So tonight I'd like to start with a classic teaching tale and it begins at the monastery

in a deep wood near a barbed wire, a small hut, and the abbot visited him and asked for his advice

because he wanted to see what could possibly save the monastery.

And the rabbi commiserated with him, but said he had no advice.

So they prayed and they meditated together.

They embraced and before parting the rabbi said, I'm really sorry I had no advice.

The only thing I can tell you is that the Messiah is one of you.

So the abbot returned and told his comrades that the rabbi couldn't offer any help, but

that he had told him that the Messiah was one of them.

In the days and weeks and months that followed, the old monks pondered this and as they contemplated

they began to treat each other with extraordinary respect, on the off chance that one among them

might be the Messiah.

And then on the off chance that each monk himself might be the Messiah, they began to treat

themselves with extraordinary respect.

All that came by noticed the changing atmosphere.

The radiance it seemed to emanate out of the monastery and more and more monks came by

and over time increasing numbers inspired by the old monks asked to join.

And within a few years the monastery once again became a thriving order and a vibrant center

of light and spirituality in the realm.

So what do we make of this?

The first thing I'd like to say is that the Messiah is one of us here at least.

And here's the invitation.

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