry on the family tradition. He, however, and four brothers that followed him were not interested in taking over the land. My father went into trade to become a bricklayer. His father was outraged and told him in very clear terms that he would not receive any support from him during his apprenticeship or ever after. All the sons went their separate ways and perpetuated the poverty consciousness they grew up with but the second youngest dared to break free from the family mold. Not surprisingly he was the only one that succeeded in his efforts to carve a successful life for himself.  This uncle of mine was born with certain talents that he would not deny. It became very evident early in his life that he had a talent for art. He loved drawing so much that he would secretly go to his friend's house after school and spend a considerable time there unrestrained, drawing to his heart's content. When he would eventually come home he would receive a beating from his father who thought drawing was foolishness and wanted to punish him for not being there to attend to family chores. When this uncle grew up he moved to the city, educated himself and became a very talented architect. He didn't stop there however. He proceeded to accomplish everything in his life that he wanted to do. Besides a lucrative career, he painted, he raced cars, invested himself in archeology, wrote books on his finds and opened a museum for gems and crystals. I am guessing he did all this because he knew who he was and chose to believe in himself. Whenever this uncle would visit us, he would be very respectful to my father who was the oldest brother in the family, but the differences between them were startling. My uncle lived in another city and he very much behaved like an educated city dweller that he was. He spoke with a city dialect and carried himself with dignity. My father, on the other hand, turned to drink to silence his fear of poverty which he could not break away from to his dying day. In other words, he remained a peasant.

I guess my uncle felt in his heart that he was not a peasant, even though he descended from generations of such before him. I am guessing that he recognized who he really was and sought to change the course of his destiny. I consider him exceptionally smart because he believed in the possibility of change. We know through Epigenetics that environmental factors such as diet and lifestyle can change gene activity in subsequent generations suggesting that DNA is not fixed, that DNA can be switched on or off and that we can change it by the choices we make: diet, lifestyle, thoughts, attitude, awareness and therapy. This means that we do not have to be poor, fat or sick like our progenitors. We do not have to follow those before us like blind sheep. Because we are all individuals, we all have different individual paths irrespective of our families before us. These paths are spiritually engineered and are individualized plans for mortality and beyond. The Saviour is a perfect example of this. Born into Jewish traditions and laws that His family had followed for centuries, He fulfilled the laws and changed the course of not only His family but the entire human race. The Saviour was true to who He was and to His mortal and spiritual destiny, no matter what the sacrifice.

We women of the free world have so much in this day and age. We have the ability and freedom to be whatever we want to be but more importantly than that, we have the freedom to be who we truly are. We are not stuffed into corsets, denied ownership of property or rights to an education. We have come a long way yet still many of us are forcing ourselves into molds created by others intent on proving that women are capable of anything and everything. The quest for equality has caused us to lose many womanly traits that are so badly needed in the world today. Many of us follow society's expectations at the risk of individuality and freedom to choose paths in mortality that will ensure our spiritual well being. Our ultimate destiny is to live with God forever. However, the path to eternal bliss begins here and now. It is our duty to perfect ourselves on this path of mortality employing our strongest capabilities and relying on God's assistance to get us to where we should be. There is a curse spoken by one tribe in Asia to their enemies that says "may you stay in one place for the rest of your life" or "may you stay where you are forever and may it torment you for the rest of your life". A life of regret would certainly be a curse we could carry upon us forever. We live in the most exciting and vibrant dispensation of all times. Joseph Smith stated once that "prophets, priests and kings have looked forward with joyful anticipation to the day in which we live; and fired with heavenly and joyful anticipations they have sung, written and prophesied of this our day...." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 231). Never before has the human race had the opportunities and resources we now have to polish ourselves and prepare ourselves for the golden age of the Millenium. Never before have we been given so much to ensure our spiritual destiny is obtainable. We stand at the threshold of another whole year of opportunities to repent, overcome, subdue, improve, and achieve.

When Joseph Smith said that prophets, priests and kings have looked forward with joyful anticipation to our day, he added that we are "the favoured people that God has made choice of to bring about the Latter-day glory; it is left for us to see, participate in and help to roll forward the Latter-day glory, the dispensation of the fullness of times", for of whom much is given, much is required, therefore, the obligation is two fold: to perfect ourselves and to perfect others. Do you feel weak or strong when you reflect on this responsibility? If you feel weak cast your mind on the humble beginnings of this dispensation and those who were commanded to lay the foundation of 'the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth' (D&C 1:30). In the words of one talented writer: "Who would lay the foundations of the Kingdom of God on the earth in the last Dispensation? Two simple farmers and a one-room school teacher would become the principle witnesses of the Book of Mormon. A potter, a glazer and simple carpenter would be called to stand firm by the Prophet Joseph. A twenty-three year old printer, who never joined the Church, would actually print and publish the Book of Mormon. A simple German farming family would provide a small 20 x 30 foot cabin as the first headquarters of the Church. A poor. unsuccessful homesteader who had never really been able to finish his payments on his land would be called off a canal boat to become of the great missionaries of these last days. The list could go on and on. And all of these led by a simple farm boy from western New York. And this would indeed be the stone cut out of the mountain without hands that will roll forth and fill the whole earth" (Scott Facer Proctor, "The Voice of Warning shall be Unto All People" Meridian Magazine).

How could such humble and weak men of the earth accomplish so great a work? The answer was given through Joseph F. Smith's vision of the spirit world where he saw Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum and others. He observed that they were "among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God. Even before they were born, they, with many others received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labour in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men" (D&C 138:55,56). We are 'the others' who came to earth disguised as the weak and simple ones. We are the ones the Lord spoke of when he said 'the weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones...." (D&C 1:19). We are the ones crowned with nobility and greatness to accomplish the great work of bringing salvation to the souls of men.

Our destiny is our destination, being eternal life in the presence of God. May we strive to stay on the path that leads to this holy place, the place of our eternal home.

"Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, 

and called thee from the chief men thereof, 

and said unto thee,

Thou art my servant; 

I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee:

be not dismayed; for I am thy God:

I will strengthen thee; 

yea, I will help thee;

yea, I will uphold thee with the

right hand of my righteousness."

- Isaiah 41:9,10

BEFORE THE STORM

"If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you may have seen an unusual photo I posted recently of my return flight from our France ministry trip. While travelling from Paris to Dallas, we had an emergency landing in Iceland! After four hours of flying from Charles de Gaulle airport to Dallas/Fort Worth, we suddenly saw the flight pattern on the little TV screen make a giant U-turn and we started heading back in the direction we just left. It was already going to be a long ten hour flight and to add an unexpected emergency land to the trip was not a part of my plan. 

As we sat on the tarmac for hours in Iceland awaiting our approval for takeoff, I texted my husband and my daughter. I let them know everything was OK, and that I'd arrive later than planned....but I would eventually get home. As we sat grounded at the Reykjavik Airport unable to disembark, I was reminded of a message I taught a few years ago titled, "Where Were You Headed Before the Storm Hit?". When pilots are learning to fly, and they encounter unexpected storms, delays, or emergency detours, they have three words drilled into them.....are you ready for this? Fly. The. Plane. It's deep, I know. In other words, don't panic. Don't crash. Don't get distracted. Don't give up. Don't land somewhere and assume you're supposed to stay there. Fly the plane and you'll eventually arrive at your original destination. And it's the same with your vision, your plan, your life. When you encounter a storm, a letdown, a setback, or an unexpected delay, you've got to stay focused. 

Storms happen to all of us. Financial storms, family storms, marital storms, physical storms, career storms; it's part of life. When a storm hits your life, you have to ask, "Where was I headed before the storm hit?" You can choose to let a storm defeat you or let it drive you to the next level. Think about how a shepherd leads his sheep. He doesn't take them from mountaintop to mountaintop. He leads them through the valley to get to the next mountaintop. It's in the valley where we grow, we develop character, strength, vision, and the skills necessary to prepare us for the next mountaintop. 

Whatever you're facing today, God can use it to lift you to a higher level. In the Bible, King David would be known as Shepherd Boy David if it weren't for Goliath. Think about that. Saul didn't promote David to the next level God had planned, Goliath did. That giant, that obstacle, that massive roadblock wasn't meant to destroy him, it was meant to promote him! The resistance you're facing today is preparing you. It's strengthening your character. It's building your trust and reliance in God. It's absolutely necessary in order to handle the growth you're about to have! 

My question to you is this: Where were you headed before this detour, this distraction, this supposed setback? Where were you headed before the divorce, the unplanned pregnancy, the bankruptcy, the job loss, the diagnosis, the heartbreak? You may have to chart an alternate course to get to your destination. It may not be the route you planned or the time frame you anticipated but you're still successful as long as you keep moving toward your intended destination. Don't ever lose sight of where you were headed. God doesn't change his mind about your destiny. Nor should you! I love this story I heard from the late Myles Munroe who was having lunch with Dr. Oral Roberts and Corrie Ten Boom in 1976. Dr. Munroe asked Corrie what her secret was to having such stamina at 82 years of age. Boom replied, "Son, remember to live according to your vision; never according to your eyes."  (Terri Savelle Foy, 1 July 2016 Newsletter)

When Peter in his eagerness walked on water towards Christ one stormy night his only desire was to be safe in the Saviour's presence. No doubt when he started to walk, believeing that he could, his sight was very much fixed on the person he wanted to be with but then he made one crucial mistake, for one moment he looked at the boisterous wind instead and no doubt felt the angry waves lapping at his feet and he grew afraid as he began to sink (Matthew 14:30). What happened to Peter's resolve to be reunited with his Master? Peter lost focus as he trusted his eyes more than his vision. When the storms of life hit, it is easy to only see the calamity that is unfolding in our lives. As our plane lands in some foreign land we never intended to visit, it very often obstructs the vision of our true destination.

When we walk out of the baptismal font newly washed and clean; or walk out of the temple freshly wedded to the companion of our choice, we often feel that we have made it and are on our way to celestial kingdom. Never in our wildest dreams do we envisage encountering any storms. We do not plan on divorcing when we marry; or plan to bury a child when we enter the labour ward to give birth; or schedule chemotherapy when we commit to live the Word of Wisdom. When we commit ourselves to the journey that will take us to eternal life, we often than not feel that we should, by virtue of our obedience, have a smooth ride. Obedience, however, is not the teacher but the pilot that lands the plane at the chosen destination. The trials of mortal life, though making it a bumpy ride, make the destination once reached, all the more sweeter for the lessons suffered are lessons learnt. The challenge before us is to keep the eternal perspective and remember where we were headed before the storm:

"If we looked at mortality as the whole existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity. But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put into proper perspective. Are we not exposed to temptations to test our strength, sickness that we might learn patience, death that we might be immortalized and glorified? If all the sick for whom we pray were healed, if all the righteous were protected, and the wicked destroyed, the whole program of the Father would be annulled and the basic principle of the gospel, free agency, would be ended. No man would have to live by faith."

(Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, p 97).

Being consistent in our obedience to 'small things' in everyday life will ensure that our vision stays clear and our eternal perspective focused: "Is our journey sometimes impeded when we forget the importance of small things? Do we realize that small events and choices determine the direction of our lives just as small helms determine the direction of great ships? We need to have family and personal prayers, study the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon; hold family home evenings; follow the admonition of the Saviour to love one another; and be thoughtful, kind, and gentle within the family. Through these and other similar small and simple things, we have the promise that our lives will be filled with peace and joy" (Elder M. Russell Ballard, in CR Apr 1990 or Ensign May 1990, p 6,8). Once obtained, that peace and joy will see us through and past the storms of mortal life. It will become the governing force in our lives that will make the storms bearable and foreign lands memorable.

This is a false world and it will one day be done away with. You come with nothing into it and you go with nothing out of it. Except one thing - YOU. This world was constructed with obstacles, pitfalls, enticements and stumbling blocks. Your purpose while you are here is to learn to jump, push through, walk around, avoid and rise above. All this will be the making of the person you have to take back to eternity, YOU.

But learn that he who doeth

the works of righteousness

shall receive his reward, 

even peace in this world, 

and eternal life in the world to come.

D&C 59:23

A SAFE HARBOUR

"I am convinced that no soul has ever been whipped into this mortal existence, that each one of us came willingly, cheerfully, and gladly; even though we might have known that we were to inherit a body that was crippled, maimed and deformed, still we were glad to come....

We know that it meant sorrow, pain, and ultimately, death, and yet we rejoiced in the prospect to come.

We saw beyond the valley of the shadow of death, with all of its pain, with all of its suffering, the grand vistas of the eternities, providing for man's eternal and endless progress, on, up and up, until we should attain unto what God is. Yet we knew that we could never ascend until we had descended and had been given a mortal tabernacle, and the union of the spirit and body had become an accomplished fact.

So by the attraction of it all we came gladly and willingly, for our eyes were not so much centered upon the sorrows and troubles of life as upon the grandness of that which lies beyond."

(Melvin J. Ballard, Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard, p. 179)

A somewhat adequate similitude of the journey of this life would have to be the found in the early pioneers of this Church who trekked across the plains, mountains and rivers in an effort to arrive at a home that promised a valley of peace and liberty. It can be supposed that they too began their journey with enthusiasm and purpose, knowing that the home they sought was a quest that could not be left unconquered. So strong was their commitment to arrive at their destination that they risked all facing 'sickness, heat, fatigue, cold, fear, hunger, pain, doubt and even death'. So many of us look back at the pioneers and exclaim that we could never have endured what they did. Such extremes are unfamiliar to us for very few of us experience extreme physical hardships. Instead we bask in comparative prosperity of modern day living and technology which 'shower us with security, entertainment, instant gratification and convenience' (President Dieter F. Uchdorf, All Is Well, Ensign July 2015). However, equal to the physical hardships of the pioneers are the spiritual ones we of the final hour face today with many of us standing on thin ice trembling with gripping cold hoping to make it to the safety of the shore. Surely the pioneers are looking down on us exclaiming they could never endure the challenges and stress we live with each and every day. The pioneers acquired many attributes on their fated journey which kept their fires of courage burning but none sustained them like their trust in God for whom they sacrificed their all. It is this trust which brought success for no one but He could enable them to swim to the safety of the shore.

"Many today feel troubled and distressed; many feel that, at any moment, the ships of their lives could capsize or sink. It is to you who are looking for a safe harbour that I wish to speak today, you whose hearts are breaking, you who are worried or afraid, you who bear grief or the burdens of sin, you who feel no one is listening to your cries, you whose hearts are pleading, 'Master, carest thou not that I perish? To you I offer a few words of comfort and of counsel. Be assured that there is a safe harbour. Your Heavenly Father - who knows when even a sparrow falls - knows of your heartache and suffering. He loves you and wants the best for you. Never doubt this. While He allows all of us to make choices that may not always be for our own or even others' well-being, and while He does not always intervene in the course of events, He has promised the faithful peace even in their trials and tribulations." (Joseph B. Wirthlin, 'Finding a Safe Harbour', Ensign May 2000)

To whom will we liken God and where else will we find refuge from the raging storms but the Creator of the ends of the Earth? He who gives power to the faint, and to them who have no might, He increases strength. For we that wait upon the Lord will renew our strength; we shall mount up with wings as eagles; we shall run, and not be weary, and we shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40)...... He shall wipe all tears from our eyes (Revelations 21:4).....and encircle us in the arms of His love (D&C 6:20) for there is no end to His compassion, mercy and love and no end to His understanding. For 'He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before Him, and all things are round about Him; and He is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by Him, and of Him, even God, forever and ever' (D&C 88:41). The promise is sure, if we draw near unto Him, He will draw near unto us; if we seek Him diligently, we shall find Him; if we ask, we shall receive; if we knock, it shall be opened unto us (D&C 88:63). Who else then can we trust and where else can we turn for peace but the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) for He alone has the might and power to calm the troubled seas so we can reach the shore. The sight of it should ever be before us, even as we are buffeted by the storms of life, for as we so long ago longed to ascend, we agreed to first descend; as we eagerly left, we promised to return. Armed with the power of God, the icy storms can never prevent our fingertips from feeling the edge of the shore.

"Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, and rejoice ye inhabitants thereof, for the Lord is God and beside him there is no Savior. Great is his wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out. His purposes fail not, neither are there any who can stay his hand. From eternity to eternity he is the same, and his years never fail. For thus saith the lord - I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory" 

(D&C 76:1-6)

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE

".....I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35)

The Gospel of Matthew records that the second time the Saviour fed the multitudes was to the inhabitants of Decapolis which were presumed to be Gentile. Besides prefiguring the future presentation of the living bread to the Gentile nations (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal NT Commentary, Vol 1, p 375), the Saviour fed this multitude out of compassion. The people had been with Him for three days and had nothing to eat and He did not want to send them away fasting 'lest they faint in the way' (Matt 15:32) . This multitude numbered 'four thousand men, beside women and children' (Matt 15:38). They followed him bringing with them 'those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others' casting them at Jesus' feet that they might be healed giving no thought to the necessity of sustenance. When the dumb were made to speak, the maimed made whole, the lame enabled to walk and the blind to see, 'they glorified the God of Israel' (Matt 15:31). Jesus then proceeded to feed this multitude with 'seven loaves and a few little fishes' (Matt 15:34). When all were fed, there were seven baskets full that remained. This mixed multitude from the east of the Jordan proved more receptive than the members of the chosen seed.

The first time Jesus fed the multitudes, He did so to the House of Israel with a calculated purpose which was to proclaim himself as 'the bread of life' (Matt 6:6). By performing the miracle of feeding this multitude with five loaves and two fishes, He bore record of 'heavenly bread' of which all men must eat if they are to gain eternal life. The Gospel of John records that in this instance there were 5,000 men gathered 'because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased' (John 6:2). This feeding of so many with so little signaled to the multitude that this indeed was the promised Messiah (John 6:14) who they should crown as the King of the Jews (John 6:15). Had they not been subject for centuries to the Jewish tradition which taught them that the Messiah, when He came, would reveal Himself by repeating the miracle of 'manna from heaven' so prolific in Jewish history? "As the first Saviour - the deliverer from Egyptian bondage, said the Rabbis, caused manna to fall for Israel from heaven, so the second Saviour - the Messiah - will also cause manna to descend for them once more" (Geikie, pp. 516-17, as quoted by Bruce R. McConkie,  The Mortal Messiah Book 2, p. 368). This Messiah who could provide bread from heaven, as in the days of Moses, would break the Gentile yoke and fulfill all their expectations. He would give them 'corn without sowing, harvests without reaping, bread without baking. No longer need we labour at our oars and struggle with our nets when two small fish, at the Messiah's touch, will feed thousands. The Deliverer is here; he will feed us as Moses fed our fathers. Give us loaves and fishes forever and in thy beneficent goodness add raisins and oil and wine to our diet. Surely we shall now feast more sumptuously than Herod himself' (Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah Book 2, p 371).

When the crowds pursued Him wanting to make Him King, Jesus answered them: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me not because ye desire to keep my sayings, neither because ye saw the miracles but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled. Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the father sealed" (John 6:26,27, JST). This is not something the crowds wanted to hear let alone wished to understand that the only crown that would adorn His head would be one of plaited thorns. As the Saviour proceeded to deliver His sermon on the Bread of Life He sealed His fate that would eventually bring Him to the cross of Calvary. By proclaiming Himself to be the only 'bread of life' that the Father would ever send them (John 6:35), He refused to conform to their concept of a temporal Messiah. Where up to now people followed Him and flocked to Him with emotional frenzy, from this time 'many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him' (John 6:66). The miracles forgotten, the healings ignored, the spirit rejected. Thus the Bread of Life sermon marked the saddest and the most heartbreaking point in the Saviour's mortal life for it instigated the parting of ways between Him and the common people. Whereas previous opposition was primarily contained within the circles of the scribes and Pharisees, the Rabbis and rulers, the Saducees and Herodians, now even some of his nearest followers hardened their hearts against Him with bitter disappointment, rejecting the gift of eternal life that He alone could give. Even though He knew well that He was headed up the lonely path to Calvary, the rejection must have been devastating to the gentle heart of the Saviour who had loved them, taught them and healed them of their infirmities; who had come to give His all that they might have all.

"He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by he Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is the bread which came down from heaven; not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:56-58)

To keep us, His saints, who have taken upon ourselves His name and accepted His teachings, in constant remembrance of our commitment to accept and obey Him, the Lord has given us the ordinance of sacrament.  Those who love Him and serve Him and keep His commandments observe with diligence the ordinance to 'eat his flesh and drink his blood' which they do in the spiritual sense rather than the literal one. This we must do for His body broken for us, is the very spiritual food which gives life, thus we must eat and drink if we are to be His and have life with Him in the mansions of our Father who has sent Him. 

No doubt, among the disciples who fell away when they heard the Saviour's discourse on the Bread of Life, were both investigators and those who had entered into the covenant of baptism. "By the simple expedient of teaching strong doctrine to the hosts who followed him, Jesus was able to separate the chaff from the wheat and choose out those who were worthy of membership in His earthly kingdom....Unable to believe and accept His strong and plain assertions about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, even many classified as disciples fell away" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mortal Messiah Book 2, p 385). This process of sifting continues with us today. Those of us who are unwilling to 'drink His blood and eat His flesh', rejecting the spiritual life force the Saviour can give, will when the tests of time come, fail in our love for Him who has given His all that we might live. May we be as Peter, who replied when the Saviour asked the Twelve:  'Will ye also go away?': 

"Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life"

LIVING WATER

When Christ encountered the woman of Samaria at Jacob's well He told her that He can give her water far superior to the one she was constantly drawing to assuage the thirst of her household. (John 4:5-15).  The water he said he could give her was living water 'springing up into everlasting life' (John 4:14) as opposed to water that satisfies the body which is destined to die, thus making the well water 'dead water' with a used by date.

In performing its main object of springing up into everlasting life, the living water also heals here and now.  It heals the broken hearted, spiritual wounds caused by sin, emotional and physical suffering and defects of the mind.  Just before the Saviour returns, the scriptures inform us, "a new spring will appear at the temple in Jerusalem and its waters will flow eastward to the Dead Sea which will be healed of its dead and stagnant condition. The Dead Sea, or any other body of water which is stagnant, is so because of two reasons.  First, it has little or no inflow; and second, it has little or no outflow.  In its stagnant condition it becomes lifeless water.  Since it is not renewed with fresh water, it cannot in turn pass living water onto other streams and bodies of water, nor can it support life within itself". (Larry Keeler, Living Water or Dead Sea) The spring which will appear at the temple in Jerusalem is symbolic of Christ's power to heal anything that is dead, either spiritually or physically.

When I reflect on the incident at Jacob's well, I feel it is important to understand why the person Christ chose to tell of the living water was this particular woman. His solemn invitation to her, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink", was a plain and open claim of Messiahship. In making this claim he identified himself as the very Jehovah who had promised drink to the thirsty through an outpouring of the Spirit (McConkie, DNTC, 1:445-46). This is a pretty serious declaration to make since it either meant that he was a blasphemer worthy of death or he was in fact the God of Israel. What is more astonishing is the fact that He made this declaration to a Samaritan woman rather than a person of authority. Surely the latter would have carried much more weight and bring His claim to more prominence. However, as the Saviour proved with subsequent declarations, those in authority were not meek of heart who were willing to accept His claim. In my mind Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman was not by chance. When all of Jewry chose to travel an indirect and longer route from Judea to Galilee rather than go through Samaria, Jesus chose to travel the direct route and sat himself down at Jacob's well at noon having sent his disciples to procure provisions. There are two facts worthy of notice here:

1. Samaritans were an impure race, remnants of the 10 tribes who had intermarried with Assyrians and other foreigners and even though they boasted that Jacob was their father, the Jews denied this vehemently and considered them 'more unclean than a Gentile of any other nationality' (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 172). Because of this disdain Samaritans rejected the prophetic writings now known as the Old Testament. The ill-feeling between Jews and Samaritans had been growing for centuries, and at the time of the Saviour's ministry, the feeling between the two parties had grown to intense hatred. It goes without saying that a Jew would not be caught dead speaking to a Samaritan.
2. The Saviour knew well the woman who came to draw water from the well. He knew that she had had five husbands and was now living with a man who was not her husband. This was a fallen woman who chose to come to the well in the heat of the day rather than the cool of the morning when it was the custom for women to gather and enjoy social interaction. The timing of her visit to the well emphasized her despised and outcast position. In general Jewish men didn't speak to Jewish women much in public, especially not to ones of ill repute. For a Jewish man to speak to a Samaritan woman in public would have been unheard of. And here is Christ, the Messiah, speaking to a fallen, Samaritan, woman.  It is obvious that he was not politically correct on three counts.

Through Jesus's encounter with her, the Samaritan woman became the symbol of the downtrodden and the lowliest of us who can qualify for eternal life. The Saviour came to heal the sick and bind the broken hearted. He did not minister to those who were well and rejected Him in the pride of their hearts. This is why He mixed with the publicans and the sinners. How else could he have demonstrated that His living water could heal us and give us eternal life? When I think of the Samaritan woman and consider His important message, I also see through my 21st century view the Saviour sending a message to the women of our day, a message of healing and hope. A great number of women today feel fragmented and damaged  having been divorced, widowed, abandoned or simply ignored by the opposite sex. Among the damaged are women who have been embroiled in sin, abused and enslaved in oppression. Perhaps they are all depicted in this Samaritan woman. No doubt having had five husbands came at a price. We who live in this modern world where so much suffering abounds feel the oppression of sin, affliction, hardship and temptation. Some of us are barely keeping our heads above the water and some of us are scraping up sludge of dry wells.

In all our suffering and stumbling in the dark we tend to turn to the ways of the world to fill us. Sometimes we get so blinded by the glare of this world that we dive headlong into Jacob's well eager to assuage our thirst with that which does not satisfy, benefit or fulfill us. We seek for the corruptible things of this earth that have no lasting power to fill our cracks, heal our sorrows and make up for our lack. We think that this dismal telestial world has treasures to offer us that will somehow make us whole. The truth is that the lustre of this world can only be seen during the day. When the night falls, the emptiness is still there, the pain exposed, the suffering unbearable.

Drawing water from a well used to be a thankless and miserable daily burden designated to women. Water is heavy, hard to pull out of a well and carry home, much like the cares of this world. The water the Samaritan woman drew out of the well was dead heavy water of this earth representing the burdens of this world. If you would but drink from the fountain of living water you would not thirst anymore for you would be filled with that which matters most, that which is lasting, that which will speak peace to the deepest recesses of your soul. Then the suffering will be bearable and even conquerable. Then the lack will not matter and the cracks will diminish and fade. Then you can look forward to the living water within you springing up into everlasting life. Then you can be filled with hope and happiness believing Him who has said, "....eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). He can give all this to you. Be filled and thirst no more.

"Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonder of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever!" (D&C 128:23)

MUSIC IN THE SOUL

"Oliver Wendall Holmes said:

 'Many people die with  their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.'

Tagore expressed a similar thought in these words:

'I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument while the song I came to sing remains unsung'.

My plea therefore is this: Let us get our instruments tightly strung and our melodies sweetly sung. Let us not die with our music still in us. Let us rather use this precious mortal probation to move confidently and gloriously upward toward the eternal life which God our Father gives to those who keep his commandments"

- President Spencer W. Kimball, 'The Miracle of Forgiveness'


I love opera. My favourite operatic piece is 'Casta Diva' from opera 'Norma' by Vincenzo Bellini. I have a recording of it sung by Renee Fleming which is just beautiful. I love listening to it. The high notes sung by this opera diva are exquisite and would truly exhilarate anyone who would listen to it. I also have the recording of this musical piece by Joshua Bell who is a violinist. When I listen to his rendition of Casta Diva I am convinced that this piece needs no lyrics because the violin has a voice of its own. It speaks to me the same as if it had vocal chords. I have often reflected on how such different renditions of the same piece of music can be equally thrilling. I have concluded it is because each of these artists has a different voice by which they can perform the same task in their own unique way. So it is with us. Each one of us has a unique instrument inside us ready to perform the song we came here to sing.

Often we think our contribution to the world does not matter so we do nothing and our song remains unsung. We tend to get lost in the multitude of people thinking we cannot possibly make a difference and we overlook the responsibility which is ours to discover our talents which can serve us and mankind. This is a gross mistake for we of the eleventh hour have been sent here with a specific song to sing in preparation of this earth for the millenial glory. Consider this quote from Elder Neal A Maxwell:

"When we say God has a plan, he truly has a plan - not simply a grand scale, but for each of us as individuals, allocating some special talent for this dispensation and some to another. I regard God as the perfect personnel manager, even though He must work with and through all of us who are so imperfect. I assume, gladly, that in the allocation to America of remarkable leaders like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln, the Lord was just as careful. After all, if you've got only one Abraham Lincoln, you'd better put him in that part in history when he's most needed - much as some of us might like to have him now".

- Neal A. Naxwell, Deposition of a Disciple, p. 46

So all of us are needed but a lot of us stagger about from year to year allowing our weaknesses to be our stumbling blocks which prevent us from fulfilling our divine destiny. As the new year has rolled around once more we are again reflecting on new year's resolutions which we need to make. Most of those resolutions for a lot of us are of temporal nature, some weakness we want to give up, some physical improvement we want to make and a lot of the time we forget to look at our lives long term and what we need to improve on today that we will be grateful for 30 years from now. We were born to this earth to basically fulfill two purposes: 1. To achieve something unique to us and; 2. to qualify ourselves for eternal life. The Saviour Jesus Christ offers a pattern for achieving both of these. The Saviour was a God before he was born into this world yet his birth caused him to forget all that He was before he entered mortality, just the same as us. He had to start just as all other mortals do and gain his knowledge line upon line (Luke 2:52, D&C 93:13). In other words, the Saviour of the world himself had to discover who He was and what His mission was. This knowledge came to Him by revelation and visitation of angels but it had to come line upon line, precept upon precept, and He had to seek it to receive it. So it is with us. If you do not know what your purpose on this earth is, seek revelation to educate yourself on the matter and then do everything in your power to fulfill that purpose, just as He did. Jesus also had to qualify Himself for eternal life by fulfilling and living all the laws and commandments of the Father. In the words of Joseph Fielding Smith:

"The Saviour did not have a fulness at first, but after he received His body and the resurrection all power was given unto Him both in heaven and in earth. Although He was a God, even the Son of God, with power and authority to create this earth and other earths, yet there were some things lacking which He did not receive until after His resurrection. In other words, he had not received the fulness until He got a resurrected body."

- Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of  Presidents of the Church, p. 315

This year we are studying The New Testament and the life of Christ. This course of study is the most spiritually charged course of study we have in the Church. It educates us as to who Christ was, is and always will be. It offers us knowledge about the Atonement and how we can access its power to overcome this world even as He has overcome it. We cannot make it back to our heavenly home unless we become as He is. It makes sense then that we need to study His life in order to pattern our lives after His. The Saviour did not leave His song unsung. In His holy words: "....I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men" (D&C 19:19). The task was overwhelming, the pain unthinkable, the gift priceless. For a few excruciating moments He has felt your sorrows, endured the wrath of God for your sins and learnt what it is like to be you. Now that He knows you, He can succor you, in every weakness, in every way and He can make you powerful enough to release the music of your soul. He can make you what you came here to be. Trust Him, turn to Him, accept Him.

"You did not come into the world to fail. You came into the world to succeed. You have accomplished much so far. It is only the beginning. As you move forward on the trail of life, keep the banner of faith in self ever before you. You may not be a genius. You may not be exceptionally smart. But you can be good and you can try. And you will be amazed at what might happen when in faith you take a step forward."

-  Gordon B. Hinckley

THE OTHER WISE MAN

Each year at Christmas time we delight to follow the wise men as they came out of the East and made their way to Bethlehem where they worshiped the new born king and laid their treasures at his feet. But Henry Van Dyke has told us about another wise man who also followed the star not only to Bethlehem, but throughout his life, and yet he never found the king. The other wise man's name was Artaban. He was a kind of unknown soldier who didn't quite make the headlines. He was also one of the Magi and lived in Persia. He was a man of great wealth, great learning and great faith. With his learned companions he had searched the scriptures as to the time that the Savior should be born. They knew that a new star would appear and it was agreed between them that Artaban would watch from Persia and the others would observe the sky from Babylon.

On the night that the sign was to be given, Artaban was speaking to nine of his Magi friends in his home. He said to them, "My three brethren are watching at the ancient temple of the Seven Spheres, at Borsippa in Babylon and I am watching here. If the star appears, they will wait for me ten days, then we will all set out together for Jerusalem. I believe the sign will come tonight. I have made ready for the journey by selling all of my possessions and have bought these three jewels -- a sapphire, a ruby, and a pearl. I intend to present them as my tribute to the king" he said. I invite you to make the pilgrimage with us that we may worship the new-born king together." While he was speaking he thrust his hand into the inmost fold of his girdle and drew out three great gems - one blue as a fragment of the night sky, one redder than a ray of sunrise, and one as pure as the peak of a snow mountain at twilight. He would give them all to the King. Then one of Artaban's friends said, "Artaban, this is a vain dream. No King will ever rise from the broken race of Israel. He who looks for him is a chaser of shadows." Then he bid Artaban farewell and left his dwelling. Each in turn offered his own particular excuse, and finally only his oldest and truest friend remained. He said, "Artaban, I am too old for this quest, but my heart goes with thee." Then with a hand on Artaban's shoulder he said, "Those who would see wonderful things must often be willing to travel alone." Left to himself Artaban put his jewels back into his girdle. Then he parted the curtains and went out onto the roof to again take up his vigil to watch the night sky. As Jupiter and Saturn rolled together like drops of lambent flame about to blend into one, an azure spark was born out of the darkness beneath them, rounding itself with purple splendor into a crimson sphere. Artaban bowed his head. "It is the sign, " he said. "The King is coming, and I will go to meet him."

All night long Vasda, the swiftest of Artaban's horses, had been waiting saddled and bridled, in her stall pawing the ground impatiently and shaking her bit as if she shared the eagerness of her master's purpose. As Artaban placed himself upon her back he said, "God bless us both, and keep our feet from falling and our souls from death." Under this encouragement, each day his faithful horse measured off the allotted proportion of the distance and at nightfall of the tenth day they approached the outskirts of Babylon. In a little island of desert palm trees Vasda sensed difficulty and slackened her pace. Then she gave a quick breath of anxiety and stood stock-still quivering in every muscle. Artaban dismounted. The dim starlight revealed the form of a man lying in the roadway. His humble dress and haggard face showed him to be one of the poor Hebrew exiles who still dwelt in Babylon. His pallid skin bore the mark of the deadly fever that ravished the marshlands of Babylon at this season of the year. The chill of death was in his lean hand. Artaban turned to go a sigh came from the sick man's lips and the brown bony fingers closed convulsively upon the Magician's robe. Artaban felt sorry that he could not stay to minister to this dying stranger, but this was the hour toward which his entire life had been directed. He could not forfeit the reward of his years of study and faith to do a single deed of human mercy. But then, how could he leave his fellow man alone to die? "God of truth and mercy," prayed Artaban, "direct me in the holy path of wisdom, which only thou knowest." Then he knew that he could not go on. The Magis were physicians as well as astronomers. He took off his robe and began his work of healing. Several hours later the patient regained consciousness. Then Artaban gave him all he had left of his bread and wine. He left a potion of healing herbs and instructions for his care. Though Artaban rode with the greatest haste the rest of the way, it was after dawn that he arrived at the designated meeting place. His friends were nowhere to be seen. Finally his eyes caught a piece of parchment arranged to attract his attention. He caught it up and read: "We have waited till past midnight and can delay no longer. We go to find the king. Follow us across the desert."

Artaban sat down upon the ground in despair and covered his face with his hands. "How can I cross the desert with no food and with a spent horse? I must return to Babylon, sell my sapphire, and buy a train of camels and provisions for the journey. I may never overtake my friends. Only God the merciful knows whether or not I shall lose my purpose because I tarried to show mercy. Several days later when Artaban's train arrived at Bethlehem the streets were deserted. It was rumored that Herod was sending soldiers, presumably to enforce some new tax, and the men had taken their flocks and herds back into the hills beyond his reach. The door of one dwelling was open, and Artaban could hear a mother singing a lullaby to her child. He entered and introduced himself. The woman told him that it was now the third day since the three wise men had appeared in Bethlehem. They had found Joseph and Mary and the young child, and had laid their gifts at his feet. Then they had disappeared as mysteriously as they had come. Joseph had taken his wife and babe that same night and had secretly fled. It was whispered that they were going far away into, Egypt. As Artaban listened, the baby reached up its dimpled hand and touched his cheek and smiled. His heart warmed at the touch. Then suddenly outside there arose a wild confusion of sounds. Women were shrieking. Then a desperate cry said, "The soldiers of Herod are killing the children." Artaban went to the doorway. A band of soldiers came hurrying down the street with dripping swords and bloody hands. The captain approached the door to thrust Artaban aside, but Artaban did not stir. His face was as calm as though he was still watching the stars. Finally his outstretched hand revealed the giant ruby. He said, "I am waiting to give this jewel to the prudent captain who will go on his way and leave this house alone." The captain amazed at the splendor of the gem took it and said to his men, "March on, there are no children here." Then Artaban prayed, "Oh, God, forgive me my sin, I have spent for men that which was meant for God. Shall I ever be worthy to see the face of the King?" But the voice of the woman, weeping for joy in the shadows behind him said softly, "Because thou hast saved the life of my little one may the Lord bless thee and keep thee, the Lord make His face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace."

Then Artaban, still following the king, went on into Egypt, seeking everywhere for traces of the little family that had fled before him from Bethlehem. For many years we follow Artaban in his search. We see him at the pyramids. We see him in an obscure house in Alexandria, taking counsel with a Hebrew rabbi who told him to seek the king not among the rich but among the poor. Then we follow him from place to place. He passed through countries where famine lay heavy upon the land, and the poor were crying for bread. He made his dwelling in plague-stricken cities where the sick were languishing in the bitter companionship of helpless misery. He visited the oppressed and the afflicted in the gloom of subterranean prisons. He searched the crowded wretchedness of slave-markets. Though he found no one to worship, he found many to serve. As the years passed he fed the hungry, clothed the naked, healed the sick and comforted the captive. Once we see Artaban for a moment, as he stood alone at sunrise, waiting at the gate of a Roman prison. He had taken from its secret resting-place in his bosom; the last of he jewels that he was saving for the king. Shifting gleams of azure and rose trembled upon is surface. It seemed to have absorbed some of the colors of the lost sapphire and ruby; just as a noble life draws into itself its profound purpose; so that all that has helped it is transfused into its very essence, so the pearl had become more precious because it had long been carried close to the warmth of a beating human heart.

Thirty-three years had now passed away since Artaban began his search and he was still a pilgrim. His hair was now white as snow. He knew his life's end was near but he was still desperate with hope that he would find the king. He had come for the last time to Jerusalem. It was the season of the Passover and the city was thronged with strangers. There was a singular agitation visible in the multitude. A secret human tide was sweeping them toward the Damascus gate. Artaban inquired where they were going. One answered, "We are going to the execution on Golgotha, outside the city walls. Two robbers are to be crucified, and with them another called Jesus of Nazareth, a man who has done many wonderful works among the people. But the priests and elders have said that he must die because he claims to be the Son of God. Pilate sent him to the cross because he said that he was the 'King of the Jews'." How strangely these familiar words fell upon the tired heart of Artaban. They had led him for a lifetime over land and sea. And now they came to him darkly and mysteriously like a message of despair. The king had been denied and cast out. He was now about to perish. Perhaps he was already dying. Could he be the same for whom the star had appeared thirty-three long years ago? Artaban's heart beat loudly within him. He thought, "The ways of God are stranger than the thoughts of men and it may be that I shall yet find the King and be able to ransom him from death by giving my treasure to his enemies.But as Artaban started toward Calvary he saw a troop of Macedonian soldiers coming down the street dragging a sobbing young woman with torn dress and disheveled hair. As Artaban paused, she broke away from her tormentors and threw herself at his feet, her arms clasping around his knees. "Have pity on me," she cried, "and save me, for the sake of the God of purity. My father was also of the Magi but he is dead, and I am to be sold as a slave to pay his debts." Artaban trembled as he again felt the old conflict arising in his soul. It was the same that he had experienced in the palm grove of Babylon and in the cottage at Bethlehem. Twice the gift, which he had consecrated to the king, had been drawn from his hand to the service of humanity. Would he now fail again? One thing was clear, he must rescue this helpless child from evil. He took the pearl from his bosom. Never had it seemed so luminous, so radiant, and so full of tender, living luster. He laid it in the hand of the slave and said, "Daughter, this is the ransom. It is the last of my treasures which I had hoped to keep for the King." While he yet spoke, the darkness of the sky thickened and the shuddering tremors of an earthquake ran through the ground. The houses rocked. The soldiers fled in terror. Artaban sank beside a protecting wall. What had he to fear? What had he to hope for? He had given away the last remnant of his tribute to the King. The quest was over and he had failed. What else mattered? As one lingering pulsation of the earthquake quivered beneath him, a heavy tile, shaken from the roof, fell and struck him on the temple. He lay breathless and pale. The rescued girl leaned over him fearing that he was dead. Then there came a still, small voice through the twilight. It was like distant music. The notes were clear, but the girl could not understand the words. Then the lips of Artaban began to move, as if in answer and she heard him say: "Not so, my Lord; for when saw I thee hungered and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw I thee a stranger and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? When saw I thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee? Thirty-three years have I looked for thee; but I have never seen thy face, nor ministered unto thee, my King." As he ceased, the sweet voice came again. And again the maid heard it, very faintly and far away. But now she understood the words that said: "Verily, I say unto thee, that inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me."

-  Henry Van Dyke