echoes

Sat in church this morning and heard some echoes.   Echoes of things I've heard before.  Echoes of things that rang true in my own heart.  Years ago, a former Banner editor preached a sermon at my parents church, "Worship God, Love People, Use Things."  The point of that sermon was to not mix up the verbs, to not worship things, use people, or merely love but not worship God.  For years I had a laminated card above my driver door, reminding me of that sermon I never heard but always remembered.  Or, at least I could recite it.
This morning, I heard it again.  Thanks, Jack!  We were encouraged, via Matthew 26, to consider two opposite reactions to Jesus -- Judas, who sold Jesus out; and the woman with the alabaster jar of perfume, who was sold out for Jesus.  One of the things Jack said, or maybe it was the Holy Spirit using what Jack said, I can never be too sure, was that our desire for stuff can get in the way of our love for people.
It was an echo of the retired editor's message.
It was an echo of Jesus, who so loved people - you and me - that he left all the treasures of heaven to pay our debt.
And having done that, invites us, to be echoes of his love -- to let go of our stuff enough that we can embrace others and in doing so, embrace Him.   
cool.