"God bless the child that's got his own."

Tending the Garden

“Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.  To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

                                  Matthew 13:11-12

“Them that’s got shall get

Them that’s not shall lose

So the Bible said and it still is news

Mama may have, and Papa may have

But God bless the child that’s got his own

That’s got his own.”

                          Billie Holliday & Arthur Herzog, Jr.

         I’ve always viewed this as one of the cruelest sayings attributed to Jesus.  It seems so callous to my ears.  I’m reminded of the homeless men at the shelter where I sometimes help with dinner.  So many down and out people.  Everything has been taken away, or lost.  I always think, there but for the grace of God….

         But, I don’t believe Jesus was talking about “the American dream,” when he uttered these words.  He wasn’t referring to a car in every driveway and a cell phone in every pocket.  I think he may have meant that to those who seek, understanding is given.  To those who choose to see the kingdom of heaven all around them, it is revealed.  His disciples were, hopefully, this kind of seeker.  They wanted to understand what Jesus was saying about how we should live.  But they, too, were confused.  “Why do you speak to them (us) in parables?” they asked.

Just as hungry people do today, many people came to Jesus for the free food.  Some were undoubtedly there to see the sensational acts of healing that took place.  In other words, many came in hope of being fed and entertained.  The message he preached was optional.  He knew that, but he hoped that his words of love and kindness would be heard and understood by some-by at least a small core of followers-and that over time they would carry it forward and create a revolution of change in the hearts of all people. 

Religions have been rightfully blamed for much murderous corruption in the world.  The mighty have ruled over the weak and called it God’s will for as long as there have been humans.  Religions have called for crusades and beheadings and jihads and every other unholy thing imaginable.   Sometimes it’s tempting to throw out the whole of it.  But Jesus’ work on Earth was not about ‘religion’.  He was after something much more precious--the human heart.  His idea of revolution was to change from within—to plant the seeds of the kingdom of heaven in fertile soil.  He left us to tend the garden and grow rich.

                 Keeping the faith,

                 Jane