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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2013-09-05, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013. By Rev. Tom Murray Knox United Church, Belgrave My six-year-old grandson, a budding artist, was looking at an over-sized book with lots of full- page prints of art that made it a fascinating “read” for him. On one two-page layout depicting Jesus’ life, he found a mystifying addition. “Grandpa,” he asked, “why does Jesus always have a plate on his head?” His chalk-coloured finger was pointing at the perfect round halo about Jesus’ head in a few pictures. Before I could attempt an explanation for him, his attention was suddenly snagged by a different picture: “Oh cool,” he exclaimed, “Look Grandpa, Jesus’s throwing a frisbee!” He’d spied a Rembrandt etching, you can find in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. It depicted Jesus during his “temple tantrum.” In it there is no halo surrounding Jesus’ head, but there was one around his hand, which is holding the whip. Although he had no idea what a halo was, at his age he knew the shape of an action toy. When we put something in our hands it is transformed from a noun to a verb, a thing of action. Aristotle called the hand the “instrument of instruments” accepting the hand as that which separates humans from beasts. This body-part, along with the brain, Aristotle recognized as agent and intention: “that done and that meant to be done.” The hand of God and the power of the divine are one and the same. Ever notice, standing up in front of a crowd and all eyes turn to you, that there is one piece of our anatomy that suddenly feels obvious and awkward? Our hands! That’s why we jam them into our pockets, or lock them together, or frantically fumble for a pen or glasses or a cup of coffee to keep them full and occupied. Why do our hands feel so naked and exposed as we stand before others? And why do we suddenly feel so much more secure when we can find some way to fill them? Perhaps it’s because our hands are never meant to be empty or limp or idle. As the physical extension of mind and heart, our hands should never be just “left hanging around!” As a teacher Jesus showed with a “hands-on” approach to learning. James C. Howell devotes a whole book that examines some of Jesus’ “hand-work”. His book Yours Are the Hands of Christ, could teach a whole 12-part series on The Hands of Jesus: Living hands, praying hands, unfurling hands, teaching hands, touching hands, healing hands, feeding hands, serving hands, holy hands, pierced hands, sending hands and joining hands. Look how Jesus used his hands... to wash his disciples’ feet, to break bread, to hold children, to go fishing, to climb to “high places,” to lift in prayer, to pass out food and gather friends, to calm down, be riled, and forgive. But how many times can you recall a Biblical story about Jesus getting this kind of hands-on attention from others? In Luke 7:38-50 we get a rare glimpse of Jesus receiving from another. His feet are washed, he is anointed and kissed. Jesus not only demonstrates the power of the hands-on approach to faith, he also receives it too. He shows us not only how to be active, but how to receive the ministering actions of others in life. This woman uses her hands as a tangible expression of her love for Jesus and faith in his forgiveness. Despite the fact that she never utters a word in the course of this exchange, she connects the depth of her love, the power of her commitment, the fullness of her faith by the humble acts she does for Jesus’ sake. If Jesus had not readily received her ministry, her hand-work would have been lost, never recorded and never remembered. Someone once suggested that there are five possibilities for the use of our hands: First, we can wring them: Handwringers are moaners, complaining “how awful” life is; never offering any positive action that might change conditions. Their energy is utterly bound up in being wrung-out. Second, we can fold them: Hand-folders do nothing. Hand-folders are care-free and casual. By claiming the problem is “out of our hands” they’re free from involvement and injury. Third, we can wash them: Hand-washers think with enough water we can dilute any blame we feel for self or others. Like Lady Macbeth, their hands are never clean, not their souls still. Fourth, we can lift them: A hand with nothing in it is not always empty. Open hands, lifted to God in prayer offer all that we have to God’s service. Lifted hands are empty so that they may be filled. Fifth, we can stretch them: These are the most observably active hands. Hands stretched out in peace and service, healing, hugging, holding and helping hands. These are the hands of the woman who served Jesus that day so long ago. The ultimate action of “outstretched hands” is best validated in this story from Chicago in 1953: A man had arrived at the main railway and bus station in Chicago to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He stepped off the train, a tall man with bushy hair and a big mustache. As the cameras flashed and officials approached with hands outstretched to meet him, he thanked them politely. Then he asked to be excused for a moment. He walked through the crowd to the side of an elderly black woman struggling with two large suitcases. He picked them up, smiled, and saw her to the bus, helping her to get on as he wished her a safe journey. Then Albert Schweitzer turned to the crowd and apologized for keeping them waiting. It is reported that one THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743 www.blythcrc.ca Minister: Pastor Gary Van Leeuwen Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS MINISTER Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. All Welcome MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224 No service on September 8. Join us at the Brussels United Church or at the Thresher Reunion Sunday School resumes Sept. 15 Worship Service & Sunday School at 10 a.m. PASTOR Sandra Cable, DLM MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed. Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, September 8 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 NEW BACKPACK $24.99 SCHOOL SUPPLIES $64.20 SCHOOL CLOTHES $221.89 YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE PRICELESS Sunday School - Sunday @ 9:30am Huron Chapel huronchapel.com MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9017 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School BRUSSELS Sandra Cable, Pastor Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am Sunday School resumes Sept. 15 Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship United Church getlivingwater.org Living Water Christian Fellowship Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 September 8 Evangelical Missionary Church Joint Service 9:30 am at Threshers’ Stop by our booth Friday or Saturday for free water & literature, and fresh home baking! 250 Princess St., Brussels 519-887-6388 www.bmfchurch.com Pastor Jim Whitehead Guests Welcome Jesus Is Lord! Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Worship Service 10:00 am Sunday School 11:15 am From the Minister’s StudyThe key to understanding Jesus? His hands Continued on page 20