“The Master’s sermon that day consisted of only one enigmatic sentence.
He just gave a wry smile and began: “All I do here is sit by the bank of the river, selling river water.”
And with that he ended his sermon.
He had set up his stall on the river bank, this water-seller, and thousands came to buy water fom him. The whole success of his trade depended on their not seeing the river. When they finally saw it, he ran out of business.
The preacher was a great success. Thousands came to learn wisdom from him. When they got the wisdom, they stopped coming to his sermons. And the preacher smiled contentedly. for he had attained his purpose, which was to bow out as quickly as possible. For he knew in his heart that he was only offering people what they already had, if they would only open their eyes and see.
“Unless I go,” said Jesus to his disciples, “the Holy Spirit will not come.”
If you stopped selling water so vigorously people might have better chance of seeing the river. “
Retrieved from “The Song of the Bird” by Anthony de Mello, SJ.
Little-pencil 