The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
April 17, 2011
Vol. 14 no. 16
You have to watch out for the little words. A teacher once told us that you have learned a language when you figure out where the little words go. Prepositions, adverbs, conjunctions are devilish little things.
One of those little words, a favourite of several Gospel writers, is ‘immediately’ or ‘at once.’ Mark uses it over 40 times and Matthew is not shy about the word either. Some have ventured that Mark and Matthew threw in ‘immediately’ to make sure everything was done quickly and efficiently, just the way a Messiah should. No time to waste on relating a slowly developing idea or event when you are narrating a Gospel.
Some have even hazarded the thought that ‘immediately’ has a little bit of magic implied, a kind of ancient Harry Potter twist of the wand. That might fit with the healing miracles, but when something takes place ‘immediately’ it isn’t always miraculous.
Typically, this adverb implies a decision or action done intuitively, ‘from the heart’ - the ideal faithful response. In the beginning of Matthew’s Palm Sunday, Jesus gives instructions to two of his disciples to go fetch a couple of animals for him to ride triumphantly into Jerusalem. Immediately you will find the animals, no unnecessary searching required; they will be right in front of your eyes. Then when the owner gruffly challenges you – as thieves! – tell him the Lord has need of them, and he will send them immediately. Where there is God, ways open.
Still, do we need to do things immediately in order to be faithful? Is there room for a slow or delayed faith? I won’t answer right away.
Knox-Metropolitan United Church
Regina, Saskatchewan