Wednesday, February 27, 2002
Wednesday, February 27, 2002
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not
have works? Can faith save you?
The royal gardener began at once. He decided that he would focus his attention on the most
regal of all the flowers--the rose. His would be a rose of beauty beyond description. Over the
months and years he experimented, blending his roses to create all manner of interesting
blooms. The prince did not marry for a long time, so the gardener continued with his work,
growing old and feeble in the process. At last, the good news came. The young king had
chosen a bride and the date for the royal wedding was set. The gardener was an old man now
but his life time of experimentation had paid off. He had produced the most beautiful rose ever
grown. He named it the Rainbow Rose.
On the day of the wedding the newlyweds entered the royal garden. They made their way
immediately to the regal bloom the old gardener had cultivated over so long a time. The new
queen reached down and picked a blossom. Then she turned and faced the old gardener. But
the rose she held to her face was not his magnificent Rainbow Rose at all but just a common,
ordinary red rose. The old gardener was shocked, then angry, then humiliated. But wait!
Suddenly he realized why the queen had passed over his rose. She had discovered the prize
rose's only flaw. It had no scent. THE QUEEN WAS BLIND.
In the similar way, does our faith show itself in our actions?
(James 2.14
NRSV)
John R. Aurelio in his book, COLORS!, tells a most intriguing story. At the birth of his son a
certain king instructed his royal gardener to develop the most magnificent flower ever grown.
This magnificent flower would one day be presented to the woman the king's son chose to be
his bride.
Dear God, whatever the strength of my faith, teach me to us it to honor you. Amen.
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