R
reen12
Guest
I am thinking of a statement of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.
*
though I was too young, then, to actually take an interest.] *
Bishop Sheen observed:
“Win an argument, lose a soul.”
In thinking of this - and my own sins, in this regard,
I thought of an Hasidic tale, with a similar theme.
One day, in a small town in Poland,
an itinerant preacher came to town.
He stood in the busiest part of the village,
and he began to cry out to the people - of the
punishments, that God had prepared,
for those who followed not Torah - or who
were not whole-hearted - in their observation
of God’s law for His people.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
With stricken looks and pale faces, the
people listened to him, and said nothing.
Quietly, they began to disperse
.
“Wait!” came a voice, from the edge of the
crowd.
The people stopped for a moment, and looked back.
“God loves you! He is patient with all.” came the loving voice.
“Could we not thank Him - for His goodness and kindness to us,
by observing His law?”
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
The people, each of them, began to brighten,
at these words.
Reb Zusia, the speaker, was now in quiet conversation
with the itinerant preacher.
“I told them what awaited. I did this for their own good!” said the preacher.
“Why did they not listen? Why did they turn away?”
“Your words terrorized them, and their hearts became frozen, in their fear,” said Reb Zusia.
“My words warmed and cheered their hearts - as they thought of the love of HaShem.”
"Each heart, comforted - said:
“How can HaShem love us, and we not love Him, too, by keeping His law?”
reen12
*
though I was too young, then, to actually take an interest.] *
Bishop Sheen observed:
“Win an argument, lose a soul.”
In thinking of this - and my own sins, in this regard,
I thought of an Hasidic tale, with a similar theme.
One day, in a small town in Poland,
an itinerant preacher came to town.
He stood in the busiest part of the village,
and he began to cry out to the people - of the
punishments, that God had prepared,
for those who followed not Torah - or who
were not whole-hearted - in their observation
of God’s law for His people.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
With stricken looks and pale faces, the
people listened to him, and said nothing.
Quietly, they began to disperse
.
“Wait!” came a voice, from the edge of the
crowd.
The people stopped for a moment, and looked back.
“God loves you! He is patient with all.” came the loving voice.
“Could we not thank Him - for His goodness and kindness to us,
by observing His law?”
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
The people, each of them, began to brighten,
at these words.
Reb Zusia, the speaker, was now in quiet conversation
with the itinerant preacher.
“I told them what awaited. I did this for their own good!” said the preacher.
“Why did they not listen? Why did they turn away?”
“Your words terrorized them, and their hearts became frozen, in their fear,” said Reb Zusia.
“My words warmed and cheered their hearts - as they thought of the love of HaShem.”
"Each heart, comforted - said:
“How can HaShem love us, and we not love Him, too, by keeping His law?”
reen12
