Keep Your Eyes Out for Jesus

by David Hayward

So we have a bit of a running joke in Gilbert & Sullivan (which opens a week from Saturday - shameless plug). Our orchestral conductor is named Jesús. And in all musical theater and opera, it is essential that we always keep an eye on our conductor to ensure we are in time. So, what do we always say?

"Keep your eyes on Jesus!"

(I'll see myself out.)

Seriously though, this weekend, we are looking at the Beatitude that deals with being "pure in heart." It is not something we can do on our own. Like faith and righteousness, purity is something that comes as a gift from God.

It has absolutely nothing to do with being orthodox in our beliefs. Nor does it have to do with the perfection of practice or orthopraxy. Nor does it have to do with keeping our bodies free from toxins.

It has to do with how well our hearts are connected to the heart of God. How well our eyes can see as God has called us to see the world. How attuned our ears have become to listening for what God has called us to hear - the cries of the oppressed, the tears of the hurting, the strain of the overworked and underpaid, the truth of God's still small voice speaking above the din of lies trying to steal our attention.

Purity is of God. The hearts of flesh that can break and heal that God desires are ones that will come directly from God's own hands and give us the strength to do God's work in this world. They help us to live as those who seek God's face in every neighbor we encounter - no matter who they are, where they come from, or how God made them. So keep your eyes out for Jesus ;)

See you Sunday.

Blessings,

Rev. Janie