Wednesday, August 27, 2003
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in
order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his
marvelous light.
The wild goose proceeded to extol the glories of flight, remarking how thrilling it was to soar out
in the wild blue yonder. "Why, this barn down here looks like it's only an inch high," he said, "and
you are all but specks seen from such a distance." And the domestic fowl were quite impressed
by his little speech. Some time later they asked him again to describe the glories of flight.
And it got to be quite a weekly occasion, while the goose's wing was healing, for him to get up in
front of the others and talk. They even provided a little box to stand on so they could see him
better.
But do you know what happened? While the domestic fowl very much enjoyed hearing about the
glories of flight, they never tried to fly themselves. And the wild goose, even though his wing
healed, just continued to talk about flying--but never flew again either.
I say that is a frightening parable. Why? It hits too close to home. How easy it is to be at ease in
Zion and to ignore Christ's call to help our world. How easy it is to sit in our comfortable pews
and ignore a world in desperate need.
(1 Peter 2.9
NRSV)
Soren Kierkegaard once told a frightening parable about a wild goose that was brought down by
a hunter's shot one day. Fortunately, only his one wing was wounded, and he landed in a
barnyard. Naturally, the domestic ducks, geese, and chickens were quite startled by this sudden
visitor from the sky. Soon, however, they sidled up to him and asked him to describe what it was
like to fly.
Dear God, may I be a person who not only faithfully goes to church, but one who is also working
to make our world more holy. Amen.
