Healing the Sick

One day the teacher was praying in a lonely place when he heard the noise of a large group of people approaching. He rose from his knees and walked to the edge of the hill to see a great crowd of seekers coming toward him-all of whom had either crutches or canes! Behind them was a band of bodyguards, since the area was known for its dangerous gangs of robbers.

Seeing the teacher standing on the hill, voices from the crowd began crying out loudly, "Teacher, heal us, help us, for we seek to enter the reign of God!"

Upon hearing the idolizing throng, the teacher turned and ran away toward the hills. The mob, on their crutches and canes, come hobbling after him, shouting, "Teacher, we seek to enter the reign of God. Heal us, help us!"

The chase ended when the teacher found himself trapped in a dead-end canyon by the pleading crowd on crutches. "All right, all right," he shouted over their screams, "I'll help you." Then, suddenly, he raced to the rear of the throng and attacked the bodyguards with his stout walking staff, causing all of them to flee for their lives.

"Teacher," the crowd of cripples protested loudly, "what have you done?"

The teacher raised both hands high in the air, signaling for silence. When they were quiet, he said, "Come close, my children, and I will heal you," and the mass of people eagerly gathered close around him. Quicker than any eye could follow, he raced among them, breaking all the crutches and canes.

Only when no one is guarding your rear and your crutches are broken will you find your way through the eye of the needle of God's reign. Indeed, blessed are those who are vulnerable, for they shall daily dwell in the kingdom of God.

– Anonymous

January 14, 2007